Deployments

Has it really been 198 days or 28 weeks + 2days, or 4752 hours. However you put it, it sounds like it has been a long time and it has been. I seriously can't believe it is right around the corner! Pure happiness

Happy 1st Birthday

Wow, where has the year gone. Our little girl turned the big O-N-E. I still can't believe how big she is and how much she has changed in 12 short months. I remember bringing her home from the hospital and thinking "umm...how do you raise a baby." Well I guess Andrew and I figured it out. Honestly, I did not know if Andrew and I were going to survive the first 4 months. Elizabeth was a very high maintenance baby. We learned a lot those first couple of months. But looking back on it I wouldn't change anything, but I am glad that Sean is not a screamer like Elizabeth.

We went out to my grandparent's house for the day. Elizabeth had a blast playing in the pool and exploring the yard. I brought a special yummy cupcake for the birthday girl. I was hoping that she would smash the cupcake in her face. But she was very delicate when eating her cupcake. I guess she got her table manners from me:) or she didn't want to waste any of to cupcake. Either way, she LOVED LOVED LOVED the cupcake. Lucky for one she also got one the next day. We were able to skype with Andrew and she had a chocolate cupcake, so Andrew was able to see her reaction. Lets just say I think she likes chocolate more than vanilla. Oh and don't you just love her little tutu:)

Pure HAPPINESS. I am pretty sure right after this picture was taken she looked up at me and said, "Mom can I PLEASE have another one."

The past week

Here are some quick photos of the past couple days. Elizabeth has become such a lover. Here is Nana getting some smooches from Elizabeth!

A good friend Lauren Rice came up from Virginia Beach to visit and meet Sean!
Baby stretches and yawns are one of the cutest things!

And then there was 4...

Welcome Sean Carson McDonald!

July 16th 2010

7lbs. 3.5oz 22inches

It was quite a surprise for me to have Sean that day. I went to Bethesda for a routine post-date fetal stress test. The test showed that Sean was very happy and cozy inside of me. I did not have one single contraction during the test. So I figured that there was no way that I would go into labor anytime soon. Before I left the hospital I decided to stop by the L & D Department to see how far dilated I was. To my surprise and the doctors I was already 4 cm. They didn't want me to go back to Annapolis. So they sent me off walking for 2 hours. So I went to a local mall. Grabbed some lunch and walked. I did not feel a thing the whole time I was walking. So when I went back to get checked again, I was totally expecting there to be no change in dilation. Well surprise, surprise I was 6cm. They decided to admit me right then and there.

My mom had offered to go with me to my fetal stress test appointment just in case they ended up admitting me. I reassured her that they were not. That I was not having any contractions and that I would only be gone for about 2 hours. So here I am all by myself at the hospital it is 240pm on a Friday. And of course I forgot my cell phone in my car. The doctors were not going to let me go to my car, but the nurse convinced them that it would be okay and that she would go with me. I got my phone, called my mom and she made it to the Bethesda by 4pm!

I finally started feeling contractions around 415pm. They were about 2-3 minutes apart and not too painful. The doctors wanted to break my water, but I asked for an epidural before they did that. I heard too many stories of how painful labor got once the water broke. In retrospect, I probably did not need the epidural. But with Andrew not being there with me I didn't want labor to be anymore stressful than it needed to be. Once I got my epidural I think the doctors forgot about me. It wasn't until about 815 pm that they came back in the break my water. But it was okay because I was having a good time talking with me mom and nurse. Around 9pm I told the nurse that she might want to go get the doctors b/c I think I feel the baby and he wants to come out. So she runs and gets one of the doctors. The doctor checks me and says, "Wow, there is the baby... he is ready to come into the world". I think they broke the bed down in about .5 seconds. About 20 pushes later Sean Carson McDonald was born.

It was an absolutely beautiful moment that I wish I was able to share with Andrew. It wasn't until after Sean was born that I really felt a piece of the puzzle was missing. I absolutely LOVED having my mom there and all the support she was giving me through labor, but my heart ached to be with Andrew. I was able to call the duty number where Andrew was at about 10 minutes after Sean was born. They told me to call back in about an hour when Andrew would be in the office. 20 minutes later my cellphone rang and it was Andrew. We were able to talk for quite awhile. It was a bittersweet conversation. I was so happy that we were able to talk, but deeply wished that Andrew was right by my side holding Sean.

Elizabeth came to visit us in the hospital on Saturday morning. She was very curious on this new little person. Anytime Sean would make a peep should would get a look of concern. She is absolutely a wonderful big sister. Anytime she sees Sean she wants to give him a big kiss. It is absolutely precious. She is so sweet with him. I can already see what a caring disposition Elizabeth has.
Learning to juggle life with an almost 1 yr. old and a newborn has been interesting. Again, I am SO blessed to be able to be with family. My mom has been a huge help. It has made the transition a little easier. We are anxiously awaiting Andrew's return from deployment. I know he can't wait to meet Sean, but also see how much Elizabeth has changed over the past 6 months!

I am going to be making the blog private due to some random people making comments on the posts. So if you would like to be able to read the blog please send me your email address, so that I can add you to the list! Thanks for understanding!

Elizabeth is already 10 months old!

I can not believe how old Elizabeth is. Some days it seems like just yesterday that we brought her home from the hospital and Andrew and I were staring at each other wondering how to take care of a newborn. Well we must have known what we were doing b/c here we are 10 months later and Elizabeth is just blossoming! She has enjoyed being back in Annapolis and all the attention she has been getting. We have been able to visit and see a lot of family since we have been back in the States. Elizabeth LOVES it because she is the center of attention!

New things that Elizabeth has been doing. Well she is a talker. From when I get her out of her crib in the morning until she goes to bed at night. She is just jibber jabbering ALL the time. Pointing to things and "talking". It is so cute. She totally knows what she is saying in her own language and I am completely lost. She is also very full of energy. She is non-stop all day long. Which I usually love, but being 35 weeks pregnant I don't have the energy that I used to. She loves being outside and with the dogs. Buck is her new BFF because he lets her climb all over her with the understanding that when breakfast/lunch/dinner comes she MUST share her food with him. Below are some pictures taken for the past couple of weeks. I hope you enjoy!

Elizabeth at Mexican Cafe! Too bad I couldn't partake in the margaritas.
Nana with some of her grandkids!
Elizabeth LOVES the water even if it is only 72 degrees!
We were lucky enough to be back in Maryland to celebrate my Grandparent's 60th wedding Anniversary. It was such a special event shared with family. After 60 years they still gaze into each other's eyes like they are more in love with each other with each passing day. My grandparents have been such an encouragement to me throughout my life.

First O's Game

Elizabeth and I made it back to Annapolis. It was a 53 hours trip. I don't think either of us want to do any traveling for quite awhile. She was such a trooper! I could not have asked for a better baby for the trip. The only thing that was rough was having a lap child from Hawaii to Baltimore. Sean was not a fan of having Elizabeth crawling all over my belly. He kept kicking. It was entertaining:)

After a week of a zombie like state, Elizabeth and I are finally adjusted to the time zone. This past Sunday I took Elizabeth to her first O's game. She loved it.

I don't think Elizabeth liked the fact that the Orioles were not playing so well!
I can't believe how MUCH personality Elizabeth is getting. She cracks me up everyday. I can't wait for Andrew to get back from deployment to see how much his little girl has grown!