Annalise Michele, born October 29, 2007 at 5:57pm. She is 6lbs, 8oz, and 18″ tall. Mommy and baby girl are doing very well and should be home tomorrow evening! We already have a blogspot just for her now that she has a name too: http://annalisewedewer.blogspot.com/, where future updates from now on will be posted.
Annalise Michele, born October 29, 2007 at 5:57pm. She is 6lbs, 8oz, and 18″ tall. Mommy and baby girl are doing very well and should be home tomorrow evening! We already have a blogspot just for her now that she has a name too: http://annalisewedewer.blogspot.com/, where future updates from now on will be posted.
Just a little note for Tommy to read when he’s all grown up…
You gave me the best snuggles before you went to bed tonight. You and I squeezed into your rocking chair (no small feat with Baby Sister in my belly), Daddy turned off the light and we listened to your favorite lullaby CD together. You cuddled up to my shoulder, got nice and cozy, then lifted your head for just a moment to say “I love you, Mommy,” before you snuggled up with your white blanket in my arms. You melt my heart! I truly cherish those special moments with you. You give great cuddles and you are such a wonderful son to your Daddy and me. You’re going to be a great big brother, too! I love you, Tommy.
Love,
Mommy
Today we had our first (and hopefully only!) false alarm visit to the hospital. I started having contractions about five minutes apart shortly before 6am. They weren’t very strong or painful, but their frequency was enough to have us concerned. When they hadn’t subsided by noon, we dropped Tommy off at Aunt Lisa and Uncle Brian’s house then went to Summerlin Hospital to see if today would be the day.
Alas, 90 minutes of monitoring recorded only three contractions, none of which were the earth-shattering variety (I guess the natural contractions, as they kick off, are really nothing compared to the Pitocin-induced contractions I had with Tommy). The good news is my body has begun the effacement process…an essential prerequisite for this week’s induction, if needed…the nurse estimated I’m 70-80% effaced and still dilated approximately 2cm.
Tuesday we are scheduled to see Dr. Joe for my weekly check-up. Stay tuned!
Tommy poses wearing an art project he made at school…a kitty cat hat! He loves to give us drawings and paintings he’s done during art time, but this is the first 3-D project he’s brought home. How cute!
We enjoyed a lovely day at the park last Saturday. First we joined my Aunt Ginger and Uncle Don for a picnic benefitting Small Paws Rescue (http://www.smallpawsrescue.org/), an organization which helps find homes for Bichon Frise dogs. There were DOZENS of the little white fluff-balls running around the park, but the only picture I snapped of one is Don’s dog, Wizard, which is also the unofficial mascot for his glass-art enterprise.
After the picnic we wandered over to the Summerlin Pumpkin Festival, which was packed with families! We saw many of our friends there and partook in all sorts of autumn activities. Tommy enjoyed the hay maze and loved crawling around on the hay bales in the “pumpkin patch” they erected for the cause. The kettle corn was great, too!
Tommy crowns himself with his favorite hat during a meal last week. He calls it his “birthday hat” and will run around with it on his head for the better part of an hour if we let him. He loves to riffle through his kitchen cabinet and play with the unbreakable bowls, collanders and cake domes.
I’ve been having more contractions, but nothing painful nor at regular intervals. Baby is moving a LOT, but I can tell that her movements are becoming more restricted by her cramped quarters.
Gotta hold her up now…this girl’s getting big!
We’re really in the home stretch! Baby’s not only turned head first, but she has “dropped” into my pelvis…which makes for a lovely waddle when I walk. I’m dilated to about 1cm, which isn’t much, but it’s a start, and I’m pretty sure she’ll be here in the next couple of weeks. Baby’s heart rate was a little high (170 bpm) during our last appointment, but James and Dr. Joe could also SEE her trying to punch her way out the right side of my belly during the exam. Of course it was high…she was getting a work out! As a precaution, Doc put me on monitors for about 20 minutes and she settled back into the 150s just fine.
Tommy really likes to be in the belly pictures now. What a doting brother he is already! I am getting increasingly tired each day and my efforts to keep up with things around the house are getting pretty pitiful. Tommy’s tough to keep up with, but James is being a huge help.
I forgot to have James take a belly picture this week, but here’s one showing why said belly’s getting so big…my love for sweets!
Saturday, October 6 my girlfriends, Tamica & Tava, threw a baby shower for me and Baby Girl. Tava ended up being sick and couldn’t make it, but Baby and I are pictured above with our gracious hostess, Tamica, and the delicious cake – white with strawberry cream filling – it was SO good! Many friends attended and spoiled us rotten. I’ve never seen so much pink in my life! It was such a treat to spend an afternoon amongst so many girlfriends (with our husbands all at home on Daddy Duty!) What an honor to have such wonderful pals!
Tommy & Mommy enjoyed a day of shopping at Fashion Show Mall earlier this week. We found Christmas outfits for him and Baby Sister, then celebrated by eating Subway sandwiches and Cheetos on the patio. No high chair required! He’s becoming such a big boy.
Tommy attended a little pumpkin carnival near our home this weekend. Aunt Cindy & Uncle Jeremy were out from California and had lots of fun watching their nephew enjoy himself. Here he rides a very old, ancient pony with Uncle Jeremy guiding the little guy around:
*He does own another shirt besides this one…he’s just obsessed with wearing his Cars t-shirt whenever I admit that it’s clean!
And here he rides the “Big Banana,” enjoying a lollipop all the while:
September 29 our family attended the Summerlin Art Festival with Tommy’s good pals Carissa & Bella. The kids enjoyed getting some “ink” done by a local artist. Tommy sports his Lightning McQueen tattoo. Think he’s a little obsessed?
Carissa got a pink doggie. I think it’s Magenta from Blue’s Clues:
And Bella dons Snoopy:
Then they danced!
After they got their groove on, all three sat quietly and watched a ballet performance for upwards of 20 minutes without fussing. They were entranced! Tommy talked about the dancers in jazzy black costumes for the rest of the day, stating they were his favorite. I personally liked the blue tutus better.
