Sara Gray’s Arrival

 

We have been blessed with an angel!  Sara Gray was born very early on Tuesday, July 21st.  As scheduled, I saw Dr. A Monday afternoon and although there was not a lot of progress he told us he could make it work and we would be rockin’ and rollin’ the next morning. And that’s exactly what happened…

I checked into the hospital about 4pm Monday, knowing that I wanted to go ahead and get the paperwork and IV and all that behind me, take the Cytotec pill and then eat and get settled in for the night.  At 10pm I took the second dose of Cytotec, a Tylenol PM (lesson learned from first baby-no Ambien for me!) and then shortly thereafter I was laying in bed watching Conan trying to go to sleep, Matt was already snoozing and my water broke.  The nurse came in to confirm and asked me if I wanted to go ahead and get the epidural.  Wow-that was awful early… I was only at a “1” and didn’t want to get it too early and have it wear off when I needed it most but the nurse assured me that they had plenty. With Campbell, I had to wait on the anesthesiologist and by the time he got to me, I was at a “7” and my contractions were so close together it was very hard to stay still. So I said sure-bring on the drugs now before I even get started with all that contraction stuff! At 11pm, the anesthetist came in and a 2am the nurse started my Pitocin. At 4am I was at a “10” and they called my doc in. 

Matt and I were not sure if or who we should call. I knew that I was having a baby as soon as Dr A could get to me and that would be sooner than anyone from Troy could drive up.  We had anticipated a morning delivery but never dreamed it would go this fast or be this early!

We went ahead and called my parents just to let them know and as Matt is on the phone with my Dad, I hear Matt say “well how long ago do you think that was?”  My mom had instinctively gotten up and already left without my Dad even knowing.  When Matt called her on her cell to see how far away she was she was walking through the door!

The delivery went very well-it was actually pretty peaceful. I am not sure if it was the quietness of the early morning hours, the relaxed nature of the 2nd shift and my confident doc or just calmer nerves for us as second timers but even though the entire delivery went by quickly, the atmosphere was very peaceful and laid back.

Sara Gray is absolutely perfect!  Healthy by all accounts, passing all her little tests and exams with no problem. Of course, we were ready to get home but overall our hospital experience was a great one.  I am so thankful to all my nurses who were so sweet and patient and of course Dr. A who is the absolute BEST ever!! 

Sara Gray received many visitors from family & friends—she is definitely loved!! Here are pictures from the hospital:

 

 10 fingers & 10 toes & a perfectly healthy baby girl!

Matt holding Sara Gray for the first time. 

A very proud Honey & Papa

 Our hospital door

 

Clairey & Papa Q with granddaughter #2

 Already awake and ready for her visitors…

Jennifer Senn (her cousin Shaunna delivered a baby girl the same day at the same hospital! Congrats on baby Ava-Sara Gray’s friend!!)

The Nelson Clan

Big Sister Campbell seeing her baby sis for the very first time

Our sweet baby girl. Who does she look like??

Uncle Christopher & Cassie

Uncle Troy

Campbell’s gift from Sara Gray was a princess camera so Campbell could take her own pictures.  She was so excited and kept telling everyone to smile and say cheese!

Edie, Sara Gray’s Great-Grandmother drove down from Birmingham to see her.

This just makes me laugh! Leigh Anne, Kristy & Jessica all gushing over Sara Gray.

Sara Gray & I on Day 2.  We got lots of pretty flowers to cheer up our room!

My mom holding her new granddaughter. Gray is a 4th generation name passed from my grandmother, mom, me and now Sara Gray.

They are both so happy!!

Uncle Newton

 
Aunt (soon-to-be!) Jamie.  This is my brother Newton’s fiancée.

me and my girls

Getting her picture made and ready to go home.  My friend, Jenniffer Barner, gave us this dress as her going home outfit, her mother-in-law hand makes these beautiful delicate gowns and they are so soft & sweet! Campbell had a similar one for her going home outfit.

 

Loaded up and ready to get to West Orange Street!!

She is Here!

 

Sara Gray Baker

July 21, 2009
5:26 am  |  7 lbs 14 oz  |  20 inches long

 

*more pictures and details to come…

Happy 3-0 to Laura!

My friend Laura shares the same birthday as Campbell and I usually forget because my brain is on my child’s birthday but this year was the BIG 3-0 so of course I couldn’t let the day go by without a little celebration.

Happy Birthday Laura!!  Hope your day (and your hoop cheese!) was great!! I Love you!

Campbell’s Birthday Party

 

Today was Campbell’s 3rd Birthday and her first birthday party at home.  Traditionally we go to the lake and celebrate with close family & friends but this year called for a BIG celebration!  Its not every day that our little girl turns 3 years old and she now has her own little (big!) group of friends to play with, not to mention a backyard begging to be played in and a 9 month preggo mom that couldn’t travel to the lake.  Since I know her world is about to be turned upside down with the addition of a little sister in the house, I wanted her last days of being an only child to be so much fun for her!  As tiring as it was for me, it was definitely worth it to see our little girl so happy. Thanks to all who made her birthday so special!!

 

  It was a true backyard party!  Kids played in the pool, on the swingset, in the sandbox & with outdoor toys. We were thankful to have a bright sunny day in spite of stormy forecasts.

 Campbell & her party guests

 Matt grilled mini slider burgers & hot dogs. 

 

 

Papa, Clairee & Edie enjoying the shade underneath our new roof on the porch. 

 

Saying the blesssing… 

 

The drink stand—lemonade, mint & lime water, mini coke bottles & capri-suns. 

 

I put out spinach dip as a little appetizer for the adults (thinking they might appreciate something a bit more sophisticated than French Onion dip). Well, the kids pounced on it!! It was so funny seeing all those kids digging in. Adam actually had to take it away from them so they would eat lunch.  I guess you can’t complain much when kids are eating spinach though! 

 

The Cake! Tammy Brooks made the cake and it was delicious.  I wanted to make sure this years cake was super cute and made up for last year’s tragedy, which it did ten times over.  Thanks Tammy-it was perfect and just what I wanted for Campbell!! 

 

 Campbell’s favorite part—“Happy Birthday, Dear Campbell”

 The Wedding Dress!  just look at that face!  This was Campbell’s gift from mama & daddy and was the peak of her gift opening.  She is now officially a dress-up bride!

 

 

The party favors were beach towels. 

  Papa Q was our lifeguard (and pool play toy) for the day!

Campbell’s room after the party. It looked like Christmas!!

And our yard after the party-whew, I felt like those balloons!

*Note that Campbell is wearing her pj’s in some pics.  About an hour into the party, just as the food is coming off the grill, Campbell starts complaining that her back hurts and pointing to the small of her back. There isn’t anything obvious-a bite, scrape, bruise, etc.  But she is obviously in pain.  All she wants is for me to hold her and when we get inside she wants to get out of her bathing suit, into her pajamas and take a nap!  People come in her room to check on her but she wants nothing to do with anyone but me.  The only thing I can gather is she was in the pool when her back starting hurting her—maybe she scraped it on the side jumping in or on the steps?  Eventually we con her to open a gift which Clairey gives her gift and was a pink toaster from Pottery Barn. Just what she asked for (really!) so she is happy about that but now wants to play in her room with it.  Forget her friends, the cake, etc. all waiting for her outside!  You can imagine what I am thinking….all the work I’ve done at 9 months preggo for this party and you are going to go into seclusion.  Eventually Matt talks to her privately and 5 minutes later she comes out wearing her pink polka-dot pajamas ready to eat cake and open her presents, thank goodness!!

 

Thanks to ALL who celebrated with us. It was a great day!  I can’t believe my baby girl is really three years old now and not a baby anymore!

Now I have to go and get ready for another “Birth” Day!!

Birthday Day is Here!

Celebrating at School

Having a summer birthday is great for pool parties but I can remember always wanting my mom to bring cupcakes to school and with a June birthday that wasn’t a reality for me.  Campbell is in the summer session at Mother’s Day Out so I got to bring her class lunch (pizza and cupcakes, made to Campbell’s specifications: pink, purple & white ones with polka dots and rings on top!) to celebrate today.  She was so proud to have me in her room and is so excited that tomorrow is going to be her “birthday day”!

Campbell’s class, lined up and ready to say the blessing.

Making her wish and blowing out the candle.

The Birthday Princess!

Campbell loves her teachers, Miss Amy & Miss Mary!