Time Flies...

Two months old already!! I've been meaning to write this post since Emmi turned 2 months old, 8 days ago!! I'm starting to realize what a "busy mom" means...and I haven't even started back to work yet! Emilie had her 2 month pediatrician appointment last Tuesday. She weighed in at a whopping 8 pounds, 6 ounces and was 22" long! Dr. Martin informed us that she is finally "on the curve" at the 3rd percentile in weight and the 25th percentile in height. This took many hours of nursing and pumping from mommy to get her there, but we did it!

At 2 months old, Emilie is becoming so much more aware, alert, and interactive. It's amazing how much she changes everyday. She loves to "talk" to us with her cute little "cooing" noises. And when she looks up at us with those loving eyes and gets a big 'ol smile on that tiny little pixie face, it just melts my heart. You should see the smile she gets on her face and the way her eyes light up when she hears her daddy's voice and looks at him after he gets home from a long day at work. And you should see his eyes light up too!

Unfortunately, with this 2 months marker also comes the dreaded return to work for me. I hate to think about being away from her all day. It's ridiculous how much I miss her just when she's taking a nap and I'm in the same room!! But on the other hand, there was a point in time when I didn't know if I would ever have a child, so I look at it this way...at least I have a baby to take to daycare. I guess it's all about perspective, right?

Yes, time does fly. But it's the best time of my life...

Four Weeks Old!

I can't believe Emi is 4 weeks old!! It feels like we just brought her home yesterday. Being a mommy is everything everybody said it would be. It's the most wonderful, rewarding, beautiful thing in the world! I just can't stop telling her how much I love her. And when she looks up at me with those big eyes, my heart just melts. I took this picture today, one day after her 4 week birthday. I want to savor every moment of her "baby stage." It's already going by WAY too fast! I think she looks just like her daddy but daddy says she has my eyes (even though they are still blue!) She is starting to give us cute little smiles when she is in a really good mood. I love to watch her with Dustin. She loves to lie on her daddy's lap and just stare up at him as he talks to her. It's like she's listening to every word he says. She loves to dance with daddy too.

She is still pretty little and hasn't reached her birthweight yet, but she is getting there. She has been going in for weekly weight checks and weighed 7 pounds, 4 ounces yesterday at her doctor's appointment. Dr. Martin wants to see her surpass her birthweight of 7.5. She is nursing well, but likes to fall asleep while mommy is feeding her. She is sleeping pretty well also, waking up to nurse about every 3 hours. I'm still getting used to the interrupted sleep, but it's all part of the fun of being a parent. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

Emilie is such a blessing...we are living out our dream come true every day!

Our Miracle

She's here! Emilie Rae Smith was born on January 22, 2009 at 4:23 p.m. She was 7 pounds, 5 ounces and 20 1/2 inches long. After a long day of labor and no progress, the doctor gave us the option of having a C-section or going home and starting over the following week with the pitocin. We prayed about it and were lead to the decision of having a C-section, which we felt would be the safest for our baby. We have no doubt we made the right decision and now we have our beautiful baby girl home with us! The only words that can describe our joy...we have our miracle!

Getting closer to seeing this sweet face...

Well, we had a Dr.'s appointment yesterday and decided to go ahead and induce this week! I am still not even 1 cm dilated, but the baby's head is further down and my cervix is starting to soften. At this point I am a few days overdue and the baby is growing about 1/2 pound a week. The doctor said we could wait and come back next week but he does not want the baby to get too big for me to deliver. So the plan is to go into the hospital on Wednesday and they will insert some gel called "Cervidil" which is supposed to further prepare the cervix for dilation. Then the doctor will come in on Thursday morning and give me "The Pit" as my sister the nurse calls it (pitocin) in order to induce me and bring on contractions. At this point I feel a ton of different emotions: excitement, anticipation, nervousness, joy, and a little bit afraid, all at the same time. But most of all, it just feels surreal. After waiting all this time to have a baby, I still can't wrap my mind around the fact that I could be holding her in just a few days. It just doesn't seem possible to me. I feel so blessed. If all goes well, by this weekend...we will see our baby daughter's sweet little face. Please keep us in your prayers for a safe, healthy, smooth delivery!

Anxiously Awaiting...

Well, as you can see, the nursery is ready to go and so are we! I'm officially 3 weeks away from my due date, which seems almost unfathomable! After our long wait of almost 3 years, it's hard to believe that in 3 weeks (or maybe less) we will be holding our baby daughter. This was such a special week, celebrating Christmas and feeling so blessed with the awaited arrival of the little miracle in our life. Last Christmas we were not even sure if we would ever be able to experience this joy. Now it's right around the corner. In a way, I'm a little sad to have my pregnancy be over, as I have loved every minute of it...even now with the swollen feet, ankles (or should I say cankles) and aching back...I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. Dustin is so excited for this baby to get here, he can hardly stop smiling. Picturing him holding our daughter brings me a joy I cannot even describe!

As for any new details, I really don't have many. Baby is very active and rolls around like crazy. Sometimes I think she's doing sommersaults in there. I have not felt any contractions yet at all. Just had a doctor's appointment yesterday and all appeared well. Doctor Swanson says he estimates the baby to be between 5 1/2 and 6 pounds at this point. So for now, we just wait! Something we have become very good at! Keep praying for a smooth, healthy delivery for me and wait for that phone call...it could be any day now!

Getting ready

Well, 28 weeks along and getting more and more excited. Our baby girl is growing everyday and and so am I! As you can see, we've been in the process of getting the nursery ready. With lots of help from Papa Smith, Dustin put up the wainscoting (oh, and lets give props to Stacey's dad, Charlie, our "plumber to the rescue" for his help as well, after our slight mishap)! Dustin put together the crib and changing table...now just waiting on the armoire from the store (Mom and Dad Rosty going with us to pick that up next weekend) and the window seat/toy box that Dad Smith's wood shop class is building for us. Still pinching ourselves everyday that we are going to have a tiny little baby girl to fit in those tiny adorable baby clothes. Still thanking God everyday for his blessings and loving every minute of every day being pregnant. Can't believe we're only three months away from holding that little blessing in our arms...

Real

Halfway through my pregnancy and I still have to look at myself in the mirror everyday to really believe it. And every time I feel her kick and move around, I can’t help but smile. She’s real. She’s our gift from above. For those of you who have been reading my blog for awhile, my very first post talked about a book I read called, “The Ultimate Gift.” That book got me started writing this blog. You can read it by going to the side of this page where it says “blog archive” and click on “2007.” It will bring you to my first page of posts – my first one at the bottom. It’s amazing for me to read that now, knowing how far we have come. It probably sounds cliché, but I wouldn’t trade all the pain and heartache we endured the past 3 years, for the joy God has brought us today. I know how blessed we are because I still know so many couples, so many girls that I have become close to through all this, who still don’t have their baby. I pray for them everyday, as I remember that pain and heartache all too well. It’s something that will always be with me. You know who you are girls, and you are the strongest women I know.