Sarah Claire Summar

Well, as Alicia posted, baby Claire arrived on Thursday afternoon. After I updated on Thursday morning saying we were heading to the hospital my contractions actually slowed waaaay down, but were really really painful when I had one. We went into the dr. and then they sent us back home. I'll post the whole "birth story" a little later, but we didn't end up getting back to the hospital until after 2 pm on Thursday and not into a room until around 3:45 and she was born at 3:55 p.m. It's definitely not the delivery I'd been planning, but I'm thankful it's over and that she's here and healthy.

We got home last night and Grant is doing pretty well with her. He loves her and wants to know where she is all of the time. He's demanding a bit more attention than normal, so we're all trying to cope. She has her days and nights a little confused. Hopefully, we can work that out in the next few days. I'll definitely post more of the story later and more pictures, but here are just a few from the last couple of days.

Meeting Baby Sister for the 1st time!

We're Home

Right after her first bath at home.

More to come soon!

Baby Claire has arrived!

Well, She's Here.......

Hi to you all. I am Alicia Mitchell, one of Chesley's friends, updating this for her since she's a little busy. :o)

Sarah Claire Summar was born in a spectacular fashion (without the help of any modern medicine-much to Chesley's dismay) Thursday, January 10th at 3:55 pm. She weighed in at 8 lbs and 4 oz and was 20 inches long. She has a head full of beautiful black hair. She is an absolute doll! Grant was able to visit her just hours after her birth and loved his new little baby sister. Mom & baby are doing great today. We are all so thankful for such a wonderful blessing.

About that Time

Well, we've been up all night waiting for these contractions to get closer, and they finally are. We should be headed to the hospital in the next little bit. Will update when we can. Wish us LUCK!!

Something You Didn't Know About Me

I work at Target and so does Andy, and sometimes Wal-Mart... at least according to Grant. I'm not sure why he thinks this but for some reason if you ask him where Mommy or Daddy works, the answer is always Target or "Wal-Mark." It totally cracks me up. He's even said that he's going to work, and when you ask him where, the answer is always Target. I love the place...don't get me wrong, but I have no desire to work there and usually when I go, it's on my lunch breaks without Grant. Who knows why that's what he says.. he's been to my office several times, but I guess Target is much more exciting to him.

And no, still no baby. I had contractions last night for several hours that got as close as 14 minutes together, but then I fell asleep so I guess they stopped. I slept pretty well, and I'm feeling pretty good today so maybe she just knew I needed a little rejuvenation and today is the day. I really thought you were supposed to go early with your 2nd one, not later. Grant was right on time on his due date. Although the idea of going into labor at work is not something I relish, I could really care less at this point! I'm so tired of feeling my stomach sit on my lap and tucking something underneath it, that I'm about ready to try anything. Other than that, I feel great! Here's to hoping I'll be updating again soon on my way out the door!!!

Due Date!!

But no baby yet! I was all geared up last night because I had some pretty painful contractions. There was no rhyme or rhythm to them though, so basically I was just up most of the night wondering if this was it. I went to the dr. this morning and my bp was slightly elevated, but not concerning. For those of you that need the details, I'm dilated to a little over 3, so those contractions are doing their thing. She said she thinks I'm right on the verge of going into labor. We scheduled the induction for next Monday, January 14th if she hasn't come on her own before then. I feel confident we'll have a baby before then!

Anxious

I'm to the point where labor (and more importantly, when it will start) is all I can think about! If someone could just say it will start on Weds. midday, I'd be all good with that. It's so hard to just go on anticipating that every minute. We can't make any plans to do anything else, and so I feel like I'm just sitting and waiting. I was really hoping to go on my own before my appt. tomorrow because I do not want to have to set an induction date, and I know that will be what we do. Even if my blood pressure is normal, she will want to set a date...even if it's early the following week. That's my plan right now is to say sometime around the 14th or 15th if she'll let me go that long. At my last appt., she hammered home that there really is nothing left to gain by continuing to drag this out except misery on my part. I'm really not that miserable though, so the plan is still to hold out. My prediction is that I'll go into labor tonight in the middle of the BCS Championship game. My husband isn't really a huge fan of either team, but that doesn't mean he won't watch it with little attention on anything else. I'd be ok with that though just to get out of picking a "birth day." I can't believe I'm going to post these pictures of my 40 week belly, but here ya go:

No stretch marks yet.. if I get one this last week, I'll be really ticked!

I just have to post this picture that I took of little girl's closet. We have been absolutely overwhelmed by our friends and family who have purchased and/or handed stuff down to us. So much so that I already have over 2 huge tubs of stuff in the attic to get down as she grows. This is what is just in the closet you can't even see all of it in this picture) and I only put through 9 months in there, and the drawers in her dresser are totally full too! She will never be able to wear all of this, and what am I supposed to buy now?! You know I gotta have an excuse to buy all of that cute little girl stuff! Notice all the tags..I haven't washed anything that was purchased new! Still not convinced that it's a girl. All of Grant's stuff was washed right after his shower, but not this time!

In other news.. kind of related to buying the little girl stuff, I have a new addiction. It is finding online coupon codes. If you do any shopping online, make sure you look for them first. One site that I've had a lot of luck with is retailmenot.com. People put coupon codes on them for all kinds of sites and they have ratings that tell you whether they worked for them, etc. I'm a little obsessed with them. I bought something the other day (shoes b/c they're still fun prego or not) and was determined to find codes and ended up with 3. I'm hooked. I did this for several Christmas purchases too. It's much easier to justify shopping when you get a great deal, right?!

I'll try to update if I go into labor, but don't know if we'll be able to post pics until we get home from the hospital. I will try to get someone to post the specifics though. My husband is not the most technically inclined and has no idea about this whole blogging thing, so we'll see!

Still Waiting

I keep thinking that today will be the day...everyday! I'm ready to meet this little one. This pregnancy has absolutely flown by. I think I've said that a million times already, but it's so true. Having a busy 2 year old this time around has definitely left little time to think about much else. Thankfully, it's been a fairly easy and comfortable pregnancy and knowing that it will probably be my last, I keep trying to cherish every day. It's hard though! My right hip has started hurting really badly these last few days and the bathroom trips are becoming more frequent through the night. I'm walking like I'm 95! Sleep is not something I'm getting much of, but I guess I might as well get used to that again anyway. I went back to the dr. yesterday and she said she will induce me anytime I'm ready. I am really trying to let nature take it's course, but the offer is getting more and more tempting by the day. I had so much pain last time that setting up a time to start that pain is hard to do. As I have said before, I do not plan to experience that this time, but knowing that you can't always control it is the scary part. My blood pressure was quite a bit higher than normal yesterday, and she's told me to monitor it. If it's consistently high, I'm supposed to call and schedule the induction. Last night, mom checked it at home and it was totally normal....maybe I was just nervous at the appt. Who knows! Anyway, she said she's on call this weekend if I decide I want to come in then. Otherwise, I go back next Tuesday.

Last night, Grant begged to lay in the bed with me and I caved thinking that pretty soon he won't be the only one to cuddle with. It's so hard when you're tired and uncomfortable to try and remember to cherish these last few days with him as an only child! He is usually in rare form at night, and last night was no exception. He does pretty much anything and everything to keep himself awake. I have never seen someone fight sleep like he does, plus there's the hair thing. He finally went to sleep probably around 10:30 or maybe 11.. I was in and out of consciousness myself. I didn't actually make it to moving him into his bed until 2:30 or so. It was a long night, but he's worth it.

The kid totally cracks me up. The sentences and phrases he's saying now are hilarious, and you really have to be careful what is said in front of him. You might say something and have no idea that he absorbed it until it comes back out of his mouth 3 or 4 days (or longer) later. He's also quite the comedian (like his dad) so the next few years will probably be really interesting (and embarrassing for us until he learns about things we don't do/say in public). I find myself laughing at things he says and does when I really shouldn't be, but it's so hard to contain! One of my favorite things he says to pretty much everyone right now is, "What name is you/her/him?" He says this to EVERYONE EVERYWHERE! He is so interested in talking to people everywhere we go, so we don't meet many strangers anymore. This is totally not my personality, but it's been fun watching him interact.

I'm still not sure he totally realizes what he's in for with this baby, but I hope the adjustment isn't too bad on any of us. I'm a bit petrified of the whole situation honestly. I'm ready not to be pregnant and to see this baby, but the impact that it will make in our home and on our family is something that is unpredictable and hard to prepare yourself (or Grant) for. I'm just hoping for a smooth transition. I know that people do it everyday, but it's still scary when it's you!