Time for a little catch up!

I know that it has been a VERY long time since I last posted. Therefore, this one is a long one!! I have tons of new pictures to share and lots of "firsts" that have gone on in the last couple of weeks. First things first, I can happily announce that Abigayl is now sleeping through the night. YAY!!! I know longer have to do a 2 am feeding, which is great for me and my house (now I'm not too tired to clean)!! Also, she has been out to restaurants, to the movies (drive-in), to the mall and to the park for a walk!

Rusty and I never thought we were going to get comfortable enough to take her out but she has done absolutely fantastic! We are so happy that we are now able to go out and do activities! Now, I just need to get brave enough to take her out on my own!!


First time in her swing! She doesn't always like it but sometime it is a good soother for me!

She is so alert... She is always trying to take in the world around her.

Rusty is so great with her. He almost always takes her two night feedings, diaper changes and bed times so that I can have a break! (and so he can get some time in with her!!)

This is at her second doctors appointment. Luckily we haven't had to do shots yet but unfortunately she has to do them at her next one

She sounded great! She was 20 1/2 in. and 8 lb 5.5oz!!

I love getting to watch her grow!

I thought that all the pictures can't be about her!!

Her stub fell off a couple days before the appointment and they were cleaning it up to get the bellybutton healed enough so we could give her a bath.

So cute!

Ready to gnaw my hand!! That's the hungry face.

Boppy pillows are the greatest invention! It is an arm saver.

Rusty and I love it when she tucks her legs in like this.... But, I think we love EVERYTHING she does!

My little angel

Hanging out with her grandpa


This was our first day with a real outing!! We went to the park and Lowe's... I think I may have over dressed her though. I'm still getting the hang of being a mommy!

She got a little bored waiting on us to get all the stuff together... but we are getting much faster now

Happy Father's day to Rusty... I know it was a special day for him this year

Daddy and Grandpa

Her first bath in her real tub... it was an absolute relief to not have to sponge bathe her anymore!
She tends to like her bath once she's in it. But she does not like the before and after... too cold in our AC filled house!

This was her first time on the tummy time mat. She is doing REALLY well at holding her head up. She actually started doing it while we were holding her in her first week!!

It takes a lot of concentration though!

I had to sneak in the picture!!

Abigayl's Long Awaited Arrival

I was due on the 21st of May but ended up getting induced on the 23rd. I had to go in at 4 pm on the 22nd to get ready for the next day.


This was the last meal I ate until the 24th! Thank goodness for lunchables and fruit!!

My mom flew in from Alaska for the big event. She arrived at the hospital at 11pm on the 22nd. By the time she got there the nurses were ready to give me my ambian to help me sleep. It didn't work! I got two hours of sleep!! Then I started to feel mild contractions.

My wonderful husband was such a great coach. He used all the techniques we learned and kept me calm through all the pains and stress. After the doctor broke my water (at 7:30am) my contractions got worse... thank goodness for the epidural, I only had to be in BAD pain for about an hour.

After 13 hours of waiting for my labor to progress the doctor decided to that it wasn't going the way it should. So, I prepared for a c-section.

They made me drink some super sour stuff before taking me in to the OR. We went in at 6:20ish.
Rusty got to wear this super cool get up. He looks like he's ready to scrub in!!

At 6:40, Abigayl made her debut. The doctor held her over the curtain so we could see her. She was then taken to be cleaned off (Rusty got to go over and see her). They brought her over right after cleaning her so I could cuddle and kiss her.

Rusty then was allowed to cut the umbilical cord.

She weighed 7 lb. 3 oz. and was 19 3/4 in.

While they finished putting me back together, Rusty was able to walk her down to our room where Grandma Diana, Grandpa and Grandma Patty waited.

I think he has to be the proudest daddy!!

Grandma Diana was pretty proud herself. It was great that she was able to come down. I don't know what I would have done without her!

Grandpa and Grandma Patty were pretty excited as well.

Her little feet after getting foot prints done!

Her Grandma Linda and Great grandma Jean were pretty happy to welcome her as well.

This was my first time getting to hold her out side of the OR. I couldn't sit up so we had to just lay together.

The new Stamper family!! What a great addition.

Rusty's first time changing her diaper... he had to do it a lot since I was unable to get out of bed for 12 - 15 hours after the surgery.

Rusty giving Abi her first bottle... He is such a great daddy.

My sweet angel.... I love her a whole lot

The nursery not only gave her a cute pink bow... she also got a faux hawk!!!

Luckily, I was able to go home on the 25th. I have now been home for a little over a week and I am feeling better every day. Abigayl has a great schedule that she sticks to very well. I am still sleep deprived, but am able to catch a nap every time she has one.

Grandma Diana stayed with us for a week after she was born. It was great having her here for many reasons, but one really big one was that she took the night shift the whole week. It allowed Rusty and I to catch up on some much needed sleep. Thanks Grandma!! You are loved and missed!

Our Babymoon in Branson, MO

Rusty and I spent the weekend in Branson, MO. It was our last weekend away without a baby in tow! It was really nice because we were able to stay at Big Cedar on Table Rock Lake. Friday, we arrived to some VERY chilly, blustery weather. Luckily, Saturday and Sunday were in the mid 70's and beautiful!



Saturday we drove to Eureka Springs, AR and walked around all the boutiques. We were able to have lunch outside but I ended up with a sun burn... bummer! We went back to the lodge and played some put-put, walked around the grounds and had some ice cream.



On Sunday, we had brunch (the most incredible food!), shopped around at the gift store and then headed to down town Branson to take in the Titanic museum. It was an absolutely fantastic weekend, the only problem, it was not long enough!



Our view from the balcony

That is Table Rock Lake behind me

A view of the arm off of Table Rock Lake

Rusty hit both of our balls... I was afraid I would fall through the fish

In side the fishes mouth...

Rusty is in there... you can only barely see him

He won both games that we played!

Neither one of us could sink a hole-in-one... it was a pretty hard course

Waiting on the shuttle to take us to breakfast... that is one really nice thing about the lodge, door-to-door service Our building that we stayed in

Having an outdoor lunch... it was great. Eureka Springs is beautiful. But, it is really hard to walk all the hills while pregnant. My feet still hurt and are still swollen... hopefully that goes away soon!!

Another belly pic...

Well... here I am at 34 weeks, 5 days. I feel like I look bigger in the picture than in person!!! It's crazy to think that there is only 5 weeks left! That means I will probably only take 1-2 more pictures, CRAZY!!!!

Yeah!!! We got the chair back

I really wish I had a before picture of this chair. Rusty has had this chair for the past 5-7 years. It originally belonged to his grandpa Roy and was probably purchased in the 50's if not sooner!! It was a pink, torn up, shabby looking chair that had pieces of fabric hanging off all over the place. Plus, the padding on the chair was pretty smashed. So, for the past 4 years, it just sat in a room, not being used and taking up space. Well, we had it reupholstered with this great velvet material in a neutral color. It is now functional and beautiful. Plus, when we are ready to move it out of the nursery, it can be incorporated in with the rest of our furniture. The greatest part, I know it has a lot of meaning to Rusty and his family and now it can be displayed and used.

The Nursery is Slowly Coming Together...

This morning I finished hanging all the art, letters and decorations on the walls. The room is almost done! I'm supposed to get the rocking recliner on Friday and I think I will put 1 or 2 pink throw rugs down to make the room 100% complete! I'm really happy with how it all came together.

This is the view from the door.

Her crib is to the left of the door. Babies R Us was out of the letter B when I picked up all her other letters. So, right now it looks like her name will be A Igayl!

The back of the room

Her dresser is on the right side of the room

I just have to decide where I want the chair to go. I guess once we get it back I can make the decision. I'm afraid it might look cramped in there but, I think if I put a rug down in front of it it will tie the room together.