fun with the camera

Ben was wanting to try some cool stuff with the camera one night....I think they turned out great!

The Girls

Just some pics of this past week!
We got to go home from the hospital on Thursday evening. I am feeling great. This C-section has been a lot better, recovery wise, than last time. It still takes me a while to get places...I walk really slow...but I am not hunched over this time. Gabby is so cute! It is so easy to forget how small newborns can be. She is so small, and everything is so big compared to her. Even her clothes....none of them fit, they all swim on her, but it is so dang cute! Charley loves her baby sister, and has been so good at being gentle with her. She is such a big help around the house! Ben only has two days before he takes the Bar. He has been studying so hard. The girls have been quite a distraction, he always wants to be home with them, but he has done a good job of balancing study and play. ...it would be hard for me to stay away from them as well.

My mom and sister are here, and they have been a big help. They have been cooking, cleaning, and babysitting all week...and my mom sewing. And Charley loves having them around and having lots of attention.

Yo GabaGaba!!!....

She's here!!!....Gabriella Sofia Schramm
Born July 20, 2009 8:53am
7 lbs 6 oz, 20 inches long

Gabby is Beautiful!! After looking at old baby pics of Charley, they look like the exact same baby, except Gabby is a little rounder in the face....and it looks like Gabby's eyes will eventually turn brown, and not blue. I know I am a little bias, but Ben and I make some cute babies!

We got to the hospital yesterday at 6:30am for our scheduled c-section at 8:30am. I was really nervous, even though I knew what to expect. I think it would have been different if I were to have her naturally....the rush and excitement of going into labor, and not knowing exactly when she would come is a lot different then knowing and dwelling on what was going to happen to you. Plus, you have to add in my HUGE fear of needles and blood! Last time I was so freaked out that they had to knock me out b/c I was shaking so much and they couldn't sew me up. But this time I tried really hard to stay as calm as I could so I could see her right after she was born, and not 4 hours later. Ben and the doctors/nurses were great and tried to distract me the whole time by asking me questions and Ben had me listening to his headphones. Because she had already dropped, her head was in my pelvic bone, so they had to use forcepts on her, which made her bruse, and cause her face to swell a little more than usual. But the swelling has gone down a lot today, and you can really see her features. She is such a good baby, and Charley just loves her. My mom has been bringing her up, and she will tell all the nurses that Gabriella is her baby sister! Gabby has already gotten lots of love and kisses from her big sister!

They couldn't give her a real bath until today b/c they had to do lost of tests on her (they always have to do extra on c-section babies) so her hair is a little matted on all the pictures. But when they gave her one today, her hair looks darker and it even looks like she has more than we thought. I haven't downloaded pics from today, but here are some of her first day!

We are still at the hospital....I get 4 days here b/c of the surgery, but I can't wait to take our baby girl home.

Mom's are Great!

My mom has been here this past week helping me out....shopping for stuff, organizing, and sewing. I am still learning to sew, and am not very good, or very fast. But my mom is amazing! She has been going to work on my long list of stuff I want her to make for the baby and for my sister-in-law's wedding in August. Here is a pic of the first project she completed....a car seat cover! (the main part is a chocolate brown and cream/white color floral pattern, with pink poka dot accents! So cute!) Thanks Mom!
Monday is the big day....only 2 more days left! Lots to do!

Cutting it close....

Okay....so we have been super busy these past few weeks.....the move....then we drove to Maple Valley, Washington (just outside of Seattle) for a week. We stayed with Cousin Charlie and Susan for a few days then drove to Kennawick, WA for Tristan and Erin Alba's wedding....it was such a FUN trip....we'll have to go back soon....probably not too soon with the baby and all! And right before I left my computer crashed.....uuuggghhhh.....but good news....I took it in to the tech people today (it was a work computer) and they are giving me a new Mac!!! But I wont have it for another week or so. They are going to try and transfer my files from the old one to the new one! Oh happy day! But I have work meetings, a doctor apt., and trying to somewhat organize my house and buy all of our baby stuff in 2 weeks! Yep...I have exactly 2 weeks til the baby comes (unless she decides to come before hand....which i doubt) I am a little frantic right now, and so I think I am going to go MIA until things settle down a little....or at least until my mom gets here to help! Which means I will post pics of Washington later....it seriously was a fun trip, even with me big and prego!

And in case you were wondering....the baby will be born on July 20, 2009 at the Orem Community Hospital at 7:15 am (or maybe a little after....but c-sections go fast, and only take a few minutes, so maybe even 7:20!) No name yet, but I still have 14 days to decide.

~M