And baby makes three

Isabelle's Six Month Portraits

2009-08-12T21:27:00.007-04:00

Long & Overdue

2009-07-11T10:14:00.004-04:00

It’s been quite a while since I’ve updated this blog. My last entry was when Isabelle turned 4 months old – she is now going on 6 months. Growing every day, the last couple of months have proven to be huge in Isabelle’s world. But before I get into that, I would first like to ask for a personal favor. Isabelle’s Grandma Toni has been experiencing some serious medical issues since early May. We are almost at the point of diagnosis and we ask that you PLEASE keep her and our family in your prayers. She is an amazing grandmother to Isabelle and one of the most important people in my world. Please pray for “Gramma” Toni’s health and her body’s ability to fight and overcome. We simply cannot win this battle without God’s mercy and grace. I will use this blog to keep you posted on how she is doing. Thank you so much for your love and support!

On a happier note...

Isabelle – 6 Months

The summer has already proven to be a great one for Isabelle. She has experienced many “firsts” and has reached several milestones both developmentally and otherwise. Isabelle amazes us with her ability to learn and try new things, making everyday an adventure. She has fine-tuned her personality and is starting to discover who she. She has likes and dislikes, preferences and peculiarities. Here is a rundown of some of Isabelle’s most noteworthy accomplishments over the past two months (pictures in following post):

Baptism
On May 24, 2009 Isabelle was baptized at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Ann Arbor, MI. She was joined by her Godparents, Mike Kovalcheck (my brother) and Andrea Lucas (Alex’s sister) as well as her parents, grandparents and great-grandmas (she has three!). It was a beautiful ceremony followed by a delicious lunch hosted on Gramma and Grampa K’s deck. We are so proud of our daughter and thrilled to welcome her into the Orthodox faith. We know she will live a long and happy life as a child of God.

First Zoo Trip
Isabelle visited the Toledo Zoo for the first time in May. She had a fun day hanging out in her stroller and looking at all of the animals. She saw monkeys, zebra, hippos, elephants and camels – just to name a few. After a long day in the sun, she took a very peaceful nap while Mommy and Daddy ate ice cream and enjoyed the weather. It was a beautiful day all around!

First foods
Around 4.5 months old Isabelle was introduced to rice cereal for the first time. She wasn’t a big fan of the flavor, so after a couple of weeks we added a small amount of pureed carrots for flavor. She loved it! Since then she has tried peas, sweet potatoes, bananas, apples, pears, prunes and slices of fresh melon.

First Father’s Day
Isabelle and Alex celebrated their first Father’s Day together this year. We spent the day together as a family and had a wonderful time. Daddy was very proud to be with his gorgeous little girl!

First Swim
We took Isabelle swimming for the first time in June. She wasn’t too sure about the water but she LOVED her bathing suit and pool toys! Maybe next summer we’ll work on actually swimming.

Talking
She’s not LITERALLY talking, but she is babbling more and starting to make vowel sounds. She says “MMM” and “AH” (I’m thinking we’re not too far off from hearing “mama!”) as well as the “OH” sound. She also likes to blow raspberries. It’s so cute! :)

Sitting Up
Although still wobbly, Isabelle started to work on sitting up around 5.5 months. We make sure to have plenty of pillows set up around her because sometimes weebles DO fall down! I’m thinking another week or two and she’ll probably have this one down.

As you can see, this summer has already been quite exciting for us. We look forward to more memories being made and thank God everyday for the blessing of our beautiful daughter, Isabelle!

Isabelle's Summer Fun (4-6m)

2009-07-11T09:22:00.000-04:00

First Swim

First Father's Day

First Zoo Trip

First Foods

Isabelle's Baptism

Isabelle - 4 Months

2009-05-21T21:26:00.004-04:00

On A Roll!

2009-05-12T20:51:00.002-04:00

Here is a video of Isabelle rolling over from back to belly. I'm so proud of her!!

And we're rolling!

2009-05-11T12:30:00.000-04:00

Isabelle rolled over from her belly to her back today! She now can roll in both directions and is pretty much unstopable ;)

First Mother's Day

2009-05-10T21:28:00.000-04:00

I had the pleasure of celebrating my first Mother's Day with Isabelle, my mom and my grandma Rose, Alex and my dad. We went to brunch at the Italian American Club (where our wedding reception was held) and enjoyed the blessing of each other's company. It was a perfect day!

Isabelle Rolled Over!

2009-05-08T22:39:00.000-04:00

I'm SO proud to announce that Izzy rolled over for the very first time yesterday! She rolled from her back to her tummy while playing on her rainforest activity mat. I'll be sure to catch it on video and post it as soon as she starts doing it again!

Isabelle's 3 Month Portraits

2009-05-08T20:43:00.000-04:00

Pictures by Karen Varnas - http://karensphotographs.com/

Overdue Update!

2009-05-06T12:29:00.000-04:00

It's been a while since my last update and boy have we been busy! Isabelle is now 3 and a half months old and changing every day. We've experienced several firsts over the last month or so - her first Easter, first time playing in the jumperoo/exersaucer, first professional portraits and first laugh. It seems like something new happens every day! Her personality is also continuing to develop as she has transitioned from a sleepy newborn to an alert and engaged infant. What a joy she is!

First Easter - Isabelle celebrated both Catholic and Greek Orthodox Easter this year. She went to church, visited with family, went on an egg hunt and received her first basket from the Easter Bunny. She wore two pretty dresses and an adorable pair of "Baby's First Easter" pajamas (complete with bunny feet and a fuzzy tail on her butt!). Besides her cuteness, Isabelle brought so much to our holiday, making it the most special Easter we've ever had.

Jumperoo/Exersaucer - Isabelle LOVES this toy! She's still a little uncertain on how to jump, but she can't get enough of all the toys that are attached to it. Since putting her in this, the use of her hands has skyrocketed and she now reaches and grabs for everything in sight. She's much more confident with her hands and she's also become less wobbly when sitting up.

First Professional Portraits - We took Isabelle to have her 3 month pictures taken on Saturday, April 10th. We had the pleasure of working with Karen Varnas (http://karensphotographs.com/index2.php), who is one of the two women that photographed our wedding (http://www.bellaweddingphotography.com/). Knowing how amazing our wedding pictures turned out, it was no question we would return for baby portraits. Her work is incredible and she was great with Izzy. We hope to have the pictures back sometime this week - stay tuned for a preview!

First Laugh - Isabelle's laugh has been brewing for a good month and a half now. But, over the past week it has cultivated into a REAL laugh (as opposed to the breathy little sound she had been producing). It all began when she was held up to the mirror so she could see her own reflection. We've been doing this pretty much since she was born, but something was different this time. Instead of just staring at the baby in the mirror, she began to smile and interact with her. Of course the more she smiled, the more the baby in the mirror smiled. Eventually she and that baby were playing back and forth with each other and laughing with excitement! Of course Isabelle's laugh is the sweetest, most angelic sound to ever fill your ears - I just can't get enough!

Some exciting events are on the horizon for Isabelle. Her Baptism is scheduled for Sunday, May 24th and will be at St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church in Ann Arbor (http://www.stnickaa.org/). Her godparents will be her Uncle Mike and Aunt Andrea.

We have also joined a swim club and will be taking Izzy there quite often this summer. She has three adorable bathing suits and a slew of sunhats and sunglasses to wear, as well as a baby raft and canopy to float around in. I'm excited to see how she'll react to the water!

Our first Mother's Day/Father's Day as new parents will also be a very blessed time for our little family. We look forward to spending that time with our beautiful daughter, our parents and our grandparents!

Isabelle - 3.5 Months

2009-05-06T09:30:00.000-04:00

Isabelle - 11 weeks

2009-04-07T21:51:00.001-04:00

Isabelle - 10 Weeks!

2009-03-27T06:36:00.001-04:00

Two Months - big update!

2009-03-22T19:59:00.000-04:00

Isabelle turned two months old last week. Two months? Already? When did that happen and where was I?!

As everyone warned me, time is passing quicker than I could ever imagine. In my mind, Isabelle is still a newborn but in reality she's a thriving 11lb 12oz, 21.75 inch 2-month old who is growing, learning and changing every day. Some of her recent accomplishments include smiling (my favorite), attempting to laugh, holding her head up and reaching/grabbing at things. Her personality is also very prominent and there is no question this girl is every bit an individual. She's loving, joyful, stubborn, sassy, comical and curious. She seems to change on a daily basis and I can only imagine what she'll be like another two months down the road.

Life in our house is beginning to settle a bit. We've become comfortable with our new role as parents and as the weeks pass, it gets easier. The feeding schedule isn't confusing, diaper changes are a breeze (when they don't require an emergency bath!), and we can easily identify Isabelle's cries and determine what she needs just by looking at her. For two people who have had ZERO prior experience with newborns, I think we're doing a pretty good job :)

We've had our share of challenging days, though. I refuse to call them bad because really, how can any day with your newborn child be bad? Isabelle is colic and is struggling with severe acid reflux. As you can imagine, this makes her very uncomfortable and very fussy. We've taken her to three doctors, tried three different medications and wasted more money on formula than I care to admit. Luckily we finally found he doctor/medication/formula combo that works for us and she is a much happier baby. Of course we still have difficult days, but as she grows and her stomach gets stronger, this will all be a thing of that past.

Thank you for reading our blog and staying in contact with us over the past couple of months. Although wonderful, being first time parents is stressful and exhausting. We are fortunate to have you as our friends and blessed to be Isabelle's parents!

Much Love,

Alex & Erin

Isabelle dancing

2009-03-07T21:09:00.000-05:00

Isabelle - 7 weeks

2009-03-07T20:58:00.001-05:00

Isabelle - 7 weeks

2009-03-07T20:50:00.000-05:00

Isabelle's First Smile

2009-02-25T21:25:00.000-05:00

Isabelle started smiling last weekend and needless to say, it melts my heart. I was lucky enough to capture her smile today when we were taking pictures. How cute is she??

Izzy - 5.5 Weeks

2009-02-25T21:10:00.000-05:00

It Won't Be Like This For Long - Darius Rucker

2009-02-15T20:43:00.000-05:00

He didnt have to wake up
He'd been up all nite
Lay'n there in bed listen'n
To his new born baby cry
He makes a pot of coffee
He splashes water on his face
His wife gives him a kiss and says
It gonna be OK

It wont be like this for long
One day soon we'll look back laugh'n
At the week we brought her home
This phase is gonna fly by
So baby just hold on
It wont be like this for long

Four years later bout four thirty
She's crawling in there bed
And when he drops her off at preschool
She's clinging to his leg
The teacher peels her off of him
He says what can I do
She says now dont you worry
This will only last a week or two

It wont be like this for long
One day soon we'll drop her off
And she wont even know your gone
This phase is gonna fly by
If you can just hold on
It wont be like this for long

One day soon she'll be a teenager
And at times you'll think she hates him
Then he'll walk her down the isle
And he'll raise her vale
But right now she up and cry'n
And the truth is that he dont mind
As he kisses her good night
And she says her prayers
He lays down there beside her
Till her eyes are finally closed
And just watch'n her it breaks his heart
Cause he already knows
It wont be like this for long
One day soon that little girl is gonna be
All grown up and gone
Yeah this phase is gonna fly by
He's try'n to hold on
It wont be like this for long
It wont be like this for long

Happy Valentine's Day!

2009-02-14T14:58:00.000-05:00

4 weeks already?

2009-02-13T05:43:00.001-05:00

I can't believe 4 weeks ago today I was checking into the hospital. It was the coldest day in Michigan's history with temps reaching a whopping 15 below but my nerves wouldn't let me feel the frigid air. I was probably the only person in the entire state to break out in a sweat that morning. I was about to have a baby!

It seems she was just born last week. Time really flies when you have a child. It's bittersweet. I'm already shedding tears as a pull Isabelle's newborn clothes out of the closet and replace them with 3 month sizes, but at the same time, I can't want to see what the future holds for her and what she'll become.

My world has changed immensely over the past four weeks. Isabelle has opened my eyes to life's simple joys and has helped me to rediscover my faith in family, love and God. I never knew one little person could bring such large emotions by doing nothing more then being her sweet, unknowing self.

Thank you, Isabelle. for changing my life. You have given so much to your daddy and I in just 4 short weeks. We love you and thank God everyday for blessing us with your presence. Happy 4 week birthday, baby girl!

Sleeping Beauty

2009-02-10T19:27:00.001-05:00

Izzy has been struggling with gas and acid reflux pretty much since she was one week old. We've tried everything we can think of to help her find relief, but nothing seems to work. Most nights her sleep (and ours!) in interrupted by loud grunting and spitting up. You can imagine my joy when I saw her peacefully asleep without a care - or tummy pain - in the world. She's absolutely perfect, isn't she?

3 Weeks Old!

2009-02-08T09:57:00.001-05:00

Play time!

2009-02-02T19:34:00.000-05:00

We recently picked up an activity mat for Isabelle to play with and she LOVES it! We place her on her back and allow her to stretch her legs, kick her feet and watch all the lights/listen to the sounds of the toys that hang above her head. When we flip her over onto her tummy, she lifts and turns her head from side to side and brings her feet up under her body as if to crawl. She's really working those muscles and has us convinced she's going to be moving around at an early age!

The best part about her play time is the satisfying nap she takes after a job well done. As you can see by the pictures, she plays hard and sleeps harder!

2 Weeks Old!

2009-01-30T12:12:00.000-05:00

Today Isabelle is two weeks old and the time has just flown! Although tiring, parenthood is the most rewarding job either of us have ever had. We love our baby girl and can't wait to see what the upcoming months will hold for us!

10 days old

2009-01-27T07:21:00.001-05:00

Isabelle loves to sit in her swing!

The love of my life at one day old...

2009-01-23T11:08:00.001-05:00

More pictures!

2009-01-22T09:52:00.001-05:00

Isabelle's first bath

2009-01-22T09:44:00.001-05:00

We gave Isabelle her first bath on January 20. Surprisingly, she didn't cry nearly as much as we had expected. I even think she began to like it after a few minutes. After she was all dried off, we massaged her little body with baby lotion. She loved that!

Isabelle has arrived!

2009-01-20T17:30:00.000-05:00

Weighing in at 8lbs and measuring 19 inches in length, our beautiful baby girl entered the world at 8:58am on January 16th. We are all home after 4 days in the hospital and everyone is doing great. We'll be sure to update this blog with all the details surrounding her birth once we get caught up on our sleep! Thank you for your love and well wishes, we can't wait for you to meet our gorgeous daughter!

Love,

Alex, Erin and Isabelle

13 more hours!

2009-01-15T19:49:00.001-05:00

This time tomorrow we'll be holding our beautiful, 11-hour old baby girl! We can't wait :)

The final week!

2009-01-13T16:46:00.000-05:00

Erin is 39 weeks pregnant and according to BabyCenter.com, Isabelle is waiting to greet the world! She continues to build a layer of fat to help control her body temperature after birth, but it's likely she already measures about 20 inches and weighs a bit over 7 pounds (like a mini watermelon).

We are so excited to meet our little girl and only have 3 more days to go! If you would like to meet Isabelle, feel free to drop by anytime on Saturday or Sunday afternoon. We are not being released until Monday morning and would love some company that weekend!

Love,

Alex & Erin

38 Weeks

2009-01-06T11:12:00.000-05:00

Isabelle has really plumped up! She weighs about 7 pounds and she's over 19 1/2 inches long (like a leek). She has a firm grasp, which we'll soon be able to test when we hold her hand for the first time! Her organs have matured and are ready for life outside the womb. Wondering what color her eyes will be? We may not be able to tell right away. If she's born with brown eyes, they'll likely stay brown. If she's born with steel gray or dark blue eyes, they may stay gray or blue or turn green, hazel, or brown by the time she's 9 months old. That's because a child's irises (the colored part of the eye) may gain more pigment in the months after she's born, but they usually won't get "lighter" or more blue. (Green, hazel, and brown eyes have more pigment than gray or blue eyes.)

Update:
I went in for another checkup last night and she is still in the breech position. At this point, the doctor doesn't feel she is going to turn - even with efforts such as massage and exercise. Because I have an anterior placenta and low amniotic fluid, there just isn't much room for her to move about. With that said, we've scheduled our c-section for next Friday, January 16th at 8:30am. That's just 10 days from now!

Of course I am nervous for the surgery, but to be honest, I was nervous about labor and delivery as well. I think having a baby is just as nerve wracking as it is exciting. I am in GREAT hands. My doctor is the head of the entire maternity wing and has specialized in high-risk pregnancies for the past 30 years. I trust him and his judgement and I know that both Isabelle and I are going to be in great hands.

Visitation:
The surgery itself shouldn't last more than 45 minutes with another 30-40 in post-op. We will be back into our room no later than 12:00 in the afternoon. At that point, feel free to come visit us and meet out baby girl! You are also more than welcome to drop by anytime after 2:00pm on Saturday as we won't be discharged until sometime Sunday morning. Because of the recovery, it was suggested by my doctor not to have visitors at home until 2-3 weeks after delivery so the hospital would probably be the best place to see her.

We'll be at St. Mary's Hosptial in Livonia. It is located off Levan road between 5mile and Schoolcraft. The maternity wing is located in the Marianne Professional Entrance (off Levan). When you go in you should be able to find someone to point you in the right direction.

On a personal note....
Thank you to everyone who reads this blog, calls to check on me and is always lending love and support to us. Sometimes I think Alex and I wouldn't be anywhere if not for the support of our friends and family. We are so blessed to have you in our lives and we can't wait for our daughter to meet you, as well. May God bless you all!

Love,
Alex & Erin

Isabelle's Foot @ 37 Weeks

2008-12-30T12:08:00.000-05:00

Here is an adorable shot of her foot from yesterday's ultrasound. Can't wait to kiss those toes!

37 weeks

2008-12-30T11:57:00.000-05:00

I am 37 weeks pregnant and according to BabyCenter.com, Isabelle is full term! This means that if she arrives now, her lungs should be fully mature and ready to adjust to life outside the womb, even though my due date is still three weeks away. She weighs about 6 1/3 pounds and measures a bit over 19 inches, head to heel (like a stalk of Swiss chard). Many babies have a full head of hair at birth, with locks from 1/2 inch to 1 1/2 inches long. But don't be surprised if Isabelle's hair isn't the same color as ours. Dark-haired couples are sometimes thrown for a loop when their children come out as blonds or redheads, and fair-haired couples have been surprised by Elvis look-alikes. And then, of course, some babies sport only peach fuzz.

We went in for our 37 week checkup yesterday and discovered that the baby is more than likely in the breech position. We were send to labor & delivery for a non-stress test and an ultrasound, where her position was confirmed. The fluid in the amniotic sack is also running a little low, which can hurt the chances of Isabelle being able to flip into a head-down position. I will go back in a week to see if there has been any progress made, if not, we will schedule a c-section for the beginning of week 39 (around January 15th).

The ultrasound was amazing - as we haven't seen Isabelle since she was just a little peanut at 20 weeks. She has grown so much and looks to be completely ready for life outside the womb. She is practicing breathing and her heart is very strong, averaging between 150-160bpm. The ultrasound tech was also able to confirm she has hair, which was substantial enough to show up on the 2-D scan!

Stay tuned.... :)

36 Weeks

2008-12-23T10:09:00.000-05:00

Isabelle is still packing on the pounds — at the rate of about an ounce a day. She now weighs 6 pounds (like a crenshaw melon) and is more than 18 1/2 inches long. She's shedding most of the downy covering of hair that covered her body as well as the vernix caseosa, the waxy substance that covered and protected her skin during her nine-month amniotic bath. She swallows both of these substances, along with other secretions, resulting in a blackish mixture, called meconium, will form the contents of her first bowel movement. At the end of this week, Isabelle will be considered full-term. (Full-term is 37 to 42 weeks; babies born before 37 weeks are pre-term and those born after 42 are post-term.) Most likely she's in a head-down position.

Only 4 more weeks to go!

35 Weeks

2008-12-16T09:04:00.000-05:00

Isbaelle doesn't have much room to maneuver now that she's over 18 inches long and tips the scales at 5 1/4 pounds (pick up a honeydew melon). Because it's so snug in the womb, she isn't likely to be doing somersaults anymore, but the number of times she kicks should remain about the same. Her kidneys are fully developed now, and her liver can process some waste products. Most of her basic physical development is now complete — she'll spend the next few weeks just putting on weight.

Just 5 more weeks to go!!

34 Weeks

2008-12-09T09:38:00.000-05:00

According to BabyCenter.com, Isabelle now weighs about 4 3/4 - 5 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. Although not full-term yet, babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

33 Weeks

2008-12-02T11:48:00.001-05:00

Isabelle weighs 4.5-5 pounds (the weight of a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. She's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and her skeleton is hardening. The bones in her skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for her to fit through the birth canal. These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as her brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood. Just 7 more weeks to go until she is full term and 2 weeks until she could arrive without medical intervention!

32 Weeks

2008-11-25T09:29:00.000-05:00

By now, babies at 32 weeks gestation weigh around 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and are about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in mommy's uterus! Because Isabelle is expected to be a larger baby, she's probably more in the 4 - 4.5lb range and a good 17 inches in length. Erin will begin gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that will go right to the baby. In fact, Isabelle will gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth. Only 8 more weeks!

Big Baby!

2008-11-23T12:14:00.000-05:00

I went to the doctor on Friday and found out there is a chance that I could be carrying quite a large little girl. At this point it's premature to say, but based on what the doctor says she's quite long for her stage in development and possibly weighing a bit more as well (maybe about 4-4.5lbs already). I'm measuring ahead of schedule, so there is also a chance I could just be a little farther along than originally thought. The plan is to wait and see what happens towards the end. If they suspect she'll be over 9lbs, they may induce me a week early, January 15, just to avoid a c-section (my doctor doesn't want me to have a vaginal delivery if she's over 9.5-10lbs). If not, then they will let me go the full 40 weeks.

I suspect she's long (obviously, look at her parents!) but not hefty. Both Alex and I were 8lb babies and up to this point, she's been pretty right-0n for her stage of development. But, if they want her to come early, I will not be standing in their way. The sooner I get to meet my sweet baby girl the better!

New Dad Survey

2008-11-18T20:43:00.000-05:00

New Dad Survey taken by Alex Lucas:

What did you first think when you found out Erin was pregnant?
Wicked excited and very impressed with myself

What did you think when you found out it’s a girl?
I thought of how badly I wanted to get a University of Michigan cheerleading outfit

What was the cutest thing Erin does during pregnancy?
Baby blog

What was the most annoying thing Erin does during pregnancy?
I’m not gonna touch this question with a 10 foot pole

Is there any “pregnancy” food that you’ll be glad to never eat again?
Not really, just smaller quantities

Who will have the first break-down after Isabelle arrives?
Erin by far

What is your advice about dealing with a pregnant lady?
Have patience, be nice, and know that no matter what: you’re wrong

What excites you the most about having a child?
Finally having someone to play Wii with

What scares you about having a child?
Messing something up

What sports will Isabelle play? What sports will Isabelle NOT play?
Play - Soccer, Tennis, Golf, Swimming. Will not play - Softball, Football, Wrestling, Figure Skating

What is your “game plan” for handling the overnight feedings?
Resting peacefully, how come?

Do you know what a nasal aspirator is or how to use it?
Nope

Why will Erin be a great mom?
Because she’s loving, caring, and super-protective.

What pre-pregnancy activities are you and Erin most looking forward to getting back to?
Two Syllables: Shee - Hans (our local watering hole)

31 Weeks

2008-11-18T11:06:00.000-05:00

Development:
This week, Isabelle measures over 16 inches long! She weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into another growth spurt. She can turn her head from side to side, and her arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath her skin. She's also experiencing hiccups about 2-3 times a day with each episode lasting for around 30 minutes - we were even able to hear them on the fetal monitor!

Mom & Dad:
We're in the home stretch! We still have a lot of little things to take care of but for the most part, WE ARE READY! After the shower, it took us a good week to get everything organized and in order, but at that point it occurred to us that if she came today, we'd be able to welcome her without fear of not having a car seat or bring her home or a crib to lay her sleepy head.

We're working around the house to get a jump start on Christmas gifts, baking cookies and decorating. Erin has been advised to get her hospital bag packed as it isn't uncommon for babies to decide to make an appearance when least expected (especially around the holidays). Alex has been organizing, building things and child proofing whenever possible. Operation: baby is in full swing!

Nursery:
Isabelle's nursery is 100% completely done! The drawers are now finished, wall decor hung and most of her sheets, blankets and clothes have been washed, folded and put away. Her room is absolutely beautiful and we can't wait to bring her home and allow her to see it for herself. Erin spends a lot of time sitting on the rocking chair and reading story books to baby Belle. Just a few more weeks and we'll be able to hold her in our arms!

30 Weeks

2008-11-11T19:28:00.001-05:00

I am 30 weeks pregnant and according to BabyCenter.com, she's about 15.7 inches long now and weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in my uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. Only 10 more weeks to go!

Showers, baby names and nurserys... oh my!

2008-11-09T18:46:00.001-05:00

First of all, we would like to THANK everyone that came to our shower and all those who sent gifts over the past few weeks. It was great seeing everyone and we really appreciate all of the love and support we have received. It is humbling how blessed we are to have you in our lives and we can't wait for our baby girl to get to know you too.

With that said, we have officially decided on a baby name. If you were at the shower, you already know what it is. If not, please allow us to announce....

Isabelle Alexandra Lucas!

This is the name that Alex and I fell in love with well before we were even pregnant and we were so excited when we found out it was a girl. Of course as soon as the ultrasound tech said "GIRL!" my mind literally thought "Isabelle." I guess some things are just meant to be. Her middle name, which is after Alex, is also very special to us and we are proud to have her take on one of our names.

Our final announcement is that we've (nearly) finished the nursery!! Thanks to everyone for your generosity, we received almost everything needed to complete the nursery. In addition, Alex has been busy since 8am this morning building baby toys and assembling gear. What a great dad he is already!!

Here are a few pictures of the things we did today. Hope you enjoy as much as we have. Thank you again for your love - we couldn't have this baby without you in our lives!

These pretty letters will be hung above her crib

Isabelle's changing table/dresser (drawers coming soon)

We can't wait to read her bedtime stories and rock her to sleep :)

Isabelle's crib bedding

Isabelle's crib

The drawers are removed while Alex replaces the knobs. They should be back in tomorrow.

29 Weeks

2008-11-06T11:29:00.001-05:00

Development:
Erin is 29 weeks pregnant and according to BabyCenter.com, the baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. Her muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and her head is growing bigger to make room for her developing brain. To meet her increasing nutritional demands, Erin needs plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in her hardening skeleton each day which means Erin needs to amp up her dairy intake for the next 10 weeks. Only 76 days to go!

Nursery:
We finally have the crown molding and painting done (thanks for Grandpa K!). Alex plans to steam clean the carpet on Thursday and move the furniture in on Friday. Since our shower is this Saturday, we're hoping to begin setting everything up and decorating on Sunday. Here are the current pictures of our progress, check back for the finished product sometime at the end of the weekend!

28 Weeks

2008-10-27T20:47:00.000-04:00

Development:
By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world. Just 82 days to go!!

We're having a baby??

2008-10-26T00:51:00.000-04:00

Alex and I put together the crib today and everything finally hit home - we're going to have a baby in 85 days (or less)! Obviously I knew this before today but seeing her crib... standing over it... staring down and imagining her sleeping... it all sunk in. Being pregnant is such a surreal experience - from day one it's felt like a big dream.

Now that I’m in the 3rd trimester, it’s “game on” from this point forward. We have our shower in 2 weeks then we will be busy assembling the baby gear, decorating the nursery and washing/folding her clothes. We also have to take a birthing class and I need to get my hospital bag packed incase she decides to make an early appearance. On top of that, the holidays are coming so we need to do our shopping and decorate the house. Although 85 days is lengthy, when you factor everything we need to do, it feels like no time.

I guess all I can do from this point forward is stay focused and keep my eye on the prize. As tired and overwhelmed as I am, it will all be 100% worth it when they place her warm little wrapped up body in my arms for the very first time. From what I hear it’s love at first sight. Nothing I do will prepare me for that moment but with all of the other preparations I am taking, I like the idea of that.

Help Babies in Need!

2008-10-21T12:30:00.000-04:00

Over the next month we'll be collecting diapers to donate to a crisis pregnancy group here in our area. If you're coming to the shower then you've already received some information regarding this, however, if you're not attending and would still like to donate please let us know. We're gathering as many packs of diapers as possible - they can be any size and brand. Wipes are also very helpful!

We are so blessed with love and support of our families and we know our child will be too. Unfortunately, there are not as many blessed mothers and babies in the world and we'd like to take this opportunity to give back. We hope you will join us in our efforts!

Thank you!
Alex, Erin & Baby

27 Weeks

2008-10-21T12:09:00.000-04:00

Development:

Our baby weighs almost 2 pounds (imagine lifting a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, her brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were to be born now. Erin can chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements she may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups (how cute!), which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother baby, so Erin can just relax and enjoy the tickle :)

Erin went to the doctor yesterday and was able to hear the baby's heart beat. She's averaging about 160 bpm and is moving a whole lot. In short, she's a very active and healthy little girl!

Mom and Dad:

We're staying busy with cleaning, organizing and making room for all the baby stuff that is soon to come. The nursery should get started this week and we're still hoping to have it all complete with the crib set up by the time of the shower (fingers crossed!).

Erin has begun "nesting" and is determined to become a master baker by the time baby arrives. Alex is being wonderful and supportive by willing eating everything she bakes - despite it's appearances. Now we're both suffering from heart burn!

Alex has recently taken a deeper interest in tennis and has been spending more time on the courts. With us both being tall, it's obvious this little girl with have long arms and legs and Daddy couldn't be any more excited to get her out there for a little one-on-one with him!

We'll be taking a child birth class on December 6 from 9-4:30 pm. We'll learn everything about the labor/delivery, Lamaze and other things we can do to prepare for her arrival. We'll have a chance to get our questions answered and will hopefully leave feeling calm and ready for the birth (YEAH RIGHT!). We also have to watch that awful childbirth video which neither of us are looking forward to. Oh the joys of becoming parents!

26 Weeks

2008-10-18T12:27:00.000-04:00

Development:
According to babycenter.com, the network of nerves in our baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. She may now be able to hear both of our voices as we chat with each other (watch what you say!!). She's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of her lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when she's born and takes that first gulp of air. She's also continuing to put on baby fat and now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (the length of an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel.

Mom and Dad:
As we enter the third trimester, Erin can no longer bend at the waist, touch her toes or tie her shoes! Baby Lucas has taken up most of the room in her torso and is growing more and more with each passing week. Alex is helping Erin to deal with the sudden changes by taking over more around the house and constantly picking up things that her clumsy hands seem to drop (also happening more and more!).

Nursery:
Alex and the proud Grandpas have gotten together to sand and stain Erin's childhood furniture that will be used in the nursery - it looks GORGEOUS! Crown molding will be going in next week, as well as the painting being done. The crib has been bought (although not assembled yet) and the bedding was purchased as a gift by Grandma K. We are hoping to have the nursery complete by the time of our shower on November 8th! Keep checking back for before & after photos!

Shower:
The baby shower will be on Saturday, November 8th from 1-4p at the Italian American Club of Livonia. Our loving moms have come together to host this and have been working hard to ensure the day will be beautiful. We can't wait to see everyone!