Thanksgiving

Our first holiday with Catherine was Thanksgiving.  We are so thankful to have her with us.  We are also thankful that Grandma Colby has been able to be here for 3 weeks and that the rest of the Colby family was able to come here to celebrate the holiday this year.  We can’t forget to mention Grandma Hawley, who was our midwife and spent almost all of those 42 long hours with us, and the Hawley sisters (and Bec) who were here for support—what a great cheering crowd during some tough hours.

We spent Thursday in Louisville with the Eckels/Neumann and Colby families and part of Friday in Salem with the Hawley family.  How great that everyone was able to be together (we missed Mary and Nate, though, who both had to work on Friday).   

We didn’t take any photos in Salem because I forgot my camera.  Here are a few shots of our time in Louisville.

  One of Catherine’s favorite activities is being jiggled by her daddy.  This is very calming for her.  Some people say it is because I was so active while I was pregnant—she likes the continuous motion.

 

 

 

 

 

We had a photo shoot in hopes of getting some great pictures for a few Christmas presents.  It turns out that Catherine hates getting her picture taken.  The pacifier helped her calm down, but did not help the photo cuteness any.

We also wanted a family photo in front of our house.  I think it will be a yearly activity.  Notice the pumpkins on the step—a daddy, a mommy, and a baby-sized one, along with two mini pumpkins—Casey and Joey!

PS – This post is back-dated because although I wrote it in November, I forgot to publish it.  In and effort to keep updates chronological, I am setting the post date to November 28.

Coming Home

 

We brought Catherine home today!

First, we both had to get cleared for discharge.   I was cleared early and then we waited for Catherine’s doctor to come.  She had all good things to say about Catherine, and again mentioned how alert she is.  We’ll be visiting her in the office next week for Catherine’s first check-up.  While we waited, we dressed her in her going-home outfit.  This is the same outfit I wore on my trip home from the hospital 32 years ago. 

 

 

  Josh is swinging Catherine while we wait for the doctors.  She loves to move!

 

 

 

 

 

Getting buckled in to go home.  Look how tiny she is!

 

 

Home at last!

 

PS – This post is back-dated because although I wrote it in November, I forgot to publish it.  In and effort to keep updates chronological, I am setting the post date to November 19.

One Day

Catherine is one day old and has already had numerous visitors.  Here are photos of the Grandmas meeting her yesterday.

Other photos from yesterday and today:

 

  Here are Catherine’s first photos as she goes from the operating room to the nursery to be checked out and have her lungs cleared again. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Josh keeps a close eye on Catherine in the nursery as she is weighed and checked out.  She weighs 7 pounds, 8 ounces and is 21 inches long.  In the OR she scored 8-9 on the first APGAR test—everything looks great!

 

  Hanging out with Mom.  Catherine is already showing how similar we are—she does not like to have her feet covered up.  Each time we wrapped her, she would kick her feet free.

 

 

 

 

 

 

She also takes after Josh – both are great nappers!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PS – This post is back-dated because although I wrote it on November 17, I forgot to publish it.  In and effort to keep updates chronological, I am setting the post date to November 17.

Welcome Catherine!

Dear Baby Catherine,

What a joy it is to be able to say that.  I have tears in my eyes as I write this and think about the moment I first saw you.  I have waited for you my whole life, even though I didn’t always know I was waiting.  It already seems as though you’ve been a part of us forever and I can’t imagine life without you.  In the days to come I will write much more about my thoughts and feelings and the experience of your birth, but for now I just want to tell you how happy we are that you are finally here.

Welcome to the family baby, we love you so much!

Waiting

 

Can you tell we are excited about the arrival of our little one?

We’ve gone from this on June 13 (19 weeks)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To this on October 23 (38 weeks)
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

and this on October 30 (39 weeks).

Grandma and Grandpa Colby are making their way down here tomorrow to be around for the big day.  We are all still wondering when it will happen.

November 3 ~ When will you come?

 

November 3 is our original due date.  Because Baby measured small at our last ultrasound (4 months ago), there is a possibility that the date should really be around November 9.  I’m hoping for sooner rather than later, but I also know that Baby will come when he or she is ready. 

People at school eagerly look to my door each morning to see if I am there.  Today they all got excited when no one was in my classroom even when the first bell rang.  Unfortunately for all of their nerves, I was upstairs in a meeting and hadn’t had time to drop my things off and turn on the lights before the meeting started.

Happy baby-waiting!

I’m Not Touching You!

 

And the tradition continues….

November 1–Thankfulness

As we enter November, many people begin posting about things they are thankful for.  Today I am thankful for time.

I am thankful for the 39-1/2 weeks I’ve had Baby growing inside me—thankful that he or she has come full-term and is about ready to meet the world.  I am thankful for the time I will get to spend with him or her after the birth.  12 weeks ‘off’ from school is a long time, but it is so much more important to be at home with Baby, bonding and watching him or her grow.

I am also thankful for the time that other people have spent with me in the last few weeks.  Josh has taken extra time to make sure I am comfortable and that’s a tough thing to do these days!  Many people have stopped to ask how I am doing and offer advice on comfort, health, and the big event.  My long-term substitute has taken lots of time to listen to me (I have OCD and have over-prepared for my absence and have told her EVERYTHING) and get to know our classroom so we can have a smooth transition when I leave.

Finally tonight, I am thankful for the time I have left before Baby comes.  I am very excited and emotionally (and physically?) ready to be done being pregnant, but I know I am going to miss it.  I have enjoyed each little kick, each full-body flip, and each hiccup over the last few months.  I take time every day to sit and be with Baby.  I talk with him or her, sometimes sing, and always play footsie!