Week 8 &9

Well Daphne you are two months old now and have gone to the doctor for your first shots. You weighed 9lbs 3oz, your such a little girl some babies are born that big. You are in the 25% for height and weight. You had to get 3 shots. When you got your first shot you screamed at first and then screamed/held your breath and your whole head turned bright red, almost purple. You held your breath through the next shot and as you got the third shot you finally began to scream and cry. I felt so bad for you, but it seemed more like you were mad rather than hurting, that's my tough girl! The doctor also gave me a new prescription for diaper rash ointment. When I went to get it filled they wanted $243!!!!! I passed on it and got an over the counter kind which has cleared everything up for you!

At the end of your 8th week you started sleeping through the night. You go to bed around 7 and wake up at 5. I am so proud of you for sleeping through the night, but it makes me sad that you don't wake up in the middle and I miss that time with you. This was my best Christmas having you here, you don't know what is going on but just having you made it special. Daddy and I took you on your first road trip over New Years Weekend you were 9 weeks and did great. You are smiling more and more and really seem to be communicating with us. At times you will babble on for a minute or so. You also really love chewing anything that gets near your mouth especially your hands. You also grasp your toys now and put them in your mouth. You are getting a little better about taking a bath but you still don't really like it. I love you more and more everyday.

Age 6&7weeks

Well baby Daphne, you never seize to amaze me. You are so far ahead of the game developmently it is scary. The Friday night before you turned 6 weeks old you slept for 9 hours straight, the next night 6 and the next 7. At first I was scared something was wrong, but everyone asured me it was normal and you would wake when you were hungry. From that point onward I haven't waken you up to eat and you are keeping yourself on a very good schedule. You go to bed between 7and8 (usually) wake around 3:30 and sleep again until 5 or 6, which is perfect with my schedule. This week you are 7 weeks old and have not been being very nice to daddy. In fact I think you are hurting his feelings. Everytime daddy holds you you cry and the second I take you back you stop crying. I don't know what is going on but I hope you stop it soon. The day you turned 7 weeks old was the first time you rolled over. We were about to leave for daycare and I had you in your crib and I was rolling your from back to tummy and tummy to back. About the third time I rolled you to your tummy you just flipped right back to you back all on you own. I was so proud, I kinda think it was a fluke though because I can't get you to do it again. You are also very mobile this week. The Saturday before you turned 7 weeks old, after I put you to sleep for the night I went out with Amanda for a few hours. You slept the whole time I was gone and when I got home and went to your bed to check on you I didn't see you. You had wiggled yourself all the way down to the end of the crib. You are also really trying to crawl already. You get your little legs a kicking and your butt in the air you just haven't got your top half up yet. If you could get your front up you would be on your way. It's one week until your first Christmas I can't wait for Santa to come visit you. We are taking you to see Santa and have your pictures made tomorrow! Mr. Fred gives me a daily report on how you are doing at Daycare, him and Judy treat you like you are their grandbaby. It makes me so happy that they love you like that but then makes me a bit sad that your real grandparents are missing out on that. Oh yeah the first thing we do everyday when we get home from work/daycare is give you a bath. Mrs. Judy has some very strong old lady purfume and you come home smelling like it. I can't stand it.

Week Two at work

Well as you can tell we made if through the first week. Each day got a little easier but it still isn't easy. Monday of the second week was very hard again because I had got to spend the whole weekend with you and then come Monday I had to leave you again. You developed a diaper rash Sunday night, because Mommy and Daddy didn't put the diaper rash ointment on you a couple time over the weekend. You have very sensitive skin and we must put ointment on you every diaper change as a preventive. Well on Wednesday the rash had got a bit better but it had developed into a few bumps. On Thursday the diaper rash had gotten worse and there were more bumps, I decided to make you a doctor appointment. Friday you got to come to work with Mommy for a bit until we went to the doctor. Turns out you had some thrush, a yeast infection and bad diaper rash. We now have meds for you and we are working on clearing it up.

Some tidbits for this week.

Monday night I gave you a binky for the first time. You kept sucking your fingers so I decided it would be easier to break you of the binky rather than your fingers.
Sunday night you slept 8.5 hours straight. Following that Sunday you have got on a good sleep schedule where after I lay you down you sleep between 4-6 hours straight. You are smiling more and more it is so cute and even cuter when you do it when you are sleeping. You haven't rolled over yet but you like to grab the side of the changing table and try. You are mommy's little alligator if you are hungry anthing that gets near your mouth is fair game. You have several small poops a day, I'm talking like 10 to 12, you get that from your daddy. Mr. Fred has named you Missy and Ms. Donna is calling you Boo. Everyone loves you so much.

First week back at work

Daffy, just wanted you to know that mommy is thinking of you. A little more than an hour to go with day two of us being apart. Today was a bit easier and I haven't felt as guilty for leaving you but I'm still not ok with it and will break down crying at anytime. Last night when I picked you up I didn't want to put you down. You fell asleep on my chest for about 30min until your daddy got home and up until 10 that night when you went to sleep I held you. I missed you so much. This morning was nice because we had some more time to bond and while I was holding you you kept staring at me and smiling it was very nice.

Daddy picked you up from Daycare on Friday and brought you home. That was the first time you and daddy spent total alone time. He did a good job. He was feeding you when I got home from work

First day at daycare and first day back at work

Oh Daphne today and the days leading up to today have been hard. Last night (11/28/10) I didn't/couldn't go to sleep until almost midnight. You were up from 3:40 to after 4:30 and I woke up at 5:30 to get ready for work. Getting your bags packed last night for daycare was very hard and once I finally laid down for bed I cried like a little baby thinking about having to leave you today. I got you to daycare about 7:15, I had to go back to the house and get your milk that I had forgotten and finally left you there for the day at 7:30. Saying goodbye to you was really hard, I feel like I have put you in jail. All morning I tried not to think about you because it makes it harder to get through the day. I was going to come visit you at lunch, but you were asleep and I didn't want to wake you. It is almost 3 and I can't wait until five when I can come get you. I don't think I will put you down once I get you. I feel like I am missing out. Well enough for now, the more I think of you the more I miss you and I don't want to cry anymore. Mommy loves you baby girl.

Week 3 to week 5

Daphne, you are so wonderful and so full of life and so opininated. You definently have mommas temper, it's so funny and so scary. You get so mad when you have to burp, change your diaper, get your boggers or take a bath. You are doing better with the bath part though. You are very stong and have been since you were born. At your one week check up the doctor was impressed with how well you held your head up and your ability to half way roll over. She said rolling over was something they look for a 4 months, so you are well on your way. I sing the alphabet to you everyday and count 1-10, I don't know if any of that is sinking in but I like to think it is.

Ok so I wanted to write to you at least every week but that just isn't happening. It seems like I don't have time for things any more so I will just write short little comments for awhile until things settle down.

You have one prominent dimple on your right cheeck it is so cute.
At one month, the first time I put you on your tummy, you held yourself up on your arms with your head up, moving it from side to side. That was the best day with you, I was so proud.
You like things your way, and you fuss until you get it.
Daddy keeps saying how strong you are and you are, you have a strong grip.
I love the little noises you make when you are first waking up.
Holding you while you sleep on my chest is the best.
I call you my little alligator/crocodlile when you are hungry b/c you start moving your head and trying to eat anything that comes close to your mouth.
Daddy laughs so hard when you try to nurse him.
I don't want you to have a paccy but if you keep sucking your little hands you are going to get one. Yesterday (11/28/10) you had your whole thumb in your mouth, it was so cute but I made you stop because I don't want you to develop a habit.
Uncle Tony loves you so much, he hogs you at all family gatherings, it is so cute.
You still have very little hair and I can't tell what color it will be.
At four weeks your 0-3months clothes are beginning to fit.
Almost everytime daddy changes a poopy diaper you poop on him and the changing table before he can get another diaper on you.
You are begining to like baths a little better as long as you don't get cold.
You still hate getting lotion put on you.
All of your cousins just adore you and drive me crazy wanting to hold you all except Brandon, he is older and hasn't held you yet.

Coming home/first 2 weeks

Wow Daphne, it has been two weeks since you came into this world. Time has flown by and it makes me sad that you are alreday two weeks old. The first night with you in the hospital was so short you didn't get here until 12:20 and by the time I got to our room and you got your bath at the nursery it was nearly 5 in the morning. That day at the hospital also went by fast, you slept alot and we had several visitors. The second night at the hospital was a little rough. You nursed every hour for about 15 to 20 minutes and with daddy's snoring, I didn't get any sleep. I was in tears when the nurses came to check on us Tuesday morning b/c I was so exhausted and overwhelmed by everything. They gave me some breastfeeding tips and told me it was ok for you to fuss a bit and I didn't have to pick you up and/or nurse you every time you made a sound. Well we finally got released around 11 that day and daddy and I were so excited to get to take you home. After loading all of our stuff and gifts there wasn't much room in the car for you and I, but we managed to fit. Daddy was so cautious pulling out onto the highway with you in the car that I wondered if we would ever make it home. Once we got on Pear Orchard Rd. (our road) I began to worry about you because you were so quiet. When we stopped at our driveway to check on you your head was bent all the way over to the side and touching your chest. We were so scared I started to cry I really thought you had died. I adjusted your head and rode halfway in the front and halfway in the back watching you the rest of the way home. Once we got home, Roscoe was so happy to see us, and very inquisitive of you. We let him come to the car and smell you and check you out. After multiple picture taking and cutting off our hospital bands we all laid down for a nap. Mommy and daddy didn't get much sleep though because we kept getting up checking on you to make sure you were breathing. For the first few days daddy and mommy kept shaking you while you slept to make sure you were ok.

We had our first outing that following Friday you were 4 days old. It seemed like it took us forever to get ready and then finally get out the door, but we did it. We went out to dinner and then to Walmart, you were a good girl and slept the whole time. Mommy rode in the backseat with you to watch and make sure you were ok. Saturday night we took you out to Iredell to meet some of you cousins. Everyone was super excited to see you especially Bit and Mackenzie. Mackenize was a bit rough with you but just was so happy to see you she kept wanting to hold and touch you. Bit was just like a little grown up holding you, you didn't let her hold you long though because you were hungry and a bit grumpy.


That following Monday was your first doctor's appointment. You had gained back your birth weight plus one ounce. The doctor said you were perfect! We then went back to Walmart, that was the first outing for just you and I. We did ok.

The rest of that week was priddy mundane and we stayed around the house alot, with some visitors coming over Saturday night.

Daphne it makes me sad how big you are getting already, you really are changing and growing too fast. I love holding you and watching your little face change and see your dimple! You eyes are grey right now and your hair, what little you have has not really picked a color yet. Sometimes it looks dark brown, red or blonde, who knows what it will be. Daddy loves you so much he can't wait to get home an hold you. It is so cute watching the two of you interacte and bond. We have just started giving you a bottle and daddy loves feeding you.

Delivery

Well Daphne from my last post you could tell it was probably time. Daddy and I left the house Sunday 10/24/10 at 11:00AM to go to the hospital to see what was going on. Before we left my contractions were 4 to 5 minutes apart and hurting priddy bad. We got checked in and to our room about 12, when the nurse checked she said I was dilated to a 2 and 90% faced. I wanted to have a natural birth so daddy and I went outside to walk and see if we could get things to progress. We (I) walked for a little over an hour and when we came back at around 1:40pm the nurse checked and we were at a four. The contractions were so painful, more than I had expected. Every time I would get a contraction it would hurt my stomach, my back and the worse part was the pain running down the front of my legs. Also every time I got a contraction my whole body would shake uncontrollably and I was very nausea, throwing up a couple of times. Daddy was very worried about us and convinced me to get the epidural, now I feel like I weenied out and should have tried longer to do it naturally. I got the epidural about 4:30 when I was dilated to a five. After getting the epidural labor was a breeze, I couldn't even feel the contractions anymore. People started to arrive around 5 the first were Aunt Pam and Uncle Tony, followed by Nanny and Papaw then Amanda and Delydia and finally Memaw. Labor was going slow and around 7pm Dr. Vandever came and broke my water, at that time we were at a 6. Also when they broke my water there was some meconium so they started to flush that out, so you would be okay and not get anything in your lungs. I was checked again around 9 and was still at a 6 then at about 10:40 the nurse came in and checked me and I was at a 9. Woo hoo it was almost time to push. The nurse began bringing everything in for the actual labor and somewhere around 11 I began to push. During the pushing your daddy had to leave to go to the bathroom, he actually announced to the nurse and I that he had to go to the front to blow up the toilet. We were both a little dumbfounded I couldn't believe he was really leaving in the middle of it. Well about an hour after pushing your head had crowned so the doctor was called. After waiting on her for what seemed like forever probably about 20 minutes she arrived and I finished pushing. You were born at 12:20am Monday 10/25/10, 7lbs 7oz and 20 1/4 inches long. I will never forget seeing you for the first time, it was amazing. I wanted to hold you right away and it seemed like the doctor was taking forever to suction your airways. It took all I had not to reach out and grab you. Finally you were lyed on my chest and I held you, you had a conehead and I was worried at first but the doctors said that it was normal, it is back to normal now. After they took you to clean you up some, daddy was watching and put your mittens on you right away because he said you were scratching yourself. He loves you so much and wants to protect you from everything. The first time he held you he was absolutely beaming, I regret not getting any pictures of it, but I wasn't in a position to get them. It seemed like it took forever for them to clean me up and let me nurse but it wasn't that long. You latched on so easy and made breastfeeding not too hard. After you were done eating everyone who I mentioned before came into the room to hold you, everyone except Nanny and Papaw who had left earlier because you were taking your sweet time and they had to go to the doctor themselves the next morning. Everyone owweed and awweed over you and said your were perfect. It was an amazing night, that I will never forget!

39 weeks and counting

Daphne, the doctor visit went good today. You heartrate was at 146bpm, I am dilated to a 3 and 60% thinned. We are getting closer, but please hang on til Monday, I really don't want that other doctor delivering you.

Well Daphne Friday night the Texas Rangers made history and won the pendent so they will be going to the world series! Saturday was Mackenzie's birthday she turned 3. On the way home from Mackenzie's party I started getting a little crampy and then started to feel alot of pressure.

Today is Sunday, I didn't sleep very well last night, I was very crampy. Starting at 5 I was having consistant cramping, but sometime after 6:30 I fel back asleep. I woke up at 7:11 with my first real contraction. I have been having frequent contractions since then, but I don't think they are strong enough to go to the hospital. I think the hardest thing is not knowing when is the time to go. Here comes another one........

38 weeks and getting close!

Daphne, we went to the doctor on Friday, your heartbeat was up to 166bpm, that's the highest it's been in awhile. We also found out that I am 2cm dilated and 50% effaced, your head is also very low, the doc said it could be any day now!! I called daddy at about 11 that day to tell him it cold be any day he called back about 2 hours later to see if I was ready to have you yet,lol. Since then daddy has been so helpful and kind. I wish I would have told him along time ago that you could be here any day, boy would my life have been easier!

I have to go to the regular doctor tomorrow because I have some crap going on with my lips. They are swollen with blisters and hurt, this has been going on since two Fridays ago. My biggest fear is it is some kind of infection and I'm not going to be able to kiss you because I will give it to you.

All day today (Monday 18th) I have been having contractions, they are about 20 to 40 minutes apart. This could be early labor, or just practice, only time will tell, but I think I will skip the gym tonight and go get some rest.

False alarm Daphne, you are still not here. It is Thursday now and all yesterday and all night last night, I was very crampy so I thought maybe you were coming. After a hot shower this morning all cramping went away, kinda sad, but I know you are stubborn like me and will come when you are ready.

Ok so the lip mystery is solved, well kinda anyways. I went to the doctor on Tuesday and they told me it was an allergic reaction to something I had ate. At first I thought maybe something in the hot sauce b/c that is when it first started. Then I thought no it was the jalapenos, but sadly after eating a tomato last night I realized it is tomatoes. Tomatoes are my favorite veggie and one of the best things you can eat fresh off the vine during the summer. I have never been allergic to tomatoes and I hope after the pregnancy the allergy goes away and I hope that you do not get it.

Today has been a long day, all of my work at work has been finished, now I am just waiting on you to get here. October has by far been the hardest month only because the closer we get the longer it seems to take. I just really want you here to hold and love and watch you. Since today is Thursday I would like for you to hold off now until Monday because our doctor is not on call this weekend and I do not want that creepy guy doctor delivering you. Also Sunday is Mackenzie's birthday and I don't want you to have to share your birthday with her, I want you to have your own special day!

Week 37

This week has been so busy, today is Wednesday already and I haven't had a chance to write to you before now. Friday night we hung out with Daddy's friends from CA that were staying with us. They are really nice people and we had alot of fun. Saturday I got up made breakfast for everyone then showered, went to Wal-mart, and came home and began making jalapeno poppers and brownies. Oh man will I never make jalapeno poppers again without wearing gloves. On the way out to Iredell that night I felt like my hands were literally on fire, the pain didn't go away until Sunday afternoon.

Your little cousin Mackenzie is very excited about your arrival, she really wants to see you. Mackenzie knows your name is Daphne and that you are in my tummy but she doesn't understand why she can't see you, or how come you wont come out. She pushed on my belly trying to find you until her daddy told her to stop. Later that night I was watching Mickey with her and she wanted to know if you liked Mickey too? She then came up to me and tried to feel you and lifted up my shirt trying to see you and after looking in my belly button (which is hardly there anymore) she gave up.

Our company left Monday morning and man was I so tired at work on Monday. Thur-Sun we stayed up til like 2 or 3 in the morning and then didn't really sleep in the next day so it made for one tired mommy. Daddy and I were discussing getting everything ready for the hospital on Monday night, and he wants to go ahead and load everything in the car now because he thinks he will too nervous to remember anything. I love him so much, he is so cute. I keep trying to explain to him that once labor starts we will have plenty of time, but he still thinks it is like in the movies and he won't have time for anything.

Tuesday after the gym I started to have priddy bad regular cramping, I thought it might really be time for you to come. Once I finished dinner and got off my feet though, the cramping went away and I realized it was a false alarm.

Yowzer little girl, you have become a kicking machine. You have gotten so strong that you can really see you moving in my belly. I took a video of it last night, it is so cool to watch. Daddy says you are trying to find your way out. He keeps saying Daphne tell mommy to let you out.

Tomorrow is the 16th and the day that daddy predicted you to be here, we will have to see but I think he is wrong on this one.

Week 36

Today Daph, while driving back to work from lunch, I saw a newborn baby calf. It made me think that you could come any day, and for the first time I can say we are ready for you! Our hospital bags are packed, the nursery is finished and everything has been checked off my to do list. I still would like to shampoo the carpets before you get here, but it is not a must I can do that once you get here.

Roscoe is now an outside dog, he hates it and it makes me feel bad. I finally kicked Roscoe all the way out when I realized he had gotten fleas in the house, they were/are in the carpet, urghhh..... I swear it seems like we always have some kind of pest living with us. I just realized that when you are older reading this you might think we had a dirty house, but that is not the case. I clean it everyday, we just have bad luck with bugs and skunks and stuff. The fleas are only in our bedroom, where Roscoe spent most of the time, but I am getting bombs tonight to get rid of them.

Last week we had a doctor appointment and you were doing just fine, heartbeat was 155. I also found out that we have to start going to the doctor every week now instead of every other week. It's exciting that we are getting close and kinda a pain because I have to get off work, but you are well worth it. I hope at this weeks appointment they can give me some information, like what position are you in, am I dilated any, are we still on for the same due date. Last Thursday I thought something was wrong with me, my left side hurt so bad, constantly all day. When I got to the doctor and asked them what was going on, they told me it was you. You must have been lying different or pushing on something. I hope you don't decide to do that again.

We took the tour of the hospital last weekend, and for the most part it answered my questions, but it also brought up a concern. We learned that the three doctors in the practice rotate shifts on the weekends, so there is a good chance the doctor I have been using and am comfortable with, will not be the doctor to deliver you, if you come on a weekend, urghhh... I know I have told you to come on a Friday but unless it is Friday the 15th (our doctor is on call then) then please come on a weekday. A Thursday would be best, that way daddy can take off Friday and Monday and have plenty of time with us.

Daddy is already ready for you to get here, I mean like tomorrow would be good with him. Every night he talks to you and says hurry up Daphne, I want you to come out. Daddy thinks you will be here within the next two weeks, I think you will wait on your due date, or longer.

Well Daphne, today is Tuesday and it has started off to be a very good day, lets hope mommy's mood stays that way! One reason I am happy today is because I am wearing a shirt from before I lost weight and it is still big on me. Makes me happy that at 9 months pregnant I am still smaller then I was at my heaviest. Now I know once you get here I can get this weight back off.

Wednesday morning came way too early when you woke up at 4:15am with hiccups. It was so cute, but then I felt bad that my little girl had hiccups and there was nothing I could do to stop them. This morning was really the first time I can remember you keeping me up because you were moving so much. Not only did you have hiccups for about 15 minutes but it felt like you were moving lower and lower into your birth position. I hope this is what I was feeling anyways! Daddy said this morning that he thinks you will be here Oct 16th, I think you will be here between the 29th and 31st. Lets see who wins.

Thursday has been very aggravating!!! Some out of state friends of you dads have come to Texas because their mother died. We said they could stay at the house when they came because the information we were given was that they were coming in November and staying 1 maybe 2 nights. Well this morning daddy got a call from them saying they were in Texas and are going to be here for 2 weeks. I don't want to be selfish but I really wanted these last three weeks before you got here to be special for daddy and I, and I don't want to be playing hostess for them.

Friday was a doctor's appointment, I was disappointed for a few reasons. One, we didn't find out any new information like if we are getting closer to labor or not. Second was I thought I wasn't going to get to have an appointment next week, but after some tears and dwelling over it all weekend, I got things worked out. Good news is your doing great in there and the doctor said you might have dropped since my uterus hadn't grown any from the previous week. Also I weighed this morning and we lost 2 pounds, yippee!

END OF 34 BEGINNING OF 35

Lets start with Thursday of last week, that is the day that mommy finally became Mrs. Skipper. No, daddy and I have been married for 4+ years, but I never changed my last name, until last Thursday. I was a little worried once I got to the driver license office because I had forgot my glasses and didn't think I could pass the test. I went ahead and after two tries, closing one eye at a time I passed the exam and had that restriction taken off of my license. I was so happy that I passed it without my glasses.

Daddy worked had to go to work early and stay late all last week, and it is looking like it will be the same for this week. I hate that he has to do that for several reasons. The first is, it is just too hard on him he worked 74 hours last week and he would have had more if they hadn't been rained out early on Saturday. Second is I feel like I don't get alot of time with him and the time that we do have he is very tired, and here lately I have been very hormonal. Last Thursday night, I started crying for no reason and couldn't help it. That really is the only thing that I don't like about being preganat, my inability to control my emotions. Everything else I can deal with, the aches and pains, constant urge to pee, swelling, the weight gain yada yada yada, but I can't control or fix the emotions.

Saturday after daddy got rained out we decided to make one more last trip to the casino before you get here. I know I might have already said that the time before this last one was the last but believe me when I say this was really the last time. I was so miserable on the drive home, those two hours seemed like an eternity. We didn't leave the casino until about 1 am and by this time I was beyond wore out and tired. For the whole car ride my legs cramped and I had to constantly move them, then my back starting really hurting and I was very uncomfortable. We stopped about 45min from the house and I got out and stretched and then took over the driving, which gave me something else to focus on and it helped me make it through.

Sunday morning we were going to take a tour of the hospital but once we woke up about 10 (we didn't get home until after 3) I felt horrible. Needless to say we did not go to the hospital or really do anything that day. Aunt Bonnie, Josh, Joe and Chloe came over for a short visit while they were waiting on the rain to quit so they could go to Dinosaur world. After they left Daddy and I finished watching the cowboys game and went and got a pizza, which I ate entirely too much of, but it was really good!

Today is Tuesday and I got some good news, looks like Judy will be babysitting you again! I am calling her at lunch to confirm, but that will be so good if she can. Also last night I got your clothes washed and most of the diaper bag packed, we are almost ready for you!

Beginning of Week 34

So my attitude has totally changed from the last post I wrote to you, but I think this constant changing of feeling is something to be expected. Today I woke up feeling great, honestly if it wasn't for you being a wiggle worm this morning, I would feel as though I wasn't pregnant. I don't know if I slept better last night, I slept on my tummy which kept my back from hurting, or if I was just more relaxed. I feel a little less stressed because I checked a few things off of my to-do list this weekend. This morning I felt great, like I could go run a mile or so, but I won't because I don't want to shake you up. I think you have also "droped" so to speak, you have definitely changed position. It is easier to get up off the couch/bed and bend over again. You are not real low yet though because I am not waddling yet.

It's a weird feeling because I don't feel you as high anymore and I have more belly fat lower where you are, so I find myself thinking is she still there is she ok, but then you move and I'm like ok it's not a dream you really do have a baby inside of you. I know this sounds crazy since I have had you for 34 weeks, had several doctor appointments, seen you several times, heard you more than that and feel you everyday but sometimes I ask myself, "Is this real, am I really going to be a mommy soon." I think even once you are here and I hold you I will still be asking myself could this really be true, can I really be this blessed?

Daddy and I finally got that dag nab swing taken apart and returned. We got you a smaller swing that is pink and portable. I keep feeling a little guilty because the new swing cost less but all of the money from the old swing was spent on you. Plus the new swing is a travel swing so we can bring it with us when we go places. We also bought you a diaper wipe warmer, even though daddy thinks it is crazy and says he has never heard of it. I keep asking him if he would want a cold wipe on his bottom in the middle of the night. Maybe we won't need it, but if we do you have it. We also picked up a few other little things you needed, clothes, hairbrush, thermometer, hair bows etc. Daddy looked for you some more shoes, but didn't find any he liked, but he did get you a pair of sunglasses. I think we have you everything you need, now I just have to get a few personal things and we will be set. Daddy also bought you a pig toy!

I have begun packing the diaper bag for the hospital and have a couple of bathroom things packed for me. All of your blankets have been washed. All of the towels, bibs and burp cloths that I have opened have also been washed. I am hesitant on opening everything until you get here. Daddy and I put together the glider and moved it to your room, it is very comfortable. I secured a couple of the things on your walls, need to get some more nails to finish it. We also tested out the monitors and they work well. Still need to wash your clothes and finish organizing everything, but had a priddy productive weekend.

One of the most difficult tasks left to do is make Roscoe an outside dog. I feel bad making Roscoe go outside because I know he likes being inside, but he sheds too much. I've gotten use to Roscoe following me around every where in the house. Sometimes he gets in my way, but it makes me feel good that he loves me that much, and it breaks my heart making him stay outside, but it's what I have to do to keep you safe.

Last week at your the doctor appointment your heart beat was 153, that's a little higher than it had been recently but still normal. You are still measuring right on and by the doctor feeling my belly it seems you are head down!!!!!!!!!! I know you could still move around/flip over, but it comforts me thinking you are head down, not breech and we don't need to worry about a c-section.


Ok, I guess that is enough for today, love ya little girl!

Middle of week 33

Today is Tuesday, how I long for Saturday morning when I have nothing to do and can sleep as long as I want to. Seems like it is getting harder and harder to get out of bed each morning, I am so tired here lately. It is also physically getting harder and harder to get out of bed. In the middle of the night I don't know if it's from lying down or if it's contractions or what, but when I get up to go to the bathroom my stomach is cramping so much I can hardly move, let alone roll over or get out of bed. Every night daddy ask me if I'm ok because I am moaning when I move. Once I get up and move around the pain goes away, so that is good. Also I am very irritable here lately, and I hate being this way. I know I am being grumpy and unpleasent but I can't seem to quit being this way. I find myself apologizing to daddy quite often because I have yelled or griped at him for no real reason.

So last week and through out the weekend daddy was very sick. He had missed alot of work and was not eating. He finally went to the doctor on Monday and was diagnosed with a severe sinus infection. He was given some medicine and is starting to feel better.

Last Saturday was the baby shower and for the most part things were perfect. My good friends were there, family that lived close were there and a few people I didn't expect to see showed up. We were so blessed with all of the gifts that we received. It was more than I ever expected and now we just have a few small things to get. I went through all of the clothes last night and the only thing we really need will be some pants, size newborn and 0-3mths. I told daddy this and he said ok but lets wait until after she gets here just incase shes a he. Oh poor daddy, he is so funny. I wish that he would stop saying things like this because he is making me paranoid when I go to open something to wash and I think if I open this and it's not a girl I can't return it???????

I put your swing together, it took about an hour and a half and once I turned it on to check it, I found out it didn't work. I was so annoyed, because I wanted everything set up in your room and because I am going to have to spend another hour and a half taking it apart, then lugging it back to the store. Needless to say the swing is still put together, I need to undo it but I just haven't felt like it yet. Sunday we went and got the glider for your room, it is still sitting in the living room in the box, hopefully daddy will get to it soon.

I am begining to feel a little overwhelmed with everything that is left to do and with no energy to do it. I could probably put the hammer down and finish everything in one weekend I just have to make myself do it. The biggest thing that needs to be done is we have to find you a daycare, and that is also the hardest thing to do.

Every night daddy tells me, "I think Daphne is getting bigger." I love that he notices that you are growing, but that also means that I am growing. Oh Daph mommy was in a grumpy mood earlier, but it is begining to lift. Thank God for freinds, always be kind to people you, never now when you will need them even for a simple hello to brighten up your day. I love you baby girl and can't wait to hold you in my arms, even though I will have to fight for you from daddy.

Labor Day Weekend

Last weekend was Labor day weekend and it was priddy eventful. Saturday after daddy got off work we went to Uncle Tony & Pam's for dinner, dominoes and to work on Daddy's truck. Josh and Joe also came so they could stay that night with us. Halfway through the evening Uncle Tony came in to tell me that we couldn't drive the truck home, said daddy didn't want to tell me. So that night we all loaded up in Uncle Tony's truck and took it home. Daddy drove to Burleson the next morning to get parts and then we went back to Iredell Sunday afternoon. About 4 that afternoon the truck still wasn't finished or drive able and we needed another part in Arlington,urghh good thing I had brought the car.

After much persuading daddy convinced all of us to go get the part and then go to the casino. So off we went, arriving in OK about 10. Daddy started with $10 and was up $250 when we left the first place to go to our room. We didn't have dinner until after 1 am that night, you and I were very hungry. I finally went to the room about 4 while daddy gambled all night. Really I mean all night, no sleep for him. Through out the night he was up about $650 but only left there $120 ahead.

So back to Iredell we went on Monday to finally fix the truck. Daddy is very accident prone and was stung by two yellow jackets out in Iredell. His face is still swollen, looks like he has a black eye and his chest is still very red. At least he didn't have to go the the ER like he did last month from getting stung by Bea's. They finally got the truck running but it isn't all the way fixed.

It started raining here Monday night and we have had almost 6" so far, everything is flooding. I have been feeling icky again in the mornings, kinda like I did in the beginning. I am also very tired and have no want to do anything. I am going to get my hair cut tonight, then we are going out to eat with the family for Nanny's birthday. This Saturday is the baby shower, I can't wait to see everyone.

Uh Oh

Ok Daphne, I am at work trying not to freak out and cry. You were suppose to be going to a home daycare that my boss' wife runs just down the road from our house. I was so excited because it wasn't far to drive, you would be very safe and well taken care of and I could come see you at lunch. Just a minute ago my boss told me that his wife has taken a job at another daycare which is halfway across town. I don't want you at some daycare where they hire teenagers to take care of you. Plus I won't be able to see you at lunch and it would take almost an hour one way to get you there. Oh Daph I don't know what to do now?????????

Begining of week 32

Daphne, we are getting so close, only 8 more weeks to go. Last night Daddy and I watched you roll around in my tummy. The last part of this pregnancy has been a piece of cake so far, I feel great and everything is starting to come together.

Last Wednesday I was hanging up a few things in your room and saw a small spider on the wall. I was busy so I asked Daddy to come kill it. This spider was a mean little guy, when I got close to it, it rose it's front legs in defense mode,lol. Anywho daddy came in and killed it. Later that night he informed me that he wanted to move your crib to our room, because he didn't like that spider being in your room and didn't want you to get bit. We also have had quite a few scorpions in the house lately and usually it doesn't faze your dad, but now he says we are getting an exterminator because he dosen't want anything to happen to you. He loves you so much, I just hope he is not too protective of you.

It's a beautiful day today, we finally got almost 3 inches of rain yesterday and a cold front has moved in, right now it is in the 70's. The animals really are loving it, I just watched about 50 egrits fly by the window, and the cows are very active. I can't wait for you to be able to see everything. I think tonight daddy and I are going to the hospital to pre-register and take a tour of the OB department. Your cousins' Josh and Joe are coming to spend Saturday night with us, I am so happy they get to come over, it has been awhile.

Enough for now, I love you baby girl!

3D Ultrasound

My beautiful baby girl, you are a very idependent/stubborn little girl already. You like to have things your way, yep that's my girl! Yesterday was the 3D ultrasound and you were good about showing daddy the goods and proving you are a girl, but that is all you cooperated with.

To begin with you are lying breach.... you need to start moving and get your head in the other direction you have 8 weeks so make this a priority! Then you had your whole body squished on the left side of my tummy making it hard to see you. Then the moment we had been waiting for seeing your little face. Or should I say half of your face since you kept your leg up in front of your face. We tried everything to get you to move that leg. The ultrasound tech, had me roll to my side several times, she pushed down on my belly and bounced the u/s apparatus on my belly, but you wern't having it. You finally put your leg down but then you put both of your hands in front of your face. After that you got tired of us and completely flipped over to your belly where the only thing we could see was your back and butt.

Enough with the distractions, here is what we did see. You were opening and closing your eyes, you have my pig nose, don't worry it is very cute! You have daddy's thin lips, love it! Your fingers were very long, we did see your feet but not your toes, so daddy will have to wait to check you for finger toes. You smiled for us, several times and we have a picture of that! I have the pictures at work with me and I can't stop looking at them. Yesterday daddy was hogging the pictures at the doctors office and then looked at them for a long time once we got home.

Success

I think the skunkies are gone for good! Daddy brought home 4 big rocks and blocked the hole last night, we didn't hear or smell anything, so I think we are good to go! Today was weigh in day (beginning of week 31) and it didn't look to good, mommy has gained 26lbs and I am up to 169, I really don't like this part of the pregnancy. It will be ok though, I will lose it when you get here, but be prepared we will be doing plenty of walking.


So I'm just now getting back to finishing this post and it has been a few days. Still no skunks, so I think we are safe! Last weekend we finished buying the wall decorations for your room. I painted the letters for your name and hung them up, though I noticed last night that the D has fallen down, but I will get it back up.

At the end of week 30 and now week 31 you have become a very active little girl, I love it. I feel you move so much more and you can really see ya moving when I look at my belly. At the end of week 30th was the first time that you kicked me and it hurt. I was lying down to bed with daddy and every time you kicked I jumped, because it was so hard. It was a nice feeling though, knowing your getting bigger and stronger. You have always been really low in my belly and for the last several weeks you have been lying right on my bladder. Sometimes when you kick I have to run straight to the bathroom because it feels like I am peeing myself. At night I find myself watching my belly rather than the tv because it is so cool seeing my belly push out and watch you roll around in there.

Your cousin Chloe stayed with us for a few hours on Sunday. I had her lying on my belly while I was burping her and you started kicking her. It was so cute, like you were saying get off that's my mommy. Then that night when daddy and I were watching TV I was right next to him and you kept kicking him in his arm. I don't think you like things pushing against you because if I rest my arm on my belly or where tight pants, you kick right at that spot.

Daphne I love you so much already and can't wait until you are here. Today daddy and I get to see you at the doctor appointment. We are having the 3D ultrasound and I am so excited!

Progress

Well Daph, I think you may be able to come home to a good smelling house afterall. I have made poor Roscoe be on skunk patrol for the last 5 nights, and while he has slept outside we have not smelled any skunks. Last night I temporarily plugged up the hole to see if anything would disturb the rags and nothing did. So tonight I am plugging up the hole for good and Roscoe will be happy to be sleeping inside again. Cross your little fingers and hope this works!

Last night you were very active, it was the first time that you kept me awake because you were moving so much, but I loved it. I love feeling you move and I wish you did it more often. I think you might have changed your position in my belly some also. You were laying tranverse but I think you might have begun to face head down.

I can't wait to see you on Tuesday, we are having the 3D ultrasound and we should get a good idea of what you will look like. Daddy is still uncertain that you are a girl, so lets prove him wrong and you show him the goods. I'm sure daddy will also want to check to see if you have a pig nose or finger toes. It's ok if you do, because mommy has these traits and he still loves me.

I'm getting so excited only 9 more weeks until you get here, and two more weeks until the baby shower. There is still so much to do, so you stay in there and keep baking, but if you came today we would also be ready. I'm getting nervous, I hope I can give you everything you need and be able to properly take care of you, only time will tell.

Smelly situation

Oh Daphne dear, good thing you can not smell yet. We have a skunk, probably more like skunks living underneath our house. This isn't the first time we have had this problem either.

Last winter we had a small family of skunks living under our house for what seemed like forever but probably was only a couple of weeks. I knew where they were coming and going so I would wait outside for them with the shotgun. After many failed nights of seeing the elusive skunks I finally got one. Bam he was dead, I thought yippee got that dad gum skunk. I go inside so excited because our smell was gone. That same night I look out the back door and see another skunk. I get the gun and sneak outside, hoping to not get sprayed. Well there it was, I shot him, didn't kill it but he ran off mortally wounded. So that was two that night and I thought for sure that was all that could be under there. Well the next night I heard something under the house again, I wanted to cry I was so tired of these dang skunks. I guess that lonely guy finally left since all of his friends were gone because we hadn't had anymore problems, so I thought anyways.

Well about two weeks ago I started hearing something under the house again, the dreaded feeling came upon me that it was skunks again. Then a couple of nights later I was in the living room and I smelt that horrible stench creeping up and I knew it was skunks. I was so mad at myself for not fixing that hole better in February, I yelled at your dad for it to, at this point I was mad at the world. That smell infuriates me, I can't stand it. The next day all I could think of was how to get rid of this skunk. My best idea was to build a small alley way with chicken wire leading from the hole into the yard.

That night I went home and started my task. I thought it was full proof. So I built the trap and at the end of the trap, (this is where I wanted the skunk to go, so I could shoot it) I placed skunk treats to lure him there. I put everything I thought a skunk might eat, a strawberry, a piece of peanut butter bread, cat food and a can of sardines. I was so happy, I thought for sure this was going to work. So that night I waited in my bathroom, this is by the hole, to hear anything in my trap. Well it didn't take too long and I heard something obviously stuck in my trap. With excitement and fear I grabbed the gun and snuck outside. As I rounded the corner gun up and hammer down, ready to kill that stinky beast, I was shocked to see what I had trapped. It was a cute little cottontail bunny. Phew what a relief, it was a bunny, surely I thought bunnies and skunks wouldn't live in the same den.

I convinced myself that the skunk smell I had smelt must have been from a skunk spraying next to the house not under it. Now I had a dilemma though, how do I get the bunny out but keep the trap up to keep away any other skunks? I decided to catch the bunny on some glue traps and grab him and put him over the fence, but the next night I realized the bunny had already dug out from under the trap, ok problem solved, yeah right.

Last night when preparing for bed I heard something coming or going from that hole, I told myself must be the bunny, because bunnies don't live with skunks. Wrong, Aunt Bah reminded me of Thumper and the skunk in Bambi, thanks sis just what I wanted to hear. Well this morning around 2am I woke up to the putrid smell of skunk. I tried pulling my shirt over my nose and then spraying perfume but nope still smelly. Finally your dad woke up and was like, yuck skunk, and I was like yeah 30 minutes ago. Your dad finally lit some incense, something I hadn't thought of and it took the smell away temporarily for us to go back to sleep.

Tonight something will be done about this problem. I can't have all of your stuff smelling like a skunk. I would just wait outside and shoot them, but you can hear now and I feel guilty shooting a gun while you are there, it is so loud. I'm going to try and put up a one way door, where they can push it out but not push to get back in. If this doesn't work we will seal up the hole and let them die under the house. This is definently a last resort. This has been a rough summer for us and critters. We have had several black widows, right outside of the house, wolf spiders in and out of the house, scorpions in the house, non venomous snakes outside of the house, and one in the wall, a copperhead in the backyard and now the skunks. I love where we live but I don't want any you to encounter anything that I just wrote about. I have even contemplated moving, just so you wouldn't be around any of those things, but living in town presents other dangers.

On a happier note, my doctors appointment on August 17th was great, your heartbeat was 137bpm and your still measuring good. Also I am not anemic nor do I have gestational diabetes, so bring on the ice cream and pizza. We are going to dinner tonight with your Nanny & Papaw at Chachi's, it is very yummy! Today is also your cousin Brandon's birthday.

P.S. Your daddy has now began waking me up when I am sleeping on my stomach to inform me that I am squishing you and I need to turn over. He also comments every morning that you have gotten bigger. I think now that he can see and feel you in my belly he is really getting excited.

Reactions to Daphne

Daphne this is how people reacted when they found out about you!

I didn't want to tell any of the kids (you have 10 cousins already by the way) until after the first trimester, just in case something happened. That didn't really work out as planned but oh well, I was mad at first but now it doesn't really matter. Skylar, Brandon and Jonathan already knew about you, but the rest didn't. I told Little Bit first and she was excited because I had told her a secret and wanted to know if you were a boy or a girl and what your name was. Bella was too little to understand, she was just barely a year when we told the others so she didn't have an opinion. I then told Josh that we were having a baby, he was excited, but seemed a little hesitant I think because of the close bond that we have always had. He then began to ask questions, he wasn't too happy with you being a girl, he wanted a boy cousin to play with, but he still is excited. We hadn't picked your name out for sure yet so Josh suggested Mary since it was out of the bible, he is such a sweet boy, I know you will love him. I told Joe next, I said "Joe guess what?" He said, "what," I said, "Aunt Kimmy is going to have a baby," he then said, "well guess what I seen a snake and it was this big (showing me with his hands)." I kinda laughed because he just was not really interested and wanted to tell me about his story. A few weeks later while I was sitting in Memaws living room with Joe he was kinda upset and asked me why I didn't tell him I was having a baby. I said what do you mean Joe, he said well Bit said you are having a baby and I didn't know. Ha ha ha, he was so interested in his snake story that he never even heard me tell him about you, but that's Joe for ya. Chloe was still in Aunt Bon's belly so she it will be awhile before she has a clue.

We told Macy and Mackenzie next. Macy already kinda new from Skylar so she just said cool. Mackenzie is only two so it was fun trying to explain to her, that we were having a baby and it is in my tummy right now. She kept looking at my belly and wanted me to take you out. She asks me sometimes when you are coming and I tell her you will be here soon after her birthday. One time I told her you kicked me and she told me to tell you to quit doing that.

That takes care of the kids, who actually were the last to know. I wanted to wait to tell everyone, but your dad just couldn't wait. He told all of his buddies at work and his brother, who told their wives. I don't know exactly how they reacted but I'm sure they were happy for us. The first person I told was my friend Amanda, she was super excited and happy for us.

We told you Grandad that he was going to be a grandad again, and he almost cried. He said he knows we will be good parents and we deserve to have a baby. I told Memaw while she was cooking my birthday dinner and she starting oohing and ahhing and hugged me telling me congrats. Right after that I told Aunt Bon and she was happy for us. Next was Aunt Ba, she was happy and said I told you as soon as you got skinny you were going to get pregnant. We told Nanny and Papaw a little later and they were excited with lots of questions. Grandma was also very excited that we were having a baby and told me that you would be as beautiful as I was. She has bought you several things and continues to gripe at me for things I do, because she doesn't want anything to happen to you.

2nd Trimester

May 1st, 2010 to Aug 6th, 2010 marked the second trimester. Wow we are 2/3 of the way done, it seems so long yet so short at the same time. So many wonderful and exciting things happened during this time for us. Also I got to tell my nieces and nephews about you, which is something I had been waiting to do.

I had four doctor appointments during the second trimester. The first was on 5/14/10 I got to hear your little heart beat and it was still pretty fast, above 160bpm. On 5/20/10 I felt you move for the first time. I had been feeling little flutters before this but I wasn't sure if it was you or gas. I was laying down to go to sleep that night and I felt you kick/punch not for sure which. I had been waiting on you to move since the 16th week b/c I had read that some women feel movement as early as 16 weeks, but you held out two more weeks before I could feel you. I would only feel you move maybe once a day at first, it was still very sporadic. I would lie down and push on my belly trying to feel you or get you to move. Your dad would get so protective and tell me to quit pushing on you. He always thought I was going to hurt you. Your daddy would tell me if he saw me push on my belly one more time he was going to go buy a new truck....... You will understand the meaning of this when you get a little bigger.


The second doctor appointment was on 6/3/10 which was a good one because I got an ultrasound and got to see you. This ultrasound was a comprehensive one where they checked all of your organs and physical features and found no visible birth defects or abnormalities. That was such a blessing to hear that you had no known problems. This ultrasound and the previous one I have on a DVD so I watch it periodically it is so cool seeing you bounce around on there. The day after the appointment (right at 20 weeks) I was lying in bed after work watching some cop show waiting on daddy to get off work and I felt you kick on the outside of my belly. I had my hand on my belly rubbing it and you kicked hard enough for my hand to feel it. I immediately called daddy and told him to hurry home because I wanted him to feel you. When he got home I laid down and had daddy put his hand on my belly, he just kinda cupped it there and wouldn't push down. I felt you kick and asked Daddy if he felt you he told me yes.

Around June 25th is when you became my pain in the butt, I mean literally I began having tailbone pain. It was really bad at work because I had to sit for 8 hours a day, it was a dull pain but very much there. My next doctor appointment was July 1st. This appointment was very quick, I just went in and got to hear you heartbeat, it had began to slow down a bit, which is normal, I believe it was around 150bpm.

It seems like every milestone with you happened on a Friday, which was the turn day of the week, like your Monday. You were a week older each Friday and that is usually when I experienced something new with you. July 23rd was the beginning of week 26th and the first Braxton Hicks contraction that I felt. At first I thought you were just rolling over but at about the third time I realize my tummy was actually tightening and staying that way for a few seconds. It was such a cool feeling because it would make you ball up and I could really feel the outline of your body with my hand.

Somewhere during the 27th week was when daddy really felt you kick. All the other times he said he could feel you he was just telling me that. I guess he just wanted me to be happy so that is why he had said he had felt you, when he really hadn't. I was laying in bed that morning, half way asleep when I heard daddy tell me how beautiful I was. I remember thinking, "I'm sure I look lovely with my upper lip stuck to the top of my teeth, hair all a mess and drooling," but that's why I love him, he thinks I'm beautiful no matter what. Then I hear daddy get real excited and say, "I felt her, I felt her again, did you feel that?" He was so excited that I knew it was the first time he had really felt you. I busted him on his previous lies and he admitted that this was the first time he had really felt you. Since then I frequently wake up to daddy rubbing my belly.

8/3/10 was the last doctor appointment for the second trimester. Your little heartbeat was 147bpm and the doctor measured my stomach and you were measuring right at 28/29 weeks. Yippee my little girl should arrive right on schedule. I also had to go take my gestational diabetes test, I will get the results today 8/17/10 on your next visit.

First Trimester Experiences

During the first trimester so many different things were going on, you were developing and growing and my body was preparing for you. When I first found out I was pregnant it was very early, I was a little over 4 weeks along and had not really experienced any symptoms yet. A couple of days later and they were all there in full force. I was never a breakfast fan, but I fast became one while I was pregnant with you. The morning would start with me trying not to gag as I brushed my teeth, the worst was brushing my tounge. Then I would get in the shower, which I took as fast as I could because I alwasy felt like I was going to vomit. After the shower and before I could blow dry my hair I was hoovering over the toilet, with Roscoe right at my side, trying to figure out what was going on. I didn't throw up as much as a dry heeved, even though I think throwing up makes you feel better.



I confessed my pregnancy priddy early to my boss, for one I was for sure she knew and secondly I wanted someone to know why I was running to the bathroom every five minutes and so grouchy. I was going to keep you a secret from my boss for a few weeks but one day I brought a pickle to work for a snack and when my boss saw it in the fridge she asked if I was pregnant. I about died, I wasn't ready to tell anyone yet, so with a red face I said, "oh no, definently not." The next day I told her because I knew she must have picked up on the symptoms. After the congratulations she told me that no, she had no clue and was just making a joke. So you could have been my secret a little longer, but everyone at the ranch was so happy to hear about you that I am glad I told them.



I gained alot of weight during the first trimester because, well for one I quit my diet and didn't feel guilty about it. Also my stomach would cramp so bad if I didn't eat almost constantly, but then when I did eat I was running to the bathroom thinking it was all coming back up. Also the first trimester is so tiring, I would take a nap at lunch and be sleeping on the couch after work until your dad got home. He was very nice and would be quiet and keep the tv off, which is very hard for him, and he would wait on dinner until I got up and felt like cooking. I can't say I really craved anything during this time. I did want anything and everything fried, but I think this also might have been from not eating it for a year also.



I also had this new found love of cooking, I would spend all day looking for a new recipe online to try. Some of them were good, some not so good. During the whole pregnancy Roscoe acted weird, it's like he new you were coming. He would always climb on the side of the bed or couch and lay his head right on my belly. He would also follow my every move including laying next to me while I was on the toilet. When we first putting things in your room Roscoe would go in there a bunch, then he began to try and mark his territory and that is why Roscoe became banned from your room. Now I let him go in with me as I put things in there, and he smells every thing. I think he is jealous.

At the beginning of the pregnancy I thought you were a little boy so I began shopping for a little boy. I couldn't really buy much though because your dad kept saying, "let's wait and find out for sure first." Well I'm glad he was sane about it because everything I bought I also opened and threw away receipts so I didn't have the option to return it, but oh well girls can where blue too!

April 30th, 2010 marked the end of the first trimester, meaning we were a third of the way there and you were going to be our sticky baby. By this time all of our close friends and family knew about you and everyone was eager for you to get here.

Bad Days

So this is suppose to be one of the happiest times of my life, but for the last week or so it has been hell and misery. Chris has two trucks, one of them is on a payment plan for the next three years, we also have a car that is on a payment plan for the next three years. We have a baby due in October so there will be extra expenses with her including day care. Knowing all of this and knowing there is no increase in our finances, Chris is on a mission to get a new truck. It's not that I don't want him to have a new truck, but he is not trying to get rid or trade in the one he already has. He wants to take money out of our savings for a down payment and take on another two year note on top of everything else. I have been so upset and stressed out that I have cried myself to sleep every night. In the mornings my eyes are so heavy and crusted over.

I'm to a point where I really don't know what to do. I have tried talking with Chris, tried reasoning, tried threatening, tried compromising, I have broke down crying, I have brought up our baby Daphne. I feel like I have tried everything but yet he still is being selfish and wanting a new truck. It's just not fair, I feel like he doesn't care about us as a family, why should I be the only one worried about paying all of these bills? His solution is it will all be ok and after I get the new truck then I will get rid of the other truck........ It also hurts my feelings that he is getting me all upset, worried and stressed while I am pregnant and acts like it is my fault for being hormonal. Well yes, I'm sure I am a little over the top right now, but I don't think I am being unreasonable. Let me say that I also have tried every way in the world to budget this new truck into our finances but I just can't do it. The money is not there. I've tried telling and showing this to Chris and he tells me that my math is not always right. Well maybe I do make mistakes but I've asked him to do the same thing and show me where the money would come for, for this truck and he refuses.

I hate that I don't have everything that Daphne needs, and I hate that I can't go get it because I'm worried about saving every penny in case Chris does go and get this truck. I love Chris with all of my heart and I want him to be happy and have everything that he wants, but if he gets this truck I feel like it would break us. I can't with good conscious allow us to get this truck. The only thing I feel like I have left to do is tell him, me or the truck and really stand behind that. I hate this feeling, I hate seeing Chris sad or mad. I feel like I'm the bad guy not letting him get his way but I know that I couldn't live with myself spending that money right now. Also Chris has had a rough few weeks, last Saturday we were at a friends house and he walked off the porch and hurt himself priddy badly. He cut up his back, arm, elbow and almost cut part of his big toe off. I know it hurt like hell and was embarrassing because everyone seen it happen. Then all last week we were arguing and fighting not being able to agree on this issue. Then yesterday Chris was attacked by Bea's, his truck wouldn't start and now the starter is out. He was so mad he just told me to leave him alone and not talk to him.

He is mad at me because he doesn't have a nice truck. I do feel guilty, but he is the one who insisted on getting the two trucks that he has. One he got three years ago with out me agreeing to it and the other he only got last year. He wasn't calling these trucks pieces of junk when he wanted them so bad at the time, why are they junk now? I feel like he gets bored with these trucks and just wants something new. Oh I want this to be over and done with and us to be getting along again. This whole situation is really making me sick. I fell awful, physically and mentally ill. Part of me wants to be mean and cruel and make him see how much he is hurting me, but I really don't think that is what he is intending to do. I think he already thinks I am being bossy and cruel for not "letting" him get a truck with "his" money, even though I also work and it is our money. What am I going to do to get past all of this?

The very begining

March 8th was the first time I went to the doctor to confirm that yes, mommy and daddy's world was about to change, you had been with us for 6 weeks and 2 days. So the first visit was just with the nurse, and I think we might have been the first patient for this young nurse. To begin with she weighed us, and I had already gained 5lbs, that wasn't too fun to see. Then the nurse was doing the test to check my HCG levels to confirm you were in there, she proceeded to tell me I was not pregnant. It took everything I had not to cry, I wanted you so bad and thought that we were pregnant for sure. So I tell the nurse to double check b/c I know I am pregnant, she does the test again, and still says I'm not pregnant. Finally she goes and gets another nurse to check and atlas this more experienced nurse confirms that yes we are going to have a baby! So we move forward I get all of the paper work and head over to the lab to do the blood work. I called daddy and let him know that all the test were right and you were here.







March 18th was the first time I saw and heard you. You were so small and undeveloped you looked like a tadpole, at that time you were 7 weeks and 6 days. Mommy had had a bad experience before so the only thing I wanted to know was was there a heartbeat, it seemed like it took the sonographer for ever to answer the question, but when she did it was magical. I remembered how happy it made me feel, how ecstatic I was. I wanted to jump up and down and tell everyone that we were having a baby. I wanted to tell your cousins so bad, but I wanted to wait until we got farther along in the pregnancy in case anything happened.





I still can't describe how incredible that feeling was seeing you for the first time.





The next visit was on April 5th, you were 10 weeks and 2 days old. This was the first doctor visit that daddy got to come to. I was hoping that they would be able to hear your heartbeat that early on so that daddy could hear it, but what we got was even better. Well we walked into the exam room and there set the portable ultrasound machine, this got my hopes up, maybe daddy would be able to see you. The doctor came in and we did the routine visit then she said it was time to hear the heartbeat and she began preparing the ultrasound machine. As daddy and I got in position to watch, we both had the biggest smiles on our faces and we were so happy. You were so cute that day, it's amazing how much you had grown in those two weeks. We could see you moving and you were beginning to look more like a baby and less like a tadpole. You were kinda upside down with your head towards my back. We could see your little butt and your feet were just kicking away, kinda flapping back in forth like a little duckling paddling away, it was so cute. It was such an awesome experience to share that with your dad and will be one of the best memories that we have together. That was the last doctor's visit for the first trimester.

To Daphne #1

Well Daphne today you have been in my belly for 26 weeks and 3 days. It won't be long and you will be here for mommy and daddy to hold. I worked in your room last night, so far we have your bed put together, with the sheets, bumper and mobile on it. The changing table is also set up with the sheet on it, daddy said he worked harder putting it together then he does at work. We have painted your dresser and another small dresser pink, and they are in your room. I have wall sticky's that need to be put up but I am waiting on a few other things that will go on your walls first. Daphne I wish I would have started this journal to you earlier, but better late than never. I am going to start from the beginning so that later on you, daddy and I can read this and look back and remember this wonderful experience.

February 24th is the day that we found out about you. It was about 2 o'clock at work that day and I began to crave a Pimento cheese sandwich. I can't tell you that I had ever had a craving for Pimento cheese before, I don't even think I liked it much to begin with. Well as I sat there thinking why do I want cheese some other things began to swirl im my head, like hmm that hasn't happened yet this month, I haven't lost any more weight, OMG what if I am ,could it really be, we have waited so long? So at five 0'clock I left work and headed to the gym like I did everyday but instead of going right home, I went to the grocery store picked up a tub of Pimento cheese and an EPT. So I get home and the first thing your dad does is look through the grocery bags to see what I have bought to eat, he ask me if I want a Pimento cheese sandwich and I say no. I said no b/c I was on a strick diet and the only way I was going to eat that sandwich was if my little test gave me two lines. So unannounced to your dad I go and take my test and I get my two lines. I didn't know what to think, we hadn't really been trying but we weren't not trying either. So out I walk with a big smile on my face and tell daddy go ahead and make me that sandwich because we are going to have a baby!!!! He smiles but is dumbfounded he says, "really, no way how do you know." I told him I took a test, he was so happy but still was unsure. So the next day at lunch I went and bought two more test and took them at lunch. Both of those test also showed positive, so I took a picture of them on my phone and sent daddy a text and said believe me now? Daddy called and he was super excited, so was I, but I asked him not to tell anyone until I went to the doctor. Yeah right, daddy couldn't wait he began telling everyone. So on that day you were only 4 weeks and 2 days most people don't realize they are pregnant until the baby is almost 2 months along, but you were eager to let mommy and daddy know that you were here.

2010

2010 is a new year, a new beginning, a new challenge, and most of all a new blessing. I began this year 78lbs lighter than I started 2009. It was not easy losing all of that weight, but it sure was worth it! I didn't meet my goal weight got to 142, was trying to get to 135, but I will discuss that later. Diet and exercise is what I did, no pills, no crazy fad diet, just cutting calories and working out.



It seems like the sun is shinning a little brighter this year, things are going great and I wouldn't change them. The boys are back with their mom, who is engaged and having another baby in June. The family actually gets along and seems to really enjoy each other's company. The boys have reunited with their dad's side of the family and their dad finished serving his time and is also back in the picture(some what).

Drum roll please.......our biggest blessing of this year so far, is we are going to have a baby!!!!! (Note the not making my goal weight.) Today makes me 3 months along, and out of the critical point of the pregnancy!!!!



Sometimes I focus on all of the negativity that goes along with life and all of the drama and pitfalls and forget how good I have it. I have been blessed beyond anything I could ever imagine. Above all I have a God, who protects, forgives, and guides me through this life. I have a loving husband who adores me and accepts me for who I am, downfalls and all. Parents and grand-parents who love me, and accept me for me. A beautiful home to go to every night, that is a mile off of the county road with the best scenery you could ask for. A Basset hound who follows my every move and a beautiful baby on the way! Looking forward to each day that comes next!

2009 til present

Ok, so I have been wanting a way to express myself without really having to talk to anyone, and finally (yes I'm a little slow) it clicked, start blogging, so here I am! How can life seem so crazy yet be so mundane at the same time? 2009 was probably one of the most difficult years of my life, but I made it through it, thanks to God and my husband, Chris, who I don't give credit to near enough. I've heard if God brings you to it, he will bring you through it. He is there for us all of the time, we just need to slow down and realize that he is there.

2009 brought about alot of hardship & changes. My two nephews, who I love more than anything in this world, were separated from there mother. They just recently were reunited, in March of 2010! Those poor little guys have gone through Hell. I didn't speak with my sister for over half of the year, that made for some tense family gatherings. The boys lived with us from November 08 til March 09. Chris worked out of town (3 hours away) January, February and March of 09, let me tell you that was hard. I have a sincere admiration for all single moms. During this time I had little to no help with the boys from my family, my parents didn't think it is was their responsibility to raise their grand kids. As long as they weren't having to deal with the grand kids it was like they didn't care how bad their living situation was. I couldn't bear to watch them live like that anymore so I took actions into my own hands, it was one of the toughest decisions I've had to make, but in the end, more than a year later it has proven to be the right one. I am slowly rebuilding my relationship with my sister. The last year has really shown me that you must forgive to move on. I've had alot of animosity and hard feelings toward my family for things they didn't do, for not helping me for not helping the boys, but I'm putting that in the past. Things are better now and it finally feels like we are a family again.

Chris' mom found out she would have to start dialysis because she has less than 15% kidney function. She has gone through numerous surgeries and hospital stays. After many complications and adjustments things have leveled off with her for now. Chris brother began a messy divorce which affects the whole family, I will be glad and I know he will too when that is finalized.

Well that is a brief very brief synopsis of why 2009 was difficult, but it also led us to 2010, which I think will be our best year yet!