Day 2 in the hospital

Saturday, December 11

 

 

 

 

It's the moments that take your breath away

Friday, December 10

 

 

 

Doodle is a girl!!

After months of anticipation, we are so excited to be blessed with an adorable, healthy baby girl!

Betty "Clayton" Rhea

7lbs 14oz

21 inches

December 10, 2010

4:31pm

(pics to follow as soon as Internet is fixed)

No Birthday Baby

Friday was my last day at work for now.  So I've spent this week relaxing, shopping and being lazy.  It's been wonderful!  My 28th birthday (Monday) came and went without the debut of our new arrival.  And we're still waiting... 

Here's a few recent pics:

I look like a beached whale and this is the only pic I will post of myself.

 Nieces Mary and Ella 

Sadie upset her "squirrel" (type of frisbee she loves) is stuck in the tree.

So happy her mom spent 10 minutes getting it down.

 

And Sissy who we miss terribly.

Countdown has Begun

Harris and I had a wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving break.  It was so nice to have Harris in town for more then just a weekend and glad he had time off from not working or driving back and forth to Tupelo.  I was hoping for a baby over the holiday (as I've reached the official "uncomfortable" aka large stage) but no such luck.

The countdown has officially begun...1 week 4 days until my due date: Friday, December 10 (although doctor says baby could come any day). 

So to prepare, I moved in with my parents which includes enjoying clean laundry and home-cooked meals, washed baby bottles, organized baby stuff, and gave my car a thorough cleaning to install the car seat.  Feel like once the car seat is installed, there's no going back now...like that was ever an option.

Note to self: don't wear stripes 9 months pregnant.

Sadie's rough life

 

People say the darnest things

Thankfully I have not had any strangers feel the need to touch or rub my belly.  But I have been asked some strange/funny questions or comments:

• A lady in an elevator said, "By the time you have the baby you'll think you are having a petrified rock."
• The Chairman of our Board of Directors at work asked first, "How are you feeling?" followed by "Have you taken any birthing classes?"  (I thought this was a weird question for a man to ask for one and then for it to be his 2nd question. Awkward.)  He then followed that up with, "Don't have your baby on 3rd shift."  Okay....I have no clue what you are talking about.
• My favorite- "When you are pooping, do you ever feel like you may poop the baby out?"

Sweet Sissy

 Last week my sweet kitty, Sissy, went to Heaven.  Although I knew she didn't have much longer, I wasn't prepared (and still not).  Sissy had Feline Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) which is a type of heart disease and a genetic disease that affects Maine Coon cats.  I can't begin to detail how much she meant to me, so to say it's been tough is an understatement.  Here are a few of my favorite pics of my Sipot:

Sissy's adoption day- 1.31.09

 Harris rescued her after she climbed up the tree and couldn't get down.

 

 

 

 

Gender Neutral

Not finding out whether Baby Rhea is a boy or girl has had it's perks as well as a few bummers.  The definite perks besides the excitement of making baby's arrival even extra anticipated and having something to look forward to as the last weeks creep by are that it's saved us a lot of money.  With all the holiday bazaars, I would have bought more baby clothes then Baby Rhea could wear in a lifetime if I knew if shem was a girl or boy.  And hey, I've got plenty of years to shop for clothes so holding off for a few months is "nothing" (okay, it's harder than you think but I'm almost to the finish line--and I didn't resist all together...I did purchase a few gender-specific outfits but won't disclose what gender.  Figured if I was incorrect, I'd give the items as baby gifts.).

Also when registering, we choose everything gender neutral, so it would work both ways which will be handy if we are blessed with additional Baby Rhea's.  This is also the motto for the nursery.  Although technically no nursery exists currently since we won't be in Tupelo when Baby Rhea arrives and don't want to set up everything in our Memphis house since we are hoping it sells soon-- so you must be asking, where we plan on bringing Baby Rhea home to.  Well, my parents have graciously "offered" for us to move in with them...in reality, I informed them we are moving in.  And they couldn't be more thrilled that myself (pregnant & hormonal), Harris (Tupelo-living baby daddy), baby (pooping & crying), Sadie (food & tennis ball obsessed) and Sissy (sick & nearly on her death bed) are going to be roommates.  They have John's baby bed set up, fresh from when Mary was born (nearly 9 years ago) so Baby Rhea will have a temporary nursery.

Although no nursery exists quite yet, we do have a crib.  Baby Rhea will lay shem's head in the same bed as I did when I was little and enjoy the teeth marks that I left on it when I was a baby.  Harris assembled the baby bed to make sure after 28 years no parts are missing. 

We are "splurging" and going to get shem a new mattress instead of using the plastic maybe vinyl mattress that I used.  (I'm pretty sure mice probably have lived in it at one point over the years and if they haven't lived in it, they definitely have pooped on it.)  Gosh, the things we will do for our kids.

But I did order the baby bedding for our future nursery.  We (I...like Harris had a preference although I did ask him) choose creams and a taupe and figured I will accessorize with color (well, my sister will...she's our personal/free interior decorator.  And she's dang good at it too.  She even picked out the bedding fabrics.).  The fuzzy cream fabric is the bumper pad with the ties and top ruffle in a browny/taupe linen.  And the dust ruffle is the bottom fabric which is a cream linen.  The crib sheet & blanket will be some undetermined color once Baby Rhea arrives.  And for future Baby Rhea's, we'll use the same bedding yet the accent colors can be changed and the room will look completely different!

Even a bottle won't give you a headache!

 

Our Little Pumpkin Baby Shower

Thank you so very much to the wonderful hostesses and guests who made our first baby shower extra special.  Baby Rhea (aka Doodle/Baby Rheagin Cajun) got a bunch of great gifts that we know shem will love!  The food was delicious and the decor adorable.

 

At the shower, everyone wrote down their predictions for Baby Rhea.  The majority said shem will be a GIRL and she will attend LSU!  We guessed the due date (ranging from November 30 to December 12) and weight (ranging from 6 lbs 10 oz to 8 lbs 2 oz).  Everyone also voted on what Baby Rhea will look like (see below) and wrote sweet messages to baby and mom that we will cherish for years to come.  Thank you all again!

10.14.10- 8 months

Baby Rhea's estimated weight is 3 pounds and 15 ounces.

 

We're infested with Bed Bugs!

This was a made bed with a plaid blanket on top when I left.

 "Someone" pulled the covers back so they could sleep on the sheets.

Typically, I don't ball the comforter like this.

 The culprits

They sure are cute bed bugs!

Our Future Sagittarian

I recently ran into an acquaintance (no names mentioned but she wears clown make-up and likes mystical creatures) and she asked me if I'd lost weight.  Nice way of saying, "something has changed with you, but it's not appropriate to ask if you've gained weight."  I informed her I was pregnant and she asked the due date.  I said, "December 10."  And she instantly said, "You're having a Sagittarius."  Well hot dangit, of course I knew that....wouldn't of planned it any other way.  What a weirdo!  (sorry to those of you who live by your sign but if so, you're weird too).

 

So, here's the personality of our future Sagittarian:

• lucky by nature, so they usually display a cheerful and optimistic disposition
• inherent curiosity keeps them more interested in what will happen tomorrow rather than focuses on the mistakes of today. A state of constant change is a delight for them.
• extremely independent, truly free spirits and yet, they are the nicest of all the zodiac signs
• kind, openhearted souls who do not expect anything in return when helping a friend
• no hidden secrets to a Sagittarius - what you see is what you get
• creative, clever, straightforward, congenial

The Joys of Pregnancy



Ella James Rogers

Our new niece, Ella James Rogers arrived! 

Sunday, October 3, 2010

7 pounds 4 ounces

10:21am

20 inches