He's Here!!

We went to the hospital at 7:00pm on Monday, January 31 for a scheduled induction. After 41 weeks, we were ready to meet our little man! When we checked in, it was about 45* outside, but when we left three days later, it was below 30* and there was snow and ice everywhere! We were lucky that we didn't have to drive to the hospital in the "Snowpocalypse" (as nicknamed by many online). Once started, labor lasted about 18 hours ~ 16 of which I was happy as a clam because of the epidural. Lol Here are some before, after, and going home pictures...

About 1:00pm on Tuesday 2/1 -- so excited!

7:43pm that evening - Owen Christopher is here!

Holding him for the first time <3

Passed his APGAR with flying colors!

Kevin holding him for the first time ... not going to lie, I cried even more seeing this!

Ready to meet his grandparents!

Kevin's mom

Kevin's dad & stepmom

My dad

My mom ... I LOVE his expression in this picture

Kevin snuggling with Owen <3

The next morning, 2/2

Ready to go home! (2/3)

We arrived home to beautiful snow :)

Baby T's 1st "Come to Jesus Talk"

Okay, baby. I understand kids love trampolines and monkey bars. But here's the deal. You need to learn right here, right now that work comes before play. If you're going to play with my hoohah like it's your own personal trampoline, then you better have worked your way down and opened it up some first. Now, if you choose to not play on "your" trampoline, I'd really appreciate it if you didn't find solace in swinging on my ribs like they're monkey bars. Momma needs to breathe and sleep to keep you growing, honey. If you want to play on "your" monkey bars, then you need to master slower, gentler movements first. None of this thrashing, violent, kicking going on. Understand all that? Because if I learn that I'm not dilated or effaced or have a broken rib after all of your (painful) playtimes, there's gonna be a problem. Your daddy has already tried to warn you..."If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy!"... so it would be in your best interest to either make progress happen or become graceful before you play around. Capiche? Oh, no?! Too many rules? Not very fun anymore? Well, then, get outta there!!

Love always & forever,
Your {overdue, cranky, uncomfortable, and impatient} Momma

;)

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Sorry Folks!

I know, I know. I'm really behind on the blog. Finally got caught up today... here ya go!

(**click the title**)

Preggo Update

Not-S0-Big Baby

Firefly Photos

Twenty-Ten Recap

Preggo Update

39 weeks Sunday. We can officially say the baby is due NEXT WEEKEND. The realization is starting to kick in that this time next month we'll be a family of 3. THREE, people. Oh goodness. We know that being parents is going to be one of the most difficult things we ever do in our lives, but the most rewarding too. We can't wait! :)

But it looks like we'll still be waiting a while longer because Baby T isn't coming anytime soon. The "tiny human" (name the tv series where that's from anyone?) seems to be super comfy hanging out in there and is still playing up in my ribs like they're monkey bars. My belly is constantly changing shapes as the baby is going back and forth between head down and breech. My belly looks like the McDonald's arch on almost a daily basis when the baby is breech - head on one side, butt on the other. {{Mmmm Mcdonald's cinnamon melts... Hey honey, if you read this will you pick me up some on the way home??}} Neither we nor the doctor are too worried though. I mean, if contractions start while the baby is breech, then I'll have to have a c-section. But there's a good chance contractions will start while the baby is head down too, so we'll see. Either way, as long as baby arrives healthily, we're good. :)

So yeah, only 1 (ish) week left! My doctor won't let me go past 41 weeks, so at the very latest we'll meet Baby T on February 2nd! We'll keep you posted!!!

Not-So-Big Baby

If you'll recall, Baby T has been measuring humongous for the last few months, so my OB scheduled a 37 week sonogram to "see what we're dealing with". Haha As it turns out, our little love is measuring just perfectly on track... In the 48 percentile -- a little on the chubby side at 6lbs, 11 oz and a little on the short side (based on the femur measurement)... At this phase, we were told babies tend to gain about 1/2 lb a week, so we could potentially have a baby that's a little over 8lbs depending on when she/he/it arrives! Here are a couple sono pics... not the greatest, but that's because our little love is totally running out of room!

Shot of the face -- I can't wait to love on those cheeks!!

Profile -- head on the right, hands clasped on belly on the left

Firefly Photos

"Firefly Park" as we call it, is a very, very special place to us. It's where we used to take long walks, make up from arguments, and catch fireflies while we were dating. It's where Kevin proposed at sunset. It's a place we hold very dear to our hearts. So it was only fitting for us to take our maternity photos here. It's not far from where we live and it was a B-E-A-utiful day outside today, so we packed up our trusty Canon and tripod and headed out. Kevin set the timer and hauled butt to make it into the shots and Amy camped out at Starbucks to edit the pictures. And *voila*! Wonderful (we think, anyways) pictures to remind of us this miracle of life, creating yet another special memory for us at "Firefly Park".

Twenty-Ten Recap

I almost can’t believe it’s over. It seemed like just yesterday we were welcoming 2010 in with family and fireworks (literally). And then woooooosh. It just flew by. And what a year it was too!

Not only did we take a ton of trips, but we moved, saw some awesome musicians perform, welcomed new friends and family, and started our journey on the path to parenthood. It’s been one of the most eventful years to date… can’t wait to see what 2011 holds!

JANUARY

· Celebrated our first New Year’s Day as husband and wife

FEBRUARY

· Moved from our cool, industrial, party loft to our homey, two bedroom apartment

MARCH

· Hmmm… Don’t think really anything went on this month…

APRIL

· Heard awesome Texas Country/Red Dirt musicians play and camped with friends at the Larry Joe Taylor Music Festival in Stephenville

· Pulled the goalie… if you know what we mean

· Celebrated 5 years of being “Kevin & Amy”

· Got totally knocked up

MAY

· Visited Idaho to celebrate our brother-in-law graduating with his Master’s degree

· Road-tripped to San Antonio with some of Kevin’s family

· Saw the little "+" sign!

· Had major fun thinking of ways to break the news to our family

· Loved the reactions of all our family!

· Saw Reckless Kelly perform at Hank’s with good friends

JUNE

· Got our first look at the little millimeter-sized blob that was our baby

· Heard our first little love’s heart beat

· Went to Billy Bob’s with friends to see Aaron Watson perform

· Began writing on this blog

JULY

· Celebrated Independence Day on Lake Texoma with great friends

· Got the worst sunburns of our lives that sent us running to doctors for cortisone shots, pain killers, and fever blister meds

· Witnessed the marriage of our friends Diane and Jake

· Celebrated an uncle’s birthday in Houston

· Had a very scary night in the ER followed by a few cautious weeks on bed rest

· Entered the 2^nd trimester

AUGUST

· Kevin (with a teeny bit of help from Amy) refinished all the nursery furniture

· Went to Houston for a grandmother’s and aunt’s birthday celebration, visited our good friends Lee & Carol, and announced the baby news to another set of grandparents and aunts/uncles/cousins

· Amy’s baby brother, Mark, left for Marine Corps Boot Camp

· Amy’s cousin, Mara Evangaline was born

· Found out the gender of our firstborn child

· Got the “all clear” from the sonogram specialist!

SEPTEMBER

· Great country music, hunting, and hanging out with family and friends at Stonefest in Stephenville

· The first of many pictures to come of the Stephenville Babies (and Mommas) were taken

· Celebrated the halfway point of this first pregnancy

· Attempted to see Stoney LaRue in concert at Billy Bob’s, but had awful seats and ended up bailing after a few songs

· Began reliving our childhood every weekend through Amy’s cousin Nathan’s soccer games

· Kevin turned 24 with a three-day celebration with friends and family

· Celebrated our 1^st wedding anniversary!

OCTOBER

· Attended the State Fair of Texas with Kevin’s mom and stepdad

· Amy turned 24!

· Took Amy’s cousin Nathan to the ranch for his birthday gift and had a great time riding horses, carving pumpkins, fishing, and attending a Chandler Family Fish Fry

· Found a pediatrician for our little one

· Entered the 3^rd Trimester

· Amy had a traumatizing experience trying to dress up as a mummy for Halloween… 3 rolls of toilet paper, 2 bed sheets, massive amounts of tape, a few hormonal breakdowns, and 2 hours later, Amy ended up going as a witch instead

· Kevin was hysterical as a redneck/hick for Halloween with a mullet wig, stained wife-beater, holey jeans, fake teeth, and a killer country bumpkin accent too!

NOVEMBER

· Lee, Mark, Kristen, and Mike all came into town on the same weekend and the six of us, along with Caleb, Julie, and Katie had an awesome weekend

· Celebrated Baby T’s upcoming arrival at not one, but 3 amazing baby showers

· Traveled to San Diego, CA to proudly watch Amy’s brother Mark graduate from Marine Corps Boot Camp

· Celebrated Thanksgiving with our families in Dallas

· Christmas celebrations began with family in Houston, including the annual trip to the Red Caboose Christmas Tree Farm and caroling around the piano

DECEMBER

· Celebrated the upcoming arrival of Baby Ashlyn at Lori’s baby shower (one of the three Stephenville Mommas)

· Attended the annual Chandler Family Reunion for the last time without a little one

· Learned that we’re going to have another nephew!

· Amy became a Stay-At-Home-Wife

· Watched Kevin’s Granny sing in a wonderful Christmas church service

· Officially completed Baby T’s nursery

· Had an amazing three-day Christmas with our dear families

· Celebrated our last New Year’s Eve as just “Kevin & Amy”