We're home...

We were delayed a day in coming home. Maddy's bili levels were too high. They put her under the phototherapy lights for a day and since I had given birth just after midnight on Sunday, they let me stay another night. It was nice to be just down the hall from her, rather than leave her there. We got to bring her home Wednesday. She's under lights at home, but it's better than her being at the hospital still. She doesn't so much love the bed she has to lay in. In fact it makes her a bit fussy. I don't blame her...bless her heart. She's so good and soooo sweet.

Am and Maddy snuggling before bed. So sweet...

Dan reading to her. When she's awake, she just stares at him. She loves his voice!

Mad on her little lights.

My favorite pic of her...so far. She's in her new little swing from Aunt Sissa and my mom. Soooo yummy!

Little Maddy...wide awake.

Maddy's first morning...

Introducing....Maddy Jane Eerkes!

Madeline Jane Eerkes

3-2-2009

7 pounds 13 ounces

19.5 inches long

So, after 3 to 4 weeks of pre-term or false labor...she's finally here!! I was scheduled to be induced on Monday morning around 7:30 am. Sunday afternoon, like many other days past, I started having contractions. Thinking that it would be like every other time and come to a stop, we went on with the day. At Famous Dave's for dinner, they started getting stronger. By the time we got home, they were strong and close together. We were there long enough to grab our bags and head back out. We got to the hospital by 7 pm Sunday night, I was already dilated to 5! Yeah, they didn't want to send me home this time, unlike the week before. Within the next 2 hours, I was admitted, given an epidural, and dilated to 6.5. By 11:30 pm, I was dilated and ready. She was ready to come now on her own terms. At 12:49, after only about 10 minutes of pushing, our little miracle angel arrived!! Healthy, happy, and a strong little set of lungs on her!! Here's daddy to be and I patiently awaiting...wasn't much longer!

Proud big sister feeding little Maddy! Am cut the umbilical cord! I was suprised that she wanted to...but glad!

Cute cousins Savvy, Lukie, and Carter (Smooth like butta...) visiting new little Maddy. After which, they all told their mom that she needs to have another baby. Go Robyn!!! It's your turn!!

Proud daddy! Boy, you talk about 'wrapped around your finger'. It took maybe being in this world a mili-second, and having all of those around you completely wrapped around your finger! How do you not fall in love with that sort of beautiful innocence! Yes, she is my baby, but I must say that she is perfection! Perfect eyes and hair. Perfect nose and chin. Yummy little hands and feet. For the third time in my life, I have fallen completely and totally in love! Yes, I am lucky, I am so extremely blessed. My husband and my girls...are the loves of my life!

Baby shower...

So, my darling sister, Melissa, sister-in-law, Robyn, and cutest mom threw me a baby shower this past weekend. They went completely above and beyond in the cute department with little lipglosses labeled with my name, candy bar wrappers that were catered to the shower theme, yummy, yummy food, and great family and friends. It was so fun to see everyone! Dan's mom and 2 darling sisters flew in from Portland to attend and spend the weekend with us. It was so cool!! Dan showed up after a bit with baby's first Dora ski helmet. (Think he's excited to get her on the slopes??)

My darling daughter had the camera with instructions to take pictures of everyone during the shower. Needless to say, she did. One picture of everyone, and many, many pics of her and Natalie with their endless faces. I guess at 17, it's probably what to expect! They are funny!! They were awful nice to include Savvy in quite a few of them. (She's a natural in front of the camera I might add.)

Am and cute little Lindsey!

My dear, sweet friend Carma! Ever know someone in your life who just puts you in a better mood by being around them? This chic is it! She is one of the most beautiful people I have ever met in my life. I am truly a better person for knowing her! Love you Carm Carm!!

Cute friends, Katie, Lindsey, and Jamie!

This is a cute family pic. The 'candy bar' that they put together was the best. Although I fear I'll be eating chocolate for months! This is in NO WAY a complaint, mind you! I just have to re-train myself to NOT eat whatever I want, whenever I want! This is why I've come up to almost 40 pounds. It's possible to have a 20 pound baby, right??? The rest is water and leftover pregnancy stuff, right?? Hah! Oh well.

The 'candy bar'!

So, without getting too mushy....eehhh screw it... thank you, thank you to you all for coming and making this so much fun! To my mom and Robyn...thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for all you did and continue to do. I LOVE YOU GUYS! To Sissa, who not only masterminded the bulk of it AND managed to finish the blanket I started months ago just in time for my shower...an additional THANK YOU! No one could ask for a better, cuter sister! I say this with tears in my eyes...seriously! You guys are the best! To Dan's mom and sisters who took the time to fly out here, thank you, it meant the world to me for you to be part of it!

I am blessed to have such wonderful family, this includes Dan's side to! Love you all!

...baby's room...

Now the baby's room is pretty much done. I feel like she can come now that we have a place for her. Most of the stuff here are gifts. The camel, was her first gift from Jer and Rob. The frog, bunny/blanket, book, and dresser are from Grandma and Grandpa Eerkes. The crib and bedding from my parents. Thank you, thank you everyone!!!
The chair, I couldn't resist!! Dan calls her monkey so she's got a few already. Can't wait for her to park her little butt in that chair. My yummy nieces crawl up there and sit. It's hilarious!!

The old blue bear is Dan's from when he was a baby. The bear with the fish in his mouth, was what Dan brought home from Alaska last summer.

Yes, and that's me. I'm trying to suck it in. Kidding!! At this point, who cares. My darling husband, at our last doctor's appt, thought he'd be really cute and step on the back of the scale shooting my weight up by about 30 to 40 pounds. Not immediately knowing this, all the blood in my body rushed to my face with embarrassment. Good thing he's cute...it's what kept him alive!

Now, about the baby...

So these pics were taken on the 22nd of December. We had them done for 2 reasons, one - pure curiousity to see what she looks like. And two - for a gift.
At my last doctors appt, he said that if she hasn't come by herself before March 2nd, he'll induce me that day. I hope she comes sooner...but I'll take a definate date to.

We're still up in the air on names. We like Chloe, Avery, Olivia... we'll see.
Only 4 weeks and 5 days left...

...time to catch up!...

Ok, so yes it's been a small while since I've written anything and yes, January's almost over. Where does the time go??? I've got to get back on track. In my own defense though, I have started this a couple of times. One time I even had everything uploaded and written, it was pretty good I might add, only to have the internet go down. Anywhooooo.... here is a quick update on everyone. This pic below is a snowstorm in December. Dan just loves shoveling. He's doing well at the real estate thing. He may say different, but he has a dozen listings and is extremely busy with it all. Especially since the beginning of the year. He finally made it up skiing for the first time this season yesterday, January 26. I know he's been missing it, we truly haven't had the 'greatest snow on earth' this year...yet. He does manage a few fishing days a month. Brrrrr.....

This pic is same day. Dan and our neighbor Britton making a snow house. Notice the lack of children out there. Yes, Britton really is that tall. (He's 6'7" and is playing basketball in Greece right now.) The kids had a short attention span, well the small kids anyway, the big two stayed out to finish. Funny...

Ambree's idea of fun. She bought Scout his own Christmas jammies. The dog cannot move forward when clothed. He makes some wide circles to his left to get to his destination. Much to our amusement. The best yet was his chicken costume. With the giant head, he hit every wall on his way across the room. To anyone out there going, 'oh sad...' mind you, this little beagle is an extremely spoiled dog. No need for sympathy. He has beds in every room, not to mention all of his toys and such. I didn't realize how spoiled our dog was until I got into my 2nd trimester. The whining and high pitched yelps (which he gladly expels when being disciplined as a sort of protest, if you will, letting you know he's now not happy with YOU), have reached an all time high in the annoying category. Not to mention the obsessive licking and licking and ... you get the point. Needless to say, he's survived so far... Good thing he's cute.

Here we are Christmas Eve. Our tree is a mish-mash of different things. No theme...just our tree with all of our own decorations. Some of them from when we were kids.

Am is mid-way through her senior year. Wierd! She's doing pretty...ok on the grade front. She is going to stick close to home next year and go to SLCC for a year or two. Did I say wierd?? It's still so odd to think of myself as a parent of a senior in high school. Probably just as wierd as it is that I am also going to have a new baby! Hmmm both wierd, but exciting at the same time. Am's a great kid, we are so lucky to have a 17 year old with such a good head on her shoulders. I'll take obsessively reminding her over and over about homework, chores, etc over the alternatives. I am truly blessed!!

Here we are with the annual matching jammies that my mom so loves to put together. Christmas Eve at my parents house has become my favorite day of the year now. With the endless food buffet, xmas eve stockings, gift exchange, and just hanging out, it is truly a lot of fun and always memorable.

The whole fam... we are cute and GREEN!

Here is Am and the babies. About once a week, we each say, 'call Sissa and tell her to bring those babies over'. Even Dan gets his weekly in. They are so fun and so FUNNY! We can't wait till ours comes.

What blog entry of mine would be complete without my twin nieces??? Here they are at our house again. They are truly the funniest little things ever.