Family of Three

Mallory Grace Heath arrived on July 13, 2009 weighing in at 7 pounds and 14 ounces, 21 inches long. I won't lie, labor was AWFUL! It was by far the hardest thing i've ever done in my entire life and much more difficult than I had expected. My water broke at 4:45 am on the 13th, but contractions never started on their own so I had to be given pitocin to make them start. When they started they were strong and I had to get my epidural around 12:30. I was shaking, sweating and feeling like I was going to throw up before I got it. Fifteen minutes later, I felt like a new person and that lasted until about 7:00 and I started to feel the pain again on my left side. My nurses said that happened sometimes when the epidural would be more effective on one side than the other. I wasn't feeling anything on my right side, but EVERYTHING down my left side. I was back to the feelings of being hot and nauseated. Finally around 9:00, I was fully dilated and able to push. After two and a half hours of pushing, Mallory arrived at 11:31 pm. It is true when people say that you forget the pain. I didn't think it was possible at the time of delivery but everyday that goes by it does seem less and less traumatic, ha :)

Two and half weeks later, we are adjusting nicely. Breastfeeding gets a little easier everyday and today I can say it has actually been enjoyable. I guess I am getting used to very little sleep and holding a baby 24/7! She eats about every two to two and a half hours and is now starting to sleep in between feedings at night which is wonderful. For at least the first week, she had her days and nights confused big time and still does from time to time but at least we have more good nights now than bad. She is a very good baby and so far has never cried when we were not able to console her. Patrick and I are so blessed to have a healthy baby and we thank God for her everyday!

P.S. I would post more pics, but my internet SUCKS and it takes a really, really long time to upload them, so sorry!!

POOR BLOG!!

Yes, I am the worst blogger in history. I can't believe it has been almost 2 months since I have posted! I would list out all the excuses I have for not posting in so long, but I am sure you all know them and you all know that I am miserable with absolutely no creative energy right now. I am still alive though and Mallory has yet to make her entrance. I have accomplished getting the nursery mostly organized this weekend and I will TRY to get some pictures up soon. The car seat is in the car, bags are packed and we are hoping for a baby any day now...the sooner, the happier mommy will be! I am off to bed now...maybe it won't be so long till the next time.

Poor Riley

Sunday afternoon I walked outside to find Riley looking like this. Luckily, we have a vet that lives about a mile from us so Patrick took him up to her house and they concluded that he had been bit by a snake. The whole right side of his face was swollen including his eye and everything was drooping down. The vet gave him a shot and some Benadryl and poor Riley was out of it the rest of the day. The swelling has gone down a little each day and he acts like his normal self again now. Patrick and I were trying to figure out what was swollen more...my ankles or Riley's face, ha!

Productive Saturday

For once, I had a really productive Saturday! I started cleaning the house at 8 am like a mad woman to try and get it finished before Trish got here around lunch. Her house is always immaculate and mine has been lacking cleaning attention because we have been so busy lately so I had a short amount of time to get it together. I got almost the entire house done and her and Kyle came about 11. She put my wall decal on and painted the dots around it. She is so creative and talented and she did a perfect job! I am thrilled with the results.

Afterwards, I went grocery shopping, made two strawberry pies and then we went out to dinner with Nikki and Keith at the Olive Garden. The perfect ending to a productive day!!

Rest in Peace Grandma and Grandaddy

I am sure everyone that reads my blog knows that I have lost both of my paternal grandparents in the last 3 months. My Grandma passed away in January and then my Grandaddy passed away last Sunday. They were married for over 70 years and were an incredible part of my life. I do believe that they helped to make me the person I am today because I spent so much time with them growing up and they were such a positive influence on my childhood. While they will be greatly missed, I am extremely blessed that I was able to have them in my life for 28 years and I know that Mallory will have grandparents just as good to her as mine were to me. Without a doubt, my Grandma and Grandaddy are in heaven now, together again - as they should be.

My new infatuation...

I don't know if it's my hormones or what, because I've never been a big fan of hair bows but these little hats and bows for infants are about the cutest thing I have ever seen. Just looking at pictures of these precious little girls with their hair bows makes me melt and I am so excited that I can't hardly stand it. I have spent much time on an amazing website (http://www.etsy.com/) where such things can be found and I'm working on picking Mallory out the perfect hair bows. Of course, don't be surprised if you never see her in one because like I said this could be just a phase with me, ha.

I am home today because I've had a little stomach bug the past two days. I'm feeling much better this afternoon thankfully. I've come to realize now that I'm in my third trimester that it is very much like the first. Every little pain, cramp, or twinge that I feel has me worrying that something wrong is happening with the baby. Except now my main concern is contractions and will I know when they start...crazy, I know. Everyone says I will know without a doubt but I think I'm already have some Braxton Hicks contractions. They are painless and normal from what I've read but I'm still going to talk to my doctor about it on Monday since I still have 12 and a half weeks to go.

Lastly, the past week and a half has been horrible for our community. We've had 3 tragedies occur and I ask that everyone pray for the families of Allen Pearson, John Alphin and Kathi Johnson. Please ask that God be with them during this difficult time.

Love to you all,

Ashley

Dreams of shopping

This morning I was in the middle of a wonderful dream where I was shopping for Mallory and finding the cutest clothes on sale, when her kicks woke me up. I grabbed Patrick's hand and put it on my stomach so he could feel too. Then I explained to him that Mallory was kicking out of excitement because we were shopping for her in my dream, haha! His reply, "Not two shopoholics now!"

The two outfits below I found at WalMart for $4 each last Saturday. I couldn't resist, they are so cute!!