It's The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!!

Yesterday, we made our first trip to see Santa! While the excursion was a very quick one, it was just so wonderful to have sweet Riley this year so we can begin to make Christmas memories as a family of three!!

Ladies Night

Last week a few of my girl friends and I celebrated the Christmas season with a small Bunko Party. Unfortunately, not everyone was able to make it. But, we had a great time eating together and catching up. Merry Christmas, ladies...can't wait to see you all again in the new year.

Merry Christmas!!

With Love Blue Christmas 5x7 folded card

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Autumn 2010

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A Little Help from Rex

Rex decided that he wanted to help Kelly calm down Riley. Now, anytime Riley gets going Rex chips in...enjoy!!

Three Months Picture!

Well, here he is! Three Months old!

Wow, Riley...you have grown so much! I am so blessed to be your Mommy and I thank God every day for allowing us to be your parents. You are such a happy, content baby and I so enjoy spending everyday with you, watching you change and grow. I love listening to you "talk" to me. There is no sweeter sound! You laugh when I sing to you and when we play together in the mornings. You sleep like a dream (hope I haven't jinks myself!) and eat like a champ! At this point in time, you are growing out of all your 3 months clothing...won't be long before you are fitting into the 6 months clothes...time to go shopping! We are blessed and celebrating you this Thanksgiving!

I wish I had some official stats to share, but unfortunately we won't have our next weight check til 4 months. So, below is his unofficial weight...will have to see if I can get his length.

Weight - 14lbs, 5oz (unofficial)

Length - ?

Riley Has Something to Say!

Riley started "talking" a while back, but I haven't been able to catch a good "conversation" on video...so cute! I guess he is camera shy.

Catching Up!

Since Riley was born we have been very, very busy! So, here is a quick update of what we have been up to since his birth.


Riley loved spending time with his Grammy (Great-grandmother) and Nana!

Grandma and Grandpa drove in to see our new little bundle of joy!

He loves his cousins...and they love him

Riley has been loved on by so many people!

We spent some time with Mamaw and Papaw

We made our first trip to Abilene to take a family picture before Nana (Grammy) went home

Riley got his first "taste" of Babes...One of Mom and Dad's guilty pleasures!!

We celebrated with family Riley's Dedication at church on October 3rd

We picked up Pa from the airport and enjoyed a fabulous two weeks with him

We took Pa to the State Fair of Texas

We went to the Dallas Arboretum with Daddy and Pa

Riley was introduced to all kinds of farm animals on some friends property

And finally, today we went to our first pumpkin patch and wore our first halloween costume...cute little chunky monkey!

And, hung out with some new friends!

New Born Pictures

Back on September 4, Riley had an all day (seriously, 9:30am to 3:30pm) newborn photo session. They turned out so well, I just couldn't wait to share a few of my favorites. She is such a talented photographer I can't help but give her business a plug...check out her work at http://www.pumpkinpiephotography.com/

Love my chubby little baby!

Watch Me Grow!

I am a little behind on updating the blog, so lets start with our monthly pictures. We can't believe how much he has changed in just a month! We are loving every moment and feel so blessed to have a healthy, growing boy! We love you, Baby.

1 Month Stats:

Weight - 9 lbs. 15 oz. (50th Percentile)

Height: 21 3/4 inches (50th Percentile)

Two Month Stats:

Weight - 12 lbs. 8.5 oz. (75th Percentile)

Height - 23 inches (75th Percentile)

Riley

Welcome Monogram Blue Birth Announcement

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So, I have to admit I am actually pretty new at using Shutterfly but since discovering it...however late I may be...I have fallen in love with the many options I have. Chris and I are absolutely obsessed with taking pictures. Many of you already know this! In addition to Chris making photography an expensive little hobby, we don't hesitate to use professional photographers to capture those special moments. We have had four photo sessions of and with Riley since he was born three months ago! Anyway, many of you received this beautiful card below and just by posting it on my blog I get a $25 gift card. So, if you haven't checked out Shutterfly before, now is the time.

Riley's Birthday - 4 Weeks Ago Today!

Saturday, August 21, 2010 - Friday night the nurse gave me an Ambien to help me sleep, which worked wonders. On Saturday morning, I woke up rested and ready to have a baby. They tested my blood again and this time we got the all clear! Our families got the hospital early and Mom began helping me get ready. Hair, makeup…I was going to look pretty when I met our baby boy or girl a few hours later. Chris was given his bunny suit and final preparations were made for me. The anesthesiologist came in to talk to me, and I was just thrilled when he walked in the room. We had taken a class earlier in the summer and had the opportunity to meet the head of O.B. anesthesiology. Being that I was terrified of having an epidural I was just over the moon the see that he was going to be my anesthesiologist that day.

The nurses informed us a few minutes before 9 that we would be going to the O.R. in just a few minutes. Our family and friends that were present surrounded us to pray and read a Bible verse over us. After a few tears and lots of hugs, we headed to the O.R. Our family headed to the waiting area where they anxiously awaited the news. Will little Baby Baker be a Boy or a Girl? And, what will his or her name be?

Within a few minutes my epidural was inserted and they began to prep me for surgery. At that point they brought Chris into the room where he sat by my side the entire time. A few minutes into the surgery I began to feel extremely nauseous. So, an anti-nausea medication was administered and I began to feel great again. Chris was pretty excited about the opportunity to see our baby enter the world. The anesthesiologist told Chris he would let him know when to stand. It felt like no time at all had passed since the doctors had started to when they told Chris to stand up and seconds later I head the first cry of our little baby. Other than hearing that first cry, one of the best moments of my life was hearing Chris say, “It’s a BOY!”

They immediately took Riley to complete all normal checks. He was doing great, weighing in at 6 lbs. and 9 oz. and 17 and ¾ inches long. He was screaming at the top of his lungs…one of the best sounds I have ever heard. They very quickly swaddled Riley and put him in my arms. That was quite a moment! After years of praying, our little miracle had finally arrived, and mom and Riley were both strong and healthy! Chris now could go and tell our family the wonderful news.

After telling the family of his arrival, Chris and Riley went back to the delivery room while the doctors completed my surgery. Shortly, I was wheeled back to the room, where Riley was placed on my chest for some skin to skin time. What a wonderful and amazingly special time! It wasn’t long before he was rooting around and showing those hunger cues. Let’s just say, Riley is a wonderful eater.

Just as we were getting ready to head to the postpartum room our family was let in to meet our special little boy! He was immediately surrounded by so much love. While in the hospital we were blessed to be surrounded by many of our family and friends.

What a wonderful experience and an answer to so many prayers. Riley…we love you little boy and feel so blessed to be your parents. The Lord could not have given us a more perfect gift!

Getting ready to go to the O.R.

First family picture

Riley's Surprise Arrival!

August 20, 2010 - Riley was due to be delivered on Tuesday, August 24th. So, Chris and I planned to have our last date day on Friday, August 20th before all the family arrived in town that weekend and Riley would make his grand arrival. We started the day off by going to our regular weekly doctor appointment at 9:30am and I gave myself a shot of Heparin at 10:00am just like I did everyday to thin my blood and prevent blood clots from forming. After our appointment Chris and I set out for our day. We went to Bread Winners for brunch and began to talk about our plans for the rest of the day. Chris suggested we go to Build-a-Bear to make a gift for Riley. If we felt like it, we planned to see a movie in the afternoon. Everything we planned had to be indoors since we were in the middle of an 18 day heat wave of temperatures 100 degrees or higher.

A short while after ordering our food I began to feel kind of off…I was having cramps in my lower abdomen and overall felt just awful. But, since this was a special day for Chris and me, I was determined to make the most of it and enjoy the day together. Once our food arrived I was beginning to feel particularly bad. I excused myself to the bathroom where I discovered I was bleeding! A little panicked and very much afraid, I went back to the table to let Chris know we needed to head back to the hospital. At this point in time it was about 11:15 and I hadn’t gotten to eat any of my food that had been delivered and it had just been a little over an hour since giving myself the Heparin shot. On our way back to the hospital I called my doctor who told us to go straight to Labor and Delivery and they would meet us there. We arrived and they immediately got us set up in a room, they gave me a gown to put on and hooked me up to all the machines.

It was very quickly revealed I was having contractions 5-7 minutes apart. Since I was scheduled to have a c-section the following Tuesday at just past 38 weeks the nurses began to prep me for surgery. Unfortunately, since I had given myself the shot at 10:00 not enough time had passed for me to get an epidural. We were informed that if they decided to proceed I would have to be given a general anesthesia and Chris would not be able to be in the OR. Fortunately, we had a wonderful nurse who became our advocate. She knew how desperately I wanted to be awake and Chris wanted to be present. She spoke with the anesthesiologist who said potentially I would be able to receive an epidural 6 hours past administration. At 4:00 they would do a blood test and if my levels were low enough we would proceed with the c-section. So, we called all the family and they began to make the journey to Plano.

4:00 o’clock arrived and blood was drawn. A short while later, my doctor returned to the room and I knew by the look on his face that it was not good news. The levels were still too high. He spoke with the anesthesiologist and they made the decision that since my labor was not progressing we could hold out. Since it was not an emergency situation it would be too risky to perform the surgery while my blood was thinner. They gave me a shot of Stadol to help me relax and slow the contractions. This allowed me to get a little relief and I was able to get some rest.

After a long, emotional day my doctor finally made the decision that we would deliver Riley on Saturday morning at 9:00. My contractions, while not slowing, were not speeding up. Riley was doing great and he was not concerned about the safety of the baby. So, the family all arrived and had plenty of time to get settled before our sweet little baby would make his or her arrival on Saturday morning.

Getting settled in Labor and Delivery

The last belly shot - 38 weeks!

Two Week Appointment

So, since Riley has been home we have been busy, busy, busy! We have been blessed to be surrounded by so many friends and family and it has truly been a joy introducing him to all our loved ones!

Today we had his two week appointment and our little man is growing! When we left the hospital two weeks ago Riley had gained back all the weight he lost and was back to has birth weight of 6 lbs. 9 oz. Today we went in for Riley's first pediatrician appointment and he has almost gained two pounds. Here are his latest stats:

Weight - 8 lbs 5 oz (25th percentile)

Height - 20 1/2 inches (50th percentile)

We are so proud of our growing boy! Here is a two week picture I took. We are just so in love...there are just not enough words to describe that feeling!

Riley Alan Has Arrived!

Week 37 Update!

36 1/2 Weeks!!

Just got home from our 37 week appointment and looks like we are going to have this baby in 11 days:) Wow! So far everything really looks good. BB's head is down low, low, low and boy can I tell it is! Naturally, I am uncomfortable, but wouldn't complain a bit. I love being pregnant and feeling my sweet little one move around. It is such a precious time! But, I also can't wait to meet little BB. Especially since we are in the middle of a heat wave and on day 13 of at or ABOVE 100 degree days! That's around 38 degrees Celsius for all my Australian readers:)

Earlier this week I got pretty sick with some kind of head cold. Not a big deal...went to the doctor, got an anti-biotic and spent a few days in bed. Then, Tuesday night I started itching all over. Especially on the palms of my hands and soles of my feet. I called the dr. yesterday morning and she told me to stop taking the medicine and take some Benedryl...which completely knocks me out. So, I mention all this to my OB today and find out the medication I have supposedly had a reaction to just happens to be the same one they give you to prevent infection when you have a c-section. On top of that, we already know I am allergic to the other medication that is often prescribed. So, on top of everything else, now I have to see an allergist on Monday to find out if I am truly allergic to these medications and if so, what are my options. Apparently, these are two of the most potent anti-biotics! Wouldn't you know this would be the case.

So, there's the update. I guess this weekend I need to post pictures of the nursery that is finally "finished." There are just a few things left to get hung on the wall, but some of those will have to wait until after BB arrives since we don't know the gender. Remember, time is running out! So, if you haven't already, cast your vote.

33 Days and Counting!

That's right...we are almost in the home stretch. We are down to less than 5 weeks from when I am scheduled to deliver. And, oh what a difference a year can make! One year ago today, I was rushed into emergency surgery for an ectopic pregnancy. I was bleeding internally and my Dr. had to remove my left fallopian tube! It was quite a day filled with fear, anxiety, sadness and an out pouring of great love by those around us. Needless to say, we just feel so blessed to be where we are today. Praise God for his magnificent gift and miracles!

Now for an update of the past month. Since it has been a while since I have made a post I will try to keep it short and sweet...maybe a picture update of what has been happening since I last posted.

In June, my wonderful college roommates, Stephenie and Olivia, and sister-in-law, Tish, threw me a beautiful shower in Abilene. I will have to add pictures from the day later...I can't seem to locate them at this time:( Liv, Steph and I stayed in a hotel and enjoyed a girls night...so fun! Can't wait to do it again soon.

We enjoyed having Chad, Ashley, Abbey and Cole stay with us for a few nights a couple of weeks ago. On Thursday, the girls went to American girl. We took a tour, Abbey got an doll and we enjoyed lunch in the Bistro.

Jane, Abbey and I in the Bistro

Chris, Abbey, Cole and I after the baby shower

Chris getting a zurburt (spelling??) from Cole

On July 10 my wonderful girlfriends threw us a beautiful shower her in Dallas. We were blessed to receive so many wonderful gifts. BB is going to be so spoiled!

Thanks ladies for a fun and adorable shower!

Family picture around the oh so fun table! The cake was just beautiful...thanks Angie! You are amazing.

No event would be complete without a little comic relief from my husband! Chris wrapped these t-shirts up and gave them to me from BB. Very funny and a huge hit!

We have started seeing the doctor each week. We are so excited and happy to say that everything so far is going really well. Due to my blood clotting issue they do a test each week that is basically a "stress test" on the baby. I am hooked up to a heart monitor and each time BB kicks I have to press a button. The heart rate should raise just like your heart rate would if you ran down the hall.

All hooked and counting those kicks!

Our sweet little bundle of joy appears to have quite an attitude and is fairly stubborn...not sure where that trait comes from. But, once again, BB was not very cooperative during the sonograms.

June 2 - This picture is not too bad...cute little face!

June 16 - BB never showed his or her face. But, we did get this incredible picture of the hair. Isn't that amazing? The Dr. jokingly said we may want to have a hair dresser on hand for right after the delivery. Good thing my mom plans to be there! So, I guess we will have to a wait and see just how much hair BB has.

And, last but not least, last Sunday we had maternity pictures taken. We were so pleased with how the couple we have seen turned out and can't wait to see the rest in a couple of weeks. Here's a preview. She will also take BB's newborn pics in a few weeks.

33 Weeks!

And, don't forget...there is just a few weeks left to enter your vote in the gender poll! Will our house be filled with cars and trucks, or ribbons and bows?