Noa's Newborn Photo Shoot

While Noa was in the hospital, we met a nurse in the pediatric ICU named Erika who happened to have a husband that was a photographer looking for newborns to photograph so he can widen his portfolio...he was doing photo shoots for FREE! so we jumped on the offer and Noa became a model for Aaron Harvey Photography...here are some of the shots that he has edited for us:

Hospital Stay...

We were finally discharged from the hospital (for the second time...) yesterday!

After coming home on the 22nd, little Noa sprung up a fever of 100.4...we rushed him to the ER at around 9am Sunday morning. Urine and blood samples and a lumbar puncture were taken to determine if he had an infection...and we were admitted into the hospital to stay for at least 48 hours. 3 days later...we were discharged after they let us know that our poor baby had a UTI!! I didnt even know it was possible for a 2 day old infant BOY could get one of those...I am, however, a little skeptical that he got the UTI from the catheter that they used to get the sample...Oh, well, I'm just glad to have our baby back home safe and healthy. I NEVER want to go through anything like that again!!

Little Noa

Name: Noa Donny Maris
Birthday: August 21st, 2009
Time: 1:35 AM
Weight: 8 lbs 5.5 oz
Length: 19 in

The Latest...

I am getting induced Wednesday - its official!...unless of course he decides to hurry things up a little before 7:30 that night, but either way I am so excited! I found out at the appointment earlier today that the baby is healthy and I have been having "contractions" pretty regularly and consistently every 5-8 minutes...who knew?! I dont think that they are the strong ones that are during labor, but she said theyre contractions! and I am also dilated to 1 cm!!!! I couldnt believe it! He's definitely getting ready to come out...I just hope Im not rushing him too much getting induced...I cant wait to see him FINALLY after 40 WEEKS of pregnancy - and all the nonstop kicks and wiggles keeping me up every night!

This past weekend we were able to attend Chad's home ward stake conference. Their stake presidency was getting reorganized and the Stake President who had the biggest influence on Chad serving a mission got released. I got to know him over the years as well throughout our engagement and marriage. He is a great person and did a wonderful job as the Stake President for the past 9 1/2 years! The meeting was so emotional and spiritually uplifting, to say the least. We fully support the newly-called Presidency and know that they will do a great job.

My latest projects has been a diaper bag and a baby sling. I finished the bag over the weekend and finally the sling today!

This is the inside - so many pockets - so much fun :D ...and its actually pretty big inside!
And lastly...I love buttons!
I will put pictures up of the sling when I use it with my baby...it just looks like a boring piece of fabric without the baby in it...

Good News/Bad News

Good News
My mom is in town! She got here from Michigan on Wednesday, and was able to come to the Thursday appointment with me and Chad.

Bad News
At the Thursday appointment, the doctor told me that the baby still doesnt seem like he wants to come out...he's stubborn, just like another man in my life :)

Good News
We finally got a stroller and car seat for the baby!! After searching from store to store we located the perfect one, well close enough to perfect...

Its a Graco Cleo - smooth riding and compact, easy to use - The best part is we got it for fraction of the price! (normally goes for $470 but got it for $250!!!!!) we were so excited, Chad couldnt wait to install the car seat in our car and play with the stroller!

I dont think I have any more bad news...just good news
>On Monday we'll find out if I can get induced next week - and we'll be totally ready for him!
>My mom and I have come up with sewing projects to keep us busy for the time being - a baby sling and a diaper bag :D
>My sister comes in on Tuesday!
>Ive been enjoying my HOT summer in Vegas and so has Chad

We are ALL so anxious and excited for the big day, Ill keep updating on the baby status as i find out more info!

2 weeks...what?!?

while looking at the calender, I realized that EXACTLY 2 weeks from today is the baby's due date! Any day now I can have the baby!! WOW...kinda scary...BUT I know that everything is going to be okay because I have such a great support system, especially with Chad back now. I will have my mom coming next week, and my sister joining us a week after that...its going to be a huge party!! I really cant put into words how I feel right now about being so close to having a baby and becoming a mommy, but I do know that when my little baby gets here, I am going to do whatever I can for him to grow up healthy, strong and happy. I already feel such a strong connection with him and that connection is only going to get stronger from here. I already can feel that life is never going to be the same after this! - in a good way :D

PS: chad has waaaay too much fun with my prego belly

My New Boppy

I've been debating on whether I should get a nursing pillow for a long time now, and I finally decided to just do it...so...I went to Target and purchased my very own Boppy! and I love it! I really hope that I can say the same after I use it with my baby...but for now, I love it. And the best part is it came with a little tee for my little one! I was so excited :D and it totally made my doubts about the whole purchase go out the window!

Instead of spending an extra $10-15 for their adorable, yet pricey covers, I decided to purchase a "bare naked" pillow...(yes, that is its actual name)...and make a cover for it myself with the remaining fabric I had. It actually ended up working out pretty nicely... this should give you an idea of how much time Ive had on my hands lately --- I started on my boppy pillow case around 3 or 4 yesterday, and it was completely finished that evening...it looks simple enough but I did have to do alot of tweaking with the pattern to make it perfect

and this is the back...Im so proud of myself for improvising the zipper part! I didnt really know how I was going to do it, but it turned out great!

I do feel that it needs something extra though...maybe ill do some patch work or put an applique on the front side of it...we'll see.