Some more of Elli...

Baby Announcement

So we are surviving although the lack of sleep is just about going to kill me. I am going back to work in just 2 weeks and am hoping over that time she learns to keep herself asleep at night. Otherwise she is a great baby. She only cries when something is really bothering her, otherwise she is pretty content. And she is so stinking cute! Can't wait for her to actually smile AT me :)

First day home, stuck in the bili bed all day :(

Sleeping in with dad

5 days old

Sleeping on mom's chest - her favorite past-time.

Check out my sweet bow!

Look how big my binky is!

I LOVE MY BINKY!!

Yikes. She makes the goofiest faces.

Sleeping with her arms sticking out - love it

My cute cousin made these newborn baby legs that are so tiny

Uh oh - binky fell out

Elli Grace Barker

Story to come but here is a preview of pictures...

The morning of labor - just before leaving to go to the hospital.

After the epidural - much happier

Day 2

So awake and aware of everything

Day 3 - in the nursery for light treatment

Getting ready to go home

So tiny for the carseat - seemed impossible to get her in

She arrived right on time!

Elli Grace Barker
Born 2/24/2010 at 4:15PM
6lb 11oz
18.5in
cutest thing I have ever seen

pictures to come soon...

39 Weeks makes you bored and crafty

So we officially made it past the date that I thought I would deliver. I thought for sure I was going on the 17th - one week early but NO. Here I sit at 39 weeks and nothing has happened - I shouldn't be surprised since I work in healthcare and know that first time moms rarely go early. But I thought for all the hard hours of standing at work that maybe it would get me going. Plus it would have been really convenient since my supervising doc is at the Olympics for this entire month and I have seen all the patients I needed to. I guess I will just enjoy this time off - and what do I do with my time? Get really crafty...





My cousin Marcie taught me how to make these really cute bows - she makes the cutest onesies and then matches the bows to them. So I tried to find some fabric to match some of the baby's outfits. Pretty freakin cute!

I used to sew things in Jr. High and Highschool on my mom's old machine. For Christmas I asked for a sewing machine of my own so that I could get back into it. The machines are WAY more fancy now. I have an automatic bobbin loader and automatic needle threader - love it! And it is all computerized too - but cheap from Costco :) I sat down today and read the instructions then decided to just go for it. I made 6 burp cloths that match the bows. Not too bad I have to say - but how hard is sewing straight lines :)


I was checked again and maybe effaced a little but not much on the dilation. Alex has been really cute - he is sooooo anxious. I think he asks me AT LEAST 10 times a day if I am in labor :) He makes me laugh. If I am anywhere near him, I think he will know right away if I am going into labor - and if not, he will be the first one I call. Still, I enjoy his repetitive phone calls - "Hello" "Are you in labor" "No" "Oh all right then" click. He has put the car seat in the car, packed the diaper bag (with a rattle I might add - yes, so my newborn can grasp a rattle and shake it - hee hee), the room is entirely ready to go. We hung our last shelves and hooks, washed the sheets, towels, burp cloths, wash cloths etc. We go on daily walks with the dog - which do give me contractions but also leg aches.

One thing is for sure - she has to come eventually!!!

38 Weeks

Well, 38 weeks and a little change. I progressed from being closed to almost 1cm dilated and 50% to 70% effaced. That is something I suppose! I am really ready to be done though! Getting harder and harder to sleep, eat, breath - some essential functions :)

Check out the belly from the front and back...

37 Weeks - Term (no not full term but at least ready to go any time)

My "nesting" phase really kicked in over the weekend. We hung a vinyl wall scene of trees in her bedroom Friday - it took about 5 hours. Then Saturday and Sunday I organized all our bills and file folders from the past 5 years, wrote out thank you notes, organized our bedroom, put away and organized all the Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations that were spread across our basement, made the basement bedroom livable, picked up the basement family room, and finally green-machined the carpet in the basement where the dog vomited a few times (umm, actually a collection of 6 times over the past few months - don't worry, not chunky just bile/spit - still sick I know). Oh and then I cleaned out the green-machine and packed it neatly away. It is no wonder at midnight I woke up with horrid stomach cramps, diarrhea and then subsequent vomiting. Awesome. Plus my lower back was so sore Alex had to help me out of bed. So all day Monday at clinic I was contracting like crazy, was slightly queasy and EXHAUSTED. But no true labor. I tried to take it easy once I came home so I didn't force her out. But I thought at least it would have helped me progress - but alas, no. I was checked Tuesday and I am still 50% effaced and closed. She did move down a hair but otherwise no change. I will likely go at least to my due date if not over :( Whatever happened to being super busy/stressed at work and being on your feet all day helping you get going with labor?

The nursery before...

After...

On another note...
I was walking through Babys R Us with Alex the other day, picking out some final items we needed to get ready for the baby. We were trying to figure out what else to buy to be prepared when it dawned on me - this is the first time in my life when I have NO IDEA what I am in for, what to expect, how to prepare or what I am doing. Sure, starting college or getting married or moving is "unknown" but it is only about you, and your adult spouse. Now I have another being coming into my life who solely relies on Alex and me. And I don't know if I am supposed to let her cry long periods, how often I should feed her, if I need to wash all her clothes before she wears them, if I need to buy sanitizing wipes for my breast pump, how many diapers in newborn size is appropriate, do we really need a bouncer seat and a swing, what do I need to take to the hospital - the list goes on and on. And it is starting to make me a little nervous. I am sure we will be great parents and you learn as you go, but it is a new feeling for me to NOT KNOW. I have always been too prepared, too anal to not know the exact plan and have it mapped out on color coordinated notes. But in that same feeling of fear there is excitement. I am excited to start this new part of life. To not know exactly what she will be like but to see her personality and how she is a mix of both Alex and me. To see her grow and to see us grow with her.

35-36 Weeks

Wahoo - check out my belly

Ok, I finally reached a point of being uncomfortable. I think if you felt good the entire pregnancy you wouldn't be ready to endure the pain and suffering of the delivery. But I am getting to the point that if I have to feel like this for 4 more weeks, I will do ANYTHING to have this baby. It seemed to all start Saturday - I am suddenly having swelling in my hands and feet. I have sausage toes by the end of the day. I can no longer sit comfortably in a movie theater. My SI joints are killing me. I bump my belly into everything and everyone. And I have episodes where I can't breath. Whine whine whine I know.

But...she is still super wiggly and it is so fun to feel her elbow or foot rub across my stomach (hurts but cool). I can't wait for her to come. We have almost everything we need. Just a few more small items. Her room is pretty much ready. Just need to get some window coverings and put up this really cute wall decal. And I can't wait to put her in all the cute outfits we bought - she is so spoiled already ;)

Dr. Smith checked me at 35+6. I was 50% effaced and my cervix was soft but closed - his interpretation - I will likely go all the way to my due date - dang it!! Alex and I still have hope that if I jump on a tramp, walk around a lot, eat raspberry shakes, vacuum and do the OTHER thing to DO a lot, maybe she will come a little early :)

FYI - For any of those who make fun of pregnant women who waddle - just you wait!!! I told my family to tell me if I EVER waddle so that I can stop but I am telling you, having a baby head between my legs and 15-20 pounds sticking out from my stomach makes it pretty hard to walk normal. I do try to avoid it at work but all bets are off at home.