Happy Days

Daddy and Daughter on Father's Day

Todd's Graduation Day

Meeting "GG"

I am now the proud wife of a Masters graduate! Todd had his Graduation from Keller Grad school this past weekend, it was a great time. We celebrated by going out to dinner at The Harmon and having a party in honor of Todd the next day, however it seemed more like a party for baby Emily. She was the star of the party! That little girl got passed from one person to the next, and let me tell you I was one stressed out Mommy! It made me realize that she is still so tiny and fragile! My motherly instinct has kicked into high gear!
Emily also got to meet her Great Grandma Barb (GG) who is here visiting from California. Todd and I are also celebrating our two year wedding anniversary on Monday! Hard to believe it has been that long since our wedding day. It has been a very eventful 2 years:)

One Month

My baby girl

Cuddle Time

One Month Old

Today Emily is one month old! Can't believe 4 weeks have already gone by. Todd and I have learned plenty with our little love bug at home with us. We have learned that we can survive on very little sleep, we LOVED sleep and sleeping in on the weekends. That has changed, however Emily is currently sleeping 5-6 straight hours through the night, WOW! What a blessing that has been for me, while during the week I'm the one who gets up with Emily during the night, since Todd has to get up early for work. Another thing we have learned is that we know our daughter better than anyone else ever will. We know how she likes to sleep at night, different positions she likes to be held, how she loves to stretch out and watch her horsey, and how she loves being a naked baby at night before we put her in her P.J.'s for bed. We learned that just like during pregnancy, people still give unsolicited advice, and to take it with a grain of salt. :)
Emily has been smiling more and more every day, you can tell her eyes are really trying to focus on certain things. She has also been making lots of new noises, coos and cries are changing day by day. She still has not had a big full out crying episode ( still waiting for that one). I've enjoyed spending my days with my little girl, I can already tell a strong bond is being created and she sure does love her mommy:) It is a great feeling when she immediately stops crying when I pick her up and rock her. She also likes it when I sing to her.
Emily's Great Grandma Stone will be here next week from California, and we look forward to spending some time with her. Great family memories will be made this summer!

Eat, Poop, Repeat

First stroller ride

Awake and Alert

Daddy's Girl

We have had our little Emily with us for almost 2 weeks now! Although the days seem to blur into one another, there have been some special moments that have really stood out. Emily went to the Dr. for the first time and is now up to 8lbs 7 1/2 oz!!! She loves her food!:) We go again for her two week check up on Friday. We have gone on several family outings to Target, Wal-Mart we visited Grammie and Pappy in Graham, and took Emily to see the animals at Northwest Trek (she slept the whole time).
Emily had her first bath, and afterwards we wrapped her up in a cute personalized towel that Auntie Katie got her and Emily peed all over the towel and me!:) Emily is very alert when she is awake, and is really working on lifting her head up, it amazes me how strong she is already!! Her hair has these amazing golden/red highlights that I LOVE! And her baby blues are as bright as ever! Everyone comments on the color of her skin, it is a perfect rosey, healthy pink! She loves her horse that plays "Farmer in the Dell" Grammie Malone got it for her, anytime I sing to her or she hears music she stops crying and begins looking all around.
The cats are adjusting very well to Emily being in the house, they keep each other entertained, and the crying does not bother them at all. They are very curious about Emily and enjoy smelling her cute little head (while Mommy and Daddy are present). Todd goes back to work on Thursday and then my job as a stay at home mom begins. I'm looking forward to getting into more of a routine and enjoying many summer outings with our little family! Next weekend Todd and I are taking Emily to meet her Great Grandpa Hamllik in Washougal!

Emily Jean's Birth Story

Emily Jean Stone
Born @ 4:34am
May 13, 2009
8 lbs. 1 oz. 21 inches long!!

Emily was born a week before her due date! I had a feeling that she would be early but I had no idea what I would be in for when I woke up on Tuesday morning....:) I woke up to some light bleeding and called the Dr., the nurse said that my cervix was probably dilating and to record any contractions and be prepared for my water to break. I was excited because my friend Emily was going to be coming over to spend the day with me, and I knew that if anything happened I would not be alone! Emily and I spent the day together and even went to McDonalds for lunch (something I rarely do)! Emily left around 4:15, Todd was going to be home in about an hour and I had only felt some very light contractions, in fact I didn't really know they were even contractions. At 4:35 I had my first major contraction, it completely took my breath away, and then I KNEW I was for sure having contractions. I started timing them and got in the tub, they were about 5 minutes apart but only lasting about 15-30 seconds. However they were get a lot stronger as time progressed. I called Todd and told him he needed to get home ASAP! He was home in about 30 minutes and by that time I knew we needed to get to the hospital. We called first and told them about my contractions and they advised that I come in and be checked.
5:30pm- We got to the hospital and I was 1 cm and 80% effaced, my mom arrived at 6:15 (we pretty much knew I would be having Emily sometime in the next 24 hours) The nurse said that I should walk around the hospital to try to make some more progress, and if no progress was made I would be sent home to labor there and return later. I was so angry!! There was no way they would send me home, I was in PAIN and needed to be at the hospital! So we slowly began walking around the hospital, stopping about every 2 minutes for my very strong contractions...my Mom walked behind us taking pictures and updating the family, after about 45 minutes the nurse checked to see if I had made any progress...NOTHING! I began crying and said there is no way I am going home, she said they could give me a shot of morphine that would help me to relax and rest during contractions, I agreed and was never more happy to take a shot in the butt:)
7:30 pm-We drove home from the hospital, my mom came with us. I labored at home on our couch until 10:30pm, my contractions were really close together and over a minute long,we decided it was time to head back to the hospital.
11:30pm -Finally checked back into the hospital and was checked, 3cm and 90% effaced, I was then moved into the Labor and Delivery room, I was given my IV and filled out lots of paper work and told them I wanted my Epidural ASAP!
12:00am - I got my epidural, after about 45 minutes of attempting to place it in my back!!
12:50am - Epidural is done and I was feeling much better, but still felt the contractions, basically all the epidural did for me was take the edge off. Todd ran to the car to get our bags.
1:27am - Dilated to an 8!!
2:15am - 9+ cent. I began to push about 20 minutes later, as I started feeling more of the pressure and urge to push.
2:45am - I started pushing...I expected it to be like on tv, about 10 pushes or so and the baby is out...no way...I pushed for what seemed like FOREVER, and even though I had the epidural, I still felt A LOT of pressure and pain. As I began to make more progress pushing the labor and delivery nurse commented on all the hair she could see on Emily's head, I got to feel her hair, and that motivated me to get her out!! I used the 'pull on a towel' method, it worked great for me, I basically reached forward and pulled on a cloth that was tied to a bar in front of me, it helped me to use all my body to push.
3:55am - Emily began to crown and they were all still commenting on her hair!
4:34 am- Emily was born! I could feel her head come out, and once they got out the first shoulder I could feel her whole little body just shoot right out! It was an amazing feeling of accomplishment to know that I had been the one doing all the work to bring our little girl into the world. The placed her directly on my chest and I finally got to touch my baby:) Todd and I were so happy and relieved to see her! After many tears and smiles we were finally a family of 3:)


All of Emily's tests went great, she passed everything with flying colors, she was so calm and barely cried when she got her shots and her bath! We stayed in the hospital for two nights, with no sleep at all! I was beginning to feel physically ill from lack of sleep.
We brought Emily home on Friday and have loved every minute of being her parents:) Everything has changed and we are so grateful for what God has given to us!

Waiting

Todd putting the stroller together

37 weeks 3 days

Today I am 37 weeks 3 days pregnant, it could really be any day now! I went to my OB appointment on Tuesday and my Dr. checked to see if I had made any progress and she told me I am dilated half a centimeter. Not much, BUT it is something! I realize that I could stay at half a centimeter for weeks..but I also know that my body has physically started the first steps toward labor, and that is very exciting! I have gotten plenty done around the house, and Emily's room is completely finished. We purchased her travel system and even have the car seat installed and ready to go in the back of our car:) Yesterday we met with a Pediatrician at Olympia Pediatrics and we really felt comfortable with her. So we decided that we will use her as Emily's Pediatrician. She has two young boys herself, and answered all of our questions and then some! Todd really felt comfortable with her too which is important! This coming week I have another appointment where they will check again to see if any more progress has been made.
Tucker and Chloe have been getting a long great, I even caught them snuggling on the couch while sleeping....:) This week I plan on getting a pedicure and I have a hair appointment, I think it is important for me to still feel good about myself even though my size is expanding EVERY day! Todd is building shelves for our garage as we speak, a project that he has wanted to complete for awhile, I'm glad he got to do that today:)
My friends have been WONDERFUL! So many have offered to come out and visit, Katie Jo even took the day off of work to spend the afternoon with me. And this coming week I will have several visitors as well!
18 days until our due date!!

Safe & Sound

Mariners Game

Our new kitten, Tucker

36 weeks 2 days pregnant

I can't wait until Emily is at home, safe and sound with us!! These last couple weeks seem to be dragging on! I had my last day at ECS, it was really bittersweet, but I have been keeping extremely busy at home. My Grannie came out to my family Baby Shower and we picked out fabric for some curtains she made for Emily's nursery. I also got to see my cousins and their little guy Forrest, and my Aunt! The family baby shower was so much fun, and I enjoyed getting to visit with everyone:) The next day the family, plus members that were visiting, took the Sounder to Safeco Field to the Mariners game, I insisted on walking up the stairs verses taking the elevator and we walked a ways from the train the field, and the next day my feet were HUGE! I've decided that I don't need to be so stubborn next time:)
We brought our little guy Tucker home, him and Chloe play and run around the house all day! He is the perfect addition to the family, Todd said he already loves him:) hehe. I have been feeling pretty good, I love this weather and wish I could enjoy it a little more! I'm so glad I won't be pregnant through the summer, it kills me to have to take it easy right now. My blood pressure is still normal, weight gain is on track and Emily's head is still down. YAY! In the last couple days I think she has dropped, I've gotten a lot of comments from strangers who say, " wow you must be due any day!" "Your baby has really dropped!", I really think she has, and I have a feeling she will come sometime in the next 2 weeks. Preferably towards the end of that time, but I don't think she will last in there till the 20th.
The nursery is nearly complete, we just need to hang the beautiful curtains Grannie Malone made, and then I will take a picture of the completed nursery!:) Tomorrow we are going to Babies R Us to get our travel system, and we will then install the car seat! WEIRD! On Tuesday I have a OB appointment where they will check to see if I have dialted at all, I don't really think that I have, but you never know.
Todd is also finished with his school! Yay! He gave his final presentation on Monday, and said it is a HUGE relief for him to be DONE!:) His graduation will be in June, so Emily will be able to cheer for her Daddy in the audience:) We are extremely excited for these next few weeks of WAITING...:) Keep us in your prayers!

6 weeks left!

Today marks week 34! 6 weeks until Emily is here! Several of the ladies at my work think that she is going to come early, based on how large I am:) THANKS A LOT!:) We had a Dr. visit last week and Emily's head is down, and she has stayed there this whole week, so that is good, hopefully she stays put like that. We go to the Dr. again next week and then after that I will be going once a week! WOW! We had our last birthing class and got to tour Labor and Delivery at St. Pete's and it really helped us to visualize how things will go on the day of delivery. We were very impressed at the high security they have there, and their rooms are huge with flat screen tv's, and there is wireless SO I know my Dad will be happy about that, and will probably be giving a play by play on his Facebook or Twitter. :)
I had another Baby Shower this weekend with all my girlfriends and it was a blast! Emily is so special to have so many loving Aunties:) I began washing and organizing all of her clothes, and Todd put up shelves in the nursery so I was able to decorate a little. I also started packing my hospital bags, which is something that seemed forever away not too long ago.
As for how I am feeling....meh...could be worse, could be better. Todd pointed out that I have that pregnant woman "waddle", my appetite has decreased because there is absolutely no room for food in my belly, and I started to swell a little. I think it was because of those few hot days we had, I was up and doing laundry and moving baby things all around the room.
My last day of work is a week from today, yahoo! Then my Grannie is coming into town and will be helping me do some baby things, plus she will be at the Family Baby Shower on the 18th!
I also failed to mention that we are adding a new little guy to our family, Tucker Stone is a kitten that was born in my Mom's barn...we could not resist once we got our hands on the little guy. Chloe really needs a playmate, she is a very high maintenance cat. And we think that Tucker will be the perfect fit...yes we know what we are getting ourselves into...new kitten, new baby...life is good and it will all work out:)