New Traditions

This Christmas season we decided to start some new traditions.  One of them that we did this year was making sugar cookies from scratch.  Aunt Savanna came up to help and although Paisley wasn't much help, she was very interested in everything!  Here are some of our favorite pics.  Thanks Aunt Savanna for the girls' weekend!  We love you!!!

Thanksgiving and The Ponders!

We were blessed to spend our Thanksgiving in Denver and spend some good quality time with Uncle TJ, Aunt Laura, and Cousins Tristen and Jack.  Jack was quite taken with Paisley and posed for several pictures together. 

These times were so special for us!  Thank you Ponders for coming so far to be with us.

Tummy Time!

Paisley has a new trick!  She can now roll over!!  She hasn't learned how to do it on demand or when the film is rolling so we don't have a video yet, but we will get it posted soon.

Here is a picture of our "Pasil" during her daily tummy time.  Too Cute!!  And yes, Paisley has been shortened to an affectionate "Pasil" for a nickname

Giggle Box!

Here is a video of Paisley giggling at Daddy.  She loves it when we say "Bless You" when she sneezes! 

Silly Paisley!

Meeting Great Grandma Elda for the first time

6 weeks old!

Future Hunter

Dad took Paisley out for an antelope scouting trip this week, here are some pics of the future hunter (if she wants to, of course!).

I like to think of this one as "Raise the Roof!"

Stretch it out.

New Parents Bath Time

Paisley is getting used to having bath time a couple of nights a week, but we are still a wreck every time. "Is this too much soap?""Is the water too cold?""Is the water too hot?"

Well a funny thing happened last time, I thought I would share it with you.  We were of course going through all the normal questions and arguing if we thought the water was too warm or cold, when I look over and Tom is rummaging through the utensil drawer for something.  He pulls out his ELECTRIC MEAT THERMOMETER and sticks it in the bath water to see what the temperature was reading.  I could not believe that he used it, but I guess that was his man's solution to the problem.

After he took the temperature, we then started arguing about what temperature the water should be reading for a baby's bath.  The dilemma continues in the Witkop house...

Paisley Pics

Here are more pics of our precious Paisley.  These are some of our favorites from week 2.

We all survived our first bath.  WHEW!  That was stressful....and slippery :)

Chillin' with mom.

This is our favorite thing that Paisley does right now- she is mid-stretch.  This makes us laugh, even at 3 AM!

Snuggle time with dad.

"I am this big!"
This is her first sleeper that actually fits...kinda

Paisley Florence Grace Witkop

Here are some photos that my sister was awesome enough to take and make into announcements for us.  Paisley Florence Grace Witkop came into this world at 1:36pm on August 1, 2011.  She weighed 6 lbs 11.6 oz and was 20 inches long.  After one week, she is already up to her birthweight again and will sleep about 4 hours between feedings at night (fingers crossed that this will continue). 

She already has her dad and mom wrapped around her little fingers, and has made a big impression on her canine sisters.

Things are going well for both mom and baby as we continue to heal.  We appreciate all the well-wishes and prayers for us as we continue through this life-long adventure. 

More pictures to come soon.

Our last doctor's appointment!

Today we went to our last doctor's appointment as a pregnant couple.  We had an ultrasound, exam, and another non-stress test. 

They did an ultrasound to check the fluid levels around the baby, they could not check the weight as the margin of error was greater than what she might have gained or lost, it is not an accurate way to monitor baby's weight from week to week.  The non-stress test is the first indication of trouble with baby, the second indication would be the fluid levels in the amniotic sac, and the third indicaiton is the weight by ultrasound.  Since my non-stress test have been coming back great, and my fluid levels are good the doctor feels comfortable with continuing to let her grow inside mom until Monday.

We also found out today that my body is getting ready for baby, even on bedrest!  I am one centimeter dialated.  I have been having contrations regularily, all this is just helping my chances of being able to deliver without C-section.  I will continue to be on bedrest until D-day to help baby gain as much as possible.

We are scheduled to check into the hospital on Sunday.  They will administer some medicine to help my cervix soften and on Monday morning they will begin my induction. We should have a baby on Monday or early Tuesday. 

UNLESS BABY DECIDES TO COME EARLY!!  LETS ALL THINK POSITIVE THOUGHTS HERE!

Operation SIt and Point

New plan....put on weight!

After our 37 week appointment, there is a new plan for Baby Girl Witkop.  My belly has not been measuring where I should be for how far along I am.  I have been measuring little since my 33 week appointment, they did an ultrasound at 34 weeks and found that she was fine, in the 41st percentile for weight, but because my torso is long I just don't carry like other women. 

At my 37 week appointment, I did not grow anymore so we had to do another ultrasound.  This time we found that she was measuring really small (7th percentile) for how far along she is.  She still gained weight (at 34 weeks she was 4 lb 12 oz and at 37 weeks she was 5 lb 4 oz) but not enough.  The doctor put me on "modified bedrest" until they induce me at 39 weeks.

As many of you know, July is a crazy month for me with volleyball camps and other tournaments for the volleyball team.  What they think happened is that the baby was not getting enough blood flow to get all the nutrients she needed so she started to burn her belly fat instead.  I have been told to sit on the couch for the new two weeks and let her get all the calories and nutrients.  I keep my heartrate down so my body will give her every piece of energy I take in.  Luckily, Tom is done with his job and his intership at the hospital so he is home to keep me company.  For those of you who know me, know that this is killing me to sit on the couch but I will do anything for this precious baby.  Let me be clear, the baby is in no danger she just needs to put on weight before she comes to meet us.

I have been forced to give up all my plans for volleyball to assistant coaches, thank the Lord I have good coaches on my staff.  It might be a blessing in disguise to give me a few weeks of rest before baby comes.  We would appreciate your prayers for our little one and for my sanity as we continue this experience for the next two weeks!

Prego Pictures

Here are some pictures of mom and baby at almost 37 weeks pregnant. 

Look Ma...One Hand!

I'm officially on one hand, less than 5 weeks to go!  It seems like just yesterday that I was on both hands and both feet.  People ask me how long do I have, and I hold up my hand like I'm a 3 year old, "I have this many" I tell them.  Its definitely getting real.  On the agenda this week...get the carseat installed, pack the hospital bag, and turn in my hospital pre-admittance forms. 

Its kinda scary that she could realistically come anytime in the next month and be perfectly healthy.  We are just ready to meet her and see her face.  Things are moving really fast now, the weeks are just flying by and as hard as I try, I can't get it to slow down. 

While Laramie in the summer is one of my favorite places on earth, I am just baking this summer.  Tom doesn't think its any hotter than usual, but this baby is really heating me up.  I have hit the uncomfortable, unbearably hot, and unable to sleep last month of pregnancy, so far it is living up to everything I have heard.  I just keep telling myself that this could be worse, at least I live in a state where it is windy often and not a hot, humid climate.  I feel bad for those very pregnant women!

Happy 4th of July to you all, we miss you all!

Baby Girl's Nursery

Here are more pics of Baby Witkop's nursery.