In the Beginning....

My sweet little baby girl. Your daddy and I wanted you before you were conceived. We were so excited when we found out we were pregnant! I surprised your daddy with a vacation to Hawaii the end of March 2010.  On the way home I had an idea I was pregnant but didn't tell your daddy because I didn't want him to worry on our vacation. The morning we got home I woke up early and took a test, it was positive!! After telling your dad I called Grandma Traci, and then Grandma Denise, the rest of the family found out soon after! Everyone was ECSTATIC and cried!! It was very soon after that I KNEW I was pregnant-- I was so sick!! You were SO active, from the very first ultrasound I could see why I was so sick! On May 12th we got to see you for the first time! Daddy called you his little peanut. The doctor had to spend more than 15 minutes trying to record your heartbeat because you were moving so much! You were literally bouncing around like a pinball! We shared your first picture with everyone!

On June19th we met Grandma and Grandpa Rogers and Lomprey, and Auntie Cami and Beau at the mall. We went to a place  called Fetal Focus in the Tyler Mall that did ultrasounds to determine the sex of a baby early. For some reason we all thought you were going to be a boy, we were going to decorate your bedroom in a pirate theme. When the lady said you were a girl everyone was so excited, your dad and I were speechless! The first words your dad said were, "Well this gives me another reason to buy more guns!!" We all went to dinner to celebrate after and talk about YOU!

When I was 20 weeks along I FINALLY started feeling better, well I quit puking. Up until then I threw up EVERY night between 6-8pm most everything I ate all day. One time Auntie Ashley had to take me to urgent care so i could be rehyrated with IV fluids. You really made me work for you-- but you were so worth it! I always said you have to work hard for the good things in life, and you are the best. Because I was SO sick my doctor wrote me off work when I was about 26 weeks along. I spent lots of time with Grandma Traci shopping for you and decorating your nursery! Grandma Denise came over and painted your closet doors and made all your crib bedding too.

We had so much fun! The end of the pregnancy flew bye! Before I knew it I only had 4 weeks until you were due! Your dad and I were so excited to meet you, we didn't know what to expect! When I was 38 weeks we went camping @ Ocotillo State park with daddy's family and some friends. We took the sandrailout and we (you and me) rode it all weekend long. You were so good.


Towards the end of my pregnancy you got the hiccups everyday! You continued to be very active, you would stick your little foot under my ribcage and make me squeel! You were so strong it amazed me! Your daddy and I had looked through a book of names and stumbled across the name Tatum, we both loved it, it means cheerful. Your middle name took a while to decide on but we both loved it because the sky is always so beautiful and wonderful to look at. The last week oft pregnancy I had gotten so big I couldn't sleep in the bed. Dad brought our recliner upstairs so I could sleep next to him. Your grandma Traci, Aunt Tawni and Aunt Cami all came over  on November 16th because they thought I was in labor (aunt Tawni misread a text message and drove straight over from work!) We cooked dinner and then we went on a walk with baby Abby! The whole walk they were making me speed walk and laughing! They wanted you to come right then!

That night I was up all night long with regular contractions, the morning of the 17th I thought my water broke. I wasn't sure because it was just a little trickle. The day before the doctor had told me that you had totally dropped and she guessed you would make your debut within 2 days. Grandma Traci was coming over to run errands with me so I decided to wait it out and see if I lost anymore fluid because my contractions had completely stopped. We decided to go get our nails and toes done just incase I was in labor that way I'd look and feel pretty! When we got done with our nails I KNEW my water had broke, I called your dad home from work and the doctor said to come in. While your dad was driving home I decided I wanted to have my hair washed and blown out, so that's what we did. (I wanted to look good going in to labor so I would feel good, plus I knew I wanted to look good on our first pictures together! Your dad thought I was crazy) we ordered a pizza and went home to wait for your dad. We drove to the hospital and were admitted around 4pm on November 17th. They said my water had indeed broken which was strange because only 5% of women's water broke on it's own. They hooked me up and gave me medicine to get my contractions going.

It was 5 in the morning before I got pain medicine (an epideral) and it was around 11:30am on the 18th that the doctor said it was "time" to start pushing! Your dad was a great help! He was so sweet and helpful! I pushed for an hour and a half before you made your debut! As soon as your dad saw your face he said he was in LOVE! The doctor delivered you and put you on my chest as your dad cut the umbilical cord.

 I couldn't believe what I was seeing-- that you were real and ours to keep! You just starred into my eyes, it was the most perfect moment in my life. The nurses moved you to the other side of the room to clean you up. You started to cry so your dad gave you his finger. You wrapped your little hand around his finger so tightly and quit crying. It was like everything was ok because your daddy was there with you. It melted my heart!

You were 100% healthy! You were born at 1:07 pm on November 18th, weighing 8lbs 6oz and you were 19inches long.
It was just the 3 of us for the first 3 hours you were born. Our family was perfect.

Once we were moved into our own recovery room the family started visiting! Everyone was so excited to meet you! And your dad was SO PROUD to introduce you as his daughter! He told everyone even the nurses that you were perfect and the most beautiful baby ever! That first night you slept 7 hours straight and I had to wake you up to feed you in the morning! We were all very well rested the next day and ready to go home. The doctor cleared the both of us and we were on our way home at 4pm on the 19th. We came home and introduced you to the dogs, Paisley & Stella! They were very excited to meet you! They totally knew you were coming; when I was just 6 weeks pregnant Paisley was stuck to my side! She had to sleep touching me, and was very protective. Stella was a little jealous at first, and very curious! They were both very gentle and sweet with you.

The next couple of days were filled with family coming to meet you! Uncle Kendall was in Germany in the air force and was so sad he couldn't be here to meet you! We introduced you to via AOL instant messenger video chat. He was so happy to see your sweet face!

When you were just 3 days old I took you out for the first time. We went to the hair salon so I could get my hair done, and then we went to the doctors to have you weighted. The next couple days flew by! You were a great baby! You slept through the night, and only woke up to eat every few hours! You only ever cried when you were hungry! It was great! When you were just 4 days old daddy and I went out to dinner to celebrate our 2 year wedding anniversary (you were our gift to each other!) And Grandma and Grandpa Rogers baby sat you. We stayed home and cuddled a lot the next week, it was really cold outside! We watched the show Friends and a lot of Christmas movies like Elf and the Santa Clause. Your daddy snuggled with you every morning before he went to work. You would sleep in his arms or on his chest before he went to work, it was the sweetest thing.

He was SO in LOVE with you. He was very involved from the day you were born, he would feed you and change you and hold you as much as he could.

We dressed you up in your first tutu! It was adorable! Your grandma Traci made a beautiful nursery for you and abby and filled it with gorgeous clothes!

We spent Thanksginving at grandma and grandpa Rogers house. You met your cousin Abby for the first time. You were just 7 days old! it was very cute!

When you were 12 days old your umbilical cord stump fell off! (I was really glad because it was black and kinda gross looking.) When you were 14 days old your eyes changed color. They were a really dark blue when you were. I put you down for a nap and when you woke your eyes were a much lighter blue. I couldn't believe how quickly you were growing and changing! You are PERFECT!