Better Late than Never.....

You're finally here! You were born on November 30, 2011 at 8:24 pm. Your dad and I went out to eat with your Great Aunt Kim at Outback (which is what put her into labor with Uncle Ben!) and I just couldn't get comfortable after we came home. I went to bed around 11, but couldn't sleep and your Dad stayed up and played Skyrim. He came to bed around 1, and that's when my contractions really started! By 4 AM I was pretty sure I was in labor, so I called my mom; she said to wait an hour then call her back. They were still strong, so she said to go ahead and go to the hospital. I called around 6 in the morning and we were out the door around 7. Let's not forget that our bags weren't packed and there was no gas in the car so it took a good 45 minutes to leave. Plus we had to stop on the expressway so I could throw up. Fun, huh?

We arrive at the hospital and they start monitoring everything and decide they are going to keep us. My OB breaks my water at around 10 and at noon I FINALLY get an epidural. Notice what your dad did while I was in labor.

I'm dilated to about 3 cms. And this is what continues until 7 that night - after numerous doses of pitocin, you wouldn't drop and I wouldn't dilate anymore. At 7:30 my doctor started talking about a c-section because every time I had a contraction you weren't getting enough air. I give the go ahead and they prep me for surgery. At 8:24 you're born weighing 8lbs and measuring 21 1/4 inches long - and you have more hair than I have ever seen! You're dad and I were extremely happy - as were everyone else that came to the hospital to see you! I finally got to hold you after we got back to our room - you could already hold your head up! And you were adorable.

Preparation and Family

Your dad and I found out you were coming in March, 2011. It didn't us long to figure out your name; once we saw it, there was no going back. We agreed immediately - we even had a girl's name picked out - Lilah Jade. We found out you were a boy at our 17 week appointment:

and Riley Carter was set in stone. You didn't really start moving noticeably until around 18 weeks, but you haven't stopped since. I've actually been able to SEE you moving since about 36 weeks. It's incredible to know you're in there and already so strong. You definitely have a personality: if I lay on the wrong side you let me know, and you respond to your dad's voice. We read you books, and your dad plays you songs on the guitar (he's really good at it and hopes to teach you how to play). We plan on having you at St. Mary's hospital which is about 15 minutes from our apartment. It's where your dad was born too! It's a brand new hospital that has extremely nice private rooms as well as super helpful nurses. Here's your dad playing the guitar for you:

We decided early on that we were going to try and breast feed you. We took a breastfeeding class at the hospital and will have access to nurses that can help us for as long as we need them! We also took a Mom and Infant Care class that gave us tips on how to feed, bathe, and take care of you. It also taught us how to take care of your mom after your born. Our last class was a Prepared Childbirth class, and it focused on labor and delivery. You should have seen your dad sitting on the floor with grabbing my arm to simulate contractions (absurd) and helping me learn how to breathe through them. We also took a tour of the hospital; everyone was really nice. It was super clean and has all kinds of amenities to make our stay there easier!

I read What to Expect When You're Expecting to learn about pregnancy, but what helped me the most were actually internet blogs and forums. I read many, many Yahoo! answers also frequented Babybumps , Mommit, and Parenting which are all on the website Reddit (I spend WAY too much time there). Hearing from other moms that have been there was a big source of comfort and let me know that most of what I was feeling was normal!

While I was pregnant, I had a kidney stone and multiple gallbladder attacks. Not your fault, but things were pretty crazy for awhile! I didn't have much morning sickness, and with the exception of a few weeks I wasn't overly tired. Your dad really helped out the entire time - he gave me foot rubs, back rubs, rubbed stretch mark cream on my belly (not that it helped much haha), cleaned the house, and generally did anything I needed. He was incredible and is going to be a great dad. When you were 31 weeks in my belly, your grandpa Tom was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia out of the blue. He checked into the hospital in Vincennes, Indiana, and received blood transfusions. They then recommended that he travel to St. Louis and undergo chemotherapy - he had to stay in the hospital for over 3 weeks straight! We were afraid he would miss your arrival, but when you were 38 weeks in utero, they announced that he was in remission and could come home! He's currently in Mt. Carmel anxiously waiting for you to come out! Here's your dad's side of the family:

I'm now 39 weeks pregnant, and your due date is in exactly one week to the day! I've been dilated to 1 cm since 38 weeks. Our bags are packed, and we've already decided that you're going to wear you're first UK outfit home. So anytime you're ready - go ahead and come out! We love you, little guy.

Baby Showers Galore!

We had two baby showers given to us, one by your aunt Sydnee and one by your grandma Amy and great-grandma Linda. We got so many cool things for you to wear, play with, and use! We had so many people show up to support us - it was seriously incredible. Here are some pictures from your aunt Sydnee's shower on October 15th, 2011. Everyone tried to cut a string that would guess how big my belly was with you in there (and some were WAY off, ahem ahem).

This is four generations on your mom's side, you'll make five!

You got so many gifts it's impossible to have pictures of them all! But here are some of them. My mamaw got you a crib (which you've already seen in the other pictures), plus you got a bathtub, books, gift cards, and SO MANY CLOTHES! Everyone was so generous. Your great-aunt Kim took us to a place called Lil Lamb's Closet. It is a weekend run by a church in Lexington where everyone can come and sell their used baby items. Your dad and I worked a shift on a Saturday morning so we could get first pick on many of the items. We walked out with so many goodies, including a Pack n Play, diaper stacker, and this car seat.

 Your great-Nana embroidered this blanket and burp cloths so they matched your room!

Here is the high chair your great-grandma Pam got you:

And a giant puppy book your cousin Kelly thought you would like!

Your great-Nana got you the swing that matches the high chair (I hope the swing is something you like to be in!)

We also received a gift card to Babys R Us, and we got you a Sleep Sheep! It plays noises like rain, womb sounds, and even has one that sounds like a whale!

Your dad and I went to Disney World and Orlando Studios in June, and we picked up some cute clothes.

And on a more serious note; this family bleeds blue - which means you love UK already. There will be no IU blasphemy in this house, regardless of where we live.

On October 30th, we had our second shower at your great-grandma Linda's. Ryan's mom made this awesome diaper cake - it was filled with all sorts of bath goodies and toys for you!

They also got a local bakery to make your cake look like your nursery set.

We received your bedding for your crib, clothes, and lots of soft blankets! We also got a gift card to Target which we used to buy a baby book. Everyone took so much time planning and implementing your showers; can you tell they were excited to meet you even then? As a result, you have more clothes than your dad and I combined!

We love you little guy, wanna hurry up and get here? We're more excited to meet you than you can even imagine.

Our First Apartment

Riley, here is your first home! We moved to Evansville in June of 2011, and eventually finished assembling your nursery in November. I hope you end up liking monkeys, because they have taken over everything!

First, here is a picture of your mom and dad, and then of your dad and brother:

Here is our apartment right after we moved in:

Here are some pictures of your (well, our) room once it was decorated:

As you can see, this year monkeys, brown, and green were very popular for nurseries. Your dad and I also painted some things to hang on your walls. Your dad is a pretty good painter; you should see some of the things he did in high school! I hope you inherit his artistic streak : )

We think you're really going to like your new room; you'll be sleeping right next to mom and dad! 

39 Weeks....

Riley's almost here! It's hard to believe that he started as this -

And I went from this-

To this:

But he's almost here! This blog is going to be a little bit of everything: a place for pictures, thoughts, and hopefully something our family can look back on later to remember the little things we've all forgotten about. I have a little catching up to do, but here's a start! And we can't wait to see our little guy....