Full as a Tick

7 & 8 Day Old Pics

Chris' mom (Mimi) playing with Alex's hair and giving her a mohawk. Her hair is so long and a bit wavy when wet. Don't know where those curls came from...


1 Week Old

More of Alex

Meet Alexandria Faith

What a day! We are overjoyed to introduce to you our precious baby girl, Alexandria Faith. She was 6 lb 10 oz and 19.25 inches long. She seems healthy and is precious. Mom is doing well, too. We never expected her to come 16 days early, so we were surprised. However, God's timing is perfect and we have seen how in many ways already. God answered so many of our prayers through this whole labor and delivery process. We are soooo thankful and praise Him. Some of the many ways God worked through this was:
* God's timing was perfect as Chris was in town and had not left for DC (he is supposed to leave this Sat. for 4 days)
* giving us time to prepare last night as the doc prepped us yesterday at my weekly check up that she would come any day because I was already dilated 5 cm (and not feeling any contractions)
* allowing my water to break this morning so I would know when to go to the hospital as I wasn't feeling contractions.
* allowing this to be a fast labor and delivery once checked into a room (less than 2.5 hours).
* giving us a great staff to help us especially my friend, Emily Richardson, the nurse we prayed we would have!!!
* giving Rebecca strength and focus and protecting her through it all
* Alex appears to be a healthy baby girl
* and more and more and more...

Any hour/day now...

A visit to the doctor today revealed that I am apparently in active labor as I am dilated 4-5 cm and 80% effaced. However, I have felt no contractions. So, I came home to finish packing for the hospital, tie up lose ends with work, clean a bit, etc. The doc said a sneeze could cause baby to come today, but that I would definitely deliver before Saturday. Only God knows... Here are some comparison pics of weeks 17, 23.5, 25.5, 30, 31, 32, 34, 36.5, and tonight's almost 38 week pic. Might be the last belly shot before pics of baby begin. :)

Baby Room

After the help of many people, the baby room came together nicely. We have changed the layout several times, so as of now, this is it. We look forward to our little girl in it for completion. :)

Thanks to the following for your help, advice, gifts, and work involved in any way with the room. We are very grateful for you!!!
* Thanks to Chris for painting the walls, hanging the wall decor and window treatment, attaching the mirror, painting the bookshelf with me, putting together the baby bed, moving furniture, etc...
* Thanks to mom for our old rocker and my bedroom suit from when I was little.
* Thanks to Tim and Cindy for Kailyn and Julia's previous baby bed.
* Thanks to Mrs. Lee for the baby bedding, lamp, dirty clothes hamper, etc...
* Thanks to Ashley for painting the flower canvases and wooden letters and for your advice on laying out the room.

Labor Day Cookout

What a nice long weekend! We topped it off with a cookout at our house with some friends today. The guys talked football, threw the football and softball, and grilled. The girls talked baby talk as 2 have 11-12 month olds, 2 are pregnant, and 2 are thinking baby in the near future. Several of us ended the afternoon by going to the movies.

36.5 Weeks

Being in the 9th month makes having a baby more real than ever. Labor and delivery can happen at any moment. I plan to pack a hospital bag soon. :) We have prepared the house to the best of our ability at this time. We will continue to prepare our hearts and minds until the day of baby's arrival.

I am still swimming and walking...some weeks more than others. I have been going to physcial therapy for my SI joint, but am scaling back now. I can tell that I am gaining more weight these last few weeks as it seems so much harder to get in and out of cars, get up from the floor, shave my legs, etc. I have also become more tired throughout the day. Overall, I still feel good and am very thankful for such a great pregnancy.

Dinner/Entertainment Cruise

We had a date night on the Arkansas Queen. The river boat crusied up and down the Arkansas River at sunset and then nightfall. Views of the sun setting over the river and Pinnacle Mountain were beautiful as well as the city lights of Little Rock at night. Dinner was served with music by the Riverboat Ramblers. Some danced after dinner while others (us included) enjoyed the scenery and great weather outside on the decks of the boat. We even met a girl that is expecting a baby boy the same day as our little baby girl. What a wonderful evening!

Chris Testing Baby Mobile

Tim and Cindy McCarley gave us this cool contraption to ride baby connected to our bikes. Chris had fun testing it out. We almost asked the neighbors if we could borrow their kid for a bit. Ha! :)

Arkansas Travelers' Game

A group of us went to see the Arkansas Travelers (minor league team in Little Rock) play tonight during their last home game series. Unfortunately, they lost. But, we had a great time as the weather was nice when the sun set.

35 weeks vs. 20 weeks

Rebecca Townsend is almost 20 weeks. She is the first girl in our church expected to have a boy in a LONG time. She and Joshua have broken the chain of girl babies.

Going Away/B'day Party

Jeff and Chrissa Hickle are in process of moving to Fayetteville. We will miss them dearly, but know this is not our last goodbyes. :) Also, we celebrated Jeff's 30th birthday.

Chris Kissing Baby

Chris is very excited about our precious little girl on the way...
(Yes, that is part of the SI belt I have to wear for my SI joint issue.)

34 Weeks

posted a week late...