What We've Been Up To...

I've been having technical issues and can't upload most pictures.

Things have been going really well. Madeleine is the best baby anyone could ask for. She's nursing great and growing like a weed.....gained 1o ozs and grew 3/4 inch in a week. Really only cries when she is hungry and is just plain perfect.

Noelle is still totally in loooooooooooove and is such a good big sister/helper. Daddy has found a new love of his life, too.

We've just been loving these days home spending time together as a new family of four. It was rough for me the first few days, I was scared but things have just been so smooth. Let's hope things don't blow up for us now that I've gone public!

We're Home

She is just a precious angel sent here from Heaven. Literally.

We're Off

I got a call yesterday afternoon that there would be a change in plans and I will be going in this morning instead of this evening. Kind of messed up my plans, but that's OK. She'll be here 12 hours earlier. So, I am up right now, the house is still quiet and dark. I will spend many nights/mornings like this over the next few weeks/months.

I had plans to make a nice dinner as our 'last night' together as a family of three but the change in plans changed that, too. Instead we dined with a $5 Little Cesaers Pizza and drank Crystal Light. I put Noelle to bed by myself, Daddy normally does it but I wanted to be with her. I laid there forever feeling her soft skin, smelling her smell, and listening to her breath. I could have stayed there all night. I cannot believe how big she is and how fiercely I love her. All I can hope is that she is this change is a positive one for her, that she loves having a baby around, and does not feel abandoned in any way.

Then Aaron and I got our blankets and got comfy on the couch, ate Oreos with milk while we watched a couple of shows in our DVR. Of course, I fell asleep, as always. Nothing special but typical of us, except the Oreos. That was a totally random purchase when I ran to the store for a couple of things. I wanted something random.

I just feel so blessed to have an opportunity to be in this situation. I really am blessed.

We will update as soon as we can!

We're Ready For You!

We've been like little busy bees today getting all of the last minute stuff ready. Washing car seat covers, putting together swings, all sorts of fun stuff! Aaron had a 'Honey-Do' list about a mile long and has been checking them all off like a champ.

It's like Old Mother Hubbard around here, we are about ready to leave and get our provisions for the next couple of weeks. I think I might even buy some frozen pizzas and burritos. *Gasp!*

As I am typing Noelle came by, hugged my leg and said, "I love Madeleine." Seriously? Precious.

Alright baby girl, let's go!

'D' Day

I saw Cooper yesterday. He wants me to come in Tuesday night at 8:00 for cervadil. I'm so conflicted. I want to go into labor on my own, labor as long as I can at home, then go to the hospital to deliver.

So, please say a prayer, cross your fingers, have a seance, light a candle, do a dance, ask Buddha, whatever method you prescribe to, that labor comes on its own.

Tonight I have a Manicure & Pedicure and tomorrow I am getting my haircut, so Saturday would be my day of choice. NOT that I am picky or anything. Seriously though, I would do a happy dance in between contractions if something happens before Tuesday night.

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Oh, and I have valances! And I love them! THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Sorry they're so dark. Stinking camera, I could not get it to work. I will get better pictures up.

Knott's Horrible Farm

Due to do the fires, Knotts was bad and I mean BAD. When we got out of the car I turned to Aaron and said, "We've literally been dropped off at the gates of Hell." I now know what it's going to be like when I get there for bad things I have done and said. HOT, WINDY, SMOKY, ASH.

The 'picnic' part was sort of tolerable. But when we went to the actual park, things go really bad. The ash was pouring down on us. The crazy part was, the place was packed. People were swarming everywhere, walking around with masks and paper towels over their faces. Insane.

Aaron got in line for one ride, I called him 5 minutes later and told him there was no way we were going to make it. One ride took over an hour. Noelle and I walked some and tried to hide in the store.

But, we did get one picture. She actually wanted it. She went back and forth a few times, it just took her awhile to get used to him.

There Are Only A Few True Joys In Life...

Noelle has discovered one of them...licking the beater.

Bummer...

"It's shut like the gates of...the gates of...the gates of I don't know where." My cervix according to Cooper

I was really, really hoping for some progress but nope. Her head has moved down more, so that is good. Hopefully, next week will be different. He put me on his schedule for an induction on the 25th. I am not dead set on it, we will see how this week progresses. A scheduled induction is NOOOOOOOOOOT what I want.

Dr. Tamagna does, though, she's all for it. She reduced my PTU from 300mg to 200mg! Very good news. She wants to keep an eagle eye on things until delivery so I did blood work Friday, more today, and again next Friday, then I see her for an appointment on the 24th. Hopefully, we can reduce again this week. But, we need to be prepared for an huge up-swing after delivery and she told me not to hope for remission. My thyroid has been too resistant and the gland is still really big so, there ya go.

We're going to Knott's Berry Farm tomorrow courtesy of Ecolab. Aaron's group met their 3rd quarter goal in spite of this horrible economy, so they won a party. Couldn't you just give us the money instead? But, walking is good, right? We'll see how long I last.

Moral Dilemma

I had about 20 errands to run. I was getting them accomplished but every store was a series of unfortunate events. Buckled Noelle in her car seat only to realize I walked out of the store without my bag. After going in and out of Gymboree three times finally decide to get the Christmas Dresses, then realize my coupon expired. Seriously. My brain cells are starved for Oxygen. But, I kept on going! I drove by Mervyns and realized I have a credit and since they are going out of business I would use it.

We walked around forever looking at 100 different things but nothing was really that good of deal. Total waste of time. Do the whole car seat thing, break down the stroller heave it into the back of the car, and realize I don't have my wallet. Search everywhere on the brink of tears looking for it. Praying I dropped it, we head back into the store. My back is killing me and I'm so upset. I find an employee and she is nice but is not much help. Find a manager, but no luck. No wallet.

I do one more sweep and I FIND MY WALLET! I am so relieved, I can hardly speak.

I look up to realize the original employee was there. Long story short, she asks me for a ride home. Crud! I have no idea what to do. It's 8:00pm and really cold outside. I tell her I still have to go to Trader Joe's and Target. She says that's fine because she still has to clock out and will wait for me out front. What do I do? If it were just me I would have done it, but I'm incredibly pregnant with a toddler in the car, it makes me really uncomfortable. I now have a major inner conflict. I just received a HUGE blessing by finding my wallet and now is my chance to be Christ-like and return the favor, right? But, by letting a stranger into my car?

Luckily, Target was a disaster, it took an hour. No way she waited that long. Whew! Dodged that scene.

I am at the light in front of Mervyn's again and look who is crossing the street in front of my car! The lady who asked for a ride. AHHHHHHH! What do I do? Honk, and tell her to get in? I just sat there with my mouth hanging open and let her walk home.

I have felt guilty for two days.

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We went on our hospital tour last night. Hopefully, I have a better experience at Northridge than I did at Holy Cross. Yipeeeee!

Fun, Relaxing Weekend...And A Good Size Baby

We were supposed to go out of town for Aaron's work this weekend but due to 'The State of the Union' they have suspended spending money so we stayed home. Auntie and Unc were sad that they were not going to get Noelle for the weekend so they asked if they could still have her Friday night. No problemo!

Aaron pretty much always lets me decide what we are going to do/eat. I MADE him choose this time, being that this is probably the last hoo-rah before baby comes. He chose Olive Garden...seriously? So many choices? But, I had to keep my mouth shut. I just had soup and the next day looked like I'd been injected with saline solution from all the salt. Then he decided he wanted Diddy Reese, free gas is so good! Driving to Santa Monica for ice cream is not a big deal. A basketball game just let out so the line was around the block. Argh. We waited for about 45 minutes. The cookies were extra tasty this time, so it was almost worth it.

Saturday morning we stayed in bed until 8:00, BLISS! Walked to Jamba Juice to use a gift card I've had forever. Then got ready and went to pick up Noelle because we had a big surprise planned!

STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE was making an appearance at our local Toys'R'Us. She was excited from afar. Close up, not so much.

The Care Bear, she freaked out.

That's alright. See you guys on TV!

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Childhood at it's best! Hanging off the side of the cart while we run down the hill!

We had nothing else planned for the day...a miracle. We got home had sandwiches and all took naps, BLISS! Noelle slept for 4 hours. It felt so nice to have a Saturday evening to hang out at home. Bedtime was a rough but it was worth it.

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On another note my appointment with Tabsh went really well, after waiting for more than two hours. He said a 38 week delivery would be just fine but he wants Tamagna to reduce my PTU dose before delivery. Baby weighs 6.5 pounds! Gaining an ounce a day from here on out puts us at an 8.5 pound baby two weeks early. He asked me what 'Crazy Cooper' was up to and I told him he kissed me. "OOOOH! Dat crazy man! You know dat is da kiss of a father, right?" On my way out I hear all the nurses giggling, "Did you hear that Crazy Cooper kissed her?"