Been a While...

So, it's been almost a month since my last post. Well my one response to that is...

Couple of Firsts

Here are two of Anna's first "somethings". The first picture is with Daddy at her first doctor's visit on day 5! She passed with flying colors - even gaining 3 ounces since she was born! Her jaundice was considered mild and it seems to be going away quickly now. We had to add extra padding around her little noggin in order to avoid too much "bobble-head". Also, Daddy's eyes aren't that fuzzy in real life - I mean, he's tired and all, but not that tired...
She's such a little sweetie pie!!Here is her first bath; it was warm in the room, so we just got her naked! She loved the bath (just a little scrub here and there - no swimming yet!), but not the flashing camera. Check out that Buddha belly!!
This is after her bath - she loves sleeping all swaddled up and inserted into the Boppy. She's so much fun!

Bada Bing Bada Boom - She's Here!

Ta Da!!!! Look what we created! So, after 43 hours of labor (honestly it was very very easy - I do like epidurals in case you were wondering...), and 45 minutes of pushing, Anna Elise came with no complications Sunday the 22nd at 11:30am! I must be built for babyin', cause the whole ordeal was a breeze. Anna weighed 7 lbs 8 oz, and was 19 inches long - just perfect if you ask me. :) After 4 days, we've learned that she likes her hair brushed, but her bum left alone. She eats like a champ and belches like her mom, but we think she looks so much like her happy Daddy! Anyway, all is well; the Gardner Family is very excited, and we'll continue to keep all of you posted on new milestones!! Thanks to all for your help in getting Anna here successfully!

Awww, it's Psycho Dog!

Jared and I were hanging out the other night and playing with the kids as a typical routine. I decided to pull out the camera and lo and behold, I caught the scariest picture of Mary!! I promise they weren't even fighting intensely, but the timing made Mary look like a possessed satanic alien and poor PJ look like he was just trying to avoid getting his face ripped off! After looking at the picture, Jared and I couldn't stop laughing - it was just so crazy how scary she looked!!

Ultra Anna

At my last OB appointment they decided to get an ultrasound of Anna because I'm measuring about 3 weeks in advance (just say I'm huge, okay...is it really that hard to just come out and say it???). Anyway, it was really fun because I haven't seen her since 18 weeks, and we caught her playing with her foot, or examining it, I'm not sure. Either way, it was SO cute - and I thought I could feel her trying to do a pretzel inside me! Hopefully you can decipher the picture (it is labeled for those that are ultrasound impaired). The tech also informed us that she has a fair amount of hair. All I saw was something light on the screen, but I'll take her word for it. There's nothing worse than a bald woman! :)

Ode to Pregnancy

Well folks, it has been a little while since I posted anything, so here goes...
I have more or less had an extremely easy pregnancy. I don't have much to compare it to, but all I can say is that it hasn't exactly been much of a stress. The only "occurrence" that interrupted the flow of things was a regrettable trip to Serrano's Mexican Restaurant that ended in over a week of food poisoning; otherwise no real complaints. I did, however, want to include a couple of pics that depict the only two "annoyances" that seem to persist. Luckily, these issues will go away (along with all of the weight, I'm sure...) when Anna finally decides to experience the world. First off: Edema...yay. This is my fat foot the day after helping my sister-in-law Lisa into her new Tucson home. I pushed a hole into the swelling and then snapped a picture. It's cute, I know... Secondly: Heartburn. This other picture is representing how my throat feels every day. Not just after spicy food, or laying down after eating, no no - this is every day. I think I've gone through 3 bottles of Pepcid and certainly 2 gallons of Tums. That, of course, then leads to anemia since antacids block your absorption of iron. Then come the restless legs at night... Anyway, it really has been all fun and games, but I just thought I'd share my two little complaints. You women that have ACTUAL complications - God Bless You!

Thanks Everyone!

A special thanks to everyone who helped out and attended the Baby Shower/BBQ on Saturday!! I was so nervous, but everything went really well! I got so many cute things and it was so nice seeing friends that I haven't seen for a while! Anna definitely appreciates all the support, and I can't wait to use the presents on her! Thanks Mom for making everything so easy - we are so often on the same page, it's quite convenient! :)

The awesome cook - thanks for taking the time to help out!!

This is the first time we've all been together for a LONG time!! Just missin' a few chicas to complete the high school reunion!! :) (By the way, I didn't get the memo on solid tops, sorry about the stripes - I hear they are slimming when vertical...)

So, Jared has been working at the Arizona Heart Hospital for almost a year now, and really enjoys it! After he finishes his LPN program, he will wear white scrubs to work. Now, that's something that I just don't quite understand. Who was the genius that decided that it was cool to wear something that stains and shows every little spot in a setting where splatters, gushes, explosions, and oozes happen on a daily basis?? Hmmm, can't wait to wash those every day...

The Kiddies

These are currently the only kids we have - Mary and PJ. Mary turns 5 in August (can't wait for Kindergarten to start!!!), and PJ just turned 4 in March. We raised them from when they were 8 weeks old, bred them, and gave their children away for money. I'm not sure if they will ever forgive us...

I like doughnuts...

So, this is what happens when you eat just one too many of those delicious chocolate sprinkled things. This was at about 31 weeks and after working at Christine's salon for only about 12 weeks - hence the shorter (and styled) hair! Can't wait to start not doing my hair again...