The Past 6 months

Well, I really could go on forever about the last 6 months, all the changes Emma has gone through, all the amazing moments we have had-the laughs, joys, the "firsts", some frustrations-but overall motherhood is the richest blessing on earth. Emma will be 7 months on Sunday and a good friend asked what she is doing now, and I realized that although pictures are fun to see of her, they don't tell the whole story, and unless I sit down to write, all the memories tend to blurr. So, I will pick up where we left off...wow, day 25!--fill in some of the blanks, and help you "see" Emma! Maybe the easiest is to start with this week. So our lives are crazy right now. We listed our house 3 weeks ago Tuesday, and have an accepted offer, so this week has been consumed with that and house hunting. Showings, house hunting, etc has started to throw Emma a bit off schedule--so she caught up today by taking an almost 3 hr nap!! We've had playdates, a trip to the capital, plenty of walks, and some nice memories at home. On Wednesday, I was feeding her lunch, and she just started cracking up, which of course, made me laugh(she is like her daddy this way) and then she started laughing again because I was laughing, and this went on a good couple of minutes-it was bliss! Today she had another funny moment--I was burping her, and she grabbed my face, which is a daily occurance, and then proceeded to burp in my ear and laugh, it was hilarious! She is getting to the point now where she really loves to be on the ground playing. When you hold her she tries to "get down" by pushing agaist you with her arms and legs, and arches her back. Then gets all excited when she sees her toys! Her 2 favorite books are Goodnite Moon and Olivia.

I will update this once a week--as to not bombard-but rather collect the memories then share more at once! Until next week.

25 days old

Wow how time flies when you are having fun!  Miss Emma Lynn Noelke was born at 6:01 am Friday February 27th, 2009.  She was 8lbs 9 oz and 20 inches long--who of you guessed right on the blog poll??  We went into labor on Thursday--while I was at work and didnt realize that they were contractions!  I even ran some errands.  PJ met me at home about 2:30pm due to weather--and then we started timing contractions about 3pm.  By 6pm they were 6 mins. apart and lasting about 30-40 seconds.  We called the hospital and they said to labor at home as long as possible.  By 11 we decided to go to the hospital--the contrction were 3 mins apart and lasting a min.  When we checked into Triage I was 6 cm diaplated.  We had an all natural birth and it was a wonderful experience.  Ama and Baba (PJ's parents) arrived at the hospital shortly after 8am, and then my mom was there by 3.  Miss Emma did not sleep a wink almost her whole first day of life.  She was SO hungry(started rooting right after PJ cut the umbilical cord!).  She had her first bath at the hospital and hated it!  I knew that Emma knew when to be born-nurse Sandy who was my guardian angel through the miscarriage was our nurse on Saturday night, and only works weekends--so it was wonderful to see her!!  Fast forward to now!  We have been to the doctor 3 times, and as they say--"she is perfect!".  My dad sister and mom were able to come up to meet Emma and while they were here, her umbilical cord fell off on her 2 week birthday.  She is now 9lb 6oz and 22.5 inches long, and the joy of our lives!  Sorry it has been so long!

It's a Start

We had a Doctor's appointment today, and though not too much has progressed since last week, we are 1 cm dialated now! So that is a start to the process, and it made me really excited.  She says this is no prediction of when labor can start--she says as much as they know about labor, they really don't know much.  But, for me, that means things are starting, so my body is doing what it is supposed to do!

Pictures

As I reflect on our due date being 8 days away--it is hard to fathom that this day is almost here.  40 weeks seems like such a long time, and though it is--somehow it is already here!  We had a great week this week.  The doctor's appt once again confirmed that there really have been no changes--but the head has now descended to -1 position.  Wednesday night, Jazz came over with her Mary Poppins bag, and a professional camera, and we had a ball taking pictures of the-well, ball of a belly!  Jazz's creative mind amazes me.  I am really greatful to have these pictures as it will be so easy to forget the amazing transformation that the body goes through when I am not huge full of baby anymore.  PJ and I have been advised to do everything that we want to do now--before the baby comes, so we had our "Friday Night Fish Fry" date night on Friday.  I am at that point beyond people wondering if it is ok to ask if we are expecting, but rather--strangers ask when we are due, what we are having and if we have names.  Pregnancy is such a conversation starter-I wonder if the baby will be too!  We had such a wonderful time--and PJ is now in the so excited emotional state.  It is hard to fathom that you will be in the world with us shortly little one!  We got the car seat all positioned in the car today--and that was the last "big" thing we had to do.  So as PJ says "come on out little baby, we want to meet you!"

Baby's Noelke Shower

Sorry it has been a while! Last weekend was Baby's shower hosted by the Peckman's and the Noelke's--and it was a wonderful affair! We got to spend the afternoon with Ama and Baba, and cousin Ellen and Auntie Lynne and Uncle Todd. My how Ellen has grown! She has such a darling personality emerging, and I just can't believe what changes happen in just 3 months. We had wonderful weather, and a great turn out. Marcy and Paul went ALL out with food and planning. Baby got so many wonderful gifts--it is unbelievable how generous everyine is! At our check up this week, the only thing I learned was that baby is roughly 7-7.5 lbs--and with 2 weeks left and the baby gaining about 1/2 a lb a week--the baby will most likely be at least 8 lbs--so we shall see!(G-Marmy, my mom, thinks we will have a 9 lb. baby). I have begun the swelling, and it is scary at the end of the day to look at sausages for toes. I have taken my rings off, to avoid possibly having to have them cut off, and have a fun story--of course has to do with kids. A boy in my class this morning finally noticed that I am pregnant! When he left, he went up to one of the large group leaders and told her that his teacher Miss Amy was going to have a baby. Then proceeded to say that he was worried about me because I was not married. She replied, well, what makes you think she's not married. He said, well, because she doesn't have a ring on! It boggles my mind that he was that observant about my ring, but just noticed that I am pregnant--kids say the darndest things!

So Emily had another dream about our baby--it is so far 2 dreams girl, and this last dream boy (I guess we named him Nathan-her finace's name, and this did not make her very happy!). Is it bad that I have only had one dream about baby? I dreamt in the beginning of our pregnancy that we were having a girl, but have had no dreams since then--well, no dreams about baby, and no dreams that make any sense whatsoever!

PJ and I had a nice Valentine's Day. I got flowers and we ate a fancy meal by candlelight, and the house was so quiet. It was so relaxing. We talked about how we are going to be parents soon, and it is so hard to believe that our count down on here is down to 15 days. I honestly can't wait to meet our little miracle, and hug and kiss and love it unconditionally.

Certified:)

Our last class through the hospital was on Tuesday, and we passed.  It was on breasfeeding, and we actually learned quite a bit!  Positions for baby, correct latch, good bras and tanks, pumps, etc.  So much more to learn though--but this learning is hands on, so we just have to wait for bebe!  Not much to report from the doctor's appointment today--other than everything is just as it should be.  Baby's heartbeat is great, and baby is still head down.  My cervix may be 25% effaced, but that really means nothing.  She says to expect the baby sometime in March!  On Monday we will be considered full term, so that is a VERY exciting milestone for us!  The baby sure is getting big in there!  I became a member of Chapter DV of PEO last night--and another woman in the chapter is due March 22, and they had us take picutes belly to belly--the babies are friends already!  I really love the woman-and am so blessed that my grandmother got involved in this wonderful organization--for I get to be apart of a great group of woman!  

We are supposed to have a heat wave come through here tomorrow and through the weekend, it is to get up to the 40's--this is very exciting.  And on the other side of the country my sister is extatic that it is raining and cooling off in California--I wonder what that must be like!  Until next time!

Appointments

We had our 35 week appointment on Thursday of last week, and they checked the baby's position (it was head down!) and it was really exciting for PJ and I to see where she said the head, feet hands, bottom, etc were.  They did the Strep B test, and checked my cervix--nothing is starting yet, so that is good.   Today, PJ and I got to meet the baby's Pediatrician!  Dr. Kreckman seems to be a great fit!  She is really up front and honest, and has a 4 and 2 year old, so is really familiar with the things we may go through.  And she is a sports fan!  I am down to having an appointment every week now, so I will update on anything that we find out.  28 days from today-so this is the home stretch!