Per Request: A Good Sadie Update

For those of you who aren't super excited to hear a bunch of baby talk, you may want to come back for my next post. This is a full Sadie update, per request of family and long distance friends.

Here is a picture of our little family. Just wanted yall to remember that Stephen and I are still here. Unfortunately, this picture was NOT taken on St. Patrick's Day. We just love green this much everyday.

I have to remind myself that just because I'm in the mood to wear whatever color, doesn't mean that Sadie is in the mood to wear it. We end up looking alike way too often. I'm working on it.

In other news, Sadie is a string bean, and we're working hard for her to gain some lbs., per Dr's orders. So this has started...and it's adorable. She sucks on her lips between bites and just about makes a fish face. So cute.
She's tried Rice cereal, bananas, apples, pears, and prunes (due to a bad encounter with some iron enhanced vitamins).
Stephen is going to be really happy that I put up a picture of him making an "eating face." He teases me that I'm doing that really bad. I tried to tell him it is my way of teaching her how to use the spoon correctly. :)

Another fatherly influence that Stephen has asserted is hair brushing. Last weekend, he thought it would be a good idea to part Sadie's wet hair on the other side. It looked nuts. I think she thought it was really funny. Her hair is curling- pretty exciting/scary. Here's how it turned out. Don't worry, we took her to church like this.
This one shows it way better. Plus, how cute does she look in that big chair?
It basically stuck straight up in the back.

On a totally random note, I used this for the first time last week:
All I can say is MAGIC. Don't be afraid. You won't drown. Just breathe through your mouth. Spring is the perfect time to give a Neti pot a whirl. I would like to take this opportunity to thank my mom for this gift.

I will also try to put a video of Sadie in action up soon. I tried to do one this post, but it was too large for blogger. Stay tuned.

Happy One Month Birthday, Sadie!

It's a weird dynamic. I'd love to say that I can't believe that a full month has gone by since Sadie was born, but some days (like last Tuesday), I can tell that I'm tired, that we've come so far, and that we've learned so much about each other. The past month has been so full- full of blessings, family, friends, challenges, triumphs, and I don't really even know how to record it here. I can say that in the blur of it all, God has been so incredibly faithful to us. He's sustaining and providing, and I am so very thankful.

There has been a lot of this:

But when I see this:
And this:
It makes it all totally worth it. Sadie melts my heart, and I've completely fallen in love with my husband all over again.

Month One, check! We survived, with flair. Sadie gets more precious each day, and sometimes I just love her so much I think my heart my explode...so I kiss those chubby cheeks as much as I possibly can.

Thanks to Amy Free for the incredible pictures!

Our First Two Weeks

Sorry I've been MIA! I know it is okay and expected, but I still feel bad. Here's a brief look at our first two weeks together...

Riding home from the hospital

The crazy thing about this birthing process is that I didn't cry. I actually had been afraid that when I went into labor, I would become a huge puddle of tears and mush. Something supernatural came over me, and I put on my game face like never before. It really was an out of body experience. However, when we packed up our things to leave the hospital, the hugeness of the situation hit me like a ton of bricks. In the picture below, Sadie has on the dress that my dad and I wore home from the hospital. Yes, my manly dad wore a dress and satin booties home from the hospital. When I slipped the dress over her head, I realized how special this moment was, and how it would only happen once. Stephen and I were bringing our daughter home. The tears flowed...
Gram and Pops are totally in love (and I love this picture).
First bath (she screamed her head off)
We learned after her bath that she LOVES having her hair brushed. I think we might have a quirky kid on our hands. Check out this picture...is she krumping? More importantly, whatever she is doing she is doing it in leg warmers.
On Sadie's one week birthday!
Sadie is learning to play with some little toys, and it is really cute.
Tuckered out
Playing with Stephen on his birthday
I could write so much more about these last two weeks, but I think it would start to sound like a personal journal entry. I have learned so much and feel so different. Living life with our new schedule is a huge adjustment in and of itself (can I get a what what from all nursing mothers?). My mom was an INCREDIBLE help, and it was hard putting her on a plane back to KY yesterday. The good news is that my wonderful in-law's come late tomorrow night, and then my parents come back next Tuesday for Turkey Day. This is when it is really hard to not live close to any family, but I know God will continue to provide for us. All of our friends here have shown us so much love- providing meals, flowers, gifts, words of encouragement, prayers, and more. We feel so blessed by our community here. Thank you to everyone that has helped us survive these first two weeks! From the bottom of our hearts, we can't thank you enough!

We did it!

Here is how the whole thing unfolded...

At 5:30 pm on Tuesday, I started having contractions. They were different than the ones I'd had before, but I wasn't 100% sure it was the real deal. By 9 pm, they were less than 5 minutes apart, so I called the Doctor. He said to come on in, and they'd check things out. I got there, they checked everything, and told us to walk the halls for the next hour (hoping my water would break). My water didn't break, but things progressed, so they said we were going to have a baby! We were finally admitted and checked into our Labor and Delivery Room around 12:30 am.

Here I am checked into our room...

After a long night (that is completely a blur), I was finally ready to push at about 7 am on Wednesday. At 9:20, sweet little Sadie Katherine made her debut!
She was 7 lbs. 14 oz and 21-1/2" long...
I don't really know how to start to explain how awesome this experience was. As more time passes, it becomes more awesome. I'll be honest, laboring was probably the most challenging thing I've ever done. Let me also say that Stephen was the most encouraging and supportive and tender coach. I couldn't have asked for anything more. I think in the 12 hours we were in Labor and Delivery, he may have left my side for a total of 3 minutes. He is the best- and I felt so incredibly loved. God was so faithful to give us the strength to endure. I had two major times when I wanted to totally throw in the towel. I am thankful for the presence of the Holy Spirit that carried us through. I got scared close to the end, and I realized that God designed this process, and He would carry it through to completion. He did, and here we are enjoying our daughter...
About an hour after Sadie was born, my parents arrived after driving through the night from Kentucky.
We were excited to have visitors! Jayme and Megan dropped by to meet Sadie and give us hugs of congratulations. Our friends and family have been so incredibly encouraging during this whole pregnancy and yet again during this new phase. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Things are changing for us, but it couldn't be sweeter or more rewarding.


The picture above is cute, but we kept laughing at her security tag. She looked like she was on house arrest.

I'm going to post more on coming home and our happenings around the house as soon as I can.

Thank you again to everyone for the phone calls, emails, and prayers. We couldn't have made it through without you and will continue to lean on your encouragement in the coming days, weeks, and months. We thank God for placing each of you in our lives.

We introduce you to Sadie with great pride and yet complete humility. Can't wait to share her with you.

NC Baby Shower

We had a such a great time at the shower last month (sorry I'm behind in my posts)!

Thank you to my wonderful hostesses! (LtoR: Caroline, Meredith, Lani, and Bethany)

Yea! The whole group (for those of you who are out of town, I'm going to tell you everyone's name so you can put names with faces, LtoR: Megan, Jayme, Settle, Caroline, Amy, Lani, Bethany, Meredith, Marlene, and in front, me, Kate, and Kelly)
Bethany did the flowers herself, and they were beautiful!
These cupcakes from Meredith were awesome, and enormous, which I love.

Pregnancy Update: You Ain't Just Fat is You?

The cash register lady at Rite Aid actually asked me that question last week. Seriously? What planet is she from that she thought that was a socially acceptable question? The man behind me said that a man could never get away with asking that question. I wanted to respond that a woman can't either. I did clarify that I was 8 months pregnant, not just fat. At least ask me in proper English next time.

Here's a bump update. Actually, calling it a bump makes it sound cute and little. I'm not sure what to call this, but I'm thankful for it. Sorry for the lame self portrait.

Weird pregnancy story #2:

When we were at the beach last weekend, we hit up our favorite drive in (Big Oak) for shrimp burgers. While standing in line, the woman behind me said, "You're having a girl November 6, aren't you?" Bizarre because that is my exact due date. I looked at her with question in my eyes and said, "Yes. Yes, I am." She then said, "It's your first isn't it?" "Yes," I responded, "and if you know her name you're going to freak me out." She said doesn't guess names, but she does guess time, weight, and length. So, apparently our little girl is going to be born November 6th, at 4 or 4:30 in the afternoon, and she'll be 19-1/2" long and 7 lbs. 3 oz. How freaky will that be if that actually happens?! I've been weirded out ever since last Saturday. I don't know if she was an OB nurse and has been around pregnant women her whole life or if she's a psychic. I kind of don't want to know...At least her prediction is noted now, so we'll all wait in eager anticipation to see if she's right.

Hopefully, I'll have some nursery update photos soon...

Nursery Update

We're making progress!  Mom came back with me from my shower in Louisville, and we got busy.  She helped me paint the trim white, sew three window treatments for the house, and lots of other around the house stuff.  Thanks, mom!  I needed her help focusing.  I've been a disorganized mess this summer. 

Stephen and I painted the walls last weekend, and voila!  We all of a sudden have a nursery.  

Just a reminder of the before...
Do you like how many stuffed animals are in our lovely "vintage" chair?  Next on the list is getting that reupholstered.  I'll definitely do a before and after post for that.
Stay tuned for tutorials for this window treatment and the fixed roman shades we did for the guest room!  We also have lots more work to do, so I'll keep you updated about that.

First shower for Baby Girl Foster!

This was such a beautiful shower!  It meant so much to me to be able to share this exciting time with ladies that I love.  

These cookies were awesome.  I always believe in lots of icing :)

I'm so bummed because this is my only picture with Snider Bird (Sarah) from the weekend.  She was an excellent assistant.
Bumps together!  Sara is due about a week before me- with a little boy!
Cameron, Cheyenne, and Whitney
Mom, Cousin Kelly, and Aunt Susanne
Thank you so much, wonderful hostesses!  
I got to spend a lot of time with my brother, Ben, and his family when I was home.  His kids are getting so big!  
Family shot! (Taken by Jeremiah, my 7 yr. old nephew- hence the lovely angle)