Wow, we are closing out the year tonight and I haven't written since just after Michaya was born. I can't believe how time has flown by since her arrival. There is no way I could have imagined how wonderful life would be with her in it...just like my dad said. She is the most precious soul on earth to both me and her dad. We met her only four months but I cannot even think of life without her now. I love my husband and I love my family but I believe I can say my life lacked true meaning until she arrived even though I didn't realize it at the time. What an angel she is to the both of us.
Every morning when I wake up, I have the pleasure of turning to look at her as she sits patiently for me to wake up and greet her. When I do, she looks at me with her big beautiful eyes and gives me a huge smile...and it never fails. She is such a happy baby and just melts my heart. She lights up when her daddy comes through the door each evening and smiles from ear to ear with a little twinkle in her eye. She loves people too which is so nice to see. I love that she is happy and hope she always will be. We are so incredibly blessed.
We just returned from Christmas in Cincinnati with Opa, Nonna, Uncle Kilian and Aunt Tessa. Michaya's first Christmas has been a joy so far and we can't wait to see her with everyone else (my family) tomorrow.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Baby Michaya Concettina has arrived!
After nearly 3 years, we finally have the sweetest angel in our family. Michaya Concettina Eckert arrived at 6:40pm on August 27th. She weighed 8 lbs 7 oz. and was almost 20 inches long. She is the most perfect little girl and we are so blessed and truly ecstatic that she is here and in good health.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
August 27th
Well, quite a bit has transpired over the last couple of weeks. I went into my 37 wk appt to find that I had progressed only a little since the week prior and I was pretty disappointed. While the doctor was checking things out, she decided to stretch my cervix and strip my membranes....painful. That night and the following night were really quite painful and I was almost certain I was going to have wake Derek up to take me into the hospital but nothing was progressing enough to make a drastic move like that. I went last week for my 38 wk appt and would have bet lots of money I had made tons of progress only to find that I had not dilated anymore from the previous week....major disappointment considering the pain I had felt all week. So, the doctor offered to try and stretch my cervix 2cm which would get me to 4cm. She felt like it would be possible to do and at that point, the pressure from the baby would cause my water to break and I would go into labor. I seriously considered it but decided to decline and discuss being induced. We are confirmed to be induced on Wed., August 27th and have to arrive at the hospital at 6:45am sharp. I am anxious and nervous. I can't wait to see the baby! I am very nervous and of all things, I am nervous about getting an IV. I am such a sissy so this should be interesting to say the least. Today is Sunday evening and its hard to imagine that on Wed evening (or so I hope its no later than Wed evening) we will be able to hold in our arms our little sweet baby!!
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
I lost my ankles this weekend...among other things
The weekend was nice but it is now Tuesday and I lost my ankles on Friday and still can't find them. My feet have been swollen for several days now and I am not certain what to do about it.
Thank heavens I go see the doctor tomorrow! I have on the biggest shoes I own and my feet are still getting sausage lines around them when I remove my shoes. Very unattractive but I am more concerned about health issues than appearances at this point in time. We'll see tomorrow.
On to other lost items. I lost my mucous plug on Saturday...or I should say started losing it on Saturday. I won't go into explicit detail since it was kind of unpleasant but I did start to panic a bit. Linda's birthday was Saturday and we were all set and ready to walk out the door when I went to use the restroom one last time prior to our 45 min drive to Dad's house. It was then that I got a quick lesson in yet another lovely pregnancy fact. Sometimes after you begin to dilate, you lose your mucous plug! It took all day Saturday and most of the day on Sunday to completely come out but it is gone now so no more lovely, soothing baths. Oh well, means I am one step closer. Thank heavens.
On Sunday, Aunt Shirley and Sherry hosted a baby shower for me. We had a very nice time and I finally got a Longhorn onesie! I was beginning to worry that come game day I would have to run out to get one for the baby or worse yet, cut up one of mine to make it fit the baby instead. ;)
Thanks to Linda though, we are all set! Yeah!! I got lots of diapers and baby wipes which were on my "stress about" list, a list that is getting shorter every day. Now I really need to concentrate on putting together my hospital bag, just in case.
I feel worse and worse each passing day but I am hoping that's a good sign. I am hoping the doctor has great progress to report tomorrow when I go in for my 37 week appt. I must say, I will very likely be quite disappointed if I go in and she says little to no progress has been made since last week despite the cramps and sharp pains and ligament issues etc. I have had.
Will update soon.
Thank heavens I go see the doctor tomorrow! I have on the biggest shoes I own and my feet are still getting sausage lines around them when I remove my shoes. Very unattractive but I am more concerned about health issues than appearances at this point in time. We'll see tomorrow.
On to other lost items. I lost my mucous plug on Saturday...or I should say started losing it on Saturday. I won't go into explicit detail since it was kind of unpleasant but I did start to panic a bit. Linda's birthday was Saturday and we were all set and ready to walk out the door when I went to use the restroom one last time prior to our 45 min drive to Dad's house. It was then that I got a quick lesson in yet another lovely pregnancy fact. Sometimes after you begin to dilate, you lose your mucous plug! It took all day Saturday and most of the day on Sunday to completely come out but it is gone now so no more lovely, soothing baths. Oh well, means I am one step closer. Thank heavens.
On Sunday, Aunt Shirley and Sherry hosted a baby shower for me. We had a very nice time and I finally got a Longhorn onesie! I was beginning to worry that come game day I would have to run out to get one for the baby or worse yet, cut up one of mine to make it fit the baby instead. ;)
Thanks to Linda though, we are all set! Yeah!! I got lots of diapers and baby wipes which were on my "stress about" list, a list that is getting shorter every day. Now I really need to concentrate on putting together my hospital bag, just in case.
I feel worse and worse each passing day but I am hoping that's a good sign. I am hoping the doctor has great progress to report tomorrow when I go in for my 37 week appt. I must say, I will very likely be quite disappointed if I go in and she says little to no progress has been made since last week despite the cramps and sharp pains and ligament issues etc. I have had.
Will update soon.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Big, big baby!
Hi,
First of all, my dear friend Jenn hosted our 2nd baby shower for us last weekend and we had a great time! I finally got diapers and a diaper bag which I was really worried about for some reason. We also got to make our own onesies with a plain white onesie, paint and stencils...they are all so cute!!
Now, onto today's doctor's visit. 36 wks as of this week and 27 days to go. They did a sonogram which allowed me to see the baby for the first time in about 12 weeks or so. The baby is so tightly squeezed in there it was difficult to see things clearly but I did see the baby moving his/her mouth as if chewing on something. I also kinda saw the face though not very clearly.
The big news of the day is they determined the weight of the baby..........BIG!
With about 4 weeks left the baby is weighing in at 6lbs 10ozs. When the doctor entered the room, she said "wow, that's a big baby!" Good heavens, that is a big baby. She started talking to me about the fact that babies usually gain an ounce a day or half a pound a week which means, if that holds true that the baby will be about 81/2lbs at birth or more. Yikes! She asked me if I would be interested in being induced perhaps the week prior. Because I am so tired and it hurts even when I turn over in bed, I smiled and started to agree. I remembered though that I had heard being induced makes for much more difficult labor so I stopped in my tracks and asked if there was any truth to that. She said they would not even consider inducing me if my cervix was not ready for it and that its situations where your water breaks but you've not started effacing or dilating that make the induction more painful and difficult. She wasn't going to check my cervix today but I insisted, if for nothing else, out of curiosity. She was very surprised to find that my cervix is "very soft", 70% effaced and 11/2 centimeters dilated. She said that is was unlikely we would need to have the conversation about induction based on those stats. She doesn't think I will make it that long. I have another appt this coming Wed and I really hope progress continues. I would really prefer to not be induced and let nature take its course. Crossing my fingers that will be the case.
Getting anxious and excited! I have another baby shower this Sunday at Aunt Shirley's house. Can't wait to get everything in final order for the arrival of the baby! :)
First of all, my dear friend Jenn hosted our 2nd baby shower for us last weekend and we had a great time! I finally got diapers and a diaper bag which I was really worried about for some reason. We also got to make our own onesies with a plain white onesie, paint and stencils...they are all so cute!!
Now, onto today's doctor's visit. 36 wks as of this week and 27 days to go. They did a sonogram which allowed me to see the baby for the first time in about 12 weeks or so. The baby is so tightly squeezed in there it was difficult to see things clearly but I did see the baby moving his/her mouth as if chewing on something. I also kinda saw the face though not very clearly.
The big news of the day is they determined the weight of the baby..........BIG!
With about 4 weeks left the baby is weighing in at 6lbs 10ozs. When the doctor entered the room, she said "wow, that's a big baby!" Good heavens, that is a big baby. She started talking to me about the fact that babies usually gain an ounce a day or half a pound a week which means, if that holds true that the baby will be about 81/2lbs at birth or more. Yikes! She asked me if I would be interested in being induced perhaps the week prior. Because I am so tired and it hurts even when I turn over in bed, I smiled and started to agree. I remembered though that I had heard being induced makes for much more difficult labor so I stopped in my tracks and asked if there was any truth to that. She said they would not even consider inducing me if my cervix was not ready for it and that its situations where your water breaks but you've not started effacing or dilating that make the induction more painful and difficult. She wasn't going to check my cervix today but I insisted, if for nothing else, out of curiosity. She was very surprised to find that my cervix is "very soft", 70% effaced and 11/2 centimeters dilated. She said that is was unlikely we would need to have the conversation about induction based on those stats. She doesn't think I will make it that long. I have another appt this coming Wed and I really hope progress continues. I would really prefer to not be induced and let nature take its course. Crossing my fingers that will be the case.
Getting anxious and excited! I have another baby shower this Sunday at Aunt Shirley's house. Can't wait to get everything in final order for the arrival of the baby! :)
Friday, July 25, 2008
40 days and counting!
If the baby decides to keep with the doctors plan and come on Sept. 3rd, we have exactly 40 days left until we meet the baby.
The baby needs a few more weeks and we still have several things left to do in preparation for his/her arrival but I am physically ready. Just over a week ago I started having this pretty bad pain in the joints that connect my legs to my hips. Every time I stand up and try to walk I am reminded that my body still has some preparation of its own to go through before the baby arrives. My hips are widening and the pain is somewhat significant and makes me feel like I am about 80 years old. I also cannot recall what good sleep is like. I haven't slept well for about a month and a half now. I wake up just about every hour (sometimes less) to use the restroom and the times that I am not awakened by the urge to use the restroom, I am awakened by the stinging running through my arm from sleeping on one side too long! I sit and shake out my hand and arm and make the long and difficult turn from one side to the other until the next time I have to use the restroom again or the stinging returns. I believe that the baby is head down, feet in the ribs and has started to engage. Also about a week ago I noticed I could breath again and that I felt like walking was more difficult...the true waddle has arrived not that wanna be waddle I previously had. ;) Despite all this, every time I feel and/or see my belly move or a foot pressing my ribs, all I can do is smile. It is so hard to imagine that this little baby will be with us very soon! I can't wait until then!
The baby needs a few more weeks and we still have several things left to do in preparation for his/her arrival but I am physically ready. Just over a week ago I started having this pretty bad pain in the joints that connect my legs to my hips. Every time I stand up and try to walk I am reminded that my body still has some preparation of its own to go through before the baby arrives. My hips are widening and the pain is somewhat significant and makes me feel like I am about 80 years old. I also cannot recall what good sleep is like. I haven't slept well for about a month and a half now. I wake up just about every hour (sometimes less) to use the restroom and the times that I am not awakened by the urge to use the restroom, I am awakened by the stinging running through my arm from sleeping on one side too long! I sit and shake out my hand and arm and make the long and difficult turn from one side to the other until the next time I have to use the restroom again or the stinging returns. I believe that the baby is head down, feet in the ribs and has started to engage. Also about a week ago I noticed I could breath again and that I felt like walking was more difficult...the true waddle has arrived not that wanna be waddle I previously had. ;) Despite all this, every time I feel and/or see my belly move or a foot pressing my ribs, all I can do is smile. It is so hard to imagine that this little baby will be with us very soon! I can't wait until then!
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
First baby shower was a huge sucess!
Well, I am back and in one piece. :)
The shower was wonderful! It really goes without saying that the food was simply delicious and of course there was waaaay too much of it but it was so nice. Tina worked so hard to make this a special occasion and it was just that, very special. I received so many nice things from the shower that I couldn't even begin to make note of all of them. Some of my favorites were the crocheted set from Tina, the littlest Cincy Red's outfit, a teddy bear that sounds like the womb to sooth the baby and the Fisherprice rainforest sights and sounds you put in the crib. I have already washed and folded all the clothes, towels, blankets and bibs and we put together the changing table so everything can be put away and made ready for the babies arrival. The room is starting to look like all its missing is the baby. I sat in the room last evening with the lights turned out and the rainforest lullaby playing with the lights moving and just looked around the room wondering what the sweet little baby will think of everything. It is so hard for me to imagine but in a matter of weeks, there will be a little tiny baby sleeping in the crib that now holds items for which I can't find the space to store right now. I am getting really excited and anxious. We don't have a single diaper in the house yet and for some reason that makes me nervous and makes me feel like there are still so many things left to do to prepare for babies arrival home. Luckily, with everyone's generosity from the shower, we will be able to buy plenty of diapers with all the gift cards we received! I will try to post some pics of the babies room and the first Baby Eckert shower soon. What a wonderful celebration we had thanks to Tina and Tessa!
The shower was wonderful! It really goes without saying that the food was simply delicious and of course there was waaaay too much of it but it was so nice. Tina worked so hard to make this a special occasion and it was just that, very special. I received so many nice things from the shower that I couldn't even begin to make note of all of them. Some of my favorites were the crocheted set from Tina, the littlest Cincy Red's outfit, a teddy bear that sounds like the womb to sooth the baby and the Fisherprice rainforest sights and sounds you put in the crib. I have already washed and folded all the clothes, towels, blankets and bibs and we put together the changing table so everything can be put away and made ready for the babies arrival. The room is starting to look like all its missing is the baby. I sat in the room last evening with the lights turned out and the rainforest lullaby playing with the lights moving and just looked around the room wondering what the sweet little baby will think of everything. It is so hard for me to imagine but in a matter of weeks, there will be a little tiny baby sleeping in the crib that now holds items for which I can't find the space to store right now. I am getting really excited and anxious. We don't have a single diaper in the house yet and for some reason that makes me nervous and makes me feel like there are still so many things left to do to prepare for babies arrival home. Luckily, with everyone's generosity from the shower, we will be able to buy plenty of diapers with all the gift cards we received! I will try to post some pics of the babies room and the first Baby Eckert shower soon. What a wonderful celebration we had thanks to Tina and Tessa!
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