Yawn...

They weren't kidding when they said "sleep now, when you can" before I had Emily! Whew! It's amazing how someone so small can a) take up so much space and b) completely drain you of all your energy!

But it's all worth it and I wouldn't trade her for anything!

Two nights ago, mom stayed the night with Emily... we locked them in the guest bedroom with everything Emily might need. I'm happy to report that Toby and I got about 10 hours of sleep!! Now, it wasn't necessarily uninterrupted, because I kept waking up thinking Emily might need me... but for the most part, we both slept through the night! It was wonderful and really helped me start to feel normal again.

I've started to pump breastmilk... because a) Emily wasn't latching on properly, which was causing major issues and b) it's much less stressful for all of us! I totally believe in breastfeeding and that it does wonders for the child and the mother.... and I want to continue to breastfeed her. So I'll feed her normally when I can, but I'm also going to stock up on breastmilk and bottlefeed her when necessary. She's taking to the bottle beautifully and I really think she's likes it better... a lot less fussing around! She eats better... she sleeps better... and she's not as fussy. All good things!

Toby starts back up at work tomorrow, so Mom is staying again tonight to help me out... so Toby can get a full night's sleep! The last couple nights, Emily has been really good with eating then sleeping for 3-4 hours at a time... so hopefully that continues.

Here are some recent pictures of the little Angel...



Love the crossed legs!

Emily's first bath at home


Nap time in the bouncer


Nap time on Grandma

"Great Gramma" Shirley came for a visit on 5/25/09

We visited Great Unlce Jamie and Great Aunt Laura on Saturday 5/23 and enjoyed a wonderful cookout

Great Aunt Carole visited on 5/20

Emily's first Doc appt with Dr. Vivero on 5/21

Aunt Katie Kruz visited and brought Erin nachos from El Palenque! Thanks, Katie... you're a God-send!

Emily's saying "no more pictures!"

Emily and Daddy

Watching "footie" with Daddy

The Story...

As you know, we scheduled my induction for May 22nd.

Well, at 11:30pm on Thursday, May 14th, I woke up with really bad cramps. I thought "huh... what did I eat?" Then 6 minutes later... more cramps. Another six minutes later... more cramps. Two hours later, I'm still cramping every 4-5 minutes... and they're lasting anywhere from 45-70 seconds each.

At 3:00am, I called the hospital and asked the OB department what they thought I should do. She asked "Are the cramps taking your breath away?" My response: Oh yeah!

She said, "Okay, then come on in!"

At 3:30am on Friday, May 15th we set off for Lakeland Hospital in Elkhorn, WI.

I checked in, got hooked up to the monitors... and was confirmed to be 4cm dilated and contractions occurring every 4 minutes... and getting progressively worse.

At 6:00am, the doctor confirmed I was in labor!

Twelve hours later I was STILL four centimeters! By this time, I had gone on nuemorphine for the pain (highly recommend it!) At 5pm, the doctor decided to break my water and put me on an IV to speed up dilation. At this point, I also opted for the epidural (greatest decision!). Just after 7:00pm, I was 8 cm... and around 7:45pm, I was 10 cm! I started pushing just after 8pm... and at 8:33pm, Emily Rose was born!

Her ambilical cord was wrapped around her neck once, but no problems with that. Dr. Joy did have to use the suction "kiwi" so Emily has a cirlce shaped bruise on the top of her head... but it's going away quickly.

We stayed at the hospital until yesterday morning and got home just before noon. Check out the photo album for pictures of our arrival. I have to give a huge shout out to our neighbors for going through so much trouble to decorate the place! I love you guys!

Our first night home wasn't too bad... just getting use to our new sleeping patterns. I think I'm doing okay... but Toby's another story. He's kind of struggling... that man values his sleep! He'll have to change that! hahaha

Thanks again to everyone for all your wishes and support! If you haven't already, you'll get to meet her soon!

Love you all!

Now time to feed the little one...

A couple videos of Emily...

Emily's Shifty Eyes...

Time in the bouncer...

Photo Album

Go to www.tobyanderin.com and click on the Photo Album link for updated pictures of Emily Rose!

The direct link is http://tobyanderin.myphotoalbum.com.

Enjoy!

Emily Pix

Just a few pictures of Emily Rose...

Video of Emily!

IT'S A GIRL!

So much for my scheduled induction...

May I introduce to you... Emily Rose Simpson!!!

Born at 8:33pm on May 15th... 7lb 6.5oz... 19.5 inches long... and ABSOLUTELY PERFECT!

More pictures to come soon... Until then, nap time!

The date is set!

I went for my check up today (yes, a day early) and Dr. Joy would like to induce me early! No, she's not concerned about anything. As a matter of fact, it's the opposite... everything's looking so great that she sees no harm in inducing as early as possible... that way I can stop stressing out about everything... the anxiety is overwhelming. We both just want the baby here!

So the date is set... I go in at 6:30am on Friday, May 22nd. I'm very excited because 1) it's much more "real" now that we have a date... and 2) I will hopefully have the baby on the 22nd!! I'm a 22nd baby... my dad was... I've always been OBSESSED with the number 22... and I've always wanted to have baby on the 22nd. Well, looks like it might happen that way! Pending an incredibly long labor, that is... knock on wood!

The crazy thing is... that's only 9 DAYS AWAY! I'm counting in days now... not weeks, not months... DAYS! Yikes!!! Baby's almost here! Woo hoo!!!

As for my other stats... I've gained a pound in the last week... for a grand total of 33 pounds. Baby's still head down... and I've started to dilate. I'm only about 1 centimeter right now, but dilated still! Blood pressure's perfect. Baby's heart beat is still 140s. Everything is looking good.

So... who had May 22nd in the Baby Pool???

37 Weeks

Here are the latest pictures of me, taken on Sunday.























It's hard to believe I have less than a month to go (two and a half weeks at this point)! I can't wait to meet Baby "Thumper" Simpson!

And I'm definitely getting to the point of "Get this thing out of me!"

Don't get me wrong, I have fully enjoyed every moment of being pregnant! I have no complaints and am very happy as to how relatively easy it was. I love feeling Baby move around inside of me, and I LOVE the tapping games we play and how he/she responds when I read or sing to him/her.

But the lack of comfort is growing... and the anticipation is getting to be too much!

At my last checkup (Thursday), I still hadn't dialated... but I think that may have changed now. I can feel Baby lower than normal... and there are other signs (I'll spare the details) that things are opening up and getting ready for delivery! Plus I can feel regular/mild contractions now!! I go in for another check up on Thursday morning, so we'll see what Doctor Joy has to say!

In the mean time, I'm very happy for Charlie & Steve... I have a couple pictures of Baby Oscar now and he is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO adorable! Looks just like a mini-Maxton... which would make Oscar a mini-MINI-Steve! Poor kids! Why can't they look like their beautiful mommy? Just joking, Steve... you know I love you!

In other baby news... my cousin Marie is also due soon... May 25th, so I'm really excited for her! I hope she has a boy... it will even out the estrogen-overload in that house (they have two-year-old twin girls). I'll keep you posted on Mama and Baby Brown!

As for Mama and Baby Simpson... we're going to take a nap!

Welcome Baby Oscar!

I am proud to announce that our nephew was born on May 9th to Mommy Charlie (Toby's sister) and Daddy Steve! His name is Oscar James Stephen Seager... Maxton now has a little brother to play with! And soon he'll have an American cousin to come visit! Here are the Seagers with their new addition...

As for me... two weeks and 4 days away from B-Day... not that I'm keeping track!

Who am I kidding? Yes, I'm keeping track! I'm couting the hours! I'm ready for this baby to be here! However, I think Thumper is very comfortable where he/she is.

I'll keep you posted on my progress towards B-Day!

The Nursery

After the shower on Saturday, we were pretty well stocked with everything Thumper needs. The few things we still needed, we went ahead and purchased on Sunday with the gift cards I received at the shower. The room is now complete!

The bags are packed and ready to go!

A little outfit that Toby picked out when we were out shopping one day... the baby is going to wear camo, if it likes it or not! (Then again, so did I when I was little...)

Tucker's new hiding spot... under the crib. At least he's not IN the crib!

BABY SHOWER!

On May 2nd, I had the most wonderful Baby Shower, thanks to my mom, Aunt Mary and Aunt Marlene... you guys rock!

It was held in Fellowship Hall of my church... and was a huge success! I think there were 35 people there... I didn't count. And I thank all of you for coming! For those of you that couldn't make it, I totally understand! I love you all!

Here are a couple pictures... for all the pictures, you can visit: tobyanderin.myphotoalbum.com


Mom- and Grandma-to-Be








Gifts before...





Gifts after!



My cousin Marie and me... she's due 5 days before me!



As you can imagine, Mom was the "emcee" of the day... and she did a wonderful job! She was made for this Grandma stuff!



And, of course... the dreaded string game! I'm not telling what I measured out at!!!


Thanks again to everyone for everything! It was a wonderful day and I loved every second of it! Love you all!

36 Weeks

Here's the most recent pic of me, taken on Saturday night.

My Baby Shower was a HUGE success! Thanks to everyone for coming and for all the awesome pressies!!! It was a lot of fun and I'm already having a great time sorting everything out and getting ready for Thumper's arrival!

Yesterday Mom and I went shopping with the gift cards I got on Saturday... we are now officially prepared for Thumper's arrival -- we have a mattress! Woo hoo!

I will post pictures and write more later... right now, I should be working! hahaha

Less than a month...

29 days and counting… tomorrow marks 36 weeks!

 

I had my check up yesterday… and all is well.  Other than the fact I gained FOUR POUNDS in the last week!  Whew!  And I thought it felt like I had lost weight… boy, was I wrong!  So far I’ve gained a total of 30 pounds… not too shabby if you ask me!  I know people who gained 60 or 70 pounds!!  I’m quite happy with 30 pounds!!

 

Toby doesn’t like it when I post words on here like “cervix” or any of those ‘womanly words’ – sorry, honey… but it’s all part of this wonderful thing called pregnancy. So if you’re reading this, Toby, don’t read the next sentence:  Apparently I passed my mucus plug about an hour ago!!!  Crazy, huh?!  The doctor says “labor is imminent” now…  I’m not an expert, but I’m pretty sure it’s been imminent all along… I mean, look at me!  ;o)

 

Of course I’m a little more anxious/nervous/excited now… especially since my mom went into labor with me a few hours after passing her mucus plug.  Yikes!  The doctor says I could definitely still go until my due date or past it… but I could also definitely go early.  It’s all down to baby now… come out, come out, whenever you want!

 

In other news… tomorrow is the Baby Shower Extravaganza… I’m sure it’s going to be a great time!!  I’ll post pictures, don’t worry!

 

Have a wonderful weekend… and don’t worry… I’ll let you know if I have the baby!  hahaha