Best Friends?

Amie and I have been best friends for a while now.  We always talk about how we feel like God put us in each others' lives because before we starting hanging out, neither one of us had a real best friend.  You know, the kind of friend that you call up for anything, or the kind of friend that you can tell things to that you can't tell anyone else.  I often think of how fortunate we are to have someone like this, because as you get older and start to make tough adult decisions, it is pretty important to have someone to go to other than your husband for advice.  This is why it melts my heart and makes me tear up everytime I think about my precious baby girl and my Camryn.  Cammie is the closest thing that I have to a niece and I would do absolutely ANYTHING for that little girl (and she knows it too :)).   I am so excited to see what the future holds for these two, and I can hope that they will be just as close as their moms are in a few years.  We have been having a blast (well, admist the big move of the Kane household) getting these two together and seeing how sweetly our C interacts with Eliot.  Here are some photos that have captured the pure love between the two.

She loves to give her kisses... or fake kisses, where she gets really close and pretends to kiss her and then backs away really quickly.  Too funny :)

She helps hold her every chance she gets.  Here they are at the CHS baseball sectional at Providence. Love the look of love on Cammie's face!  It makes me tear up. 

Love how Ellie is looking up to Cammie.  I know she will look up to her for the rest of her life, and I know Camryn will be happy to show her the way to do things! 

Sidenote: Anytime E cries or seems to be upset, Camryn tries to help with the situation.  Her automatic things to try always include:  her Nuxy, her blanket, or her milk-milk.  C will find these items and try to give them to Ellie to help her stop crying.  So sweet!!



Off to the Doctor

When Ellie was a week and a day old, we took her to her first doctor's appointment.  It was just a weight check and she gained some weight back from when we left the hospital (she left at 6 lbs. 13 oz., and was up to 7 lbs. 1 oz.).  We also got some news that was a little scary, in that we had to go to Kosair Children's Hospital for a hip ultrasound the next Monday.  Since she was breech, and was also a first born female (weird statistic), she had a higher risk of having hip dysplasia.  We headed over to Kosair trying to stay positive, but I think I was more worried than even I wanted to admit.  Ellie had the ultrasound done on both hips (and hated every minute of them having to stretch her legs down out of their normal frog position), and we were told that we would have the results in two days.  Thankfully, the doctor called me on Wednesday and said that her results were normal!  Very, very thankful!!

Hospital Experience

This was my first time ever being admitted to the hospital.  I was really nervous leading up to delivery day because I had never even had an IV before, so I was just anxious on what to expect.  My expectations were met with some of the most kind and compassionate people that I have ever known.  Every person at Clark made sure that our birth experience was as comfortable as possible.  We were blessed with doctors and nurses who made sure we were okay every step of the way.  We were also very blessed to have plenty of visitors who wanted to love on Baby Ellie.  We tried to get pictures of most of everyone who came!

Aunt Amie rushed right after school to love on Ellie :)

I am so lucky to have another Aunt Amy who loves me so much, too!!

Great Aunt April came to see me on my BIRTHday :)

Great Uncle Butch came right after work to see me!

Kenny and Emily got to hold me!

Of course Daddy never left my side :)

Nan and Pop didn't want to miss a minute!

Kind of blurry, but Chris and my girl Cammie got to come up after his game!  I was so happy to see her after the day that I had :)

Nan and Pop with Ellie... first grandkid on both sides.  I have a feeling we are in trouble!

Great-Grandpa Bud has a new girl in his life :)

Great Uncle Kenny!

Aunt Caitie barely left my side :)

My Uncle B loves me!

Ellie and Mommy... no words for how much I love her!

My Papaw... technically this was her first day home, but he was at the hospital a lot.  I don't know why I don't have a picture of Ellie and Mamaw.  I'll get on it :)

We had lots of other visitors that I didn't get a chance to get a picture of, but we appreciated everyone that came and got to meet Ellie in her first days of life.  Nick and I are so blessed to have so much support as first time parents and know that we can rely on so many people for advice, and of course for a babysitter :)

A Week of Firsts

First time in her carseat... (and coming home!)

First time in her bouncer...

First time washing bottles...

First time making bottles...

First time in the swing (which she now loves :))...

First time sleeping on Dad (another favorite of hers)...

First time Penny was interested in her sister...

First sponge bath at home...

First walk with Mom, Dad, and Penny

First week here!  (Love those eyes, hehe)

First love of our lives...  We love you, Eliot!

Blessed...

beyond words.  Eliot definitely came on her own schedule, with my water breaking at 2:00 A.M. on Wednesday morning (2 hours after her official due date).  It has been a whirl-wind of the past five days.  Ellie continued to surprise us throughout her delivery day.  I got to the hospital around 3:45 after waking Nick up and telling him that I thought my water had broken (although I was positive it had).  I hadn't started contracting at all yet (which was very surreal that I was feeling so good after having my water broken), so as Nick took a shower, I took the opportunity to clean up the sheets, vacuum, and clean the kitchen.  I was trying to sneak around the house cleaning up stuff because I knew Nick would freak out on me if he saw me :) 

After arriving at the hospital and being admitted, we called our parents around 4:30.  Talk about excitement!  Nick's parents and my parents both got there by 6:00, and my contractions had picked up quite a bit (thank you to the awful drug Pitocin :)).  Dr. Wright came in around 7:30 to check me out, although the nurse that I had been assigned to still had me at one cm.  After kicking our crew out of the room, he checked me out and the look on his face warned me that something was not going as scheduled.  He automatically told me that he was almost positive that she was breech, but that they were going to do an ultrasound just to check.  Sure enough, Little Miss had decided to turn herself so that she was butt first.  A c-section was scheduled for around 10:00 that morning, as it was his day at the hospital for surgeries anyway (and a blessing).  I thought I would have been more devastated by the news, as I had always pictured having a vaginal delivery.  However, I knew that this was what was best for Ellie (and for me) and we went in full force.  They began to prepare me for surgery around 9:30 and my contractions were beginning to get closer and closer together (and much more intense).  Finally, I said my goodbyes to my family (and to Nick), as they took me back to the operating room for a spinal epidural.  This was one of the most surreal moments of my life. 

Right before taking me back... cute, right?!?!

Not quite what I had in mind for a delivery...

After quite a few uncomfortable moments in the operating room and moving from the bed to the table, I finally got the epidural from a wonderful anethesiologist who was kept me extremely calm and kept me informed the entire time.  She was amazing (as was all of the staff at Clark).  Nick was finally let in and it was such a relief to see him.  It put me at ease to know that we were together and that we would get to see Ellie soon!  It only took just a few minutes and our precious little one was here!



Her first picture :)  And, the moment she had her Daddy wrapped around her finger. 
Eliot Ann Lawrence (best known as Ellie)

7 pounds, 4 ounces
20 1/2 inches long

10:06 A.M.

May 9, 2012

The rest of the day is a blur... post-operation recovery room is where I finally got to hold my precious one in my arms.  Since I was still a little woozy those moments are hard to remember.  They did let people back in after a little while together (just our family of three :)), and everyone else got their turn with her.  Many people came to visit us at the hospital, but that will be for a separate post.  I can't stop thanking God for this miracle.  I am so blessed to be a Mommy, but especially a Mommy to my number one girl.  

40 Weeks!

Today is officially my due date.  I just had a feeling that she wouldn't come today, and now I am on the fence if I want her to come later this week or wait until next week.  My grandparents, aunt and uncle, and other relatives are all going out of town to my cousin's wedding on Saturday, and I would hate for them not to be there to see Ellie in her first few days of life.  I know everything will all work out; this little girl already knows how to make her momma anxious!  I made Nick take a picture of me today on her actual due date so that we can show her one day.

Eliot Watch 2012

Little Ellie already knows how to work everyone's patience, which makes her Dad and me giggle.  Nick's mom and dad were off all last week and my dad is off all this week, which just makes me think that she is going to wait until next week to make her appearance.  At last week's doctor's appointment (which I was down 2 pounds by the way... must be all of those stepper workouts :)), everything looked great.  Dr. Wright pretty much said that he would probably see me at my appointment this Thursday (and two days after my due date), but that if she wasn't here a week late, he would induce me.  While we are all patiently waiting, I know she will come out when she is ready.  I am still only 1 cm, but am 75% effaced, so it is coming along slowly.  We'll see what happens, although I know Nick is secretly hoping for a May 14th delivery day so that he can share his birthday with his best girl :)  That would be pretty cool, I have to admit.  We shall see what happens!  Exciting, exciting!!!

One Week...

until my due date.  I just don't feel like it will happen then, though.  She seems to be pretty comfortable, and I am just not feeling miserable enough :)  If she is anything like her dad, she will take her time getting here, but I know it will be so worth the wait.  I CANNOT wait to hold this little one in my arms and finally add her to our little family.  Ellie Ann, we are ready when you are!!