Allison is here!!!

Allison was born at 4:39pm on Tuesday 12/30/08. She weighed 7 lbs 15 oz and was 20 inches long. Our little tax credit made it before the new year :)

So maybe she didn't make it in time for Christmas, but we were prepared anyways...

The pictures aren't exactly in chronological order, you'll have to forgive a new Mommy for being too busy to rearrange them :)

The birth story: We went to the hospital Monday evening to get induced (I know I was only 39 weeks along, but we were ready!!!). Contractions started Tuesday morning at about 9:30. She was still up pretty high and she was posterior (facing my stomach instead of my spine), so we knew it might take a while....My goal was to go no drugs/all natural with the whole birth, but things never go as planned. After 5 1/2 hours of contractions I decided I needed something for the pain; I was only at 4 cm and knew I still had a while. We weighed our options and decided to go for an epidural; the nurse said it would help relax me and hopefully get her descended and turned around. Well, she was right: an hour later (during which I napped nicely, I might add) I had made it all the way to 9 cm and was ready to go!!! Allison had turned around and dropped and was ready to meet Mommy and Daddy. I only had to push for about 30 minutes, then she was here :) She came and and cried right away...we now know why new parents cry at the sound :)

Her squished face :)

Her "Petty feet" and super-long toes

Mommy meeting Allison for the first time.

Patiently laboring (this was at about hour 4 I think). Still a smile on my face :)

After showering and resting for a little while.

Daddy is already worn out by his girls :)

Mammy Baird and Allison

Her first diaper change (I spared you guys the details, but yes, I have pictures...it was pretty gross!!).

The proud Dad (and a wonderful coach and supporter and getter-of-ice-chips too!!!).

Allison all swaddled up for her first nap at home.

Getting home. We decided to head home the day after she was born, so she only spent a little more than 24 hours in the hospital. We were all home together for the new year; though 2/3 of our family was napping most of the evening.

Getting ready to go home. All bundled up to stay warm.

Allison meets Shara.

Mom and Allison get to know each other.

That should hopefully keep everybody updated and filled in. My apologies if I haven't called or texted, but I think I have a pretty good excuse now :) I'm off to go feed...

SNOW IN HOUSTON?!?!?

Yes, it snowed here in Houston yesterday. And, no, it wasn't one of those what-Texas-people-call-snow-when-it's-really-just-cold-rain kind of snows. There were actual snowflakes that stuck!! I've seen lots of pictures of people who were able to make snowmen (albeit tiny ones...).

I was out and about running a few errands wearing my flip-flops and capris. Wintertime is the best time to be pregnant :) I got a few weird looks, but I much prefer being cold to how it is in Houston in July: hot and humid.

I don't have any pictures to share because Greg had the camera at work, so you just have to take my word for it. This morning it was 31 degrees on my way to work so I had to take the long way to avoid the bridges on the tollway and all the ice. That's never fun to drive in!! It's pretty and sunny outside now, but I don't know what it's like because I've been cooped up in my classroom all day.

Other news:
**I only have 6 more days of work until Winter Break, then I'll be taking my 6 week maternity leave and not have to work again until the middle of February. I can't wait!!! Allison will be here before we know it!!

**Tonight we have Greg's company Christmas Party where he will be honored for working at J&C for over 5 years now (it's actually closer to 6 though) as well as for getting his Professional Engineer's Certification. I'm sure he'll be getting some really nice letter opener and tie tack or something. That's what businesses always do....

**Mom is having her hysteroctomy tomorrow so they can biopsy and see if the cancer has spread, so keep her in your thoughts and prayers.

Well I'm off to get dolled up for the party tonight; hopefully Greg will remember the camera and I'll have some pictures to post later. Happy snowman-building :)

Christmas Tag (from Sara)

I never do this, but I thought it would be fun....here's my response to Sara's tag, the totally material/superficial Christmas desires list (no cheesy/sappy world peace wishes here..)

1. Baby Allison to get here either way before Christmas or right at the end of the year. She's not due until Jan 5, but we'd like to have her here early for tax purposes :) but not too early because I hate for her to have a Christmas birthday...she could never have a birthday slumber party. I just want to pick the date!! If only it were that easy...

2. A new sheet set for our bed.

3. A waffle maker; Man cannot live on pancakes alone

4. More of our china sets: Waterford's Ballet Ribbons. We only have 4 sets and we'd like to have 12 or so (for our future big family). Right after the wedding last year, we ordered all the extra sets (and platters and bowls) from a "discount website" that was supposed to save us about 15%. We did the same for our flatware and crystal with no problems, but apparently the website we used for the china was a scam and we lost over $1500 :( It was a rough life lesson. So needless to say, we don't have our full set of china...

5. My old waistline back.

6. A digital camera for the new Mommy :)

7. Stuff from Bath and Body Works. I LOVE their wallflower plug-ins, especially at school (6th graders are stinky!!!).

8. Gift cards for Old Navy and JCPenney for when I get skinny again....They're the only mainstream stores that have Tall clothes (that I know of...)

9. Any more cute baby stuff that we "need".

10. A subscription to Cooking Light so I don't have to keep paying way too much for each individual magazine. They always have really good recipes in there!!

Tag: Lisa, Emily, Leslie, Karen, Jessi, Ashley, Hannah, Natalie, Jill and Jaimie; basically everybody who I know has a blog that I check regularly :)


Happy Holidays to everybody!!!