Foot Day at Preschool

Each fall at Rachel's preschool they have "Foot Day". They set up stations outside for them to step in, on, etc. to experience the different senstations/feelings. I was able to go an watch and take pictures. She had so much fun!

Sweet Anna

Family of 4!

Smiles

It is one of the sweetest moments when your children begin to smile. I remember when Rachel first started smiling and it was so incredible to see her respond to me in that way. Anna started smiling a few weeks ago and it just melts my heart when she looks at me with a big smile! Catching it on camera is no simple task but I've been trying. Here is a small glimpse of the smiles to come!

Anna's friends

These mobile bugs are Anna's favorite friends of the stuffed variety. We love to watch her as she watches them go around and around. She kicks her legs and coos at them. Of course, she would rather spend her time with Mommy, Daddy and sissy but the bugs keep her company when we can't be right there.

Daddy's Girl II

1 Month old!

I can hardly believe that Anna is already 1 month old! I tried to take a picture each month of Rachel on a blanket to show how much she had grown so now I'm starting the tradition with Anna. Here is our first shot. I wish she would stop growing already!

Pre-school!

Rachel's first day of Pre-school was last week! She loved it! After we visited the pre-school she kept talking about how they didn't have any fish because they didn't have any water. It was so cute - she was glad to see the fish there in the water on the first day! I can't believe she is big enough to go to school - sad!

Bed-time video

If you haven't seen this video on youtube yet you have got to listen to it! It made me laugh so hard! It is a very sweet and funny video.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=uISuvTiTYJA

First Real Bath

Anna finally lost her umbilical cord
and was able to take a real bath! She loved being in the warm water and looking at herself. Her bathtimes are much more fun now that she can get in the water (she usually screamed the whole time she was getting a sponge bath).

"I'm little and Anna's little"

Lately, Rachel talks a lot about being "little" or "big". She'll say, " Mommy, you are big and Daddy is big and I'm little and Anna's little". Well, it is true, she and Anna are both little but this picture certainly doesn't make it seem so! She looks huge compared to Anna! We often hear her say, "When I big...I can ride a bike or I can have a dog, etc., etc." It is so cute!

Sisterly Love

Rachel absolutely adores Anna! She is really sweet with her most of the time and you can see that in these shots.

Bathtime

Here is Anna taking one of her first sponge baths at home. She didn't really like them so much but I really can't blame her. She already likes her real baths much better.

Family Visits

Soon after Anna was born we had some visitors. Vimal's sister, Amy came and his Mom. Then a couple of weeks later his Dad and Step-mom came to visit.

Home Sweet Home!

Here are a few pictures from our arrival home. We are getting a little sleep here and there and feeding around the clock. But, we wouldn't have it any other way.

Welcome Anna Jadon Patel

We are so excited to announce Anna Jadon Patel's arrival into the world! She joined us on August 7th, 2007 at 6:17 pm (after 17 long hours of labor!!). She weighed 7 pounds and 4 ounces and was 21 inches long. We think she is beautiful!

Here are a few pictures from the day! It has taken a while to get this posted because we are all sleep deprived around here.

40 Week Doctor's visit

My due date is just two days away! Not much has changed since my visit last week but here is the quick run down. I am about 50-75% effaced (I was around 50% last week but I also saw the other Doctor in my practice so I'm pretty sure these are not scientific numbers but estimates!), no dialation and the baby is still very low. The doctor was encouraged that the baby is so low and he seems to think that will make things go smoother and quicker (I am hoping for this but will try very hard not expect it!!).

My next appointment is Wednesday the 8th so I'll be sending out an update then if nothing has happened by that point. We did talk about induction and they said they would let me go to 41 1/2 weeks or so. Please pray that I will go into labor on my own anytime now! Thanks!

39 week visit

As of yesterday, I am 39 weeks. It is amazing to me that I'm already here! I am very thankful to have had an uneventful pregnancy. Things have gone smoothly and I've only had minor and very typcial pregnancy issues.

At my doctor's appointment on Thursday everything seemed to be fine. I was 50% effaced and had not dialated at that point. And the baby (who dropped almost 5 weeks ago!!) is in position 0.

My doula leaves to go out of town tomorrow so it looks like we may be laboring without her unless of course I am still pregnant when she returns (on the 5th of August). I am sure we will do fine, it would just be nice to have her here. We'll see!

We are still working on the bottom of the "to list" but feel great about what we've been able to accomplish. In fact, I honestly can't remember the last time I've gotten so much done. I have even done everything that I can do in the baby's baby book up to this point.

I'll keep you posted! Also, please leave a comment when you can - it is fun to know who has been to my blog. All you have to do is click on the comments section and write your comment then if you do not have a google mail account you just check the anonymous box. I'd love to hear from you!

Surprise Shower!

My sweet neighbors threw a surprise shower for me the other night and it was a very sweet gift! Here are a couple of pictures!

Big Girl Room!

Rachel has been in her Big Girl Room and bed for a month and a half now and she is doing great! We were amazed that she made the transition so smoothly (much better than the potty training has been going)! I thought it would be fun to see some of the pictures. The first picture is a little dark but hopefully you'll get the idea. We need to find a few more items to decorate but for the most part her room is settled!

Almost 16 years later!

Almost 16 years ago Chell and I took a very similar picture to this one. Only she was the one pregant and it was in front her kitchen sink in Jacksonville, FL. I'm so glad she thought to take this picture!

Hair cut!

Chell trimmed Rachel's hair while she was visiting! It was great to mark off another item on our "to list" - thanks, Chell. They actually helped with a lot while they were here!

Fun in the Sun!

Last week we had some family visit - my aunt Sally, my cousin Michelle and her daughter Kelsey! We had lots of fun and so did Kelsey and Rachel. Here they are playing in the pool and sliding down the slide into the pool. There is nothing like Summer fun!

Friends!

Recently, our friends who just moved to Tennessee from Durham came back to visit. We had them over along with two other friends and their children (a total of 7 kiddos!) and here are a few pictures. The one on the left is the older kids eating lunch and the one on the right is Ethan, Rachel and Megan pretending to take a nap. Rachel and Megan are taking naps on her doll house beds! Too funny!

Weetabix

I made a new discovery this spring - it's called Weetabix! It is British cereal that has been around for a while but is just now becoming more popular in the US. The funny thing is that I haven't even had it in milk like typical cereal! The cereal is actually a flaky wheat biscut that can be crumbled or chunked in yogurt (this is actually the way that Rachel and I eat it) or eaten with warm milk as a hot cereal and really anyway you'd like to eat it. You should check it out sometime.

Picking Tomatoes!

38 week visit

I'm just checking in to give you an update. Yesterday I had my 38 week visit and there isn't much new to report. The Doctor said the baby's head is really low in the pelvic cavity which is good (or not so good at times because I am very aware of her head being really low - especially when she wants to move around!). He did not do a cervical check so we'll just wait until next week to see if my body is making any moves towards labor. But, as for now, I have some more time to work on my to do list.

Family Photo

Recently, our friend Tripp Flythe took some family pictures of us (and a few maternity pictures of me) along with his lovely wife and assistant, Heather. This was only the second time we've had family pictures done and it was a lot of fun and this one turned out great - thanks, Tripp and Heather!!

Materity Portraits

Here are a couple of the maternity pictures. I am about 35 weeks in these pictures.

36 Week visit and Doula

Today I had a Doctor's appointment. I am 36 weeks and 5 days. It is so hard to believe that I am actually at this point! They did do a cervical check and I haven't dilated yet but my cervix is soft. My body is definately moving in the direction of labor (but of course, what other direction would it move in?) but no news on when. I did have a round of very regular braxton hicks contractions last Friday night and that was just what we needed to move us into action. Vimal made me priortize my "to list" and we have been working hard at completing our tasks.

Also, last week we met with our friend Nicole who is a doula and she is hopefully going to be a doula for us! I say hopefully, because she will be out of town for some of the time over the next couple of weeks. We are praying that she will be able to join us for the labor and delivery of this baby - I think she would be an encouragement to us throughout the process! But, if not, I'm sure my husband will be a great labor coach (that is if he doesn't pass out - I really think if he doesn't have to see a needle he'll be okay!) And my Mom will most likely join us in the delivery room, too if she is able to get here in time.

I'll keep you posted.

Tutus!

We had a play date with some friends recently and here is a cute picture of Rachel and her friend, Ryann. I thought it was cute how they are both standing alike. Little girls are so much fun! There were actually 5 little girls at our playdate and unfortunately we don't have a picture of everyone together.