Meet the Anderson's!



Daddy - Aaron

 



Mommy - Marissa

 



Big Sis - Addy

 



Little Bro - Blake

 

Blake's Birthday :)

I'm finally getting around to sharing our little guy with everyone - and the story of his birth.  With the timing of events last week, it is so evident in my life that God is watching and has a reason/timing for everything :) I SOOOOO wanted to make it to my grandpa's services...but I also SOOOOO wanted to not have to be induced.  I am blessed that I was granted both of my wishes.

The day of my grandpa's funeral - I had a few contractions throughout the day that would catch me off guard, but hours would go on between contractions.  I figured I'd go in the next day to be induced, and that I'd be told I was already starting the labor process on my own.  Aaron and I went to bed that night around 10:30 - and we talked for a little bit.  I told him how much I wished I'd go into labor in the next few hours vs. having to get up and get induced...we finally fell asleep around 11/11:30.

I woke up about an hour later with a bad contraction, then dozed back off.  When I got woken again, I wasn't sure how long it had been since the last, but thought it hadn't been long.  So I stayed up and when a 3rd contraction came within 20 minutes, I figured I should wake Aaron.  Aaron starting recording the contractions, and my contractions went from 10 minutes, to 6, to 3 minutes within the first few he recorded.  After a few at 3 minutes apart, we were heading to the hospital!

We arrived around 1:30 a.m., I was dilated to 6 when we got there - requested an epidural and got it within the hour.  Seriously - epidurals are magic and I love them!  I progressed about a cm. per hour - and at 5 in the morning they broke my water.  At 6 I told them I thought it was time for me to push.  They said my body was ready (I was dilated to 10 and such) but that the baby's head was not down as far as they thought it should.  Long story short...they finally let me push to humor me, and basically one push later, Mr. Blake arrived, at 6:36 in the morning!!! 

First picture of mommy and son



The proud papa!




Addy meeting her little brother, leaning in for a kiss



Our new family of 4

Mr. Blake

We are HOME!

Addy peeking at her little brother and saying "hi" over and over and over!

Checking out Blake and waving. We have a step stool by him so she can look at him.

I have a picture of Addy almost exactly like this in the same sleeper :)

We are all doing well here - he's been basically sleeping, eating, and going to the bathroom since he was born.  And sleeping is his primary event right now.  Addalyn is really doing well with all that is going on.  She is DEEPLY concerned when he cries - she wants to help him and doesn't know how, so she often cries too.  It is amazing how motherly she is at only 16 months!

We are so happy to welcome Mr. Blake Aaron to our little family!

It's a Boy!

We welcomed Blake Aaron Anderson into the world at 6:36 this morning - 7 pounds, 15 ounces - 20 inches long.  Details to follow later.  He's perfect, the delivery went awesome and we are all doing great :)

The Big Day!!!

Well, I'm still sitting here without holding my little one in my arms...but...tomorrow I will be induced if this child does not decide to leave their happy home on their own within the next 24 hours :) 

THANK GOODNESS I have an ending - this has been quite a lengthy and stressful few days/weeks.  While I'm very thankful that I am able to attend my grandpa's services, I would've loved to be holding my baby as well, and I know my grandpa and family would've understood if I hadn't been able to make it due to the baby arriving!

Last week at my appointment I was dilated to 3, this week I was almost dilated to 4 (on Monday) so I was sure this baby would come on its own.  I've had contractions every day for the last few weeks actually but nothing that was too painful or too often.  They have come more often in the last few days, and starting to get more intense...but I could go hours between contractions so I don't get my hopes up anymore!

Anyway, grandpa's funeral is in 2 hours, so I'll be making it to that, which is an answered prayer.  After that, it is game on!  Like it or not, my little one will have to make an entrance soon ---- more to come in the next few days!

Love You Grandpa Paul :)

My grandpa passed away yesterday morning (Saturday), peacefully in his sleep.  He would be 91 in November - what an amazing life!  Given his age and his health, we had sort've been prepared for him to pass soon - but really, not this soon.  I had thought it'd happen on my maternity leave sometime between now and January, but never thought it'd be day 1 of my leave. 

We visited my grandpa in September and I had a great conversation with him that day.  He told me he was ready to "go" - that he knew where he was going, and ready to see my grandma again.  The peace he seemed to have really does make his passing easier - although it is never easy.

Now - I'm worried I won't be able to attend his funeral.  Which is Wednesday/Thursday.  If I had the baby today, I'd be out of the hospital in time to attend his services.  As Aaron keeps telling me, don't stress over the things you can't control.  Things will work out as they are to be.   

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My grandmpa and I in September...he was proud to be Polish (hense his shirt: Polish Mafia!)!

Grandpa and Addy last Halloween - he was the winner of the costume contest at the P.I. nursing home as a pirate.  He was getting ready for this year's contest, hoping to defend his title -- he was going to be a Wizard :)

On a side note - we've been doing everything to get this baby moving.  Pedicures, mopping on my hands and feet, eating spicy food, researching the accupressure points that are to help induce labor, bouncing on an exercise ball, working out on the Wii Fit for a while yesterday...yeah, it's exhausting waiting for this little one! 

The Big Forty!

Well, tomorrow I am 40 weeks...super excited for the day to come, and super super super ready to meet this little one.  I'm not sure why, but I am more impatient (both Aaron and I are) with this baby than I was with Addy.  I remember assuming I'd be overdue with Addalyn - but so many people have hinted that they thought I'd be early this time, I started to believe it myself!  But, being early has officially come and gone, and we are still here :)

I have an appt. tomorrow - and then I'm pulling out all the stops.  In an email to my sisters today I joked that I was going to come home and run some hills...wouldn't that be a site!  Pretty sure that I will NOT be running hills....but, I DO plan on getting myself a pedicure and eating spicy food around lunch time, and keeping myself active - maybe mopping my floors the old fashioned way.  If I don't have the baby this week, my last day of work regardless is Friday - and then I officially start maternity leave!

I'm really hoping my next post has some super big exciting news...

40 weeks :)

Maternity Photos

When I was 35 weeks, we had maternity photos done...I did the same with Addalyn and I have decided I will do them with all my kids.  Every pregnancy is so unique and it was very fun to add Addy to the mix of pictures.  Our photographer got some great shots!  We got the CD from this photographer, so I am able to share some of my favs on here.  It's going to be so hard to narrow them down!

Preparing for Baby!

We haven't been pointing to my tummy and saying baby or prepping Addalyn for the baby coming. Given she is only 16 months, we just felt she was too young to try and "get it". Also, I didn't want her to associate my belly (or a belly!) with the word baby when she is at the age where she is learning a ton of words and associating them with objects!

There was one thing I wanted to do, not necessarily to prep Addy, but so that she can be a "mommy" while we are adjusting to having the new little one in our home. I wanted to get Addy a baby doll so that she can feed and take care of her baby while mommy (and daddy) are feeding and taking care of our new baby. We bought her one this weekend and she is such a good little mommy!!!



She feeds the baby :) ....

Cuddles and loves the baby ....

And gives her baby lots of kisses!!!

She's going to be such a good big sister :)

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I mentioned a few posts back that we had both cribs up in the nursery. We now have the bedding and bumper, so I thought I'd share a picture. Obviously the cribs aren't identical, but that is okay!



Addy's crib is on the right, the baby's on the left. (He/she will be in our room for a little while before they actually start sharing a room)

We are officially waiting for this little bundle to arrive - less than 2 weeks until my due date. It was getting pretty nerve-racking around here trying to agree on a name, but I think we are getting it narrowed down! Any day now - WE ARE READY!!!