Bradie's 1st Birthday!

I'm behind, I know, but Bradie turned one on June 30th so here are some of her party pics!

8 months old!

Bradie is 8 months old this week!  We've had an interesting couple of weeks- from both of us having strep throat, plus Bradie had an ear infection, Lee being out of town, Bradie and I got into a car accident and two doctor appointments in one week- needless to say it has been very busy and hectic around here.  

The first night Lee was out of town, Bradie was crying and crying and I walked into her room to find her standing for the first time and chewing on her crib!  She had her two bottom teeth coming in, probably already had strep and had an ear infection!  This was the beginning of a LONG night of crying and Bradie getting stuck standing up since she hadn't figured out how to get down once she was standing up.  But doesn't she look so cute standing?

Feeling a little better by the end of the week!  Smiling and showing her little teefers!

Since we had two unscheduled doctor's appointment, I found out that Bradie weighs 19.4 lbs and is 28 inches long.  She's a big girl!  I also learned from the doctor that Texas is about to pass a law requiring rear-facing car seats until 2 years old.  So, no matter how big she is, she'll be facing the back for a while.

Snow in February!

Here are pictures from our history-making snow day!  We had around 10 inches in Forney!

Bradie wasn't too sure about the cold, wet snowflakes hitting her on the face.

Bradie and Roxie are best friends...Roxie just has to give Bradie kisses several times a day.

Our little snowbunny family!  

Loved the snow for that one day, but then I was soon sick of it!  I could never live in a place that has snow on the ground all winter!

7 month update

Bradie turned 7 months on January 30th, my how time flies! Since my last post Bradie has reached some major milestones:

• Eating stage 2 baby foods- and likes everything she's tried!
  
• Wearing size 6-9 months clothes
  
• Sitting up on her own and really close to being able to pull herself into the sitting position
  
• Crawling
  
• Little tooth (maybe 2) peeking through her bottom gums
  
• Loves bathtime and playing with toys
• Saying "dada" over and over and babbling all the time
  
• Smiling really big anytime Lee and I do anything and showing her gorgeous dimples
  
• Tried to pull up on something yesterday for the first time
  

Becoming more and more fun everyday!!!

Cereal

Bradie is starting on oatmeal cereal- YAY!  She is starting on the oatmeal since it has more fiber and she has always had poopy problems.  

She has also started holding her own bottle!  That is so helpful in the morning when I am getting myself ready for school.  I'm glad though she will still let Mommy rock her and cuddle her with her bottle at night.

4 months- WHAT???

Wow, time has really flown by!  Bradie is 16 weeks old and will be 4 months on October 30th! Since I haven't been on since then, I'm going to do a little update:

Born: June 30 at 3:52 pm

Weight: 7 lb, 13 oz

Length: 20.5 inches

2 weeks old

7 lbs 14 oz

2o.5 inches

2 weeks old

8 lbs 6 oz

21 inches - This picture totally fits her since it seems like all she did was cry for the first 3 months.  I don't wish a colicky baby on anyone!

One month old

9 lbs 6 oz

22.5 inches

Two months old

11 lbs 9 oz

23.5 inches

Four months old

14 lbs 14 oz

25 inches

I love this little girl so much.  I can't imagine my life without her anymore.  Her personality has started coming out and she is getting more fun to be around (not to mention she is so much easier to take care of)!

Bradie's first photo shoot

July 4th was very different for us this year- no fireworks, bbq, or parties...but it was wonderful! We all got home from the hospital on June 3rd, late in the afternoon and crashed, because the very next morning we all had to wake up early for Bradie's first photo shoot.  Of course, we didn't plan on having the c-section so we thought we'd be home and able to rest a few days before we took her out for the pictures, but it worked out great for all of us.  I was able to completely rest and watch movies with Lee the entire time (9am-4pm) so the photo shoot would be a complete surprise.  The photographer would just bring Bradie in to eat and if she got upset, but she pretty much slept the entire time.  

Here the the results- amazing, beautiful, fabulous, precious pictures with an outstanding photographer (pumpkinpiephotography.com).

And baby makes three...

Bradie Grace has made her much anticipated debut! Here is how it all happened...My due date of June 29th came and went, but fortunately my doctor let me schedule an induction for the next day. I don't think Bradie ever wanted to come out! I had not had any contractions except for little Braxton Hicks UNTIL Tuesday morning came around. I woke up about 4:30 in the morning feeling some crampy pains that were coming on and off and realized I was having very mild contractions. Of course, I could not go back to sleep after that so I took a bath, then a shower, fixed my hair, ate breakast and made sure I had everything for the hospital. When I told Lee I though I was having contractions, he couldn't stay asleep either, so there we were just waiting to go to the hospital. We left at about 7 am for the induction and my contractions were still randomly coming anywhere from 9-20 minutes apart. When we got to the hospital, I was dilated to 4 and they started me on Pitocin. The morning went pretty quickly, no horribly painful contractions and I was dilated all the way to about 6-7, then Bradie's heart rate got really erratic. It would go really high and low and all the doctors would run in there, flip me all around to get it to stabilize. They took me off the Pitocin for a while and I completely stopped having contractions. They told me my doctor was coming in to break my water and I could get my epidural before or after...since I wasn't having any pain I decided to wait until after...BIG mistake!  The contractions started coming hard, fast and soooooo painful!  I thought I was going to die!  As soon as I got the epidural though, I was good to go.  Bradie's heart rate continued to go up and down and I was having some bleeding, so my doctor said we might have to do a c-section- either we wait and have to do an emergency one or go in and get her before anything gets worse.  They put Lee in scrubs- he looked so cute!  I was so scared, but had full faith in my doctor.

They wheeled us into the operating room and started on the c-section.  It is nothing like TV where they cut you open and 10-15 minutes later you have a baby.  I was laying there forever waiting on them to cut me up and pull her out- and yes, you can feel a lot of tugging and pressure, doesn't hurt but feels very weird.  After about 30 minutes, Bradie was here!  She was born at 3:52, weighed 7lbs, 13 oz, and was 20.5 inches long.  They quickly showed her to me and then they started working on her.  Lee got to see the WHOLE thing and be with her the entire time, I had to wait until they stitched me up which took about 45 minutes to get to hold her or get a good view.  She is absolutely beautiful with a headful of dark hair and looks just like Lee.  They took all of us to recovery and a little while later our whole family came in to meet her.  

Here are hospital pictures-

 

38 weeks

Here's a picture from the night of Lacy's wedding.  I'm 38 weeks and 5 days...

Waiting Game

It's officially started- the waiting game.  Bradie could be here anytime and all we can do is sit around and wait for her to let us know it's time.  As I look back over the entire pregnancy I know that I've been very fortunate to have it pretty easy, but let me say that since June has gotten here, I'm ready for this to be over!  I've always been really hot-natured and being 37 and 38 weeks pregnant has just been miserably hot!  I feel so sorry for people who are due in August because I know they are suffering.  

The past two weeks I have not just been sitting around, relaxing like I wish I could be.  Instead, I had 8th grade cheer camp last week and 7th grade cheer camp this week.  I'm done with all school/cheer stuff now, thank goodness!  But, I'm still wanting to be up and active...gotta let gravity help out all it can!  I've been walking, eating spicy foods and trying everything to move this along.  The earlier Bradie gets here, the more time I have with her before school starts. And, I want a full 8 weeks! 

Here's what we know for sure- If I haven't had Bradie before the 29th, my doctor is inducing me on June 30th at 8am!   

School's out for summer!

YAY!!!  Being 9 months pregnant and dealing with 7th graders these past two weeks have been rough!  I tried not to be too mean to them, haha.  The sad thing about the end of this school year is that my very good friend/mentor/teammate is leaving Kimbrough after 16 years...I will miss Lori so much and I can't imagine KMS without Lori Blow being there but I am so happy for her and her new opportunity.  Here's our official last day picture.

Lee and I started off the summer with our final baby shower.  I know we've had a ton of baby showers!  We really are truly blessed with generous family and friends.  This last shower was for Lee's side of the family and his mom's friends.  Their longtime family friends created this amazing shower for us and Bradie.  I keep saying I must attract creative people! 

And, of course, here's my 36 week belly pic.  Funny thing, I wore this dress the first day of school and also the last- glad I could fit my ginormous tummy in it!

On the agenda for this week: 37 week dr appointment tomorrow, lunch and catching up with friends, cheer camp, hospital tour and birthing class, and more last minute preparations!