family photo shoot

Our friend Gregory was kind enough to give up a Sunday and come over and take some pictures of our new family of three. Enjoy....

our new family

We're in our third week as a new family of three! Warren will be three weeks old tomorrow. Time is already flying by so fast. We've definitely had a period of adjustment, but we're starting to get settled into a routine now.

Chris is back at work and Warren and Kim are home during the day. We're afraid we've been spoiled already. The past two nights, Warren has slept for seven hours...which is a welcome break for us!

We know we're biased, but he really is the perfect little baby. You just could not ask for a sweeter angel. He's battling a bout of acid reflux and (believe it or not) has to take Zantac twice daily and sleep in his car seat....but, it's working. And, as long as it makes him feel better...we're ok with it.

So far the only outings have been to Gigi's, Gammy's, Memaw and Pops', and Aunt Gretchen's....but we're looking forward to more in the next couple of weeks! We're also looking forward to introducing the bottle (Chris is especially looking forward to that).

Sunday, we had a little photo shoot with Santa and Mrs. Claus....Warren was a bit fussy...but, we managed! We've got more pictures coming soon....don't worry!

warren redick mayes

After nine months, we welcomed Warren Redick Mayes to our family! Warren was born on Wednesday, November 22, 2006, at 11:20pm. We are all home and doing well. He is just perfect!

playing the waiting game

Baby Mayes is still waiting to make his/her grand entrance into this world. We're more than ready....and are trying not to get impatient playing the waiting game. We're trying to find things to fill our time, which has not been easy (especially for me, who likes to be continually busy). Our Christmas shopping is done and wrapped. The baby book is filled out as much as can be. The nursery is ready. The house is clean. The dog is clean. So, now all we need is the baby!

We've heard all kinds of advice on how to naturally bring on labor...so, yesterday we went for a long walk....ate Italian. You name it, we've done it. Hopefully, the next post you'll see on here, is one of the baby!

feel the beat

So since we are just days away, we decided to record the heartbeat of Baby Mayes. Take a listen! http://www.lakelanddrumline.com/BabyMayes.htm

showers and more

This weekend, Aunt Nita threw me a fabulous personal shower at Lone Palm. We invited my mom's friends, Harriet's friends, and my grandmother's friends....and we had a wonderful time! Lunch was delicious....and I was showered with adorable nightgowns, robes, and relaxing bath goodies! It really was perfect!


The night before, we hit a new milestone in the pregnancy. Chris had to paint my toenails. (I think the picture says it all.)


















Saturday night, after the shower, Chris and I had our last pre-baby date night. He took me to bd's Mongolian Grill, where we had delicious stir fry and a yummy (way non-gestational diabetic) dessert. Then we went to see Facing the Giants. The whole day was just perfect.


At dinner, Chris and I were talking about the change getting ready to take place in our lives. It is the weirdest feeling to sit and wonder if tonight is the last night we'll be a two person family. If tonight is the last night before I'm a mommy? We are so excited.....now it's just a waiting game! Hopefully the next post will be a picture of the baby!

we're ready

With less than three weeks left, we're really coming down the homestretch....and the "nesting" has started to sink in. This weekend, we finished up the nursery...washed all the baby's clothes, sheets, blankets, etc....addressed birth announcement envelopes....and after the "A-B-C" shower on Sunday, we went and finished up shopping for any last minute things we might need. So, I think....after these nine months, I can finally say that we are ready anytime Rilee or Warren is ready!

a - b - c .... a baby's coming

Then, Sunday afternoon, Mrs. Edmiston, Jill, Lisa, and Monica threw me an "A-B-C" shower (A Baby's Coming) with all of my teacher friends. Friends I've taught with at Lincoln and Wagner were there and everyone was instructed to bring a book for a read aloud. So, we were inundated with nice gifts (again) and a start to a great children's library for the baby!We are just continually amazed at the friendships we have....and the love surrounding our family, and our new baby!

100% chance of rain

Showers...that is! We have been showered this weekend, more than we could ever have imagined! Saturday afternoon, Gretchen (Chris' aunt) threw us a wonderful family shower. We played games and got so many nice things for the baby. Everyone was asked to bring a Christmas ornament to help decorate a small tree for the nursery!

stressed anyone??

Today we went to see Dr. Garas for our check-up and stress test. Everything still looks great. The test is just like you read about. I laid down; they hooked me up to two monitors (one monitors the baby's heartbeat, one monitors the baby's movement) and gave me a little buzzer to buzz anytime I felt any movement. They, I just laid back, relaxed and watched some TV. Actually, we turned the TV off and just listened and watched the heartbeat on the monitor. The baby didn't want to cooperate for a little bit, then I started cracking up...so we were there about 45 minutes, waiting on a good 15 minute heartbeat reading!

But, Dr. Garas said everything looks great....still on track for November 25th! The only downside is that we have to have this test every time we go for a check-up (which really will only be two or three more times). Next Wednesday, we go see Dr. Cardosi!

showered with love

Last night, the Praise Band from church threw us a baby shower, hosted by Susan, Waite, Marcia and Paul. What a great time! It was a covered dish dinner with a great group of friends! We are still amazed at all the gifts and so blessed by the friendships! So, here's some shots from the shower. Many thanks to Gregory, who took such fabulous pictures!

stress???

Today we had our 35 week check-up, along with a two hour glucose tolerance test (for the gestational diabetes).

As for the check-up...we met Dr. Barrett today, which was good timing, as he is the high-risk doctor. He said because of the gestational diabetes, and because my counts have been a bit high, he'd like Dr. Garas to do a stress test on the baby next Wednesday. I'm not quite sure what all that involves, but I'll be researching it tonight! He also said the swelling and carpel tunnel are all normal and will go away shortly after the pregnancy. (I've had several people tell me how "fat" my face is getting....that makes ya feel good.) So, we go next Wednesday for a stress test on the baby...as well as our regular check-up!

The baby's heartbeat today was 145bpm, which they said was normal! And, I had actually lost two pounds....which I guess is a good thing, since Dr. Barrett didn't mention it!

And, (this may be more than you want to know) today he checked for dilation and said I'm not yet dilated, but the baby does seem to be "head down". So exciting!! Not much longer now!

Gestational Diabetes

Well, we're on the homestretch! Six weeks to go! And, I wish I had better news as we head towards the end, but...I found out Friday that I have developed gestational diabetes. So, on Monday I go meet with a dietician and then have blood work drawn the following Friday.

From what I've read, the only major health concerns of Gestational Diabetes are that the baby will be larger, which puts me at more of a risk for a C-section. Having G.D. also puts me at more of a risk for developing Type II Diabetes later on in life. I put a link up on the right if you want to read more. We're just praying everything will go smoothly from here on out, as it has so far! We've been so blessed!

Anyway...here's the "close to eighth month shots" (consider yourself warned....it's not pretty), along with one Chris happened to take that we ("we" being Chris) thought was kind of funny!

baby showers

Our sweet friends, Chad and Yadira, threw us an amazing co-ed baby shower today! We had such a good time....with all our friends and got more adorable baby stuff than we could have imagined. (Pops even came....this was his first baby shower. And, he was such a good sport...even played the bottle drinking game with the men!) The women played a Wright and Left game...mom won that one! And, we all played a game where you had to eat baby food...the fastest couple to finish the jar won (Chris gagged on the baby food sweet potatoes after the third bite). I apologize now for all the pictures, but I didn't want to leave anything out.

more improvements....and hiccups

I haven't been feeling the baby quite as much, which worried me a little bit. But, last night was a whole nother story! It was almost like the baby knew I was worried and was just moving a whole bunch to say "Mommy, I'm ok in here!" Then, while Chris was in the shower, the baby started hiccuping! It was hilarious!!

And, finally....the crib is up and ready! Putting the crib together was the easy part. The hardest part was figuring out how to attach the crib bumper. These things don't come with manuals, ya know! We were cracking up because we couldn't figure out something as simple as a crib bumper....and that's just the beginning!

Aunt DJ, Jim, Danny, Josh and Jenny gave us the baby swing. We got that put together and up in the family room. It's adorable...plays 10 different songs and has 6 speeds. We turned it on, so Kelsey could start getting used to it....and we've figured out that we probably won't be watching TV without a lot of distractions anymore, huh?

it's getting there

Well, this weekend, we made significant progress on the nursery (we, being Chris). We've got the paint finished, chair rail done, blinds and valances up. All that's left is the crib and little knick knack stuff (and that's the part I can't wait for). We absolutely love it! Take a look at the pictures below. (The picture that looks like a big teddy bear....is actually me. That's what I looked like while Chris was working on the nursery.)

30 week update

10 weeks to go!! Nothing major to report. We had our 30 week check-up today and started our rotations. So, today we met with Dr. Mammel. Everything checked out good, still! They didn't tell us the baby's heartbeat, but were able to listen and tell us everything was good. Blood pressure was good....everything looked right on target. Dr. Mammel measured the baby and said that that the baby is measuring right on target. YAY!

Now the bad news....we also found out that my glucose test came back a little bit high. So, October 6th, I go back for a three hour test checking for gestational diabetes.

And, just a side note....I don't know if anyone has ever had a belly button explode...but I think I may be the first. I think any day now, it's either going to become an outtie...or, it's just going to pop! I was warned about a lot of things during pregnancy, but the uncomfortableness of the belly button was not one of them!

our first shower

We had our first baby shower on Tuesday. YAY!!! The staff of R. Bruce Wagner threw me (and two other pregnant women) a "Triple Shower". The other two girls are due before me, so I'm the last one of the group. One of the girls is having a girl, one is having a boy...and of course, we're having....a baby! It was incredibly thoughtful of everyone. Mom, Chris and Har all came. We received many nice gifts and gift cards to Babies 'R Us and Target...which will all come in so handy!