Mother's Day

Mark was going to be out of town on Mother's Day so he surprised me a week early by sneaking out of bed and making me my favorite breakfast!! He served it to me in bed, along with 3 cards - one from him, one from the dogs, and one from Baby Hill!!! It was such a great surprise and a fabulous way to wake up when you are constantly hungry and thinking about food =).  I am so lucky to have such a devoted and wonderful husband!!! Thanks for making my first Mother's day so special - I love you Mark!!

It also worked out well that we celebrated a week early, because on the real Mother's Day I wound up hospitalized with a NASTY stomach flu. Thanks to my neighbor Nancy for taking me to the hospital and staying with me since Mark was out of town! I was admitted for two days because I was so dehydrated and weak from the illness that I started having contractions. At one point I also spiked a pretty high fever and Baby Hill's heart rate was very high because of it ( Normal heart rate for a Baby would be 120-160 - hers was in the 180s and 190s.).  After A LOT of IV fluids, IV anti-nausea meds, and IV pepcid and potassium, the contractions stopped and Baby Hill and I were much better. The labor and delivery unit is very nice, and the staff was wonderful but I hope I don't have to go back until I get to walk out with a Baby in my arms.  A few weeks later, I am back to my old self and Baby Hill is still doing great!

High Chair

Mark's Mom and Grandpa got us two really great and functional gifts for Baby Hill.  They bought us an awesome high chair and a car seat for Baby Hill.  The car seat is still in the box until Baby Hill is too big for her infant car seat.  We already have the high chair set up even though she won't be using it for a little while because we were so excited about it!!  It is a really great high chair by Graco that is actually a 4 in 1 seating system. It will grow with Baby Hill and changes from a traditional high chair to an infant feeding booster, a toddler booster and, finally, a youth chair and can even accommodate a baby and a toddler at the table all at once!!!   After I put the high chair together, we decided to test it out on Lola! I think she looks good in it =).
Thanks Grandma Peggy and Great- Grandpa Wally for the great gifts!!!

The Nursery!!!

Mark and I are excited to finally debut pictures of Baby Hill's Nursery. A special thanks to Mark's Dad and Step Mom for the beautiful nursery furniture!!!! The crib is great because it converts to a toddler day bed, and also a full size bed when the time comes! The enclosure above the changing table becomes a book shelf once she is older and we don't need the space for a changing pad anymore. 

Mark and I both put a lot of effort into making this nursery special for Baby Hill.  Mark picked out all of the art work, and I made the tissue flowers that are hanging from the ceiling. We wanted a bright, and warm room for our Baby girl that will engage her visually and I think we accomplished that!

It has quickly become my favorite room in our house, and I spend a lot of time sitting in the rocker and thinking about the day that Baby Hill will join us in her special room! The dogs also love being in the nursery, so we spend a lot of time playing in there. I think they know that special delivery is coming soon and they are getting just as excited for Baby Hill's arrival as we are!!

A quick clip of the doggies hanging out in the nursery!

Marley

Marley loves Baby Hill already!

Lost Track of Time

Preparation for the arrival of Baby Hill has had me away from my computer for the past couple of weeks.  During that time, my bump has grown... and grown... and grown!!

30 weeks

32 Weeks

Almost 34 Weeks

Until next time...

Baby Shower!

     Two weeks ago, Mark and I flew to my hometown of Baltimore for a Baby Shower hosted by my Mom, and my best friend Rosa. It was so good to see my family - it had been years since I had seen some of my Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins.  Also, this was the first time that Mark got to meet a lot of my extended family, which was really fun for the two of us. Also, some of our oldest friends came to the shower, some from as far away as Bethany Beach and New York!
     As usual, my Mom outdid herself on the food.  There were Maryland favorites like crab dip, crab balls, and shrimp cocktails.  There were traditional cook out favorites like deli meats and cheeses for sandwiches, beef roast, pasta salad, potato salad (homemade by my Grandma!!).  There were some of my pregnancy favorites like fruit salad, buffalo chicken dip, and macaroni and cheese. There was an adorably decorated strawberry cream cake, and other desserts as well. And honestly, this list does not even cover half of the food that was there!  It was a pregnant girl's dream and I think I ate about 5 or 6 plates before the day was over!!
     Rosa planned some really fun games to play and the whole family participated! There was even one game only for the men. They had to blow up a balloon, wear it under their shirt like a pregnant belly, and try to tie their shoes.  It was hysterical to watch.

Rosa making candy filled diapers for a game!

My wonderful Mom

Grandma!!!

Aunt Julie

My Great Grandma - soon there will be five generations!!

Cousin Erica

My college friend Erin who made the drive from New York!!

Auntie Rosa!

Andrea, aka Baby Lightening - our first child!

Getting ready for the balloon game!

Soon to be Papa Al!

It was a beautiful day to celebrate our soon to be baby girl! Mark and I feel so lucky to have such wonderful family and friends supporting us as we start this journey of parenthood.  Thanks to everyone who helped with shower and came to celebrate Baby Hill with us. We are truly blessed.