It's a Girl - Lily Kate Slappey

John and I welcomed Lily Kate Slappey to our family on November 13th, 2009 at 3:11pm. John and I went Thursday the 12th to my doctors appointment and found out that the levels around the placenta were low and that we needed to induce. So they sent me on to the hospital. John and I drove to Mimi's Cafe for a good lunch because once I got to the hospital I couldn't eat. Then we headed home to get our stuff together. We arrived at the hospital around 4 but didn't get into a room till around 8 that evening. Long afternoon. Once settled in our room they started my IV and gave me my induction medicine at around 10pm. We actually got some sleep that night and come 7am I was sick of sitting in bed so we went for walk around the floor. Then came to the room and several minutes after getting back in bed my water broke. It was go time then. My contractions started 3 minutes apart and were intense. They didn't expect it to happen that fast and that I would break my water on my own. About 45 minutes later they gave me my epidural (thank you to ever invented that drug!!!) I was worried about getting it but once the contractions hit i didn't care where you put that needle in! It was the best thing in the world. Then the rest of the afternoon I enjoyed being with my family. Both sets of grandparents, my sister, and my grandmother were all there!
It was such a miracle and John and I were alone together with doctors when we welcomed the biggest surprise of our lives, Lily Kate! We were overjoyed and so happy we made it a surprise. She is truly a blessing.
We stayed in the hospital till Sunday and then we were able to bring her home! She almost didn't get to come home because of her jaundice levels and her weight. But all was good on Sunday!

It has been 2 weeks since her birth and life has been a little hectic at times. I am getting use to breastfeeding and nighttimes feedings. My mom came and stayed for a week which was wonderful. John has been such a wonderful husband and supporter to me. We can't believe how much she has grown and how quickly she changes day by day. It seems to all happen so fast. We have had lots of visitors and lots of pictures taken of our sweet Lily. John and I have been so blessed by our friends and family!

I have been meaning to add this post but have been so busy adjusting and spending time with Lily and finding time to sleep when I can.

1 Week to Go...

I am trying to enjoy the last moments of being pregnant and feeling this sweet little baby move but I am getting anxious and very ready to meet him or her. The last week or so have been hard with legs swelling, tired and just uncomfortable with Braxton Hicks. But all these are good signs that the baby will be here soon. The doctor said everything is going great and it could be any day now. I am hoping sooner than later. But what pregnant woman doesn't wish the last couple of weeks away!

John and I are ready to go and bags are ready for the trip. The nursery is as cute as it can be and I am so ready to show the new little addition it's room. I think John is ready for me to stop organizing and over organizing. THE NEST IS READY and everything has it's place! John has been a big help and taking good care of me. I am so blessed to have him as my husband and a best friend.

I can not believe that we are about to enter the world of parenthood. I am nervous but excited about becoming a mother. I can't wait to see John holding our new little one and seeing him as a father. He is going to be an incredible dad. (I am little worried if we have a girl she will never be aloud out of the house!) I am anticipating the moment when they tell us if it is a girl or boy! That is going to be the best surprise of our lives. I am so glad we wanted to find out.

For now I am trying to keep busy with finishing up some work things as well as getting some personal stuff done around the house. I started filling in the baby book last night which was fun. I am trying to take it easy and get some sleep before sleep is no more for a while. (but it will be worth every moment of not sleeping!)
We will keep you posted in the days to come. Please pray for a healthy baby and a wonderful delivery.

My quote right now is "I am ready to hold this precious miracle in my arms and not in my belly!"

Will it be...
Lily Kate Slappey or John Jefferson Slappey, Jr (nickname - JJ) - We will know soon!

Showering of Love

It has been such a blessing to have our friends and family surrounding us during this special time. I have had so much fun going to all the baby showers and it has helped us out so much in preparing for our new little one. We could not have done this by ourselves! We thank you! Here is a glimpse...

My Helper

Now John can help out with nursing! Thanks friends! :) This was a gag gift a friend gave to us at a shower an it is to funny!! I just had to share. He will probably kill me for posting. But I think we all need a good laugh every now and again!

Greater things are yet to come..

I am enjoying a great big smoothie this morning..yum! John and I enjoyed a wonderful work shower yesterday with all our friends and family of PSP. It was so much fun! We feel so incredibly blessed to have the jobs we do and be surrounded by such wonderful loving people on a daily basis.
I am starting to feel a little more prepared but still in this crazy nesting phase. I am not sure if all woman go thru this but it is this great big umbrella of lists of things you would like to complete before the baby comes. And at times I think John thinks I am going nuts! I am making list of lists. :) But in the end I am trying to remember that not matter what it all comes together. That is right, the world doesn't cave in if you don't have everything right where it should be. The ultimate gift is the miracle and blessing of a small child that God created just for John and I. I can not wait to meet this new little person and enjoy all the wonders of parenthood. It is crazy that we all started off this way so tiny and small. I keep telling my mom I have new found respect for her and what she did for me. I think we should all hug our moms (and dads) today and tell them how much you love them!

My friend Jill came over this past weekend and took some maternity pictures of us. They are great. See below. She is really good and I thought I didn't want to take maternity pictures but I am glad I have them now. I didn't want to capture to many pictures of me looking like a giant marshmallow! But I think they turned out fabulous and I am glad I did it. So if you are thinking of getting some done....do! You won't regret it. It is a time to feel great about carrying a gift from God and enjoying every moment!
If you need someone to take some great pictures check out my friends site: Jillian C. Photography

She does a great job!

Well it is time to get the day started and look at my list of things to do! Meetings, Laundry, Dishes, Flu Shot...and the list goes on!

The Clock Ticks On...

I have been up since 3:30am and I am thinking that this is God's way of preparing me for a newborn and night time feedings. My mind keeps racing and the list of things to do keeps growing. I know it will all come together and why we worry, I don't know. From personal life to work life, to preparing for a new baby can be overwhelming at times. I think I am starting to feel like the due date is getting closer and I am starting to get a little anxious. From talking with my friends I think this is all normal. John and I enjoyed a great dinner last night with Jon and Molly. Molly is due shortly after me and we were having a great time chatting about all that we would like to get done before our babies arrive. It is fun to have so many friends pregnant at the same time. It helps to have other girls to talk to about everything.
John and I had or first shower a couple weeks ago. It was a blast and starts to make it all that much more real to us. Our friends threw us a couple's shower which was tons of fun. (I will post pictures later). It is such a blessing to have wonderful friends and family surrounding you in memorable moments in your life. It makes those moments even that much more special! We received some wonderful gifts for the baby! I can't wait to use them all. I also enjoyed a baby shower dinner with some girlfriends. We like to get together at least once a month or every other and just have some girl bonding time. They are all amazing woman and it is great to have friends that you can share anything with. They have given me some great advance!! They too gave John and I some wonderful things for the baby. It is so much fun opening all these tiny presents for baby Slappey!
On another note my friend Rachael and my cousin Kathy both had their babies this past weekend. Both boys...I think everyone I know is having a boy!! Both mom and babies are doing great and by the pictures I have seen they all look amazing. The little ones are so precious. I can't wait till I get to hold mine and see his/her face for the first time. What a moment that must be to experience a brand new life that you have been carrying for nine months! I can only imagine. I don't see how someone can't believe in God and experience the miracle of a new life being born. The entire process is amazing.
Well I feel as if I am rambling on and that is probably due to lack of sleep. I will post some pictures soon of the nursery (we have some new things in the room and it is looking cuter than ever!) and some of our baby shower.

31 Weeks and Counting Down

John and I got back from a wonderful vacation together which was nice to regroup and get ready for everything we have going on at home. Before we left he did an awesome job putting up the trim in the nursery and now the painting begins. The nice thing is our friend Sarah is handling that.



We traveled around Florida for two weeks going to Orlando for a conference, stopping in Tallahassee, Panama City, Seaside and finally several days in Destin. The weather was perfect and we enjoyed our last days of taking only one bag to the beach. It was fun watching all the couples with their kids and looking forward to all the memories ahead of us!



I am 31 weeks this week and I am getting more and more excited everyday to meet our newest family member. I am dying to know if it is a boy or a girl. One day everyone thinks boy and the next girl. We have names picked out so we are ready. Either Lily Kate Slappey or John Jefferson Slappey, Jr (JJ for short).
I am feeling the baby move all the time, which is probably one of the most crazy and wonderful feeling. It is truly a miracle from God how we are created. I thank him every day for giving me this gift. Although I would like to know how come it takes 9 months for a baby and 7 days to create the earth. Seems like the process could be a little shorter at times! :)

This past weekend the grandparents ordered the nursery furniture. A special thanks to my parents and John's. Grandparents are a wonderful gift! As well as parents, which I have a new found respect for mothers!
We are painting the nursery cream, brown and green. It is going to be so cute. Then we are doing a dandelion over the crib.
I will post photos of the completed nursery once it is done. I am little stressed out about everything coming together but I know it will. It always does.
Here are some of the pieces going in the room!



Crib, Dresser & Rocker are from Babies R Us • Rug is from Rosenberry Rooms • Dandelion is from Studio JK

Time to take a break from the computer and hang out with my hubby! More to come later!

Preparing...

We are getting closer to the due date and very excited. I think God is preparing us for getting up in the middle of the night since we have been up the last 3 nights. Mostly because I can't sleep or leg cramps (not fun). We went to hospital tour this past Tuesday, which was great. DeKalb Medical has a new women's hospital and it is very nice. We learned a lot of good information. Glad we went. Walking around the hospital made it very real. A little scary at times, but exciting just the same.
We are starting to get the nursery put together.
Here is the bedding for the nursery. We are going with green and brown colors and then adding in pink or blue touches once the baby arrives.


Our good friend Sarah is painting the room for us. She is so good at faux finishes and just decorating in general. Her company is Timeless Interiors.

My aunt and uncle gave us our first baby toy, our jumper. We have it sitting out so Caesar and Bailey can get use to the idea. It is so cute but it is weird to have it sitting out and passing by it. No kids toy matches the decor of a house.

I will post more photos of the nursery once we have it complete. Probably mid September.
We have 14 weeks to go and counting down.

It's getting closer!

It just seems like time is flying by. The baby is going to be here before you know it. We finally got our crib bedding in so we can now select our paint colors for the nursery. I am going to start working on doing the judges panel trim in the next week or so. I can't wait! We did put together our first baby play toy and it is now sitting in the family room. It kind of hits you when you come into the house and see a "jumper" sitting in the floor. There really is going to be a baby living here. Wow! I am sure that will be one of many toys to be scattered across the floor of my house. I am going to have to work on getting used to that. I do like my neat and clean home.

It was a Strange/Slappey Night

John and I both have great last names and our wedding picture from the paper ended where the 96 Rock -Regular Guy's Show in Atlanta found it and posted it to their site. We also were featured on Jay Leno Headlines.




Here us on the show:

Let the adventure begin

I am writing my first post to our new family blog.Tuesday will be the first of my 6 months being pregnant. It is so amazing to be feeling the baby move and jump around. I cannot describe the feeling it is truly a miracle from God. I keep thinking about what it looks like and if it is a boy or a girl. It is going to be one of the most emotional moments in my life when I hold my first child for the first time. I get teary eyed thinking about it.We had a great day today with family and received our first gift off our registry...it was our jumper! So cute. My aunt and uncle were in town from Alabama. And it is always great to see them. With our first official gift it is starting to set in a bit. I can't wait to put it together and see it sitting in the house. John and I are looking forward to getting the nursery all set up and decorated. It will be such a joy to see it all finished and walk by it and think about all the memories we are going to create together in that room!! Dirty diapers, long nights, story time, rocking, and just watching him/her sleep! Let the adventure begin!!

My First Post

Julie has done a great job in putting this all together to keep all that reads up to date on our new family that is scheduled to start on November 17th, 2009. We are at the half way point of the pregnancy and it is starting to become more real everyday. We had the opportunity to find out the sex last week and we opted to wait and make it a surprise upon the delivery. This is so out of the ordinary for us. It is going to be such a great surprise! I can't wait!