Baby Pictures

No time for more than some pictures since I need to get to a doctor's appointment. I'm on day three by myself and so far its going ok but I'm still not showered at 12:30 so...Here are some pics of Samantha's first 11 days days.

Her first official photo.

Our first family photo.

Under the bili-light in the nursery. Bryan called it "the spa".

You can see how yellow she was in this one.

Finally going home!

First look at her nursery. Lions, tigers and bears...oh my!

Sleeping mommy's arms.

She loves her boppy.

Meeting her cousins.

My favorite photo.

Samantha Leigh is here!

I went into labor on Saturday night and checked into the hospital at 9:45 pm. After 12 hours of labor, including 3 hours of pushing she was born at 9:30 am on Sunday, January 18, 2009. Stats are 6lbs, 11oz, 19 in. long with lots of brown hair and super long fingers and toes. She is beautiful and we are madly in love with her! She's already got her daddy wrapped her little finger. I had some high blood pressure after the birth and Samantha is jaundiced and sitting under the bili-light so we are still in the hospital until tomorrow but otherwise we are very happily getting to know one another. So far she's been a really mellow baby but we'll see how she does when she's feeling better. I'll post pictures when we get home. Thanks for all of the well-wishes and phone calls. I'll try to get back to everyone once the chaos settles.

XO
Laura, Bryan and Samantha

Quick Baby Update

I had my 39 week appointment yesterday and found out that I am a little over 2cm dilated and about 50% effaced. I know that I can walk around like this for a while before delivering but it was encouraging to know that something is happening. I'm still a week out fom my due date and 4 days from inauguration day (I hope to wait until there's a new president to give birth : )) so I'm not quite ready yet. I have been having sporadic contractions since yesterday but nothing regular and this could go on forever too. Could be just from the doctor's exam. I'll keep you all posted...

The Nursery. Is. Done.

Yes, it's finally true. I finished the nursery yesterday. On Monday my mom brought over the crib skirt and window valance and they look great. I put up the valance all by myself yesterday. I even got the carseat put in the Mazada. So now all we need is the baby. And yes, her name is Samantha. I had Ian and Nicole decorate name letters for her wall. They came out pretty cute.

Being off of work has been heaven. I've been very productive and have felt physically better too. Its nice to be able to sleep in or take a nap when needed and the swelling hasn't been too bad either since I can put my feet up more easily on the couch than I could at my desk. No signs of labor yet. A little cramping here and there but my belly is still way up high and no contractions except for the Braxton Hicks that I've been getting for weeks. I've still got 9 days to go until my due date so it's not surprising but Tracey had Ian 9 days early so ya never know...

Wall decals above the crib.

Bookcase opposite the crib. I decided to add a few pink accents.

Sorry this is dark. The window made it tough to get a good shot. Love the valance.

We have one green accent wall.

Close up of Ian and Nicole's artwork.

Better look at the crib skirt.

38 Weeks and My Last Day of Work

The title says it all. I can't believe I've only got two more weeks until my due date! The time has flown by and then again...some days seemed to drag, especially during those morning sickness months at the beginning. I haven't started to feel that overwhelming get-this-kid-outta-me feeling yet but as I get more and more uncomfortable I'm sure I'll be getting more anxious to get this over with. I had my doctor's appointment today and all is fine. Baby's hearbeat was good, blood pressure still normal and measuring right on schedule. No more weight gain either. I'm up about 37 lbs total so far and hope it doesn't get any worse. I swear that at least 10 lbs of that is water weight. My ankles and hands are still really swollen. I hope I can put my wedding rings on again soon. I'm a little worried my hands will never go back to normal. At next week's Dr.'s appt. they will start checking to see if I'm dilated and effaced.

Today is also my last day of work before maternity leave. I've been busy tying up loose ends all week. I'm a little sad to be leaving. Two of my co-workers are leaving for India this weekend so my boss took our whole team out for lunch at the Yardhouse. It was a nice send off. Next time I see everyone I'll be holding my baby girl. It feels weird to leave with my pictures and personal items and to think that I won't be doing that drive or walking into that building for quite a while. But I will be happy to sleep in while Bryan goes off to work on Monday : )

GO CHARGERS!....Oh, and Happy New Year!

Ok, first thing's first. I cannot believe the Chargers pulled it off! I mean 8-8?! I thought for sure that the last four games were a fluke but I guess I was wrong. Everytime I try to write them off they pull me back in. sigh. Saturday's game was one of the best I've watched all season. And believe it or not, I've watched a bunch. Since Bryan and I got married I've become a HUGE football fan, not just a Charger fan, and even won my company football pool the last two weeks of the season. But I digress, the Chargers did an amazing job against Indie and the MVP. And despite what the press would have you believe, it was NOT LT and Gates who won the game, it was the little guy that no one but San Diego fans have been talking about, Darren Sproles. We've known he was good since last season but only in the last couple of games have the national media caught on. What a workhorse that guy is! I hope we can keep him around next season. He was amazing. It was like that Bugs Bunny baseball cartoon; "First base, Bugs Bunny, second base, Bugs Bunny, shortstop, Bugs Bunny...". The guy was everywhere, from special teams to stepping in for the once again injured LT. And to pull it out in overtime was very exciting. I've become like my sister and can't watch the tense moments. I sat on the couch watching Bryan for his reaction because I couldn't look directly at the screen. Too nervous. I even got heartburn, and I don't think it was just the pregnancy. So now I'm back to believing that they could make it to the Superbowl. Let's hope its not as heartbreaking as the last two seasons. Even if it is, I'll still always be a Charger fan, no matter how hard they make it.

Scoring the winning touchdown.

Happy New Year!

Happy 2009 everyone! Hope you had a fun, yet safe New Year's Eve. We had a quiet night. We went to see a Marley & Me matinee and then had dinner at Sushi House in Encinitas (nothing raw for me though). I think we were in bed by 9:30. We both had to work that day and had big plans the following day; finishing the painting in the nursery. For dog owners, former dog owners and just dog lovers I would highly reocmmend Marley & Me. You'll see your dog somewhere in this movie and will laugh like crazy. Yes, it is sad at the end but soooo worth it. You could hear sniffles throughout our theater at the end and one old man had to get up and leave because he was so verklepmt. It's no Academy Award winner but it is adorable.

Baby Update

Well, the nursery is just about done. We finished painting, put up the decals and put together the dresser this weekend. Whew! I would show off the pics but I want it to be complete before I post anything and we're still waiting on the crib skirt and valance from my mom. She's been a little busy with other things lately. But it looks great and is just waiting for our little girl to come home.

This is my last week of work. My maternity leave starts on Friday. Woohoo! No more 30-mile commute. I've handed off my journals to three very competent and generous co-workers and am just cleaning up the loose ends. I will miss the people and my amazing view of downtown but I'm ready to sleep in and get the last of the baby stuff done at home. I really need to put my feet up these days. Only 17 days left! I can't believe it...

My cousin Michelle gave me CD with her pics from my shower back in November and they are pretty good. Here are a few of favorites.

Me and Nikinu, when I could still bend down.


The yummy food!

The two Grandmas with my adorable diaper cake.

The three cousins.

Me and mom.

All our loot packed in the truck.

And the crazy kids playing in the bathtub for some strange, only-kids-know-why reason.