Welcome to the World Libby!

Sunday we began our daily events for the summer - Church, lunch, Jeremy on the golf course and Elizabeth finding a relaxing/cool activity to occupy her time until the arrival of baby Given.

Around 3:00 that afternoon, I began having contractions that were 10 minutes apart.

They were still happening around 8:00 that night, so of course I tell myself and Jeremy that "this is it" the moment I have been waiting for. I get in the shower, finish packing my bags and all of a sudden, the contractions stop. No more contractions...false labor I guess, so there I sat all ready to go have a baby and nothing...

Sure enough about 2 hours later they started again, this time they were worse and felt more like true labor (but then again, being that I have never done this before how am I supposed to know what that feels like?) I had them all night and the next morning too, so around 9:00 we went up to the hospital. They decided to keep me there for the big event and by 6:08 p.m. Elizabeth Jane Given was welcomed into the world. It was a great day and a great experience (after I got the epidural).

She weighed 7 lbs. 10 oz. and is 20 inches long. The biggest surprise was a head full of fuzzy dark hair. We finally got discharged from the hospital Wednesday afternoon. Jeremy was ready to be in his own domain. I, on the other hand loved the hospital, the nurses and that little red call button. I will say it is nice being home and Jeremy has been a great nurse and daddy. He is a pro at diaper changing and swaddling.

Now we are just adjusting to our non-existent sleep schedule and a curious dog.

When we brought her home I think Hagan was more excited to see us, but then last night when we were all going to bed and he realized she was still here, I think it hit him that life as he knew it will never be the same.

See pics of the big day below...

Jeremy & Elizabeth before our lives changed forever

Libby looking slightly swollen after the big event, but still as cute as ever...

Mom & Dad with sweet Libby Jane

Looking very french in my beret`

Jeremy's favorite girls

Baby Update - 39 weeks

We went to the doctor on Friday and found out that I am 2 cm dilated and 80% effaced, which is good.
I am still very pregasaurus and just waiting...I heard if you eat spaghetti then it can trigger labor...I tried that, nothing. We also took a walk yesterday hoping gravity would work...nothing. Last night we had sushi (all with cooked fish) I even used more wasabi than usual...still nothing.
So, I am just planning on being at the hospital bright and early on Wednesday because Baby Given loves it in this belly and no amount of coaxing from her mother is going to get her here any earlier.
We are very ready to meet her, hold her and see who she takes after...I keep dreaming she has Jeremy's nose...so, we will keep you posted on any progress until then.

Hagan loves a baby bump~

Not only does Baby Given love the comfortable environment of the womb, but Hagan seems to advantage from pregnancy as well. He loves the sleepless nights the best when I wake up and he gets to go outside at 3 or 4 a.m. These nights cause both of us to crawl back in bed around 6:30, just as Jeremy is headed to work...we are both comatose.

And as you can see from the picture below, he loves his baby sister, or maybe it's just the fact that she makes a good pillow for now. I hope he is this fond of the baby when we bring her home...

Baby Update

As of Friday I am 2 cm dilated (some progress).
We talked about inducing on July 30th if nothing happens before then. It was a really strange thing to schedule and think, "I could be picking my child's birthday".

Honestly I would love for something drastic to happen - and go into labor naturally and rush around the house and then to the hospital. I think it would be much more exciting that way.
But with the heat and and the size of my belly I am ready to have Baby Given thriving and growing outside of my body...so we will just wait and see what happens...

Last night I played tennis and bowling on a Nintendo Wii (hoping that would trigger something), but it didn't...I found out I am a great bowler in video games - not so much in real life...
so, still prego and still waiting...

Squeezing in a Shower

Last Sunday Tina and Zoey hosted a shower for Baby Given.

It was so cute...It was in downtown Olive Branch and they put so much creativity and effort into everything. I really had a good time and it was great to see a lot of ladies that I had not seen in such a long time...

Diaper Cake - with plenty of newborn diapers - from what I hear these will go fast...

Mimie, Me, Baby Given & NaNa

We played a game...guess the circumference of Elizabeth's stomach...some people were way off, I could have jumped rope with their ribbon, others did pretty well...

37 weeks and counting

Glenna, Tina, Zoey & Me

Baby Given's Progress

We went to the last Friday and got a good report.
The doctor said that Baby Given is about 6 lbs. at this point (a rough estimate) and right on schedule.
I am 1 cm dialated and everything is looking good.
I will go back again next Friday to see if there is any more progress.

All of my co-workers have a baby pool going as to when she will arrive, I am a walking science experiment and everyday when I walk in I gets looks and comments on the state of my belly and what it looks like.

The Nursery

The nursery is finally as finished as it can be at this point.
After months of painting, repainting, bringing home swatches, sewing and more we are finally through. It was a labor of love, and I had so much fun doing it. I know Jeremy is glad it is complete, I always had a running list of things I needed his help on...and I don't know what I would do if my husband was not handy or patient.
I am the queen of changing my mind, and when it comes to my own home, it is ten times worse...

I love the baby bedding. Meg Crockett made it for me and she did a great job on it. It turned out better than I imagined and her work is great.

The baby's picture will go in the pink frame above the bed, on either side we are putting our own baby pictures so we can see who she looks like, since Jeremy and I favor each other anyway- we are betting on dark hair and squinty eyes.

My friend Veronica is painting a window for me that will hang above the changing table. She is super talented and I am pretty pumped about it...I will be sure to post a picture when it is complete.

I also took up sewing and made the curtains myself...If I never saw white burlap again in my life that would be fine with me...

Hagan loves this room too. He loves to roll around on the rug like he does in the grass.

The glider is the best seat in the house.

Behind that closet door is where alot of pocket change went, this child is ready for a fashion show...

Summer time in the South

The weekend of the 4th was quite relaxing. We got to spend some time with Robert and Zoey and the boys and it was great to see them. Nathan and Julia are only 3 days apart and it is so fun to watch them grow and see the obvious differences in boys and girls...

We also celebrated Jonathan's 1st birthday. He is so stinkin' cute!

At one point, Nathan was found wallowing in mud and loving every minute of it...

He then discovered that we would run if he came near us with fistfuls of mud...

In full sprint trying to get a victim...

Mandatory spray down before entering the house...

Jonathan wasn't exactly sure how this party thing works, but Nathan showed him the ropes...

It didn't take him long to learn how to celebrate...

One lone pea, One lone pod - Addendum 1

I think there may have been some confusion on my last post...The picture of the baby in the pea pod suit is not Mike and Liz's newborn...It is just a random picture I found on the internet that went along with the title of my post -
"One lone pea, One lone pod"
Ansley Miller is one of the tiniest little babies I think I have ever seen - I actually don't think there is a pea pod outfit out there that would fit her...
Here is a picture of Mom and baby just to clarify.

One lone pea...One lone pod...

Monday morning, Ansley (middle name TBD) Miller, was welcomed into the world.
She was not due until July 31st, but she surprised them with an early birthday.
She is the sweetest smallest baby I have ever seen (5lbs 2oz).
I am very thankful she and Liz are doing well and it is very exciting to know that her playmate, Baby Given will be here soon enough!
We are very excited for Mike and Liz and their venture into parenthood, they are going to be great.

I am ready to have this baby- everyone I know is giving birth and I don't think my stomach has any more room in there.
My luck, the baby will be a week late, but hey I guess she just loves her mom and wants to hang out with me a little longer!
I am okay with that as long as she is not a 10 pounder with a large melon...ouch!

Nesting Frenzy

This week has been quite a whirlwind around our house...I am in complete OCD nesting mode, Jeremy is going to move out if I don't settle down. Not only am I scrubbbing every square inch of the house, I also have an ongoing list and if Jeremy looks up at me for a second or looks the slightest bit bored I chime in with a chore that is waiting for him...

Normally I am not like this at all, but with a baby on the way and a huge belly IN the way I have lost a bit of my independence...something that is very hard for me.

I say all of this to say, the nursery is almost done, just a few more things to hang and some finishing touches...I will be sure to post pics on the blog when it is complete. It looks great and is coming together a little bit at a time.

So, until then I will be busy cleaning things that have never been cleaned before and driving Jeremy up the wall.

Two Peas, Separate Pods

This could account for our 8 months and 3 weeks pregnant picture.

My friend, Liz, is due July 31st with a little girl too. We have been going through this experience together over the past 9 months and it has been great to have someone right there with you to vent to or ask questions or compare notes...

Baby Given is due just four days later on August 3rd, but if she wants to come a week or two early to spare me from this heat, that would be fine with me too...