Baby Boy Hartsell Website

We finally got baby boy Hartsell's website up and at least running.  I am working on updating and inputting the journal entries and pictures, but at least it is up.  We have done one of these keepsake CDs for each of the kids so far and it is a nice and memorable keepsake in their baby books and fun to look back at.  So take a poll and leave him a message.  We will keep you updated hopefully with news of his arrival and pics soon!!

The Big Day

....to find out details and for updates tomorrow...make sure you check:
http://www.babyjellybeans.com/web/do/site/home?ID=566228 Thanks for all the prayers....keep them coming!!

Due Date

Well, today is officially this little one's due date....where is she? Still happy and content inside her mama!! I am hoping that maybe things will progress today but if not I will at the docs early tomorrow morning to check things out and have an ultrasound...never had one this late in the game! Will give you an update tomorrow....so ready to hold and meet this little one and wondering what she will look like....for some more fun polls about her weight, length and hair...check out her site at:
http://www.babyjellybeans.com/web/do/site/poll?ID=566241

Opposite Ends

....of pregnancy. The beginning (Caitlin at 8 weeks) and the end (me at 40 weeks)!!!

Update

Mostly leaving detailed updates on baby's website (sidebar) in the journal...so please take a look and leave a message.

Monday I had an appointment (39 weeks) and 3 cm dilated and 60% effaced...OB said head low and ready to go so hoping water breaks soon. Last night I had 3 long hours of contractions and today has been sporadic. Not sleeping....tired...anxious...uncomfortable...come on baby!! If I make it to my due date (unchartered territory for me) which is Sunday, then Monday I go in for a non-stress test and ultrasound to monitor baby and check fluids...then see what the doc says!!! Prayers please!!

Updates

Sorry, have meant to post updates on our "false alarm" baby story from last weekend and my lovely baby shower a friend had for me....I have been journaling it all on the baby's website, so if you would like to check out the latest news, pics etc...please go to:
http://www.babyjellybeans.com/web/do/site/home?ID=566228
Don't forget to leave the baby a message and please tell her to hurry up and arrive already!

Baby Update

Had an appointment this week and baby's head is DOWN, thank the Lord! I was worried with as active as this child has been and still is that this would not be the case. So that brought a lot of peace of mind. I am 50% effaced and 1.5cm dilated....so progress. Will keep you posted as I am feeling the time is getting close!! Can't wait to see her little face and we are still undecided big time on names!!!

Baby Hartsell Site

We did a baby website with the other two girls and really enjoyed it. It was a fun way to keep all the baby pics, updates, and information together and have people leave them messages. Usually after the first few months and baptism days, I close the site and get an archival CD made. This CD then goes into their baby books as a special keepsake. I brought them out the other day and really enjoyed reading everything and looking back at all the comments and pictures. I know they will treasure these one day as well. So.....we have set up Baby Hartsell's new site and I will keep a link to it on the sidebar. Please take a look and leave her some messages...we will keep it updated and hopefully have some big news to share soon!!
http://www.babyjellybeans.com/web/do/site/home?ID=566228

Ready

I have not been one to thoroughly enjoy being pregnant. Never feel like I have "that glow" or the "cute baby bump" etc. After the first trimester, I am always just excited not be so nauseated and get back to some sense of "normal" that doesn't involve craving for everything unhealthy, wanting to be close to a toilet, or dreading things like opening the refrigerator, taking in surrounding smells or just being vertical. During the second trimester, I usually have a pretty good experience but then the anxieties of getting ready, changing routines, finding clothes to fit etc all start to set in. Once I get to this third trimester and last several weeks, I AM JUST READY. I start to waddle and puff up. I get stuck on the couch and feel like I need a push to get up. This baby is so active I feel like I am getting bruised by her kicks and movements. I have horrible heartburn/acid reflux and am tired of taking Zantac. I need a step stool to wash dishes as my belly is too big to stand in front of sink and reach the faucet, I have no lap left for the other girls to enjoy and I find myself crying at silly commercials and stories. Plus the anxieties of how will labor and delivery go, will the baby be healthy etc all start to set in.

But then I remember the sweet and miraculous moment of that newborn being placed in my arms....I remember the first time I nurse them, the first smells of their sweet skin...seeing all the love and joy they bring to our family....and somehow the past nine months seem so distant and worth the journey. It is amazing as a mother how your emotions and body go through such incredible changes and then in one instant can all be put into perspective and make you want to do it all over again.....ok well maybe not that day or month....but eventually!!

So please keep prayers coming that we make it through these last couple of weeks with a positive attitude and joyful anticipation. I go Monday for my first check and hopefully things are progressing and on the move!! While I am ready for these "joys" of pregnancy to be over, I am more READY to hold this new little girl in my arms!!

Our Growing Girl

On August 10th, we had another ultrasound of our sweet little girl. At 27 weeks, she is weighing 2 pounds 3 ounces and is 30% for growth measurements. Amazing to see her arms and legs and that sweet little face. Mama is doing alright....I got blood results back that I am anemic so trying to take my prenatals, iron supplements and eat meat (as my Meme says). Hopefully this will all give me some energy back! The last hurdle...here we go!

Little Arm and Hand

Little Foot

Belly and Sweet Face

Looking right at you!

22 Week Update

Today I had my OB appointment...everything looks good and I love hearing the heart beat. I was joking with my doctor that because we were not able to see my baby's little face (she was facing my back during the ultrasound and we couldn't get her to move) that I will just say I am having nightmares about her having one eye or something so that we can get another ultrasound. She laughed and said, "well, I am ordering another ultrasound!" Then I at first got worried that something was wrong. But she explained that baby's at this age tend to go in 90 minute sleep cycles and we might have just had the ultrasound during one of them, but that she likes to see a visual of the face and front of the head so she wants to have another one done at my next appointment. So in 4 weeks we get to see this little one again....so excited as she will be bigger, we hopefully will see her little face and check again to confirm it is a girl....and my grandparents will be here so that might want to come too!!!! I also have to do the yucky glucola testing that day so at least the ultrasound will give me something to look forward to!!

OH BOY

We just got back from our ultrasound appointment.....

....and....

Angelica and Emma are now officially big sisters to a....

...beautiful and healthy and cute little body...

...adorable two little feet...

...and BABY SISTER....IT'S A GIRL!!!!

So another little girl joins the Hartsell clan. We are so excited and blessed that everything looked strong and healthy....from spine to brain to heart...amazing...even got some great shots of the umbilical cord. Amazing to see those arms and legs moving about. Her heart rate was 162 and she weighs about 12 ounces right now. We tried to get some shots of her face but she was laying facing my back and no matter how many times I rolled over we could not get her to move...she was too comfy. The first pic above is of her body area/profile which I labeled below: She is laying face down so you see the side of her face and ear, and she is resting her hand on her head, so arm is bent. The second picture above is her two tiny feet, no explaining necessary.....SO CUTE. She had them crossed over each other most of the ultrasound. The last picture is the GIRL shot....I labeled below as well...back view of her bum and two little thighs! So now back to the drawing board for girl names!! The ultrasound based on weight and measurements gave due date of November 15th versus the 7th....but that could be based on small size etc...so will be interesting to see if doctor changes it at all when I go to my next appointment. (funny though because that was the due date we calculated originally based on our NFP charting!!!) Either way I am *guessing* (hoping) I go early anyways...Angel was one week early and Emma was two!!! So looks like beginning part of November....It was a little bittersweet ending the ultrasound, I love watching and seeing the little one....unless necessary I probably won't see this sweet little girl until I can kiss her little face in about 4 months!! Thanks for all the prayers...keep them coming!

Big Day

Tomorrow is the big ultrasound day....3:45...so excited...please pray for a healthy baby, this is the first chance we have had to see this little one!!! Any guesses, boy or girl???

Baby Update

I had an appointment yesterday (mom and Caitlin thanks for watching the girlies and Alli got come in with me and hear the heart beat!) and heard the heart beat again.....love hearing it...it was around 150 and I went back and checked the girls records and it was in the 150s at this stage as well...so who knows?! The ultrasound is scheduled for two weeks...Friday the 26th in the afternoon...we will keep you posted! Keep the prayers coming!

4 Down, 5 To Go

Months that is of pregnancy!! I have an appointment on Tuesday and then we are scheduling an ultrasound for about two weeks from now!! So we will keep you posted, very anxious to SEE this little one....thinking I might be starting to feel movement...can't wait for those little kicks!! Thanks to everyone for the prayers....Angelica wants the baby to come out now...she is ready to "help!"

14 Weeks

I had an OB appointment yesterday and everything is going really well so far. I am hoping that the next four weeks are a lot better for me though with my "all-day sickness" getting less and less. I have started to feel better during the day and just get very tired and sick towards the evenings more. Smells are still the worst and peppermint has seemed to help fight the metallic taste I have in my mouth all the time. I was SURE that I had gained 5 pounds or so as nothing is fitting and I feel like I grew a belly already overnight....but to my surprise I haven't gained ONE pound!!! The doc said this is a normal feeling and occurrence for a third baby....and reading THIS POST totally helped me feel better about this changing body and put it all in perspective...so hard to do when you just feel sick and frumpy!!! Hoping to get out sometime and find some good in-between clothes!! My sister Caitlin and the girls came with me to the appointment and while the girls were a little confused and worried as to why mama was up on the doctor's table....Angel really liked hearing the baby's heartbeat!! At 164 - strong, healthy and perfect!! After the doctor left, Angel asked if the baby was ok? So cute and already a caring big sister!! Hard to believe this little once could already weigh close to one ounce and be 4 inches long!!! Thank everyone for their thoughts and prayers....keep them coming!

10.2 Weeks

This is a picture of a baby about 10 weeks old....just as old as our baby is right now. Today I had my first actual appointment with my doctor.....FINALLY! She said everything is measuring according to my dates, so for now we are keeping the due date at November 7th. We are going to wait to do an ultrasound until the 18-20th week, so a couple more months to go. I was super excited though because I got to hear the heartbeat today.....loud and strong!!! For about two weeks now I have been feeling very nauseated, tired and sick. I get a horrible metallic tasting tongue that causes gagging reflexes all day long and smells....UGH. Since I got back from Florida, life has been interesting.....my Lent and Easter were different than I had planned and I tried really hard to offer so much of it up and accept that this is how it was supposed to be this year....it is hard for me to "let go" of plans and expectations and even harder not to be staying on top of cleaning, laundry, meals etc. I am finding it hard to remember how it felt to go to bed without heartburn, open the fridge without having to plug my nose, drink and eat anything that sounds or tastes good, feel like I have energy, not have to focus on taking deep breaths so I don't throw up....ah, the joys of early pregnancy!!! I have to say that I am so blessed to have an incredible hubby. He has been cook, grocery shopped, Mr. Mom, nurse and so much more and working his normal full days on top of it all. He keeps telling me that we will get through this and that I just need to do what works for me and the baby right now. So please keep us in your prayers that I start to feel better soon and that this little one continues to grow healthy and strong. The girls are loving pointing to my belly and saying baby and giving it kisses. It will be a fun adventure but a part of me just already can't wait for November!! (I am not one of those people that love being pregnant, can't you tell?) But as my mom keeps reminding me....just to look at the two sweet faces I get to see each day and remember there is another one inside...so today with that thought and the sound of the heartbeat, I am trying to keep it in perspective and thank God for all His blessings....now off to eat some saltines and take a nap!!

Baby Gate Time

I can't believe we are at this stage with Emma already...:(

Emma's Stats

Yesterday, Emma had her nine month check up. She weighed in at 20 pounds (75%)(same as Angel was at this age) and is 28 inches long (75%). Her head is still 97% at 47.8 cm....most be all those smart brains in there!! This was her first appointment with the doctor since I switched to this pediatrician, and it was very refreshing. She took the time to discuss certain issues with me such as vaccinations and we worked out a plan together. She is very good with the kids and answered my questions, concerns and attentively listened to me. I was also very excited that the brands I wanted for vaccinations....they had! So all around it was a successful and refreshing visit. If anyone needs a good pediatrician in our area, let me know....so far I highly recommend her. Emma got her finger pricked for a blood count (of which she later sucked off the band-aid and got blood everywhere.....so remember to request the heel prick over the finger!)...and one shot....which she didn't even fuss about yesterday at all....such a HUGE difference from the last time! And the other big news.....her first tooth has broken through the gums!!! (that explains the biting while nursing lately and the fussy nights while sleeping) Where has our little baby gone?? Not sure if you can tell from the picture, but she has added yet another big bruise around her eye....her crawling and standing war wounds!

9 Months

Amazing how much Emma has changed in 9 months, which she turned yesterday. We have her actual check up next week so will have to give you the stats then, but she has definitely gone from our little baby...to a beautiful big baby!! The baby stage sure doesn't last long at all, so I am holding onto those snuggles and baby cuddle moments as long as I can!