Newborn Pics

Yesterday a friend of ours come over and take pictures of our girl. Head to this website to get a sneak peak of what she took. I must say, I think they are all beautiful!!! Bella is the first one on her blog right now. The title is "Meet Baby "B". I hope you enjoy as much as we do!!!

Life with Bella

Well a week has gone by and I can't believe it. She is a week old today and I'm pretty sure we love her more and more each second. It seems like she has always been with us. She has kept us up a couple of nights and slept through a couple of nights. Hopefully we will continue with the sleeping and not staying awake. She is nursing very well now but unfortunately not gaining any weight. She weighed 7lbs 4.9ozs when she was born, 6lbs 15.5ozs Thursday when we brought her home, 6lbs 14.5ozs on Friday when we went to the doctor (she had a rash), and 6lbs 11ozs today when we went back to the doctor. She is eating like crazy so I'm not sure why she is still loosing weight. I guess she is just going to be a little girl, that is ok with me. We have to go back to the doctor on Friday for another weigh in. Here are some pictures we have taken this week. Those that know me well, know that I am pretty much obsessed with pictures.


Several hours old

1 day old

2 days old

Getting dressed and ready to leave the hospital


First photo shoot :)


Trying out the car seat!

We're home and in Daddy's arms

Thank you Stacy!!!!!

3 days old

First home bath with Mommy!!


I just figured out I didn't take any pictures on Day 4. What is wrong with me????


5 days old

The Richards Family

6 days old
With cousin Courtney

Hanging out with Uncle Tim or TEUM as we pronounce it.

Cousins Courtney and Ryan with Bella. Courtney held the two of them so naturally!!

1 week old
Great Aunt Kay


Isn't she lovely!!!

Isabella Grace has made her debut!!!!

39 weeks. This picture was taken the day before I went into labor.

As most of you know by now our little angel has made it into this world. On Monday night at about 10:00 I was standing in the bathroom looking at my stomach and noticed it looked really weird. I mentioned this to Terry and he agreed. Then, even though I had just gone, I decided I needed to use the bathroom AGAIN!! As I was sitting down I asked Terry if he had packed his bag for the hospital yet. Of course his answer is NO. For some reason he got up out of bed and came into the bathroom and I realized I was STILL going to the bathroom. Thinking this was odd I told Terry that I thought my water had broken because I COULDN'T STOP going to the bathroom. Then we both started laughing. Great response to your water breaking, but how we handle most things. So I called the doctor and we headed to the hospital. We got there at about 11:00 pm. I was still feeling fine at this point (aside from the ever flowing amniotic fluid that I had draining from my body.) My water ran and ran and ran and ran. I got dressed in the beautiful hospital gown and settled in to have this little munchkin.

I faded in and out for a while because it was past my bedtime. Mom and Dad came up and stayed with us the entire night. Mom never went to sleep!! I started finally feeling contractions around 4:00 am and I must reveal that some of the facts are a little blury to me so some of this may not be 100% accurate. Mom, you can correct me in the comment section. I was dilated to about a 3-4. At about 5:00 am I made it to a 4 and was able to go ahead and get the epidural. Before all of that I was given a shot of Phenergan and Stadol. Anyway I continued to progress on my own until about 8:00am, I had made it to a 7 and pretty much quit moving for the next couple of hours so they finally had to give me pitocin. That got me moving again and at about11:45 it was time to start pushing. Mom and Terry stayed in the room with me. Terry was very encouraging and talked to me through the whole thing. Mom rubbed my foot, which was nice in between contractions. I seriously don't think I've ever worked so hard in my life. I was so relieved when Dr. Phillips finally came in because I knew it was nearing the end. She ended up having to use the vacuum to help me get her out.I pushed for 2 hours and 45 min. I must say I was pretty good to go for the first hour but was completely worn out in the second. Isabella Grace Richards was born at 2:08 pm on May 20, 2008 weighing in at 7 lbs 4.9 ozs and measuring 19 inces long. She is the most beautiful little thing I have ever seen. We are so in love with her that we don't know what to do with ourselves.

7 lbs 4.9 ozs

Daddy holding his girl for the first time.

Our new family!!!


Getting kisses. She gets lots of those.


Nana


Dr. Phillips checking out the most beautiful girl she has ever delivered.

Auntie Inki

Papa
I have a horrible look on my face!!


Great Mema


Auntie Inki and Laura. Both friends from high school and both my bridesmaids.

Getting her first check-up with Dr. Quillin

Courtney and Isabella


With cousins Courtney and Ryan

Day 2Isabella with Mema and Papa

Isabella with Mommy and Daddy


Great Papa with Ryan and Isabella


Great Uncle Gary


Daddy and his girl both making faces.

AHHHHHHHHH!

I finally got the call from the Dr.'s office. Unfortunately I did not get the news I was hoping for. It seems as if there are an over abundent amount of babies that need to born before mine. The nurse said that she was going to wait until Monday to make my appt at the hospital because she was hoping there might be a cancellation for next week. So if Bella doesn't come on her own before May 27th that is when I will be scheduled. Please pray that she makes a special apperance before then!!!!

38 weeks Dr. Appt

Well unfortunately nothing happened this week. I mean nothing. I'm still about 80% effaced and 1-2 cm dilated. BUT I am going to be induced some time next week. I will find out for sure tomorrow and will post when I get that info. I was really hoping I would go into labor myself but at this point I just want to meet Bella. Never mind the fact that I am extremely uncomfortable. So uncomfortable that I couldn't even enjoy Target today. That is BAD!!! Target is my favorite store!!!

OH SO READY!!!

Ok, so I was really hoping that this weekend our Bella would be here....no such luck as of 6:30 Sunday evening. But that doesn't mean we aren't prepared and ready to go. The bags are packed, the coming home outfit is ready and the car seat is in the truck. Let's get this show on the road baby girl.

Mom tried really hard on Saturday to walk the baby out of me. We shopped for hours. Then I ate some pineapples (they say that is suppose to help) but I still have a baby in my belly. Can I make it 2 more weeks? I really hope I don't have too. On top of the fact that I am 80% effaced and 1-2 cm dilated, I also lost my plug last week. I have heard that most people will go into labor within a week after that happens. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE!!! I want to see your face Bella!!!

Mommy's bag

Isabella's bag

Bella's coming home outfit

The car seat is ready to go!!

Let's go girl!!