Our First Walk

Although a bit on the muggy side, Shannon, Gillian, and I went out for our first walk on Sunday afternoon. Here are some pictures from our big day!

-bw

Gillian's Many Faces

It's been a little over one week since Gillian was born, but we have already noticed that she is very expressive. Gillian has a variety of faces ranging from pensive to devilish and everywhere in between. Take a look for yourself...

-bw

Splish Splash...

Wow, all of these midnight feedings give us (one of us at least) plenty of time to work on the blog! While mom has her hands full, dad is adding some fun stuff to keep everyone up to date on all of our experiences.

Today we gave Gillian her first bath at home. Given what I saw of her first bath at the hospital right after she was born, I knew she would enjoy the warm water and towels. Much to our delight, she does indeed enjoy a good sponge bath in the kitchen! We still can't soak her until her umbilical cord detaches, but we're pretty sure she will like that, too.

Here's a little video montage of Gillian's first bath at home. Thanks to our camera crew, Gammie and Grandad. Watch out Spielberg... there's a new cinematographer in town!

-bw

In Bloom

As if on cue, our azaleas (autumn sangria) pushed out their first blooms on Friday to welcome Gillian home from the hospital. Isn't that a happy coincidence?

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Say Cheese

A slideshow of 130+ photos from Gillian's birth has been posted on the right side of the page. If you want more control over the show, or to see them in fullscreen mode, select one of the following...

• MobileMe Gallery
• PicasaWeb Gallery
• PicasaWeb Slideshow

Many more to come...

-bw

Peace Out

Four decades late for Woodstock (and the moon landing), but Gillian throws up the peace sign for nostalgia immediately after birth as if to say: Peace (I'm) Out! She's certainly no hippy-chick, but Gillian is definitely a peace-ful baby girl. If we left her alone, we're pretty sure she would sleep for six or seven hours. However, since Gillian gets fed every two to three hours, she never gets to show us what a great sleeper she really is. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come.

Well, we were finally discharged from the hospital around noon yesterday (Friday). They gave us the option to leave on Thursday, but we opted to remain an extra day based on some sage advice from friends, family, and our favorite OB/GYN. The extra day gave us an opportunity to practice our feeding routines a bit more (with the help of Ms. Sandy), and utilize the nursery room nurses one more time. Although we were a bit stir crazy by the end of the week, we were honestly a bit sad to leave the hospital. We had settled into such a good routine and really enjoyed seeing our favorite nurses every few hours.

Our first full day at home was interesting to say the least. We are trying to establish a new schedule/routine now that we've come home, and it's a little different having everything spread out across the house as opposed to being at an arms length in the hospital room. Although we were tripping over each other in the room, all of the essentials were at your fingertips... or at a nurse's fingertips! We have a running list of things we need from Babies-R-Us that we forgot to get or didn't know we needed. Perhaps the best and worst thing we did was to not buy too much baby stuff before she arrived. We have already learned that she likes some bottles, pacifiers, blankets, and shirts better than others, so we are learning through experimentation and process of elimination. The little snap shirts that Shannon's mom and our friends Rob and Jackie got for us are awesome, and Tracey's advice about the wiper warmer was spot-on... no pun intended. I would have never believed that Gillian would respond differently to cold and warm baby wipes, but she does.

That's all for now. Time to get a bottle ready for our midnight feeding. Hopefully we will have some photos and perhaps even a little video posted tomorrow.

-bw

Saving Face(s)

Thought we would stop with the mass emails for now and resort to daily
updates on the blog. Please be patient with us... there is no Internet
at the hospital, so we are doing all of this with the iPhone. So if
our pictures leave a little to be desired, and our spelling and
grammar are not quite up to par, you'll understand our plight.

The first night went as well as could be expected. We didn't utilize
the nursery as much as we probably should have, but at least we were
able to get used to her sounds, faces, and habits. We certainly know
when she needs her diaper changed!!! Her warning starts out
innocently enough with a funny face, but quickly moves toward a full
scale scream. Honestly, I expected this part to be much worse but it's
different when it's your own baby.

The tricky part seems to be distinguishing between the hungry, gassy,
and dirty cries. We think these are one in the same right now, but
it's easy to quickly rule out one of the three :)

One thing is certain with this baby: she loves to be wrapped up in her
blanket. We call this the baby burrito, altough some of you new
parents out there may know it as the D-U-D-U wrap. Gillian does not like
to be changed, but is quickly placated with a tightly wrapped blanket.

Well, my thumbs are getting tired working this iPhone keyboard.
Gillian is in the nursery between feedings, mom is finally getting
some rest, and dad is not far behind... that is if the new baby next
door quiets down.

-bw

Come Monday

When Bret and I began dating way back in 1999, one of the first things we discovered was our mutual love for all thing Buffett! After all, Jimmy's songs are uplifting and fun, encapsulating things everyone loves---the beach, vacations, friends, good times, etc. It could have been all of Bret's traveling or the fact that we just liked the words, but from early in our relationship we choose Buffett's Come Monday to be our song. As mentioned in a previous post, it was not a surprise to learn that our own little one enjoyed the laid back rhythms of this famous calypso crooner as well.

As of our doctor's appointment last Thursday, Come Monday has an all new meaning. Come Monday, we'll have a new member of our family as we all welcome Gillian Grace Webb into the world. We couldn't feel more blessed and thrilled as our lives change---for the best!

Come Monday, it'll be all right,
Come Monday, I'll be holdin' you tight...

See you tomorrow, Little Girl!

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

One Day and Counting...

Bags for the hospital- check
Outfits and necessities for Gillian- check
Florida Gator newborn cap for pictures- check
Pillows- check
Contact list-check
Cell phones- check
Cameras- check
Snacks for Bret (we all know the boy doesn't do well without food)- check
Car seat installed- check
Excited Family and Friends- check
Exuberant Father- check
Nervous Mother- CHECK!

At Dr. Helen's recommendation, Bret and I went to the hospital Saturday to complete all the paperwork necessary to be admitted into the hospital. We also got all of my blood work and labs done which means we'll have one less thing to take care of Monday morning. Surprisingly enough, the hospital was not busy. We were in and out and home by 10 in the morning.

Tomorrow is the big day---Gillian's birthday! We'll be leaving for Mobile Infirmary in the morning for my scheduled Cesarean section. My surgery is scheduled for 12:30. In the event that Gillian is in fact the nice and healthy size she's predicted to be, Dr. Helen felt that a C-section was a safer option for both me and the baby.

Thank you for all the phone calls and emails throughout the past few days. Bret and I are fortunate to have such caring friends and family. All of the warm wishes and prayers mean the world to us. You guys are the best! Oh and if you have any last minute advice, do share!

Even as Bret eases into his new role as a father tomorrow, I've assigned him one more task---photographer! Amid all the chaos and excitement, Bret will try his best to send an email or post an update to the blog sometime Monday.


My hospital admission bracelets...I'm official!


So excited!


Who knew pregnancy effected your lips, mine are huge! Just kidding---I was attempting to stick out my tongue at the camera but instead it appears that I only gave myself huge Angelina Jolie lips!

Too Funny

I think this cartoon says it all!

See You Soon!

At one of our last doctor's appointments we got one more opportunity to see Miss Gillian before she makes her official debut.

I Don't Think You're Ready...

Some of you may be familiar with the 2001 Destiny's Child song Bootylicious in which Beyonce belts out the lyrics to what is undoubtedly one of the worst, most annoying, and least comprehensible songs ever recorded, "I don't think you're ready for this jelly." Okay, so don't ask me what exactly "jelly" is or to what she's actually referring to, because having misplaced my only copy of Russell Simmons' Urban Dictionary in our last move, I have no idea.

Regardless of the song's meaning, it has provided Bret and me with several good laughs throughout these last few weeks and days of my pregnancy. Feeling as large as a house and often left to wonder just how much bigger my belly can grow, we often sing this song and replace one of the letters with a new letter all our own. Feeling anything but bootylicious now days, I have one question to ask of you,Can you handle it---'cause I don't think you're ready for my BELLY!

With my pregnancy days numbered, quite literally, I thought I'd seize the opportunity to post a few final belly shots.

39 Weeks- July 16, 2009

Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Dr. Helen

For those of you keeping up with our blog, the name Dr. Helen Rogers will be a familiar one. She's our OB-GYN and we love her! While perusing the Lagniappe (pronounced Lan-yap), Mobile's alternative bi-weekly newspaper, we came across our beloved doctor's name. Dr. Helen was honored at the annual Nappie Awards and was awarded the golden speculum as Mobile's Best "Hoo-Ha" Doctor for the second year in a row. Dr. Max Rogers, an OB-GYN in the same practice, received Honorable Mention.

Do I know how to pick them or what?!

Litty Bitty Creations

Tracey, a new mom and good friend of mine, has recently started an online business with adorable and unique items for baby.

At Little Bitty Creations you will find fun and fresh baby items for your "Little Bitty." You can choose from a TON of fabulously popular fabrics paired with a hand-dyed burp cloth or luxurious backing.

For a look at all the fabrics and items she has available, please visit her blog. I've included a link on the right side of our blog. Just click her Little Bitty logo and off you go! I know she'll appreciate you stopping by!

Happy Shopping!

New Polls

I've posted two new polls for Gillian!

Will Gillian have reddish hair like her Daddy did as a baby or will she resemble her Mama and have brown hair? Blue eyes or green? Please take a sec to record your vote.

Wish We Were There

This weekend is the annual Red, White, and Blues airshow on Pensacola Beach starring none other than Pensacola's own Blue Angels. If you haven't been and ever have the opportunity to go, the Blue Angels always live up to their billing as one of the country's best flight demonstration squadrons.

The best way to enjoy the show is on a boat and several years ago, Bret and I were fortunate enough to do just that.

For obvious reasons, Bret and I will not be attending this year's show but instead have resigned ourselves to reading all about the festivities in tomorrow's paper. There's always next year, right?

The Latest...

Happy Saturday, everyone!

Well the waiting game has officially begun. I've surpassed the 38 week mark and since technically considered to term at 37 weeks, Gillian could make her arrival any day now. Our hospital bags are packed and we're ready to head to Mobile Infirmary at a moment's notice.

The anticipation and uncertainty is a little much for me to handle at times. I go from one extreme to another---excitement to absolute nervousness--- often within the same hour. Bret on the other hand is as cool as a cucumber! I suppose that comes as no surprise for those that know Bret. He is very methodical, practical, and most importantly level-headed. He has had the stroller assembled and the car seat installed in his car since week 35. He helps to keep me calm and is there to provide reassurance that all will be fine. He is definitely the yin to my yang. Thank goodness for him!

Earlier this week we tried a little experiment. We positioned Bret's headphones on my belly and played Gillian various songs to see if we could tell which kind of music made her move and grove. Much to my disappointment she didn't seem to be much of a Bon Jovi fan---we'll have to work on that one! She moved around a little for Skynard's Sweet Home Alabama (ummm, hello it's the rock anthem of the South); and she was obviously unimpressed by much of my running tunes, which included a little rap, hip hop, and rock. Let me include that her aversion to rap pleased my Dad tremendously! Mozart and Ludwig had a calming influence over her as she seemed to settle down as soon as the classical music was played. She squirmed a bit for the oldies of the 50's and 60's and was definitely all aboard Gladys' Midnight Train to Georgia---toot, toot! Gillian seemed to enjoy the soothing Caribbean rhythms of none other than the King of Margaritaville, the Grand Puba of Parrotheads, the Sultan of Sand and Salt...Jimmy Buffett the best! Cheeseburger in Paradise, anyone?

We had our weekly appointment on Thursday. Again all was well and on track. I was a fingertip dilated and 70% effaced. I was beginning to think that perhaps I was in the beginning stages of labor until Dr. Helen kindly explained that all that information didn't really mean much. While my current state could signal that labor is imminent, it could just as well indicate that labor is weeks away. So that leads us to where this post began---waiting!

The Weigh In

At last week's check up Gillian was estimated to weigh 7 lbs. and 4 oz. She was healthy and everything was on track!

The poll for predicting Gillian's birthday has closed and most predicted that she'd make her appearance sometime between July 16th-20th, which is very soon! I thought it would be fun to ask everyone to pull out their crystal balls once again to make a few more predictions.

If you'd like, post a comment with the following information:

-Predicted day of Gillian's arrival
-Predicted time
-Predicted weight
-Predicted length

The person with the most accurate guesses will receive---well, nothing except the satisfaction of knowing that you are a WINNER! And, after all, what could be better than that?! :)



My prediction:

July 23
8:52 a.m.
8 lbs. 9 oz.
20 in.

Bret's prediction:

July 23
10:45 a.m.
8 lbs. 12 oz.
22.75 in.

Happy Birthday, Madison!

Happy Birthday to our beautiful and intelligent niece, Madison!

On July 6th, Madison turned 7 years old. The picture on this post was taken a couple Christmases ago, but it is one of my favorite pictures of Miss Madison that Bret and I have.

Uncle Bret and I hope you are enjoying your Alaskan vacation and can't wait for you to meet your new cousin Gillian in a few short weeks!

We love you!