Welcome Natalie!

So it has been a while since I've posted, but as you all know, I have a good reason!

Tim and I headed to Mesa late on Thursday, January 12th for an early maternity photo shoot on Friday morning, then pedicures and massages, then dinner with friends and a Suns game to celebrate Tim's upcoming 30th birthday. Saturday was my baby shower and Sunday was golf for Tim and breakfast with Julie for me.

However, at 5:00 am Friday, all of our plans would need to be cancelled and our lives would be forever changed!

I woke up and got out of bed to use the restroom. I made it three steps into the hallway, and noticed that my pants were wet. I couldn't figure out how I had wet myself, then noticed that both legs of my pants were completely soaked, as was the floor. I called for Tim... who promptly told me he didn't want to get up yet, then I told him I thought my water broke. He jumped out of bed, came into the hallway and saw all of the water, still gushing out of me. We waited a couple of minutes, I changed pants, then headed to the other end of the house to tell my parents we were headed to the hospital.

Tim lined the car seat with towels and we headed to the nearest hospital- Banner Gateway in Gilbert. Upon arrival, we were taken to triage where we were told that the "water" didn't test as amniotic fluid, even though the nurse was sure that is what it was (as was I!). They had to run the test four times before it finally came back positive and we were admitted at about 6:30 am.

I lasted about three hours before getting the epidural. Because my water broke, I had to be induced, and the pain was pretty bad! By 3:00 pm, I was only 3cm dialated. Then, I quickly went to four, then six, then eight, then nine and a half, then ten! By 4:40, it was time to start pushing!

52 minutes later Natalie was born!

Birth Class

Tim & I took a six week birth preparation class at the hospital to learn everything there is to know about having a baby.

We had a lot of fun playing all of the games they had; such as "name that hospital instrument", "birth a ping pong ball" (see photo below), "guess the baby's weight" (which I won!!), "dress, diaper and swadle the baby" (see photos below), and many more.

They also made us watch lots of birth videos (yikes!) and gave a hospital tour.

We can't wait to go back and meet our little Natalie!

Tim couldn't get the ping pong ball out of the balloon!

Tim diapered and dressed the baby!

And swaddled her!

The Price Is Right

Mom, Dad, Tim & I headed to California for a very quick trip for the Price is Right's baby shower episdoe!

We got up extra early and headed to CBS studios to wait in line for my chance to be called down (only pregnant people were eligible to be called down).

Although I didn't get picked, we had PRIMO seats right behind contestants row. Drew Carey talked to all of us during a commercial break and told my mom that she didn't look old enough to be a grandma.

It was a fun experience!

Watch for our episode on January 11, 2012.

Fall Family Pictures

We found a local photographer that was doing mini-photo shoots and were very excited to get some pictures done in Prescott!

A select few are below and they can all be seen on our Shutterfly site- http://staciaslife.shutterfly.com.

Enjoy!

Ouch!

Last night while talking to Cara on the phone, I got the worst pain in my lower back I had ever had! I tried all of the stretches they gave us in birthing class and nothing helped. After about 20 minutes, I was in tears because it hurt so badly.

Tim told me to call the OB department at the hospital and they told me to come right in. I picked Tim up at work and he drove us to the hospital. They hooked me up to an IV and monitors for Natalie, then took blood and urine to run some tests.

After two hours of horrible pain (a 7 out of 10), they finally gave me some pain meds through the IV and I felt like a new woman.

They received the test results back and there were lots of minor issues. They then diagnosed me with probable kidney stones and sent me home with a urine strainer (gross).

After the pain meds kicked in :)

Sure enough, today, I "passed" a stone. It is gross, but at least we found the culprit!

That is the "stone" in a baggie, in my wedding ring to show size

Not sure I will be able to take the pain of pushing a baby out now after how much this little thing hurt!! UGH!

Natalie's First Email Address

Earlier this week, Julie called from St. Louis to ask if I had seen a new Google commerical about a newborn with her own email address. I hated to admit that I hadn't, so she emailed me the link...

After watching the video and getting tears in our eyes, we decided to set up an email account for Natalie so friends and family can send her messages throughout her life.

I will plan on printing everything out once a year and keeping in a binder for her to enjoy as she gets older.

So... here goes. Please add Natalie to your address books and email her at Natalie.Ehlen@gmail.com with any thoughts, photos or videos you think she would enjoy as she gets older.

The Nursery

It takes every ounce of energy we have to not buy everything at every store that we see for Natalie. However, as you can see below, we have bought plenty!

Her nursery is almost done, as is her closet!

When my mom gets home from her trip, we are going to finish the bumper and crib skirt

I painted the wall paintings to match the decor

Tim's favorite part of the nursery... the closet!! 

Every girl needs hair accessories right? Bows & hats!