Nap Time

Notice there is no picture of Mom napping!

Taylor has always been a good napper. Usually I could just put her in the swing and she would fade right off to sleep. Now, she HATES her swing. I have no idea why but if she even gets near that swing she's starts screaming.

Now for naps it usually takes me an hour or two to get her to sleep. She fights her sleep so badly and it is really hard on me. I have to swaddle her and rock her for 20-30 minutes. She'll usually wake her self up and then we have to start all over. Then she'll dirty her diaper and we'll have to get up, change her diaper, and start all over again. Then I'll put her down after she's been asleep for a while. She will sleep for an hour and wake up screaming.

So, in short, Taylor sleeps maybe 3 hours a day, if we are lucky. All of the sleep research I have been doing says she should be sleeping about 6 hours a day.

She also had a hard time going to sleep at night during her 6 week growth spurt. I had to start swaddling her again b/c she would jump and wake her self up often. She is finally going to sleep somewhat easily at night but I am still swaddling her. I really believe that helps.

And no, momma isn't getting any sleep during the day! But I am hanging in there.

6 weeks old

Well, our little baby is 6 weeks old this week weighing in at a whopping 13 pounds! She is eating about every hour and a half now and she is very hard to put down at night. We were able to get her sleeping in her pack and play. She screamed bloody murder the first night...for a solid hour. But the next night and the following week was great. No problems. She'd eat, get tired and I'd put her down. She would fall right to sleep. Now every time I lay her down in her bed she jumps and wakes herself up. Long story short, she eats about every two hours and it takes me two hours to get her down. That adds up to no sleep for mommy! Two nights ago I got about 3 hours of sleep. This is the hardest it has been when it comes to night time.

However, I know this is only a phase and it will get better. I was getting pretty frustrated about 3 a.m. but I just had to remember that this is hard for her too. I know it's only a phase and things will get better.

Brodie is still giving her an occasional bottle and she is taking it wonderfully. She is growing like a weed. She is growing out of most of her newborn clothes but not really into her 3 month clothes. I have found that if it says 0-3 months it'll probably work. I hope to get her pictures taken pretty soon.

Well, she's napping now so I should help my husband clean the house...I'm so blessed.

1 Month Dr. Appointment

July 3rd was her 1 month appointment. She weighs 10.9 lbs and is 23.5" long. She is in the 85th & 101st percentile on her weight and height growth chart, respectively. So she is growing like a weed. She has real tears now, it's so pitiful. The hair on the top of her head is also starting to fall out a little but the long hair in the back is getting much longer. Thankfully, mine isn't coming out yet.

Since Taylor came home she has slept in the bed with us. I did not want this but she just needed to be close to us. We decided that now is a good time to get her used to sleeping in her own bed. We brought her pack-n-play (PNP) in our room last night. I tried rocking her to sleep at 7:30pm last night. I was still rocking at 10pm. Brodie told me to bring her to bed and just put her down. She cried for an hour...a SOLID hour! I would console her every 5-10 minutes but we did let her cry. At 11pm she finally gave up and fell asleep...only to wake up an hour later to eat. LOL! But, when she was finished eating I laid her down in her PNP and she fell right to sleep. Her 2:30am feeding was a little harder but not bad at all.

I am trying to get her into a routine now so that she will learn to sleep and eat and regular times. She is a smart girl. I am sure it won't take long for us to get on schedule.

Happy 4th of July!

3 Weeks Old

Taylor is getting so big. We weighed her the other night and she is up to 10 pounds already! I have no idea how long she is because she is quite the little wiggle worm. Her umbillical stump fell off on her 3 week birthday. Right now she's still sleeping with Mom & Dad because she screams when we lay her down. She really needs to be close to one of us. She hates sleeping on her back. She loves sleeping on her side.

We just survived our first growth spurt. She cried a lot and ate all the time. Some nights she'd sleep in 3-4 hour blocks, other nights she'd only sleep an hour and wake up ready to eat. We are finally figuring out her cries. It took some time to figure out the difference between a sleepy cry and a gassy cry. This may seem self explainatory by her body language, but trust me...it wasn't! She doesn't really have heavy eyes when she's tired, she just cries. It's only when she's actually on the verge of sleep that her eyes get heavy. When she's gassy she doesn't pull her legs up to her tummy or curl up, she wails her arms and legs all over the place like she's falling.

Her growth spurt period lasted for a little over a week. Her next growth spurt will be at 6 weeks, then 3 months and 6 months. I will really enjoy the next 3 weeks. But I am finally figuring out her schedules. At night we go to bed around 10 pm. She wakes up at 2:30-3 a.m. and again at 5:30-6 a.m. She is awake about 1/3 of the day and sleeps the rest of the time. She also loves to be outside. She looks up at the sky, sneezes a few times, and then coo's & ooh's. She really loves the outdoors, just like Mom.

She is very strong and can hold herself up on her Daddy's chest with her arms. I love the pic below. Again, this is why we call her Turtle. She is just so funny. She also makes the cutest little noises when she sleeps. She coo's and ohhh's while she's waking up.

Continue to check Dropshots link to the right for more pics.
Bite his FACE!

1 Week Old

I have found a few minutes to post an update. Yesterday was our first outing. We went to Target and had lunch at Pizza Hut. I managed to feed her and eat with one hand at the same time. Brodie and Nanny doubted my skills...HA! This mommy thing is really coming to me. It is so funny that I say this because I was recently reminded (by more than one person) that there was a time when I said I was NEVER having children, or better yet, I would eat my young. Well, guess it just took finding the right man to share this journey with. I thank God every day for all of his blessings. I have never been so complete or completely happy in my life. I can honestly say my life is PERFECT!

Welcome Taylor Renee` Brodie

Taylor Renee` Brodie was born on Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009 at 8:01 p.m. She weighed 8.8oz and is 21" long. I was 1 week and 1 day overdue. Everything went perfectly. We were in labor for 6 hours and I pushed for 15 minutes. I did all of this completely, 100% unmedicated. I didn't even have so much as a Tylenol.

We are all very tired but I wanted to get some pics up ASAP. Check back later for more details.

For all of the pics click on the Dropshots link "All of Taylor's Pics" to the right.

6 Days Overdue and Waiting

Today is May 31st, 2009 and we are still waiting for our baby. I have been experiencing very mild contractions, nothing painful at all. They are also not increasing in pain or consistancy. They started last night around 7 pm and have been going all night and today. I know it's false labor but I am hoping that any minute now it will lead to the real thing.

If I don't have her by Wednesday morning, June 3rd, I'll be induced. I really don't want that but right now I am only a gnats behind away from hooking her up to a winch and jerking her outta there!

She is SO grounded...already!

39w6d Update

Hi Everyone.

I went for my last scheduled OB visit on Tuesday (39w1d - May 19th, 2009). I was dilated 2 cm and 80% effaced. She did a painful proceedure that could possibly naturally induce labor. She said if it worked then we should have the baby in 24-72 hours. She told me t0 make an appointment for next Tuesday but she didn't think I'd make it.

Well, today is Sunday, May 24th. Tomorrow is my due date. Nanny has been here since last Monday. Since then we have just been sitting around looking at each other, waiting. I haven't had so much as a sharp pain. Obviously, my doc's proceedure didn't work. All that pain for nothing.

I am still burping every other second, all day long. I can't sleep. I just want to cry. I am so uncomfortable. I just want to hold my little girl.

Trying to pass the time, I made two more videos. One of them is rather large so I am figuring out how to shrink it so I can get it on my blog. Until I can get those loaded, I took some pics today that I'll post here. They're not pretty. I have learned that when a woman is only days away from her due date, she could care less what she looks like. At this point it's all about finding a shirt long enough to cover up her belly. LOL!

Iris 4-25-09

I had to show off my Nanny's Iris. She gave these to me last summer (2008) and we just plopped them down in the bed that the contractors that built the house made. It isn't the most desirable soil choice but I thought they would do fine. Well, whatever is in that soil they LOVE. They look beautiful!!! Notice how tall the one purple one is. It is literally waist high! Thanks Nanny!

Nice Bears collar Sandi!

35weeks 5days

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Brodie practicing CPR on a rescue victim!

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35 weeks & Dilated

We had our weekly checkup today. I am 35w1d and Taylor is measuring 36w. I am dilated 1cm and my cervix is softening. YEA! She's is still floating around in there which means she hasn't started descending into my pelvis, but I feel and look like she has already started to drop. All of our vitals are good and she's face down.

My OB wants my bag 100% packed tonight! She said that before the exam so I think she must tell that to all 35 weekers. I did my Group B strep test so hopefully that'll come back negative. Not sure how long it takes to come back.

Man, I can't believe we are about to have this little baby in our arms. I am so very excited!!!!! WOOO-HOOO! We have been down such a hard road to get here and our dreams are finally coming true. We are so very blessed. Please keep all of us in your prayers as we will certainly be needing them in weeks ahead.

35w5d at CG Station Emerald Isle

34 Weeks

So, we only have about 4-6 weeks and our little bundle of screams, tears, and dirty diapers will be with us. Just Kidding...we are very anxiously awaiting her arrival. Although, now that it is getting closer we are questioning if she is really a he. We don't have any real basis for this though. I bought a bunch of girl stuff but kept the receipt and refuse to remove the tags until SHE is home. Her heartbeat is 154, I haven't been emotional (just annoyed), I have a tiny baby bump, not really carrying low but not real high either. (People have noticed that I have started dropping.) Well, I guess we'll find out soon enough. She is also getting very strong. She is right around 5 lbs and she's very active. Yesterday she was hurting me pretty badly. Her feet and arms move across my stomach with such force that it seems like she is just going to bust out of there. It really hurts!

A lot of people have been asking me if I am getting scared or nervous. Well, not so much. I am not afraid of labor (although I probably should be). I am more nervous about the first few weeks. I know it will require a thousand times more patience than I possess and I am praying that God will be with us and give us strength. Brodie is a rock and I know he'll do great. We also have Nanny Rogers coming to stay for 3 weeks and that will be invaluable. I am sure between the 3 of us our baby will get all of the love and attention she requires, regardless of the time of day or night.

It's silly, but I also think a lot about her growing up and becoming a teenager and what that will require from us. Parenting is the hardest job in the WORLD and I'm not even a mom yet. I just hope that I will be a good mom and wife. There is nothing that can prepare me for what lies ahead, I just pray so very hard that God will guide me to the right decisions. I know I will make mistakes, it's inevitable. I just hope that when she grows up she can forgive me for them and know that everything I did, I did for her.

Whew, okay. Now I'm all emotional! Deep breath...shake it off...

So, at 34 weeks my tummy is measuring 40" around and I am 168 lbs. I have gained 31 pounds. My next appointment is next week and I will start going once a week after that. My last day at work is May 1st and I am counting down the days. I get very tired after lunch and it is hard to stay focused. Physically, I feel alright most days. My back has started to ache a little. I have been having Braxton-Hicks contractions which is normal, they are very small ones now, but as I get further along their intensity will increase. I have been nesting like a crazy person. I can't stand for anything to be dirty. One glass in the sink freaks me out, which is completely opposite of my untidy character. I need to rest but my urge to clean forces me to get up. I have a thousand things spinning around in my head that need to get done so I'll make a list and email it to myself. LOL!

Enjoy the pics!

(Remember, click on pic to enlarge and use "back arrow" to go back to main blog page.)

Poking out just a little! ;P

8 months and 2 miles off shore

Hi! So, we finally had our first beautiful weekend. We took the boat out 2 miles off shore for some fun and sun! At 33 weeks this was my last chance to get out on the boat for a while.

Brodie caught a bunch of black sea bass and I got a tan. Yep, I laid on the front of that boat in my bikini with my pregnant belly out and proud!!! It was SO funny! It's a good thing we were the only boat in sight! Guess what? Pregnancy increases the skins sensitivity to the suns rays. Can anyone say, "Crispy, Pregnant Critter!"

My First Daffodils

This is for Nanny and & Chay.

I am the only person in my 80 lot subdivision that planted Daffodils. They are so pretty and everyone on the street loves them. Everytime I look at them they just make me smile.

Also, my Nanny's daylilies are starting to pop up! (Click on pic to enlarge)

8 Months Today

Hi! We hope you enjoyed our video.
(It was bedtime so please don't pay any attention to my appearance! Thanks.)

I am 8 months today. I can't believe it. Where has the time gone?

We have completed our child birthing classes. I have gained 27 pounds and my belly measures about 39 inches at my button. Taylor is about 4 pounds and 17 inches tall. She is so big and moves all the time. It is crazy because now I can feel her arms and legs, not just little bumps and flutters. The time has passed so quickly and I am sure that has a lot to do with the fact that I have had a relatively easy, symptom free pregnancy. Thank You God!!!

We have everything ready for her to come home with a few tiny exceptions. The glider won't be here until May 1st. We still need to get some curtains put up. Also, we need a small lamp table to set beside my glider. I'd like to get a few shelves put above her dresser so that we can put her books there. But, as far as the diapers, wipes, and all the other necessities goes...we have that. I will pack my hospital back this weekend.

IT'S GETTING CLOSE!!!

28 Weeks

I will be 28 weeks tomorrow and I am officially in my 3rd trimester. I have finally gotten some of my severe pregnancy symptoms taken care of with a large bottle of Nexium, the purple pill. I didn't want to take any meds at all while pregnant but I was dying. I am much better now.

My NC neighbors had a baby shower for us this past Saturday. Between this shower and the one in Mississippi, Taylor has gotten some GREAT things. Thank you SO VERY MUCH to everyone who has given Taylor gifts. She really appreciates them... and so do Mom & Dad!

So, I really liked this cute pic taken at my NC shower. To me it really sums how happy I am to be a mom.

25 Weeks

Taylor Renee and I had our 25 week checkup today. She is about 1.5 pounds right now and is gaining about half a pound per week. My tummy is measuring 37"inches and growing.

I have started to become "mildly uncomfortable." That is putting it nicely, like the books like to describe it. They also like to describe labor as "discomfort!" HA!

She rolls around inside my tummy and puts a lot of pressure on a vein called the Vena Cava that runs along the right side of my spine. It's like second largest (or largest) vein in the body, so when she is on it she significantly cuts off my blood supply. I feel very light-headed and can't breathe. I have to mash on her or lay on my left side to get her to move. My tummy is getting bigger making it much harder to do stuff, especially sleep.

I had a reality check today. I have to take my glucose test this week and we are gearing up for childbirthing classses starting next month. These things are done towards the end of the pregnancy. I can't believe we only have about 14 weeks and counting down until Taylor is here with us.

I have decided to cloth diaper after about the first month or two so I have got to start ordering my diapers. Ladies, you wouldn't BELIEVE how far diapering has come since the "old fashioned" birdseye diapers! There are now 5 different kinds of diapers!

Well, here are my 25 week belly pics. I'll be posting my belly pics every 5 weeks or so. Our next regular checkup is scheduled for March 10th. I probably won't have another ultrasound until just before Taylor arrives. This will check for any unforseen complications during labor such as her cord being around her neck or in a knot and levels of amniotic fluid.

Yea! No stretch marks...

yet!