introducing:

Levi (middle name) Cosby

baby boy

Arrived at 5:07 AM via c-section

6 lbs 13 oz 18.25 in

Both mom and baby--still no name :)-- are doing splendidly

same song, second verse

Here we go again. I went to the doctor this morning and I'm already dilated 2 1/2 cm. Please send your prayers/positive vibes/good karma our way to keep this baby inside for a few more days at least.

braids

How cute is she?!

Our first attempt at any kind of braid

And our second attempt. It only took being buckled into a high chair and two Sesame Street video playlists to accomplish, but we did it. And it held all day long, even through a nap! (Except of course for a few adorable wispy curls that snuck out around the edges during the day)

(sorry for the graininess-- I forgot the flash and my apartment has terrible lighting)

Little girls are so much fun!

And just for kicks, here's a little video from after our first braid photo shoot:

I can't get over her cute, little, heart-melting, smile-inducing voice.

(Unless of course it spends all morning whining and crying because it's hungry and sick and tired but won't eat or just rest and be quiet and causes mom to send life-threatening emails to dad across the ocean. But nothing like that would ever happen around here...not that cute little voice).

to clarify

To answer Marci's question in the comments on the post below: We hope we're still moving to London. Sam is there now, but once he comes home, he'll be home till the baby is born and doesn't have a return trip scheduled yet. We're hoping to have a better idea of whether or not the project will continue by the end of April, but we may not know for sure one way or the other till July, when we'd either pack up and go or get ready to enjoy our home and friends here in Texas indefinitely. Just one more thing to think about instead of the baby...

you may or may not have noticed

Most likely not, but my pregnancy countdown suddenly lost a week. That's because I have a c-section planned for April 19th, one week before my due date. I'm still hoping that I'll go into labor before that, and if I do, my doctor is up for trying a natural birth (as long as the baby is head down, doesn't seem to be in distress, etc...).

But since Anna was a c-section, I had to schedule one and the 19th was the latest date my doctor would go for. It's not my first choice, but it's sure nice to know that no matter what, the baby will be here by the 19th. That's less than 6 weeks!

I don't feel ready at all and am in major nesting mode. In the past two weeks, I've had the carpets cleaned, de-junked several spaces, scoured my refrigerator, sewn a pillow, given away clothes and toys, cleaned out and vacuumed both cars, rearranged Anna's room, and there are still plenty of things on my list. Even with doing all that, though, I feel like I've neglected preparing for baby #2 physically, emotionally, and mentally.

With Anna, buying a car seat and crib, getting a rocking chair, having a baby shower-- all those things made it feel like a baby was coming, and I haven't really had any of those big preparatory experiences for this little guy (which makes sense for a second baby). In a way, it's nice to be able to focus on everything going on in the moment, but I'm worried we're in for a MAJOR shock once he comes home. Hopefully we'll at least decide on a name before then.

Wish me luck!

over the river and through the woods

While Sam was in England a couple weeks ago, Anna and I packed up and headed to my parents' house. It was a great, last-minute decision. Here are a few of my favorite moments:

With Grandma on Valentine's Day

Singing the "tall, Tall, TALL!" line of Once There Was a Snowman

Playing peek-a-boo

Anna and I built this little snowman before the others joined us outside

Bringing flowers to Grandma

Making busy books

The girls really egged each other on during meal times


Making a Valentine gingerbread house