The Past Few Weeks...

Obviously I haven't been the best about blogging over the past few weeks! I think our new little addition has decided to occupy a majority of my time (as expected). Just to get caught up, I've decided to post some pics over the past few weeks. Ian will be 4 weeks old on Thursday...I can't believe it!! We have really enjoyed him, despite the lack of sleep for mama and daddy! Enjoy (pics are in chronological order).

Rewind...Ian's Birthday

Well, I'm way behind on blogging since our little bundle of joy was born. I will have to provide updates over the next several posts. To start, I will go back to the day he was born! I went to the hospital on the evening of 9-22-10 to get induced. I was 41 weeks preggo that day, and my doctor decided to go ahead and admit me for induction. I hadn't dilated at all, but I was 50% effaced prior to admission to the hospital and the baby had dropped quite a bit. After receiving Cervadil and a long, uncomfortable night in the hospital (mainly due to the extremely short bed!), they started Pitocin on the morning of 9-23-10. I started having some contractions and my doctor decided to go ahead and break my water to hurry things along. I received my epidural and things seemed to be going just fine! Unfortunately, after a few hours, our baby's heart rate started dropping with every contraction. They decided that the Pitocin was aggravating him, so it was turned off. I was dilated to a 3 (finally), but without the Pitocin, I wasn't making any progress! After about 3 more hours of not progressing, it was decided that I would need to go ahead and have a C-section to get the baby out. This was not AT ALL, what I had planned in my mind, so I was pretty emotional throughout tht entire process.

This is me the night I was admitted... Despite the C-section process being super scary, it certainly was quick! Once they got me into the operating room, the baby was out quick! My first glance at him was when one of the docs held him over the blue curtain and said, "Hi Mommy!" At that point, my tears of anxiety and uncertainty turned into tears of joy. Jason wasn't able to cut the cord since we were in a sterile surgery suite, but he was able to get close enough to get pics afterwards.

Here is one of the first pics of our son - Ian Jace Snodgrass

Born 9-23-10 at 2:17 pm * 7 lbs. 5 oz. * 20.5 inches long

This is our first family picture!

Mama looking happy after a very stressful recent few hours!

Ian after he was cleaned up - back in the Labor and Delivery Suite

Poppa (Jason's Dad) holding Ian

Nanny (Jason's Mom) with Ian

Grandpa and Nana (my dad and stepmom) with Ian

Grandma (my mom) with Ian

Another family pic

Sorry it's been so long! I will try to update more frequently now!

He's Here!

Ian Jace Snodgrass has arrived!! We welcomed him on 9-23-10 at 2:17 pm. He weighed 7 lbs 5 oz. and was 20.5 inches long. More pics to come!!

Finished Project and Baby Practice

Growing up, our family had the Bucilla personalized felt/sequin/bead Christmas stockings that my mom made, and they looked so pretty hanging from our mantel. Since Jason and I have been married, I have made new stockings for us, but now we needed to add a third stocking for baby Ian! Depending on the pattern and kit, they can take a really long time to make. Back in June, I decided to start working on Ian's stocking since I knew that I may not have the time after he was born. I didn't think that I would actually finish it before his arrival, but I did! It turned out really cute, and it will be the perfect addition to our stockings at Christmas. Today, we also had some baby practice. My good friend from our church LifeGroup, Trina, had an appointment with the dentist, so we got to watch baby Wesley for a little while. He was a little fussy, but it gave us some good practice to try different methods to appease him. He is such an adorable baby boy and will be a good little friend to Ian. Here is a pic of Jason holding him...Wes really liked watching the ceiling fan in our living room.

By the way...I started my maternity leave today (hence, the reason that I was home). I'm still planning to get induced Thursday, but I'm pretty nervous. I've been a bad healthcare professional and consulted the internet to find out more information on induction (probably the worst place to look...that's where all of the horror stories are found). Anyway, now I'm nervous about the induction just causing me to labor for 20+ hours, THEN having to have a c-section due to lack of progression. I think that I would be less concerned if I knew that I was already dilated and had some contractions (although I did have some pretty bad back pain last Friday night...could've been contractions?!). Anyway, please pray that everything will go smoothly and Ian will be born without running into complications. Also, please pray that it's the right decision to go ahead with induction this week (my doctor induces between 41 and 42 weeks, but it was my decision to pick the earlier date).

One way or another, he'll be here soon!

Ian, Where Are You?

I guess that I never really considered the idea that I wouldn't have a baby by today. When you go to that first doctor's appointment after finding out you're pregnant, you tend to focus on one day for the next several months...the baby's DUE DATE! I know that it's just a date based on a calender calculation, but still, lots of women have their babies by this date. I think that I have to remember that many women also go past their due date (especially first-time moms). Over the last few years, most of the people I've known have either naturally gone into labor early, had a scheduled C-section before their due date to avoid going into labor, or have been induced early. I honestly don't know many who have gone past their due dates....I guess, statistically, somebody has to...and apparently it's me! Oh well, I know that everything will happen in God's timing, so I'm trying to be patient. He could still arrive anytime, but if not by next Wednesday, I'll be going into the hospital for a little "encouragement" via medication...

Here is a 40-week picture!

On another note, HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY to my close friend, Brittan!! It has been fun knowing that Ian could share a birthday with her, but it looks like they will get to keep their "own" special days. She is off enjoying the "wine country" in California!

Speaking of wine...it shouldn't be too long before I can have a glass...or, even better, a margarita! Yum!

39 Weeks and Erin's Baby Shower

I wasn't sure if I would be able to make this shower, but since baby Ian still hasn't arrived, I was able to help Erin celebrate her pending arrival! Erin is part of our bible study and she is "3rd" out of the 5 of us that are (were) pregnant (Trina had her baby last month). She and her husband, Kevin, are waiting to be suprised on the baby's gender, so the shower theme was adorable with green, yellow, and black.

She was blessed with lots of baby goodies, and I know she's excited to finish getting her nursery set up.

Here is a pic of Erin, Mikah, and I at the shower. Erin is due on November 7th...not too much longer! Thanks for inviting me Erin! I had a great time. Can't wait to find out if you're baby is a little boy or girl!

Last, but not least...here is a "39 weeks and 3 days" picture.

My mom was able to come up today for a visit. She treated me to a pedicure and lunch. It was good to see her and a nice distraction from my normal "sitting around and waiting."

Now time to watch the rest of the OU/Florida State game...we are creaming them!! Boomer Sooner!!

So Long, Ugly Bush!

One thing that we loved about our house is the beautiful landscaping! Here is a picture of our house last Fall, right after we moved in. Aren't the colors beautiful? Unfortunately, there was one bush that we weren't really a fan of....can you find it?
Yep, it's the low-lying bush in the front that is right next to our sidewalk. I knew that it didn't look good in the Fall, and in the winter...it was just a mess of wooden tangles! However, I hesitated to remove it until I found out what it did in the Spring. Maybe it would produce beautiful buds or flowers?!!!

NOPE!!!! It did nothing except get little tiny green leaves which helped its appearancy MINIMALLY! Time to go, ugly bush!

Thanks to Jason for getting it out of there!! Now I have some garden space to plant something fun!! I ordered several bulbs, so maybe I'll plant some here....any other ideas?

Babies, Babies, Babies!

The last few week have been pretty big in the "baby world." I've had 3 friends give birth to 3 precious little bundles of joy! It has been so nice sharing my pregnancy journey with these girls, and now that their babies have arrived...I'm next!!

Paige Ryelan Gibbs

August 9, 2010 * 6 lbs. 5.4 oz * 18 in

Proud Parents: Ben and Jamie Gibbs

Jamie was in our bible study group last Fall!

Wesley Martin Ashour

August 14, 2010 * 7 lbs. 4 oz * 20 in

Proud Parents: Trevor and Trina Ashour

Both Trevor and Trina are currently in our bible study group.

Lawson Alexander Jones

August 19, 2010 * 6 lbs. 15 oz * 18.5 in

Proud Parents: Kurtis and Amber Jones

Big Sister: Audrey

Amber is my long time best friend and college roommate!

Congratulations to all of you!! It is so amazing to see God's precious little miracles. I look forwarding to watching each of these little blessings grow! We are getting so excited for Ian to arrive. It's great to know that he'll have 3 "instant" friends :)

Maternity Pictures by Jenny Myers

My good friend, Trina, recently had some maternity pics taken by her friend, Jenny. Trina's pics turned out adorable (click here to see some of them), and it really inspired me to think about capturing this part of our life. Jenny is an aspiring photographer and has wanted to work on her portfolio, so she told Trina that she would be willing to take pics for some of her pregnant friends (as mentioned in the last post, there are a lot of us!) Anyway, I decided to take her up on this great offer! I was so impressed with Jenny's artistic abilities, and we were really happy with the way they turned out. I am so glad that we decided to do these. Thank you Jenny (and Trina for the recommendation)!

Hot mamas!

God has always been faithful about providing Jason and I with great friends, no matter where we have lived. The same can be said for our friends in Wichita. Right after we moved here, we became involved with a church that we really enjoy...Eastside Community Church. We immediately joined a LifeGroup (i.e. bible study group) and have made some lifelong friends. Amazingly, this group has been a HUGE support to us throughout our pregnancy. Why you ask? Because almost all of them are pregnant too!! It has been so much fun finding out big news from each of the girls, including the fact that they are pregnant, how doctor's visits have been going, what they're having (or if it's a surprise), etc. It will be fun when all of our little ones have arrived and they can all play together!

Below is a picture of all of the girls in our group (it was a rare occasion to have every one there one night). Mikah, the girl on the far left, already has 2 children and isn't currently pregnant; however, the rest of us are! Mikah has graciously offered to watch Ian on Thursdays and Fridays when I go back to work, so it is comforting to know that he'll be in "experienced" hands.
Here are the rest of us in order of our due dates: Trina (due in August), me (due in September), Erin (due in November), Meg (due in December), and Shelby (due in February)

Now for the exciting part...Trina had her baby early this morning! (2:24am to be exact) They were holding out for the surprise, so we didn't know what she would be having. It was a boy!!! We are planning to go and visit them in the hospital this evening and I can't wait to meet him. He's pretty precious from the pics!

Here is a pic of Trina and her hubby, Trevor, a few weeks ago. Congrats you two!

You know what this means????? I'm NEXT!!!! Yikes!!!!