Happy Halloween!

What a cool bib! A present from my Cousin Owen!

Right after a feeding. Grandma bought me this outfit.

Proof that he isn't always so well-behaved!

Trying to Stay on Top of Things...

...but obviously I'm not.

I haven't been online as often as I'm used to and haven't been keeping up with my favorite blogs the last few days. I'll try to play catch up soon.

So far, things have been good at home with Baby Patrick. We've had lots of visitors, lots of flowers and candies, and lots of presents.

We're adjusting, adapting and learning. Slowly.

Thank goodness for my mom. I don't know how I would get anything done without her. She's a godsend - doing laundry, cleaning up after all of us, cooking.

More stories to come, but for now, the latest pics:

Finally, a week old! Hanging out with his monkey friends.

"Future Agent." The apple doesn't fall from the tree. A gift from one of Mike's bosses. No pressure, though.

One More Picture...

Many requested, and never received, a final photo of me in my pregnant glory. My plan was to take weekly pictures of my growing belly and I failed at that task. However, the night before Patrick was born, I was adamant about taking a picture of myself, if only to remember what my body turned into.

Here it is - a photo of myself pregnant at 38 week and 1 day.

My apologies for those who asked and never received. Hopefully, you will forgive and use the term: better late than never.

Final pregnancy photo - 38 weeks, 1 day

Pictures!

Mere minutes after he was born with Dr. Daddy!

It's incredible how much this kid looks like Mike!

Our first family portrait.

With Abuelo and Abuela at the hospital

Our first adventure! A car ride home. Doesn't he look like a little gnome?

Grandma was waiting when he got home from the hosptial. What is she thinking? "He looks *just* like my Michael!"

Finally... Home

We brought Patrick home yesterday afternoon. There are many words to describe him: adorable, cuddly, tiny, beautiful. But my favorite:

Perfect.

Not because he's my son or anything, but just because he is.

Perfect.

I knew that the minute I saw him, I would be smitten and in love. But I never imagined it could be this intense.

Many thanks to my bff, acb, for keeping everyone updated on his birth, progress, and photos. And many thanks to the phone calls, emails, and comments on this blog with prayers, thoughts, well wishes and congratulations.

I will upload pictures soon, hopefully sometime today. That camera phone picture just doesn't cut how awesome this kid is.

More soon.

Hmmm ... did someone ask for a picture?

Another guest contributer post. Still acb here ...

The wonders of technology will never cease to amaze me ... Neither will the miracle of babies. And now we have both rolled into one -

Mike was able to send this to my phone ... and I was able to upload it to my computer. Now to figure out how to upload the pics I have taken with my phone without subscribing to Sprint's service plan ...

Anyway, drumroll please ...

Introducing Patrick William!!!!!

He is totally a cutie!!!

Again, so many congrats to our dear Annie and Mike!

Anna and Mike had their baby!

A short story by acb, Guest Contributer.

Sooooo -

Anna and Mike had their baby!!!

And it's a ...

Wait for it ...

Wait for it ...

A BOY!!!!!!!!!

Patrick William
8:06 a.m., today, 10/19/07
6lbs, 8.2 oz,
19.5 inches long

Anna is doing well - she is in recovery from the c-section. Baby Patrick has a good amount of strawberry blond hair (like his daddy!), and is doing well also. Mike - well, he's over the moon, as expected. :)

Congrats, Anna and Mike!

38 Weeks

Just got back from the doctor. Won't have the official results of the amnio until tomorrow, but the doctor seemed to think the fluid looked 'perfect.'

Thanks for all the well wishes, thoughts and prayers, and phone calls today.

I'm going to be a mom in less than 48 hours!

Quick Update

Not much going on this week. Just waiting.

Please send good thoughts tomorrow morning, as I have to go in for an amnio to check on FeeNo's lung maturity. If all is developed, the c-section is scheduled for Friday morning.

With the exception of waking up once every night to go to the bathroom, I've been sleeping wonderfully. I have no complaints. My swelling has gone down - my legs are back to normal.

It must be the calm before the storm. :)

More tomorrow.

Dreaming

Last night I dreamt that I was in labor. I dreamt that Mike took me to the hospital and when I got there, the doctor that was on call (not my doctor) sent me home.

Me: But I'm in labor!!

Doctor: I know. Come back on Monday.

Me: But it's Friday!

Doctor: I know. Come back on Monday. We'll take of you then.

Good thing I'm scheduled to go to the hospital next week. I don't know what I would do if I actually went into labor, showed up at the hospital and got sent home for the weekend.

Countdown to FeeNo - 9 Days

In nine days, I am going to meet my baby face to face. Even as I type this, I can't believe it's going to happen already. It's been the longest nine months of my life, nine months of anticipating and preparing. But still, it seems like a dream.

At today's appointment with the doctor, my parents got to see a glimpse of their grandchild. They were amazed by it all - seeing the baby's profile, arms and legs. FeeNo's weight today - about 6 pounds. Things look good for my c-section next week, pending an amnio on Wednesday.

I'll say this now and I am sure I will again: thanks to everyone for all the prayers and good wishes. It's been a long journey, a scary one most of the time, but everyone's encouragement has been helpful.

FeeNo's Bedroom

I took some pictures of FeeNo's bedroom. Enjoy!




And, finally, a picture of my chubby pregnant face:

My Mom Rocks

She's only been here a few days and already, Mike and I are spoiled.

Dinner is awesome and plentiful.

Tonight: chicken cooked with garlic and onions, served atop fried potatoes. Alongside, white rice (yes, even with potatoes, we still had rice). Also, a side lettuce salad. And empanadas.

Dad is also helping. He's become the official garbage remover in the house. :)

Cankles

I developed them yesterday. I still have them today.

They are gross.

I spent the day doing baby stuff with my mom. We washed clothes and went through lots of things in FeeNo's room. Tomorrow, we'll finish up the room.

Hopefully I'll have pictures to post early next week.

FeeNo Wants Out!

How did it get to be October already? Holy moly!

My parents arrive tomorrow. Together, we are anxiously awaiting the arrival of FeeNo. I tell you, it's going to be like an I Love Lucy episode, where everything is rehearsed and then, someone will totally freak out about the entire situation. Of course, this will only happen if I actually go into labor, and I might, since FeeNo's head is way down, ready to come out.

Not much going on otherwise. I saw the doctor today and the countdown to FeeNo has started - 16 days until my scheduled c-section. Things are looking very good - the doc even joked that I am no longer a high risk pregnancy.

I didn't have a growth ultrasound today, so I don't know how much FeeNo weighs today. I suspect the weight is at about six pounds, since I seem to have put on FOUR POUNDS in a week. FOUR POUNDS!

Oh well, what can you do?

I'm so excited, I don't even care.

Here is a clip of what could possibly happen in the next few days with Mike and my parents. Enjoy!