Hannah's First Four Months

Well, Hannah was born... and she had her first 4 months of life. No biggie, right? Hah!

In some ways, it's like she was born yesterday. In other ways, I can't imagine life without her, and she has just been with us forever and ever!

It's absolutely amazing and wonderful to see the little girl she is turning into. She is so much more than a little baby now, even at 4 months old. She's so curious and interested in the world around her now. She's starting to play with things and has discovered her hands and feet. Her smile and laugh can, of course, melt mommy's heart in an instant!

I'm hoping that as she really starts hitting big milestones in 2012, I might be better about documenting them here, so we remember when and where they happened! Of course, I always say that. But, I'm hoping to use some of my better blogging buddies as inspiration

But, I'll leave you with the good stuff... the pictures =)

 

Welcome to our world Hannah!

Well, I'm a couple weeks behind, but who can blame me right? I'm typing this with one hand, on my phone, while a sleeping baby girl is lying on my stomach! Hannah was born on September 1 at 11am on the dot! She was 7lbs, 15oz and 20 3/4 inches long. Most importantly, she is perfectly healthy and perfect in her mommy and daddy's eyes!

Our lives have obviously changed dramatically since 9/1. We are slowly but surely starting to find our new normal. So far, I feel pretty lucky as she tends to sleep in 3 or so hour stretches through the night. Of course, I'm still beyond exhausted, but that comes with the territory.

We've had a few setbacks, but we're working through them. Breastfeeding has NOT gone well or as planned. (Sorry if this is TMI...) I've met with the lactation nurse at Hannah's pediatrician's office and left that day very encouraged, but we still have alot of problems and serious pain. Not just uncomfortable, but cry my eyes out, I can't stand it pain. Right now, we are trying to nurse, but I pump as often as I can and we are supplementing with formula. Not what I had planned, but she is being fed and that's what counts!

We had her newborn picture session yesterday and from the two sneak peek pictures we've received, we're very pleased! She's a cute little girl (though I guess I'm a bit biased!)

I'm looking forward to figuring out our new schedule, as most know I love me a schedule. I know it will be constantly changing.

Hopefully, being home with her now, I'll be able to carve our time to keep this updated on our ever changing lives!

32 Weeks (well, almost)

Well, I'm only 18 weeks behind in posting, right? Not THAT bad... HAH!

Tomorrow marks 32 weeks! It's hard to believe she's almost here! (Yeah, in that 18 weeks, lima bean got a gender and a name!) It's REALLY hard to believe that in 5 weeks, if Hannah decided that it was time to make her appearance, the doctors would let her!

We've got things rolling, in getting ready for her. Her nursery is painted, and all the furniture is here and assembled!

Here's Hannah's crib and changing table

Here's the window, glider and part of the bookcase

 

 

 

 

Here's the glider and bookcase... not very organized or cute yet! You can also see part of the decal that's going on her wall. It's just the one little bird right now, but there is a whole tree/family of birds. Maybe that'll happen this weekend.

And here's her sweet little blanket that goes with her bedding! I love the little birds and owls. We've actually got all of the bedding now, but I haven't taken pictures yet. 

The next big project is cleaning out the closet in her room. It's full of years of "stuff". Since her room was our second guest bedroom/office, the closet in there really collected a lot. I've made some progress, but there are still some serious boxes to be gone through!

Hopefully, in the next couple of weeks, we'll have most everything together in her room! I still need to:
1) Clean the closet
2) Put up the decal on the wall
3) Put up the ADORABLE letters that  my little sister painted for her! (They are curly-Q kind of letters, and my sister, Cindy, managed to put all of the patterns and birds that are on her bedding, onto the skinny little curly letters... she is ridiculously talented)
4) Find a mirror or fun photo collage frame to put over her changing table.
5) and, you know, all the other stuff that needs to be done.

Maybe I'll have some more, complete pictures soon!

Is today the day?

Today marks 14 weeks for the relationship between me and little lima bean (though, I think we should upgrade his/her status to little lime, as that's more size appropriate at this point!). I'm knocking on wood, crossing my fingers, and anything else I can think of. I've actually felt "okay" today. I've even skipped a dose of the phenergan. This is a massively huge step for me! I'm hoping today is the magic day where I become semi-quasi-pregnant normal!

Everyone says that by week 14, they are feeling better. So, I'm optimistic. I'm so ready to not base my entire world around being or not being sick. I'm ready to clean the house and cook dinner and fold laundry and start planning for the baby!

I can't believe that we'll find out if the baby is a boy or a girl in just 6 weeks. And, that in 6 weeks, we'll be half way there! That's ridiculous! As long as some of these days have been, feeling so awful, it's still flying by.

So, in light of this hopefully lingering new development of feeling somewhat better... I'm going to get the rest of my winter decorations down (and possibly a lingering small Christmas tree in the guest bedroom). Don't judge me... snowmen are completely acceptable in my world until March (and we're only a few days in!)

BABY!

Well, it's now social media official (via facebook, twitter and all those crazy things)... Baby Crockett has an estimated arrival date of September 4, 2011!

Now, maybe I can be a good blogging momma and keep this thing up to date with how the pregnancy is progressing and then (yay!) how baby is doing! I've got some good blogging mommy role models on there, that's for sure!

Baby is doing well... we heard the heartbeat today and it was perfect! I'm 11 weeks, 3 days and it's been a ROUGH past 7 weeks. I've had some serious all-day (forget morning) sickness, am on a couple of medicines for it, and have almost made a dash for the hospital (but was thankfully able to avoid that). Hopefully I should turn the magically 2nd Trimester corner very soon!

It's late though, at least for my exhausted, preggo self... so I'm done for now. but there shall be a redesign and frequent updates soon (hopefully... I'm so wishy-washy!)

Thanksgiving

I love Thanksgiving. and I LOOOOOVE Christmas. So I've been ready for "this time of year", since, well since they took Christmas music off the radio last year!

This year, I'm really having to focus on the "thankful" part though. It's been a rough past month or so. First (at least I think it was first), my step-grandfather passed away. It was tough... he had fallen and broken his hip about a week before he passed away, and then never really pulled through. It was tough on me, but really hard on my little sister. It was a challenge to be the best big sister I could be to reassure her that she would make it through this (she has never lost anyone close to her before).

Then, Clay's mom fell and broke her ankle. In the course of 2 weeks, she fell, she had surgery, came to stay with us for a week, and then had to move apartments (from an upstairs 3 bedroom, to a downstairs 2 bedroom).

Then, Clay's grandmother (his mom's mom) fell and broke HER ankle! Apparently it's contagious that side of the family! Clay said if I break anything, he's giving up, hah! So, needless to say, I've been tip toeing all the time.

So now, Thanksgiving will be cooked at my house, and then driven 2 hours so that our broken ones can have Thanksgiving... I'm a planner and not good with change, so we'll see how it goes.

There have also been a load of other things going on that I won't even go into, but it's added up to a stressful fall! Not to mention the craziness of my beloved Titans!

I have so much to be thankful for though, even when I get a little down. Just have to remind myself of that and have "positive expectations"!

So that's what I'm focusing on for now, trying to really stay positive, though it's so hard to slip into a negative frame of mind. But, it's worth it...I know that I'll be happier and can hopefully make those around me happier too!

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone...off to continue the cooking! Gobble til' you wobble!

Apparently, it's fall...

Well, apparently I forgot to blog during the summer months... that was quick! I honestly sat down to write something more than once, but something or another drug me away. You know, people sometimes ask "What have you been up to?". My answer tends to be "Nothing really." But then, when I think about it, I've been so busy, going, going, going, and I don't even know what I've been doing!

Take the summer for example...

Here's the short version of "What I did on my summer vacation (or lack thereof of vacation)":

First, it flooded. We all know about that. It wasn't very fun. I was in Nashville that weekend... even less fun. I was stranded at my mom's house, but thankfully (even though they live in Bellevue, one of the worst hit areas) they weren't affected for the most part, except electricity being out for about 4-5 days.

June was C-RAZY. At least at work. We had trial - a big one. It was busy. I'm sure something happened then, but I sure don't remember it =).

July: Ah July. It was hot. REAL hot. For the 4th, Clay and I took an impromptu trip up to the Smokey Mountains for the long weekend. It was GREAT. We didn't do much at all. We took a short hike, rode the Sky Lift to the top of Crockett Mountain (obviously!), we ate some AWESOME food, and did some super touristy things that are musts each and everytime you hit the Gatlinburg strip!

Late July brought the California trip. I was weary about it, but it turned out pretty good. My brother, Adam, got married in Napa Valley the last weekend in July. Clay and I flew out on a Thursday afternoon and came back on a Sunday. In case you are thinking about a "quick weekend trip to wine country"... consider extending it. The travel was hell, at least from Memphis (i.e. the WORST place to try to fly from, ever, no questions asked.) Adam and Claire's wedding was perfect for them, Napa and San Fransisco were fun (even though we had a total of about 16 hours to see them all!)

Here are a couple of pics from that trip:

Clay and I at the Pacific Ocean in San Fransisco (we got a foggy day =/)


Wine Country at it's best... from atop Artesa Winery in Napa


The Bride (Claire) and Groom (my brother, Adam) at the rehearsal dinner


My family (minus the happy couple) right before the ceremony


My dad and Clay at the reception... probably one of my favorite pictures ever!


We took a TON of pictures (check facebook for those) and check out Amy Stroup... she played some music at the wedding and is a friend of my new sister-in-law. She's AH-mazing. Her music has been featured on "One Tree Hill", "Brothers and Sisters", a bunch of others and, if you are watching the "Grey's Anatomy" premiere tonight, you'll hear her! Yay Amy!

Now, we're back home, working like crazy and back into the football grove. We are tearing UP I-40 driving to Nashville most weekends for Titans home games (and loving every minute.. GO TITANS GO!). I'm playing some softball with some of my Tipton County girls... apparently, everyone played softball in these parts, and not basketball... it's cool, I'm an awesome DH!

But, that's the summer in a (big fat) nutshell. I missed a few things (some weddings, some trips I'm sure, and a million other things), but hey, I blogged right?