On Friday, January 30th, Libby will be one month old. Wow. Time sure flies, eh? Seriously! It seems like yesterday that I found out I was pregnant. And now one month? That got me thinking, only 215 more months until she turns 18 and hypothetically is deemed an adult! So lets look at some more numbers...
225 - how many months I was when I graduated from highschool.
232 - months I was when I met Tim.
251 - when I married Tim.
287 - when I graduated college.
295 - when we found out I was pregnant.
303 - when Libby was born.
8 - months Tim and I were engaged.
9 - the number of months I was pregnant (plus some change)
11 - months we've lived in NY.
53 - months we've been married.
60 - months to the day (on Friday) from when Tim proposed. :)
Anyway, random numbers for you. When I look at those numbers it just reminds me how precious and short life is. I know its cliqued and somewhat corny but it's true! And it makes me want to go wake up Libby and hold her and snuggle her while she's still tiny. Already she's losing some of that newborn 'look' and starting to get rounder and chubbier. And she's holding her head up really well! Daddy makes sure she practices a lot! Poor thing - he'll have her doing algebra when she's four. :)
I'll write more later about her progress and hopefully post more pics but please, just treasure this month!!
PS. I've never been happier to see a month go by either, January is bitterly cold in the NE!! :) Brrrr!!!
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Monday, January 26, 2009
Libby's nose
This is for Stephen. So where do you think she gets that cute lil nobbin?
I'll give you a guess...
Haha, silly mom!!
Thank you, Shenk genes!!
I'll give you a guess...
Haha, silly mom!!
Thank you, Shenk genes!!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Libby's 3 week update
Happy birthday Libster!! Today marks three weeks since your birth. And as I write this you are happily snoozing away in your swing. So I should probably be cleaning the kitchen or starting some laundry but I'm not, that can wait. Although, its been waiting a long time, but that's another story. :) Apparently it's difficult to clean a house and take care of a baby (at least it is for me). Supermom might not have that same trouble!
I digress...today your umbilical cord finally fell off!! Yippie!! Actually when I changed your diaper this morning it was still hanging on by a thread but I'm sure it'll be gone today! That will be so fun to bath you in the sink! I'm really looking forward to that and I hope you like it!
So far your talents are: eating (a lot and very noisily), pooping (a lot, and again, quite noisily!), cuddling, and sleeping. You aren't sleeping quite so much as you were before which makes for fun awake times but also gives me less time to get stuff done. We both love you very much and it is so fun to see your dad snuggling and cuddling you! And he actually changed a diaper all by himself yesterday!! Quite impressive!
Well, that's about it. I know these little updates will get more exciting later on but for now this is it. :)
I'll take some pictures today and post them. I think we're going to venture out alone today!
I digress...today your umbilical cord finally fell off!! Yippie!! Actually when I changed your diaper this morning it was still hanging on by a thread but I'm sure it'll be gone today! That will be so fun to bath you in the sink! I'm really looking forward to that and I hope you like it!
So far your talents are: eating (a lot and very noisily), pooping (a lot, and again, quite noisily!), cuddling, and sleeping. You aren't sleeping quite so much as you were before which makes for fun awake times but also gives me less time to get stuff done. We both love you very much and it is so fun to see your dad snuggling and cuddling you! And he actually changed a diaper all by himself yesterday!! Quite impressive!
Well, that's about it. I know these little updates will get more exciting later on but for now this is it. :)
I'll take some pictures today and post them. I think we're going to venture out alone today!
Woo-hoo I have an iphone!!
Yep, you heard right! I finally got an iphone! There's a story to it but the short version is this: tmobile stopped working. We switched to AT&T. Tim and I agreed that if I sold enough stuff around the house I could get an iphone. I DID!!! Tim got one too but he did not sell stuff around the house (cheater!). He does bring home the bacon though so I guess I'll let this one slide. :) So we BOTH have iphones!!
Seriously though, this phone is the funnest toy I've had in a long time!! You would not believe some of the stuff it can do!! And now I can check my facebook while I'm in line at Wal-Mart! Great...now I'm going to be even more addicted. Oh well!! It is a blast though! :)
Stay tuned for a Libby update, she's 3 weeks old today!! Before you know it she'll be starting college. :(
Seriously though, this phone is the funnest toy I've had in a long time!! You would not believe some of the stuff it can do!! And now I can check my facebook while I'm in line at Wal-Mart! Great...now I'm going to be even more addicted. Oh well!! It is a blast though! :)
Stay tuned for a Libby update, she's 3 weeks old today!! Before you know it she'll be starting college. :(
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
The Birth Story of Liberty Ann
Here it is!! I know it's really long but there were a lot of details. And 17 1/2 hours is a long time. :) I didn't want to forget anything because it really was an amazing experience. God has designed our bodies in order for us to be able to go through this process. It wasn't easy by any means, but with a lot of help from others, I was able to accomplish my goal: a completely drug-free delivery! Well, happy reading, let me know if you make it all the way through!! :)
The Birth Story of Liberty Ann Merkin 12/30/08
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1
Monday morning, December 29th, I woke up at 4am with contractions about 8-10 minutes apart. They weren’t lasting very long and eventually petered out. But it was very encouraging and I felt confident that we were going to meet our little girl that day or the next. Tim went to work and mom and I continued on with our plans for the day. I had an early appointment at my doctor’s to check on the baby so we gathered everything together for the hospital and quickly packed the car – just in case! The appointment went great, baby Libby was doing great! I had some more small contractions while hooked up to the monitors but nothing major.
After the appointment mom and I headed to the mall to walk around. I was craving a grilled chicken salad so mom treated me to Cheesecake Factory and we had a lovely lunch. I had more contractions during lunch and while we walked around the mall. We left the mall after a while and were going to go to Wal-Mart but I really did not feel like it. I kept having contractions and some of them seemed stronger than before. Finally got home around 4 and I tried to rest for the next couple of hours.
Tim called at 6 and said he was on his way home and we chatted for the next little while. This is when the contractions started “for real”. Every time I had one I would hand the phone to mom because I could no longer talk through them. They never let up and only strengthened throughout the evening. With each contraction I focused on it, breathed deeply, and just endured it. The timeline of everything gets kind of hazy for me now but I know around 10 we tried to go to bed to get some sleep. That was not going to happen! The contractions only got more and more intense. I tried to take a shower and that helped a little but by the time the water got me all warmed up, the hot water started to diminish! That made me contemplate going to the hospital for the first time because I knew they would have plenty of hot water! I also started shivering uncontrollably so mom and Tim put all of my clothes, robe, and a towel in the dryer to get them nice and hot. That really helped but even after I was dressed and under the covers I still shook and shivered. Later we realized it was probably hormonal and not chills from being cold. At some point in the middle of all this I also started throwing up. When the contractions reached a new level and started getting more intense my body reacted by throwing up. I kept hydrated though with Gatorade and water and I think that really helped.
Finally around midnight Tim made the decision for us to go to the hospital. The contractions were coming every four minutes and were one minute apart. I was relieved but dreaded the ride! They packed a few last minute things (including a barf bag) and we headed out the door. That drive isn’t very long but seemed to last forever! We were getting very close when the contractions got intense again and so I threw up several times in the car. Thank goodness for the bag and the wet rag mom gave me! She drove Tim’s car so that she would have a car at the hospital.
We got to the hospital around 1am and they wheeled me up to L&D. By this point the contractions we coming steadily and I was not communicating in between them anymore. The nurses were very sweet and calm and told me they had read our birth plan and were going to do their very best to follow it. I had tested positive for Strep B so that meant I had to have an IV of antibiotics right away and then every four hours. The nurse also checked my progress at this point and I was 3-4 cm dilated and about 75% effaced. So they hooked me up and then dimmed all the lights and left us alone. After the drip was finished one of the nurses put a HepLock in my IV and wrapped it up so I could get in the shower. Tim then took my exercise ball and lodged it into the shower so I could sit on it. The shower was fantastic! The shower really helped my body relax through the contractions.
For the next several hours I kept moving and either sat in the shower, on the bed, the floor, or in a chair in my room. I didn’t feel comfortable leaving our room as it was very cozy and I felt very relaxed in there. With each contraction I focused on relaxing my entire body and embracing the pain because I knew it was effectively moving Libby out to be with us. I repeated: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” with each contraction and that helped immensely.
At one point the nurses wanted to monitor the baby’s heart rate so I had to stay on the bed on my back or my side for what seemed like an eternity. Laboring on the bed was way more difficult than in any of the other positions I tried. But Tim and mom rubbed my legs during every contraction and that really helped distract me from the pain.
Around 7:30 the nurses switched shifts and I also finished another round of antibiotics. My first nurse checked me again and thought I was around 6cm but was completely effaced so it was hard to tell. I was thrilled that she attempted to discover this through several strong contractions! We also met our new nurse, Gunnell, and we didn’t (or I should say Tim didn’t) hit it off with her right away but we eventually realized what a God send she was! I got back in the shower after 8 and was immediately hit with four of the strongest contractions yet, which I later realized indicated I was going through transition. At this point I started to doubt whether or not I could get through this without pain medication. I then reminded myself what my dear sister in law reminded herself while in labor, “no one ever died from pain!” and that a lot of other women have done this before with no medication. And then right at the perfect time mom stuck her head in the shower and told me the Gunnell had said that the shower has the same effect as Demerol (a pain medication). That strengthened me and I stayed in the shower a little longer. A little before 9 when Tim was helping me out I asked him if I was going to make it. He looked at me, grinned really big, and said, “if you can’t do it then no one can!” So with his and mom’s encouragement I was able to keep going. Needless to say, they were such a huge part of the whole laboring process and I truly could not have made it without them, especially Tim, he was a fantastic coach! They were real troopers and kept massaging and encouraging me through the whole night.
Finally right at 9am the doctor came in to check me again. He was a “back-up” as my regular doctor was on vacation. He was very nice though and let me take my time getting back up on the bed. When he checked me we were all in for a very pleasant surprise, he announced I was ready to go! I was 10 cm and fully effaced! Everyone was shocked because I had been able to relax so effectively and they didn’t realize how far along I was. All this time my water had never broken and the doctor asked for permission to break it as he said it would make pushing easier. I agreed and felt a very strange sensation! Then he left again and we were on our own with Gunnell.
This is when mom and nurse Gunnell were invaluable. They both had pushed babies out before so they were able to really help me. Tim was an encouraging presence but he obviously couldn’t offer any advice or tips.
I tried pushing in several positions on the bed but I didn’t feel as if they were doing anything. So after over an hour of that we moved into the bathroom. I was able to really push more effectively sitting on the toilet (thanks to gravity!) and made a lot of progress. Then we moved back by the bed where I kneeled beside it and pushed again. I put a pillow under my knees but the others tried to help but putting blankets under as well but that only irritated me. My knees kept slipping out from under me! I wasn’t able to communicate this to them so it was quite frustrating!
Finally, around 11am I was almost ready to push her out! They called the doctor and quickly prepped the room and the bed. I was in agony at this time, the delivery part was way worse than labor for me! And the whole time while I was in labor I never let out a peep but I was a whole different person while pushing! In fact, I think I scared a nurse or two who peeked their head in the door and asked Tim if I was okay. I was, I was just pushing a baby out!
The doctor came in just in time although it would have been neat had our wonderful nurse been able to deliver her. She was really amazing through this whole process and we were very blessed to have her!
Baby Libby made her entrance at exactly 11:23am and immediately started screaming and yelling (apparently she is related to me!). They put her right on my chest as I had requested and it was amazing because when she heard Tim’s and my voices she calmed down! She had inhaled some fluid though so they had to suction her in order to get that out. Tim snipped her cord and we just marveled over her. I was bleeding quite extensively, enough that the doctor was concerned, so they hooked me up to some pitocin but I didn’t care at all. I delivered the placenta shortly afterwards but that wasn’t difficult at all. I was on the biggest high of my life and could only look around and smile at everyone. I was exhausted but I had done it! What an incredible feeling! I was so grateful that I had been able to labor without any drugs because I was able to enjoy the natural pain relief that my body provided and Libby was incredibly alert and not dazed at all. They quickly weighed her and finished a few things before handing her back to me. She only weighed 7 lbs. 7oz. and I was surprised, especially since she was 10 days late! She then proceeded to instinctively root around my chest before latching on and nursing like a pro. She continued to do so for another hour while the doctor gave me a quick couple of stitches (for a small 1st degree tear) and while the nurses cleaned up the bed and put things away.
Tim and I just stared at the little baby who had been growing inside me for nine months! She was absolutely perfect in every way and we fell in love with her right away. The whole process was incredibly difficult and very painful but as long as I was able to relax and allow my body to do its job, things progressed. I know that next time I will know better how to push so hopefully it won’t take 2 ½ hours, although, that is a common length of time for first-timers. Labor started at 6pm on the 29th and lasted for 15 hours, which is about average for first time moms as well. I would not have been able to get through it without the support of my mom and Tim. Tim was especially awesome through labor and my mom helped me immensely during the delivery. Taking the Bradley Method Class was incredibly helpful for Tim and I because it effectively prepared us, as much as possible, for the whole process. I am very grateful too for how my labor progressed. I was able to go into labor naturally and was allowed to progress on my own timing. It was an amazing experience and I am ready to do it again…after a break. ☺
The Birth Story of Liberty Ann Merkin 12/30/08
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1
Monday morning, December 29th, I woke up at 4am with contractions about 8-10 minutes apart. They weren’t lasting very long and eventually petered out. But it was very encouraging and I felt confident that we were going to meet our little girl that day or the next. Tim went to work and mom and I continued on with our plans for the day. I had an early appointment at my doctor’s to check on the baby so we gathered everything together for the hospital and quickly packed the car – just in case! The appointment went great, baby Libby was doing great! I had some more small contractions while hooked up to the monitors but nothing major.
After the appointment mom and I headed to the mall to walk around. I was craving a grilled chicken salad so mom treated me to Cheesecake Factory and we had a lovely lunch. I had more contractions during lunch and while we walked around the mall. We left the mall after a while and were going to go to Wal-Mart but I really did not feel like it. I kept having contractions and some of them seemed stronger than before. Finally got home around 4 and I tried to rest for the next couple of hours.
Tim called at 6 and said he was on his way home and we chatted for the next little while. This is when the contractions started “for real”. Every time I had one I would hand the phone to mom because I could no longer talk through them. They never let up and only strengthened throughout the evening. With each contraction I focused on it, breathed deeply, and just endured it. The timeline of everything gets kind of hazy for me now but I know around 10 we tried to go to bed to get some sleep. That was not going to happen! The contractions only got more and more intense. I tried to take a shower and that helped a little but by the time the water got me all warmed up, the hot water started to diminish! That made me contemplate going to the hospital for the first time because I knew they would have plenty of hot water! I also started shivering uncontrollably so mom and Tim put all of my clothes, robe, and a towel in the dryer to get them nice and hot. That really helped but even after I was dressed and under the covers I still shook and shivered. Later we realized it was probably hormonal and not chills from being cold. At some point in the middle of all this I also started throwing up. When the contractions reached a new level and started getting more intense my body reacted by throwing up. I kept hydrated though with Gatorade and water and I think that really helped.
Finally around midnight Tim made the decision for us to go to the hospital. The contractions were coming every four minutes and were one minute apart. I was relieved but dreaded the ride! They packed a few last minute things (including a barf bag) and we headed out the door. That drive isn’t very long but seemed to last forever! We were getting very close when the contractions got intense again and so I threw up several times in the car. Thank goodness for the bag and the wet rag mom gave me! She drove Tim’s car so that she would have a car at the hospital.
We got to the hospital around 1am and they wheeled me up to L&D. By this point the contractions we coming steadily and I was not communicating in between them anymore. The nurses were very sweet and calm and told me they had read our birth plan and were going to do their very best to follow it. I had tested positive for Strep B so that meant I had to have an IV of antibiotics right away and then every four hours. The nurse also checked my progress at this point and I was 3-4 cm dilated and about 75% effaced. So they hooked me up and then dimmed all the lights and left us alone. After the drip was finished one of the nurses put a HepLock in my IV and wrapped it up so I could get in the shower. Tim then took my exercise ball and lodged it into the shower so I could sit on it. The shower was fantastic! The shower really helped my body relax through the contractions.
For the next several hours I kept moving and either sat in the shower, on the bed, the floor, or in a chair in my room. I didn’t feel comfortable leaving our room as it was very cozy and I felt very relaxed in there. With each contraction I focused on relaxing my entire body and embracing the pain because I knew it was effectively moving Libby out to be with us. I repeated: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” with each contraction and that helped immensely.
At one point the nurses wanted to monitor the baby’s heart rate so I had to stay on the bed on my back or my side for what seemed like an eternity. Laboring on the bed was way more difficult than in any of the other positions I tried. But Tim and mom rubbed my legs during every contraction and that really helped distract me from the pain.
Around 7:30 the nurses switched shifts and I also finished another round of antibiotics. My first nurse checked me again and thought I was around 6cm but was completely effaced so it was hard to tell. I was thrilled that she attempted to discover this through several strong contractions! We also met our new nurse, Gunnell, and we didn’t (or I should say Tim didn’t) hit it off with her right away but we eventually realized what a God send she was! I got back in the shower after 8 and was immediately hit with four of the strongest contractions yet, which I later realized indicated I was going through transition. At this point I started to doubt whether or not I could get through this without pain medication. I then reminded myself what my dear sister in law reminded herself while in labor, “no one ever died from pain!” and that a lot of other women have done this before with no medication. And then right at the perfect time mom stuck her head in the shower and told me the Gunnell had said that the shower has the same effect as Demerol (a pain medication). That strengthened me and I stayed in the shower a little longer. A little before 9 when Tim was helping me out I asked him if I was going to make it. He looked at me, grinned really big, and said, “if you can’t do it then no one can!” So with his and mom’s encouragement I was able to keep going. Needless to say, they were such a huge part of the whole laboring process and I truly could not have made it without them, especially Tim, he was a fantastic coach! They were real troopers and kept massaging and encouraging me through the whole night.
Finally right at 9am the doctor came in to check me again. He was a “back-up” as my regular doctor was on vacation. He was very nice though and let me take my time getting back up on the bed. When he checked me we were all in for a very pleasant surprise, he announced I was ready to go! I was 10 cm and fully effaced! Everyone was shocked because I had been able to relax so effectively and they didn’t realize how far along I was. All this time my water had never broken and the doctor asked for permission to break it as he said it would make pushing easier. I agreed and felt a very strange sensation! Then he left again and we were on our own with Gunnell.
This is when mom and nurse Gunnell were invaluable. They both had pushed babies out before so they were able to really help me. Tim was an encouraging presence but he obviously couldn’t offer any advice or tips.
I tried pushing in several positions on the bed but I didn’t feel as if they were doing anything. So after over an hour of that we moved into the bathroom. I was able to really push more effectively sitting on the toilet (thanks to gravity!) and made a lot of progress. Then we moved back by the bed where I kneeled beside it and pushed again. I put a pillow under my knees but the others tried to help but putting blankets under as well but that only irritated me. My knees kept slipping out from under me! I wasn’t able to communicate this to them so it was quite frustrating!
Finally, around 11am I was almost ready to push her out! They called the doctor and quickly prepped the room and the bed. I was in agony at this time, the delivery part was way worse than labor for me! And the whole time while I was in labor I never let out a peep but I was a whole different person while pushing! In fact, I think I scared a nurse or two who peeked their head in the door and asked Tim if I was okay. I was, I was just pushing a baby out!
The doctor came in just in time although it would have been neat had our wonderful nurse been able to deliver her. She was really amazing through this whole process and we were very blessed to have her!
Baby Libby made her entrance at exactly 11:23am and immediately started screaming and yelling (apparently she is related to me!). They put her right on my chest as I had requested and it was amazing because when she heard Tim’s and my voices she calmed down! She had inhaled some fluid though so they had to suction her in order to get that out. Tim snipped her cord and we just marveled over her. I was bleeding quite extensively, enough that the doctor was concerned, so they hooked me up to some pitocin but I didn’t care at all. I delivered the placenta shortly afterwards but that wasn’t difficult at all. I was on the biggest high of my life and could only look around and smile at everyone. I was exhausted but I had done it! What an incredible feeling! I was so grateful that I had been able to labor without any drugs because I was able to enjoy the natural pain relief that my body provided and Libby was incredibly alert and not dazed at all. They quickly weighed her and finished a few things before handing her back to me. She only weighed 7 lbs. 7oz. and I was surprised, especially since she was 10 days late! She then proceeded to instinctively root around my chest before latching on and nursing like a pro. She continued to do so for another hour while the doctor gave me a quick couple of stitches (for a small 1st degree tear) and while the nurses cleaned up the bed and put things away.
Tim and I just stared at the little baby who had been growing inside me for nine months! She was absolutely perfect in every way and we fell in love with her right away. The whole process was incredibly difficult and very painful but as long as I was able to relax and allow my body to do its job, things progressed. I know that next time I will know better how to push so hopefully it won’t take 2 ½ hours, although, that is a common length of time for first-timers. Labor started at 6pm on the 29th and lasted for 15 hours, which is about average for first time moms as well. I would not have been able to get through it without the support of my mom and Tim. Tim was especially awesome through labor and my mom helped me immensely during the delivery. Taking the Bradley Method Class was incredibly helpful for Tim and I because it effectively prepared us, as much as possible, for the whole process. I am very grateful too for how my labor progressed. I was able to go into labor naturally and was allowed to progress on my own timing. It was an amazing experience and I am ready to do it again…after a break. ☺
Eat your heart out, Jess!!!
I write this post as I sit freezing in our house. It's 65 in here (and that's warm!) and it is currently 18 degrees outside. This is for JESSICA, my dear friend who just loooves the cold weather.
Tomorrow the high for the day is 18 and the low is, get this, -4!!! Oh my gosh, seriously?
Ok, weather rant is now finished. :) I guess I'll get over it but for now I'll just sit freezing in my house.
Anyone got any advice for me? Not only is this my first real winter but it's my first winter with a baby!!!
So Texas friends, think of me when you are complaining about 70's in January. At least you can go for a walk without the fear of frostbite!!
Tomorrow the high for the day is 18 and the low is, get this, -4!!! Oh my gosh, seriously?
Ok, weather rant is now finished. :) I guess I'll get over it but for now I'll just sit freezing in my house.
Anyone got any advice for me? Not only is this my first real winter but it's my first winter with a baby!!!
So Texas friends, think of me when you are complaining about 70's in January. At least you can go for a walk without the fear of frostbite!!
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Stupid T-mobile!
Just FYI - our cell phones no longer work at home! Soooo frustrating! Sorry I haven't been returning your calls or texts, I'm not ignoring you. :) We're hoping to switch to someone else soon but I'm not sure when. If you need to get a hold of me just email or call our house phone. Email me if you need that number. We're looking at getting cingular/at&t, any input?
Friday, January 02, 2009
101th post! We're home!!
Hello everyone!! We're home! We actually got to come home on Wednesday the 31st and it was so awesome to get back. Libby is doing fantastically! We're really enjoying our little "Babymoon".
Thanks to everyone for your well-wishes and messages! I'll write a full birth story later, I don't want to forget anything! Mom has been fantastic, she's been cooking and cleaning for us and we're really been able to enjoy baby time. Tim is superdad and loves snuggling with Libby. She's sleeping right now and he's been begging me to go wake her up so he can hold her. :) (Anyone else remember that Friends episode where Rachel brings Emma home and wakes her up?) Maddie is doing fine. She is very curious at times and ignores her the rest of the time. I'm suspecting they'll be best buds in the years to come. She hasn't shown any signs of jealousy and we're trying to treat her normally.
Also, congrats to Todd for guessing the date and being so close on the time! He was really close, he just didn't factor in that it would take so long to deliver her after I got to 10 cm. :) He was also very close on her weight and length although Emily guessed her weight spot on and Katey got her length right! Oh and another funny thing, Kacie and I switched due dates!! She had her little boy 10 days early on Libby's due date and I took her little guy's date of the 30th!! Too funny!! Have you checked out his picture? He's a real cutie!
And THANKS Bethanie for updating everyone!! Great job! I love how quickly news spreads. :) I was planning on sending her updates but that was NOT happening once labor began. :) Oh and yes, Bethanie, I do believe she has the Shenk nose. ;) Tim agrees. :)
Speaking of cuties, I'm going to leave you with a few pictures of our little darlin. More posts to come!!
Thanks to everyone for your well-wishes and messages! I'll write a full birth story later, I don't want to forget anything! Mom has been fantastic, she's been cooking and cleaning for us and we're really been able to enjoy baby time. Tim is superdad and loves snuggling with Libby. She's sleeping right now and he's been begging me to go wake her up so he can hold her. :) (Anyone else remember that Friends episode where Rachel brings Emma home and wakes her up?) Maddie is doing fine. She is very curious at times and ignores her the rest of the time. I'm suspecting they'll be best buds in the years to come. She hasn't shown any signs of jealousy and we're trying to treat her normally.
Also, congrats to Todd for guessing the date and being so close on the time! He was really close, he just didn't factor in that it would take so long to deliver her after I got to 10 cm. :) He was also very close on her weight and length although Emily guessed her weight spot on and Katey got her length right! Oh and another funny thing, Kacie and I switched due dates!! She had her little boy 10 days early on Libby's due date and I took her little guy's date of the 30th!! Too funny!! Have you checked out his picture? He's a real cutie!
And THANKS Bethanie for updating everyone!! Great job! I love how quickly news spreads. :) I was planning on sending her updates but that was NOT happening once labor began. :) Oh and yes, Bethanie, I do believe she has the Shenk nose. ;) Tim agrees. :)
Speaking of cuties, I'm going to leave you with a few pictures of our little darlin. More posts to come!!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Happy Birthday Libby!!
Hi. This is Bethanie, Stacy's childhood friend/Tim's cousin. I am so excited to report that Libby is born! Apparently, contractions started sometime Monday afternoon, I don't know the specifics, but Stacy, with her mother and Tim, went to the hospital around midnight last night.
Stacy was tough til the end and took nothing for the pain!! Liberty Ann was born this morning at 10:23 Texas time (I hope I'm getting this right) and 11:23 New York time. She weighed 7 lbs, 7 oz, and has very dark hair, like her mamma. They are both doing fine, by all accounts, and I know we are all so happy!
Congratulations Stacy and Tim, and proud grandparents Pam & Steve Shenk and Randy & Carol Merkin! Libby has too many proud Aunts and Uncles to mention. :)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIBBY!!
~Bethanie in Dallas TX
Stacy was tough til the end and took nothing for the pain!! Liberty Ann was born this morning at 10:23 Texas time (I hope I'm getting this right) and 11:23 New York time. She weighed 7 lbs, 7 oz, and has very dark hair, like her mamma. They are both doing fine, by all accounts, and I know we are all so happy!
Congratulations Stacy and Tim, and proud grandparents Pam & Steve Shenk and Randy & Carol Merkin! Libby has too many proud Aunts and Uncles to mention. :)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LIBBY!!
~Bethanie in Dallas TX
Saturday, December 27, 2008
41 Weeks
Still here! And still pregnant. :)
On Friday I went in for a fetal monitoring test and our little one tested out great! While I had the belt strapped to my belly she moved a ton and it was quite entertaining for us! Mom and Tim were both there with me and that was really nice. The appointment went great although it was the last time I'll see my doctor (hopefully!). She left early the next morning for vacation. Of course I would rather have her deliver Libby but I'm not hung up on having her there. She refers to another doctor who is very like-minded and I'm confident that we'll be well taken care of!
However, if I don't go into labor within the next week she is going to induce on the 5th. So please be praying that this is not necessary.
We still have a few days left until the 31st so that would be ideal! :)
Mom and I are having a great time! It's so fun having her here. We played Scrabble today (and I actually won!!) and went on a brisk walk around the lake. Tomorrow I have another monitoring session and then mom and I have a very busy day planned. Lots of walking. :) Hopefully that will start something.
Well, I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and is looking forward to the New Year! Tim and I had a nice quiet Christmas morning together, it was really nice. Hopefully our last holiday 'alone'!! :)
Happy New Year!!!
On Friday I went in for a fetal monitoring test and our little one tested out great! While I had the belt strapped to my belly she moved a ton and it was quite entertaining for us! Mom and Tim were both there with me and that was really nice. The appointment went great although it was the last time I'll see my doctor (hopefully!). She left early the next morning for vacation. Of course I would rather have her deliver Libby but I'm not hung up on having her there. She refers to another doctor who is very like-minded and I'm confident that we'll be well taken care of!
However, if I don't go into labor within the next week she is going to induce on the 5th. So please be praying that this is not necessary.
We still have a few days left until the 31st so that would be ideal! :)
Mom and I are having a great time! It's so fun having her here. We played Scrabble today (and I actually won!!) and went on a brisk walk around the lake. Tomorrow I have another monitoring session and then mom and I have a very busy day planned. Lots of walking. :) Hopefully that will start something.
Well, I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas and is looking forward to the New Year! Tim and I had a nice quiet Christmas morning together, it was really nice. Hopefully our last holiday 'alone'!! :)
Happy New Year!!!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
40 week appointment
Well, I had my 40 week appointment today and it was pretty anti-climatic. No progress so far, no dilation or effacement. She did say the baby was dropped and low so I could pretty much have her whenever. Some people stay dilated for weeks and some progress really quickly. So who knows!! I'm cool with it and just enjoying my time with Tim and my long, good nights of sleep!! My mom was pretty happy! She hedged her bets on me going late by buying her ticket for 5 days after my due date and it looks like she made the right decision. :) My guess has been the 27th for the last month or so and that would be great! I would really love to have her before the end of the year for tax purposes, we could claim her as a dependent for the whole year! That would be quite helpful! :) But again, I want her to come at the right time! So please pray that my attitude remains good and everything tests out okay.
Oh yah, and I'm going in Friday morning for a fetal monitoring test and again Monday. As long as the baby is fine my doc won't induce until I'm two weeks late.
Anywoo, that's my latest! Merry Christmas!!!
Oh yah, and I'm going in Friday morning for a fetal monitoring test and again Monday. As long as the baby is fine my doc won't induce until I'm two weeks late.
Anywoo, that's my latest! Merry Christmas!!!
Monday, December 22, 2008
Let it SNOW!!!
Here are the pics from our big snow storm!!
Check out the cat house! Tim made it and it keeps the kitties nice and warm. And I took pictures of the snow piled up on the table outside.
Let me know what you think of the slideshow. Its way easier than uploading all the pics to blogger.
Check out the cat house! Tim made it and it keeps the kitties nice and warm. And I took pictures of the snow piled up on the table outside.
Let me know what you think of the slideshow. Its way easier than uploading all the pics to blogger.
Guesses
So remember this post? A lot of those dates are passed already! Yikes!! Those still in the running are: my mom, Ellen, Todd, Tim, Mindy, Misty (2nd guess), Catherine, and me! Lets see who's right!! (I HOPE it's not Todd!!!)
CONGRATS!!
A big blog shout-out to my bud KACIE!!! She had her little guy on my due date and he looks adorable! I can't wait to hear the whole story!!
40 weeks!
Today I'm technically 40 weeks and 2 days. Woo-hoo. I guess. I don't feel any different! I guess my body is getting used to having a huge belly and stretching bones. Yeah, I've so got the 'waddle' going on!! Not much to report but I have my doc appointment tomorrow so that should be interesting! I'm curious to see if I have any progress to show.
I don't have any pics to share but we did go over to Vincent and Christina's place where I made a snow angel. It was quite comical so I might share it with you. Vincent was determined to get a pic of my belly in the snow, and I wanted to make a snow angel so we captured it on film.
Speaking of snow...we got a ton!! It started Friday morning around 10 and didn't stop until 6 that evening!! Tim got sent home from work after 12 and it still took him 2 hours to get here! He almost didn't make it over the mountain in his little car but just like the engine who could, he did! I'll devote a whole post to snow pics but I left the camera out in the car so I'll have to get that later. This morning when we woke up it was 9 degrees! Unfortunately its supposed to "warm up" on Wednesday so the snow might melt. :( That would be sad because obviously it would be our first White Christmas ever!! (Do you think I could trick Tim into watching that movie with me?)
Today I'm going to clean up a bit and try to get things organized. Amazing how messed up the house gets after the weekend. :( I really do not want to go into labor with a messy house!
Mom is coming up on Thursday evening and I am so excited about that! Please pray that she has a safe and drama-free trip! Thankfully the big snows are over and hopefully things are straightened out before Thursday. She almost came on my due date and I'm afraid that would have been a problem.
Well, I'd better get cracking! The sun is shining on the snow and it looks so pretty!! We brought the kitties inside because it was so cold out and I like having them in, I just don't enjoy their litter box. Blah!
Merry Christmas!!!
I don't have any pics to share but we did go over to Vincent and Christina's place where I made a snow angel. It was quite comical so I might share it with you. Vincent was determined to get a pic of my belly in the snow, and I wanted to make a snow angel so we captured it on film.
Speaking of snow...we got a ton!! It started Friday morning around 10 and didn't stop until 6 that evening!! Tim got sent home from work after 12 and it still took him 2 hours to get here! He almost didn't make it over the mountain in his little car but just like the engine who could, he did! I'll devote a whole post to snow pics but I left the camera out in the car so I'll have to get that later. This morning when we woke up it was 9 degrees! Unfortunately its supposed to "warm up" on Wednesday so the snow might melt. :( That would be sad because obviously it would be our first White Christmas ever!! (Do you think I could trick Tim into watching that movie with me?)
Today I'm going to clean up a bit and try to get things organized. Amazing how messed up the house gets after the weekend. :( I really do not want to go into labor with a messy house!
Mom is coming up on Thursday evening and I am so excited about that! Please pray that she has a safe and drama-free trip! Thankfully the big snows are over and hopefully things are straightened out before Thursday. She almost came on my due date and I'm afraid that would have been a problem.
Well, I'd better get cracking! The sun is shining on the snow and it looks so pretty!! We brought the kitties inside because it was so cold out and I like having them in, I just don't enjoy their litter box. Blah!
Merry Christmas!!!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
39 1/2 weeks!
Well, peeps, we're still here! I'm still huge and Libby is happily squished inside of me. I'm thinking she's going to be a nice sized little baby and that's fine with me! I do wish she would stop kicking my ribs though, I feel like I've been in a UFC fight! (Tim has me hooked, what can I say, they're cute!) ;) Oh and can I just say how excited I am to see Frank Mir and Antonio Nogueira fight on the 27th?! (Mir is going down!!) Did anyone else watch the Ultimate Fighter reality show this season?? Okay, maybe I'm the only one but it's actually quite good! These guys are super talented. Although I don't like the punching fights, I am more of a fan of the jujitsu take downs.
Anyway, back to more important topics... yesterday was my 39 week check-up and everything was good: weight, BP, HR, pee, size, etc... She still hasn't checked my progress yet (for which I am very grateful!) but from feeling around on the outside she said that the babe's head is low and engaged! And I told her about the other night when I had some really strong BH contractions and she said "good!! you might go this weekend!" So whoo-hoo! Of course, since I'm so far along I could, in theory, have her at any time. It was just encouraging to hear that from a professional. :)
Today is Emily's guess for Lib's bday because her second-born, Wick, was born today. And a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my man Wick!! MISS YOU!!!! Don't think it's gonna happen though, bummer!! But maybe this weekend! My doc is going to take off Christmas Eve and Christmas morning so I pray that she doesn't come then! I would so much rather her NOT be born on Christmas. So I need all my prayer warriors praying for that, k? :)
This weekend my sweet Tim helped me get the house entirely clean! Yep, it was so encouraging! He cleaned off his desk area and then followed behind me and mopped the entire house after I swept! (Wood floors and ancient linoleum are not for the faint of heart!) It was so wonderful for him to spend some time helping me out, I was most grateful. So now with my house all sparkling clean I feel a lot more ready to bring a baby home to it. And I started freaking out because I realized people might actually come over and have to trip over the dust bunnies in order to see the baby!! And I think we can keep it clean for EIGHT MORE DAYS which is when MY MOM is coming. Nope, I'm not excited, not in the least. ;) And Vincent, our wonderful landlord, has promised for weeks he's going to fix the fireplace and he's going to do it on Saturday!! Which will be totally fantastic, I'm so excited to have a real fire in the fireplace.
Last Friday my neighbor, Christine, had her baby! Little Natalie was born around 2:45 am after only 3 hours of labor! Christine hardly made it to the hospital on time, I'm sure her husband, Rob, was most grateful. :) Baby Natalie is so sweet and precious and it's been a lot of fun to hold her and feel her little newborn squirms all the while feeling my own babe inside me!! She weighed a little over 8 lbs at birth and was 2 weeks early!
Well, I'd better scoot, I have some thing I need to accomplish today and I have to run an errand this afternoon. Please be praying for us about all the changes in our lives and for the changes that might be occurring. Just pray that the Lord gives us wisdom as we try to decipher his will. Thank you, my friends!!
And I promise to post at least one more belly shot before I pop! On and the time is way off on my blog somehow, I did not post this at 5:30 or whatever, I was happily snoozing away at that time!
Anyway, back to more important topics... yesterday was my 39 week check-up and everything was good: weight, BP, HR, pee, size, etc... She still hasn't checked my progress yet (for which I am very grateful!) but from feeling around on the outside she said that the babe's head is low and engaged! And I told her about the other night when I had some really strong BH contractions and she said "good!! you might go this weekend!" So whoo-hoo! Of course, since I'm so far along I could, in theory, have her at any time. It was just encouraging to hear that from a professional. :)
Today is Emily's guess for Lib's bday because her second-born, Wick, was born today. And a big HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my man Wick!! MISS YOU!!!! Don't think it's gonna happen though, bummer!! But maybe this weekend! My doc is going to take off Christmas Eve and Christmas morning so I pray that she doesn't come then! I would so much rather her NOT be born on Christmas. So I need all my prayer warriors praying for that, k? :)
This weekend my sweet Tim helped me get the house entirely clean! Yep, it was so encouraging! He cleaned off his desk area and then followed behind me and mopped the entire house after I swept! (Wood floors and ancient linoleum are not for the faint of heart!) It was so wonderful for him to spend some time helping me out, I was most grateful. So now with my house all sparkling clean I feel a lot more ready to bring a baby home to it. And I started freaking out because I realized people might actually come over and have to trip over the dust bunnies in order to see the baby!! And I think we can keep it clean for EIGHT MORE DAYS which is when MY MOM is coming. Nope, I'm not excited, not in the least. ;) And Vincent, our wonderful landlord, has promised for weeks he's going to fix the fireplace and he's going to do it on Saturday!! Which will be totally fantastic, I'm so excited to have a real fire in the fireplace.
Last Friday my neighbor, Christine, had her baby! Little Natalie was born around 2:45 am after only 3 hours of labor! Christine hardly made it to the hospital on time, I'm sure her husband, Rob, was most grateful. :) Baby Natalie is so sweet and precious and it's been a lot of fun to hold her and feel her little newborn squirms all the while feeling my own babe inside me!! She weighed a little over 8 lbs at birth and was 2 weeks early!
Well, I'd better scoot, I have some thing I need to accomplish today and I have to run an errand this afternoon. Please be praying for us about all the changes in our lives and for the changes that might be occurring. Just pray that the Lord gives us wisdom as we try to decipher his will. Thank you, my friends!!
And I promise to post at least one more belly shot before I pop! On and the time is way off on my blog somehow, I did not post this at 5:30 or whatever, I was happily snoozing away at that time!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
The famous photo
Remember this post from a while back? Well, I was going through some old photos and found the one that started it all!!
Front row: Kristin H., Stephen H., Me
Second row: Nathan S., Michael H, Tim S.
Back row: Amy S., Kathleen H., Susanna H.
All the S's are my family (see the dark hair) and the H's are Tim's cousins!
Good times!! Crazy to see how all of these wonderful people have grown up!! I'll have to post a more current pic. Seven years does a lot to change people. :)
This was taken in the H's blue van and according to the date stamped on the back it was snapped on Dec. 30, 2001. It wasn't until the following summer/fall that Tim saw a copy of it on Mimi's fridge. And the rest is history! Our wonderful, wonderful history!! :) I LOVE YOU, TIM!!!!!
Front row: Kristin H., Stephen H., Me
Second row: Nathan S., Michael H, Tim S.
Back row: Amy S., Kathleen H., Susanna H.
All the S's are my family (see the dark hair) and the H's are Tim's cousins!
Good times!! Crazy to see how all of these wonderful people have grown up!! I'll have to post a more current pic. Seven years does a lot to change people. :)
This was taken in the H's blue van and according to the date stamped on the back it was snapped on Dec. 30, 2001. It wasn't until the following summer/fall that Tim saw a copy of it on Mimi's fridge. And the rest is history! Our wonderful, wonderful history!! :) I LOVE YOU, TIM!!!!!
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Libby's room!
Her crib with cute little pillows and stuffed animals. See the monogrammed pillow Tim's cousin made? So cute!!
Hanging clothes, what a spoiled little girl already!! :)
More clothes!
PJ's and the ring sling (on the L) I bought on etsy.
Bum Genius cloth diapers
New born disposable diapers
Top drawer of changing table with more diapering supplies.
Crib and changing table. Both from the same thrift store but I bought them a couple of months apart. Funny how they match, huh?
Name letters made by Auntie Mindy
Curtains, carseat, and bouncy seat.
Let me know what you think! I looove it!! And I'm so happy I was able to get that rug, I think it really adds a lot to the room. Last thing I want to do at some point is buy a frame for that print and hang it up. Tim's cousins (Kristin and Bethanie) gave that to me at one of our wedding showers! :)
Hanging clothes, what a spoiled little girl already!! :)
More clothes!
PJ's and the ring sling (on the L) I bought on etsy.
Bum Genius cloth diapers
New born disposable diapers
Top drawer of changing table with more diapering supplies.
Crib and changing table. Both from the same thrift store but I bought them a couple of months apart. Funny how they match, huh?
Name letters made by Auntie Mindy
Curtains, carseat, and bouncy seat.
Let me know what you think! I looove it!! And I'm so happy I was able to get that rug, I think it really adds a lot to the room. Last thing I want to do at some point is buy a frame for that print and hang it up. Tim's cousins (Kristin and Bethanie) gave that to me at one of our wedding showers! :)
38 1/2 weeks!!
Just a quick update while I take a little break. I just cleaned the kitchen and am now going to make dinner, yah me!
I had my 38 week check-up yesterday and things are looking good! My doc said she's moving down and that she turned anterior! So that is good, we want her to stay that way. :) No major "signs" just general pressure and soreness. Nothing too bad and it's nice to feel a little pain for a purpose. :)
I've started to have trouble sleeping at night. One night I woke up at midnight bright eyed and bushy tailed and didn't fall back asleep until 4! That was not good! But last night I only woke up once and slept like a log until 7:30, it was wonderful. Hopefully I'll have more nights like that one! I think the next time I can't sleep I'll just get up and clean or something to make myself tired. Insomnia is pretty common from what I've heard, just my body preparing for no sleep with an infant. :) I wish it would do the opposite and get all rested up though, that would be way better! (in my humble opinion)
I haven't cleaned the house like I've wanted but I have cooked a lot of meals for the freezer. So far I have some beans, and two types of soup frozen. I also have some chicken breasts and two whole chickens waiting to be cooked. I'll probably cook one of those and freeze the meat and broth for something like chicken and dumplings (one of Tim's fav meals). And I'm planning on making some spaghetti sauce as well. Tim's a big pasta fan. :) As well as one more type of beans. One good thing about preparing to have a baby in winter, soups and other hot foods freeze and are re-heated quite easily!
Libby's room is completely ready! But I have misplaced our camera so I can't take new pics. I found the cutest rug on Target's website and after stalking it for a couple of weeks it went on the "free shipping" list!! I also had an e-credit from them because of a mix-up with a carseat I tried to buy a couple of weeks ago so I combined that with giftcards to buy the rug! I also did an online search and found a code for $7 off my order. :-D I'm turning into quite the deal hunter so I was very proud of myself. Woo-hoo.
We met with a pediatrician today and were quite happy with them. I think we're going to go with this group. They've been there forever and have a great group of doctors, both young and old. Tim and I both left feeling very confident about them.
Anyway, better get back to cooking, I'm making a quiche for supper so I'd better get going on that!
I had my 38 week check-up yesterday and things are looking good! My doc said she's moving down and that she turned anterior! So that is good, we want her to stay that way. :) No major "signs" just general pressure and soreness. Nothing too bad and it's nice to feel a little pain for a purpose. :)
I've started to have trouble sleeping at night. One night I woke up at midnight bright eyed and bushy tailed and didn't fall back asleep until 4! That was not good! But last night I only woke up once and slept like a log until 7:30, it was wonderful. Hopefully I'll have more nights like that one! I think the next time I can't sleep I'll just get up and clean or something to make myself tired. Insomnia is pretty common from what I've heard, just my body preparing for no sleep with an infant. :) I wish it would do the opposite and get all rested up though, that would be way better! (in my humble opinion)
I haven't cleaned the house like I've wanted but I have cooked a lot of meals for the freezer. So far I have some beans, and two types of soup frozen. I also have some chicken breasts and two whole chickens waiting to be cooked. I'll probably cook one of those and freeze the meat and broth for something like chicken and dumplings (one of Tim's fav meals). And I'm planning on making some spaghetti sauce as well. Tim's a big pasta fan. :) As well as one more type of beans. One good thing about preparing to have a baby in winter, soups and other hot foods freeze and are re-heated quite easily!
Libby's room is completely ready! But I have misplaced our camera so I can't take new pics. I found the cutest rug on Target's website and after stalking it for a couple of weeks it went on the "free shipping" list!! I also had an e-credit from them because of a mix-up with a carseat I tried to buy a couple of weeks ago so I combined that with giftcards to buy the rug! I also did an online search and found a code for $7 off my order. :-D I'm turning into quite the deal hunter so I was very proud of myself. Woo-hoo.
We met with a pediatrician today and were quite happy with them. I think we're going to go with this group. They've been there forever and have a great group of doctors, both young and old. Tim and I both left feeling very confident about them.
Anyway, better get back to cooking, I'm making a quiche for supper so I'd better get going on that!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)