She's Here!

She's here! She's here! And she's already 8 days old!

 

Blaire Jacklyn Garrahan

8lbs 9oz.

21 inches
March 17th, 2014

 

 

 We can't thank everyone enough for all of the kind messages, gifts and meals that everyone has brought over. I knew I was a lucky lady, but having this sweet baby come into our lives and the out pour of kindness we have received has been so wonderful and gratifying.

 

Blaire Bear continues to be a smiley, lovable baby that really hasn't done much but eat and sleep and stare back at us (kind of! We know she can't really see us yet) for the past 8 days and we are soaking up each minute with her. Hubby has off a whole month from work and I will take off 3 months and I know how important it is to savor each minute with her. I feel like every day we blink and it's 8pm so I am really trying to not be such a sap when I realize how much she's already changing and growing! I feel so fortunate to have an amazingly supportive husband and family that really allows me to keep my sanity and be the best mom I can be. It definitely takes an army!

 

I am so grateful after nine and half months to have our healthy baby girl here with us...but I can't lie; I would do it all over again in a heartbeat! Each day keeps getting better, but I do find myself watching over and over again the ten thousand pictures and videos we've taken of her since her first few breaths and I get so sappy! What a joy this sweet girl is and I will share her birth story and more in posts to follow.

 

Here are just a few pictures from the hospital to share. I can't wait to share even more soon!

 

Blaire's first snuggles!

 

 



 

 

Our first picture as a family of three :)

 

 

Mimi and Grandpa!

 

 

 

Honey and Papa!

 

 

First-time Aunties!

 

 

 

41 Weeks...and still pregnant ;)

How far along? 41 Weeks!
Total weight gain: I personally stopped weighing in when I reached 40 weeks (that's fair - right?!), but I believe at the doctor's office I lost just a wee bit which was completely attributed to be getting reflexology/acupressure this past weekend and them working on my circulation which helped my swelling TREMENDOUSLY. My family tells me that my ankles are still a bit swollen - but I am a new WOMAN after having that done and my feet don't throb and I actually fit back into a lot of my shoes! Pregnant ladies: if you ever have bad feet swelling - call TaiChi and go get this treatment done! 
Best moment of the week: Well, since most of this week has been spent sitting on pins and needles begging baby girl to come out, it's been a different kind of week than normal. ;) But I would say the best moment is getting to spend these extra days one on one with hubby and getting to soak in some quality time with my family. All my sisters were in town for Spring Break and baby girl's supposed arrival...so there's been a lot more free time than anticipated! We did have an extensive check-up at the doctor yesterday (when you're a week-out from your due date they want to ensure everything is still healthy and "normal"), and they let us know that while the baby is nice and low, my body just doesn't seem quite ready yet to get her outta there! If she doesn't come by Sunday evening, we will be admitted to the hospital and they will induce Monday morning at 6am. I would love for the baby to come on her own time, but they don't want me going past 10 days over my due date. Thoughts and prayers for baby girl to come on her own would be so appreciated! Even though the thought of a St. Patty's Day baby is exciting, we would love to not have to get induced if at all possible.
Maternity clothes? The usual! I think these last 2-3 weeks I have rotated all my major maternity outfits and just switched up accessories. :)
Sleep: Still surprisingly pretty good! I will wake up with tummy aches, but can usually get right back to sleep.
Miss anything? I miss diet coke! Trying not to indulge in one every single day and spreading out two or three over a week span.
Food cravings: These are the restaurants you'll find me at once or twice A WEEK: Pasha, Thai Chili, Stonewerks. Oh, and Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt. Take me to one of these places and you will be my BFF. :) Love my work girls who don't mind taking me there each week after week!
Anything making you queasy or sick? Not really!
Symptoms: Ironically, I think I feel better this week than I have in the last few weeks. So odd, with being so large and uncomfortable, but maybe it's just being so genuinely happy that has me feeling so good. I do think I have begun to have very baby contractions, but those could last for days or weeks so it's nothing to get too excited about.
Belly button in or out? Out and awkward!
Movement: Lots interestingly enough. How can she move this much with such little wiggle room in there?! Oh - and at our sonogram appointment yesterday they estimated baby girl weighs 8 1/2lbs. WHATTTTTT?! And then most likely she will not be born until Monday and she's gaining approximately an ounce a day...you do the math. I think I will have the biggest baby of our family and that is shocking to me!
Happy or Moody most of the time? Cloud nine. :)
Looking forward to: Meeting our sweet little girl!

I am so excited for Blaire to come home to her darling nursery! With TONS of help from my incredible family, the room is so cozy and warm and I just love it!

And the 41 week belly bump :)

40 Weeks - Official Due Date is HERE!

How far along? 40 Weeks! Baby girl we are READY to meet you!
Total weight gain: 40lbs. Let's hope that it doesn't take 10 months to take that amount off...but regardless know it will all have been more than worth it. :) 
Best moment of the week: Finally feeling ready. Or should I say, as "ready" as I'm going to feel! We got the baby's room completely finished - with the majority of the work done by my incredible family who I do not know what I would do without! - and that was a MAJOR de-stressor for me. Clothes are washed, swings and high chairs are set up, room is decorated...we are pretty good to go! 
Maternity clothes? Yes...the usual! I feel like I've grown out in inches the past two weeks so that's been a good laugh as some of my tops now don't touch down to my thighs and are a little bit shorter!
Sleep:  I'm amazed how well I've still be able to sleep. I definitely still wake up 3-5 times for my hands or potty breaks, but I go right back to bed for the most part. WITH THE EXCEPTION of last night; apparently I kept doing a big, loud snore and waking myself up!? Hubby has told me I have been doing this for the last month or so, but it wasn't until last week until I actually WOKE MYSELF UP because the noise coming from me was so loud! So last night it was pretty bad and I would say about every hour I would wake myself up with this noise...which led to a very light-and-incomplete night's sleep. Maybe baby is saying "I'm coming! Get ready for this every night!"?
Miss anything? I miss my old hands (pre-carpal tunnel) and having a normal body. I will MISS having baby girl in my belly but am getting excited to get back to my old self!
Food cravings: Carbs and sweets! I'm shocked at how much I am able to eat with what little room is left in my tummy...but I almost feel like I'm back in my first trimester and wanting to eat everything in sight! I will eat my whole lunch and then STILL be salivating at the mouth if I see something else yummy.
Anything making you queasy or sick? Some grilled chicken again...
Symptoms: Still just swollen to the max. My ankles are permanently swollen and get worse as the day goes on...and my hands are following suit.
Belly button in or out? Out and ODD! It's not an "outie" like I pictured it being. It's...interesting! Nowadays not even my cami tank that I wear underneath my tops hide the belly button...it's just out there regardless!
Movement:  Lots but in bigger movements; not the sharp little motions that I used to feel. It's so hard to believe she's inside my belly one minute and then outside the next...
Happy or Moody most of the time? Cloud nine. :)
Looking forward to: Meeting our sweet little girl!