It's a Girl!

Mommy made us shirts that tell the world we are the big brother and big sister of Baby Karis!

Hello, World! I'm here and ready to check things out . . .

This is Karis on day 6. She spends time with eyes wide open but still sleep a lot. This is her baby doll that we are using to measure her growth this month.

Karis is going home from the hospital. She was not crazy about the bow but she tolerated it for Mommy and Granna to get a few shots. My grandmother made the blanket. Each kiddo has come home wrapped in Meme's blanket. I think it's a great expression of love from the oldest one of us to the youngest. I only wish she could be here to wrap Karis up herself. Maybe soon.

Life around here has become quite eventful. The older 2 are doing fine. Right now they want to hold the baby and kiss her all the time. I'm reminded that one day they won't feel so excited to have a baby sister so I'm letting them do whatever they want to with her.

Cade isn't sleeping well, which is hard on Matt because he gets up with him each time. Hopefully we will outgrow that when I am back to 100%. I think he just misses his Mommy and whatever normalcy we had a few weeks ago.

Jayci is doing great. However, she is disappointed that we did not name the baby Ariel. She brought Karis's picture to school and told her friends, "Her name is Karis. I wanted to name her Ariel but Mama said Karis." I love her resignation to the fact that I RULE!

Hugs and Kisses to you all!

Bellies and Babies

Ok, here we are 3 days to go until baby girl gets here! I am getting a little nervous. Not really about the delivery but about the whole family thing. It seems crazy to throw another kid into the mix. I guess there never is a perfect time for that and everything will iron out eventually, but it just seems insane to think that things will ever be smooth again.



So last Saturday, I got brave and let my photographer friend take some belly shots of me. She just bought some new studio equipment and needed to practice so I became the guinea pig. I only like this one, mostly because you can't see anything but the baby - no face, arms, etc.



We'll keep you posted!

Hospital "Tour"

Ok, so last night was our hospital tour of where the baby will be born. However, I would not consider 1/2 of what we talked about "tour" worthy. I felt like I was in a room full of new mommies that needed to know everything about what to pack and when to get to the hospital, etc. Now, I believe those things are important FOR 1ST TIMERS. They actually have a class for them specifically. They also have a refresher course for those that will have to deliver naturally. As for me and my scheduled C-section . . . I just wanted to see the entrance (as everything is under construction) and the rooms. Of course you have to ask special questions if you are C-section patient b/c they think everyone gives birth the other way.

I'm already frustrated that the new maternity wing of the oldest hospital on the planet won't be open as expected. Also, the Sonic we were supposed to get . . . . haven't seen any piece of it or hint of ground breaking. I know the last month of pregnancy is all about hormones and frustration but seriously. . . . I am just plain mad that all these things i thought would be will in fact NOT be and I'm stuck - fat and miserable - to deal with unmet expectations.

Just to add insult to injury . . . we were informed that the nurses don't like to keep the babies in the nursery at night so they stay in the rooms with mom. It was also suggested that if you want to take a shower or pee and no one is there with you, you should roll the baby into the bathroom with you. WHAT??! Isn't that what nurses are there for??? All i have to say is they better clear the private rooms for this big-mouth Texan. Can you imagine sharing a room (Dad's can't stay overnight in semi-private rooms) with someone else and her screaming baby too?????

This may truly be the experience of a lifetime. I'll keep you posted.