Welcome Baylee Nicole

Just for Shayne here are the facts short and sweet:
Baylee Nicole Eliason born 8/27/09 @ 1110 am via c-section.
8 lbs 3 oz 20 1/4 in. long and perfect in every way.

The countdown

We're down to the last week before our little girl is born, and the days cannot pass soon enough! I had a doc appt on Monday and she said things are looking good and she doesn't expect to see me at my appointment next week. I have been measuring a few weeks behind, so she ordered an ultrasound, but I can't get in until next week. Since yesterday afternoon I have been have a few contractions, but nothing that screams labor has started. This waiting is driving me nuts, I just want her to come already! Oh well. Until then I'm enjoying spending time with Derek and friends, and just relaxing and spending as much time in the pool as I still can! Yesterday Derek and I went out for a date night. We walked around Huntington beach, had dinner and had a little bonfire and made smores. It was great. Tonight I"m headed out to Disneyland to hang out with Malia. So excited, but a little nervous. Derek isn't going so I'm just hoping I don't go into labor there, I'd hate to have to drive myself home in labor! That's all, hopefully my next post will be with pics of our precious little girl up!

Baby news

So I am now just over 36 weeks, so close to technically being full term, and reality is setting in...soon we will have a little baby! So scary. I've had a few friends that were weeks ahead of me that have gone on and had their babies. They didn't really phase me, but I always thought "when Andrea has her baby, I'm going to freak, cause that'll mean we're way too close" as she is due just 10 days ahead of me. Well, she had her little one today, and both are doing great! I'm so happy for her, but scared out of my mind for us! I still have SO much to do. And to top it off I've been having some frequent contractions tonight, most about 5-6 minutes apart, feeling it all around, but nothing too severe. Hopefully I can get some rest soon and they'll go away come afternoon, this little chickie needs to cook a bit longer!!

It's about time...

For an update. A lot has happened in the past 3 months. Beginning of April was another tough time for us. The 13th was my mom's birthday and since we never had a funeral, we had a sort of memorial/birthday party for her down at the beach just like she had wanted. A few of our aunts and uncles came down and we spent the afternoon having pizza, looking at old photos and remembering what a wonderful mom, sister, daughter, friend and crazy lady she was. At about sunset we went down and spread some of her ashes in the water then finished the night sharing smores and memories around the campfire. Sadly though just 2 days later my grandpa (mom's dad) passed away also. My grandpa had a severe stroke and heart attack the first day of the year, and had many ups and downs through the months. But he was done, if he couldn't be the stubborn independent farmer he had been for 85 years, there was no point in sticking around.


Since then we've just been busy hanging out with friends, enjoying the summer. A friend from Germany came out and we got the chance to spend the day at Sea World with him, had a blast! We've been to the beach a few times, gone through a couple bad burns each. Both Derek and I ended up getting pretty sick, he got over it much quicker than I did though thanks to the help of medicine. Unfortunately nothing was safe enough for my little girl so I just had to tough it out (or whine about it, however you want to look at it). This past week Derek and I were able to make it to San Francisco for a little pre-baby vacation. We stopped in San Luis Obispo the first night and perused through the farmers market. Next day we took the scenic coast route up and made it into San Fran early evening, just enough time to drive down Lombard St (crookedest street), enjoy the view from Coit tower and walk through local streets for a great little pizza place. We spend 4th of July window shopping and enjoying more tourist traps such as Union square, Giradelli square, Fisherman's warf and Pier 39. We had intended on ending our day down by the pier just in time for fireworks. By 6 we were done with the crowds and had tired feet, so we were losers and spent the night asleep back in our hotel, but oh the rest was well appreciated. On our drive back south on Sunday we stopped at the Winchester Mansion, what a crazy place! We made it down to Morro bay where we called it a night. We found a great little hidden restaurant off the beaten path, so go check out the Beach House off Main street in Morro Bay. Beautiful view, great view and awesome owners, you won't be dissapointed! Monday then we made it down to Jalama beach where we spent the day soaking up the sun before finishing our drive home. It was a much needed trip and we really enjoyed all the sites and just spending time talking and hanging out with just my hubby and me.


And of course, our little girl is growing right along. Things are seeming well in the pregnancy. We've made it to 33 weeks with no significant happenings. I've still been nauseas but manage to keep most things down now. We're starting to have those freak out moments realizing the next month is going to fly by and we'll soon have our little one! That said Derek and I decided to save money and not have maternity photos done, but instead took our own cheesy shots on our trip.




I am looking forward to being off work the end of this month, so hoping to get babies room and the rest of the house worked on during that time, and of course, spend more time blogging!

We really are blessed

So lately I have been a bit more depressed and complaining about life a bit more than I should be. Some of it is justified and certain situations just suck, but some I just need to get over and really focus on the positive in life, not everything is that bad. That being said, while I may not have a huge close family, God has blessed me with wonderful friends to make up for it. I really don't know what I would do without them. And it amazes how and when they've come into my life, and how each has somehow because a very important part of it. I cannot be grateful enough for that. Finances are hard, but I am thankful that I do have a steady job that does make enough to support us, and that we are still able to have a little fun with our money. Yes it's been hard lately with as much as we're putting into the house, but we will (hopefully) get that back someday, and while it's a struggle now, I look forward to the day it will be much better. And speaking of the house. While this house has been a huge headache in itself, I'm glad we've put the effort into trying to keep it. For one it has been great coming across certain things and being reminded of something. And true there is a ton of junk we're just throwing away, it kind of makes it worth it when we find that box of pictures from years ago, or my mom's old diary we get to read through and have a way of hearing the old stories she won't be able to tell. I'm glad we have these things to keep with us and not just walk away from. And last, yes, it will be great if we can actually get some money out of the house when it's all said and done to help out with all the debt we've been put into taking care of my mom and all, but more than that, I'm glad because that's what my mom would have wanted. While it might have been much easier to just let the house go into forclosure and walk away because we might not get anything from it anyhow, my mom fought so much to keep that house and we've already put so much effort into it, it would be a shame to let her wishes just die with her.

Our pregnancy update

So I'm sure many of you have already heard, we have found out our little one is a GIRL! I was quite shocked, Derek said he had an inkling it might be, but we're both very excited none the less! Let the shopping spree begin! The ultrasound was great fun, we got to see her moving all around and chatting away already. For anyone with future ultrasounds, a little OJ before hand really wakes them up! A friend from work has been so gracious and we already have a stroller, swing and a couple play mats. We bought our carseat that goes with the stroller, so we're very excited to start getting our baby collection started.
We still don't have our car back, hoping it'll be done sometime in the next week...it is taking SO long!
We've been busy working on my mom's house, and after 3 HUGE dumpsters, the inside of the house, junk out of the back yard and some of the garage is cleared out. I'm sure we could use another dumpster for the rest of the garage, but I think we might have to hold off for a little....those things are expensive! Thanks to a friends dad that has helped us a ton, we have guys that have retextured all the walls and ceilings, cleaned everything up and are painting in the next couple days. End of the week we'll have new carpet going in and the (inside of the) place will look brand new! Well, close, we still have SO much work to go into it, but we are making progress. I am so ready for this to be done!
That is a basic update of our life, working and working on the house on days off. I can't wait to get a life back and focus on something else!

Highlights of the week

So this past week or 2 have been busy and a little more than stressful to say the least. First the happy parts. Our very dear friends Heather and Ian officially tied the knot on Saturday. It was a beautiful wedding, her grandfather walked her down the aisle, there were tears all around and she was one of the most gorgeous brides I have seen. I was jealous of how well organized everything was (she's an event planner, what else would I have expected?) and how perfectly everything turned out. I'm sure they will have a wonderful marriage together. Another happy point I got to spend my birthday with our great friends at Disneyland, with my big happy "It's my birthday" pin and all. The rest of the week stunk as the lovely pregnancy sickness has kicked back in, but he next week Derek took me to see Phantom of the Opera at the Pantages theatre. What an incredible show! I loved Derek for happily going with me even though I know it's not high on his list of things to do.
Now for the not so happy. First off our beloved new car is temporarily out of service. Friday night on our way to the rehearsal dinner we got in an accident that forced us to have our new baby towed away. First off no one but the car was hurt, baby mom and dad are all just fine, along with the poor guy driving the other car. And with the exception of a bent wheel, our car proved to us it is really good in accidents and does a great job absorbing damage! Other not so happy news, I am finding I really don't enjoy being pregnant, not much at least. Don't get me wrong I love knowing there is a child growing inside of me that Derek and I have created, and I want this baby to grow to be strong and healthy, and I cannot begin to explain the love I have this little bean, past that, it's not what I hoped for. I knew to expect the "morning" sickness, but never realized how miserable most days would be. And then just when that seems to get better, it comes back, and brings along a stake through your back causing severe non-stop pain. And the near daily headthrobs that end only in tears. I'm sure everything is exxagerated cause I'm over sensitive right now, but man, this sucks. Everyone kept saying once I get into the 2nd tri it would get better, but it doesn't, and only seems to add things. I just have to remind myself it will all be worth it in the end.
And sorry for no pics of anything, that is in the car in the towyard. :-)