Introducing Our Ladybug!

Cayden Elizabeth Gibson was born Monday, December 28th at 4:32 pm...

6 lbs 7 oz and 19 inches

So Surreal...

to think where I am right now? that I am going to be in labor tomorrow? that this time tomorrow, I will be holding my baby girl!!!!

~~~

Today at 3pm, I called the hospital to see if a bed would be available for me. And it was!

I knew this day was coming and had wanted it to happen this way since the beginning. I have to admit, I was a little surprised that Cayden didn't surprise us earlier. I guess what room she does have left in there, she is comfortable. The past 39 weeks has had its ups and downs and was not a bad pregnancy at all but I am definitely ready for her to be in my arms. So when I woke up this morning, I have been filled with so many emotions. The nerves had set in. You would think that after going through this before, it would be alright. But just like the whole pregnancy which has been different, I can't help to wonder if the labor and delivery will be too. I guess we will find out tomorrow.

So here I am, lying in this hospital bed, trying to relax and keep my mind on other things as we wait for the morning. As of now, there has been no changes. I am still only around 2-3 cm and showing no signs of contractions. Cayden now has about 8 hours if she wants to come on her own. If not, sometime around 6:30 am, they will start the "Drip". I am hoping and praying once that starts, that everything will come quickly and she will be beat Cohen's delivery time of 1:56 pm.

Can't wait to introduce our little lady to you! So stay tuned....

Santa has come and gone...

It was a late night at the Gibson house as we assisted "Santa" in preparing for the morning surprise for Cohen...I think seeing all the toys had put Cohen in complete shock and he wasn't sure what to make of it. But it didn't take long for it to sink in and he was right in there checking them out. He was enjoying the toys from Santa that he didn't care too much about the gifts from Mommy and Daddy, which Daddy had to unwrap for him. The one request from Cohen that he wanted from Santa was a "Buzz Lightyear" and "Woody" but I think the McDonald's Drive-thru was a big hit.

The Night before the Jolly man arrived!

As it seems every year (especially since having a kid of my own),Christmas just flies by.... This year for me, for obvious reasons, was a little different. I was on pins and needles wondering if some little lady was going to come early. But she didn't and apparently is very cozy in her current home. I am very thankful that I was able to enjoy the Holiday with my boys and family!!!

Our celebration started with getting together with my In-loves Christmas Eve night where we enjoyed some yummy food and family time. Feeling a little on edge (due to the lovely hormones) and very exhausted, I truly did enjoy it. Of course Christmas Eve isn't the same for us unless you have the 24 hour marathon of "A Christmas Story" on TBS playing in the background. Absolutely one of mine and Charlie's favorite movies. Cohen was very excited and enjoyed playing with the boys!!! It was time to head home and try to get this little man down before Santa arrived.

A day I have been looking forward to!

Besides the day I get to hold my Baby Girl but the last day of Work, the start of my maternity leave. That was on Friday and I don't return until April 5, 2010!!! Originally it was suppose to have been the 23rd but I decided to go ahead and take those three days and try to relax since we actually have a date set for Cayden's debut. Of course I cant fight this funny feeling that she is going to surprise us this week but we will see. As I approach my 38th week (tomorrow), I cant believe that in a week she will be here for sure. I have been so slack on getting things ready but today, I finally started washing her clothes, burp cloths and blankets. Got the bottles and pacifiers washed and daddy has installed the car seat. My bag is out and I have started getting some things together but I hope to have it all packed and finished tomorrow. I head back to the Doctor on Monday and cant wait to see what progress has taken place, if any. I am still hoping that I am not in the hospital during Christmas but trying to remind myself that there is nothing I can do if she decides to arrive early. It was a little weird washing all the tiny, pink clothes and seeing her name on things. Still cant believe we are no longer going to be 3 but soon family of 4, and especially the fact of adding a Girl! So Excited!!! But until she arrives, I will just try to relax and enjoy this time before I become a Mommy of Two!!!

BELIEVE!!!

and it actually might happen one day! That is, your child will sit on Santa's lap. After a failed attempt earlier in the week, I knew that when Santa came to visit Mommy's work, that it would not happen. He talked about all the time and even told us what he was going to tell him what he wanted for Christmas. To my surprise, Santa walked in and Cohen just watched. After a few kids, I asked Cohen did he want to. Slowly, he walked up to him and went straight to his lap. I was in total shock! With his fingers in his mouth, he even told him what Daddy wanted and he wanted for Christmas. I am not so sure that it didn't have anything to do with the present he would be receiving but IT HAPPENED and I was a happy mommy....

A Night out with My Boys!

In hopes of taking a ride to check out some Christmas lights before (a) Christmas Day actually arrived or (b) a certain someone decides to show up, we thought it better take place this week. So Thursday night, we started off with some yummy dinner at Zaxbys and decided to take a ride through Roper Mountain again this year. It was a little bit chilly but was fun. Mommy was able to get one her favorite treats ~ "Cotton Candy" and two bags I might add... After walking a little bit and checking out Ol' St. Nick, which of course Cohen wouldn't have anything to do with, we got back in the car to take our ride through it. Charlie and I discussed what would happen if I went into labor in the car line with no turnarounds. Not sure, but thank goodness it didn't happen. Next year, I would definitely like to take Cohen somewhere different. But wherever we go, it is always fun with My Boys!!!

Anticipation is killing me...

on who is going to show up first ~ Santa or Cayden??? I asked Cohen who he thought was going to arrive first and his response was Baby Sister. Which I think is funny seeing that Santa is the one bringing the toys and not Baby Sister. Maybe this is a sign that he will be a good big brother (which I know he will)!!!

I have reached my 37th week and though there are times when I feel like it is taken f-o-r-e-v-e-r, I can't believe we are now just weeks away in Cayden's arrival. Overall things have gone pretty good even though I hit a very ruff patch this past week. It all started with just sinus stuff and by the middle of the week, turned into a sinus infection. At the same time, Cohen was battling with it too and caught pink eye which later brought on infections in both ears. Hoping that I would not catch this so-called yucky pink eye (never have before), well I guess there is always a first. So along with a sore throat from all the miserable coughing that was going on, my eyes was feeling the pain too. Luckily Daddy hasn't caught anything and just maybe we all will be clear by the time Cayden makes her debut.

Speaking of debut! Today I had my check up and just like every other time, things were going good. Blood pressure = good, Weight gain (will not mention the number) = good, measuring right and heartbeat = good... BUT today, I asked if they would check below to see if there was any progress (which they normally wouldn't check until next week). They checked and to my surprise, head is still down and I am dilated 2 to 3 centimeters and around 70%. Now I was thrilled to hear that instead of 0 or even 1, but I do know that this could stay this way until the very end. But it was good to receive some more details. A date is set and unless she changes the plan before, we will be holding our baby girl on Monday, December 28th! That is two weeks people, Oh My!!!!

So who will it be Santa or Cayden that arrives first????

'Tis the Season for Great Friends

Last week, we got together for our usual monthly girls' dinner and chat. As always, we had such a great time and I am so thankful for and blessed to have this wonderful ladies in my life. It is hard to believe that it has been over a year since we started these fun get togethers and it has been a blast making memories with them. Wishing you girls a very Merry Christmas and can't wait to see you in January at our next get together!!!

I have officially joined.....

the "Twilight Saga"

AND I LOVE IT!!!!

I didn't think I would ever care about it but after making the purchase of the first book last weekend, I have finished it and can say that I am hooked. Truly enjoyed it!!! It is definitely a book that you don't want to put down. I also watched the movie this afternoon and though the Book was definitely better, I liked it as well. Now it time to start "New Moon"!!!!!!

A glance into the future....

When I received a call from Grandma, Cohen decided he wanted to talk to her. What use to be only one or two words spoken by Cohen has now turned into little conversations. As I stood there watching my 2 year old son talk, I couldn't help but think of how it will be in the future. In the future of when he is talking on the phone with "Girls".... Will he be like most guys and not want to chat away or will he actually carry on lengthy conversations with them? One thing is for sure, he will probably not be sitting in the same room as his mom while on the phone.

It's a Couples Night....

As many times us gals have gotten together for some girl time, we thought it would be fun to bring along the hubbies for a change. And we had a BLAST!!! Last night, we enjoyed some yummy seafood, tons of laughter and a little entertainment from the Joe's Crab Shack employees.... Cant wait for our bowling night!!!!

Spirit Lifter

A wonderful feeling is being surrounded by some great Christian women and celebrating together the "REAL" reason for this holiday season. This past Thursday, my dear friend, Lindsay, invited us gals to join her for a Women's Christmas Dinner at her Church. Each table was decorated by its host to go along with a Christmas Carol and Lindsay did a superb job. I enjoy every minute I get to spend with these special ladies and truly blessed to be sharing this holiday season with them!!!

Crystal, Kristen, Lindsay & Me

LOVE the HOLIDAYS!!!!

I have been looking forward to the holidays for a long time....1~because I absolutely love this time of the year and 2~knowing that once the holidays arrived meant we soon would be welcoming our little girl (not much longer I might add)!!!!

Turkey day arrived and left really fast. Little late on posting something about Thanksgiving but I guess I have been a little slack in the blogging thing lately. This year, we were spending turkey day with my side of the family and it was held at our home. Once everyone arrived, we enjoyed some really good food and relaxation. I was completely exhausted and after everyone left, Cohen and I passed out. Snapping pictures of this holiday obviously slipped my mind because I managed to only get 3 of Cohen.

One of my favorite things about the holidays is DECORATING!!!!! We normally do this the weekend of Thanksgiving but this year the Hubby allowed it to happen the weekend before (minus any outside decorations). Now I do have to admit that I really didn't have much to do with the decorating this year. Pops and GG came over to help Charlie get everything down from the attic and besides the few items I placed through out the house, Charlie and Cohen did everything else. Cohen enjoyed helping Daddy hang the ornaments on the trees. Here is the one and only picture I have taken so far of the decorating.

I had to be patient and wait until after Thanksgiving Day to have the outside done. With the help of Pops, on Saturday they got the lights on the house. I couldn't wait to show Cohen because I knew he would absolutely love it. After enjoying a Gibson dinner at Uncle Clint and Aunt Kimmie's house, we headed home to surprise our little man. And I was right, he loved it and his response was "Oh, that good"!!....Again, I haven't taken any pictures but to show you what it looks like, here is a picture from last year when Charlie surprised me....

So with the house decorated and the shopping almost complete, we will sit back and wait to see who shows up first.......SANTA OR MISS CAYDEN!!!!!

A Fun "Turkey" Craft!

I have mentioned before that I love crafts, so there was no doubt that I when I ran across this post, Gobble Gobble..., on my dear cousin-in-love's blog, I was going to have to make this cute "Turkey" shirt for Cohen. Even Daddy joined in the fun and took care of sewing the button on. So go check out the post for her instructions and you will have fun chasing your little turkey around the house sporting this shirt this year!!!

What a week!

As I started this post, I actually had typed five long paragraphs. Paragraphs that were nothing but details complaining of how things have been lately. Then I decided to delete it all. I mean, it has been ruff. We are still dealing with the stress of which day will be Charlie's last day at work. The battery had to be replaced in my car last week and now it is in the shop while the service guys are trying to figure out this noise that no one is sure what it is or where it is coming from. And to add to this, since this past weekend, I have been feeling bad, experiencing some cramping and lower back pain. I was glad that when I went in to get my H1N1 shot today, I mentioned it because I would find out that it is the start of a bladder infection and that I was dehydrated. So hopefully with a prescription and plenty of cranberry juice and water, we have caught it before it got any worse and help this major discomfort that I am experiencing....

So we all have ruff times, right?... And though I cant help myself wonder if I will get through it or wonder what is going to pop up next, I remind myself that I am so blessed. Blessed beyond words and I will in fact survive whatever comes my way.

I will leave you with some weekend pictures of the TWO BEST BLESSINGS GOD HAS GIVEN ME!!!!

Top Reasons I love this Belly!

As I reached my 32 week mark and wishing for the day to hold my baby girl would get here, I thought about what would be my favorite reasons of being pregnant. I am so thankful that God has allowed me to become a mother not just once, but now twice. However, I would be lying if I said I enjoyed being pregnant. I have truly been blessed to not have had any major issues with either pregnancy but just feeling uncomfortable and breathless 24/7 is driving me crazy. So while I wait for that unexpected day Cayden makes her appearance , I will hang on. Enjoy what time I do have left of this very active little girl, who apparently has found the ribs, inside this belly....

~

Just a few of my favorite reasons I love this belly!!!!

~ My Body pillow~

~ Receiving Compliments on a Not-So Good Day ~

~ Eating Whatever You like~

~ All the Cute Baby Girl Stuff

~ Feeling the Baby (ultimate favorite)~

Two of my favorite things to do....

Chatting and Crafts.....Last night, I hosted our monthly girls' get together at my house and we had a great time!!! We enjoyed some yummy appetizers, plenty of laughter and a cute personalized lighted glass block to take home....

After stuffing lights, painting your letter and with the gracious help of Kristen make our bows, here is the result of our fun little craft.....

"Kristen"

"Lisa" and "Shea"

"Amy" and "Nikki"

.

"Bridget"