More Pics of Lydia!

Lydia is 3 weeks old now and she has already changed a lot since the hospital.  Below are pictures of her during the hospital and throughout the 3 weeks.  She's been getting more and more acquainted in this world each day.  Some nights she's sleeping from 9:30pm to 4:00am.  We're even still getting her 8 feedings in.  We're hoping she's packing on the weight still.  She makes the cutest little noises and coos and we even think she's smiling already (though some might think it's gas).  She can lift her head and roll on her side too.

Lydia and me in the hospital - one day old

2 days old

3 days old

2 weeks old

2 weeks old

3 weeks old

More Pics...

I finally had some time to download the pictures from the hospital and last weekend when Aunt Mary and Uncle Brendan visited.  We are all doing good and slowly getting use to a schedule.  If only Lydia understood the night schedule, then we'd be set.  Ha ha!

A few more pictures...

Here are a few more pictures (taken with my camera phone since we haven't even had time to download the ones from our good camera).  It's been a little tough getting use to this new schedule for us all, but each day I feel like it's getting better.  I'm still recovering from the c-section and take small walks almost every day.  They are just down the block and back, but it's a start. 
Lydia is doing great!  Feedings are going pretty well and we feel like she's packing on the lbs, or should I say the ozs.  We go back to the Dr. this Friday and we are both anxious to see how much weight she's gained.  We hope she's back up to her birth weight.
She's already had many visitors including her Aunt and Uncle from NYC last weekend.  I'll have to find those pictures and post those soon.
I'm off to feed again! 
The first picture is the day we finally brought her home from the hospital.  We were there for 5 nights and were glad to get home.  The second picture is her game day attire.  Too bad it wasn't good luck.  She actually wound up pooing through it, so maybe she was trying to tell us we weren't going to win last Saturday.

More Pictures of Lydia!

We're all doing great and hope to come home from the hospital on Monday or Tuesday. Here are some new pictures from life at the hospital. Check out those cheeks!

Introducing: Lydia Marie Arterbury

Lydia Marie Arterbury

November 5, 2010

2:41am

8 lbs. 11 oz.

21.5 inches

Looks Like November 4th is the Date!

I still feel the same - no contractions or anything.  So it looks like tomorrow I'll be getting induced!  I'm really excited and nervous about it.  We always pictures ourselves rushing to the hospital but this way it seems like it's an appointment.  I feel really good about getting induced since the baby is very healthy at this time and I'm about a week late.  I hope the induction process goes smoothly and I'm not in labor for two days - yikes!  Everyone, please say prayers for us!

Last night Harley was being extra cuddly, we thought maybe she knew something we didn't know - that I would be going into labor.  She followed me around and sat next to me everywhere I went.  Here we are last night enjoying the great cooler weather.  Finally it got cooler for us and it's been raining each night.  I'm glad for this since the rain has stopped the workers in the houses next to us and waking us up before 8am.  We've been able to sleep in, which has been much much needed.

Wish us luck for tomorrow!!

40 Weeks and 4 Days - Still Pregnant

Wow, never thought I would make it this far.  We went to the Dr. today and I'm about 3cm dilated.  She checked the baby and the fluid around the baby and she is doing great.  She gave her an 8 out of an 8, so we were really happy about that.  I'm now scheduled to be induced Thursday, so 48 more hours to go at the most.
I've tried everything to get labor started:
- walking for hours
- labor induction massage
- squatting/straddling/lunges/bouncing on a yoga ball
- eating a bowl of jalapenos for lunch
- drinking raspberry leaf tea
- eating spicy Indian food
- eating eggplant parmesan
- getting the Dr. to try and dilate me more
- and a couple other things.
Baby A must be really comfortable, but we are all really anxious to meet her and want her to come out soon.
I'm really hoping I go into labor before I have to get induced, so the next step might be to drink Castro Oil (just kidding - or am I?). 

Here are some recent pictures of us from Halloween.

 



Happy Halloween - We're In Overtime Now

"No kids, that's not a gigantic pumpkin up my shirt."  Yes, we're still waiting.  I haven't had any signs or pains of labor yet.  Yesterday we sat out on our driveway to pass out candy and everyone was shocked to see me still pregnant.  I was very happy I didn't have her on Halloween though.  Any date is fine with me from now on.  I was schedule to go an induction tomorrow morning, but after talking about it and thinking it through, I've decided to change it to Thursday morning.  So if I don't have her before Thursday morning, I'll get induced then at the latest.
Blair is taking off work to be with me now, so we have big plans for today.  A lot of walking and squatting and we're even going to try Indian food for lunch. 
It has been really nice having these past couple of days and nights though.  So many things have come up that we need to get fixed around the house or that have just interrupted us.  The work on the lot next door has been extremely loud and the machines they have been using to pound down the dirt for foundation shakes our house like an earthquake.  Literally our dishes, glassware and pictures were rattling all day.  I felt so bad for Harley because she probably did think it was an earthquake or a huge thunderstorm.  She stayed by us the whole day.  I'm hoping this lasts for only a couple more days and is done by the time I get home with a newborn.
I better get going on our busy day of trying to get something going with labor.  I hope everyone had a great Halloween!  My Mom took lots of pictures, so once I get them, I'll post them.

I made it to the DUE DATE - TODAY

Today is our due date - October 29th.  I really wanted to make it to this date and am so happy that I did.  However, I feel she is just not ready to come out anytime soon.  I thought I had a contraction in the middle of the night, but then realized it was because I was laying on my side wrong.  I feel about the same that I did last week. 
Yesterday my Mom and I went to Highland Village and walked around and then went to the Galleria and walked around.  There was a lady that came up to me and told me I must be due soon because I'm so big - wow, thanks lady.  I got a lot of stares and looks too.  I did walk quite a bit yesterday though and plan on walking some more today.
Other than that, we are just waiting around.  Maybe we'll make it all the way through next Tuesday when I'm schedule to get induced.  That would really be fine with me.  We'll see!!

40 Weeks and about 3cm

We went for our 40 week appt yesterday.  She said I was about 2-4 cm dilated.  She thinks I'll have the baby in the next couple of days, but if not, we set up an induction date for next Tuesday, Nov. 2nd.  I feel like since I made it through last night that I'll make it a couple more days.  I just don't feel a drastic change.  I've had a little cramping, but nothing to even write about.
My labor induction massage that I had on Tuesday with a Doula was wonderful.  She just massaged all my muscles to get them loose for labor and massaged my feet where the pressure points are for inducing labor.  She worked on me for about 1.5 hours.  She said that if it was going to work for me that it will work in 36-48 hours, so we'll see.  If it doesn't work, it was totally worth the relaxing massage.

Since they are still tearing the house down next to us, the fence got a little more loose and Harley has been getting out of the backyard at night.  It's very frustrating.  But at least she doesn't go far.  She is distracted easily by all the openness and the new smells.  We tried to temporarily fix the fence and give her more barriers, but she's very determined and goes right through them.  Now we just have to keep checking she's still in the backyard every 5 minutes when we let her out.  We use to be able and let her out at night and she would be out there for hours before barking to come back in.  Basically she'll be spending a lot more time inside at night then before until a new fence is put up.  Here are some pictures of her this morning - I think she is planning her escape for tonight because she looks so innocent.

No Baby News Yet...

I made it through the weekend and then some.  Today I have a labor massage with a Doula and I'm excited about it.  First for the massage and second to see if it gets things going.  I went to her Birthing Class and it was great and extremely informative so it will be interesting to see how this appointment goes.

The pictures below are of the house being torn down next to us.  Of course Blair and I just knew that it would be torn down close to the baby's arrival...ha!, it's the same week.  The house has been vacant for over 18 months and looked awfully run down.  They are tearing it down this week and will start building a brand new 2-story house next week.  It will take about 8-10 months of building.  But just our luck that this would all start around the same time of the baby's arrival. 
The good thing is that we met the new neighbors and they are really nice and have a 3 year old girl and 9 month old boy.  Also, we'll be happy to get rid of the bushes and dying trees that hover over our house and it will be nice to have a beautiful house next door.  The baby's room is on the opposite side of the house, so that's good considering how noisy it will be. 



39 Weeks and still 1cm

My Dr. says that I am still 1cm dilated.  She did get really excited though and said she was on call this weekend and I might be seeing her, but then at the end of the appt she said that she would see me in a week at my next appt...so who knows?  Some people think I'll be having this baby this weekend and others think I'll last until Nov. 1st.  I think I'll have her some time next week, but that's really just my hopes and I have no reason to back it up.
Of course after our appt we hit up the gas station for Coke Icees, my new favorite thing.  Blair is so sweet, he knows where to get the good Coke Icees and knows where not to go now.

Baby A's Halloween Costume

Since my due date is so close to Halloween, I had to get the baby a costume.  Who knows if she'll be here by then or not, but I couldn't resist it.  I figure that it's very basic and can be worn later even if she comes after Halloween...after all, we think she'll be a Super Baby no matter what.

It's been a little getting use to, not working and not really doing anything.  Since I can't really lift anything, bend over or drive very far, I'm not able to do so much around the house.  Plus we finished getting everything ready a week or so ago, so now I'm moving on to things that were on the end of my list...things that really didn't need to get done before baby arrives but would be nice if I could cross them off the list.  I did drive down the street this morning to get my car inspected and it only took about 10 minutes, which usually takes 30 minutes or more since I'm going during lunch time or after work.  Also, people have been picking me up for lunch and taking me out of the house, which is very nice.  Harley also loves that I'm home a lot - even though she acts like I'm disrupting her routine of sleeping and sleeping some more.

Nursery Tour "Cribs" Style - our first video

Here is a video of a tour of the nursery "MTV Cribs" style.  We did many takes, and sadly this is the best one.  You can definitely tell how "big" I've gotten in this video...I'm huge!  Harley makes her debut too.  ENJOY!

Completed Nursery Pics - now all we need is a baby!

Blair and my Mom really helped me complete the nursery and get it baby ready.  Here are the updated pictures:

Here is a picture of the nursery completed. The monitor is already charged and the diaper bag is filled with necessities. 

 The closet is full of clothes from newborns to 9 months and towels, wash clothes and miracle blankets.  Everything is washed and organized and ready for baby's arrival.

Below is the armoire that has all the toys, books, frames, a diaper cake (too pretty to take apart) and other misc. items.  In the drawers are the bibs, shoes, hats, socks and blankets.

The changing table is really ready.  I took all the packaging off the wipes, lotion bottles and butt-paste!  The drawers are all organized with over 90 newborn diapers (which will hopefully last us 2 weeks), over 200 stage 1 diapers, washed burp-clothes and extra items (like sheets and more wipes).  The diaper genie is all put together too!

I hope she likes it - and by that I mean I hope she sleeps in it!

38 Weeks and still 1cm

That's right, I'm still 1 cm dilated!  But the Dr. did say that it could really happen at any time.  We didn't really have any questions this week, so it was a good short appointment. 
I've been craving those coke ICEEs from the gas station recently.  That's my latest thing.  I can't get enough of them and they are about $1 for a huge one.  I guess the only other thing I'm craving is vegetable soups.  Whether it's tomato soup, broccoli soup, butternut squash soup or veggie soup, I really want it for all meals. 
I have 2 more days of work.  I've been working from home and it's been great.  I am able to lay down whenever I feel like and still get a lot of work done.  So after Monday the 18th, I'll be on vacay until I have the baby.  I still have a lot of things on my list, but most of it is reading up on how to take care of a baby - It's easy right?  Ha!

37 Weeks and still 1cm

Since we are going weekly now, our last appointment was last Thursday.  I'm still 1cm dilated with no changes.  Everything seems to be moving along ok.  The nurse could even press on my stomach and know which way the baby was facing.  She is still head down and her feet are more on my right side then left...which explains all the movement on my right side.  It's like she's trying to kick her way out at times and it's hard to sleep on that side.
Work threw me a baby shower last Friday and it was very nice.  I got a lot of gift cards and some other neat gifts that I needed too.  My Mom helped me organize it all and wash everything this Saturday, which was a huge help.  Blair helped by checking off some house "to-dos" on my list.  So I feel even more prepared.
I have two more days at the office and then I'll be telecommuting for another week, then I'll be taking vacation until the baby comes.  I hope I get at least some days of actual vacation before she comes.  I have a list of things I want to read and review and some newborn DVDs I want to watch too.  It's been harder and more uncomfortable for me to work at the office these days.  I even take my breaks about every 45 minutes.  Blair drove me to work today, which was great!  I'll be happier when I'm working from home and can lay down when needed.
We're really anxious about what the Dr. will say this week.

36 Weeks and 1cm

Last Wednesday we had a Dr.'s appt. and I'm already dilated 1cm!  Of course I can stay like this for weeks, but it really hit home for us.  This past weekend we got everything put in the nursery to be ready to go.  I even unwrapped everything so we wouldn't have to do that when we come home from the hospital, like the diapers and wipes.  Blair was so great this weekend and put together a lot of things (during and between all the football games), like the bouncer, swing, stroller and we even charged up the monitor!  There is still quite a lot to get ready in my eyes, but if she came really early, we're ready enough for it.
I'm extremely curious to see what the Dr. says this Thursday (in 3 days) at our next check up.

Baby Shower!

The baby shower the other weekend was just perfect!  It was exactly what I wanted and Mary and my friends did such a great job.  I really stocked up too, which was good since I had absolutely nothing.  It was nice to get some items that some new Moms believe were lifesavers which I wouldn't have know about.  I got a lot of the big stuff I wanted from my Mom and Blair's Mom too, so I'm pretty much all set. 
It took me about 2 full days (spread out over a week since I can't do too much at a time anymore) to go through everything, wash everything and put it all in it's place in the nursery.
Thank you so much to everyone who helped with the shower and for all that was done for Baby A and Blair and I.  We definitely feel more prepared now!