2 Weeks Old, More Photos!

She had her 2-week Wellness Examine today. She weighs 8lbs 7oz and is 21 inches long.

Just some more photos of Emery Faith!

Two Weeks Old!

Emery will be 2 weeks old tomorrow! My mom and I played around with the camera today and tried to get some "professional-like" photos of Baby Emery... Needless to say, we tried! Guess, we'll have to keep trying...

Emery has officially out grown her newborn clothes. Many of the outfits are not long enough for her to stretch-out her little legs.

Tomorrow is her 2-week appointment with the pediatrician... Wonder how she will weigh-in!

Emery's "fussy time" begins at about 6pm and can last for about an hour or two... She definitely gets in some good cuddle time!

One Week Old!

Emery Faith turned a week old yesterday! She is so amazing! She completely turns her head from side to side while she sleeps, has begun to raise her head while being burped on your shoulder, and is staying awake for about to 2 hours during the day. She LOVES her sponge bath massages at night... she lays so quiet & still.

She is growing way too fast!!!

Five days old!

Wow, we're already on Day #5... I can't believe it! Emery is a very sweet and content baby.

We are amazed that she can already turn her head from side-to-side while she is sleeping. We were trying to keep track as to which side she was sleeping on to help prevent "flat head" but realized she was turning from side-to-side on her own. Guess there's no need to keep track anymore!

There are two things that make Emery very upset... having a wet/dirty diaper on and being changed into a clean diaper. She doesn't like either one and will make sure everyone hears how upset she is!

As for me, I am on the road to recovery and feeling "surprisingly" good... that is as long as I remember to take my pain medication! I am truly enjoying my time with Emery and am finding simple projects to help fill-up my time while she sleeps.

Trying out her swing, it actually kept her awake for a while!

And, Some More Photos!

All bundled up on our ride home!

The girls are a bit jealous, but doing good!

Our little angel!

Emery, More Photos!

Emery Faith McElroy

Our little blonde-hair, blue-eyed princess arrived on March 17, 2009 at 9:31pm weighing 7lbs 2oz and 21 ¼ inches long.

Who knew that deciding to clean the whole-entire house would help Baby Emery make her debut! Last Sunday, Ross finished his drywall and spackling project… the house was a HUGE dust ball! So, as he finished his project, I began CLEANING!!! I literally cleaned the whole-entire house on Sunday. I had this huge burst of ENERGY that lasted all day long! The house was looking spotless and I was feeling great! Once I sat down to rest and relax, the real fun began… I was having severe back pain to the point where I was not able to stand-up and walk on my own. At times, I found myself crawling to the bathroom.

Monday AM, I decided it would be best for me to work from home. My back was a bit sore, but I was able to manage and walk with much more ease. Laura, Gina & I had lunch at Mimi’s… and they swore I was in the early stages of labor. Yea, right… Emery wasn’t coming for another week!

Monday PM, Ross decided it was time for us to begin watching the Laugh and Learn About Childbirth video… we made it through anatomy, preliminary signs of labor, three actual signs of labor, and one breathing technique. We were on our way for preparing for our baby girl… Little did we know, my water broke at 12:07am and off to the hospital we went!

Laboring was a very long process as my water broke before my uterus began the contracting. We arrived at the hospital at 1:30am, Dr. Gopal started me on pitocin at 9:00am, and I had received the epidural by 10:30am. Now, we wait and wait and wait… Laboring continued at the very slow pace until Dr. Pickford arrived at 5:00pm. She increased the pitocin and I started making progress. By 8:45pm, I was ready. Now, everything gets a bit interesting… sometime after checking me when I was at an 8, my epidural came out of my back. We have no clue when it happened and only realized it when the anesthesiologist came to give me my final “delivery dose” and he was holding the epidural cord in his hand. According to Ross & Laura, my face was priceless as I realized what I was about to experience. We were already about 30 minutes into the pushing phase and I just wanted it to be over with… my body was getting tired and I told Dr. Pickford “We’re going for it!” I’m sure Laura and Ross were thinking I was CRAZY!!! I remember about four more STRONG contractions and some help from the vacuum… And, I was holding our baby girl!

In my perspective, this is definitely classified as a natural delivery! Even though I labored with the epidural, I felt EVERYTHING during the delivery. WOW!!!

Ross & I are truly blessed with a beautiful baby girl! She was totally worth the pain!!!

"Are you ready?"

Every time I hear those three little words it makes me want to cringe! Seriously, they're asking me during my 9-month if I'm ready to have the baby... Of course I'm ready!!! And to make it even better, a couple of people have followed my response with... "Yea, you look like it!" Again, just what I wanted to hear!

I swear... some people are unbelievable!

Baby E's Bedding

The bedding I had ordered arrived and, I'm NOT crazy about it what-so-ever! So, the search is still on and here's my next idea for decorating...

38 Weeks!

I am so ready for Baby E to be here! And, for Spring weather to arrive and stay! Last week, we had 6 inches of snow on Monday and by Friday we were in the 70's driving with the windows down! Gotta love VA weather!

I guess I'm as ready as I can be... with the nice weather last weekend, I was out & about the whole time! I'm very thankful Leigh was willing to slowly walk around the trail with me... Baby E tends to hit a nerve every once in a while and makes my leg numb for a bit. My walks can take a little bit longer! Besides the "nerve" issue, the only other complaint I have is that it's getting to be very uncomfortable at night while I'm trying to sleep.

As far as handling my full work-day, it's a bit much now. I'm at the point of just getting myself to the office makes for a successful day! I have my Dr's appointment tomorrow... if anything exciting happens, I'll update!

37 weeks!

I can't believe only 3 more weeks and Baby E will be here!

This past weekend was all about projects for Ross & I... Ross worked on repairing the holes in the drywall from Project Attic while I put together the swing, bouncy chair, pack 'n play, and my BOB stroller. We're getting excited! I'm crossing my fingers that her bedding will arrive this week... then her room will almost be complete!

I'm ready!!! But, still going strong! With a belly that measures 39 inches around, I'm still shaving the legs and painting the toes... just painted them HOT PINK today in hopes that it would help bring spring a bit early, even though we have 6 inches of snow on the ground. Wishful thinking... what can I say!

I begin the weekly doctor's visits this week. Although I try to fight it, I'm getting to the point of just being uncomfortable... most of the time, it hits me at the end of the day while I'm laying in bed and then trying to find the strength to "roll out of bed" for my two potty breaks during the night. Not fun, but I know it's about to be over... and then, we're onto to the sleepless nights. But, I know she's worth every bit of it!!!