Family Pictures and a Special Guest!

Mom and Pop are getting ready to leave, they've been so helpful. We're sad to see them go, and can't thank them enough for all they've done. We took some family pictures this afternoon...
Yesterday, my oldest and very dear friend Jenny came by. She's working in Anaheim this week and had to come see Cady! She's expecting a little girl too, due on September 1. We've known each other since we were three years old, and we hope our girls will be friends even though we live miles apart. We're looking forward to meeting her little girl in a few months.

Our Baby Girl Has Arrived!

Cadan Isabel was born at 2:20 in the afternoon on May 7th. Here we are, shortly after that...
And a little later that day....

Here's Chico checking Cady out when she came home from the hospital. He's been very good with her, and has snuck in a couple of licks on her head.

GG and Grandpop with grand-daughter Cady and grand-dog Chico...

Here's our girl...

We Have a Date!

If Cady doesn't show up on her own by Monday, we'll be headed to the hospital at 4:00 Monday morning to be induced (we call it her eviction day). We're so excited to finally have a date! We'll keep you posted, but she'll be here on Monday for sure, if not before.

Week 40!

We are within a week of our due date, it's unbelievable. The science of medicine is an amazing thing, and I'm so glad I have the doctor I do. Who could have imagined we'd make it all the way to this point? We went to our final childbirthing class yesterday and then had lunch with one of my co-workers. I'm still knitting up a storm, I'll post some pictures as soon as I take them. I developed two of my very own patterns, I'm really excited about them, so cute, if I do say so myself.

My mom really thought I'd have the baby yesterday (mostly because that was the day that she picked on the poll we took at my shower) but no such luck. Maybe she'll be a Cinco de Mayo baby, then I'll always have an excuse to make/eat Mexican food - not that I've ever needed an excuse for that. Dan and my Pop picked up the pavers for our back patio project yesterday, and will get the sand and get started this afternoon. It's a beautiful day for us all to get outside!

We had two showings on the rental property in Cincinnati last week, unfortunately no offers yet. Keep your fingers crossed! It would be great to be able to be out of the land-lording business!

38 Weeks - It's almost time...

Today we are two weeks from our due date and things are going great. The doctor says it could be any day, so we'll see!

The ladies at the office had a shower for me last weekend. It was so much fun to see them again and catch up on all that's happening at work. We're done with 4 out of 5 of our childbirth classes, and we think we're as ready as we're going to be. The hospital bag is packed, and I have to show you how cute the suitcase is. It was my Grandma G's red suitcase that she ALWAYS used when she came to visit us from Florida. It's from the late 60s or early 70s. Like most vintage luggage, the interior was a mess, so Mom and I ripped it out and she gave it the most amazing "do-over" with the same fabrics we used for the baby's room. It is my favorite piece of luggage, I absolutely love it. I'm so glad I'll get to use it soon.

I don't have any pictures yet, but I finally finished knitting a sweater that I had started for Dan back in 2004 when we were in Denver. I've also finished one for myself, along with a great silk purse that got lots of compliments while we were at an arts and crafts show today. I've made a ton of hats and booties that I've put on my Etsy Shop along with a couple of fun vintage finds. I've told myself I'm going to be better about finishing my knitting projects and putting them out there. So far, so good!

We've Made it to 36 Weeks!

I had my appointment this morning and I can officially "do whatever I want" now. Of course, there are restrictions, but for the most part my strict bedrest Rx has been removed since we've made it to the point where it would be safe to deliver. Obviously, we want to go another 3-4 weeks before she's born, but if she's born now, the risks are very low. So I can walk, go to the grocery store, cook, do light housework, etc. How exciting! I also had my last Progesterone shot today. I go to the doctor weekly from here on out.

On March 21, my neighbors Ciara and Denise hosted the most wonderful shower for me, with all the neighbor girls and some friends. It was so much fun, and my first time out of the house for something other than a doctor's appointment in months! We got such cute and useful things from everyone, and really appreciate it. Her room's getting full and ready to function!

The cake....

Lisa and Denise...

Natasha, Deneen and Jeanine...

Mom and I...

We started our childbirth classes on 3/28 and they will go through 5/1. We go every Saturday. We're scheduled for a hospital tour on Wednesday 4/14.

33 Weeks tomorrow...and her room is just about done!

I forgot to update last week, oops. I'd say I've been really busy, but you all know that's not the case. There's really no update, other than we're still here. Still getting the weekly shots. We did register for our child birth classes and hospital tour, which is exciting. We'll start our classes on 3/27 and we'll finish on 5/1, it's cutting it pretty close, but what else can we do? Our tour will be on my Pop's birthday 4/2.

My cousin, Sara, gave birth to her little boy Jonah on the 16th, just about a week early. Mom and baby are doing well.

I have been knitting up a storm. I've been working on something for Sara and for Farley (one of my very best friends from college). Farley is due with twin boys a week after I'm due. I've also been working on a sweater I had started for Dan about 5 years ago, and one for myself. I have lots of unfinished projects that I'm working through one by one.

I can't remember if we've shared her name, officially, and the story behind it. We're naming her Cadan Isabel, and we call her Cady for short. Cadan is basically just a combination of our names, but it's a British name (and you all know how much we love GB) and depending on where you research it, it's either Scottish, Celtic or Welsh and means "battle". We hope she's able to choose hers wisely, and stand strong for what she believes in, so it fits. Isabel is a family name on my side, and is very Spanish (and we love Spain).

As for her room, it's going to be COLORFUL and girlie (without being pink)! It will have lots of fun patterns and colors for her to look at. Here are a couple of pictures of the room while it's in progress. The fabrics are going to be used at the changing table, her crib, and in other spots around the room. As we get more done, we'll post pictures.

Here's the fabric. It's from Amy Butler's "Love" collection.

Here are Mom and Dan putting the crib together (I was laying on the guest bed, directing the process). Cribs are short. We didn't know that and it caused some confusion. : )

Dan doing some painting. He was the roller and Mom was the brusher. It's called Geranium Leaf and turned out just like we had hoped.