Loving On My New Little Girl

I keep meaning to post to my blog, but a little someone keeps distracting me with her round chin, tiny fingers & toes and velvety soft skin.

This child... I just can’t even find words for it... the way I feel when she opens her eyes and looks at me, the noises she makes as she snuggles against me, how capable I feel when I nurse her. It's so consuming that I have had little desire to do anything else but drink her in.

Tyler and I have been overwhelmed by the support and well wishes from so many of you. We've received so many heartfelt messages of love and support and it has really lifted us up. Please know I’ve read them all and have really felt your thoughts and prayers with us in these first few days.

I’m going to try and find some time to post a detailed birth story, but I hope you all will forgive me for being quiet on my blog this week. Just know that I am squirreled away with my husband and daughter, learning how to be a mama and feeling as happy as I’ve ever been.

Here is a closer shot of our little buzzy bee. Isn’t she just so pink and delicious?

May 26th, 2010

Nothing compares to the moment you were placed in my arms and I kissed your sweet baby face for the first time. Complete love and indescribable joy filled my heart from that day on...


I’d like to introduce you to my daughter, Aliyah Jacquelyn Inzer. She was born Wednesday, May 26th at 4:56am. She weighed 9 lbs, 1.1 oz and is 19 3/4 inches of pure perfection. I’m going to tell you all about her really soon, I promise... but for now I will keep it short and tell you that she is the sweetest little creature I’ve ever met in my life. She smells wonderful and seems to have so much to say already! Tyler and I can not get enough of her. We keep looking at her and then at each other and saying “We made a person!” over and over again.

Thank you for all of your thoughts, well wishes and prayers. Her birth was the most incredible experience and I’m still just trying to process it all.


With so much love,

M

I Only Have a Few Minutes to Tell You...

I was woken up at 5am with pretty consistent contractions.

They are getting more and more intense so we are going to the hospital.

I can’t stop bursting into tears. not from pain - just from pure joy.

This is really happening, isn’t it?

Please pray for us. Send courage and strength and healthy healthy baby vibes.

She’s on her way and I can hardly wait.

Swagger Wagon

Sorry for two video posts in a row, but I saw this yesterday and HAD to share! I think it is still a ways off until I get my own 'swagger wagon' - but this family makes it look so hip! ... cool beans

Jessica's Daily Affirmation

Taking lessons from Jessica... I think this is how I will start my day today!! SO cute!

Feeling Better

what makes me smile?? cute hair accessories!!

I am better today. I have really been in a mood since my last doctor's appointment. I spent most of the past two days flinging myself on the bed and whining to Tyler about how he couldn’t possibly understand what I was going through - and since I am sharing my crazy today, I will add that when Tyler served me a bowl of my favorite cereal in bed I tried readjusting myself, dribbled a little milk on the comforter and completely lost it - just broke down in tears... A classic case of "don't cry over spilled milk"

Tyler did exactly what every man with a volatile, pregnant wife should do - he “poor baby-ed” me, gave me plenty of neck rubs and head kisses and convinced me to get dressed and go grab some lunch with him (throwing in a cookie at Goodscents will always to the trick)

I prepared myself to be physically uncomfortable by month nine of this pregnancy, but even now (10 days past my due date) I'm still doing pretty good - BUT I had never prepared to feel so emotionally worn.

However, today I have realized that allowing myself to wallow in self pity for the final days of my pregnancy would do nothing but drag them along. That’s just not an option when I don’t know if I’ve got one day or more in front of me.

If I’ve got to spend 5 hours a day floating in a bathtub, listening to good tunes and reading books to relax - so be it - This has been such a great experience and I am not going to let it get the best of me now!

On Strike

This has been a wonderful experience.

I truly love being pregnant.

But I’m done now.

Today, I want one of those hover-round scooters like those old ladies drive to the grand canyon. I want to float around weightless in a big pool. I want a full body massage. I want to roll over in bed without it being a 4 step process. And more than anything...

I just want to meet my daughter.

Rub a Dub Dub

A quick shot of Aliyah's bath bucket (complete with bathrobe) and her bunny hairbrush & comb... Although, if she is anything like me, she won't have any hair until after she turns one - Poor Gal!

... and since we're in the bathroom... Pregnancy Tip 462:

(i have no idea where that number came from)

With my center of gravity off and a big 'ol belly in the way, I can't remember the last time I actually got to shave my legs without leaving behind random patches. Last night I decided to bring my exercise ball in the shower with me to sit on. It fit snug so I wasn't worried about it slipping out from under me and was able to see/reach all of my legs!!! Maybe this is kind of silly, but I was very excited about the whole thing.

I think I will wear a dress today!

Another Sonogram @ 41 Weeks

New Rain Boots: 41 Weeks!!!

(and not intimidated by horizontal stripes)

My Sweet Aliyah,

No print-outs yesterday, but I did get to glance over at the screen and I must say, everything about you is so overwhelmingly beautiful. You are the most perfect creature I’ve ever seen in my life. It is almost hard to believe that your simple black and white silhouette will very soon be a little cooing body snuggled safe in my arms.

Doctor Update: My blood pressure is right on... Ali's heart rate is perfect and her living space is holding strong. This means that we can continue to allow her to make the next move. We will be back at the office twice a week from this point forward. Our next appointment is tomorrow.

Tyler is Serving Eviction Papers

Some 'Tough Love' at 41 Weeks

My friend, Jill Moxley gave us this idea to help encourage Aliyah into our arms. Jill is running the Kid's Closet Sale this week in Liberty, MO. We went to the sale Tuesday evening to see her and found an amazing deal (only $25) on this Trek bicycle trailer for Ali:

Tyler and I are both really looking forward to getting back on our bikes again and taking many family picnics together.

At the Movies

We went to see the documentary, 'Babies' on Monday night to stay busy and practice my "ohhh"s & "awww"s a little. Of course you can't go to a movie with a pregnant lady without stopping by the concessions!

Tyler is like a ninja with that camera phone - 40.5 Weeks!!!

What Are You Doing in There?

As I joke about reasons why Aliyah J. is running late, I try to remind myself that my body and baby know best, BUT these are some fun reasons we have come up with to keep us entertained while we wait...

1. She already knows her mom too well (I am usually running a little late) so she wanted to make sure to give me some extra time to ensure that I will be ready. Such a sweet little girl thinking about her mama

2. She is just like her mom and has a few last minute things to wrap up before she is ready to go. If that is the case, I completely understand - take your time

3. She is just like her father and is trying to calculate the best time, angle and route to take for departure

4. She is just like both of her parents and is having a hard time saying goodbye to a warm cozy comfortable spot

Madame Hatter's Tea Room

I am really looking forward to taking Aliyah to this cozy spot for a tea party! They even have boas, hats, gloves and scarves to make any little lady feel like The Queen of England. SO CUTE!!

Madame Hatter's Tea Room

Wagon Wheel

When did I turn into such a folk song lover?!?!

LOVE IT!!

How to go into Labor in 15 Easy Steps

Yesterday was Ali's due date, and I know that number is a VERY rough guess by doctors (only 10% of women deliver on their due date). I also feel very content letting Aliyah decide when her due date will be. I am still pretty physically comfortable and am able to get a decent nights sleep, but when you’re sitting around with a fully cooked human being inside of you, the urge to move things along grows stronger by the day. And if you think my desires to have this child are bad, you should see my husband. He has had several heart to heart talks with my belly pleading for Aliyah to come out.
We learned that in our birthing classes, sitting on the couch eating pizza will do the same thing as walking the neighborhood over and over or drinking caster oil. So... I am not sure if these things help induce labor, but this is what we have been up to:

1. Walking - just because we enjoy the exercise

2. Eating a lot of pineapple

3. Sitting on my big green exercise ball and rolling my hips around while I watch TV

4. Hot sauce on everything, jalapenos on my pizza, extra spicy coconut chicken from our favorite Indian place

5. Tyler has been giving me lots of foot and shoulder massages (love him!!)

6. I have cleaned every spot in our house - high & low

I recently found some pretty funny natural labor inducing suggestions (15 Easy Steps) - I had to share. I’m not promising we’ll try any of these, but if something doesn’t happen within the next week or so we may give even the crazy ones a second glance:

* Drink a root beer float and drive down a bumpy road

* Drink a RC Cola and eat a moon pie
* Hack at roots in the yard with an axe
* Ride on a 4 wheeler
* Jump on a trampoline
* Rearrange furniture and eat a McDonald’s cheeseburger
* Do jumping jacks while watching Anchorman
* Eat a fried green tomato BLT
* Headstands
* Go on a brisk walk (nothing too long, like 10-15 minutes). Drink 1/2 a guiness beer while someone (Tyler) massages your feet. Then consume 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
* Eat hot dogs and ride down a dirt road
* Shine a flashlight up your hoo-ha
* Ride in an old truck over railroad tracks
* Get into a small boat and row out to the middle of a lake

* Unpack the hospital bag

So there you have it. I have laughed and laughed at these. If you’ve got one I haven’t listed above - leave it in the comments. I’d love to hear it!

Bump @ 40 Weeks

40 Weeks!!!

I talked Tyler into snapping this picture after our weekly OB appointment yesterday morning. Two nights ago I had a little breakdown after my 180th daily trip to the bathroom. I looked in the mirror - I had on big sweatpants and a stain on my shirt. There were cookie crumbs on my chin and my hair was dirty and flipping out in a stringy pony tail. I stared at myself and turned to the side and tried to remember how I looked before I got pregnant as there is no part of me that pregnancy has not affected.

While I have spent the better portion of this experience marveling at the capabilities of my body (and I still do marvel) - there are plenty of moments when I feel like a wildebeest... So I woke up determined to feel as babelicious as a 9 month pregnant woman can possibly look. I didn’t succeed entirely (How can any of us when women like Heidi Klum exist in the world?), but I did have a little more pep in my step when my reflection passed the row of mirrored windows on the way in for my appointment - and that’s enough for me!

Doctor Report: 2 cm dilated, baby is really low and 80% effaced -- our doctor is on-call this weekend and said that she didn't think we will make it to next week without this little one in our arms - we'll see!

Third Trimester Most Popular

I’d like to thank the following items for the important role they have played in the last 10 weeks of my pregnancy:

Grapefruit Juice

Peanut Butter M&Ms

A Cold Glass of Skim Milk

Fresh Fruit

Comfy Tights

Ice Water

A Bowl of Cereal

I don't think I could have made it this far without you guys!

We're Ready

It has been only this week that I’ve felt 100 percent ready for your arrival. Sometimes I sit in quiet in the rocking chair in your nursery and try to think of things we still need to prepare for you - and the answer has been... nothing. We have warm blankets. We have tiny clothes. We have safe places for you to sleep in almost every room.

The house is clean, our bags our packed, and with nothing else left to do, we are left alone to learn how to deal with an insuppressible urge just to have you in our arms. I’ve never experienced this feeling in my life - knowing that the best, most beautiful change to ever happen is so close without any clear definition of when exactly it will happen.

Every morning we wake up hopeful that today is the day we meet you. Every time I close my eyes I try to imagine your face. Your father and I have been promising you all sorts of bribes through my belly. (Don’t hold us to that pony thing, ok?) We make up silly activities to induce labor like speed vacuuming or marching in place to a Fleetwood Mac album.

Every day we wake up without you here is like falling asleep every night expecting it to snow and then waking up every morning and realizing it didn’t happen and you have to go to school.

You are our snow. our blizzard. and we can’t stop searching the sky for signs that you’ve arrived.

A Lunch Date

Feeling a bit like Snow White/Mary Poppins during lunch outside after my doctor's appointment last week...

Can you believe this crazy bird?!?

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

What it Feels Like to be Married

I just love weddings and have been lucky enough to attend 2 in the past 2 weeks! CONGRATS MR & MRS. GRAHAM RUSSELL!!!!

With all the love in the air, a friend and I were discussing what it feels like to be married - this is what I could come up with...

It feels the same as when you first fell in love...

except you have more opportunities to catch him flexing in the bathroom mirror

and he tells you you’re beautiful when you have on his too big sweat pants.

And also, when you get into a stupid fight about how he keeps drinking out of the carton in the fridge when you’ve begged him not to a million times...

he’ll huff and puff and go sleep on the couch.

30 minutes will pass...

You’ll toss and turn and then you’ll go out there

and say, “I can’t sleep without you”

He’ll say “come here”

You’ll curl up on your little couch together

and forget why you were mad in the first place.

And in the morning he’ll finish your bowl of Cocoa Krispies.

So now you know.

Oh my God Becky... Look at that Bump... It is Like SO Big...

39 Weeks!!!

I think calling my belly a ‘bump’ at this point is a gross misrepresentation. I don’t even know what to name it (Mt. Everest is the front runner). I do think that my darling child has kindly decided to “drop” and let me breath a little bit. So thanks for that kiddo! Now the trade off for this new found lung capacity is that I have to pee every 10 minutes (instead of the usual 20) and the pressure in my hips is making me walk around like I just rode a pony across the barren plains of Oklahoma.

Pregnancy has turned me into such a strange creature... I’m a cross between a mountain range, a bladder problem infomercial, and John Wayne.

Patent Leather Loafers

I have no idea why I’m so enamored with tiny baby shoes considering Aliyah is already well stocked... but look at these little patent loafers. Holy smokes!

Nursery Tour

I’ve caught Tyler standing in the middle of Ali's nursery several times in the past few days. We both agree that there is something magical going on in there. It’s the most warm and happy little room we’ve ever known. I also caught him making the motion of putting a baby in the crib and when I giggled out the words “What are you doing over there!?!?” he responded without an ounce of embarrassment “I’m just practicing laying her down to sleep” and then I stopped laughing and wanted to cry at this beautiful man I call my husband...

Her sweet little bed

Our sitting corner complete with boxes of fun toys & books, a night stand with items for breastfeeding and shelves for holding old memories & fun knickknacks

Old Memories: cowboy boots from my childhood -- a lace doily from Aliyah's great-great-grandma, Gammy -- a hummel from Aliyah's great-grandma, Gandy -- my dad's baby shoes -- a baby bracelet from Aliyah's great-grandma, Bam

A place to play and her antique silver platter wall art

Dresser/Changing table and her "i love you because:_____" sign

Socks, Hats and Hair Bows. OH MY!

Her closet, hamper, a spunky mirror

...and my awesome diaper bag!

This is one FULL closet!!

What's In Your Hospital Bag?

We continue to take care of a few more last minute details...

Our (ever growing) Hospital Bag

1. Car seat - gotta have it to bring our baby love home!

2. Positive affirmations/relaxation scripts, copies of our birth plan, and other paperwork the hospital asked us to bring

3. My Pretty Pushers hospital gown

4. Water, Gatorade, and some healthy & not-so-healthy snacks for us, the staff, and our visitors

5. Pajama pants & tops, robe, clothes to wear home, my blue slippers and sports bras for the labor tub.

6. Outfits, a blanket, socks, and hats for Aliyah. I’ve got a preemie, newborn and 0-3 outfit picked out in case she is a peanut or an amazon baby

7. Toiletries Bag: hair ties, chap stick, lotion, aromatherapy, etc...

8. Mp3 player with tons of music to listen to during labor. We organized our music into different genres: relax - awake - easy listening - lullabies

9. Aliyah's baby book - hoping that the nurses can add her footprints to our book

10. Pillow from home

11. Exercise Ball... our hospital has a few, but we were told to bring one with us just-in-case

12/13. Tyler's and my bags - goal: fitting all this in two bags!

14. Boppy pillow (suggested by a few new moms as a great to have) and a comfy blanket from home

Not pictured: our computers, camera, phones & chargers, a tube of lanolin for breast feeding, and a few other small items... *wow*

After I took this photo, we packed it all up neatly and it’s now sitting right there in our office ready to go when the time comes! I’d love to hear opinions from other moms - have we packed too much? (I am pretty sure I already know the answer to that one) Are we missing something?

Preparing for Baby

What we did this week in preparation: Week 38

This week we practiced swaddling... with our dog.

The Result: more practice needed

A Little Prayer

It's May!!! Which could be the cause to why last night, I was feeling a bit overwhelmed and anxious. Before we fell asleep, your father and I held hands and said a good, long prayer. We prayed for your safe and healthy arrival into this world. We prayed that I would be brave and strong during your birth. We thanked God for all of the people who have loved us and supported us through this process. We asked for knowledge and guidance as we try to figure out how to care for you best. We said thank you for our lives and our marriage and for you.

Afterwards, your father kicked his legs and said there were crumbs in the bed. He eyed me suspiciously. I admitted to eating a bagel under the covers. It was delicious.

Bare Bump @ 38 Weeks

I am now considered 'full-term' - Aliyah can safely enter this world as she pleases! FUN FACT: 85% of women deliver within two weeks of their due date (either before or after)

38 Weeks!!!