Riley Grace is here!!!

We are WAY overdue for a blog update on the lives of our new family :)

Well my due date was May 8 (mothers day) but since Riley was not going to come on her own I was induced on Sunday night at 11pm. I was started on pitocin. I was actually able to sleep some of the night which was wonderful.
Monday morning my Dr. came in and broke my water at about 9 and that is when I say that I really started my labor. The contractions didn't become painful until about 10 and then I got my epidural around 12. (Which was not bad at all. I highly recommend it) After that my labor was pretty easy. I did have some lower back pain but was able to give myself some more medicine which made that go away.
I started pushing at 4:30 and at 6:10 Riley was born. I would do it all over again in a heartbeat after seeing her. It truly was amazing.

Here is our first photo together. 

She was 7 lbs 6 oz and 19 inches long. 

Our first car ride. 

We were in the hospital until Wednesday. (she was 7lbs when we left the hospital) 

Since we have been home it has been really busy. On May 21 (Riley is 12 days old) We went up to Los Olivos for Erica Saarloos wedding, which I was a bridesmaid in, for the weekend. Riley was so good the whole weekend and is a great traveler.

Us at the wedding.















The weekend of June 10-12. We had 2 weddings, a graduation, and a 50th anniversary party that we were involved in. Talk about a crazy weekend. On Friday June 10 Brad was in Travis Koops wedding and my brother Jared graduated from high school. On Saturday we had Gpa and Gma Struiksma 50th wedding anniversary party. On Sunday I was in Nicole Flietstra's wedding.

On Monday June 13 we left for Clear Lake with the Struiksma family for a week. Riley did really good at the lake except that she got a cold. 

This past week I had to work 3 days so she was at her Great-Grandma Mammy's house one day and at her Gma Struiksmas house one day. It is so hard to leave her during the day :(
We have been super busy but are having so much being a family of 3 now. Hopefully I will do a better job at updating this blog.

33 Weeks

So my life has been a little crazy as we are in the process of moving. Not far at all just the next block over. :) So that is why this blog has been lacking attention. Hopefully we can move in the next couple of weeks so that we can get settled before SHE arrives.

I have one more shower left this weekend with Brad's family. That will be a total of 5 showers in all!!!! This little girl has LOTS of very cute clothes!!! I can't wait to dress her up and put to use all of the new things for her. I will hopefully post pictures later. I just wanted to give a little update on what has been going on.


How far along? 33 weeks 3 days




Total weight gain/loss: enough :)



How big is baby? about 4 lbs and weighs as much as a Cantalope



Maternity clothes? Definitley need these now!!!!



Sleep: Sleeping has been ok.... I don't like those darn leg cramps in the middle of the night.



Best moment this week: Being able to see the movement last night.



Movement: Love her kicks



Food cravings: Yogurt and Fruit



Gender: Girl :)



Labor Signs: None



Belly Button in or out? In



Stretchmarks? none that I have seen yet



How are you feeling? Feeling great :)



What I am looking forward to: being done moving and setting up the baby room hopefully soon!!!!



What I miss: Sleeping on my belly



Milestones: only 7 more weeks left.... :)

baby girl

 So I have been really bad about posting anything lately about my pregnancy, so I though I would give an update.

We found out on Christmas morning that we were having a GIRL!!!!! Yeah for lots of pink :)

I had an ultra sound the week of Christmas and had the tech put the gender in an envelope for Brad & I to open on Christmas morning. This is what we opened..... and it said GIRL.

 We had fun telling both of our families that day also. 

Since then life has been going very fast and here it is I am already starting my 3rd trimester.  

Since Christmas I have had 2 dr appts and I passed my glucose test :) My next appt is my last month one and then its every 2 weeks and then every 1 week. Crazy how fast the time has flown.  

 

How far along? 27 weeks 1 day

Total weight gain/loss: enough :)

How big is baby? Baby is about 2 lbs and the size of an eggplant.

Maternity clothes? regular jeans and belly band just aren't working as well anymore.... need to get another pair of maternity jeans.

Sleep: I've been sleeping better ever since I got a special pillow to prop up my tummy. Much better sleep for me and Brad too :)

Best moment this week: Feeling her move. :) 

Movement: Love her kicks 

Food cravings: no cravings

Gender: Girl :)

Labor Signs: None

Belly Button in or out? In

Stretchmarks? none that I have seen yet

How are you feeling? Feeling great :)

What I am looking forward to: hopefully getting my baby room together soon

What I miss: Sleepin on my belly

Milestones: welcome 3rd trimester!!!!

Happy Birthday!!!

Happy birthday to Jace & Julie :) They are 22 years old today. I love you both so much and am so glad to you in my life. I can't believe its been 22 years ago that I sang to you in the hospital. I hope you have a wonderful year ahead.

Big News!!!!

So the news is finally out!!!! Brad and I are expecting a little one May 8, 2011!!!!! (ultrasound at 8 weeks)

We are super excited about this and can't wait for May to come around. We found out at about 4 weeks. I took 2 tests and they were both showing positive which was so crazy. I couldn't believe it had actually happened and that we were going to have a baby. I called my doctors office right away and scheduled my 8 week appointment. That was the longest 4 weeks I have ever had to wait for something. The night before my appointment was bittersweet as I had some bleeding so we were really anxious for the our appointment the next day. Finally when Sept 29 came around we went to the doctor and saw a very strong heartbeat which we were both THRILLED to see. After the appointment we went straight to our parents houses and told them.  Our parents were both really excited as this baby will be the first grand child on both sides.  I had another appointment at 10 weeks and another ultrasound to make sure it was all still going well. We still saw a really strong heartbeat so after that we decided to tell our grandparents, family and  friends. It was so hard for us to keep this secret from parents for 4 weeks and then everyone else for another 2 weeks.

We went to palm springs with my Prins family after my 10 week appointment and we decided to tell them all while we were there. I gave the ultrasound picture to my cousin and had her go show everyone the picture. It was fun to see all of there reactions. Everyone is really excited to have a baby in the family again.

I am just finishing 12 weeks and have been feeling pretty good. I started having some morning sickness around 8 weeks and has lasted regularly until last week. It is finally starting to go away which I am really thankful for :) Other than that being tired and my sense of smell is really getting to me. Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers for our arrival.

Right now the baby is about as big as a plum (2 inches) and can expand its fingers and toes. It is so amazing to me how much this baby has grown since we found out. At four weeks it was the size of a poppyseed. God IS SO GOOD!!!! What a great miracle.

Kenny Chesney - The Boys of Fall

I really love this song right now and it is a great way to get ready for the fall football season.

When I feel that chill, smell that fresh cut grass/
I'm back in my helmet, cleats and shoulder pads/
Standing in the huddle listening to the call/
Fans going crazy for the boys of fall/
They didn't let just anybody in that club/
Took every ounce of heart and sweat and blood/
To get to wear those game day jerseys down the hall/
Kings of the school man, we're the boys of fall/

(Chorus:)
Well it's turn and face the Stars and Stripes/
It's fighting back them butterflies/
It's call it in the air, alright yes sir we want the ball/
And it's knocking heads and talking trash/
It's slinging mud and dirt and grass/
It's I got your number, I got your back when your back's against the wall/
You mess with one man you got us all/
The boys of fall/

In little towns like mine that's all they got/
Newspaper clippings fill the coffee shops/
The old men will always think they know it all/
Young girls will dream about the boys of fall/

(Chorus:)
Well it's turn and face the Stars and Stripes/
It's fighting back them butterflies/
It's call it in the air, alright yes sir we want the ball/
And it's knocking heads and talking trash/
It's slinging mud and dirt and grass/
It's I got your number, I got your back when your back's against the wall/
You mess with one man you got us all/

(Chorus:)
Well it's turn and face the Stars and Stripes/
It's fighting back them butterflies/
It's call it in the air, alright yes sir we want the ball/
And it's knocking heads and talking trash/
It's slinging mud and dirt and grass/
It's I got your number, I got your back when your back's against the wall/
You mess with one man you got us all/
The boys of fall/

We're the boys of fall

We're the boys of fall

August Review

Well I can't believe the summer is coming to an end. It feels like it just began.

This month started by us going to Lake Tulloch with my family and also family friends for a week.

We have been going there for about 12 years now. We love it there. It is so much fun being on the lake and going skiing, wake boarding, knee boarding, or what we learned this year wake skating, and wake surfing. It is also fun to be there with family and friends and spend time together.

While we were there my friend Erica got engaged. I so called it that it was going to happen while we were there. :) I am super excited for them and so happy that Erica found her prince charming. She has always been like a sister to me. So that will be another wedding next May. :)

We also flew up to to Stockton for Brad's cousin Joey & Monica's wedding. It was a super fun wedding weekend with family.

Two weeks ago we celebrated Grandma Struiksma's birthday by all the girls taking a train ride up to Santa Barbara for the day. We ate lunch on the pier and did some shopping. It was a fun filled day.

While I'm enjoying these last few days of the summer and hot weather I guess I am ready too for Fall to come around. Lots of football games this year for us as Wade (Brad's brother) and 2 cousins are playing at APU.