Little Underwood, Big Harte

Balloon from Mom and Dad sent up to our hospital room before our first night after they left to go home for the evening. Gavin's had a wonderful first few weeks! Of course there are lots of questions from us about what to do and he confuses us on a daily basis, plus night time is a whole other story, but mostly it has been awesome! A few fun tidbits ... Gavin was born on Mardi Gras/Fat Tuesday He was born two days after the Chinese New Year. He is a Water Snake , and while we are on that his Zodiac sign is an Aquarius . We read somewhere that both are "arch enemies" of my Chinese and Zodiac signs and "best buddies" with Stefan's sign - hmm, not liking they are tag teaming against me already ;) We had Ash Wednesday in the hospital and had someone from the church bring me Communion and give Gavin a blessing We went home on Valentine's Day He shares a birthday with both Ab Lincoln and Charles Darwin plus TWO of our friends here (Chris and Robb)...

Gavin Mark Underwood Born Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 7:40 a.m. 6 lb 4.2 oz, 19 inches 
 On Monday evening, February 11, we anxiously set off for the hospital at 9:30 p.m. after well wishes from Mom and Dad Harte who would stay at the house to sleep then wait to get news we were closing in on delivery the next morning. Dr. Schneider was texting earlier through the day to check in on us after she stripped membranes that morning. She even sent us a message that evening before we went to the hospital. The plan was we would see her around 6:30 a.m. and she would likely break my water as long as I was laboring at that point. We all thought the baby would make his debut late afternoon on Tuesday - but he surprised us!   Upon arrival to the hospital I was still 3 cm dilated and 80 percent effaced. Once we got settled and wrapped up all the paperwork our wonderful night nurse, Rita, (who loved the baked granola clusters we brought for the nurses!) started the ...

I have to take the time to write a post about my amazing husband! For Gavin's birth I got a necklace with an Australian diamond! The diamond is from the west side of the country where we met and is just perfect. I still can't believe he ran into that, we didn't even know they existed! Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa and I got to enjoy Stefan's talents in the kitchen with a handmade anniversary dinner featuring one of his family's favs, tourtiere! It is amazing! This morning on Stefan's last day off work I got breakfast in bed! As if that all isn't enough the best things are that he is my calm, my center and my logical reasoning when things get a bit overwhelming. Thanks for being wonderful! We don't want Daddy to have to go back to work - we'll miss him all day! Love you Stefan and happy sixth anniversary from earlier this week. We've been on all kinds of adventures and now the best part of the journey has just started! I've adde...

Gavin Mark Underwood graced us with his arrival on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at 7:40 a.m. weighing 6 lbs 4 oz and measuring 19 inches. He has a full head of dark hair and we are completely smitten! I always knew I wanted to be a mom. I always knew it would come with a lot of love. I always knew it would be hard to understand until I was finally in that place. But, I never understood how this love would completely consume you and be something you can't possibly explain. I am in awe and amazement and praise God for this tremendous blessing to be this little boy's Mom! Watching Stefan, (who I'll be celebrating our 6 year anniversary with tomorrow!!!) get to grow into his role as a Dad is already so beautiful. As I'm writing this I'm tearing up (hormones anyone?), plus a little guy will be hungry any minute now, so I'll have to hold off sharing the birth story and the all the updates since we have been home. I have so many requests for photos, however, that I wanted to g...

We enjoyed a pretty chill weekend and welcomed Mom and Dad Harte back to Florida. I'm excited to have them here! A few little projects got wrapped up, and we enjoyed a nice dinner out on Sunday evening since we'll be hanging out in the house for most of the rest of their visit. This morning the doctor's appointment went well. The "sweeping" was quick as she said it would be, and it was pretty uncomfortable. I just used my yoga breathing and got that out of the way. She said it went really well. I'm still 3 cm dilated and 80% effaced but she could tell even with the same number I had progressed further than last week. Friday was my last day of work and this morning was officially the first day of my maternity leave (I'm grateful to have the opportunity to be off until May 6!!!). We decided last week after my appointment that if I didn't go into labor on my own today after the membranes were stripped that I would go in this evening to induce. My doct...

Nothing wrong with getting a little spoiled before our little package gets here, right? Thank you to my lovely friend, Lauren, for coming with me on Sunday to get a pedicure. My toes and feet are all ready to be ignored for the next month or so :) We had the best massage chairs at this place, and it was so nice to catch up just us two before the kiddo arrives.  Last night Stefan came home with these two gems - of course with my favorite - red velvet! He was so sweet saying this was to celebrate our last night JUST US (until our kids move out of the house!). My parents arrive tonight, so he was right. I couldn't believe I hadn't thought of it. We enjoyed dinner and our fancy dessert before some couch cuddling. Perfection!

Yesterday afternoon we had our 38 week appointment a few days early (Nine and 1/2 months pregnant!). I was a bit flustered from working morning, waiting at the appointment, needing to get back to work and a few other things. So again, my blood pressure was higher, but we are just going to hang out and try to stay calm since we are so close now. All went well on the non-stress test for the baby and the other monitor showed some contractions! Nothing too regular or strong quite yet. The good news is I am now 3 cm dilated, 80% effaced (or thinned out) and the baby's head is at station -1 (the higher the positive number the lower it gets in the birth canal) meaning this body is gearing up! I am somewhat uncomfortable at this point with pressure in the pelvis area and some cramps throughout the day, but nothing too crazy. The plan now is to head in Monday morning to do what they call sweeping the membranes. Lovely huh? It only takes about 30 seconds or so but is probably going to be a...

Sending great big thanks to my sweet friends here, Libby and Calli, for making a maternity photo shoot happen complete with edited photos! Despite it being a bit chilly the day we shot on the beach, it was fun! I have some fabulous friends. Thanks again ladies! Also thanks to my fabulous husband for playing along ;) Here are our favs! For those who are curious, here are the daily devils. Old versus new. I take back that the new ones aren't so bad. They bruise more and are more tender. But, the countdown is on, so that is what really matters! Lovenox pre-loaded syringes with the yellow handle and new Heparin syringes and vial I load twice a day.  Have a great week!

On Friday we had our weekly appointment. I was there for a very long time, but we got the latest ultrasound and measurements done. The baby was right on for measuring 37 weeks, and blood flow, heart rate and amniotic fluid all looked good. We took forever on the NST test again despite my best efforts to keep the little one moving throughout the morning. Eventually the baby woke up and gave an impressive reading. I was actually showing Braxton Hicks contractions on the monitor the whole time, although they were light enough I didn't feel them.  I have finally wrapped up what I am calling the Heparin debacle. As a refresher, my doctor is putting me on this anti-coagulant for the last part of the pregnancy because it is safer for me to go into labor on Heparin rather than Lovenox if I ended up going on my own before we stopped the medication.  Let's just say it took 11 days from when I first dropped off my prescription for me to get it because it had to go through my ne...