Welcome Sweet Baby Emerson

This is Miss Emerson making her presence KNOWN!!! From this shot most agree she looks just like her mommy!!!!


She is finally here and more amazing than we could have ever imagined!!!!!!! For those of you interested here is our birthing story..

I tried to have her natural as you know this was my "plan". I went into labor at 2:20 -am Sunday morning, I was doing awesome, very calm, relaxed and at home with a doula (Jeanie Casey) until about 3pm . When I got to the hospital I was 7 cm dilated - everyone was shocked at my calm demeanor. Things continued to progress really well until about 7 pm, I was 10 cm and had 17 hours of natural labor under my belt and begun pushing but having no more luck. Things kind of stalled. They wanted to give me pitocin to speed things back up and I agreed but only if I could have an epidural. Got a small epidurlal, lasted for 1.5 hours and still no baby - GRRRRRRRRR. The epidural COMPLETELY wore off!!! The On Call OB (my OB was not there) told me it was standard OB procedure to only allow patient to push for 3 hrs and I only had 1 more hr to push within that 3 hr window or she was going to give me a c-section - I had already been pushing for 2 hours & the results were not overly fruitful. I was frustrated, I had already stretched my cervix 10 cm, so I got really motivated pushed like no tomorrow and FINALLY after 19.5 hrs of labor gave birth to a beautiful, perfect baby girl. So if you ask me I did it all natural (like my "original plan") with a 1.5 hour window of relief (the short epidural). 18 hours of natural anyway!!!!! I felt everything during that final 30 minutes!!!!! I will tell you from point of crowning, to giving birth, holding her - NOW THAT IS A POWERFUL, AMAZING, BEAUTIFUL EXPERIENCE. One that I would love to experience over & over, so in the end I am thankful that the epidiral wore off!!!!! God really does know what he is doing:)

Baby Emerson and Dr. Melody Adler shortly after birth!

EMERSON IS HERE!!

Our beautiful little angel has arrived!! She weighed 7 lbs and 13 & 3/4 oz, 20 inches and thus far has gotten perfect scores on her assesments. Chris thinks she looks like me but with some of his features (dark hair and skin coloring), I just think she is beautiful. I had to work for 19.5 hours to get her here but I would do it again in a heartbeat, the payoff is worth every second.

After we get home I plan to post more and include some pictures. Please continue to check back.

40 Weeks and counting

TODAY IS THE OFFICIAL DUE DATE, we made it full term!! We are anxiously awaiting the arrival of Emerson but she is in no hurry. We are thrilled that we have a full term baby but we are very excited about meeting her. Everything is ready to go; bags packed, house is clean and car seat base is in car. Today I worked on the curtains for the nursery and Chris installed a surround sound system in the bonus room. At this point I feel like we are creating projects because we know that when the new tenant arrives there will be no time for miscellaneous projects. All the house needs now is a sweet baby girl and it will be a "home".

Please continue to refer back to this website as this is where I plan to post any and all baby updates.

Last Minute Projects

Well it only took 9 months but I am finally official, I got my TN license plate. As you can tell from the content I am getting somewhat restless. Emerson's due date is Saturday but I am getting a little anxious waiting for her.

So while I am filling my time with tasks of futility like taking pictures of my license plate, Chris is frantically finishing up last minute projects that are quite labor intensive. This picture is NOT indicative of the hard work, time and effort that went into this project. Chris has had to affix these corbels in a very non-conventional approach due to a mistake that I made back in the spring (too long of a story) and place the crown molding which is no easy task because he has had to cut around the curves and grooves in the corbels. With all that being said, it appears to be a small task but believe me this has been one of the more challenging home improvement projects yet and he has done a lot of projects!!! I remind him that if the chiropractic gig does not work out he can always be a handy man. He is a perfectionist so the end result is amazing when you all come visit you can see for yourself.

39 Weeks

We are within days of Emerson's due date. Chris & I feel prepared but there is so much that we do not know and if we knew it all we'd never be prepared. Today, 9/17, we went to see Dr. Wingo - I am 3cm dilated, Emerson is in the right position and very low in my pelvis so according to him, "any day now". Chris & I are just playing the waiting game and tying up loose ends. With any luck she will come this Thursday and be "Thursday's Baby" at Baptist Hospital http://www.baptisthospital.com/thursdaysbaby.php Should she decide to come on Friday that would be great as well b/c 21 is my favorite # and I love the song, "September" by Earth, Wind and Fire. The first lyrics in the song are, "Do you remember the 21st night of September"? We really do not care when she comes, we just want her to come soon.

If any of you read the previous blog I want to clarify that I DID NOT make Emerson's homecoming dress, I had it made. Two people have asked me about that, while I appreciate that they think I am cabable - I am NOT! Ha-ha!

38 Weeks!

Well, we have made it! Emerson is definately considered full term. It has been a very eventful week. Three weeks ago I went on bedrest to avoid pre-term labor due to the cervical changes that I was experiencing. After being on bedrest for 3 weeks we accomlished the goal of avoiding pre-term labor because there has not been ANY progression or changes - this is great and now I am exactly where I should be! I am ready for things to progress so I asked to increase my activity & go back to work. Wednesday was the first day back and it was a GREAT, one of those days when everything falls into place. Of course I heard all day long, "WOW, you look like you could go anyday".

"Hotel Alli" needs to be closed to all occupants for downsizing, repairs and renovations. There are plans to open a bar & grill for one special little girl, it will be open 24/7 and the specialty is warm milk!

Thursday we FINALLY got our bedroom furniture, we have been anticipating this arrival for 8 weeks. Originally we thought it would take 10 weeks but it came a bit earlier which is great.

A few of you have asked for pictures of the nursery, so I finally posted them. Yes, those are stripes on the wall - compliments of Daddy!! I could not resist posting pictures of her closet as well, I cannot wait to dress her up in all the sweet little outfits that so many friends and family were so kind to give us. When looking at the changing table you can see a pink dress hanging on a ledge, this is Emerson's "homecoming" dress that I had made. It is a pink smocked bishop dress. Sorry it took to post the nursery pictures but I was awaiting completion. We still have to hang curtains and a picture above the bed.

Please do not forget to write your comment, I like to know who actually reads these posts.

37 Weeks

Well, we could not be happier to have met this date. We are confident that Emerson is fully developed and are now just awaiting her debut. I no longer have a fear of pre-term delivery, if we were to deliver now we would not have to stay on the "high risk" floor at the hospital. I have enjoyed the miracle of pregnancy although there are a few things that I will not miss. Going to the restroom 7-10 times a night (yes, I have kept count) is something that I can do without, especially when you sit in the dark bathroom scratching at the toilet paper trying to find the loose end. The heartburn has not been pleasant, recently I reached my breaking point and tried one of the most disgusting remedies - a teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar. Despite the taste and smell it worked like a charm. The thought of finally sleeping on my back makes me smile, not that I will be getting much sleep. All in all I have enjoyed my pregnancy and I am very grateful that God has given us such a miracle but I am very anxious to meet our little girl. Stay tuned as our blog takes a turn and is actually interesting, soon we will have pictures of our little Emerson.

Today, I attached a picture that I had painted for Emerson's nursery. Emily McCullough, a very talented friend of mine in St. Louis, painted the canvas. The painting holds a few special meanings...... The quote is priceless for a southern belle, it is by Ralph Waldo Emerson (her first name) and it has her middle name in it - Grace. I hope to have pictures of the entire nursery very soon, I am just waiting to have a few more pictures hung!!