Isabella Has a Secret

Isabella has a secret she wants to tell everyone:
I'm going to be a BIG SISTER.

That's right... In February she'll have a little brother OR sister!
We were a little surprised, but are very excited to be welcoming another little miracle into our growing family. I went to the doctors yesterday and heard the heartbeat for the first time.

Stay tuned to watch my belly grow this time around!

Introducing....

Isabella Susie Shaub
06.16.08

8:06pm

7 lbs 6 oz

20 inches long

First off, sorry it's taken so long to get up photos, I 'thought' the hospital had wireless... But I'm sure you all understand!

Well, after 15 hours of labor (only 5 hours of it was actually hard) Ms. Isabella Susie entered into this world. Our birth story was a little traumatic (which, I will write some details later), but the most important thing is that our little GIRL is here safe and healthy!

We are so thrilled to have this blessing from the Lord. Isabella has been the best little baby (so far). She is perfect in every way. It is amazing to me that she is ours and every time I look at her and marvel at God's goodness and His grace. It is amazing how you can have so much love for someone so little. Ben and I are both so thrilled that she is finally here!

I have to tell you all, that Ben and I were both shocked when SHE popped out. I kept repeating "It's a GIRL?!" Ben did a stellar job with me in the delivery room and even held my leg and cut the cord!

Isabella looks almost exactly like me when I was born: Like a little Eskimo baby with chubby cheeks, squinty eyes, with LOTS and LOTS of dark hair. Ben is a little disappointed that Isabella doesn't look more like him. He keeps on trying to find something on her that resembles him... I think she has his lips!

We are so thankful for all of our dear friends and family who thought about and prayed for us on Monday. You are all such a blessing to us!

Here are some pics of our beautiful little Isabella! Enjoy!

Surprise!!!

I'll keep it short!

This morning at 5:00 am I woke up with a cramp in my belly. Went to the bathroom, lost my mucus plug, my water broke at 8:00 (as Ben was walking out the door for work, I said, it feels like I just peed my pants, I wonder if my water broke), called the hospital and they want me to come in for observation, my mom casted my BIG belly at 9:00 and now its 9:40 and we are finishing up a few things here and then heading to the hospital to have our baby! Oh yes, and all the while contracting every 10 minutes!

Pain Level: Hurts a little but VERY Tolerable

We would definitely appreciate all of your thoughts and prayers today!!!

Here are a few pics from this morning!

Stay tuned for the BIG news!

40 weeks and 2 days! Taken this morning!

40 Week Appointment!

Well I had my 40 week apt this morning... And I have NO news to report!
The doctor actually said that the baby's head decided to come out of my pelvis. It's still down, just not engaged anymore!

I have been having some contractions, but nothing regular or painful.
So... with that said, I have an apt next Wednesday for a non-stress test and another check up.

I have to admit I was very disappointed after the doctors appointment...

Waiting 40 weeks is hard enough to meet this little baby, and to have to wait for longer... I don't think it's too fair! I told my Mom that I don't even think they should give you a due date because its so anti-climatic once you get to the "due" date and nothing is happening.

Anyway, my Mom flew in yesterday. So she is here to wait with us!
Stay tuned, we'll keep you posted!

39 Weeks!

39 Week update: The Waiting Game

Our baby seems to like being in my belly. There is no sign at this point that our baby is wanting to make his/her debut anytime soon. No exciting news to report from my 39 week apt!!! I find myself calmed now by the fact that our baby is just taking his/her time and is now not officially going to come early!

No complaints to report either... I am still able to sleep just fine and feel great! I've been walking lots and swimming too!

We are definitely getting more and more excited about the arrival of our baby! We can't wait to meet him or her!

38 weeks!

Well I'll keep this short (because I feel like I am being VERY repetitive in my weekly updates).

Report for 38 weeks: NOTHING!

Still feeling good, finally content with God's timing in the delivery of our baby, napping often and enjoying the last few weeks with just me and Ben.

Here's a pic at 38 weeks!

36 Weeks

36 Weeks...

feeling BIG, but still feeling good.

The baby is still moving around quite a bit, which means he/she probably has more room to grow in there. Don't quite know how I feel about that... But I guess I have NO choice.
I went for my 36 week appointment this past Thursday and the doctor said that NOTHING is happening yet. My cevix is NOT open for business at the moment, no thinning and no contractions! I guess I should get prepared to go a full 40 weeks with this little babe just in case he/she doesn't decide to make an early arrival. I just really hope and pray that the little babe doesn't decide to be stubborn and stay in my belly longer then 40 weeks.

It is getting more exciting though, anticipating the arrival of our baby girl or boy. Ben and I still have the feeling that our baby is a BOY. It is funny how everyone has their own opinion on who is inside of me. Some people are completely convinced that we are having a BOY and the same goes for people convinced we are having a GIRL. It's quite funny. I can't wait to know! Less then 30 days to go... So not too much longer!

34 Weeks and counting!

I went for my 34 weeks appointment this past Thursday... Ben came along this time and was excited to hear the baby's strong heartbeat, which was HIGH again... a BOY in the making! Haha!

The baby is head down already!!! And I can definitely tell, as my hips have decided to all of a sudden spread.

He/she has been really active for the last few weeks, flipping from one side to another... and really pushing out and kicking all over! This obviously means that he/she still has more room in there to grow. Not too excited about more growing, but whatever it takes to have a healthy baby!

32 Weeks and a Baby GROWTH SPURT!

Well... here is my 32 week picture!

And as you can see... I'm on my way to being huge! Haha.
I could just tell that these past two weeks the baby (AND ME) got a lot bigger. I am still having a ton of discomfort in my ribs, which will only get worst as the baby grows in these next few weeks. Ben asked the other day if I was ready to have the baby out of me, and I responded No... But the only thing I am really looking forward to is not having the pain in my rib cage ALL THE TIME!

I had my 32 weeks appointment on Thursday, and this time the baby's heart rate was LOW and the nurse practitioner is convinced our baby is a BOY by the way I am carrying! Not too much longer until we find out! It's so Exciting!

Other then that, everything looked good... my weight gain, belly growth and a strong sounding baby!

Evolving Baby Room!

Before we bought baby furniture, this room was our junk/stuff that didn't have a space room.

Now... this room is on its way to be our baby's room. Here is the furniture all set up.