Quick pics of the little man

Most of you have probably seen the pics via Facebook or email at this point, but he's so freaking cute, I can't stand to not post! (Okay, I'm biased...)
A lot of people are remarking how much he looks like Reese. I agree with this completely--it's almost uncanny-- but he also looks A LOT like David did as a baby. It will be really interesting to see how he changes over the next few days/weeks (well, months/years also!)....
So far, he has been a completely chilled out little guy. He's a super-snuggler and has been nursing, sleeping and "eliminating" like a total champ.
We have loved having so many family and friends to visit and will be here until tomorrow (Thursday), so please stop by if you would like to come visit!

Weston McKay!

Born at 10:57 am on Dec. 8, 2009
5 lbs 15 oz
19.25 in
We are all doing great!
Pics coming soon!

Obla-di, obla-da

Enough about being home-bound! I sound like broken record these days. Truth is, family and friends have been enormously helpful in making this a fun time for Reese and helping us get ready and settled. My family in Austin helped us set up the kitchen/pantry and make other key rooms livable the day after TG: we had an army of 10 at one point plugging away! My parents have helped unpack the house and have been key in setting up the baby's nursery and pretty much every other room. They have also taken R out and about almost every day--a true life saver. David's parents have come in a couple of times and helped us get closets and the playroom set up; last night, they cooked us a lovely dinner and set up our beautiful Christmas tree, which is helping everyone get into the holiday spirit. Last weekend, the Shiflets took R for a few hours for a wonderful playdate at their house. It involved princess dress-up, cookie decorating, and off road driving. Yesterday, the Kitchens took R for yet another fab outing: gingerbread house construction at Lowe's (where they often have great kid-friendly building activities--how cool!), then bouncing and more dress-up at their house. Needless to say, R is getting spoiled by these super-special outings! I am so impressed that everyone is so creative and energetic! Monique brought me lunch, and I had a chance to visit with both Monique and Erin for awhile yesterday--let me tell you, the day practically sailed by!

So, without further adieu, here are some pics of R's recent outings...
Cord's a prince of a friend (and Anne a princess) for having R over to play!


Pretty in pink!


These two are darling together...


..and are obviously great buddies! Cuties!


R chatted away


And apparently is a little scary behind the wheel. Fast forward 13 years and this may still be the case!

Thank you, Shiflet fam!


Yesterday, R loaded into the Kitchen's car and headed out. I love K's expression here. Also, R is in fact wearing an enormous tutu to Lowe's. That's just how she rolls.


Making the cute little houses...



The brave Kitchens loaded them all into the cart for some shopping! Love this pic!


Is there anything better than bouncing?


Clearly a happy girl!


I think maybe steam was running out at this point--they all look a little peaked....


I really love this pic--some SERIOUS dressing up going on!


Thank you, Kitchens for another super fun play date!


So, not much else to report since I haven't left the house or a two-room radius in 4 days. BP is still high but we're hoping to hold out for the Wednesday induction. It's driving me a little crazy not to be able "nest" and finish unpacking. But I am so very grateful for all of the help we are getting every single day. I am loving getting emails and checking in with everyone's blogs and FB--helps pass the time. So, signing off from bed for now....I will try to post at least once more before Wednesday but I guess anything could happen at any time now...so....TTFN!

Bun's still in the oven; the oven's now in bed

After two trips to the hospital in as many days, I am now officially on strict bed rest at home. Yesterday, we were being overly cautious about whether things were "starting"; they weren't, so we were sent home. Today, Mom went with me to my weekly doctor's appointment and my old reliable, high blood pressure, was rearing its ugly head. So, she sent us to L&D again. I actually was prepping myself for induction today, but after awhile (and laying on my side), BP went down. Since I was responding to lying down, I am now on strict bed rest (potty breaks only, the rest of the time in bed). We'll do this for a week and go in for induction at 37 weeks....hoping to keep him in as long as possible! Also, we're tired of false alarms and sitting around the hospital!

So. I'd love to hear about anyone else's bed rest experiences. Besides movies, books, TV, and potty breaks....any advice on fun things to do?

Dropped, locked and loaded!

Getting closer, in so many ways! So many things to be thankful for this year!

The house has been mainly moved over....now we just need to unpack. Thank goodness we can stay with my parents for a few nights. Thank goodness we have so many wonderful friends and family who are helping us in every way imaginable right now.

We had a doctor's appointment this morning and we got some unexpected and exciting news! The baby is FULLY dropped into my pelvis (nowhere to go but out), I am 3-4 cm dilated and 80% effaced. She said if I was 2 weeks further along, she would have broken my water and we would have had a baby today. As it is, we have very strict instructions to follow and things to watch--she's concerned that it's going to be a *VERYFAST* labor when I do start up due to his position and how I'm progressing, and she wants me to be able to get an epidural. I could have the baby anytime from tonight until two weeks from now. If we do end up inducing, she is very pleased that my body is starting things naturally--apparently it's much better that way. It was such an encouraging appointment and I am truly overjoyed to make it to 35 weeks with everyone healthy and happy so far.

I'm going to try to relax as much as possible and keep him in a little longer (wimpy white boys and all that), and also try to enjoy my last few moments/days of being pregnant for what is most likely the very last time.

Everyone have a wonderful holiday tomorrow and I will keep you updated as soon as I can. There will be news soon, that's for certain!

Holding pattern

We are prepping to move on Wednesday--we've packed up a lot and the movers come in and do the rest starting tomorrow. We're spending a couple of nights with my parents and then settling in over the weekend. I will not be online (as) much or blogging in the meantime, but hope to update early next week....when I might have a LOT of time to be online, considering how high the BP has shot up in the past couple of days. We went in today and confirmed our home kit isn't "off," that my BP was really skyrocketing. My OB wasn't in, but we talked with the nurse at length (after 2 tests) and she said to take it really, really easy (no more packing or moving for me) and also has me doing some, ahem, additional monitoring that isn't particularly pleasant, so I'll spare you the details. We go in and meet w/ our OB on Wednesday--I have a feeling she'll officially put me on bed rest at that point. But I'm going to go ahead and mainly do just that anyway. The numbers we're getting coupled with my all-night -long headaches are convincing me that I need to slow it down.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Have a wonderful and safe holiday.

Update: no news is good news!

Here we are, trucking through week 33....we had a little scare at the doc's office this week--I thought we might be heading off to the hospital for a short while and then was pretty sure she'd put me on bed rest, which didn't end up happening. Yet. But the BP is creeping back up, so we're keeping an eye on it. I am officially off all carbs so we can monitor my "puffiness" (technical, eh?) and have been to ordered to slow down and rest more. Which is only kinda sorta happening. Except for today--R got sick overnight and coughing turned into vomiting, so we are laying very low today. Poor girl!

Before all this, we went to Kiddie Acres park for a spur-of-the-moment visit last weekend with the Shiflets. I didn't snap any pics, so I'm stealing Cord's. Also, our camera officially kicked the bucket, so we don't really have any recent pics....hopefully we'll get a new one soon. Anyway, Kiddie Acres = awesome old school fun. And you can do all the rides (which basically all consist of some version of going around and around in a circle) in about 45 minutes.

The carousel!


The airplane (R's favorite)!

Wind in their hair....


The pony ride!


The boats!


(Check out the equipment! David asked if they got their tetanus shots after their visit...)

Otherwise, we have been busy worker bees trying to prepare for the move--overseeing the few changes we are having done, buying new furniture and other items, etc. Just not packing yet. And we move next week. Oh well! It'll happen!
At this point, we are really feeling like we are into a week-to-week schedule as far as the baby's arrival goes. We are very hopeful we can make it past TG, which will mean he's 35 weeks along and we're in the new house.
Will keep everyone posted as to any new developments that happen at this week's appointment--I'm really hoping I don't have to go to bed just yet....