Happy Bday Old Man!!!

       I'm married to a 30 year old!!! This last weekend was Dan's 30th Birthday so a few months ago I started planning a party for him, a Mustache themed party! I didn't really think it through that his birthday was only a week after my due date. But the party pressed forward! I made all the decorations pre-Norah and my mom and dad were in town to help with grocery shopping and making food, so it took a village but we pulled off the party for the birthday boy!  

Here's a peak...

We had our friends over for food and fun mustaches, even Norah got her own mustache! I think Dan's favorite part was he was "allowed" to grow a FAT mustache for his party! My present to Dan was a sweet baby girl :)

Happy Birthday Daniel! 

Introducing...

Norah Marie Tracy

Born 5/17/12 @ 11:01am

7lbs 3oz

19inches

Well what do you know, my next post IS an announcement lol. So here it is, Norah's birth story. Where to begin? Wednesday started like any other day until the loss of my mucus plug that morning, neat huh? I got super excited until I googled it and read over and over that the loss of the mucus plug doesn't really mean anything. You can lose the plug and still not go into labor for another week. But Daniel stayed home from work anyway just in case... With my due date just one day away, my mom wanted to know whether to come on up or wait a few days. Since I felt the exact same and I was most likely going to be over due I told my mom to fly in on Sat so she booked her ticket for the weekend. 

As the day went on with Daniel home, we walked to the dog park with Sadie, walked to a local sandwich shop for lunch, took Sadie on another walk or two... lots of walking. By late afternoon I started to feel a contraction here and there. Then they started to become a bit more frequent. More frequent than usual. I called my mom and told her maaaaaaybe flying in over the weekend wasn't such a good idea and she should probably change it to the next day. I started timing my contractions at 7pm and they were about 10-12mins apart. Yup, mom you better change your ticket lol. MY BAD!!!

As the night went on, I just kept thinking, "Is this it? Is this really it? Am I really going to have my baby tonight?" It never really sunk in... But the contractions kept getting stronger and closer together. I took a hot bath, tried to lie down and rest because by this time it was after midnight and the pain was coming on pretty strong. Finally about 1am Dan and I made our way to the hospital and I was dilated to 5cm. It wasn't until 3am that I got my epidural and was able to get some rest before starting to push. Seeing my sweet baby for the first time was the most tender moment of my life and we got the pics to prove it. I look like a hot mess, but what woman doesn't after 16 hours of labor :)

Proud Daddy holding his baby girl for the first time. 

Dan did so good! He was there by my side the entire time.

Grandma got there just 4 hours after Norah was born, perfect timing!

First family photo, getting ready to leave the hospital and go home :)

So there you have it...and then there were three! And we're all doing very well. We've already fallen head over heals in love! More to come on Baby Norah!!!

Home Stretch!

Holy moly big belly! For real though...lol

So I'm finally in my 9th month, 2 weeks to go...or could it be sooner? I think we're about as ready as we'll ever be so just send her on out! As a new parent, you drive yourself crazy thinking if you have everything you need, are you really prepared for labor, parenthood, all that fun stuff. Truth is, nothing can truly prepare you for what's coming and I think I finally realize that, so I'm just ready to have my baby here lol. 

Since my last 6 weeks update (here), Not a whole lot has changed, except my expanding abdomen! I'm going to the dr every week now and the dr gives me a pelvic exam to see if I'm dilating, effacing...u get the idea. As of now, she is dropped and ready to go, and I can definitely feel it! I always wondered by these women waddled around like fat ducks but I get it now. After your baby drops, they're literally resting their heads on your pelvic bone as it starts to separate. Talk about uncomfortable! So yes, I've started the waddling...but I do it with class :)

I've found food to be a blessing and a curse. I'm so hungry and everything sounds so good, but after about 3 bites of whatever I'm eating I'm full! This baby has overcome my stomach and there's just no room! So to limit being a "tums popping" junkie, I have to eat small portions regularly. Which sucks because sometimes all you want is a juicy burger, fries with cheese sauce and a chocolate milkshake and after 2 bites of burger, 4 french fries and a swig of milkshake I need Dan to carry me to the car. But we bring the milkshake to go...

Alright, so we're in the home stretch and ready to go! More to come on Baby T! Maybe my next post will by an annoucement???? Probably not, but here's hoping :)