Where is my paci?

Brayden is so much fun when he is awake. We love to play with the paci! This is what I think he is thinking. (4 days old)

Anyone seen my paci???


No seriously guys, where is my paci???


Ahh, there it is!


I love you paci!

The Swaddle

Daddy became the #1 swaddler!

Our nurse teaching Jeff how to "swaddle" a newborn. (2 days old)


My boys after a good swaddling.


Swaddling makes Brayden sleepy!


Ok, I'm calm, now what???


Swaddling takes a lot out of a guy! Move over mommy, daddy needs a rest.

Introducing Brayden David Myers! (Part 3)

Our little pumpkin is ready to go home!

Mommy's little pumpkin (3 days old)


Family photo


Pumpkin in his car seat


Mommy and Daddy are ready to take this pumpkin home


Getting a little help from Grandma

Introducing Brayden David Myers! (Part 2)

More shots of baby Brayden

Mommy in recovery with her boy. (Just hours old)


Bright-eyed baby Brayden


Dr. Thum, mommy and Brayden


Brayden has Grandma wrapped around his little finger!


Auntie Manda and her nephew

Introducing Brayden David Myers! (Part 1)

Well, here is the new love of our lives! (Minutes old)

Brayden was less than 1 minute old here in the O.R. This must have been what he was doing inside my tummy. I knew he liked to stretch out!



First Myers family photo in the O.R.


Getting bundled up in the O.R.


Being weighed in the recovery room. This big boy loves stretching out!


After measuring his head (15 in. circumference) they said I probably would have had a c-section even if he wasn't breech.

Welcome home Brayden

We are home!!! Brayden David Myers was born via c-section Monday October 20, 2008. He weighed in pretty big at 8 lbs 11 oz. He was 20.5 inches long and his head was huge at 15 inches around. (Typical babies are about 13). The doctor said that it was good we had a c-section planned because she was sure I couldn't have delivered a head that big!
My surgery went well and so far my recovery has been smooth. I am very lucky to have Jeff (or superdad as I like to call him) to do all the work while I was laying in bed. Jeff has become a master at swaddling, holding, diapering, rocking and just about everything else. The nurses were even complimenting his job as daddy. I'm so lucky!
Now that we are home, we are getting lots of help from the many eager grandparents. Brayden is lucky to have all of them. Jeff is currently working on getting the many pictures online and my mom has made dinner. Time to scarf it down so I can feed my precious little pumpkin. Stay tuned for pictures as Jeff gets them ready.

Today's the day!

Just a quick note for those of you following our blog. Jeff and I are all set to head to the hospital in about 45 minutes. We will first get tested with the ultrasound to find out if our little pumpkin has flipped back on his own. I haven't felt any big "dance party" in my tummy like last time, but who knows, I guess he still could have.
Jeff is really excited and bouncy, I guess that is because he isn't the one who has to be cut open. ;-) I am excited too, but I am also pretty freaked out about having surgery. Well, we are off to finish packing the car. See you all on the flip side!

Cheaters! ;-)

Ok, so I have to know who the cheaters are. How convenient is it that the day I tell you Brayden will be born on the 20th, people start voting for "one week early". ;-) How funny!

On a more serious note, thanks to those who have sent us your well wishes for Monday. Jeff and I are feeling much better today about our situation. We are tying up loose ends this weekend and I said good bye to my kiddos yesterday. Now we are starting to get excited about meeting our pumpkin in just 4 days.

BREECH BABY!!!

Well, we had our 38 week doctor's appointment today just to find out that our sweet little pumpkin has a mind of his own. (must be related to Aunt Amanda!) Just kidding A! He rolled over Monday night we think. I thought he invited some friends for a crazy dance party, but it turns out, all that movement was Brayden rolling into the wrong position. His head is up by my ribs and his bum is down by my legs. The doctor said that there is a small chance he could flip again back to head down, but it is not likely. My cervix is still high and closed so the doctor scheduled a c-section for us Monday at 3:00p.m. When we get to the hospital they will check us first and make sure he is still breech. If he has turned again, we will opt out of the c-section and wait. Most likely he will still be breech and we will then be prepped for surgery. While the c-section is scheduled for 3, we were warned that because ours isn't an emergency c-section, we will likely get bumped if labor and delivery needs the O.R. So the plan is that Brayden should be arrive via c-section sometime on Monday October 20th.
We have gone through the different emotions, and now we are trying to be optimistic about the whole thing. Here are some of the things we are focusing on. Our doctor gets to deliver (she is one of eight that could have delivered), no pointy head for Brayden, we know the date, no water breaking and contractions, no super long labor, no tearing down south. If anyone has any other positive things for us to focus on, feel free to add to my list. Please be kind enough to leave things out such as longer recovery or major surgery as those are the things I am trying not to think about. ;-)
Amanda will be updating people via email when Brayden is born, so check your emails Monday night. Thanks for everyone's support! We will update more after our little pumpkin arrives!!!

Pumpkin Patch 2008

10-12-08 (38 weeks preggo)

We are still awaiting our precious little pumpkin, but in the mean time, we thought we would spend this beautiful afternoon at the pumpkin patch. Between the boat ride, the train ride, and Justin's drive through the bumpy parking lot, I am now completely exhausted. It was such a beautiful crisp fall day so we took the opportunity to get some good pictures.

Me and Jeff at the lake


Me and Amanda


38 weeks and still waiting for my little pumpkin


Brayden's first pumpkin


Jeff, Elizabeth, Amanda & Justin

Weekly appointment update

We are now going to see the doctor every week (mostly Wednesdays). Not much to update this week. Brayden is still head down, but not engaged. His head is a little to the left and he has not dropped yet. I would love to get his rump out from under my ribs, but he seems quite comfy as he is. The doc says that it is safe for him to come out, but I don't think he is ready. It probably doesn't help that Jeff keeps telling him to stay put because it is cold out here. ;-)
Other than that, his heart beat was in the 140's again so perfectly normal. The doctor had a hard time finding it (again) because he is a VERY active little boy. He was bouncing all over the place. He also stuck his bum up in the air and "mooned" the doctor. Crazy kid!!!
Work is getting very tiring but I am still planning to work until my due date (or when Brayden decides otherwise). My class is enjoying being a part of the baby experience. They have predicted when he will arrive (most think he will be on time or a day or two late). They can't wait to meet him (and we feel the same). I think that takes care of the updates for now. Goodnight!

Leaving Comments

So I see that some of you do actually read our blog!!! So glad to hear that I am not just talking to myself! I have had several people ask how to comment on the blog so I thought I would give a little "how to". We would love to hear your comments. Under each blog post that I write, you should see something that says "comments". Click on the word "comments" and add your own in the box. If you are still unsure how to do it, just email me and I can walk you through it. Thanks to all for reading, and we can't wait to get some cute baby pictures on here for you. T- 17 days and counting!!!

Big Ole' Belly

37 weeks!!! (10-5-08)

My belly looked even bigger in the reflection from the mixing bowl!


No wonder I feel huge...I AM huge!


Upon request, here is my 37 week bare belly pic! (Look away if you must!)

Portland Marathon 2008!!!!

In cold and rainy weather, I am proud to say that Jeff completed the Portland Marathon this morning. Spectator duty was cold and damp as well, but nothing compared to what he must have been going through. When his hips were really bothering him (starting at mile 7) he thought about quitting. Then he said he thought about my pregnancy and all of my hip pain, and decided, if I could do it, he could too. How sweet! He finished in just under 4 hours, (about 3:55). We are all very proud of him!!! Here are some pictures of the morning...

Pre-race support!!!


The rest of the support crew!


Mile 5 and looking good!!!


Mile 11- still looking good!!!


Mile 21- stopping for a granola bar (and in a lot of pain!)


Mile 26- almost there!!!


Cold and wet, but he made it!!!!


Brayden and I did a great job cheering for daddy!!!


Yeah support crew!!!


Jeffy's reward- cheeseburger and chicken nuggets!!!

Hot chocolate...

Yesterday we had our doctor's appointment so I thought I would update the few of you who actually read this blog. First of all, Jeff and I stopped at Starbucks before heading to the doctor and I got a hot chocolate. As I was laying on the table and the doctor was trying to find Brayden's heartbeat, he just wouldn't cooperate. He was moving around so much that we could see and feel him, but she just couldn't find the heartbeat. Usually not finding a heartbeat would be a scary thing, but we were all laughing because we could see and feel him, he was just a little too hyper. The doctor ended up grabbing Brayden's bottom (up by my ribs) and trying to hold him still long enough to get a reading on his heartbeat. She finally got one (146 bpm) so he is still in the average zone. I guess I will skip the hot chocolate before my next appointment. ;-)

In other news, Brayden is still head down and at this point he probably won't turn breech (we hope). I was measuring 35.5 and I should be anywhere from 35.5-37.5 to be "on target". Doctor says that although he is head down, I have not dropped yet, she could still feel his head in my lower abdomen. (and I can still feel his rump in my ribs!) We now see the doctor every week (on Wednesdays) and I will keep you updated as we know more. Until then T- 23 days and counting!!!