Heidi has Arrived!

Dear Heidi,

Here is the story of your birth. Since you had many visitors flying in from faraway places (California and Utah) we decided to induce labor so that you would be born in time to meet them. Your doctor picked the date, May 3, which was two days before you "due date."

We were SO excited when May 3 rolled around. It had been a long nine months, and we could not believe that it was finally the day that we would meet you. We got up really early on May 3 and drove to the hospital in the dark since our appointment was at 6:30 am. When we got to the hospital, Mommy and Daddy anxiously checked in and were led to our room. Mommy was given medicine to start her labor and so the waiting began! We waited, and waited, and waited. Grammy Sandy arrived later that morning and waited with us. And we waited some more! Finally, later in the afternoon, after walking back and forth down the halls of the hospital and bouncing on the birthing ball...Mommy started to feel some slight contractions. The nurse finally said that I was dilated to a 2.5 at 5pm. I was officially in labor. They gave me more medicine and I kept walking. Auntie Nicole and cousin Cohen and Grandma Jenn stopped by just about this time for a visit. After they left, around things got really painful! The contractions were coming about every 2 minutes and mommy's water broke all over the bed at about 7pm. That is when the action started! Things got more painful that Mommy had ever experienced, and she decided to get some pain medication and an epidural quick before things got any worse. The epidural was amazing! I could hardly feel anything after that, so I took a nap and waited for you to arrive! At 11pm, our favorite doctor, Dr. Buiceag, arrived and it was time to start pushing. After about 50 minutes of pushing, at 11:54pm, you were out...just in time to keep May 3 as your birthday! Mommy cried VERY happy tears when they put you on my chest and you grabbed my finger. You didn't start to cry though, so they took you away from me and said they were going to go "make you mad." You were blue and it was little bit scary, but after a few minutes they sucked all the mucus out of your lungs and you let out a cute little squeaky cry! We were all so relieved. When we held you, we were happier than we had ever been. You were so tiny and beautiful and we could not believe how much hair you had!

Giving birth to you is one of the most wonderful memories I have. When I have bad days, or just simply can't sleep at night, I often think back to the first moment I saw you. You are such a miracle and a true gift from God.

Love,

Mommy

Mommy's Big Belly

Only 4 more weeks until I am expected to arrive! Mommy and Daddy are so excited. Here are some pictures that they took of her belly. It's really been getting big, but I have very little room left in here. I keep trying to stretch out, but can't stretch very far. I have also been getting the hiccups a lot.

Mommy saw the doctor yesterday for her 36 week visit and the doctor said that my head is down...and low, she could easily feel my head. Mommy is hoping this means I will come a little bit early, but I haven't decided yet. It sure is comfy and cozy in here...I kind of like being squished!

3-D Ultrasound

Mommy was so anxious to see what my little face looks like that she went in for a 3-D ultrasound when she was in California visiting her family. The ultrasound was on Grammy Sandy, who went with Mommy! What a treat! When the ultrasound tech first put my face up on the big screen, I was making a funny face and had a double chin...Mommy and Grammy Sandy thought it was pretty hilarious.

Mommy drank lots of apple juice before the ultrasound in high hopes of getting me to move, but let's face it, I'm a calm baby and I prefer to lay still! I hardly moved at all during the ultrasound and was very shy about having my picture taken. I kept trying to cuddle with and hide behind the placenta. Maybe I'm going to be shy like my Mommy was when she was little! Here are a few of the MANY pictures and videos Mommy got to take home:

Here are my feet:
My knees, umbilical cord, arms and my nose and mouth:
Sleepy!

Trying to hide:Here's my funny face/double chin!
Cute little hand up by my face:
And finally, a sweet smile!

Childbirth Classes

Mommy and Daddy started their 5 week series of childbirth classes last Tuesday! Daddy really didn't want to go, but Mommy loved every second of it. The nurse teaching their class is a really sweet, soft-spoken lady who has been teaching for 20 or so years. There are 5 mamas total in the class...3 are having boys, 1 doesn't know, and mine is having a girl of course. The mama who sits next to us in class lives really close to us (which is a big coincidence since we kind of live in a teeny tiny town). Maybe her baby and I will be friends and go to school together!
Daddy got to volunteer to help the nurse fill up a bag with all the different weights mommy is gaining and then all the daddies had to feel how heavy it was. Then we watched a video about labor, and Daddy handled it really well. Mommy was happy because the nurse had all the daddies give the mamas massages with tennis balls. She really enjoyed it! Then, we had relaxation time and I kicked Mommy's belly through the whole thing. What a fun time!

Kicking Daddy

Lately, Mommy has been feeling lots of bouncing movements in her belly. Well, she's right, I have been doing a lot of bouncing. It's so fun and squishy in here...just like one big trampoline! My mommy has also felt lots of tickling movements right near her right hip and the occasional kicks. I usually save all my kicking for night time when Mommy is getting ready to drift off to sleep. Daddy has even felt me kick a few times! The first time he felt me kick was when we were in CA laying in bed the night before Auntie Jenny's wedding. Daddy was amazed that he could feel me! I kicked him 5 times just to be sure he knew it was really me making that movement. Then, a week ago, Daddy was talking to me. I could feel his hand on Mommy's belly so I kicked it to let him know I was listening.
Mommy wants me to move more during the day. She gets worried because she thinks she should be feeling more kicks. Don't worry though Mom! I'm just relaxing all day long and don' t want to bug you.
I'm as sweet as can be already! :)

My Baby Shower!

The week before Christmas, my Auntie Nicole and Grandma Jenn threw us a baby shower! It really warmed Mommy's heart to have all the lovely ladies in her life gather together and talk babies with her for a couple hours. Not only that, but I got a lot of girly clothes (which I can't wait to wear) and lots of other goodies! Mommy is so grateful!
Mommy and our neighbor Paula:

Auntie Erin, Mommy, Great Grandma Lorraine, and Great Aunt Jill: Britt, Auntie Erin, Mommy, Auntie Nicole, Grandma Jenn, and Lu

Mommy, Ellie, and Melissa (Mommy was Ellie's nanny!):Here is mommy holding Ellie's little brother Vencil:

My 20 Week Ultrasound

When Mommy was just about 20 weeks pregnant with me, she and Daddy got to go to the doctor for an anatomy ultrasound and were extremely excited to find out if they were going to have a lot of pink of blue in their future. Mommy thought I was a boy. Daddy knew deep down that I was a girl, although he really hoped that I would be a boy. Sure enough, the ultrasound tech told them that I was a girl! Daddy smiled, but was a little disappointed. He may not fully realize it yet, but I am going to have him wrapped around my little finger and he is going to have so much fun with me! After all, just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I can't watch sports with him when I'm little and play sports with him when I'm bigger. I'm a little athlete already. I have been practicing kicks and doing flips for weeks and weeks now!

At this ultrasound, I was about 10 inches long from head to toe. I grew a lot since last time they saw me! I was facing up in Mommy's belly with my feet above her belly button. Mommy and Daddy are curious how I can hang upside down in here and not have all the blood rush to my head! Hmmm...Here is a picture of me all curled up in the fetal position:

During this ultrasound, I was calm as can be. They woke me up during my nap, so I was still drowsy and didn't move a lot. Here's a picture of me with my head turned so you can see my face! You can also see my brain and my spine in this pic:

Mommy's Baby Bump

From the moment Mommy found out about me, she started spending lots of time staring at her belly looking for a bump. Here is a picture of Mommy's belly when she was only 6 weeks pregnant with me. She was convinced she had a slight bump, but really Mommy, are you joking? Mommy was going to take pictures every week from 6 weeks on, but got lazy for quite a few weeks! Now that Mommy's belly is much bigger, she can't believe that this is what her belly used to look like and has a lot of trouble seeing the suspect "bump" :).

24 weeks--->

My First Photoshoot

Here I am 12 weeks into Mommy's pregnancy. I am really tiny in the this picture! I was less than 2 inches long from crown to rump and hardly weighed anything at all, but I was very spunky and put on a show for Mommy and Daddy! As soon as the ultrasound tech put me up on the screen, my little arms and legs were moving continuously. Mommy cried as soon as she saw me and pretty much through the whole ultrasound because I was soo cute. She's such a sap! But that was the first moment that she realized that she was really, truly, actually going to be a Mommy. AND the hormones taking over her body sure do make her emotional!

Here I am with my hand resting on my head:

Time for my close-up!Just relaxing with my legs crossed:My round little tummy and legs and feet!Here I am waving good-bye at the end of my show! Mommy and Auntie Jen think I look like a little alien here:

Mommy and Daddy are so EXCITED!

Hi, my name is Heidi and I'm going to be Mommy and Daddy's first baby! When Mommy first found out she was pregnant with me, she was thrilled and in disbelief. Could it really be true? Mommy and Daddy had been wanting a baby, but were surprised at how fast it happened without even really trying! I must have been "meant to be." Mommy went shopping that day and bought me a teeny tiny Minnesota Twins t-shirt to show to Daddy to break the news. Mommy couldn't get anytime alone with Daddy that day, so she waited to tell him until late that night after he got home from a night out with his friends. Daddy was so excited when he heard the news! Ever since, Mommy and Daddy have been anxiously awaiting my arrival. They talk about me constantly. I think they are a little bit obsessed.
I'm expected to arrive on May 5 and plan to do lots of eating, sleeping, peeing, pooping, and crying. It's a good thing my parents already love me so much, because I'm going to be a lot of work!