lots of pictures...christmas 08

punch!!!!!

lynne is holding a baby!

Opening presents from the Thurman family

Christmas tree ornament

He loved the wrapping paper...

Yay, gift card (we'll probably be getting diapers , haha!)

Hats!!!!

I am starting to like these toys!

The onesie says "All mommy wants for Christmas is a silent night"



Don't forget, there are always more pictures on the flickr website------ link is on the right side of my blog!!!!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

I hope everyone had a blessed Christmas day- we spent it together at home and are looking forward to having our families visit this weekend.

We made sausage and cheese biscuits for breakfast- but ate around noon b/c things take longer with a newborn! Then we opened our stockings from each other-way too much candy!!! (I don't have any pictures, but just imagine the post-halloween loot!)

We already opened our big gift to each other- our Wii and WiiFit, we've been enjoying it all week!

It was actually warm enough to go on a walk in the afternoon- and I wore flip flops!

Tonight, we're having a small Christmas dinner at home- I am making a ham, so beware!!!!

Of course, our best Christmas gift arrived Dec 2- and we're in love!!!

cute scrunched up face...

snagged from a friend.....

With a week before Christmas, REMEMBER:Jesus is Better than Santa


Santa lives at the North Pole.JESUS is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleighJESUS rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a yearJESUS is an ever- present help

Santa fills your stockings with goodiesJESUS supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvitedJESUS stands at your door and knocks...and then enters your heart.

You have to stand in line to see SantaJESUS is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lapJESUS lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn't know your name, all he can say is "Hi little boy or girl, What's your name?"JESUS knew our name before we did. Not only does He know our name, He knows our address too .He knows our history and future and He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.JESUS has a heart full of love.JESUS offers health, help and hope.

Santa says "You better not cry"JESUS says"Cast all your cares on me for I care for you."

Santa's little helpers make toysJESUS makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes and builds mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle butJESUS gives you joy that fills your soul& he is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree,JESUS became our gift and died on the tree.



It's obvious there is really no comparison.

We need to remember WHO Christmas is all about. Jesus is still the reason for the season.

May the Lord Bless and Watch over you and your loved ones this Christmas season 2008

And may He prosper and bless the work of your hands in the 2009 New Year.

Guest Post.....

Hello out there, this is Connor posting b/c my Mommy is very tired. She wanted to get some pictures up to share with all the relatives and keep up with me so I am helping her out.

I've had a very exciting week at home. On Monday, we went to my first pediatrician's appt where I had gained back some of my weight I lost in the hospital. I was very well behaved for my nurse and doctor. There were some large babies in the waiting room- I had never seen other babies besides my neighbors at the hospital. They were all walking around and eating snacks. And Daddy showed me the fish tank while we waited. So it was a good outing for me.





Also, i got my first piece of mail - it was a christmas card from my great granny. I liked it a lot.


I like my new bed much better than that little clear box they had me in the hospital. I can really stretch out.

My daddy went back to work this week, and i missed him. When he got home I made sure to have some snuggle time with him.

Mommy had a doctor's appointment on Friday so we got to ride in the car again! I was again very well behaved and slept the whole time we were at the office.

So overall it was a great week for me!!!! Mommy and Daddy are adjusting to me being here and I'm keeping the washing machine in business. And my umbilical cord stump fell off today so I finally have a real belly button!!!

Connor's first week at home....

We came home on Thursday and have been enjoying our little boy!!!!! He's so sweet, but definately has his own personality already- and knows what he likes! We're very tired, but he is worth it :)

Some pics to enjoy.....

Car ride home from the hospital.....it was dark, rainy and cold outside, but he slept most of the way.




First diaper change at home. This is the usual way he expresses his love for diaper changes.

Checking out the bouncy seat- so far he is a fan

Prior to his first sponge bath at home, he absolutely loves this blanket- so soft!

Post-first bath. This picture is deceiving b/c there was certainly a lot of screaming in between the two photos. I have to admit I bought this towel as soon as I found out we were having a boy, so it was fitting we use it first!!!!

He's here!!!!

Connor Patrick arrived Tuesday, December 2 at approx 3:17 pm. He weighs 7 lbs, 7 oz, measured 20 1/4 inches long and is perfect!!!!!! After all the stress about him being too small, he came out appropriate for gestational age!!!! And he fits quite well into his newborn size clothes!!


I was induced starting Monday night and had a very quick and uneventful labor on Tuesday, well until his actual delivery due to the fact that the only person in the room at the time of arrival with any medical training was his mother. And the only witness to his birth was his father.

No, I'm not kidding, and I'll post more details in a later post, but he was definately ready to come out!!!

Just wanted to share a few quick pictures- we are still in the hospital, but he's doing great!!

Minutes after his arrival.

Mom, Dad and Connor

Hanging out in the nursery warming up...

Bath time.....

I guess it is good I didn't buy any of those preemie clothes after all!!!!!!

Oh, and I snagged this cute christmas background idea off my friend Heather's blog.....

You can visit her at http://hawthorneodyssey.blogspot.com/


Read her latest post- I don't think it has ever been better written.

Christmas decorating........

I did the limited decorating that we're doing this year over the weekend, along with listening to Christmas music and watching cheesy Hallmark movies such as "Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus". I also saw the sequel, I've forgotten the name but it was basically a 2 hour movie of Santa and his fiance' planning their wedding. Be sure to catch it in the next 24 days!!!


This collection of things is our "mantle", also know as basically the only place to put items in our living room. Therefore it is crammed full of stuff. And, if you noticed, yes our TV is really that small. And it is the biggest one we own. LOL, we don't care that much.

Close up of our little baby tree this year. I have tried and tried to find a place to put our regular tree this year, but since we live in an apartment that has now been invaded with a swing, bouncy, seat, glider and footstool, pack and play and 1 million other infant items, it just isn't going to work right now. Next Christmas it will back and better than ever!!!!! So I have this little tree that I usually put outside next to the front door. It is decorated with silver and maroon ball ornaments, and yes, mini polar bears.

To live vicariously through last year's tree, http://makclair.blogspot.com/2007/12/it-is-beginning-to-look-lot-like.html .

Oh and obviously, we are still....

I don't think he's very interested in meeting us, but hopefully he will change his mind soon.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!!

Hope everyone has had a relaxing and meaningful Thanksgiving day with family and friends.

We celebrated T-day at home (still as a family of 2 , by the way) with our Publix meal! It was a very relaxed day, especially considering the fact that we're usually driving between both families for the holiday and I'm working the day before, after and sometimes the day of as well.

I'm not sure why blogger keeps posting my pictures backwards. I've given up on it.

Yum!!!

Everything after it came out of the oven, before I carved the turkey breast! I must admit we did use ONE pan for the entire meal, b/c i heated the gravy on the stove.

Preparing everying to go into the oven...just unwrap the plastic and cover with foil!!

Our spread....pre-baking. As you may notice, I already had some pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving Eve.........

So the conclusion for the Publix meal is......................... we will definately do that again!!! The turkey breast was marinated and super moist in its own baking bag - only took an hour to bake. All the sides were super yummy and the mashed potatoes and stuffing were just as good as I could make. Everything baked at the same temperature for about the same amount of time- so everything was ready together. And there are tons of leftovers, so we spent about the same we would have for a nice dinner out, and ended up with at least three meals or more worth of food!

I have to admit that the sweet potatoes were not as good as my Father-in-law's recipe, but that is difficult to replicate.

So my new, official stance is that from now on, if we host Thanksgiving dinner, we'll be getting one of these meals!!!!

It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas........

Obviously, it is still November and not even Thanksgiving, but we're getting close.......

I made a quick escape to Target yesterday afternoon after my doctor's appt b/c since everything has been pretty calm lately, they actually told me it is ok if I am walking some as long as I rest most of the time! Since I haven't been there in over a month, it was so fun to see all the Christmas stuff out finally! Last time I was there, it was before Halloween!!! And everyone knows how frequently i go to Target!


I have really, really been trying to control my baby-clothes purchases, but this is just such a cute sleeper. The baby has a christmas outfit and a onesie, but I wanted to get him something else! It says "Santa's Helper".






Also, I took advantage of the $1 bin and got this adorable "baby's first christmas" stocking. I'm not sure what we'll put in it, b/c we have decided the baby already is getting his swing and bouncy seat for christmas from us, although he'll be using them before the big day- but i'm sure we'll find something!!!!!

You may notice that I have added Christmas music to my blog....for those who don't like Christmas music this early, feel free to turn down your volume :) Otherwise, enjoy!!!!!!!!!

In other baby news, we're still waiting. As long as he is doing fine on his non-stress tests at my visits, the fluid is fine, and nothing otherwise worrisome happens, he'll continue to hang out till he's ready to show up!

names...

Just heard that Ashlee Simpson named her son Bronx Mowgli.....I guess she's a fan of NYC and The Jungle Book!!!!

Don't worry, family and friends- I promise his name is much more normal!!!

38 weeks and still cooking....

Isn't this the cutest hat ever? I actually got it in a package from my friend Jenny and I am quite certain it will be gigantic on the baby, but I can't wait to use it. I think i'm going to take it to the hospital and maybe he can wear it anyway. We'll see.

We're at 38 weeks today- I had another doctor's appointment and even though they were pretty sure they would induce me at 38 weeks, everything was fine and so they're going to keep watching and waiting. My belly is still growing, the baby passed his NST with no issues and my blood pressure was at my baseline with no real signs of preeclampsia. Plus, I'm not really "induceable" right now, so inducing me just to do so would probably end up in a c-section, and we're definately trying to avoid that! So back to the doctor in a few days to recheck things!

I am personally hoping that I can just go into labor on my own - so we'll see how things go.

So, in non-baby related news, it is finally cold in the Upstate!!! Our apartment complex keeps posting these signs that say "freeze warning" which I think are pretty funny. I'll have to take a picture of them. I actually wore regular shoes and socks today instead of flip flops. This is probably the first time in about 6 weeks!

In honor of the chilly weather and only 35 days till Christmas....I present an early christmas survey!!!

1.Wrapping paper or gift bags? i love wrapping stuff, so wrapping paper. The only thing I like about gift bags is that they fit oddly shaped gifts. Otherwise I am a big fan of brightly wrapped boxes piled under the tree. Bags just don't have the same theme.

2.Real tree or Artificial? we have a ghetto artificial tree that I bought at Walmart 6 years ago. I dream of the day when we have a beautiful prelit artificial tree. I do not really care for real trees, but they do smell nice so we have a mistletoe scented candle to give us the "real tree" scent.

3.When do you put up the tree?usually right after Thanksgiving. I have to confess that we are not sure we are doing a tree this year, and i'm very sad about it , but it might be the easies solution.

4.When do you take the tree down?after New Year's or whenever I can bribe Patrick to do so.

5.Do you like eggnog?sometimes

6.Favorite gift received as a child?This awesome bunk bed set for my baby dollsI got when I was 7. It was so exciting at the time :o)

7. Hardest person to buy for? my dad

8.Easiest person to buy for? people who give me lists

9.Do you have a nativity scene?no, but I really want one. My parents have one that my mom handpainted in the 70's and I have always loved putting it out.

10.Mail or email Christmas cards?mail

11.Worst Christmas gift you ever received?I don't remember anything bad

12.Favorite Christmas Movie?National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation...Also I love any movie on Hallmark or ABCFamily...cheesy but good

13.When do you start shopping for Christmas?too late, I never get everything bought early b/c people never give me lists early

14.Have you ever recycled a Christmas present?um....probably

15.Favorite thing to eat at Christmas?bourbon balls, wedding cookies, basically any dessert that you can only have during the holidays.

16.Lights on the tree?White, always on

17.Favorite Christmas song?Mary, did you know?

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home?

I've been traveling to my parents since I was in college- Now we travel to both parents.

19.Can you name all of Santa's reindeer's?sure

20.Angel on the tree top or a star?Star

21.Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning?Christmas morning...We usually didn't open any on Christmas eve. I think it is super fun to have special pajamas to open on Christmas eve, and I think we will start that tradition for our family.

22.Most annoying thing about this time of the year?people thinking it is just about getting/giving gifts. And all the stress that people get over everything-

23.Favorite ornament theme or color? Snowmen, snowflakes, and different shades of blue.

24.Favorite for Christmas dinner?real yeast rolls, sweet potato casserole (should be at thanksgiving AND christmas)

25.What do you want for Christmas this year? healthy baby.

And Patrick and I are sharing a Wii this year, so we already know what we're getting each other. Otherwise maybe some new pajamas???

Congratulations if you survived my poll!!!!! I have a few other Christmas-themed posts that i'll be posting soon to get us in the holiday spirit early!

Thanksgiving Dinner Plans.......

So this year we're planning to spend Thanksgiving at home- as a family of three! Since i'm sure we'll have lots of time to prepare our meal-hahaha , we ordered our dinner from Publix today.

I'm actually very excited about it- we're having a roasted turkey breast, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, sweet potato casserole, green beans, rolls and cranberry-orange dressing. Still haven't decided what dessert will be- probably whatever the deli has on Wednesday afternoon! And all we have to do it heat it up in the oven.

Since we're expecting the baby will be here by next Thursday, I have a super cute Thanksgiving onesie for him to wear. We'll know for sure after tommorrow's doctor's appointment, but most likely the baby will be arriving this weekend. So I'll be keeping everyone updated when we know more!!

37 weeks!!!

We're now at 37 weeks and I had a big visit with the high-risk OB office this afternoon to do another in-depth growth scan! The baby has grown well in the last 3 weeks, his growth is on the 17th percentile overall, but that is actually a good thing b/c he has been gaining appropriately since his last measurements. I guess all the bedrest has been working!!!

This was definately a relief and an answer to prayer!

Since his growth is ok (he's just small compared to a lot of other babies) they don't need to get him out urgently due to growth restriction. It would be ok for him to be born now since most likely his lungs are well developed, but in another week he will be technically full term. I saw my regular OB after that visit, and they're planning to wait another week as of now to induce me unless new issues develop.

Showered again!!!!

Some of Patrick's coworkers threw us a great shower at a local restaurant yesterday at lunchtime- So sweet of them to do it! Of course he works at an office with approx 90% women, so they are all excited about the new baby coming! It was nice to finally meet all of them, and enjoy lunch with all of them. Weirdly enough (for those of you who know my usual eating habits), I had my second cheeseburger for lunch ( two days in a row.) It was very good- I'm not sure why I've been having these cheeseburger cravings, but maybe i'm saving up!!!

The funny thing about my lunch is that I was getting very full, but I had this weird abdominal cramp and thought "Oh, that could be a contraction, so I better eat as much as I can just in case I'm going into labor, b/c they won't let you eat once you get to the hospital!!!!" Lol. Clearly, i didn't go into labor, but I was stuffed the rest of the day!!!!

Not a great pic, but they didn't take a lot of pictures of us together, and none where we were both looking at the camera!!!!!!!

Adorable diaper cake!!!! It was made of 79 diapers, I sadly took it apart today b/c we will not have time after the little one arrives, but so cute!!!!! I saved all the animals b/c i am thinking I may use them to decorate in his room (when he has one of his own!!!!!).

36 weeks!!!!!

Another week down! I had another doctor's appointment this morning and it went fine. We were sort of nervous b/c i was seeing the most conservative doctor of the practice and last time i saw him, he wanted to put me in the hospital for my blood pressure!!!! Today was a pretty quiet visit, although it took a long, long time. They tried to do the non-stress test when we got there, but the baby was being much too active to keep him on the monitor, so we ended up just having an ultrasound study. However, there were three people ahead of me waiting for anatomy ultrasounds, so we had to wait a while. Everything looked good on the tests, and my blood pressure was actually normal after resting for a while, which was amazing so it ended on a good note. I'll be back again Monday and then I see the high risk OB on Thursday (37weeks) for another ultrasound to follow his growth. Then we'll go from there and I will probably get induced at that point if his growth is still the same.

I think we are going to cancel my hospital tour b/c i get a really bad headache if I stand for any amount of time now and i know it isn't good for either of us. So for all my coworkers, if you see my husband standing around looking lost in a week or two, please direct him appropriately!!!!

35 weeks!

Halloween marked a very important day- we' ve officially reached 35 weeks! This is a very important date b/c at my hospital you can go to the regular newborn nursery (as long as you have no issues) at 35 weeks, even though technically full term is not until 37 weeks.

Otherwise, Halloween was not very exciting because we do not have trick or treaters at our apartment. Therefore, we did not buy any Halloween candy which equals a very boring weekend!!!! Next year I expect a much more fun Halloween because I will have a 10 month old to dress in the costume of my choosing!!! haha...you only have a short time before they start expressing interest in their costumes, and I plan to take full advantage of that time.


In other news, my good friend Amanda got married this past weekend and the wedding was beautiful! Obviously I wasn't able to attend :( but I have seen lots of pictures! She is off on her honeymoon this week soaking up the sun. The wedding was definately a long time coming because she and her now hubby got engaged in Dec of 2005!!!!

My public service announcement today is to remind you to get your flu shot! I got mine today and hope that my body will hurry up to make IgG antibodies which will pass through the placenta. Patrick got his flu shot and TDaP on Friday as well. So remember, if you want to hold our baby this winter, get your flu shot and TDaP. Actually, that goes for any baby!!!!

34 weeks!

I had another doctor's appt on Monday and it went fine. I was supposed to have a non-stress test (basically the put me on the monitor for 20-30 minutes and watch his heart rate changes), which I have twice a week. The baby slept through the first 10 minutes, although he had been moving all night long! They have this buzzer thing that wakes them up and once they used it, he was wild and they couldn't even keep him on the monitor. So I ended up having my third ultrasound in 3 days, but his movement was fine on that. It was actually pretty funny because I could watch him kicking his legs from the inside and you could see it on the outside!



The high risk OB doctors are going to see me back at 37 weeks (nov 13th) to redo the growth scans. Between now and then I will continue to have the non-stress tests and BPP (an ultrasound movment test) twice a week. Otherwise I'll just have to remain parked at home .

Oh, and I just wanted to mention that I seriously work with the best friends in the world! Residency is a job like no other, and everyone has been so great!!! People have been working extra to cover me being out, threw me an awesome shower, and have been bringing food. It is incredible!!

Greenville Baby Shower

My friends from work threw me a shower last night- lots of fun, and it was great to see everbody since i've been out of work for a couple of weeks now....... They got this adorable cake from Strossner's - so cute! Look at all the animals!

Yummy and pretty!

My friend Jessica- the host of the shower, Dixie- the official shower dog, and I.

The whole crew: Melissa, Heather, Emily, Amanda, Sarah, Christy, Jess, me, Amanda and Liz.

Adorable handmade baby blanket by Sarah's grandmother.

Yay for presents!

me posing with all the food!!!