Ainsley's 1st Christmas

See how excited Ainsley was to see what Santa brought on her 1st Christmas!


Christmas Day


The Grandchildren - Corbin, Matthew, Ainsley, Wes & Kaylen

1 Month Old & 6 Years Old

No, I am not crazy -- Ainsley and Layla celebrated special milestones on the 27th! We love both our girls very much. For those of you "College" friends this is the same little Yorkie that I would bring to the KD House.


Ainsley's 1 month birthday was December 27!


Layla's 6th birthday was also December 27!

Merry Christmas from the Martin's

Meeting the Great-Grandparents!

Ainsley got to meet her Great-Grandparents(MawMaw and Loyce) this weekend. These are my Mother-in-laws parents and they were in love before we even got there. As soon as Daniel got her out of her carseat and showed her to Loyce he scooped her up and held on to her. It has been 7 years since we have had a baby around, but he had not forgotten what to do!


Daniel is the baby of all the grandchildren and Loyce is so proud of him.


I believe we counted 15 Great-grandchildren with Ainsley and # 16 will be here soon!


This is MawMaw giving Ainsley her first kiss of many!


Loyce cradled Ainsley with such love and tenderness.

2 Week Check-Up!

Ainsley had her 2 week check-up today and all is well!! She is a very healthy little girl. She now weighs 9 lbs 12 oz and is 21 1/2 inches long. Daniel had to work, so I took her by myself and she could not have been any better. She took her bottle right before we left and slept through the entire process. She slept in the car, she slept in the waiting room, she slept in the office, she slept when she was measured and weighed, she even slept while the doctor did her thing and she slept for the ride home! Our pediatrician, Dr. Jennifer Grisham, is also our friend, neighbor and goes to Sunday School and Church with us. Jennifer said she had never had a baby sleep through her entire appointment, so we will see what happens when we go back for our 6 week check-up and we have to get a shot or two.

Family Photo

1st family photo since being home from the hospital.

Going Home!!

We got to go home Thursday, November 29 around 1:00 and we were so happy to be going!!

Introducing...

Ainsley Kathleen Martin

Born

November 27, 2007

@

11:01am

8.0 lbs 19 inches

Here's What Happened!!

I went to the doctor Monday, November 26th at 1:30pm. He checked me and said I was dilated 1 cm, which is what I was Friday when he checked me. So, he wanted me to go to the hospital at 5:00pm that night and they would put me on Cervidil (spelling is questionable) to make my cervix dilate. He said this drug was not intended to start your labor, but could have that side effect. Well it did. After it was removed at midnight my contractions came on immediately. I did not have any of the 30 minute apart stuff either, they were constant from midnight to 4:00am. They checked me at 4:00 and I was about 5-6 cm dilated and then when I got my epidural I was already about 7-8 cm dilated. I won't lie at all - the contractions hurt, but I had a wonderful coach by my side. Daniel was AMAZING! As each contraction approached he would watch the monitor to let me know that I did not have much longer for it to stop. Once I got my epidurals (yes, that is plural - I got the drip and the one in my back) I was one pretty happy camper. My entire body got this lovely warm sensation and I did not fell anything anymore. I finally got to really start pushing around 10:15am because the doctor was doing a c-section and who knows what else, so they kept telling me that we would wait. So, Ainsley arrived at 11:01am,
November 27, 2007, weighing in at 8.0 lbs and 19 inches long. She is a beautiful little girl and had us wrapped around her little finger the moment we saw her.

Doctor's Visit

I went to the Women's Center Friday at 9:30am and was hooked up to a monitor for 2 hours and 45 minutes to find out that I was having very mild contractions. I still can't feel anything. My doctor was there and told me I was 1 cm dilated, but still wants to see me Monday. Daniel specifically asked him if there was anything to worry about and Dr. Ray said "No, just be patient". He wants her to come naturally if possible, but I am hoping he will decide more on a plan Monday afternoon. I feel fine and actually spent the rest of Friday out shopping with Daniel. We thought we might just walk this baby out, but it did not work!!

This little girl is absolutely our child - she is either a planner like I am or a procrastinator like her Daddy!!

Still With Child!!

40 weeks and 2 days pregnant. I went to the doctor on Tuesday and I am still not dilated. He did a sonogram and Ainsley is about 8.1 pounds, very active, down very low and her heart rate is great. He also hooked me up to a machine to see if I was having any contractions and to see how Ainsley was moving. Again everything was just fine and dandy! I will be going to the Women's Center Friday morning to be hooked back up to another monitor and then I will go back to Dr. Ray Monday afternoon for him to check me. He said he would not let me go more than a week past my due date, which will be this Tuesday, so I guess I will find out more soon.



Thanksgiving Day 2007 - Sorry, you really can't tell much since I wore this black shirt, but she is still in there.

39 Weeks

I went back to the doctor today, but nothing has changed. I am still 75% effaced and not dilated any. He has scheduled me for another sonogram on my actual due date, Tuesday, November 20th, which he said was standard for him to do if I made it to 40 weeks. He guesstimates that Ainsley weighs about 7 pounds, but will know better from the sonogram. He wants to wait her out, so he has no plans to induce before Thanksgiving. So worst case she will be here in November, but we don't know what date! Maybe she wants to wait until Daniel and I have our 5th Anniversary on November 30th!! Just keep us in your prayers.

Baby Update

I have been going to the doctor every week now and as of Tuesday I was 75% effaced, but not dilated any. I am still working and plan to do so until Ainsley decides to show up. Dr. Ray said that I am progressing well and she is moving her way down and into the right position. I am still on schedule for a due date of November 20th and he said he does not let women go any more than a week past their due date if the baby does not come before then. I feel great other than having swollen feet by the end of the day, being a little uncomfortable all the time because of feet poking my ribs and going to bed early, but I do get plenty of bathroom breaks during the night... ha ha ha!!! I now understand when my friends have said they are tired of being pregnant.

Please add us to your prayers that we will have a safe, easy delivery and bring home a healthy baby girl.

New House is Moving Along

Our new house continues to move along. It is not actually crooked, that would be the photographer trying to shoot from the road because the ground was too muddy to drive on today.

We still have our current home for sell and have not had any serious lookers, so please, please pray that someone will come along soon that feels this house is perfect for their family.

Work Shower

The ladies I work with gave me a lovely shower Wednesday night. Ainsley got even more great gifts. We are so overwhelmed by the love everyone has shown us. There are only a few short weeks left before Ainsley is scheduled to arrive and thanks to all the kindness of our friends and family we are getting prepared for her.


Great cake.


Great food.


Me with the hostesses: Diane, Peggy, Tracy, and Lisa (my manager).


Wonderful gifts.

Baby Shower

Our sweet, sweet Sunday School Class gave us a wonderful baby shower last Friday. We had a sit down dinner and got to visit with everyone for several hours. Ainsley got lots of essentials!

Big Belly and Even Bigger Feet at 34 Weeks!

I had to go to Grenada last week for a meeting. We rode on a van for 2 hours to get there, sat in the meeting for 8 hours and drove back home for another 2 hours, so my feet were looking good when I got back to Tupelo!



I can't believe I am putting the naked belly out there for you to see, but I need to prove I am pregnant! All day long I hear "You don't look like your having a baby", well I am and she will be here in a month.

Baby Showers Cont.

My sister-in-law Kelly, me and my sister-in-law Holly



The cake matched our invitations



I love my diaper bag that Holly and Kelly gave me!!



My Mom and Dad gave us our stroller and car seat. Dan's parents gave us our pack-in-play

Baby Showers!!

Saturday morning my Mom's friends hosted a baby shower for us. Everything was so beautiful. We are so grateful to everyone for their thoughtfulness at this amazing time in our lives.

1st Shower of the Day

Amanda, Wanda, Debi, Me, Lynn, and Kathy


Great food


Wonderful gifts

2nd Shower of the Day

My 2 amazing sisters-in-law gave us a couples shower Saturday night. We had a great time and got to visit with a lot of friends that we have not seen in a while. Again we got so many great gifts for Ainsley. Holly and Kelly even gave Ainsley her first fishing pole and tackle box (a Barbie fishing pole at that), so she can hang out with her Daddy at the river whenever she wants!!

I will have to post the pictures Monday b/c Blogger will not let them post tonight.

Church Baby Shower

My Mom's Circle gave me a fabulous baby shower this Sunday at my home church in Aberdeen. Ainsley got so many wonderful gifts. My Aunts, Cousins, In-laws, and lots of church members where there to celebrate this new little life we are bringing into the world. Just to see them there was so sweet and meant the world to me. I am so thankful to know all these people care about us and wish us the best.


Our family of 3 to be.


My Mom's Circle.


Great cake!


Tons of gifts!


Me opening a gift from my niece Kaylen

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!

My Daddy turned 57 years young today! I hope you have a very happy birthday. Instead of you getting "birthday licks" today at school, Ainsley has given my your birthday kicks!! See you this weekend.

Bunco Baby Shower

My wonderful bunco group gave me a baby shower last Thursday night. Ainsley got a lot of really cute stuff. She is going to be dressed very well and have a lot of cute accessories to use when she gets here!! Thanks girls for everything. I love it all and had a great time.

Happy Anniversary

Today is Daniel's Mom and Dad's 39th anniversary! Congratulations Mimi and PawPaw!

Doctor's Appointment

I went to another doctor's appointment today. We got a dvd of Ainsley's sonogram, but I am not smart enough to figure out how to upload from a dvd and can't get it on the blog. (Any suggestions would be great on that topic) She weighs 3.6 pounds, her heart rate was 162 and she is in a head down position. I will start going every two weeks now, so time has really flown by. I can't believe she will be here in less than 3 months!! I still feel great, but I have hit that "can't get comfortable" stage. My ribs are pretty sore from her pushing on them so much too!!

Happy 37th Anniversary Mama & Daddy

My parents were married August 1, 1970 at the ages of 18 and 19. I don't know how in the world they got married that young, but I am so glad they have spent all these years together. I have learned so much from them as individuals and as a couple. They have taught me to stand up for myself and to go after what I want in life. Thanks to them I know that together Daniel and I can develop an even more amazing marriage as we get older and experience life together. I am confident in the skills I have gained from them to become a parent and raise my little girl to be an amazing woman. I am teary eyed as I type this short message because I cannot imagine my life without them and know that their first grandchild will be spoiled rotten by them. I may not always have the right attitude towards them at times, but I will always love them and cherish the advice I get from them. As an only child I have relied on their opinions for most everything and now as a married adult I still want to know what they think as I am learning to make my more choices for myself.

Thank you for everything you have done for me. I love you.

Baby Bump

Well at 21 1/2 weeks I finally have a baby bump to take a picture of. I have done well with my weight only gaining 9 pounds at this point, but I know it will start to pack on fast now. Dr. Ray said her heart sounded good last week and that we seem to have a very strong, healthy baby. I go back next month for my exciting glucose drink and blood work. Those of you who know me know how picky I am, so I am not too thrilled about this drink. I have been told it is not that bad, but I will have to be the judge of that.

Ainsley's Room

We got most of Ainsley's furniture Friday, so we fed the grandparents supper and got them to help us unload all of it. Dan's parents are already Mimi and PawPaw to 4 other grandchildren and my parents will be Gigi and Papa to their first grandchild. Layla thinks that Ainsley's room is her room and has already checked out her new crib and chair.