Caroline Elizabeth Blair's Arrival

Thursday October 15th....The day that changed my life.

Well after a trip to Wal-Mart and a lengthy discussion with my best friend Ellen over my fears of how I would know whether or not I was in labor (I feared being "that" girl that went to Labor & Delivery only to be turned away because she was in fact NOT in labor) I returned home to put away my groceries and get some things done around the house before Kyle got home from work.

As I was upstairs putting away laundry my water broke at 5:40. At first I wasn't sure but then I became certain that my water had indeed broken. I went downstairs and told Kyle and we packed the car up and started making the journey to the hospital. On the way to the hospital we made all of the necessary phone calls and I urged everyone to remain in their respective homes as I wasn't sure that my water had broken or how long the process would take...I guess that was my attorney CYA skills coming into play.

When we arrived at the hospital the triage nurse examined me and I was 4 centimeters dilated and she confirmed that my water had indeed broken so I was going to be admitted. OK so I have to admit that I started to freak out a little bit...Kyle and I had quit our birthing class and I was just a little concerned that I was unprepared. But no fears my nerves were calmed by watching Community and Parks and Recreation.

Well we arrived at our room (which was incredibly nice) and started watching TV. I have to admit that going into labor on a Thursday night was a pretty good thing...so many choices of what to watch on TV while waiting for the blood tests to come back so that I could get my epidural. Once the results came back I received the epidural, the whole time I had to listen to how Sheryl, my nurse, had birthed 8 children and done so every single time sans epidural and how there were advantages to "natural" child birth. I simply explained to Sheryl that a natural child birth might have worked for her but that I was going to have this little girl numb from the waist down! Around 9:30 or 10:00 Sheryl came to check on me and see how things were going. She had already told Kyle and myself that it would probably take 6-12 hours for Caroline to make her debut so that we should get some sleep and then expect her to arrive in the early morning. So she began her exam and stated that I was 7 centimeters dilated...much further than she had expected I would be. I was super proud of my progress! Then she looked at me and uttered words that a mother in labor would never want to hear..."Something isn't right." I urged her, in my most pleasant tone, to explain further what she meant. She explained that she felt feet! Now let me regress here and explain that the day before I had been at my doctor's office and he examined me and noted that I was 4 centimeters and that Caroline was still head down and also that the triage nurse had failed to mention that she was feet first. The nurse then made a hurried phone call to the on call physician for my doctor's group. I was then wheeled into the OR and was prepped for an emergency C Section. Kyle was great and never once did I see him get flustered or even react as if this situation was anything but normal. I really don't think that I would have remained as calm as I did if he had not of been so wonderful. I am truly blessed with an amazing husband.

So in the OR the C Section was underway and I really wasn't feeling a single thing, thanks to the most amazing anesthesiologist...he just kept pumping me full of the good stuff. After what seemed to me to be 5 minutes I heard the most amazing sound every...my little girl crying/screaming! I never thought that I would be one of those moms but the moment that I heard that sound tears started streaming down my face.

She was taken over to start the examination by the NICU, they were there since it was considered an emergency C Section. She scored a 9 out of 1o on her APGAR testing. I obviously haven't stopped bragging about how advanced my daughter is! And everything else was perfect...6lbs. 9 oz. Kyle followed her back to the labor and delivery room where the grandparents where waiting with lots of hugs and kisses.

Since my paparazzi mother wasn't there before we went into surgery we don't have any funny photos of Kyle dressed up in his scrubs or me sitting there waiting for the process to begin. I have included some of the pictures that I have. Don't worry there is nothing that is gross...only pictures of my sweet sweet daughter.

The first time I got to see my beautiful little girl.

The proud father.

All of the beautiful flowers from family and friends.

Kyle and I have the most amazing family and friends.

Caroline has been a blessing to our lives and Kyle and I are constantly reminded of how enriched our lives have become as result of being her parents. She is the most amazing gift I have ever received and I will thank God for her with my every breath.

We can't wait for everyone to come and meet her. I just know that you will fall head over heels for her just like me!

38 1/2 Weeks Pregnant

I thought that my avid readers might enjoy a picture of me at the glorious stage of 38.5 weeks pregnant. This will probably be the last picture you get with this massive bump so enjoy!

Just a question to be answered by my "followers"

Is it totally and completely wrong that I purchased a lobster costume for Vivian.....and then became ecstatic when I found a matching lobster costume for Caroline?

We are going to be a lobster family for Halloween. My plan is for Kyle and I go to as the lobster fishermen. I think it will be cute but I just need opinions...preferably opinions that I will like!

Vivian's Birthday Party

Vivian celebrated her 2nd birthday party a few months early. Her real birthday is in December but this December will be a little crazy with Caroline in the picture and on top of that Vivian hasn't really met any friends in The Woodlands. I just couldn't bear the thought of her having to spend her birthday party alone! So we celebrated while we were in Shreveport for our wonderful couple's shower. We invited all of our friends to the Duck Pond on Sunday for cake.

Thanks to all that came and spent the time sweating and pulling the dogs apart at the Duck Pond on Sunday. I really don't think that there is a better way to spend the day! I know that it was ridiculous...a birthday party for a dog in the middle of the recession but I appreciate all of you who attended...blame it on the crazy pregnancy hormones! Vivian had a wonderful time and slept the entire way home.

Her adorable Banana Bowers Cake with Cream Cheese Peanut Butter frosting. I hope no doggies got sick.



Look at her sitting at the table like a good little girl. We should've had candles!



It was so good to see Charlie again. The last time Vivian saw Charlie she tried to eat him when he was a puppy. This did not happen this time...she's a big girl now.



Doggie Mayhem! Kyle couldn't believe I created this drama, but I loved every minute of it. I think the dogs did as well. There were too many butt sniffs to be counted.


Georgia is such a good girl. She had two pieces of cake. She loved it. She later showed off her Frisbee skills. I think Vivian was a little bit jealous. She doesn't really have any party tricks and I think it's too late to work on those...old dog and all.


Vivian really misses her Aunt Casey. Isn't that the sweetest picture ever?



Thanks again to everyone who came to celebrate her birthday. We miss all of ya'll and promise to visit soon. We miss Shreveport and all of our friends.

Our Shreveport Shower!

Kyle and I are so blessed with such great friends! We spend the weekend in Shreveport with our wonderful friends, and they threw us a FABULOUS couple's shower. The decorations, food and drinks (I can't vouch for the drinks but I can definitely vouch for the gumbo, meat pies, salad, bread sticks and cupcakes) were absolutely amazing. Carie, Casey, Melissa and Bevin definitely out did themselves. On the way home Sunday Kyle and I could not quite pick out our favorite thing of the shower...there were way too many to choose from.

It was so great to be able spend time with all of our friends and catch up. It had been too long since we had seen them. I'm so glad that Joey and Megan are getting married because there will be lots and lots of parties and showers in Shreveport and we'll get to see everyone on a more regular basis! We miss them so much and can't wait for Caroline to meet them!

Check out all of my beautiful girlfriends!

Casey's beautiful decorations! She really outdid herself!

Check all of the loot that Caroline made off with. Thank you!


Now I just need to tackle the thank you notes!

Thank you again to all of our friends. I can't explain how blessed we feel to have each and everyone one of you all in our lives!

Last Night

Last night I had a terrifying thought/realization...call it whatever you want...that there is a human being inside of me who in the not too distant future will be outside of me (thank God) and depending on Kyle and me for basically everything.

I had this knee weakening realization while staring at my bare ever expanding belly in the mirror. Talk about horrifying! I mean I always technically understood that there was a human being growing inside of me from the very beginning BUT I never truly thought about it...I mean really thought about it...until last night and it made me a little sick at my stomach...you know the holy crap I'm really unprepared sick at your stomach feeling?

I guess I began to think a little about the fact that Caroline will rely on me to make the best possible decision for her earlier that day while Ellen, my best friend, and I had a conversation/debate via text over whether to get or not get the swine flu vaccine. During the text convo I found myself waiting to hear if she was going to get the vaccine so that I could just follow her lead...this is her second child so I was basically just following whatever the more experienced mother decided. It was at this point that I realized that Caroline would be depending on me to make not just this important decision but other even more important decisions in the future. OH VEY!

Needless to say it freaked me out and I began to crave a glass (or two) of wine. Motherhood is going to be tough! Hopefully I'll hone my decision making skills before she makes her debut. (note the choice to use color since there are no pictures to express my true horror!)

Caroline's 4D Sonogram

Although I think...no I'm pretty sure...that I have shared the photos of Caroline's 4D sonogram with everyone who reads my blog through email but I just couldn't take the chance that I accidentally left someone out.

I now know that it is true that every mother or parent for that matter thinks that their child is the prettiest or most handsome thing on the planet regardless of the actual truth. I KNOW that this is true because I believe, even via sonogram picture, that my daughter IS the cutest thing in the womb...world (did you catch the corny play on words?)! I have to admit that prior to experiencing this sonogram I was actually worried that she might not be as cute as I had imagined in my head and I had no idea how I would deal if she wasn't, but no worries she is ADORABLE!

Well let's get to the actual experience of the sonogram. It's funny and I haven't shared that with ya'll. So I decided to invite my Mom, Aunt Kathleen, and Mary Ann. This would be the first time for Mary Ann to see Caroline via a sonogram as opposed to my bulging belly. For my aunt this would be the first time she would ever experience a sonogram. My mom had come to a previous sonogram so at this point Cheryl thought she was a pro, never mind the fact that Mary Ann already has two other grandchildren.

Here's the scene..we wait patiently, Mary Ann waited longer because we were running late, in the waiting room for my name to be called. Nice small talk etc. Then my name is called. On the way back to THE ROOM I explain my desire not to be weighed to the nurse. She looks at me for further explanation and I explain that since I am paying for this out of my own pocket and not via my insurance that I don't want to pay to see how much MORE weight I have gained. So after looking at my dead serious face she seats me and my entourage in the inner waiting room. Where we continue to wait. Then Leanne comes and gets me for the sonogram. You should have seen the look on her face when she saw my entourage just talking up a storm and keeping the inner waiting room in stitches with their excitement and my aunt's questions about what to expect etc. So we get there and Leanne explains that Sweet Caroline is in the breech position which will make this a bit more difficult...wonder who she gets that from? We got some great photos nonetheless...

Hands and Feet in the way here. The stuff floating in front of her face is the umbilical cord. Couldn't avoid that!

It's kind of like she's smiling!



Sticking her tongue out at us! She's a bit cheeky!


Look at those fingers and toes! Isn't this crazy stuff? Look at that big foot! It's almost over I promise!



Here she is wrapping her arm around her little knee.

So once we have the pictures printed and Leanne has saved our tape so that we can add more movement to it at the next session (I know that ya'll are all holding your breath for September 2nd and the ultimate release of the movement video. We need a blockbuster type title...Kate could you work on that?) since she was not in the best position this time. We walk to the front so that I can pay the bill. Well I'm walking and the three of them are still oohhing and awwing over the baby naturally so I just keep walking. When we arrive at the desk they begin to show EVERYONE around them the pictures...typical grandmothers and aunt. It was so cute. I think ...no I know that my mother was the worse!

So thanks for letting me go on and on about my cute little girl. I can't wait for all of you to meet her when she arrives in October!