He's Here!!!

Well, the wait is finally over...our sweet little boy has arrived! My water broke at 10pm on Thursday evening and we rushed off to the hospital. Joshua James Nodine arrived at 10:33am on Friday, March 28, 2008. He weighed in at 6 lbs, 12.5 oz and was 20 1/4 inches long. He has black hair (& his daddy's hairline!) and big, deep blue eyes. He loves snuggling with mommy, listening to daddy talk & being swaddled. He doesn't like having his diaper changed, having his feet exposed or touched, and missing feedings. He has rarely cried (unlike the baby next door to us in the hospital) and when he does it's a sad, pathetic little cry. He sounds more like a lost kitten than a baby! We are totally in love with him.

Ben has been amazing throughout this pregnancy and at it's completion. He was a wonderful cheerleader in the delivery room (he even cut the cord!), and has been so wonderful through our hospital stay. He is changing diapers like he's been doing it for years and has a really difficult time giving him up when someone else wants to hold him.

We are home now and have regular access to internet and cell service so feel free to check in! If we don't answer, we may be taking some time alone. :) Joshua is calling me so this will be all for now. I'll try to post more pictures soon!

Late evening conversation...

Jamie: "Um, honey? I think my water just broke."

Ben: "Ok...what do we do now?"

Jamie: "I DON'T KNOW! I'm not ready yet!"

So Joshua is on his way and we're off to the hospital. We'll let you know more when it happens!!! :)

Early morning conversation...

Ben: "Wow, J, it looks like you're really ready to have that baby!"

Jamie: "Ummm...thank you?"

Ben: "No, I just mean you look really front-loaded."

Jamie: "Front loaded? What does that mean exactly? I think you made that word up."

Ben: "I mean that I think it's really cool that you are carrying him so far out in front and you don't tip over. You just look like you should fall over!"

Some women want diamonds, some want a nice car, some want a huge house. I have all I want...a husband who sees me as an engineering marvel. :)

Holy Moly!

We have reached a new milestone...SINGLE DIGITS! We are only 9 days from Joshua's due date. Wasn't it just yesterday that we were announcing that he was on his way? Now he's almost here. He's still made no significant effort to join us, but he only has about 16 days until he is served with an eviction notice. My doctor won't let me go more than a week past my due date which was a relief because we want to make sure that he will be here with us no later than April 10 so his Aunt Jodi & Tio Jay can spend some time with him before Jay deploys in May. Whether he comes before, on, or after his due date though, it's all coming up very, very quickly. I guess we'd better get that hospital bag packed & have it waiting by the door, huh? :)

Happy Easter, everyone! He is risen!! What a joyful time to be bringing a new life into the world.

Warning: Objects in post may appear larger than they feel!

First, I want to point out that there is a shadow behind me that gives the illusion that I'm that much bigger. Second, I want to point out that I can't believe how huge I am! I mean, I know I'm pregnant and that being this big is normal...but oh my gosh! Holy hugeness, Batman! I guess I forget how pregnant I am until I see a picture of myself. That's probably why I don't have very many pictures of me. I look down and see a very different picture. I look much smaller from my point of view! :)

The calls & emails have started. Formerly pregnant friends have told me that the calls to check on any progress would begin soon and they were right! We haven't had internet service since the move until today, so I haven't been able to check my email regularly. Since I havne't been able to email everyone right back right away, some people (like my sister, Jodi, who is SO EXCITED IT'S GETTING SO CLOSE) think that since I haven't responded, I must be in labor. :) So, just in case you're reading this regularly and wondering what's going on, here are answers to the frequently asked questions:

1. Nope, no progress yet. If you're really interested, I'm having contractions every 4-5 minutes, but they are just practice ones and can continue for weeks before they actually start meaning anything. :)
2. Yep, still sleeping through the night. And it's wonderful!
3. No, I'm not uncomfortable or miserable. I'm perfectly happy and so is Joshua.
4. No, I'm not doing anything to 'jumpstart' labor. He'll come when he's ready.
5. Yes, we'll call/email/text message you when something happens.

I have a list of people to call/text message/email and we'll be bringing it to the hospital. If you want to make sure you're on the list, feel free to leave a comment or email me. If I don't respond right away...I'm probably taking a nap. Or maybe I'm in labor. :)

You know you're getting big when...

Spring has arrived here in Virginia. The forsythia are blooming and there are all sorts of daffodils & other spring flowers popping up. Friday was a beautiful day and my friend Kristen brought Savannah over for a walk and a quick shopping trip. We went for a walk around my new neighborhood and then headed over to Target & Carters. Once our shopping was done, we got back in the car to head home. As I was sitting down in the car, my pants decided that they had had enough. RRRIIIIIPPPPPPPPPP! They split right down the front of the left leg. I'm not talking a small rip either. I'm talking from the hip to the knees! I've never had a pair of pants do that before! Now, in all fairness to the pants, they have been getting a pretty tough workout. I've had them since about 24 weeks and they've been my only pants so they've been worn every day (except for the days that they are allowed to rest because I'm too lazy to get dressed and instead wear my sleep pants around the house all day). I had been hoping that I could get through the end of my pregnancy without buying another pair of pants and thanks to my sister in law, Carly, I can! She brought me down some clothes when they were here last weekend and one pair of jeans actually fits me quite well. Carly, I've never been more thankful for your generosity than on Friday afternoon. :)

Today, we came home from being out and about and found a package at our door. Don't you love getting packages?! Packages that are too big to put in your mailbox so they have to leave them by the door are the best. They make you happy even though you don't know who they're from! This one happened to be from a dear friend of the family, Jean Giordano. She and her husband, Sam, were close friends of my nana and papa and are basically family. We opened up the package to find the most beautiful, hand knit blanket that Jean had made for Joshua. It's soft, and blue, and will be perfect to wrap him up in when he comes home from the hospital. He loves it already...see?

Now that I can....I don't want to!

We are all moved in to our new place thanks to my wonderful, supportive, willing to drive 8 hours to help us move heavy furniture in-laws. Randy, Stephanie, Brian, Carly, we could not have done it without you...thank you again and again!!!! We can't forget Timothy's contribution either. He provided smiles and giggles and cuddles when they were needed most. So now that we're all moved in, I can finally get organized and nest. The thing is, now that I can...I don't want to. That time has passed for me. Now, I want to sleep & rest & relax because we all know that won't happen anymore in a few weeks! I'm waiting on that final burst of energy everyone says comes at the end, but it's nowhere in sight. So for now, we'll be living among the boxes & chaos that comes with a new move.

On a baby note, Joshua is considered full term this week. Yay! At my last appointment, the doctor estimated he's about six pounds and she says that he won't be too big as long as he doesn't go too far past his due date. That was music to my ears! He seems to be perfectly content where he is has made no effort to move to the outside world. My doctor says that my due date is most likely quite accurate, so we've given up hope that he might be early. I'm not upset that he probably won't be early. I'm still sleeping through the night and I'm treasuring those long, sleep filled nights. I won't rush giving them up! Plus, it gives Ben & I a little more 'just the two of us' time. Not to mention...who wants to rush labor & delivery?! Not me! :)