Tucker's BIRTHday story.

I started having mild sporatic contractions Thursday night (June 9th).  I didn't really think much of them because I had been having them for the past couple weeks off and on.  When I woke up Friday morning they were still there so I started to get hopeful, although they were still pretty sporatic.  Because they weren't painful I decided to go to work.  They stayed pretty sporatic and not so painful through out my shift at work.  I kept telling my co-workers that I just had this feeling I would be headed to the hospital that day!

After work I went to pick up Ellee from my Mom's and we decided to go to this garage sale that I heard had some baby items.  (I found a changing table for only $30.  It is in great shape!) While my Mom and I were there the contractions started to get a little stronger and more frequent.  After we left we went back to her house and Ellee and I headed towards home.  Before I left I told my Mom that I had this feeling that we would be calling her later to head to the hospital!  On our way home we stopped at a friends house where Shayne was helping them with some side work.  Ellee and I hung out while Shayne worked.  The contractions started getting closer and closer and begining to be a bit more painful!  Around 6 pm I told Shayne it was time to go!!! We rushed home and Ellee and I waited in the car while Shayne took a quick shower...we didn't want him all stinky while I was trying to deliver!

Finally we headed out.  We dropped Ellee off with Greg and my Mom rode with us to the hospital.  Contractions by then were about every 3 minutes and I think painful would describe how they felt!  We finally made it to the hospital and I got all checked in and settled.

I'm really bummed that we didn't get any pictures of us with Ellee before we headed into the hospital, but by the time we had gotten to my Mom and Greg's Ellee was passed out and we didn't want to wake her.  Oh well.

 The view from my room.  Not that I enjoyed it much...haha! : )

I think this was still pre-epidural.  It had to have been between contractions!

Because I was Group Beta Strep (GBS) positive at the begining of my pregnancy I had to have 2 rounds of antibiotics before I delivered Tucker.  Thankfully they were able to get both rounds in before delivery.  It saved him having to get a round of them!

By the time I was halfway through the 1st round I was really ready for that epidural!!!  I should have gotten it before they started the 1st dose of antibiotics, but I was trying to be tough...mistake.

After the epidural I felt much better!  (I really recommend the epidural!  For me it made the experience much more enjoyable!)

It seemed like it wasn't to much longer and they told me it was time to push. 

Here we are with my nurse just before delivery.  When she checked me for the last time she was so surprised she could see Tucker's head!!

I gave 1 big push and 2 little ones and Tucker Joshua Gray was born at 1:16am on Saturday, June 11, 2011. 

Words cannot describe!♥

My Mom did the honors of cutting the chord.

Proud Daddy! 

7 pounds 12 ounces, 19-3/4 inches long. 

 Grandma Katie and Tucker.

 Grandpa Scott and Tucker.

 Grandmom Lane and Tucker

Putting aside all the pain from the contractions, giving birth is the most amazing experience I think I will ever go through!  Words cannot even describe what it feels like to carry a child for 9 months and then after all that waiting to see their sweet face!  Tucker Joshua Gray is such a blessing and we are so blessed that God chose him to be apart of our family! ♥

Maternity Photos

Okay, Okay!  It has been a while!!  We have been Busy with a CAPITAL B!!  Between all the birthdays in June and well the arrival of our little man Tucker it has been hard to sit down and blog!  So, I'm going to try and play catchup!  I guess I will start with Tucker's maternity photos.  Here are some of my favs!

 one of my all time favorite photos of the 2 of us!

 sweet ellee kisses.

 love this face!

It was so hard to pick just a few to be my favorites!  Pat Thomas at Gig Harbor Photography did an amazing job!  If you want to see a few more photos go HERE!

30 & 32 weeks.

I'm a bit behind on posting my prego week pics, tomorrow marks 34 weeks!!! : )  But, once again.... when am I not behind?!? hehe! : )

Sooo, here they are!

**Click on each picture individually and it will make them bigger!**

ultrasound take two.

Today I had another u/s done.  My midwife had called me 2 weeks ago after the 1st one to tell me my cervix was measuring on the smaller end of "normal".  So as a precaution they scheduled me for another u/s, just to make sure my cervix is progressing.  (If my cervix isn't progressing or is getting shorter that could mean that I possibly could go into pre-term labor.  The midwife said that was a small possibility, but wanted to take every precaution.)

After the u/s, the tech was not aloud to tell me all the details, but she did say that if there was something wrong then they would not be sending me on my way.  I guess now I just wait for my midwife to call.

I'm telling myself that I'm not going to worry until I have something to worry about.  And, for the most part I haven't really thought about it.  I feel great, so at this point I don't think I have anything to be concerned about.  Susan, one of my midwives, told me that there are many women that are on the smaller end of "normal".  That has helped a lot!  I was just happy I got to see him again!!  Normally we would have just gotten the one u/s at 20 weeks and would then have been done. : )

The u/s tech was nice enough to print me out some more pictures of Mr. Tucker!  And, I got to hear his heartbeat again!  Today, it looked like he was waving at me!  God's miracles are so amazing! : )

Tucker at 21 weeks & 6 days

"jeggings" & a baby bump pic

jeans + leggings = jeggings!

Over the holiday season I learned what jeggings are.  Ellee got a pair from her Great Aunts Lynne and Lauren.  They are super cute! Thanks Aunt Lynne and Lauren!!! : )

Baby boy bump at 20 weeks!

I'm still feeling pretty good. Feeling a little more pregnant, but not to bad.  The baby is constantly moving and I'm feeling tons of kicks!  : )

Ellee's baby BROTHER!!!

Ellee is going to be a big sister to a little BROTHER!!!  We are so excited we are having a little boy!!!  Looks like my gut feeling was correct!!! :)

Baby's first pictures...

We are so in love with our beautiful baby BOY! 

 Since Ellee looks like her Daddy... I think he looks like his Mommy!! :)

 The u/s Tech kept saying he has such a beautiful spine! :)

 YUP, definitely a BOY!!!

The u/s went so well!!  The tech that did it was so friendly and nice!  When we went in for Ellee's 20 week u/s the tech wasn't so friendly.  And we only got 2 photos that weren't that great.  This tech was amazing!  She went over everything with us and gave us so many great photos!  She kept saying what a beautiful spine he has and that he is a perfect baby boy!  He is right on track for being 20 weeks along!  We would have been so happy either way, but we are ecstatic that baby Gray #2 is a boy! :)  God had truly blessed our growing family beyond words!!!

ewww.

Last week we noticed Ellee would say "Ewww" most times before she went #2 in her diaper. She would then make that face that told us...yeah, she's going! : ) We thought it was pretty cute, and probably a sign that it was time to think about potty training.  Shayne and I made a trip to Target and bought the toilet seat that sits right over the toilet and some training panties.  They are super cute!  We sat her on the toilet a couple of times, she didn't seem to mind sitting there, but nothing happened. : )

Yesterday afternoon Ellee was playing with her toys and all of a sudden says, "Ewww" and swishes her hand in front of her face like something was stinky.  So cute!  I immediately took her straight to the bathroom and sat her down on her new potty seat (at this point she hadn't yet gone "Ewww" in her diaper).  She sat there for a second and then made that face, the yeah she's going face. AND SHE WENT...IN THE TOILET!!!  I was so excited!!!  She was so excited!!!  It was so cute, she clapped for herself! : )  And she thought she was pretty cool because she got to flush the potty. LOL!

She may hate me when she's older for posting these... :)

 She's so stinkin' cute!!! : )

We are on our way to being out of diapers before Baby #2 is here!!! : )  I think it would be super awesome if we didn't have 2 in diapers!

Oh, and speaking of Baby #2, Tuesday is the day! We find out if we are having a little GIRL or BOY!  My gut is still telling me a BOY...  I'm kinda hoping my gut is right!  As much as I would like to break out all of Ellee's cute onesies and dresses, I think it would be so much fun to have a little BOY! : )  Either way we will be just as excited!!!

18 Weeks!

18 Weeks today!!  I feel like I haven't gotten any bigger since the last photo at 12 weeks.  I guess that could be a good thing?! : )

2 weeks from today we find out if this little one is a boy or girl!  My gut says it's going to be a little boy.  We will see though, my gut could be TOTALLY wrong!  I did a Facebook poll and the majority said girl. :)  

I am still completely exhausted, but I'm feeling much better these days in the morning sickness department.  I'm still wearing my own jeans, but can feel them getting tighter.  At this point when I was pregnant with Ellee I was already in maternity jeans. :)  I still feel like time is flying, we are almost halfway there! 

AND Ellee is going to be  EIGHTEEN MONTHS on FRIDAY!!!!!  This I CAN'T believe!!!  Feels like just last week she was born and just yesterday she turned ONE. Good grief will time please slow down!!  I have a feeling that it won't...

Okay, signing off for now.  I still have more posts from the holidays to post.  Hopefully I can get to that soon!!! :)

12 weeks!

Today marks 12 weeks!  Wow, is this pregnancy flying by!  1 more week and I will officially be out of the first trimester! : )

Not the greatest photo of me, but you can definitely see a baby Gray bump! : )

I'm feeling pretty good, just really tired all the time!  Morning sickness has been worse then when I was pregnant with Ellee.  It is more all day and comes in waves.  It isn't anything to unbearable though.  And I think it is starting to go away.  The last few days I have only felt nauseous late at night or if I wait to long to eat.

I'm so excited to find out what we are having!  Shayne is convinced we are having a boy!  Hopefully we will find out sometime in January! : )

#2's first picture.

We had our first appointment. for baby Gray #2 on November 23rd. We got to hear the little heartbeat, which was around 160bpm. The midwife said everything looks great and I'm right on track with where I thought I was. At the end of the appointment we got to see the little bean! So amazing! You can see where she took a measurement of the baby (the 2 X's with a dotted line)  The baby measured out at 3.3 cm, which is right on track with 10 weeks. Our next appointment is scheduled for December 28th and I will be 16 weeks. : )