A few teasers....

My awesome friend Shanna came over and took some pictures of my sweet Claire! We have not really edited them all but here are just a few I played around with.

Hopefully I will be sending out her birth announcement soon!

Thanks Shanna for taking the time to do this! I think they turned out great!

My sweet baby!

Introducing Claire Ann

Our sweet little girl arrived on June 22 at 1:22 p.m., weighing in at 7 lbs. 4 oz., 21 in. long, and 12 days early!

Here is the story.... So Sunday evening the 19th- I started having contractions. They came early in the morning and progressed throughout the day. By the afternoon we decided to go in and get checked out. I was only 1 cm and they watched for a few hours but I was not progressing so they sent me home. My contractions continued for the next few days but more off and on. I didn't get much sleep the next few days and by tuesday night my contractions were getting stronger and stronger! Finally at about 2a.m. we decided these contractions were the real thing. I was hating life at this point and could no longer walk through them. We drove to the hospital and I got into a room and the contractions were just minutes apart by now.

Once the nurse checked my I was almost a 5 and I got admitted. I was also VERY ready for an epidural after having had contractions for almost three days. My epidural was wonderful but very strong- I couldn't really move my legs but it was a small price to pay for the comfort. I was able to get some rest-but with nurses constantly checking and fiddling with you, I didn't get much. At about 11:30 a.m.- it was time to push! It was funny because my epidural was so good- I didn't know how hard I was pushing! They turned my epidural down so I could feel the contractions more-not pleasant- but at least I could push more effectively.

After 2 1/2 hours of pushing I was exhausted and the doctor said the baby wasn't down far enough. Her head was turned funny and she wasn't able to come out quite right. The doctor said I was going to have to have a C-section. I lost it! I was so tired and it was the last thing I wanted. I couldn't stop crying. Luckily I had an amazing nurse who convinced the doctor to let me try just a 1/2 hour longer and use a few different positions to help move the baby. The doc was skeptical but said ok.

Well, a 1/2 hour later and a few of the most horrific positions you could imagine, the doctor checked me and said she had moved just enough to be able to try the vacuum! She said she would give it one try and if the vacuum popped off- it was c-section time. Well, Claire must have been ready because one pull with the vacuum and out she came! They put her right on my chest and I have never had a more joyous moment in my life.

Jimmy was so supportive and was with me every step of the way and we felt so blessed that I was able to deliver her. It was neat because she never had to leave the room and they kept her right with me the whole time. She is our perfect little angel and we love her so much. Jimmy is one proud daddy and kept showing her off to all the nurses and his fellow residents (I delivered at the hospital he works at). We felt so loved as visitors and well wishes came to congratulate us.

These are just some pics we took at the hospital- she has changed so much since! Hopefully I will have some newer ones soon!

Eviction Notice

With just over 2 weeks to go- I am officially wanting this baby OUT!

Its been a long 9 months of unpleasantries and its time for this baby girl and me to meet face to face. It is funny how a few months ago two weeks was no big deal- but now every single day feels like a week! I did dilate to 1 cm this past week and I have been thinning as well- so I guess that is better than nothing although it does not mean she will be here any sooner.

Predictions??? Jimmy thinks sometime next week- I sure hope he is right!

P.S.- Baby girl's name is Claire

Nursery Part II

We have been hard at work on the nursery! It is about 95% complete! I just have to pull the trigger on baby girl's name and hang it above the crib! I still don't have a lot of the items to actually take care of a baby-like clothes, blankets, diapers etc. but I still have a shower and 9 more weeks- so I think I am doing ok.

Every time I walk by the nursery now- I can't help but pause and just stare at it. I am still trying to wrap my head around how much everything is going to change in 2 months time!

Jimmy performing his first-time fatherly duty of putting the crib together

Being a good boy and reading the instructions!

Baby girls sweet lil' nursery

The got the matching dresser/changing table- mainly because we don't always have to use it as a changing table but can use it as a normal dresser

A view from the corner

Her crib- its so pretty and really solid and sturdy

Still in love with the bedding! so so cute!

I painted the shelf white and I love the detail on it

I slipcovered the glider and finally finished sewing the curtains

I got this cute little branch with birds online-they fit in perfectly with the bedding theme

I am so happy with the outcome- just a few finishing touches and it will be complete!

The Final Countdown

I feel like my pregnancy has gone really SLOW but somehow fast. I am really glad to be in my third trimester but I am not sure if I am ready for it. The baby room is far from finished and we have not bought a single baby item. I have looked at lots of stuff- strollers, clothes, binkies, blankets etc. but I keep thinking- I can wait. But now baby girl will be here before we know it.

A lot of people have been telling me to write down things about my pregnancy and to take belly pics- Truth be told, I have not wanted to do either- I have not felt "pregnant cute" and most of the things about my pregnancy are not fun. But here I go anyway:

*I was incredibly sick for the first 18 weeks- nausea and vomiting all day long- miserable

*If I could keep crackers down during that time it would be a success

*I had to take an anti-nausea medication- which did not help

* We found out we were having a baby girl at 18 weeks

* I first knew I was feeling her move around 21 weeks- at least that was when I was sure I could feel her flutters and kicks- was not quite sure before then

*At 27 weeks- she moves like crazy and sometimes makes me jump- especially when Im trying to sleep

*I have horrible acid reflux- its much worse at night. I eat TUMS like candy.

*My hands get swollen which makes wearing my wedding ring uncomfortable

*My feet hurt by the end of the day

*I get hot flashes and its still cold here

*I have not had many cravings but things I have enjoy to eat are: cottage cheese, applesauce, cheese on ritz crackers, and McDonald's vanilla ice cream cones

* I go to the bathroom at least twice in the middle of the night

*I cant turn over in bed without moaning and groaning

BUT...despite the woes pregnancy brings- I am overwhelmingly excited to meet my baby girl

And for good measure- a few belly shots...

Around 23 weeks

27 weeks...and getting bigger

Busy Bees for Baby

We have been hard at work on baby girl's nursery! Jimmy finally had a few days off this week and we decided to use the time while we had it. I wanted to get the painting done while I am not too huge. One of our upstairs bedrooms has been empty since we moved in- knowing that it would one day be our nursery. The only problem- the room was BRIGHT TURQUOISE! It was such a pain to paint over-Im so glad its done and out of the way and I can start decorating and buying furniture.

Here is the process: stage 1

I wish I had a pic of the room before we painted

Ready to pull the tape

Our gorgeous stripes- I am so happy with the way they turned out!

I thought doing the whole room with stripes would be a little much so I opted for an accent wall

Jimmy was the master of creating the perfect lines

Bring on the decorating! The crib will go against the striped wall.

Our first furniture purchase- storage cubes!

My first attempt at sewing curtains- I still have to put buttons on and oh- sew the other one!

But I am happy with the result!

The nursery will have a bird theme to match her bedding- I have this gorgeous branch with birds adhesive to put on the wall

I still have a LONG way to go but I can slowly but surely get everything done!

It's a ...... GIRL!!!!

We are so excited to be adding a little girl to our family. Both the Gunn and Ginos families have an excess of boys. I have already run out and bought her first dress and I am now thinking everything pink- from shoes, to bows, to her nursery.

The ultrasound went great and the doctor said everything looked healthy and perfect!

She was moving all around and kept waving her hands- it was so cute

My mother was convinced we were having a girl before I even told her we were pregnant- much to her delight- she was right!

My favorite picture- her two little feet and her little toes