Avery Ann Williford

Avery Ann WIlliford was born today and the text message I recieved from TJ had this attached. More details to come.

Guest Blogger

Tracy had no idea what she got herself in for when she asked me to post on her blog while she is in the hospital. I called her this morning to check in and then it struck me that we had not seen a pregnant pic posted in sometime. Well since we needed to see one last look at a very pregnant Tracy, Riley and I jumped in the car and caught them in the drive way. Above is Tracy just before they left to go to the hospital at 3:00 today. And below is the trunk of her car. For those of you who know Tracy, you know she had to clean it out in order to fit all of that in there. But it looks like they remembered everything!

Let the waiting continue.

TJ, Kara, and I are sitting in the living room waiting to go to the hospital, where we will continue to wait. In church on Sunday, John Schmidt talked about how getting married teaches you compromise, and having children teaches you patience. Obviously, he was right.
I know she will be worth it, but uhhg...the agony of waiting! Allison is going to post for me tomorrow as soon as Avery is born, so check back for that update! Please pray that everything will go as planned and that we will have a healthy mom and baby tomorrow evening! Thank you all for your thoughts and well wishes!

pups and more.

I think it's time for a puppy update. Partner is happily living in his transitional housing with Uncle Steve, until Aunt Patty's house is finished. He is adjusting well. Hank and Maggie are getting loads of attention since I am at home more these days. I am afraid they are in for a rude awakening once Avery gets here! Allison and Michael came over last night with Baby Riley and they were awfully curious about the little guy! They kept sniffing him, and then looking at me in a funny way. As if they were asking if this is the thing I have been telling them about...that "B" word. As I shoved them outside, I explained that he was a baby, but not our baby. Heidi was mostly indifferent to Riley. She was more concerned that we were sitting on her couch, and there wasn't enough room for her. Here is a picture of her from her latest quail hunt.

Being around Riley and Allison gives me a sense of confidence that I can and will be a good mommy. I am looking forward to meeting my little one. It almost seems cruel that you have to wait 9 (10) months. The wait is almost over!

Carolyn gave Avery her very first Obama paraphenalia. It is a super cute "Obama Baby" onezie!

The End (or the begining, rather) is in sight!

We had our last ultrasound done yesterday. She was apparently sticking her tongue out in this one, but I don't see it. Once they get this big, they all look like blobs.

Avery weighed in at 6 pounds 12 ounces. All of my levels look great! We are right on track. However, no more progress has been made, but I am a great candidate for induction, since I have been dilated and partially effaced for 3 weeks now. That means that we will have a baby by Wednesday February 11th! I am scheduled for induction on Tuesday the 10th, and Dr. Connor said to expect Avery to arrive mid afternoon on the 11th. Here is the most exciting post it note I have ever received:

This the date and time I am supposed to arrive at the hospital for my induction. The wait is almost over!

So close, yet no cigar.

I am still here, at my desk, at work. I sure was hoping today would be the day. That would have worked out perfectly for my calendar. February 3- Avery, March 3- TJ, April 3- me! What a cute little family. But it looks like that won't happen, unfortunately. Tomorrow we go for the last ultrasound, to check her size, and then we see Dr. Connor again. I am not even going to get my hopes up for any extreme progress tomorrow. There is always the outside chance, but like I said, I'm not getting my hopes up. Avery seems very content to stay where she is.

I woke up early this morning when TJ left to go quail hunting (it's always something), and I couldn't go back to sleep. So I decided to go for a "shake this baby out" walk with Hank. It was freezing!!!! We made one trip around the block, and Hank's whiskers were frozen to his face, so we went home. (And I was awfully achy and cold myself.) Hank did manage to mark his territory like a real man a few times and sniff out some crazed joggers. There is no way I would have been out there walking if I didn't have a really good reason. Fitness itself is torturous enough...why not at least save it for a warmer part of the day? Anywho, maybe I pushed her down a little lower. I might try for another lap when I get home this afternoon (when it is 20 degrees warmer). If anyone was wondering what I am looking like these days, here is an updated picture:

Ok, I may not actually look like this, but I promise you, this is exactly what I feel like. All boobs, butt, belly, and ankles (in a fantastically crazy hat).

Shank-a-potomus...bloody brilliant.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we restful, but I had several hours of contractions each day. Some were hard and painful, others were like they have been for weeks now, short and painless. I hope this means we are getting ready for the big day (or night). They stopped right about bed time every day, which was nice. I did have a little blood pressure scare on Saturday, though. I never called the doctor, but if it goes back up, I will. The baseline for pre-eclampsia is 140/90. Mine was 138/90. That is way higher than it has ever been! I am normally in the normal to low range with a 117/63. It fluctuated all day about 10 points on the systolic and 5 or 6 points on the diastolic...but it never went above 140/90. I will check it again when I get home today. So that was my weekend...Searcy, Mom, TJ, and Beverly watching over me like hawks to make sure I didn't go into spontaneous labor or eclampsia. Although, it was kind of nice having so much company! No one wanted me to be alone! Of course, if Avery doesn't appear sometime soon, they may all decide they don't want to be around just me anymore!
Lastly, I just wanted to point out that my favorite Super Bowl commercial was the E-Trade baby talking to his golf partner...who he later calls a "Shank-a-potomus." I just about rolled off the couch! I do hope Avery is as clever as that little man. (Others to be mentioned are the Doritos "Cristal Ball" and the other E-trade with the a capella baby.)