Branson Turns One Month

Branson officially turned one month old on Wednesday. We celebrated the day by visiting the doctor for his check up and visiting my friend Ashley, and her new baby boy Noah.

His Stats:

8 lbs 13oz (25%)

21.5 inches long (50%)

It's been quite a month! adjusting to life as a family unit has been interesting. I have/had my ideas of how things would be, but God likes to throw curve balls to keep us all on our toes. Any way you slice it, we're loving our little boy and loving our new life.

A "Branson" Story

On March 21, 2010 at 5:50 pm Branson Edward Grace entered into our lives weighing 6lbs 7oz and measuring 19 inches long. Here is the story of how it all happened:

At 7am we checked into Banner Desert for my scheduled induction. I was already dilated to 4cm. The ball got rolling around 9am with my first dose of meds, which was to soften my cervix. My L&D nurse said she would check on me in 2 hours to see if anything had changed, then would give me another dose, which would take another 2 hours after that-putting me around 2pm before I would be given any patosin. By 11am I was a "ripe avocado" as the nurse put it- I was dilated to 5cm and 90% effaced. Meaning that I would NOT have to have the second dose of meds (yay!) and was planned to begin the patosin around 2pm anyway. I was feeling good for quite a while; eating lunch, visiting with all of our family members, watching some tv- until my doctor came in after 2pm to brake my water, and at that point I began to feel everything. My contractions intensified within 15 minutes, and shortly thereafter I received my epidural. I continued to progress in labor and by 5pm I was fully dilated and began pushing. The hardest part was waiting 10 minutes for my doctor to come and finish "the job." I pushed a few more times and out he came!! Donny of course, got to cut the cord, and then we shared the first moments of our lives as a family. We spent the next day and a half becoming acquainted with each other and having several family members visit with us and meet our little guy.

Just a few interesting facts about little Branson:

-looks alot like his father...only 3 votes for looking like me

-has my long fingers and long toes

-first 2nd and third toes are "webbed", a Grace family trait ;)

-sucked on the same fingers as his dad did when he was a baby

-has dimples on both cheeks

-sighs when he's "happy", or just sneezed ;)

-smiles a TON, but only when he's sleeping

-tried to rollover in the doctor's office when he was 5 days old

-is a Great sleeper at night...only gets up once!!

-scrunches his nose and opens his mouth if you kiss near his mouth



Here are some pictures from the day he was born through his first week.

Branson's Room

So here it is!!! Branson's finished room. I finally decided to use one of our other two cameras to take pictures....not my favorite, but it will have to do. Now, we're just waiting on the baby!!!

-The crib-

-Wall next to crib (obviously)-

-The rockin' corner-

-Wonderful canvas paintings April concocted-

A Wish List

I really wanted to post pictures of the completed nursery, but I cannot find the camera in order to take the pictures that I would post, so......I made a wish list instead!!!! These are some of my favorite items that I have been denying myself since I went on bed rest and became a "non-money maker". I am sharing them with all of you.......because maybe you'll feel really, really, really bad for me and ask yourself, "What?! How in the world is Erin WITHOUT these items??? I must treat her." Or, maybe you won't say that.....maybe you'll just go to the websites and order one for yourself, because everything is just that AWESOME!!!

Awww...bare minerals bronzing kit. So that I can glow in the "proper" manner.

Go here.

L'Occitane's body cream=sweet lovin' for my dry skin
Go here.

New favourite shampoo .....
and below is the shampoo's buddy!
Go here.

Not this exact necklace....just the entire site, so you must......
Go here.

I actually L-O-V-E this necklace, but despise it's price
Go here.

My Bun

So...............I went to the doctor today.

Nothing.

Absolutely nothing has changed.

No dilating-none!!!!!

I guess my little bun doesn't want to come out of the oven too quickly like the doctors thought.

Tomorrow I have an ultrasound to check his size-last check up he weighed in right @ 5lbs. which seems to be pretty much where he should be, right? (that was 2 weeks ago)

Apparently not. I suppose we are now going to wait until he is the ultimate cherub before he is allowed to come.

Think chubby!!!!

Oh, so you don't think I just posted a random picture: that is a pic of my lower extremities. Not sure why, but I only have swelling in my right ankle. I think that is really odd-why not both??? At this point......whatevs :/

37 weeks and a-kickin'

As of the 7th I reached the end of my 37th week. Boy am I thrilled! When I went to the doctor for 36 week appointment she said I was in the clear to do whatever I wanted and that was even more exciting. Then, I realized that if I wanted to actually wanted to go outside the house I needed some real maternity clothing-not my normal clothing that I have been squeezing myself into. So I hopped onto Old Navy's Website and took care of that situation ;) More importantly we are getting very excited for our son to get here. His room is almost done-with just a few minor details to complete it. I have a doctors appointment tomorrow, so let's hope that there is some biological process going on inside.....stay tuned!!!!

-37 weeks!!-

-Donny and the "yarmulke"

Jeff + Michelle = THE RAMSEYS!

-Presenting the Newlyweds-

-Pretty red shoes and bag-

-Michelle and Donny (the proud brother)-

Jeff and Michelle were married on February 6th and we couldn't be happier for the two. This post really should have been up on February 8th at the latest, but every time I sign onto Blogger I get sucked in by all the craft blogs....so I'm quite sorry.

Any poo.....the wedding was absolutely beautiful as you can see from the pics-very simple and classy. I cried-of course-it is so weird for me to see my "boyfriend's little sister" who was 13 and is now 23-get married. Thinking back that far I remember her wearing her favorite pair of capris (the cheetah print GUESS ones, 'member Shell????), never admitting she really liked a boy, and only eating Applebee's boneless buffalo wings.

Some things have definitely changed: the admitting to liking a boy is a huge one that's out the window and she now switches up what pants she wears ;). Anyway you slice it this girl is now a woman and married to a wonderful and respectable man who is the utmost perfect match for her. We love you both and are so very proud of the people you are!!!