Video of Anabelle

Anabelle is continuing to grow and do new things. It's so much fun! I attached a video of her a couple days ago. She's starting to make more "babble" noises which are so cute! Justin and I are loving being parents although it is hard sometimes. Right now we are trying to get her used to going to sleep in her crib. It's so hard to let her cry in her crib. It makes my heart hurt.

We made our first road trip last weekend. We went down to Mobile to see Justin's parents. We had a great time and Anabelle did well in the car. It's hard for Justin and I because once we get on the road we don't like to stop and we pride ourselves in not losing much time when we do. So, traveling with a baby has made us change our travel habits. But she did great!

Getting settled in

Well, things have been busy around here lately. We have had lots of company which has been so much fun. Justin's mom came up for a few days, Milla came to visit and took Anabelle's newborn pics, then his sister Anna and his Meemaw and this past weekend my dad and Terry came to visit. We have really enjoyed having so much family and friends here in Memphis. We couldn't get them to come up before Anabelle came and now we can't keep people away!! :) Anabelle has loved it because she has been held constantly. Now, we are trying to get her used to being put down. Needless to say, she doesn't like it. She also doesn't like her tummy time. She is getting so strong, lifting her head and starting to push up. She is also getting so big! I took her by the pediatrician's office on Friday and she weighed 9 pounds, 8 ounces! She is gaining about a pound a week.

Justin and I have been getting out more lately and it has been very good for me. I am beginning to feel like my life is regaining a little bit of normalcy. I actually went to the gym yesterday for the first time in about 2 or 3 months! It felt great.

As I mentioned earlier, Milla came down and took some newborn pictures. We have posted them to a shutterfly website for family to order. If you would like to check them out go to http://anabellesnewbornphotos.shutterfly.com/. They are awesome!

Week one

Well, we have been home from the hospital for a week now. Anabelle turned one week old on Wednesday. It has been a week of learning and adjusting. I love getting to know my baby girl and learning her faces and cries. We had lots of family here for a few days after coming home which was alot of fun. Then Milla came for a couple of days to take her newborn pictures. Today has low key. We have been around the house and it has been wonderful. Tuesday Justin and I took Anabelle to the pediatrician for her first check up. Everything went well except she was looking a little yellow so the doctor wanted to get a bilirubin check. They pricked her heel to get some blood and she cried and cried and cried. And I also cried and cried. It's so hard to see your baby hurting. If that wasn't bad enough the doctor made us go back Wednesday and today to do it over again! Thankfully, today her numbers were down so we don't have to go back anymore. I don't think I could handle it. Justin is on call this weekend so he will be gone most of the time which makes me sad. I can't wait for him to move to a new rotation (starting October) so that he will be home more. I miss him so much. I'm realizing that parenthood is going to require us to be very deliberate in making time for us to be together. I miss our quality time already. But, we would not trade anything for the joy that Anabelle has brought us already. These are a few pictures from around the house.

Anabelle has arrived!!

Well, our precious baby girl has made her entrance into the world! Sorry it has taken me a few days to post this but things have been crazy. I went into the hospital Tuesday night (the 14th) and started cervadil. The doctor began inducing Wednesday morning about 8:00. Labor and delivery went beautifully and Anabelle was born at 5:14 pm on Wednesday, Sept. 15th. 7 pounds, 6 oz., 20 1/4 inches long.
We have been taking it easy around the house lately. She is beginning to get into a schedule which is nice. I still can't believe that she is here. I love her so much! Everyone tells you that you will love your kids more than you thought you could and they are right. It's such a different kind of love than I have ever experienced. I just love to watch her sleep and watch her make faces when she is awake. Justin and I are so blessed to have this perfect little person given to us. God is wonderful in his design of life, it is such a miraculous process!
We go the pediatrician today for her first check up. This will be Anabelle's first outing since coming home from the hospital. And tomorrow Milla is coming to visit and to take pictures of Anabelle! I can't wait! I know that she is going to get beautiful pictures of her! I will continue to update on how we are doing and how Anabelle is changing.

I'm back!

So, I've been gone for a while from the blog world but I thought I would try to get back into it since Anabelle will soon be here! Hopefully this will allow family and friends to keep up with her as she grows! Tomorrow I will be 39 weeks pregnant. I have been having some contractions lately but they are very random. We are just waiting for her to decide she is ready to come into this world.

The nursery is ready and all her clothes have been washed! I love going in there and looking at everything. It's such a comfortable room to be in. I love it! I have attached some pictures of me and the nursery. The next pictures on here should be of our beautiful baby girl! Justin and I are so excited about this miracle that the Lord has blessed us with and can't wait to see what parenthood is like!

Pray for Justin

This morning Justin left at 6:30 as usual for his 24 hour shift. This is his 2nd month of the dreaded "desk". What this means is that he covers everything orthopedic related that comes into the ER at the Med. The Med is the busiest trauma hospital in the region and I think close to the busiest in the country. So, he stays very busy while he is there. He works 24 on and 24 off all month. This just wears him down. (I know some of you other ortho wives completely agree) Please pray that he will have energy to finish this month out. And that he will be able to think clearly at hour 20 and he will have patience with those who come in. I praise God for where he has brought us and I am so thankful to see how he continues to provide and give us strength to get through residency. Thanks for listening and thanks for your prayers!

Jamaica!!

Well, I didn't get a chance to put up some pics from our trip to Jamaica because our computer got a virus or something and had to be sent off. So, here they are! The weather in Jamaica in December is absolutely perfect!!! We had a great time. And we came home with 2 liters of rum!! Apparently that's the only thing they have for door prizes. :)