Anna's Arrival

It was finally here. The day Greg and I could not wait for, the day we tried to imagine what it was going to be like, the day Anna would make her arrival into this world!

It started at 4:30 a.m. on November 1st. I was woken up by a contraction that didn't feel like the normal braxton hicks that I had been experiencing for the past couple months. This of course prompted me to grab my phone and start the timing!! I anxiously waited for the next and when it came 20 minutes later, I was overwhelmed with the nervous excitement that this could be the day!

An hour went by with several more contractions slowly becoming closer together and at 5:30, I woke up Greg with "I think I'm having contractions!"

For the next hour and a half we recorded the contractions until they were consistently 5 minutes apart and then we were off to the hospital!

As soon as my mom found out we were headed to the hospital, she called my dad and told him to take a picture of the sunrise on the morning of Anna's birth :-)

Here we are at the hospital!

We checked in to labor and delivery where they monitored Anna's heartbeat and my contractions for about 4 hours and in that time, Greg's mom and my mom arrived at the hospital so excited!! The contractions were staying at about 6-7 minutes apart and getting slightly stronger, but I was only dilated to about 1 and a half, so the nurse decided it was best for me to be discharged, Talk about disappointment! Especially when she said I could stay like this for a whole week!

By this time, it was 11:30 and we were all hungry, plus the nurse mentioned that a little food could get Anna moving and maybe progress things a little further, so to Denny's we went! In the middle of our lunch, I started feeling much stronger contractions- I even scared our waitress...! By the time we were ready to leave, I was in tears from the pain! Greg called the doctor and we were told to go right back to the hospital!

Once we were checked back in, I had dilated a little more and the contractions were increasing in length and strength, so the waiting began!

Throughout the next several hours, Greg stayed by my side holding my right hand as my left grabbed the hospital bed handle!! He was absolutely wonderful and would tell me when the contractions were making the decent and would almost be over! I don't know what I would do without him!

And here we are after the epidural... :-)

By this time I was 7cm and feeling GREAT! haha! It only took a couple more hours before the nurse came in and said "You are at 10! Time to start pushing!"

Once I heard those word, I literally started shaking! I just could not believe we were about to meet our daughter!

After about 30 minutes of pushing with the nurse, she was ready for delivery! Dr. Sohner was called in and after 30 more minutes of pushing Anna made her grand entrance! She was born at 6:37 p.m. weighing 6 pounds, 9 ounces and measuring 20 inches long.  Here are pictures of this wonderful miracle!

I relive this moment over and over in my mind! This was the most wonderful feeling!

As soon as Greg spoke, she followed his voice! 

This is Greg pushing the button that plays a lullaby throughout the entire hospital when a baby is born! 

Anna's birth made it very clear to us that she is an absolute miracle! It is amazing seeing God's beautiful and amazing design. We are so blessed with a wonderful and healthy baby girl and the love we feel for her is indescribable! 

I did it...

I finally parked in the "expectant moms" parking spot at Kroger.

I usually skip this opportunity with the fear that I would be taking it from someone "more pregnant" than me.... but I have to say, it was pretty awesome :-)

Dresser DIY- The "after" pics!

A while ago I posted a picture of a cute little dresser in much need of some updating that would be perfect as a changing table for Anna's nursery. Well here is the "after" pic!

Of course we need the "before"...

and here is the "after!"

Can't wait to post pictures of the completed nursery! (hopefully soon!)

30 week ultrasound

Greg and I got to see our little baby Anna! I must say, 3D ultrasounds are the coolest! Here is her very first picture :-) Look at those lips and chubby cheeks!!

My mom and dad swear she looks just like me when I was born! 

If you are wondering, she has both her arms covering her eyes and if you look carefully, you can see her holding the umbilical cord in her left hand! 

She is the cutest thing I have ever seen! 

My growing belly!

I haven't been the best about taking "belly" pictures during this pregnancy, but here are the few that I have!

6 months...

7 months...

We are home owners!

For the past two years, Greg and I have been living in a third floor, one bedroom apartment and we decided it was finally time to buy a house. Little did we know that when we signed our contract to start building, we would find out baby Anna would be coming into our lives 9 months later! Now construction is finally over and we have closed on our first home! Here are some pictures from the beginning to move in!

Our lot!

Excavation begins...

The frame is up.

  

Our house is looking like a house! (the garage on the right is the next unit... we do not have a three car garage!!)

Inside the living room.

Our teeny tiny (but perfect) backyard!

Finally finished! (gotta love all the construction going on next door!)

We are home owners!

The moving begins...

The "after" 

Greg and I are so blessed with a home for our growing family and cannot wait to keep "making it our own!" 

Dresser DIY

Thanks to Pinterest, I have been bitten by the DIY bug! Lucky for me, my friend Summer found this great dresser outside on her neighbor's curbside that they were going to send to the trash!

I think this will make a great dresser/changing table! I plan on painting it white and adding some cute nobs.

Can't wait to post "the before!"

Thanks again Summer!

The reveal party

After finding out we were expecting a baby girl, Greg and I wanted to tell our family in a special way! I got the idea from my sister-in-law Cristie, who revealed to the family she was having boys with a blue balloon and a blue cake, so I came up with an idea myself...

Everyone arrived in the color of their guess... we had a nice mix!

My mom had everyone fill out either a blue or pink heart with why they thought it was a boy or girl. 

This was while reading Steven's answer "I think it's a girl because Greg is a woman" Oh brotherly love!!

Once all the guesses were read, I couldn't wait any longer! I handed everyone a "mystery" cake ball...

and when I said "Go!" everyone was to take a bite and see the color inside!

Here are the priceless reactions!

Sorry Steven... I had to put this one up! It's my favorite! haha!

And then I got to display all the fun clothes I bought immediately after my doctor's appointment! 

Thanks mom and Ciara for putting together such a cute and fun reveal party! 

It's a Girl!

My 20 week appointment is finally here! Greg and I were so excited, it felt like an eternity to make it into that ultrasound room! I can't even begin to describe how amazing it was to see that little baby. The ultrasound tech pulled up the first image and asked if we knew the gender yet. We said "No! But we want to find out!" And that is when he said "It's a girl!"

Greg and I looked at each other with such excitement- we are having a baby girl! I had to try so hard to stop laughing for joy so the tech could get more pictures! haha!

And here is the little princess. She was being a little "shy" and wouldn't show her face, but you can see a side view with her hand covering her head and her legs folded against her body. 

She is so beautiful :-)

As soon as we left the office, I couldn't hold it in anymore! I immediately started crying my eyes out! I was overwhelmed with how much God had blessed Greg and I with a beautiful, healthy, and perfect baby girl!

Now the fun part.... the reveal party!

California Road Trip

Greg and I have been planning a trip to California for the past 2 years, and every time we are ready to book it, something comes up (like a broken ankle!) so we decided that this HAD to be the summer, because it was going to be a good while before we had another chance! Here are some pictures:

Day 1: Thursday Night- Drove to San Antonio to get a "head start", but really we were just so excited to get started on our trip! Here is the first picture I took- How cool is that!

Day 2- The forever drive through Texas!

Getting out of the "flat lands"

And this is Juarez, Mexico- we of course are on the New Mexico side! But I-10 sure gets close!

 This was on the side of a mountain in Juarez- it reads "The Bible is truth. Read it"

Love seeing mountains!

We made it all the way to Phoenix by late afternoon, so we thought we'd catch a Diamondbacks game!

They have the best fans!

Day 3- Arriving in Cali!

 This definitely HAD to be the first place we ate in California! 

Our hotel room in Huntington Beach

Driving to Laguna Beach- there is really nothing like the California coast line.

Outrageously priced homes. 

My FAVORITE part of the entire trip! This is at the Ritz Carlton at Salt Creek Beach in Dana Point. Absolutely the best view of a sunset. 

God's creation is breathtaking. 

Day 4- Swap meet and golf!

 Took this just for you dad!

Trump National Golf Course!

Only the Donald would put his face on the water bottles... the 7.00 water bottles!

I'm wearing a jacket... in June! Not only does California have the best scenic views, they are blessed with gorgeous year-round weather. 

This is Greg on the last hole- the tee box was on top of a small cliff. So naturally, he wanted to hit a golf ball right into the ocean! 

Day 5- Hollywood!

Can you see the Hollywood sign in the background? :-)

I found my first car! In Beverly Hills!

 Rodeo Drive

This was another highlight of the trip. Jay Leno Show taping! It was a blast!

Day 6 and 7- Chillin' out. Greg has the best beach pictures on his phone, so I am going to need to update this section later :-)

Day 8- Headed back home, but first, Las Vegas! We only stayed the night, and thank goodness. I can only take so much of the crazies in this town! Again, Greg has these pictures so I'll have to add more later!

Waiting for the fountain show at the Bellagio. 

Days 9 and 10- The drive back home. There are no pictures for these days, because, what's so fun about leaving a vacation?!