New Father

David is such a good father. 

He adores his little boy.

Watching them together fills my heart so big I feel like it could bust.

I can see so much of David in Eli's face.

When we saw Eli on the ultrasounds, we knew he favored David..but the physical form is much cuter than the ultrasounds :-)

When Eli first arrived David was nervous around him..but he was a pro within a few days.

I make the earth move

It's my birthday.

And I thought Jesus was coming back.

You see, I was pumping upstairs when all of a sudden there was this loud noise and everything began to shake.

Cue crazy lady just-had-a-baby hormones.

I ripped off the pump (I do not recommend that)

and ran running through the house screaming for David & Eli.

They were outside.

All I remember was thinking that we should all be together if the world is ending, so I didn't even think about the fact that I was wearing my HANDS FREE BRA and nothing else. 

My neighbor who was home, also ran outside. 

Yep, so me.. my husband & son.. the swollen ta-ta's and my neighbor.  Awesome. 

I darted back inside while David went and apologized talked to her about the earthquake.

How can any birthday possibly top that?!

Are his hands cold?

Those who aren't familiar with protective baby mittens wonder why he is always wearing gloves.  No, his hands are not cold.  Yes I know it is 175 degrees outside.   No matter how short I keep Eli's fingernails he constantly scratches himself.  This is one of those inventions that I wish I had thought up so I can be sitting in the sand somewhere with something cold in my hand.  Instead, I am standing above my baby taking a million pictures of him while he sleeps.

Heaven is { Part 2

Heaven is these moments.

I seriously cannot look at this picture without cracking up.

My cute little jaundice baby.

♥ ♥ ♥

Newborn Pictures

Eli isn't what I would call a "heavy sleeper" More like a constant napper.

When I was pregnant I would think about all the cute newborn pictures I could take of him.

And then he arrived. 

Of course it's the photographer's child who doesn't want to get their pictures done, right?

It's been 14 days of me trying multiple times to get his newborn pictures done, and these are my favorite ones..  I know I am biased but he is one CUTE kid.

Heaven is { Part 1

Heaven is squishy feet. 

The first week.

These past few days have been a blur.  Full of family cuddles and moments soaking in our new life.   David keeps kissing me and telling me how proud of me he is- I want to live in these moments forever. 

Recovery is going okay.  Better than I expected with a 4th degree tear. 

Eli's umbilical cord has fallen off- at one week!  I realized I hadn't gotten any pictures of it..it's barely hanging on in this picture and fell off about 5 minutes after.   

I have been trying to get newborn pictures of Eli.. but I am so. tired. 

I plan to try and do a new set every day so I will not stress out and over work.

Being on full bed rest for 8 weeks and then laboring really has caught up to me! 

Hospital stay

We stayed up for 26 hours straight before getting to "sleep" for 45 minutes.  Talk about brutal!  I was running on adrenaline-- I am not quite sure how David managed to stay up though.

I really cannot remember the day after he was born very well.  He was jaundiced and needed to eat every hour, but he was very difficult to wake up.  David's sister came in to meet her nephew and I remember falling in and out of sleep while talking to her- but it was nice that she came by!  My best friend also stopped by- it was great to see her even though I was sooooo tired and was secretly hoping no one would want to come visit.  Davids parents came the night Eli was born, and my dad came the day we were going home.  Mom and David were with me the whole time- I couldn't have done it without them. 

The second day (our going home day, yay!) Eli got the ole snip snip.  I had been totally fine and not crying until that moment.  I wanted to go with him and hold him while it happened, but there is a reason they do not let new mommies do that...the DR may have gotten poked with a scalpel himself.  

Then, the electricity went out.

If you know me at all you know there are two things you don't mess with me about.  AC and FOOD.  

We would be discharged later that day but those few hours of dealing with no AC or fans in a hotter than hot August day... goodness gracious.  We stripped Eli down and snacked on some ice chips.  I was SO relieved when we got to go home! 

The moment we've been waiting for.. Eli's arrival!

Because I was on bedrest, we didn't get a chance to take the mommy & daddy classes. Being a girl and watching endless baby birthing shows-- I figured it couldn't be too hard.  You push, out comes baby.  In 30 minutes like on TV ;)

My water broke at 1:30AM on August 5th.

After 3 outfit changes (still questioning why I did this) and some makeup later we were on our way to the hospital.  

At 3 AM when we got settled in, I was 4-5CM dilated and 80% effaced.

The OBGYN in the hospital was getting some beauty sleep, but when she woke at 6AM she was well rested enough to break my water the rest of the way.

By 8AM I was 6 CM dilated.

And then I got the best thing ever..the epidural.

Seriously- there is no reason to be a hero (My DRs actual words- loved him!)

and I agreed.

The epidural was lovely.

By 1PM I hadn't dilated any more and so they started Pitocin.

We later learned Eli was a monster baby and my body would have a hard time with him fitting through.

3:30PM 7 CM & 95% effaced... getting closer!

5:30 - It's go time!

6:41 HELLO SWEET BABY!

Happy Birthday, Eli.

August 5, 2011

8 pounds

10 ounces

21.5 Inches Long

David counted. The nurses told him to slow down a bit.  I had to tune him out (sorry honey!) because I got tired of him counting. so. slow.

I will admit. When I was pregnant I did not want Eli placed on top of me when he came out.

Cottage Cheese baby = yuck!

However, right before he came I took off my gown so he could be right where he was supposed to be.

It was also important to us to do delayed cord cutting and so he really didn't have anywhere else to go.

Okay, I admit-- he's still cute even with that yuck on his face.

Almost cute enough to make me forget that I had a 4th degree tear.

yep, 4th. Ouch.

Proud Daddy! Nothing is more sexy than seeing your husband become a father.

Eli meeting his father.

Cue tears.

It has only been a few days and I cannot remember what we did without him.

The Long Journey { Belly Progression

December 15, 2010

I had been testing for a few days and each one came back negative. 

Cheap Dollar Tree tests!

So I asked David to pick up a better test on his way home from work.

Pregnant!

5 weeks

Or a "before" picture

15 weeks

Morning sickness is in FULL swing! 

Unfortunately it continued until I was in my 23rd week

20 weeks.. it's a boy!

I knew as soon as the U/S tech put the little thingie (I'm sure there's a better term!) on my belly.

There was NO mistaken we were having a boy!

Had a fun photoshoot with my best friend.

24 weeks

David did such a good job with my pictures throughout the weeks- this one is my favorite.

26 weeks

28 weeks

Contractions began after shooting a wedding that Saturday 2 hours away from home.

I contracted all the way home, thinking that I was just on my feet too long

(the Virginia summer was so brutal! Over 100 degrees too many days)

I went into labor and got put on full bedrest. 

30 weeks

Bedrest + the need for maternity pictures = 

32 weeks

I remember thinking "I can't get any bigger!!"

Then my stretchmarks got stretchmarks.. ;)

34 weeks!

Behind me is our bathroom

so I broke bedrest on my way there for a few minutes one day

36 weeks.

Painful.

Bedrest was over, but I was too tired to do too much of anything.

No more medicines that made me feel shaky and dazed.

I had 2 friends come by for a surprise visit and they couldn't believe how big I was.

I was not going to take any more pictures but my friend said, "one day you will be glad you did"

She was right.

If for no other reason than to gasp at how BIG I was I am happy to have it.

I delivered at 37 weeks & 4 days.