5 months!

Okay so I know I am super late but Lord it has been crazy around here! We went home July 1-9 and it was great. It broke my heart to leave though. Over the last 4 years I have gotten used to coming and going and having to say bye or "see ya soon" but now with Delaney its so much harder. It was so hard to watch her recognize Shawns parents or mine when they walked in a roomor talked to her and just interact and boom, just like that its over. and we will have to start all over from scratch next go around. It just sucks that we are so far away. I know we skype almost every day but its just not the same. Its bad enough shes missing out on her Daddy but to have to miss out on the rest of the family hurts my heart. I have such a close relationship with my grandparents and I just want her to have that. Anyways she did pretty good on the drive considering. I mean 8 hours is a long drive but we all did good. I wont do it again by myself though, I'll tell ya that.
Thursday 7/14 Lauren and Connor drove up from her parents house and spent the night & yesterday we went and had the babies pictures taken. I cant wait to see them! I already miss Lauren and Connor so much. It sucks being so far away from them too. I cried my eyes out all the way back to Newport News. Speaking of... I HATE THIS CITY. I dont know what it is about this place but it just makes me angry. I hate being here. I hate this house.. I just hate everything about this place!! 2013 cant come fast enough! I didnt think I would ever be so ready to get back to North Carolina! But Shawn might take the instructors job at the school in Chesapeake VA so we might be moving out there in the spring. PRAY he gets that job! We decided that once I graduate Im not going to work right away. Definitely for the rest of the time we are in VA. :) So I am happy about that!
Now for some Delaney updates! Right after my last post she started sitting up unassisted. Shes such a big girl! and what a little ham! She has learned to give kisses too. She puts her little hand on your face and with a wide open mouth kisses ya! Its so sweet! and she drinks from a cup.. not a bottle, not a sippy cup, but a regular cup! & even though she is as cute and sweet as she can be.. Lord have mercy does that girl have a temper! She doesnt cry..she whines and then she throws a fit. Shes found herself getting popped a few times because of it. She just wants me to hold her and pay attention to her 24/7! And sleeping in the crib hasnt gotten any better. She starts off in it and then by midnight shes in the bed with me. If I didnt have to get up at 430 every morning and go to school all day I would try harder but its just too much to do it by myself. Oh and shes officially teething. Hasnt cut one yet but I dont give it much longer. Oh & she looooves men. I thought for sure she would be scared since shes never been around any but no the exact opposite. Shes talking more and has started growling lol. I dont know what thats about. And she spits. Not spit spit but puts her lips together and blows. Its so cute. Shes still eating her cereal like a champ. She gets 2 TBlspoons at breakfast and 2 at night but no more than that because it clogs her up lol. She didnt poop for 5 days while we were home! Shes still breastfeeding and I am so happy Ive almost made it 6 months. Thats my first goal. I feel like my supply is lower than it was though... I think its because I wasnt drinking enough water so we will see what happens over the next few weeks. I am not going to stress about it though. It is what it is and I am so glad I have made it this long! Ive got 5 weeks left of class and then its onto externship! I cant believe Im almost finished. FINALLY. Well heres some pictures of my little sweet pea and we will see ya at 6 months!

4.5 months

So I thought I would give a mid month post because so many exciting things have gone on! First Delaney has been going swimming & she LOVES it. Shes a little water baby just like her daddy and me! Also since Delaney attends daycare on base and they are government funded they have to adhere to certain guidelines like at 4 months they start feeding the infants rice cereal UNLESS you have a note from the Doctor. So we had her 4 month appointment last Friday.. She weighed 14.8 lbs and is 26 inches long! Childs gonna be long like her Daddy! Anyway the doctor and I discussed it and there is/was no reason for Delaney to start the cereal so she wrote a note for daycare BUT I guess she forgot to put it in with the rest of my paperwork and so when Monday came I had no note and I knew that daycare would feed her the cereal so when we got there I asked them to please not feed her that I wanted to do it and video tape it so they said they would wait til today. So last night she had her first bit of rice cereal mixed with breastmilk of course, and she loved it! It was all over the place but we had a ball! She reminded me of a little baby bird craning her neck and opening her mouth trying to eat and of course she tried to hold the spoon herself. Ah another bittersweet moment... which leads me to the biggest news of all. Delaney is sleeping in her crib. The first night was the roughest and Delaney won the battle and actually wound up sleeping in the bed with me all night but the 2nd night she slept great. SHE slept great and I.. I laid there imagining someone breaking in Delaneys window and stealing her.It was rough but I managed and I think she got up twice and then every night since she has started off in her bed.. some nights.. okay most nights by 3 am she is in bed with me but we are working on it and its progress! 2 more weeks til we are Augusta bound! I am so excited.. nervous about making a trip like that by myself with the dogs and the baby but excited! I started dental laboratory yesterday and that marks 10 weeks left of school before externship. Holy Moly. Anyways see ya at 5 months!

4 months!

4 months! I dont even know where to begin! SO much has been going on! We had shots this morning and yet again she didnt cry. ( I didnt either ) Last Friday Delaney took her first trip away from home and we went to Texas to see Lauren Connor and Adam. She did SO great on the planes. The first 2 we took there she slept and then the first one on the way home she slept and the second she was wide awake for. But she never cried (THANK GOD) She did poop on both planes coming home and changing her was a challenge. The stewardess made me change her in the bathroom the first plane and that was just insane because I had to change her outfit too. The second plane was so small that the flight attendant was like just change her in my jump seat. So he held the seat for me while I changed her. Our trip was great. It was so good to see Lauren & Connor. He is such a cute baby. Hes very quiet and laid back too. & the trip didnt FLY by like they usually do, I was actually able to enjoy myself. As far as Delaney updates go I dont even know where to begin...
- She rolls all the time now from her belly to her back
- She can roll from her back to her side so I imagine it wont be long before shes all the way over
- She is reaching with a purpose now. She grabs anything she can and puts it in her mouth.
- She found her feet last Saturday, and yes, even those go in her mouth!
- She talks and laughs at anything. Seriously. It could be the wall and she will have a conversation with it.
- She has been napping in her crib so I think Monday night I am going to take the plunge and start putting her to bed in it :(
- She is in all 6 month clothing now & size 3 diapers.
- OHH!! Last week during tummy time she got up on her knees!!

Im not just saying this because she is mine but I seriously think I have the most perfect child. She is seriously the happiest baby ever. She is spoiled rotten and does want to be held all the time but I dont have a problem with it.. Mom will be here on the 30th and she is riding with me to Augusta. FINALLY. So hopefully June goes fast. I have senioritis (if thats possible in college) Next week I finish up my dental radiology and thats it. I have 2 lab classes and August 23rd I go out on externship and then October I am done baby! Shawn should be home around that time too. I cant wait... but then again I can because I dont want my sweet baby to grow up yet! See ya at 5 months..

Forgot her picture!

How could I forget that sweet face!

3 months!

Seriously? 3 months old already! Im going to cry...
Delaney is such a happy and sweet baby! I can get her to smile over just about anything. And as of Easter she REALLY found her voice so she babbles at anything she sees. Especially the dogs. She loves talking to them. And about a week ago she started squealing. Thats my favorite! But then again everything about her is my favorite! If I have your phone number then you know because just about everyone gets a daily picture! Since my 2 month post she has only rolled over 4 more times. Her new thing is wanting to stand! (with assistance of course) so I went and bought her not one but 2 exersaucers. She is still a little short for one of them but she LOVES them! One of them is a piano so when she stomps her feet it plays keys and she could be in that thing ALLL day. She is reaching, holding, putting anything she can into her mouth. and boy can she slobber lol. She is still eating every 3-4 hours and pretty much attacks me when she gets to eat. Its pretty funny. Her favorite thing is bathtime and I have to say its mine too. She just kicks her legs and smiles, laughs, talks to me! My mom flies in tomorrow and I couldnt be more excited! & then at the end of the month Delaney and I are flying to Texas to see Lauren, Connor, & Adam! Lauren had Connor April 26th and I know what youre thinking.. thats a month early! Well she developed preeclampsia over night and she and Adam rushed to L&D, they decided to do an emergency csection and everything was fine! even at 5 weeks early Connor weighed 6 lbs 13 oz.. well the next day everything took a turn for the worse and Lauren started seizing and bleeding out. Im not going to go into detail about all the trauma she went through because I dont even like to think about it and what could have happened. She wound up having to have 10 pints of blood into her though. She is one tough cookie because she is good now and up walking and moving around and breastfeeding! They both get to go home this week and I am so excited to be flying out there to see them! A little nervous about taking Delaney on the plane and them throwing me off mid air but Im excited!
Delaney is just getting bigger and smarter by the day and I love her so much. I even think I am one of those crazy moms because I dont like anyone to touch her or hold her. Oh and I had to put daycare in check. So every time I picked Delaney up her first 4 days.. she was in a different outfit from what I left her in..because she pooped all over her clothes. Finally on the 4th day I had enough and I asked them why is this happening and one of the girls copped an attitude and was like well it splatters.. that doesnt happen to you and I said no not really and I wouldnt even be saying anything if it were only once or twice because I do understand that things are going to happen but not 4 days in a row. and she said well we change them every hour. and I said so okay let me get this straight..so if you change her at 12 and she poops as 12:01, shes gonna have to sit in it til 1??? and the girl didnt say anything and I said you know its not like you cant hear her poop. It sound like an explosion and you can smell it. So we had been having this conversation for about 10 minutes when she holds Delaney up and was like oh I think she is poopy. I lost it. She had been sitting in the womans lap for at least the 10 min since I had been there and she just now realized Delaney pooped??! NO. So after she changed her I took Delaney and walked out. Other things were said but it doesnt matter. All that matters is we havent had an incident since and that was 3 weeks ago. They were messin with the wrong mama!
This is our last week of just going to daycare 2 days a week. Now we are at 4. She hates it, and so do I but I dont have a choice and hopefully with her going full time now she will get used to it. I found out I start externship August 23 and will FINALLY, after 7 long years graduate in October!!!
Life is good :)

Happy Easter!

We had a fabulous Easter despite Shawn not being here! It was a gorgeous day, we went to church, and had a good dinner!

DAYCARE- 1 MOMMY- 0

Delaney slept through the night, and I didnt. I woke up around 4 just thinking about what lay ahead yesterday morning. I got up at 5 and started getting ready.. I cried the entire time. Shawn skyped me to tell me good luck and I cried harder... I cried driving to Ft Eustis, I cried dropping her off, & I cried all the way to school.
Delaney isnt used to being awake before 7 so she slept through the entire ordeal. I called around 10 and checked on her and they said she had been crying but that she was doing good and was actually sleeping at the moment. She took 2 bottles ( I wonder how hard that was ) and they all told me what a sweet baby she is.
I had a doctors appointment right after class so I decided to just leave her there so I could get it done. Well they wound up taking forever so I rescheduled it.. I WAS READY TO GET MY BABY!!! My appointment was in Yorktown and the easiest way to go and get her was to go through the main gate ( I usually go through a side gate because its decal only and they dont do inspections) well in VA you have to have a license plate on the front and on the back... I only have on the back.. SO I go through the main gate and the guy stops me and tells me he cant let me on because I dont have a front plate. WTH. I FREAKED out on him. Well I had to pull over under this white tent and the MP asked why I didnt have a plate.. so I freaked out on him.. I mean SERIOUSLY freaked out. He even asked me why I was being hostile. I told him I just want to pick my baby up. So he walks away and comes back and tells me he is going to have to give me a ticket and Im going to have to go home and get the extra plate before they let me on base..
let me just say there was no way I was driving off of that base without Delaney so I started crying. Thank God the tears were easy yesterday because he felt so bad for me he let me off with a warning and let me on base. I rolled up my window and muttered sucker under my breath. BUT I got my baby! When I walked in she was just waking up and starting to fuss. So I grabbed her and just held on. I almost cried again I was so happy to have her back in my arms! I even ignored the fact that she smelled like another woman ;)
I know this will get easier.. and that its good for both of us and Im only doing this so that Delaney never has to want for anything..but damn if my heart didnt break yesterday. I honestly think daycare is worse than sending Shawn on a deployment.
Well we get to do it again tomorrow.. hopefully I win the next round.

Shots!

Well we went for shots today.. I had this idea in my head that it would be a big production. That she would be getting these shots and screaming her head off, while Im crying and she would just want me to hold her... thats not how it went down. All my sweet girl said was "mehh". Thats it. The only tears that were spilled were the ones rolling down my cheeks. Im so proud of her and you wouldnt even know that she got shots today. Shes in her swing right now "talking" to these little toys Ive rigged up for her to look at and in a little while we are going to take advantage of this 80 degree sunny day and take the dogs for a nice walk! Tomorrow starts daycare.. I will let you know how I, I mean she does!

Heres a picture of her battle wound :)

2 months!

I feel like this second month went even faster than the first. She is growing into this little independent person right before my eyes. We are definitely in tune with each other and in a good routine. I have the feeling thats going to change when she starts daycare on Tuesday. Oh dreaded daycare. Thank God Cathy was here last week because I think she distracted me from crying my eyes out every single day. Im pretty sure it was only every other day. Im going to be strong and its only 2 days a week for the next 5 weeks. I can handle that. I got her bottles and things labeled today. Im anxious to see how thats going to go because I slacked off on giving her the bottle every day and now she wont take it from me..
Just in the last week she has done SOOO much.
- She rolled all the way over from her tummy to her back! She hasnt done it again though :( When she did it I screamed from excitement and I think I scared her
- If I say ahhhh or ohhh she copies me and if I stick my tongue out she sticks hers out!
- she is definitely talking a lot more and I love it <3 - she has started to grab her rattles.. IF I put them in her hand.. but she holds on to them and shakes them for a minute or 2 and last night she actually put one in her mouth! - She slept through the night one night last week.. she went to bed at 10 and didnt get up til 7! I know Im forgetting things! She went to her 2 month check up and is weighing 11 lbs 9 oz and 22 inches long! & she IS long! We are now completely out of 0-3 month clothes and into 3-6 and some 6 month. She has to wear all 6 month jammies because she is so long and her feet are so big! She goes Monday to get her shots. :( I still havent been able to get her announcements out because we got screwed over by the picture people with her newborn pictures. Im not even going to get into that but Syrah (Captain Nicaisse, the one who delivered Delaney) has a friend who takes great pictures and we are going to take Delaney and her girls down to the botanical gardens and have their pictures made! So Im just going to use pictures from that for her announcement and so what if they are a little late. Im also going to have her picture made with the Easter bunny :) Im so excited its finally going to start warming up here and we can all get out of the house! I also cant wait to put her in all her cute spring/summer clothes! Anyways heres my big 2 month old :))

Oh & Happy St Patricks Day!

6 weeks!

I can hardly believe it! and it makes me so sad. I have 2 weeks left with my sweet baby before she begins daycare and Im back in school. We had daycare orientation last week... I cried and I didnt even have to leave her there. The facility is really nice and so are the workers but it still doesnt change the fact that ITS NOT ME. For close to 7 hours a day they get to see her smile and listen to her "talk" and just be with her. I dont like it. Not one bit. I tried to ask Shawn if I could just finish school and then stay at home until she starts kindergarten... he didnt like that idea too much. Maybe it would be different if I hadnt stayed home the last 4 years.. BUT on a positive note I had to go up to the school yesterday to get ready to come back and my program director knows Im not ready to come back and leave my sweet pea so she worked it out where I only have 1 class when I go back which means I only have school 2 days a week. I think thats a good start as Delaney and I both get used to this new routine.
Im sure yall have all been watching about the destruction in Japan.. yeah thats where Shawn is. I got a phone call last Friday morning at 5:45 asking if I had heard from Shawn just to be informed he had been hit by an 8.9 earthquake and that a tsunami was 30 minutes away. He is safe at this point. I dont know whats going to happen with that nuclear plant and the radiation. They are on stand-by, so basically they are just waiting for the word to start the search and recovery... basically a body detail. I am trying my hardest not to stress and get worked up and I have been able to talk to him almost every day so it helps.. Its just frustrating as hell that I sent him off in civi's and that this was supposed to a skate deployment and I wouldnt have to worry.. boy was I wrong. Just remember Shawn and the marines and hell, all of Japan in your prayers...
I had my 6 week check up today. Everything is good to go. Im around 20 lbs away from my prepregnancy weight. I have a period about once a year and the doctor said that if when I stop breastfeeding it still doesnt come regularly they want me to come back in and have a bunch of tests done and an ultrasound to see if I have polycystic ovarian syndrome.. But Im not even going to worry about that until the time comes..
Grams & Gramps (Shawns parents) came last weekend and met Delaney for the first time! It was a nice visit and we had a lot of fun! Today Kristen and Steph are coming by and then next weekend Cathy will be here for a week!!!!!!.. and possibly longer! She graduates from surgical school next week and well she put in some applications up here! Shawn and I talked about it and she will live here until he comes home!!! We are so excited!!!
I talked to a friend the other day and he made the comment that he couldnt believe I had a baby that he always thought of me as a party girl.. that struck me hard especially since he has only known me about 2 years. I dont know where Im really going with this but yeah the last few years I have been able to do what I want when I want..but Ive never neglected my responsibilities. When Lynne & George were here ,I tried a little smirnoff thing and spit it out. I poured the rest of it down the sink. Not because it tasted bad but because Im just OVER the whole drinking thing. I honestly havent even thought about drinking and I just dont want to. Im not saying that I will never drink again or that Im gonna turn my nose up to anyone who does, its just not for me anymore. I guess thats what a baby will do for you..and Im proud of myself for it :))
Im not going to give any Delaney updates because I want to save them all for her 2 month update because I know there will be several more to add! She is growing up so fast and she is just so beautiful and sweet! But I will leave yall with some pictures :)

&&

A VERY HAPPY 3rd Birthday to our little Cody bear! He got 2 new toys, 2 new bones, and had a delicious birthday cake! I cant believe he is 3!!!

1 month old!

1 month old already! I can hardly believe it, and then again I can! Its been a long and eventful month! Every day Delaney does something new that amazes me. It excites me that she is learning so much and is so bright and it makes me sad that they really do grow up so fast.. but for me its bittersweet. On one hand I DONT want her to grow up so fast and on the other Im wishing the days away until Shawns home and we are a family again.
The last few weeks have been an emotional rollercoaster for me. With having her, to telling Shawn bye, to learning how to be a mother and get into a routine. Its hard.. Its really dang hard but Im making it and I know that in the end I will appreciate this time and know that Im stronger and the even more capable Marines wife. There will be nothing I cant do.
I think that we are finally into a routine. She really is a good baby. She is very laid back and the only time she is fussy is if Im not holding her which we're getting better at! She just loves to snuggle and I dont mind it one bit! :) Grandma (my Mom) came last weekend. It went by wayyy too fast but was so worth it. Shawns mom is coming sometime within the next few weeks and Cathy comes the 26th for a week! Im so excited! April 4 I start school back. Im ready. I got my graduation letter in the mail too. I cant believe I am so close to finally being finished. LONGEST 7 years of my life. Delaney is going to the base daycare while Im in school and Im gonna take advantage of that and start going back to the gym so I can get my butt in shape before Shawn gets home. Ive lost A LOT of weight but I still have a ways to go before Im back in my prepregnancy jeans.
Delaney got weighed again last week and she is now up to 10 lbs 3 oz and 21.5 inches long! So breastfeeding is going well lol. I honestly did not think I would love it as much as I do or get so attached. This week we started the bottle and I thought that she would at least refuse it at first.. yeah she drank the whole thing and wanted more. And what did I do? I cried my eyes out like a baby. Whatever intention I had of her only drinking pumped milk from the bottle is now out the window. Im going to breastfeed as long as I can and only give her the bottle when Im away from her or we are out and about.
Im worried about her breathing and even brought it up at her 2 week appointment but everyone keeps telling me she is fine. But when Mom came last weekend she even said something about it. She just sounds so rhaspy and at night especially she sounds like she is gasping for air. Sometimes when she eats she chokes and has to catch her breath! I dont know if thats because she is just gulping it down or what but its freaking me out and tricare is being so stupid right now so hopefully I can have her in the doctor next week. She still sleeps in the cradle next to my bed so I can hear her and grab her...

So for some updates:
-She holds her head up all the time now..and just moves it all around to look at her surroundings.
-Shes in 0-3 month & some 3 month clothes & size 1 diapers.
-She FINALLY has a belly button! I didnt think that thing was ever gonna fall off.. so she had her first big girl bath the other day & looved it!
- She has started cooing some and it is soo sweet! BUT yesterday while we were playing I swear she was about to break out into laughter! She was smiling so big and then kinda made this panting sound like she wanted to laugh!
- she definitely found her hands and sucks on those bad boys all day! She wont take a paci though so Im happy its her hands..

Thats all I can really think of. Every day it seems like there is something new.. I feel like if I blink I will miss it all. You cant tell in her pictures but she is her Daddy! Shes got his blue eyes and blonde hair! Im anxious to see if and how it will change over the next few months!

2 week checkup!

Well me and my little porkchop just got back from her 2 week appointment.. they said she is PERFECT, like I didnt know :)
She weighed in at a whopping 9 pounds 2 ounces! Shes now 21 inches long and in the 78th percentile! The doctor was more than pleased, and I have to say that I am too!

Tomorrow will mark our first week alone together and we survived. Its been a good week though, Im still pretty emotional and of course miss Shawn like crazy but we have been able to skype the last couple of nights so that makes it easier. The last couple of nights starting around 5 pm and lasting until about 9, Delaney gets reeeally fussy. Doc said thats normal though and should stop around 6 weeks. She is such a laid back baby. Nothing really bothers her.. except when Im not holding her. Sleeping is not that bad. She really only wakes up to eat.

Laurens shower is this weekend! I really wanted to go but after talking to the doctor today its not advised since shes still so little and her immune system can be compromised BUT Lauren understands and is going to come and stay with me that night! This will be the last time I see her until Delaney and I fly to Texas to meet Connor!

Anyway gotta run, hungry baby!

It all began..

Sunday January 31st around 2 a.m... I woke up with contractions 10 minutes apart. I knew it still wasnt time to go to the hospital so I went and got on the couch and watched the clock as the contractions got closer and closer. At 430 I went to the bathroom and there was a gush of blood. So I ran in to wake my mom ( this was also the day they were flying back to GA) and she said call the hospital.. Shawn of course is running around like crazy packing things, trying to get dressed.. it was pretty comical. The nurse said to take some tylenol extra strength and wait until the contractions were 4 minutes apart. I had time enough to take a shower and for Shawn to get the tylenol before that happened so I kissed my parents bye and we headed for the hospital. They put me in a triage room and monitored me for about an hour before they said my contractions werent strong enough and I wasnt dialating. I was still at 1 cm, 60 % effaced from my 40 week appointment. So we got sent home.

Lauren met us at the house, my parents flight had already taken off and we slept through the day. All the while I was still having these contractions that supposedly "werent strong enough". Well they were right. Come Tuesday (2/1) afternoon I was dying. All I could do to get somewhat comfortable was to sit on the toilet and let me tell you the contractions were so bad I broke the toilet paper holder. We called the nurse a few times and she said to try and wait it out as long as I could because there was no room and they would have to send me to another hospital.. EVEN THOUGH I was scheduled to be induced that night. I think it was 430 when I couldnt take it any longer and I said its time to go..so off the 3 of us went and thank God they admitted me. My contractions were out of this world and I think that every nurse that came in commented on it.. like I needed the reminder. I was only 3 cm dialated and the main nurse said to try and hold out til 4 cm for the epidural because it could slow things. I think I made it to maybe 10 pm and one of the doctors came in and asked if I wanted the epidural and I got it. Let me just say, they are AMAZING. I still wasnt dialating though so they put me on the pitocin. I have no idea what time it was when the doctor came back in and said I still wasnt dialating and that they were going to try and break my water to see what happened and that if by 6 I still wasnt dialating we were going to have to do a csection. Before I tell the rest of this story when we first got to the hospital and the nurse was checking me I said I think my water just broke and she said no.. it was just the lube from them checking me and blood. SO when the doctor tried to break my water he said "I think I feel hair" my water had already broken! He gave me an internal monitor and upped the pitocin.. he was also able to stretch me from 3 cm to 5.

Somewhere around 5 am is when the back labor started. I was clicking my epidural button away trying to get some relief and if it was helping so help me God I dont think I would have been able to give birth naturally because at one point I actually told Shawn.. I cant do this. At 6 I felt like I needed to go to the bathroom..it was just an imense pressure.. so I asked the nurse to check me.. she said in an hour. WTH! At 7 she came in and checked me and hallelujah! I was 10 cm & 100 %! So I said come on! lets push.. they said wait til 8. I dont think a clock has ever moved so slowly in my life. Finally at 8:10 the nurse came in and said we were going to do a trial push because they thought that Delaney was face up and that it would be about 3hours of pushing... she came in and I pushed with everything I had. Shawn was holding one leg, and Lauren the other. The nurse kept asking if I needed a break and I said no lets keep going and I think after about 10-15 min of that she ran out and got Captain Nicaisse (my favorite provider throughout the entire pregnancy who came in special just for me :) ) Captain Nicaisse and a team of what seemed to be about 50 people came in and set up the room and then I pushed again and by 832 my perfect girl was here! As soon as she was out they put her on my stomach and Shawn cut the cord. It was the most amazing thing ever! She didnt cry at first and Capt Nicaisse said that it was because the cord was wrapped around her neck but she was fine. They suctioned her mouth and nose and then we heard the most beautiful little whimper and then finally wails!

We spent the next 2 nights in the hospital and then finally Friday we were released. Our first night home was a trying one but now she only wakes up to eat every 2-3 hours.. last night she wanted to stay awake and play though. Every day I fall more and more in love with this little girl. I truly have never seen anything more perfect. Tomorrow Shawn deploys for 7-8 months. I AM A WRECK. Im scared out of my mind and my heart aches even more for Shawn because hes just as in love with Delaney as I am and now he has to leave her. I have no idea how I am going to do this without him but just like Ive told him every deployment before this, if hes being strong Im being strong. I know in a few weeks I will find a routine and things will get smoother. I go back to school April 4 and when Delaney is 6 weeks old Im going to start going back to church. Im going with Captain Nicaisse. My parents, Shawns parents, and Cathy will all be coming up within the next few weeks & when my precious God baby Connor is born Delaney and I are flying to Texas! and in July Moms flying back up here and driving down to GA with me for a week so I will finally get to go home. Im gonna start working out again ASAP so I can get rid of this baby weight too! Still please keep our little family in your prayers!

Oh Monday we went for a weight check.. when she was born she weighed 7 lb 12 oz, when we left the hospital she was 7 lb 9 oz and as of Monday she was back to 7 lb 12 oz and the doctors were more than pleased. This child DOES love to eat! I go next week for her 2 week check up so hopefully I will be able to update some more then. We had our professional pictures taken Tuesday so I will leave you with a few of those <3

Welcome to this world...

Delaney Faith Comtois. She was born 2.2.11 at 8:32 am weighing in at 7 lbs 12 oz and 20.5 inches long. Shawn and I couldnt be more in love. I will update this thing later on her birth story!

Update

Well I went to my 40 week appointment this morning. Still no change. She tried again to strip my membranes but my cervix is too posterior and Im still not dialated enough. So as of right now the plan is to go into the hospital Tuesday night (2/1) and start the induction Wednesday morning (2/2).
This is not going at all how I planned... now my parents wont be here and its an even shorter amount of time that Shawn gets to spend with her. I am so disappointed and frustrated and there is absolutely nobody who knows how I feel right now. It sucked to watch my due date come and go, but to go in there today and to find out there is still no change... I think I have put too much pressure on myself with Shawn leaving and wanting my parents here so bad. And it doesnt help that everyone keeps asking me if Ive had her yet, or what the problem is, or how I feel.. I know everyone means well but it just doesnt help.
Lord give me strength..

40 weeks

Well its yet again another week I was hoping I wouldnt have to post. I thought for sure I would have had her by now.. and blah blah I know first babies are usually late but its starting to stress me out. Mom & Daddy got here Saturday and Im glad for the company.. BUT theyre only here til Sunday so she needs to hurry her little butt up. I never said I was patient...
I know Shawns D-Day (deployment date) and its really close. This is going to probably be the hardest thing I have ever done. I thought for sure getting married and moving away from home was and I will admit.. I had a rough beginning.. but Shawn basically moved me to NC left for California then deployed to Iraq! Thats another thing.. I didnt know how I would EVER get through a 7 month deployment and now Ive been through 2! But I think having Delaney and having to say goodbye to Shawn x amount of days later will be the hardest yet. A) having to watch HIM say goodbye B) being totally alone with her. Most of the girls I know have gone home during the deployment but I dont really have that option. I have a household to run, 2 dogs, and I have to get to school so I can graduate this fall. I know I can do it, I dont think for one second that I cant.. and I know Im whining right now but Im entitled. Im just so ready and being overly pregnant is starting to take its toll. Its not like there are that many activities or outfits for the overly pregnant.
I go to the doctor Thursday and hopefully I have dialated more and she can strip my membranes and get this party started.

**How far along? 40 weeks. I wish I knew how to put an emphasis on 40..


**Total weight gain/loss: enough.

**How Big is Baby?: at this rate there is no telling.

**Maternity clothes? becoming scarce.

**Stretch marks? Im 40 weeks pregnant...

**Sleep: none.

**Best moment this week: my parents getting here

**Movement: shes still just as crazy as ever having fun driving me CRAZY

**Food cravings: nothing. I barely even have an appetite.

**Gender: stubborn baby girl <3

**Labor Signs: theres been a few other things to happen too graphic for a blog post and still the irregular contractions & cramping

**Belly Button in or out? out. and its facing the floor.

**What I am looking forward to: this question is almost as annoying as the weight question...

Not much of one...

but its an update. I havent dialated anymore. Delaneys dropped some more but thats about the only change. Dr was going to strip my membranes too if I had dialated more. I am getting so frustrated!!!!!!! She did say that if Delaneys not here by next week they are inducing me on the 31st and no later than the 1st.

39 weeks

I was really hoping that I wouldnt have a post for week 39 & that if I did I would have my beautiful daughters picture to go along with it because I had her. No such luck. I am getting so frustrated!! Im ready. Any nervousness that I had before is gone..her daddy and I are ready to meet her!! And whoever has anything to say about "she'll come when she's ready" SHOVE IT. My circumstances are a little different anyway considering hes deploying for 8 months in just a few weeks. If it werent for him leaving I could probably go another month... I say that and dont really mean it. But I could definitely last another week or 2. I itch, I ache, I cant sleep and Lord have mercy have I just been plain MOODY. Well not so much moody, Im just aggravated verrrry easily. My mom and daddy fly in on Saturday but I am praying she comes before then.. Obviously I will update after my appointment Friday or hopefully I will have her...

**How far along? 39 weeks!


**Total weight gain/loss: I'll answer this after I've lost it all

**How Big is Baby?: HUGE.

**Maternity clothes? ha.

**Stretch marks? ugh theyre disgusting. My dr said I am stretched to the max.

**Sleep: i cannot get comfortable to save my life

**Best moment this week: finding out that I am 1 cm dialated.. now lets change that 1 to 10

**Movement: shes a wild thing. just when i think she cant move anymore she surprises me

**Food cravings: pineapple

**Gender: sweet baby girl <3

**Labor Signs: cramping & irregular contractions & 1 cm dialated, 60% effaced!!!

**Belly Button in or out? i might have to see a plastic surgeon over this...

**What I am looking forward to: obviously we know the answer to this. DELIVERY.

UPDATE

So I went to the Dr yesterday morning and she said I am 1 cm dialated and about 60% effaced. I know that that could mean I still wont have her til my due date or later but it does make me happy that there is some progress! Soooo maybe some of those old wives tales are workin after all! So we are going to stick with those and also speaking of wives tales there is a full moon Wednesday night, and they say more babies are born on those nights so Im feeling lucky :)

38 weeks!

38 weeks. I cant say its been long because it surely has flown by. I feel like we JUST found out we were pregnant and now here we are playing the waiting game. As bad as it sounds I pray every night since oh about 36 weeks that tonight will be the night. I know it may sound horrible, that Im PRAYING for my sweet girl to come on out but shes healthy, shes BIG, and I want her to spend as much time with her Daddy as possible before he leaves for 8 months...and not to mention that Im just plain anxious to meet her myself! I cannot wait to see who/what she looks like. I cant wait to just squeeze her and kiss all over her! There was obviously no news at my appointment from Friday since I didnt post. She didnt even check me because according to her "she didnt want me to go home disappointed" I like this doctor. In fact Im hoping shes the one that delivers Delaney. I see her again Friday so hopefully there will be some news. At my last appointment however she did tell me Delaney is now "engaged" in the birth canal and that IF i make it to 40 weeks ( because I let her know Im doing everything Ive heard of to get her out) that my little nugget will be at least 9 lbs. I think she saw the horror in my face at the thought of pushing out a 9 lb baby so she gave me some of her own advice as to how I can try to get her to come early. Hopefully it works.. I guess we will know soon enough!

**How far along? 38 weeks!


**Total weight gain/loss: I have such a problem with this question.

**How Big is Baby?: around 8 lbs!

**Maternity clothes? my maternity dresses have now turned into maternity tops...

**Stretch marks? so the same 5 year old from last week must have attacked me again.. theyre worse. but theyre still flesh toned so thats good, right?

**Sleep: well Shawns gone this week so I have the entire bed to myself ( well with the dogs) and Im not fighting for covers... so decent.

**Best moment this week: AUBURN winning it for the SEC!!!!

**Movement: shes running out of room.

**Food cravings: still drinking a ton of water.

**Gender: sweet baby girl <3

**Labor Signs: the cramping has definitely intensified & braxton hicks.

**Belly Button in or out? I think its out farther than ever!!!!!!

**What I am looking forward to: DELIVERY!!!!!!!!!

37 weeks!

WE ARE FULL TERM! I can hardly believe it! I swear it feels like we just found out we were pregnant yesterday and here we are at full term. She could come at any second and I couldnt be more anxious! I have so many mixed emotions right now. I am so ready to meet our sweet girl and nervous all at the same time... not nervous about labor or even being a mom.. just nervous. I go back to the doctor Friday and I am praying for some good news! I have had some cramping starting around Friday/Saturday night so Im hoping thats a sign! I will update again Friday after the appointment when I have more news!

**How far along? 37 weeks!


**Total weight gain/loss: however much a manatee weighs.. thats me.

**How Big is Baby?: around 7-7 1/2 lbs!

**Maternity clothes? my stomach hangs out of everything. I have been wearing Shawns shirts lately. Im a a hot mess.

**Stretch marks? um so Im pretty sure a 5 year old took a flesh tone crayon to my stomach. :/

**Sleep: it has gotten better but it still isnt GREAT

**Best moment this week: FULL TERM BABY!

**Movement: she definitely lets me know shes in there!

**Food cravings: water. water. water. i havent been getting enough of it.. and I thought I was peeing enough already GEEZ.

**Gender: sweet baby girl <3

**Labor Signs: hopefully that cramping is a sign!!

**Belly Button in or out? its safe to say its not going back in...

**What I am looking forward to: DELIVERY!!!!!!!!!