Body Glitter Seemed Like a Good Idea

Annabell is here!! Yes after 15 hours of labor, she decided to make her entrance!! She is currently ruling her Kingdom at the Marshall home.

Monday morning, after a surprisingly good night of sleep, I awoke chipper, showered, packed and even applied make-up and some body glitter (borrowed from my dear friend Jamie over a year ago and not given back because it does give you just the right amount of shimmer) for post delivery pics. I was determined to not look like those mothers who are washed up, red and sweaty after delivery. (Now those of you that have had children are laughing at this and those of you that haven't....well let me fill you in...You will look washed up, red and sweaty-just face it). I then made my way to the donut shop for breakfast with my much more nervous husband. After a quick bite to eat, we headed to the hospital where I immediately informed the nurse that I would need an epidural just as soon as it was possible. She immediately let me know that I had to dilate first and then endure a few contractions before they would administer this........however, they would let me have pain medication. This was at 8am. At 3pm I was having contractions, no epidural and had taken the nurse up on two offers for pain meds! However, I was still only at 3cm. By 5pm I was literally in tears, so Nurse Ratchett broke down and had the epidural administered.......smooth sailing after this..........or so I thought. Although the pain was now gone and we were now fully dilated...my doctor was still a no show. He was attending another birth in Odessa which is a good 20 minutes away. Therefore, the two active nurses were having me push until he got there........finally after I was sure my head would explode from pushing and my arms and legs would inevitably break off, he came running in!! 10 seconds later Annabell was here, all 7 pounds, 9 ounces and 19 3/4inches of her little cute self and me.....holding her looking washed up, red and sweaty and just to add insult to injury....I was also vomiting profusely. Any post labor pictures of me were burned.

The next few days were quite a blurr with learning the skillful art of breast feeding and dealing with out of control hormones...not to mention the enormous bowling balls that have replaced my once B cup...but we are currently at home (adjusting) and finding the inner mommy in me!! (Yes I am motherly for those of you who doubted...myself included).

Annabell and Zac napping together.

Ready or Not!!

Last Wednesday, Zac and I had our very last check up with our OBGYN. He informed us that I am 1cm dilated and my cervix is thinning (in everyday conversation, this means we have the go ahead for inducing). We, of course, had hoped this would be the case, however, something about being smacked with an 18-wheeler of reality set in when he said, "should I admit you on Saturday so you can have her by Sunday morning?"..................I'm sure Zac and I both had that deer in the headlights look! Saturday didn't seem like nearly enough time for me to cram in all of the further "mothering" knowledge I would need to raise a child. So we settled for Monday. Yes, this MONDAY (November 23, 2009). At the time, it seemed like that would be ample to calm my nerves and get all of those last minutes accomplished. And yes everything has been bought, purchased, washed, rewashed with Dreft, sterilized, organized, built and/or put together...........but I'm still not sure we are as prepared as we need to be. And the nerves have most definitely not subsided!! Each morning I have thought I would sleep in as this may be one of my last chances, but inevitably, my mind takes over and I find myself wide awake at 3am, 5am and then up by 6:30! I am, to say the least, a ball of anxiety. Now don't get me wrong, we are most definitely looking forward to meeting our sweet little girl.....I'm just not sure that I should be allowed to "grow her." Do I know everything that I need to know? I have even spoken to Zac about having Annabell's grandmothers move in. He assures me that if I need them for the first little bit, it would be fine, but he is quite certain that they won't want to live in our office/guest bedroom for 18 years. But ready or not here it comes! So keep us in your thoughts and prayers tomorrow morning at 8am when we check into the hospital............and at 8:05am when I begin asking for an epidural!

Oh Labor, Where Art Though?

This is just a little taste of what our living room has become.......its a baby-toy construction zone!! Zac has managed to put a stroller, swing, bouncy chair and pack-in-play together. The only problem is, Annabell's room is too full for everything, so now it has trickled into the other rooms. We just may need a bigger house by the time she is actually here.

And speaking of actually being here..............drum roll.................I'm still pregnant. She seems to really enjoy being in utero!! Everyone got prematurely excited when on Sunday I vacuumed, dusted, did ALL laundry, gave myself a mani and pedi and then proceeded to cook dinner and do dishes. This is so called "nesting." However, no one imparted that information to the baby, so she remained in her cozy little cocoon.

Today the mommy-mobile had a mind of its own and began unrolling the windows. Despite my attempts to roll them back up and impose the child locks, they continued to roll back down. So I made a quick trip to Big Spring to have them replace the motor which apparently had a short in it. Yeah wait until the coldest morning we have had and then make me drive 30 miles with the windows down!!! With all of this chaos going on, I was sure she would make an appearance........but no such luck. However, I would like to thank everyone who has suggested "things to do" to jump start labor. I have now:

1. eaten spicy food

2. cleaned house

3. walked til my legs want to fall off

4. done squats and lunges

5. had sex (not simultaneously, of course)

6. eaten pineapple

7. massaged my feet (with Zac's help)

and even thought about drinking Castro oil.....but couldn't go through with it. Kudos to those of you that could!!!

Despite how simple this little bouncy chair appears, it was actually the most difficult to put together!!

The Sweet Peace baby swing is now complete. I just hope mommy is smart enough to figure out all of the gadgets!!

365 Days of Marriage

Last week Zac and I celebrated our one year anniversary!! Its crazy to think that this time last year I was worried about little things like updating our wedding website and which jewelry I should wear with my dress. This year we are reading "What to Expect" and Zac has turned our living room into a mini Santa's workshop (as this is where all baby contraptions are put together). Little Annabell was an unexpected gift, but we are looking forward to her all the same. Now if only she would get here already!! It has definitely been a world-wind of a year...but I wouldn't change it for a thing!!

Arriving in Jamaica after waking up at 4am to catch our flight. Sporting my "Bride" shirt and his "Groom Cap"

The day of the wedding....."Soon to be Mrs. Marshall" hoodie!

A small ceremony on the beach of Negril, Jamaica right at sunset

Right before the sun went down

Ring shot

This picture went on our announcements.....It was my favorite!

How are you feeling?

Now that I'm nearly 37 weeks pregnant, this is the question I get asked most of all. Back at 34 weeks, I would say something nice like, "Oh I'm feeling good, just a little tired", or "I'm a little anxious".......But not so much anymore! Now I respond with, "I feel fat, thanks for asking", or "The thought of labor scares the hell out of me, not to mention the fact that I will be in charge of a living being in just a matter of weeks." I'm thinking it could be the fact that I cannot get in or out of a car without groaning like an 80 year old, or the fact that there is not one cute thing in my closet for me to wear that is making me cranky. All of this wrapped up in a nice little package consumes my thoughts, so please don't be offended if the response to the above question is not always sugar coated.

And speaking of sugar coated.....I did very well over the past two weeks and only gained half a pound at the doctor today. This is a feat in itself considering that Halloween was but a few days ago.........I am a big fan of chocolate and candy corns, which can wreak havoc on the weight issue. The size from our last sonogram looked good and all tests as far as anemia and strep B came back negative. We are now visiting the doctor once a week and have been warned that Annabell could grace us with her presence at any time. Exciting and nerve-wracking all in one!!

Last week both my family, Zac's family and Zac were all going to be out of town. So they enlisted a "labor sitter" to look after me. My friend Kristin, who I have know since high school came to my aid. Zac was a bit nervous since he has heard the stories from our college years and affectionately refers to her as the "fornicator". However, he soon realized that there is very little trouble that a 9 month pregnant woman can get into. After all, I am usually in bed by 10pm and practically asleep before I have a chance to turn off the light! Our "night life" consisted of deciding which restaurants we would go for dinner and what reality TV we would be watching afterward. A few days of R and R for Kristin, as she lives in Austin and has her pick of cool places to frequent. All in all we had a great visit and she didn't even have to make a hospital trip!

Zac returned home just in time for his birthday and to help pass out candy at the gym with me on Halloween. He dressed as Edward Cullen (teeth and all). All of the front desk girls think he looks just like him, so it wasn't hard to pull off. And I went as his pregnant companion giving my Catholic School Girl uniform the year off. As we were purchasing his teeth at Walgreens, the lady at the register said that she had checked me out 9 months ago when I bought the pregnancy test.......she followed by saying, "I guess it turned out positive".............hmmmm what gave it away, the enormous bump I'm lugging around or perhaps the 35 (and a half) pounds I have packed on????

Edward Cullen.....with flowing hair!

Halloween '09

...Not my normal slutty costume, but appropriate for an expectant mommy-to-be!