Introducing Amelia Ann

Here are some pictures to start off with. I have plenty more to post. These are just from day one that were already on the computer. I have to download others later today or tomrrow.

We got home from the hospital yesterday. I talked the doctor into releasing me last night rather than today. It felt good to be at home. All is going well so far. Allison has done great - in fact so great that she deserves her own post with pictures and videos that I hope to do soon.

Thanks for the well wishes from everyone. They mean a lot to our family.

Announcing Amelia Ann

She is here!

Amelia Ann
6 lb and 11 ozs
19 inches
Monday, October 13

I had a feeling something might happen as soon as I lost my mucus plug over the weekend. I woke up around 1:30 am and felt some leaking. I got up and realized I was having some contractions. I didn't think they were all that strong or close so I didn't do a good job timing them (can we say denial). I started timing them around 3:30 and realized they were coming on quick and fast. I woke up Brian and we called his mom over. We arrived at the hospital around 5 am and I was already at 4.5 cm. Whoops! I guess I should have gone in a little sooner. Contractions were getting strong at that point in time so I got to experience the joys of labor pains.

Due to a communication issue with the doctor on call, she didn't get to St. Mary's until after 6 am. By then I was ready for an epidural but held off until I got to the OR. The surgery went well and we have a cute little girl on our hands.

Amelia has a full head of hair - even more than Allison has right now at almost 15 months.

Hopefully we will get pictures posted soon. Stay tuned.

Final Countdown...

I was going to load the song "Final Countdown" by Europe on the blog as a joke, but I didn't want to catch anyone off guard by having music blaring from my normally silent blog.

We are on the final countdown.... only 11 more days...that is if I make it. There are days I don't think I will. I don't like this waiting around, trying to decide if such and such sign means that I am about to go into labor. With Allison, I had nothing until my water broke. You couldn't argue with that sign....well, the nurses and doctors in triage tried to argue that sign, but I won't get into that story.

I'm feeling pretty good. I've decided that I only have a few more days of being pregnant, ever in my life, unless we have a pretty big change of plans. I am going to focus on the fun stuff and not worry about the aches and pains. I am going to enjoy my donut and McDonald cravings a few more times. I'm going to enjoy my round belly and even the protruding belly button. Maybe my husband will take pity on me and spoil me with foot rubs and back massages each night (we will see if he notices that I slipped this one in.)

I am enjoying as much one-on-one time with Allison while I still can. I am trying to do something with her each day. This weekend Brian and I headed out to Grand Haven for one last trip to the beach for the season. We took a nice long walk on the pier.

A friend of mine and fellow blogger, who is due two days before I am, commented on her blog that she is getting very emotional about these last few days as a family of three. While she is very excited for the arrival of baby number two, she can't help but get sentimental about spending these last few days with her daughter. I know exactly how she feels. I think the thing that worries me the most is the first few weeks of recovery, especially because these past few weeks Allison has gotten very cuddly and somewhat clingy. But somehow we will weather through it - taking it day by day.

Don't Forget to Vote

Don't worry, I'm not getting political on you. I just want to encourage you to vote in the baby pool I created. Click on the link on the side of my blog and place your bet. As a reminder, I have a c-section scheduled for October 23 at 11 am, but that doesn't mean I can't go early!

Our Happy Little Family

Last Friday we had family pictures taken. My friend and walking buddy, Amber, is starting a photography business and offered to take pictures of Allison and the family. Allison gave Amber quite a workout that night, as Allison was on the go the entire time. I think the only picture we got of her actually sitting still was when she tripped on some bramble and was stuck.

I saw a few of the photos and they turned out great! I can't wait to see the rest of them.
Check them at Amber's website.

Thanks again Amber. You really captured Allison's personality and captured some special memories for Brian and I.

Our Pumpkin at the Pumpkin Patch

This weekend we took our annual trek to the apple orchard/pumpkin patch. I wanted to get the trip in this weekend, "just in case" the baby were to arrive early. To me it isn't fall unless I have one trip to get my cider and donut. We started off at Steffen's Market and stopped at another orchard, Fruit Ridge Farms, just down the road. The area orchards and farms have banded together to promote their businesses, which makes it easier to find them. Check out Kent Harvest Trails for more information.

The weather was perfect, sunny and a bit cool. You could feel fall in the air. After a long car ride (due to construction, an accident, and poor map planning on my part), Allison was very happy to get out of the car and walk around. The highlights of her afternoon were seeing the animals and sharing a donut with mom - she may not like pasta, but at least she shares my love of fresh, cider mill donuts.

Allison shows off her driving skills.

"This one mom, I'll take this one."

Dad shows Allison a tractor that is very similar to one that he drove on the family farm while growing up.

Allison saw many animals at the Fruit Ridge Farm. She showed off her new vocabulary skills.

Llamas - "daw"

Sheep and Donkey - "daw" - Ponies were "Daw, Daw, Daw!!" Evidently due to Ozzie's large size, most farm animals are dogs in her eyes.

"Oh how I wish mom and dad would just let me go on a pony (daw) ride."

Next year, we will take Allison on a pony ride. She just is too much on the go this year and we were afraid she would not sit still long enough. If she is really good, we will even let her take the "Pig Train" ride.




Allison and her shadow give up any hope of a pony ride and take off to explore the rest of the farm.

Down She Goes

For the past few weeks Allison has been climbing up the stairs, which I figured is a good thing, since I won't be able to carry her up them when I am recovering. It dawned on me that she needed to learn how to go down them, so we have been practicing doing that. Allison has gotten very good at it. To go down, she will lay on her belly and shimmy backwards.