BABY ALISTAIR, HE'S HERE!!!

Alistair James Brackbill
was born
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
at 7:00 a.m.
He was
7lbs. 15.8oz.
21 inches long

It was WONDERFUL! I labored at home all day Tuesday and headed to the hospital after dinner. I was admitted around 10pm and after my epidural, I was comfortable and rested through most of it! Noah and Elizabeth kept me laughing (and my contraction monitor jumping) ALL NIGHT LONG! At 6:45am Wednesday, I called the nurse into my room and told her, "I have to push!" Within a minute, there were 10 people in my room and we were pushing. In less than 10 minutes, he was here!

After they weighed and measured him, he came back to me and breastfed right away! He has been an AWESOME eater ever since! He is such a smart, strong boy! There really isn't anything BIG to say, everything went perfect....HE'S PERFECT! We came home today with nothing holding us back!

Thank you, EVERYONE, for all of your love, prayers and support! Thank you for being a part of this journey! Don't worry, a new one is begining...keep checking back, the blog will stay! We love you all!

Love,
Noah, Patricia and Alistair


I WAS SO HAPPY, THEY COULDN'T MAKE ME CRY!


I LOVE MY AUNT ELIZABETH!


CUDDLING WITH MY MOMMY AFTER MY BATH!


"I GOT JACK JOHNSON AND TOM O'LEARY WAITING FOR YOU RIGHT HERE!"


NAPPING WITH DADDY BEFORE HEADING FOR HOME!

The waiting game continues....

Today was my "due date." Well, for reference, here's what "due date" means: The date at the center of the 4 week period when birth is possible and considered "full term." WHATEVER! He'll come when he's darn good and ready! He's just a little relaxed and laid-back about the whole thing, not in a hurry to come out into the cruel, cold world. There's not much news except to report that at our midwife visit today, I was more dilated than last week and his head is EVEN lower, too! I'm trying not to be diappointed that I have not delivered. At least my pain, misery and sleepless nights are for something. SOME work is being done and that's good news. The other good news is that Noah and I have a little more time together before we become the 3 of us and I don't want to wish that away.

ONE more thing....I have signed up for the Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk on September 29th in Virginia Beach. It is a FANTASTIC cause and a wonderful organization that is making great "strides" in Alzheimer's research and treatment. So, Alistair and I will be walking that day and if you would like to donate to the Alzheimer's Association, click on the link to the right and you'll be directed to my personal sponsorship page. You can donate right from my website or, if you prefer, you can send money to me and I will turn it in when I check in for the walk that morning. My goal is to raise $200 for this event, please help Alistair and I in our first "cause!"

Thanks for checking in. I hope you like my new blog format, I was getting bored. I also hope you liked the pictures in my last post. My husband is a VERY creative photographer! (You should see the "studio" and lighting he had to work with and he STILL made me look beautiful!) :D

I'm posting this video because I just LOVE this song. It makes me cry EVERYTIME I hear it. Also, I LOVE REBA!

40 WEEKS.....ANY DAY NOW!!!!

READY, SET.....WAIT!

The waiting game is on now! EVERYTHING is ready and set, now we wait until the little devil decides it's time to make his debut. The early labor contractions I have been experiencing are stronger now and they last longer. Alistair's head is "engaged" and I've begun to dilate. Now, we WAIT! The only thing left is "active" labor and our little boy! But, don't get too excited, it could still be a couple of days OR even a couple of weeks! This little boy is gonna keep us guessing and I'm gonna start charging him rent!

Another highlight of this week: On Tuesday, Noah and I celebrated our 4 YEAR ANNIVERSARY! We went out to a very nice Italian dinner and celebrated our WONDERFUL marriage and decided that Alistair is our gift to each other! Our 5th year is bound to be full of adventures.....and LOVE!

DON'T FORGET THE BABY GAME! Get your guesses in for a chance at the prizes! Just click on the expectnet.com banner at the top of this page and enter a guess.

P.S. If you haven't already, get me your e-mail address. That way I can make sure everyone gets the e-mail announcement if I don't get around to blogging right away when we bring the little booger home! (patriciabrackbill@hotmail.com)

OH MY!

Well, here we are at 38 weeks! We are within that 2 week window when our little boy could come at anytime! FREAKY! Our bags are packed, Alistair's bed is up, rocking chair is in position, the carseat is installed and my support team is on call! What an exciting time! I have begun stage 1 phase 1 labor, which means I'm having contractions, that are sometimes painful and regular, but are not "active labor" just yet. These are VERY important because they're getting everything ready and toned for delivery! I have been feeling VERY tired, so I've been making an extra effort to relax A LOT more each day and allow these contractions to do their job. I saw the midwife yesterday and all systems are "go!" Alistair is "head down" and his heartrate has slowed to a "big boy" pace of about 135bpm!

My friend, Elizabeth, threw a diaper party for Noah last Saturday! It was a blast! She invited all of our closest friends (that she knew of) to come dance, drink and have a good time as long as each of them brought a package of diapers and/or wipes! What a fantastic idea! We had sooooo much fun! I enjoyed getting to party with everyone and getting to meet a few of Noah's other friends. (Even though I had to be sober. j/k) THANK YOU, ELIZABETH, FOR PROVIDING EVERYTHING, INCLUDING YOUR BEAUTIFUL HOUSE! IT REALLY MEANT A LOT TO US!!! (We may just have to throw an "Alistair Party" in a few weeks!)

Quick Update & NEW NEPHEW!

Went to the midwife last week. Lost 2 pounds, which is fine cuz I started watching my sugar intake after I gained a bunch of weight. (By the way, my sugar test came back normal, so that was NOT the cause of my weight gain.) Alistair is doing so good and is "a busy little bee," says Ms. Brown. He is most definately growing, my belly is HUGE! We can really tell certain things that he likes and dislikes. He LOVES when his daddy comes home, he reacts to Noah's voice EVERYTIME! It is so sweet! (I'm sure he's getting used to the sounds of fighting Bostons, too!) He likes when I eat ANYTHING with pizza sauce and he's definately a night owl. I can't wait to kiss his little cheeks! I visit again next Wednesday @ 38 weeks, then once a week after that! We're really getting down to the wire!

We went to PA last week for just 2 days. It was a little rough cuz Noah had just got off the night shifts and it took a little adjustment to get on a regular sleep schedule. We accomplished a few things including getting the rocking chair from Mom Gail! It was hers when Noah was born and I'm so excited! I LOVE IT SO MUCH AND IT MEANS THE WORLD TO ME!

Now we're just working on cleaning up our apartment and arranging things to make space for the few pieces Alistair furniture!

My 1st nephew, William Henry Johnston III, was born on August 7, 2007 @ 6:28pm (PT). He was 7lbs 10.5oz and 19in long! He is SOOOOOOO HANDSOME!

CONGRATULATIONS ANNIE AND BILLY!!!!!

Ok, Shirley, we understand that you LOVE ALL babies!

We have recieved TWO more boxes from The Drewes' this week! Doug and Shirley sent both of the Baby Einstein DVDs that I wanted and they came separately from everything else. They weren't here yet when we thanked you in blog last week, so THANK YOU for those also! :D

I started PT today. WOW! You use a lot of muscles in the water that you are not aware of! I'm a little sore and A LOT tired. But, that's good. We're strengthening my core to help my back, so the soreness means it's working.

Check back soon because I see the midwife tomorrow....36 WEEKS!!!!!

Physical Therapy and Protest

HEY! Thanks for keeping up with me! I've been blogging an awful lot, but I've had a lot to say the past few weeks! I hope everyone is enjoying the gift pictures! I'm trying to keep up with them as more stuff arrives. WHAT GREAT FUN! Thank you everyone who has participated!

The back pain that plagued me around the middle of my pregnancy, then seemed to disappear, well, it's back....and it's worse. So, my midwife sent me to physical therapy. I had my evaluation this morning. It went pretty well. Good news is that my abs are not spreading in the center very much! This is good because: one-it keeps my belly looking round and cute. Two-my muscle are more intact for pushing the baby out. Three-It will be faster and easier to get back in shape after delivery! So, it's good news that that's not causing my problems. However, my spine is curving in MUCH more than normal and the weight of my belly is making it worse. This is causing other muscles to compensate and become sore, which makes other parts sore too. PHEW....that was a bunch of info! Anyway, I begin pool therapy sessions on Tuesday. I will go twice a week until delivery and have other excercises to work on at home in between. I'm not looking forward to the drive to Portsmouth twice a week right at peak "tunnel traffic" time, but I'm sure it will help and, hey, I'll get a lot more use out of my maternity bathing suit! ;)

So, in all the mess of boxes showing up on a daily basis for the past 2 weeks, Frank and Ralphy have realized that some stores use too much packaging and it upsets them greatly. Wal-Mart will send 1 item in a box 5 times it's size and stuff it with paper or those airbag things. So, in the spirit of saving trees and other innocent wildlife, my dogs have taken it upon themselves to let Wal-Mart know just how much they disapprove. They sit in the boxes to keep us from taking them to the dumpster and Frank even gets physical with some Wal-Mart packaging. Here are their protests:
(the second one is a video. So, again, if you can't see it, click on it and you will be re-directed)




Also, I realized that I haven't posted new belly shots for a while, so here's one from Wednesday at 35 weeks!

P.S. Besides swaddling, Noah has also learned to change diapers! (Poor Frank)

More Boxes and Cards!

Thank you, Dysingers, for the towel set, sleepers and rattle! The wrapping was BEAUTIFUL, too!

Doug and Shirley Drewes, thank you soooo much for the toy set, bassinet sheet, "keep me dry" matress pads and a spare Boppy cover! We appreciate it and we miss you guys!

Thank you, Jason and Linda Drewes, for the Elmo's World DVD about PETS! That's an important one! We can't wait to bring Alistair to see you so we can meet Alex too!

Also, THANK YOU, Aunt Dorothy and Uncle John for washclothes, receiving blankets, Tigger outfit, carseat toy and sleepers! A lot of things we REALLY needed! We didn't have any receiving blankets yet and I was able to teach Noah how to swaddle! CONGRATULATIONS on your 3 BRAND NEW GRANDSONS!!!!!

I bought the sleep positioner (Gaby is pictured in) and a package of cloth diapers with giftcards from "Mumma" Centric and Aunt Irene!

OH! I got pictures from my mom that were taken when we were in Ohio in May! Thank you, Steve and Krista, for the adorable clothes and baby monitor!

LOTS of thanks to everyone who has sent cards, giftcards, and monetary gifts! Aunt Pat and Uncle Don, Aunt Bernette, The Bombergers, The Buchers, and The Kennedys (LOVED your note, Pam, Thanks)! Thank you all so much! This little one is going to have a WONDERFUL start in life!

ONE MORE THING: SPECIAL thanks to Gnu-Gnu (Noah's mom, Gail), who sent me the La Leache League book on breastfeeding and for being so supportive about my choice to breastfeed my boy! You're the greatest! And of course, I must thank my mom again and again for being on the other end of the phone about 7 nights a week when I have questions or need reassurance! Thanks to the two of you, the next 5 weeks will be bearable and the next 18 YEARS will be a FANTASTIC adventure!

More baby shower and 34 WEEK UPDATE!

A food grinder and a set of clothes arrived yesterday from Gnu Gnu and Grand-dude! I'm so excited about making my own baby food! (no extra expenses, instant baby food right from the table!) THANK YOU!

Our stroller got here last night! Thanks, Dad Jim! WOO HOO! We're about set to go! :D

Last weekend, we went to Steve and Megan's house for dinner and they gave us baby gifts. I just got a hold of the pictures and I'm posting them too! Thank you, guys, for the bib, bottles and bathtime gift set!

We realized that it was probably not a good idea to be using all the baby stuff on the dogs, we were teaching them bad things. So, we've begun using Gaby, my Cabbage Patch Kid, as a stand-in for Alistair in order to teach Frank and Ralphy the things that don't belong to them. (so, when you see her, don't be alarmed that we still play with dolls, she is serving a VERY practical purpose) Oh, this is going to be a challenge, but it has been working so far with the carseat. (It helped that the carseat was not snapped into the base yesterday and Ralphy put a paw on it to sniff the doll and the whole seat toppled onto him. He doesn't bother it anymore.) They sniff the baby, then seem disinterested. I'm sure it will be a different story once there's a real squirmy baby in it, but I guess the trick is to start them early associating the baby's furniture as "off limits." They have always been VERY gentle with other babies (and toddlers) that have come to visit and I'm not worried. Alistair will just be another "puppy" to them, but they somehow always know to be gentle.

We went to see the midwife on Tuesday for our 34 week appointment. As always, everything looks pretty good. I had gained a little more weight between visits this time, but since it took so long for me to gain any weight in the first place, Ms. McGuirt did not seem alarmed. I have, however, been VERY thirsty for about a week, so she ordered another glucose test "just to be safe." She wasn't worried, but said that the weight gain combined with the excessive thirst could be a sugar problem OR they could just be separate symptoms. (No thanks to the recent heat wave). Either way, it's not too bad and I "shouldn't get my panties in a bunch." We visit again on the 1st (36 weeks!), then we'll see her every week until the lil punk is here! It is so surreal to think that we're already this far and Noah is already making arrangements for his August schedule at work for his "Daddy" leave! :D

UPS comes again!

UPS came AGAIN last night! God bless UPS, she came right in the middle of a fierce thunderstorm and had to make 2 trip from her truck with all the boxes!

New arrivals include:
-Bathtub from Uncle Dave and Aunt Trish, it came separately from the sleepers. THANK YOU!

-Leap Frog Toy and Temporal Artery Thermometer from Grandpap and Grandma Miller! I just LOVE those thermometers! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

-THE CAR SEAT from Dad Jim! HURRAY! Now, Alistair can come whenever he's ready, cuz we have a way to bring him home! :)

A Gift from My Husband!

Yep! Even Noah got in on the gift giving fun this week! :)
He got me a digital camera! We've been talking about it for months and figured we'd get around to it sometime before the little punk is born so we would have nice pictures to share, but I kept putting it off. Noah wouldn't let me anymore, and came home today with a new Canon Powershot, which also takes video clips! All of the pictures from the previous blog (and every blog from here on) on were (are going to be) taken with my new camera!

P.S. Hey, Mommy, it takes AA batteries!!!!!!!

Here's a silly video clip I took when I was playing with my new toy! (If you can't view it here, just click on the place where it should be and you'll be redirected to photobucket viewer)

More Gifts!

The shower continues....
Here are some pictures of Noah opening gifts from The Brummer Family. The football, which Frank wants REALLY bad, and the bathtime froggy toys. Thank you, Ella, you did so good! (Give her a hug for me, Megs!)

Aunt Connie and Uncle Mike sent Scrapbooking supplies and a scrapbook, too! I think I have enough to get the whole first year done! And I've started the pages with his ultrasound pictures already! Thank you sooooooo much!!!!

The sleepers that Frank is posing with are from The Esh Family of the Eastern Shore! Thank you so so so much! (We needed those bigger sizes!)

We also recieved cards and monetary gifts from Grammie Esh, Uncle Tom and Aunt Peg (yes, you're gonna be GREAT Aunt and Uncle), and Uncle Dick and Aunt B! Thank you so VERY much!

You are all so thoughtful! Thank you for EVERYTHING! This has turned out to be a WONDERFUL WEEK!

...And I still love technology....

I've added links to the left that will take you right to our gift registries! Just click on the one you want to see and you will be directed to it! Cool huh?! I'm geting the hang of this! ;)

I don't have any new pictures today, but I wanted to remind everyone to click on the expectnet banner at the top of this page and take a guess! There will be prizes for the closest answers to Alistair's birthdate, height and weight!

Baby Shower!

We passed the 33 week mark yesterday and the shower has begun! Thank you so so so so so much to Aunt Connie for putting the whole AWESOME idea together for us! Most of you know how hard it is for Noah to get time off work and We REALLY appreciate your participation in the very NEW concept! Weren't the invitations BEAUTIFUL?! How many of you had a confetti mess on your floor when you opened it?! HEHEHEHEHE!! It was just like a "real" party!

And it is a REAL party in our house these days! Jennifer has become our "resident photographer." Thank Jennifer for all the new pics you're getting of us! ;) Shower gifts have started to arrive and we have been having SO MUCH FUN!!! We just can't wait until we have a human baby to use the things, not just fur-babies! ;)

Thank you's to the WONDERFUL and BEAUTIFUL Mildrew family for the ever-indispensible high chair! I love you and I've missed you!

Thanks, Mom, for, well, EVERYTHING, including the playpen/bassinet that Alistair will pretty much live in for the first few months!

And even more thanks to Aunt Connie and Uncle Mike for purchasing the Baby Bjorn Carrier! (Noah is esspecially psyched about this one!)

I forgot to take pictures, but Matt Vincent and Brittani Martindale (Who will be MR. & MRS. Vincent Aug. 4!) bought us 2 packs of boy onesies! Thank you for getting different sizes and I'm sorry about the problems at Wal-Mart.

Stay tuned, there will be MUCH more blogging as more stuff arrives and we visit the midwife on Tuesday!

A Child's Angel

Once upon a time there was a child ready to be born. One day the little
child asked God:
"They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow but how am I going to
live there being so small and helpless?"
God answered him "Among the many angels, I chose one for you. She will be
waiting for you and will take care of you."
"But tell me," asked the child, "here in Heaven, I don't do anything else
but sing and smile, that's enough for me to be happy."
"Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you every day. And
you will feel your angel's love and be happy." God reassured him.
"And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me, if I
don't know the language that men talk?"
"Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will
ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how
to speak."
"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you, Lord?"
"Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."
"I've heard that on earth there are bad men. Who will protect me?"
"Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."
"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."
"Your angel will always talk to you about me and will teach you the way
for you to come back to me, even though I will always be next to you."
At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from earth
could already be heard, and the child in a hurry asked softly
"Oh God, if I am about to leave now, please tell me my angel's name."
"You will call your angel, Mother"
~Author Unknown

BEACHIN' BELLY!

IT'S SUMMERTIME!!!!!
Here are some shots at 32 weeks. 8 weeks to go! WOO HOO!