Our first days at home.

Hi everyone! We're finally home and settled for the most part. Really, it's been a pretty easy week BUT I've had help all day every day too, so I guess it would be easier that way, huh?

We came home from the hospital Sunday mid morning with the help of Grandma and Grandad. This is our photo shoot before leaving, Daddy carrying her to the car, and Sydney riding home in WONDERFUL spirits from the hospital. She loved the sunshine and view from the car.

Sunday night was a little trying. We were up most of the night with Sydney spitting up and pooping everything she ate. I think we had 7 poop diapers in 12 hours or something crazy like that. :) Corey and I switched off rocking her through the night so she was upright because we were afraid she was going to spit up and choke. New parent worries I guess! So, first thing Monday morning I called the doctor and we got an appointment with Dr. Frasier. He assured us that nothing was wrong and that it was normal, she was just being a little pigglet eating so we've started cutting her off after a few minutes since then so she doesn't fill up so much! It seems to be working pretty well and Sydney hasn't seemed upset about any of it along the way. So if Sydney is happy, we're extra happy. Here we are at the doctor's office.

After Sunday night, the sleeping has been MUCH better. She has slept through the night every night since then (knock on wood) except for when we wake her up every 4 hours to eat. The doctor suggested we let her sleep in something (at least for 30 minutes after she eats) with a little incline to help her spitting up, so she's been sleeping in and loving the bouncy seat. Her daddy swaddles her up in her swaddle blanket every night before bed which she loves and we put her in the seat right by the bed and she snoozes like a little angel. Here's Daddy getting her ready for bed and her in her swaddle blanket.

Wednesday morning was tough for me. Corey went back to work. I knew it was going to happen sooner or later but it was still an emotional morning. He was absolutely wonderful to both of us while he was off work for a week - at the hospital and at home - and it was just hard telling him goodbye and sending him off to work. Here's Corey rocking Sydney and loving on her before he left for work on Wednesday morning. When I was taking the picture I said, "smile Daddy!" He said, "I don't really want to smile, I'm sad." Awwww! So, it was just as hard on him as it was Sydney and me. What a sweet Daddy. Wednesday wasn't so bad after all. Grandma was here before Corey left for work and she helped us through the day. She's been here every morning since to help us and Aunt Nat Nat has helped every afternoon to give Grandma a break. So needless to say, I've had wonderful help. I haven't been by myself for over a hour all week! They're just so good to us.

During the day we stay extra busy. Here are a few things we do during the day...

Tummy Time which as you can see she isn't really digging...

Hanging out in her lounger, which she loves WAY more than tummy time...

Bath time with Grandma so we smell extra sweet...

Visit with Daddy at lunch every day...

Smile pretty at Mommy for pictures...

Sydney Diane has arrived!

I guess you all thought I would never get around to this but I finally have a chance to introduce you to our PRECIOUS daughter Sydney Diane Konow. It is still completely unreal to Corey and me that she's actually here and we are enjoying every single minute with her in the hospital.

She arrived on Wednesday, April 21, 2010 @ 11:59 a.m. We went through about 15 hours of labor, starting Tuesday night, and ended up having an unplanned c-section on Wednesday so that we could finally meet her. She arrived weighing 8 pounds 2.6 ounces and was 19

inches long. I believe you could call that the absolute perfect size. :-)

We are still in the hospital (Saturday afternoon) and will get to come home tomorrow around lunch sometime. It's been a very eventful week for us and we are anxious to get Sydney home and settled in. We have had lots of good help and visitors while we've been here who have helped to pass the time since we feel like we've been here for about 2 weeks already.

We are adjusting wonderfully to our new bundle of joy and "schedule" and couldn't ask for a better baby. She sleeps lots, is eating wonderfully, and is very alert and fun to play with when she is awake.

Thank you all so much for your love, support, and prayers during the last 9 months. We feel like two of the luckiest parents in the world and look forward to our new life with our sweet baby girl. Come see us when we get home!

38 weeks

So, what do you do when you're 38 weeks pregnant and can't sit still...here's a recap of our week!

(I had my eyes closed in all of our "family pics" so I had to post these separate - Nat and Jamie were in FL so it was just the 4 of us)

(This will have to serve as my 38 week pic too since we didn't get another one made.)

Sunday was EASTER so we spent the morning at church and the afternoon with the "Thurmond" family at Jim and Marsha's and with the "Konow" family at Granny Konows. Sydney got her first Easter Egg from Granny Konow with $10 for her piggy bank. Already racking up! After our family visits Corey and I came home and worked in the yard. I mowed while he weed eated (don't think that's a word) and then we pulled weeds! Whew! It was a very productive but exausting afternoon but WAY to pretty of a day to stay inside. You can only imagine what was achin' the next day though. :-)

Monday and Tuesday I helped my mom cater for a big "to-do" she had going on Tuesday. It definitely isn't as easy to do that kind of work as it used to be for me and that is SO frustrating! I mean, walking up the steps now takes 3x as long as it used to AND I have to take "rest breaks" to prop my feet up and rest my back! I am reminded of the song by Toby Keith..."I ain't as good as I once was..." Corey worked late both of these days trying to beat the rain and stay ahead since we never know from one day to the next when Sydney will make her arrival.

Wednesday I played "catch-up" around the house which I had been neglecting for the last few days, helped move Corey around from field to field, and kept him fed and watered all day since he worked until bedtime. :-)

Thursday morning I did some errands for the farm in Bowling Green and that afternoon we went to the doctor and got "boring news" as I told everyone. Everything is still "the same". I'm still at 1 cm and there's not much action going on with Miss Sydney. Really, I'm still ok with that. I absolutely am not going to mind at all if she stays put for another week or so. :-) People can't believe I'm not completely anxious to "get her out" as they say but really, I'm good! When she's ready, we're ready! Granted, I am really starting to get more and more uncomfortable every day. Just moving around is tough on a fat girl! :-) After the doctor we drove all around Nashville looking at big trucks for the farm and then ended the night with....you'll never guess....Olive Garden, of course! Yummy!

And here we are today...Friday! Mom and I are having a "play day" today. Really, we have no plans but I think we're heading to BG to run around and see what we can get into! Play days with Mom are my favorite kind of days!

Enjoy your weekend!