Future Auburn Tiger makes Three

Shutterfly spreads a little cheer during my favorite time of year!!!

2010-12-02T07:00:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite things about the Christmas season is receiving everyone’s cards in the mail!! Usually checking the mail is all about bills and junk mail but not this time of year!! I get so excited to go and see who’s cards have arrived. Matt and I also love sending out cards to everyone. This year even more than usual because we have an addition to our card….our sweet Madelynn Frances!

This year is important for two reasons we want to show off our little angel and make sure everyone has our new address and what better way than a photo card. When I think of printing and creating photos I always think of Shutterfly!!! Hands down the easiest website with the biggest selection and they are always precise and quick!!! Love that especially this time of year when you have a gazillion other things to worry about on the calendar! It is nice to sit in my pj’s with a warm cup of coffee and still be able to design our Christmas card, proof it, order it, and receive them in the mail without ever leaving my house!! BONUS..this year they are doing a promotion for bloggers that blog about Shutterfly..want details check it out: http://bit.ly/sfly2010

Shutterfly has so much to choose from that it’s hard to narrow down….I love them all.

These are the few that I am trying to decide between:

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/pretty-poinsettia-print-christmas-5x7-folded-card?sortType=1&storeNode=93496

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/peppermint-gift-wrap-christmas-card?sortType=1&storeNode=93496

http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/cards-stationery/royal-elegance-christmas-card?sortType=1&storeNode=93496

Y'all know I love black and white photos but I just can't decide this year!! We had family pictures taken in the heart of Savannah with a beautiful back drop and I can't wait to see how it looks in a picture!!

Shutterfly offers more than just photo cards!!! This being Madelynn's first Christmas makes it very special so quite a few of our gifts are going to revolve around sweet pictures of her and capturing her beautiful personality. Shutterfly makes my christmas shopping so easy because these are some of the other ideas they have:

Calendar of my sweet princess, yes please!!! Wouldn't you want to look at that sweet face every month!! http://www.shutterfly.com/calendars

Who wouldn't want to drink out of a mug with sweet Maddie's face on it...another way to show her off at the office!!! http://www.shutterfly.com/photo-gifts/photo-mugs

Throwing a holiday party?!?! So easy to make invitations and never have to leave the house. Once they arrive just address them and pop them in the mailbox. Make sure to send us one!!! http://www.shutterfly.com/cards-stationery/christmas-invitations

You will just have to wait and see what we chose for our cards!!! Check your mailbox daily....it will be on it's way soon!!! Wishing all our family and friends a wonderful holiday season!!

Our Savior gave Matt and I the greatest gift on May 11, 2010!! We can't wait to share with Madelynn the Christmas story each and every year!! To God be the Glory!

War Eagle!!!!

2010-10-12T18:54:00.000-07:00

Matt and I have waited for football season ALL year and been so excited for Maddie to be decked out in Auburn gear. We can't wait to take her to the campus and take pictures and experience a football game once she gets a little older. But for now....watching with Daddy at home is a lot of fun too!!

S-O-R-R-Y...for the lack of posts...we have been very busy!!

2010-10-12T17:45:00.000-07:00

We have been staying very busy with a little girl that never stops growing and amazing us with all that she can do. We have traveled some, stayed home some weekends, and just started to enjoy a little bit of the cooler weather and football. I will just post a bunch of pictures to share rather than writing a lot. We are looking forward to cooler weather and the upcoming holidays with our family and friends.

I promise not to wait so long for another post!!

3 months already....good-bye newborn, hello infant!!!

2010-08-11T11:25:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe that our sweet girl is 3 months old today!! Wow how she has changed. Here is a list of the things that she does now:

laughs all the time
smiles constantly
the chunky thighs NEVER stop moving
coos and vocalizes vowels (Momma the speech therapist is proud)
supports her head all the time
lifts her head about 90 degrees when she is on her tummy
"stands" on her legs when you hold her up
sits up assisted
sucks on her fists and fingers often
melts our hearts more EVERYDAY!!!

We love her to pieces and we are looking forward to the fun months ahead!

Support Groups!!!

2010-08-11T11:13:00.001-07:00

How young is too young to send Maddie to some support groups. The two that I had in mind were M.A. (Milkaholic Anonymous) and P.A. (Paciholic Anonymous)!!!

Maddie loves to eat (as evidenced by the pot belly she is getting in the picture) and to say she loves her paci would be an understatement!!!! So much so that it has impeded some sleep lately. Unfortunately she cannot put it back in herself yet so EVERY time it falls out she wakes up and expects me the Paci Fairy to put it back in....no lie...every.single.hour!!!! I spoke with the pediatricians office today and they did not recommend that I go cold turkey with the paci because since she is only 3 months old (today) she doesn't have a lot of self soothing techniques yet!! UGH...really!?!?!? She is beginning to suck on her hands and fists but cannot seem to find them in the middle of the night when she is already enraged!! Here's to hoping that she goes back to sleeping for longer stretches soon!!!

Wanted to share this picture that my sister-in-law gave me!! Like father, like daughter!! Can we say too old for a paci!!! Maddie will not have the paci as long as her dad did I can assure you of that!! I think he might have already started growing arm pit hair when he still had his paci!!

First trip to the beach!!!

2010-07-29T13:20:00.000-07:00

We went to Hilton Head last weekend when the Ingerson's were here and took Miss Maddie for the day!! Well we only lasted about 2 hours and then she was ready for a nap and we wanted to get her out of the heat!! The rest of the family stayed longer to enjoy the beach and waves but I must say that Madelynn did so well and seemed to like the wind blowing and all that was going on. First time that I have ever been to the beach where I spent the entire time under the umbrella...no sun, no good book, no swimming.....oh how things have changed.

Neither Matt nor I wanted to put on sunscreen to go out in the sun because we didn't want it to rub off on Maddie so we decided to both huddle under the umbrella with her!! The one time that Matt wore sunscreen at the lake and then held her later she got a rash on her thigh from where he was holding her!! We have a little girl with sensitive skin just like her momma!!! So we had to be careful!! Next summer we will be fine because we can put sunscreen on her and enjoy all that the beach has to offer!!

We L-O-V-E our flip!!!

2010-07-20T14:35:00.000-07:00

We got a flip video camera from Eric and Nora for Christmas in hopes that we could use it a lot with a little one on the way!!! We LOVE the flip...it is so easy to use and just as easy to save on your computer and share with others. Hope you enjoy the little video of Maddie. Hope to put up some more videos soon. We have now started carrying the flip in the diaper bag so that we can take some more!!

Smiles, smiles, and more smiles!!!

2010-07-09T11:10:00.000-07:00

Just like everyone has said..it keeps getting better and better!!! She melts our hearts more every day. About two and a half weeks ago I got the first "real" purposeful smile and it was so cute. Now we get smiles very regularly and it never gets old!!! Madelynn is very happy in the mornings when she wakes up for the day and that is when she smiles the most!! Enjoy the photos!!

Next stop...Lake Norman, NC

2010-07-09T11:08:00.001-07:00

We also went to visit my Dad and stepmom for the 4th of July weekend!! We had a great time and enjoyed the sun and the lake. Maddie even had her first boat ride (with a life jacket of course...that she preferred to suck on) and she thoroughly enjoyed it. The hum of the motor and movement of the boat put her to sleep both times we went out on it. Maddie enjoyed her time with Granddaddy and Grandma DeeDee!! They ate up any chance they could get to hold her, kiss her, feed her, rock her, and love on her. I am still very much a daddy's girl and it was very special for me to watch my dad with Madelynn and know that she will most likely grow up to be Granddaddy's little girl too!! I hope that she has a relationship with Matt silimar to what I have with my dad because words couldn't describe the closeness or how special our bond is and always has been. My mom is also my best friend so I hope that Maddie and I have a relationship that mirrors that too!!

We even took the boat out to watch fireworks and Maddie slept right through them. The sound did not bother her at all but I think she was exhausted and would have slept through WWIII starting!!!

Traveling all around!!!

2010-07-09T10:41:00.000-07:00

We have been traveling like crazy lately it seems and Miss Maddie has done so well with it all. She is a great car rider and seems to not mind that we have been constantly on the go. First stop was Charleston and Folly Beach so that she could meet Grandad and Noni (Matt's dad and stepmom)!! They were able to be at the hospital for a little bit while I was in labor but had to catch a flight and missed her delivery by only 4 hours!! They were so excited to meet her and as you can imagine they loved on her the whole time!!!

Not quite a beach bum yet...

2010-06-17T11:16:00.000-07:00

Well I can't go swimming yet or even get out in the sun but when I can....I am READY!!! This is my first bikini (compliments of my Great Aunt Renee)!!! Mommy and Daddy think I look so cute in it!!

Would you like fries with that????

2010-06-11T17:57:00.000-07:00

You would think Peanut is eating cheeseburgers rather than breast milk the way she is gaining weight. We went to the pediatrician today and Miss Madelynn went from 8 lbs, 120z. two weeks ago to 10 1/2 lbs today!! She also grew from 21" at birth to 22 1/4" today!!

The doctor is very pleased with her weight gain and growth!! We are too!! We are all three doing really well and couldn't ask for better!! We love her to pieces and love watching her grow!!

One month old today!!!

2010-06-08T15:15:00.000-07:00

Hard to believe that our sweet peanut is already one month old today!! We love her more and more every day!! She is growing so fast and already changing. She loves to look and watch the ceiling fan and really studies any face that is holding her. She doesn't miss a single meal..girlfriend loves to eat!! She is beginning to sleep for 3 and sometimes 4 hour stretches and of course mommy loves that!

We had newborn photos taken at our house and the photographer was awesome. This picture is a sneak peek and I can't wait to see all the other poses that she took.

It has been a good month and we are looking forward to all the months ahead!! We go back to the doctor this Friday for the month check up..can't wait to see how much she has grown!!

Don't you want to kiss all over this face??? We do!!!

2010-05-24T18:10:00.001-07:00

Visitors, visitors, and more visitors...Maddie is one popular girl!!

2010-05-24T18:04:00.001-07:00

We have had lots of visitors....

2010-05-24T17:52:00.001-07:00

God's greatest blessing

2010-05-24T17:38:00.000-07:00

Seeing my sweet girl up close and personal!!

Madelynn made her debut into the world on

Tuesday, May 11th at 11:48pm. She weighed 7 lbs, 15oz and was 21" long. She was more than we could have ever dreamed about and is truly sent from above.

We are home and doing so great!! We could not be more in-love or more thankful for such a healthy, sweet, little girl!! The hospital took great care of us but we were SO ready to leave and get back to our own belongings.

Our first family photo right after delivery!!

Madelynn is such a good baby and is not very fussy. We know that we are partial because she is ours but we do think she is the cutest baby ever.

God has blessed us in a way that we could never describe (those of you that are parents know) and He has shown us love through her like we have never felt before.

Enjoy the pictures!! We hope to update as often as we can!! We are home in our own house FINALLY and we are thrilled to have all of our stuff back and be getting into a routine!!

We are at the hospital!!!!

2010-05-11T12:50:00.000-07:00

Well labor started in the middle of the night this morning around 3:00 am and we labored at home until my doctors appointment this morning!! Went ahead to my scheduled appt because my contractions were not too close still. Got to the doctors office and I was 3 cm dilated and she sent me to the hospital...yay!!!

Currently I am receiving pitocin and just hanging out watching TV!! We can't wait to meet our sweet girl and we hope to keep you all informed!!!

Say some prayers for a good and healthy delivery!!

Love to you all,
H

The waiting begins...

2010-05-02T07:37:00.000-07:00

Well the waiting has officially begun. I went to the doctor last Thursday, April 29th and he said that he HIGHLY doubted that I would go all the way until my due date, May 10th! Miss Madelynn is ready. He thought I would make it through the weekend but 50/50 shot whether I make it through next week!! His last words to me as I was walking out were "Well we will see you for your appt next Friday..if not sooner!" If that doesn't get you excited I don't know what does!!

Which was GREAT news but totally made us all the more anxious!! I go to sleep every night now wondering if it's the last time my head will hit the pillow as just a wife! I wake up every morning wondering whether I am going to become a mom that day! God has protected Madelynn and I during this pregnancy and I know He will continue to until He sees fit for her to make her debut!! Our Savior has never and will never miss a single detail in our lives and I remind myself of that everyday. Long before he created us and long before Matt and I knew we would marry He knew that I would carry Madelynn one day and He knows what day we will meet her as well!! How reassuring!!

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers these last few days as we embark on one of the greatest blessings God gives!! We look forward to meeting our precious baby girl and we want to keep you all plugged in with all the details as well!! The hospital has wi-fi so we plan to take our laptop so that at least maybe Matt can get on and fill everyone in on her arrival. I have also created an email distribution list so that all Matt has to do is plug in "Maddie" and this whole contact list will auto populate and he can send an email and pictures!!

All our love!!

2010-04-12T07:42:00.000-07:00

We are ready!!!! Matt and I had a "babymoon" per se last weekend during Easter. It was just the two of us and we hung out in Richmond Hill, Savannah, and Tybee Island from Friday through Monday. We enjoyed laying on the beach, napping on the beach, and getting a little bit of sun. Then we enjoyed our last Easter together as a couple before we become three!!

This past weekend all her clothes, blankets, wash cloths, burp cloths, etc. got washed! I am amazed at how much it takes just to even make half a load of laundry. The stuff is so small and so cute!! We are all ready on our end to bring her home!! We only have a few short weeks left and we couldn't be more excited!! We just want to meet this little angel that God has blessed us with....we don't want her to come early so hopefully she will hang on a few more weeks!!

The doctor has said that everything looks great. Last time I was there (April 2nd) they said that I had reached a "critical" mark because if I went into labor now they would not stop me. I am officially 9 months now so I go for my weekly appointments starting this Friday!! How quickly the next 4 weeks might fly!!

Counting down the weeks....

2010-03-26T15:48:00.001-07:00

We took some maternity shots as well as family shots on Tybee Island last weekend when I turned 33 weeks. Hard to believe that the next time that we will be at the beach will be when Miss Madelynn is with us and sporting a cute bikini (which by the way she already owns two)!!!

We can't wait to meet you sweet girl!!

2010-03-22T10:41:00.000-07:00

Matt and I have had a busy couple of weeks with moving, showers, Matt's birthday, some travel, and seeing our sweet girl!!

In the last couple of weeks I had a wonderful shower with my family in Marietta thrown by my aunt and cousin and then this past weekend I had a small shower/girls day with my mother-in-law and sisters-in-law!!! Matt was there too so it wasn't just girls but he has always been such a trooper!! We also took some maternity shots on Tybee Island and some family beach shots too!!

We went to my friends 3D ultrasound studio again last week and got to see Miss Madelynn again and we loved every minute of it!! I am currently 33 weeks so the official countdown to her debut has started!! We dream about what she will look like, what her little personality will be like, and we couldn't be more excited to become parents!! Enjoy the pictures of her from the ultra sound... we got a ton and even a DVD of her action but I picked a few of the cutest ones. Her nose looks wide and flat and apparently they look like that in utero pictures but not when they come out...whew!!

I will post some more from the two other showers and our maternity pictures soon!! Looking forward to my last shower with all my friends this coming weekend!! Madelynn and I have been blessed with SO many thoughtful and great gifts!! THANK YOU!!!

A showering of love...

2010-03-02T06:10:00.000-08:00

I promise to update again this weekend about everything that is going on....we have just been so busy getting the house ready for the packers and movers. Keeping what we needed for the next couple of months since our stuff will be in storage, and getting ready for closing!!

However amongst all that chaos I got to go to my first baby shower honoring Madelynn Frances!! It was so beautiful and so personalized to a tee!! (**See the photo of the beautiful baby bootie cake that Courtney made). Three of my girlfriends Courtney, Kellie, and Catherine hosted it and they did such a wonderful job. I feel so blessed by their generosity, support, and unending love towards Madelynn and I. I hope and pray that Madelynn finds a circle of friends like I have that has withstood so many years and so many good and bad times!! My closest friends are Jessica, Kellie, Catherine, Courtney, Ashley, Jenni, Nancy, and Crissie and I don't know where I would be without them!! The memories that we have all made will last a lifetime and I know that there are many more wonderful memories to be made in the future!! As the showers all begin and my friends and family put so much work into them I am reminded of the amazing people that the Lord has placed in my life!!

Madelynn and I totally racked up on the gifts and with each new thing I open I feel a little more prepared for her arrival. The shower was attended by my work friends and a few of my mom's friends also. A great time was had by all!!! More pictures to come!!

We are MOVING....

2010-02-09T18:12:00.000-08:00

As of today our house is officially under contract!! We are so thrilled and feel so blessed. We have not even had it listed for 3 months!! God is good and He has completely guided this whole process!! We never doubted his love for us or the fact that He would allow us to move on His terms when it was His timing....we couldn't be happier with the timing. We feel so lucky that someone fell in-love with our home!! We will be in limbo at first and homeless and are thankful that are parents are so supportive and have opened up their homes to us!!! Please continue to pray over the next several weeks that all goes well. Our closing date is set for March 5th and we know it will be here before we know it!!! We plan to really start to look for a home after Madelynn makes her debut....we don't want to rush into anything prior to her arrival as so much is going on!

26 weeks

2010-01-30T20:22:00.000-08:00

Sorry that the photo is somewhat blurry. My father-in-law took it with his camera phone and it is kinda fuzzy. Matt and I with Miss Madelynn measuring 26 weeks!!! Promise to get another picture up soon!!!

A fan of many!!

2010-01-18T11:36:00.001-08:00

Madelynn will hopefully first and foremost be an Auburn fan, if her parents have anything to do with it!! She is most certainly a legacy since both Matt and I attended as well as both of Matt's parents also went to Auburn!!! This family bleeds orange and blue!!!

Madelynn already got some AU gear to wear. My mom bought Maddie her first AU socks and AU bib before we even knew boy or girl and then my aunt, Renee added some more AU booties to her collection at Christmas!!

Maddie will also look great in Red and Black but Wisconsin Badger red and black that is!!! We have some dear friends who live in Madison, WI that sent Maddie her first Badger onsie that we cannot wait to let her wear!! As far as UGA red and black...if her Daddy has any say then she will never like those two colors!!! But I am sure that her Grandpa Perry (my dad) will make sure that she does get some UGA stuff in her wardrobe!!

Lastly, she is going to rock some Harley motorcycle gear that she received from Charles, Diane's boyfriend. Maddie made out like a bandit at Christmas is already so blessed and the showers have not even started!!!

Finishing out the second and headed for the third...

2010-01-18T11:24:00.000-08:00

I am in my 6th month, which is so hard to believe, and we have less than 4 months until Miss Madelynn makes her debut and our lives change for the better forever!!! It has been such an easy pregnancy so far and I am so thankful. I am blessed by the endless support and prayers from family and friends...keep praying. We hope the next 3 1/2-4 months is just as healthy and easy!! The much asked about tummy shot. I was going to do with shirt down over my tummy but according to Matt you see my belly even less and people won't see change....here is Miss Madelynn at 24 weeks!!! So hard to believe!!

2009-12-21T11:52:00.000-08:00

Miss Madelynn has found her thumb!!! It was so sweet to witness in person her suck her thumb and then also stick out her tongue. The picture is a little blurry so it makes her nose look big or kind of like double nose but in fact the ultra sound tech said she had a dainty, cute nose!!

Growing, growing...we both are growing!!!

2009-12-21T11:50:00.000-08:00

Everyone always asks for the tummy shot. We have even gotten several Christmas cards with people asking for a shot of the belly. When I am wearing clothes it is even less noticeable but here is a picture of my tummy at exactly 20 weeks!!! Half way there with still so much more belly to grow!!

Growing like a weed....

2009-12-21T11:46:00.000-08:00

We are officially half way and we cannot wait for the next 20 weeks to fly as quickly as this first half has already done!!!

Miss Madelynn checked out perfectly this morning at the doctor's visit and is measuring right where they want her to be. We had a level 2 ultra sound which basically just looks at all of her anatomy. We got to see the four chambers of her heart, her kidneys, her bladder, her stomach, her spine, the lobes of her brain, and other various parts. The cutest thing by far was that she stuck her tongue out and you could clearly see it and then the majority of the visit she spent putting her hands up by her face and then right before we left and were done she sucked her thumb for us!! It was very neat and special to see!! Matt was at the appointment with me and reveled in the magic too!!

The cat is out of the bag part duex

2009-12-18T07:07:00.000-08:00

So the cat is out of the bag to my Dad on what the sex of Peanut is....my grandmother (his mother) accidentally said something while she was on the phone with him!! We are a little disappointed but we kind of knew that it was bound to happen. The only thing we wish is that it had been either myself or Matt that slipped up and told him because then we would still get his reaction. We know it was an accident and my grandmother was so upset with herself....there is no reason to be upset. We still get the surprise of what she will look like when she gets here in May and meeting her for the first time!!

So.....the blog will not have to be in code words anymore. Although Peanut is still one of my favorite nicknames and I will still refer to Madelynn as Peanut some.

On a happy note....we got all the results back from the genetic tests that we chose to have completed and everything is great. Madelynn passed with flying colors!!! We elected to have some additional tests that are offered not because we have a history of anything but because we just wanted to be prepared. Since I work with children with varying syndromes and chromosomal disorders....I just wanted to know what I was getting into in case I needed to start researching certain specialists!! Miss Maddie is a miracle from God and so far she is checking out to be perfect!!!

We go on Monday (Dec. 21) for the Level 2 ultrasound that will look at all of her anatomy to make sure she is measuring the way she should. It will check for heart defects, kidney size, etc. We are very excited to see her again and see how much she has grown!!!

I will post another picture of my belly this weekend....still no real bump....sorry to disappoint. I know that I am going to wake up one morning and see a big difference. Most people I tell still don't even know or believe that I am pregnant because the bump is not there. I am trying to enjoy it while it lasts because I know that it will come and by the end I will be ready for the bump to go away!!

Hope that most of you have gotten our Christmas card!!! We love receiving Christmas cards in the mail. Wishing you and your family and wonderful Christmas and a Blessed New Year!!!

Using up the labels....

2009-12-15T08:41:00.000-08:00

So you will all notice that the return address on your Christmas card is our family label. I usually use Christmas ones or more formal ones but......we gotta use these up because come May our label will have to change. Peanut Smith will have to be added to the label....I can't wait to order them closer to Peanut's arrival and see how cute they will be.

It's a..........

2009-12-06T09:59:00.001-08:00

***Warning...Dad DON'T read this***

You all might be wonderfing about the WARNING...that is because my dad doesn't want to know the sex of Peanut Smith until we have the baby!! He thinks that waiting to find out is one of the best surprises that God gives someone and he really wants to be surprised!! That being said my whole family is going to try their best to keep it a secret. Which means that a lot of my posts will be still referring to Peanut Smith and trying not to give it away. I do think waiting til delivery would be a fun surprise but Matt and I just could not wait...we would have never lasted!!

It's a GIRL!!!! We found out yesterday that little Peanut Smith is a GIRL!!! We are thrilled and we cannot wait to welcome Madelynn Frances into our family in early May!!

What's in a name you might be asking.....well I have always called Matt by the nickname Matty and we thought it was a cute name so we thought we could call our child Maddie but what would her real name be. We decided on Madelynn because we both love it so much. Her middle name, Francis, was the name of my maternal grandmother who I called Granny. At the time she passed away I was her only grandchild and we had a very special bond. The simplest and smallest things were the most fun with her. She passed away from Hodgkin's Disease when I was in the 5th grade and was never able to see me graduate from High school, graduate from Auburn, get married, or even be here for the birth of my first child. I know that she is looking down and she is proud of who I am and who I married. I cannot think of a more perfect middle name for my little girl than Francis!!! I grew up knowing how much my Granny loved me and how proud of me she was!! I hope and pray that I can make Madelynn feel that same way each and every day!!

The cutest PEANUT ever.....

2009-12-06T08:50:00.000-08:00

My best friend, Jessica, has always been the greatest shopper and best gift giver!! Needless to say she struck again....We met for dinner last night and she had a present for us and I thought I was going to die when I saw how cute it was.

As you know we have referred to our little baby as Peanut Smith!!! She found us this onesie that says it all. I cannot wait to see Peanut Smith in this precious little shirt with some little pants or jeans!! We love you Jess and we know that Peanut will love you just as much. You are going to be the greatest aunt ever!!!

2009-11-29T18:25:00.001-08:00

Here is my tummy at 17 weeks. Not too much change but I do feel like any day now I am going to wake up and see a big difference!!! Excuse the mismatch PJ's....I threw on pj pants that morning because I was cold!!

Things we are thankful for....

2009-11-29T18:12:00.000-08:00

Not too much has happened since my last post. I did have several tests completed on myself and the baby and EVERY single one of them came back with a good report. What a blessing!!!

One of the many traditions that Matt's family participates in is to go around the dinner table and say three things that you are thankful for on Thanksgiving. Even if the family is not all together we make sure and email and share our 3 things. It is a wonderful way to share and hear every one's thoughts and feelings. We have continued the tradition now that we are married no matter where Thanksgiving is or who is there.

This year there was much to be thankful for:
My list:
A healthy pregnancy and healthy baby
A wonderful family
A great, stable jobs that we both love!

Matt's list:
A healthy wife and baby
A wonderful family
A great new job with lots of new opportunities

Matt and I both know that 2010 holds so many new special memories for our family. We hope that it will be the best year yet for our entire family!!

It is hard to believe that I am 17 weeks pregnant already and that in 3 short weeks I will be half way!!! I go to the doctor this coming Friday, December 4th for a check-up. I am not scheduled to have an ultra sound but I am going to see if I can persuade my OB to let me find out the sex. I will have to have them place it in an envelope and Matt and I can open it together when he gets home after work. Otherwise we find out in 3 weeks on December 21st!!! We are still trying to decide if we will still do the envelope thing and open it on Christmas morning!! We plan to share with our family on Christmas morning even if we find out on the 21st.

Stay tuned......if we find out this Friday then we will be sure to share!!!

2009-11-10T11:56:00.000-08:00

This one is of the baby's elbow and hand. The baby pulled his/her hand and placed it on the face. Hard to believe that all the little bones of the fingers are already there!!!

2009-11-10T11:54:00.000-08:00

This one is really blurry but this is Peanut moving
his/her hand up towards his/her face!! So sweet to
see in person!!

Baby Peanut!!!

2009-11-10T11:52:00.000-08:00

Sorry it might be fuzzy...it is hard to get it to transfer to the blog and the pictures are different to begin with because they are on extremely shiny paper....

This is our Peanut at 13 weeks, 4 days. No more shrimp!!! Look at that profile!! So cute already!

End of the first, heading into the Second......

2009-11-10T08:46:00.000-08:00

So I went for my 13 week doctors visit and ultra sound last week and had a wonderful visit!! Our little Peanut has gone from looking "shrimp" or "seahorse" like to looking like a baby!! Amazing what just 3 weeks can do!! I heard the heartbeat for the very first time and was amazed at how little Peanut still is but how strong the heartbeat is already!! The doctor said everything looked great. They even moved my due date up to May 10th!!! Inching closer and closer to my dad's birthday (May 9th) and Matt's sisters birthday (May 8th)!! We shall see.

We were hoping to maybe catch a glimpse of peanuts anatomy down below to see boy or girl...but no such luck! That little Peanut is too comfy in there...can you blame them!!! The ultra sound tech tried her best to move the baby and even had me cough but to no avail baby wouldn't change positions. I kept envisioning the movie "Look Who's Talking" with Kirstie Alley and John Travolta where the baby talks in utero and makes funny comments. I am sure that our Peanut was saying "Whoa what is all this poking...Whoa lady why are you waking me from my slumber...I was pretty cozy you know." I just cracked up thinking about that movie. So we did not find out the sex of the baby but we will for sure on December 21st. We can't wait and we are counting the weeks!!!

My doctor told me that everything looked great. She said I am healthy and strong and fully expects for us to be given a very healthy baby. I did have some testing done for chromosomal disorders (Down syndrome, etc.) and should receive the results of that soon. We have no reason to worry but you never know God's plans for our baby.

The biggest prayer request we have is for everyone to continue to pray for a healthy baby for one but most importantly for me to remain as healthy as I have been for the remainder of the pregnancy. After much thought and many prayers I have decided that I am not going to vaccinate myself with the H1N1 vaccine. I am not comfortable with the amount of time that it has been out or the length of the studies that are being done on the long term effects. I feel confident in my decision and am doing everything I can do to stay as healthy as possible....so please continue to pray for that!! Thank you all for your love, prayers, and wonderful comments during this magical time for us!!

The beginning of a bump

2009-11-05T08:42:00.000-08:00

This is the beginning of a slight bump...still in my own clothes but watching my waistline disappear a little more each day!!

I have the first two months on my camera and at the moment I cannot find my camera!!! Trying not to panic!!! Not that there was a belly anwyway but I did take a picture at 4 weeks and 8 weeks to have.

This picture is my tummy this week at 13 weeks!! 1/3 of the way there and still a lot of belly left to grow!!!

The cat is out of the bag......Peanut Smith is annoounced to the world!!

2009-11-05T08:18:00.000-08:00

We have shared with all of our friends now and we even posted on facebook...which seems so funny to me that once you put it on facebook it becomes like paparazzi knowledge. It is amazing what a virtual world we are now days!!

We went on October 19 for my first OB appointment and we saw the baby and saw the heartbeat. What an incredible thing!!! I think it made it that much more real for Matt because up until that point there was no physical signs for him that I was really carrying a baby. The only thing he had to go by was my sickness that lasted about 3 weeks and my sheer exhaustion!! We were both so giddy when we left and are thankful for a healthy baby!! The doctor said the baby looked great and the way it should for 10 weeks. We have affectionally started calling the baby Peanut Smith...at least until we find out the sex!!

Tomorrow, November 6th I go back again for my first Trimester screen and work up. I am offically 13 weeks and now moving into my second trimester this weekend!! Yippee!! Hard to believe that we are already 1/3 of the way there. May 14th is our expected due date and I think it will be here before we know it. May is a great month for both of our families because between my family and his there are 8 birthday's in the month of May...so why not add another right?

We are going to be parents!!!

2009-09-23T13:57:00.001-07:00

We have experienced a lot of incredible things together from Auburn memories, traveling around the country, getting married, joining families...but nothing will compare to being parents!! We are extremely excited about what God has in store for us over the next 9 months. We have not shared our news with anyone except family and some very close friends but we did want to start this blog to chronicle what is going on. Our parents are extended family are thrilled!! This will the be fourth grandchild on Matt's side and the first on mine. I am an only child as most of you know so the grandchildren that we have will be it for my parents which I know means they will be loved more than I can even explain. I know I speak for Matt as well by saying that I hope that we are half the parents that ours were. They loved us unconditionally, showed us right from wrong, taught us how to be giving God worshipping believers, how to care for others, and how to follow dreams and always be the best we can be!!! I know they will also be wonderful support for us and it will be fun to watch them be grandparents and do all the fun stuff!!!

We thought this blog would be a great way to share with those both near and far. I love reading all my friends blogs so I hope that y'all will enjoy reading ours just as much. This will be a great way to update everyone on how things are going, how the baby is progressing, pictures, and all the magical moments that come with expecting!!

I am currently only 6 weeks pregnant so it will be some time before the cat is out of the bag!!! So far so good. I have been extremely tired but feeling pretty good!! Matt and I enjoy reading each week the size of the baby...currently the size of a lentil bean!! That is so tiny....really incredible to think about. Keep you posted soon!!!

Thanks for sharing in this wonderful journey with us!!

Love, H

Above is a picture of our Peanut at 10 weeks!! This was our very first ultra sound picture!! So amazing!!