5 months of catch-up!

Oh blogging.... one of those things that I so wished I was consistent with, but is almost inevitably neglected for (in this case) 5 months at a time! Just like keeping up a baby book or scrapbook- something I want to be  diligent at, so I have a wonderful record of memories and photos to look back on for years to come. So here's to the last 5 months and looking forward to preserving many more sweet moments and memories!

Looking back at my last post (Anna's Arrival) I am amazed at how wonderfully rich and blessed Greg and I's life has been since then. I remember so many people telling me "Your life is going to change," and "Your life will never be the same again!" and thinking to myself "oh, that's just one of those things people say." Like marriage- you will always run into those people who would set up the married life as something of a struggle and so hard. "Get ready.... enjoy your life now!" So after realizing that a lot of that is based on perspective and attitude, I was so ready to enter into parenthood the same way! Piece of cake!

Well, I think you all know where this is going... :-) Little did I know that what I was hearing over and over couldn't be closer to the truth! I have found that being a mom changes not only your physical life (sleeping patterns, tiredness, those lovely body changes, I think I can add finances in here..., not being able to "get up and go") but the emotional change is probably the most apparent and life-altering change of all. This one I had an idea of, but couldn't fully grasp the concept until I was there- right in the middle of it! What I thought about and how I thought about things changed the moment I saw my beautiful baby girl. Now, in almost everything I do, I am constantly thinking about how Anna fits in, how it effects her, what she is feeling, is she comfortable? Does she feel warm to you? Is that normal? She's tired, she may be fussy, do I have everything in my diaper bag? And on and on!

I am also amazed at how much love my heart can hold. I understand completely what "love so much, it hurts" means. I love her so much that typing this right now is taking me forever because I have to keep wiping tears off of the keyboard! I love her so much that I cry all the time while watching the news because I immediately put myself in those mother's shoes who loose their children, young and old, to senseless crimes, illnesses, on the war front overseas, you name it. I love her so much that I would willingly die for her without hesitation. I love her so much that I already know there is nothing she could do that would take my love away. I love her so much that I am overwhelmed with the realization of how much my own mom loves me.

I'd be foolish to say that this kind of love for her stops at me, her mom! When I see the way Greg lovingly holds her, rushes home to play with her after a long day at work, calls to see how she is doing during the day, peeks at her sleeping in the middle of the night to make sure she is okay, I see this same kind of unconditional love that I feel, and it makes me love him even more (if that could even be possible!)

So here is our little nugget, our cupcake, sweetheart, munchkin, baby girl, Annabug, who has changed our lives for the better! She is growing so fast I just can't handle it! (Which also makes the tears come!- No one tells you how much you cry as a mom!)

Now, its very hard to pick just a few pictures to show the last 5  months... so get ready for some serious scrolling!

Month One

Month Two

 Month Three

Month Four

 Month Five

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...