More Sofia Pics

Hey all, I thought I would provide some more Sofia pics since she is just so cute...

It's a Girl (as if you didn't already know)

Hey everyone, the baby arrived yesterday. I think Laurie's sister beat me to the blog (I've been busy for some reason). Here are the stats:

Name: Sofia Caroline F*
Weight: 7 lbs 11.5 oz
Length: 21 inches
Born on December 28. 2007 at 11:26 AM


Mom and baby are fine. Sofia has been in the NICU for the past 24 hours because her sugars are having a tough time. But she is doing well and should be back in Mom's room by tomorrow morning.

We heard that Sofia or Shophia is the number one girl name right now. We tried other names out by calling her those names, but Sofia fit the best.

At Last the End

taken Christmas Day, Dec 25

taken on Dec 23

Well, I know everyone, including me has been dying to know if and when I will be having this sweet baby girl. On Wed, I went to my last doctor's appt and NST before she is born. I had Kersten come with me, for I was really nervous for everything. I was a little chatter bug in the waiting room. I talk when I get nervous. Kersten could not get his National Geographic read. The office was busier than I have since it since Thanksgiving. With the holiday I am sure they had to squeeze a lot of people in. I did not feel rushed with my doctor though and that made me more calm. The NST ladies kept trying to get me in but I had to wait for that until after I had seen the doc. I have waited a LOT before so I appreciated that they were trying to get me through in less than 4 1/2 hours.

I had about 5 vials of blood drawn. I had a darling nurse that did an ultrasound. This was fun for Kerst since he has not seen Shaak-Ti in action since we found out she was a girl. The nurse was hilarious and talked me through the amnio before it began. And as she said, unlike Doctors I have actually had one and it just feels like a bad menstrual cramp. Which has been regular for me since I came into being a woman. Dr. Esplin performed the amnio. Kersten came to hold my hand and they asked him to sit down on a chair for they have had to many husbands faint or something during this. I feel really blessed to have a husband that can handle these type of situations, during my first C-section with Noah he was really excited for he had always wanted to see one of these. I love his fasination with medicene etc. Okay, ladies from my frame of reference the amnio was NOT bad at all. I honestly have had IV's that hurt more than this did. And the shot I had to have under my eye was 10 times worse than this. When it was over I was like, Oh, is that all. Kerst reminded me that I have been through a lot worse so that is probably why it was no big deal. If you haven't been through anything like this it might be worse. The baby was not distressed or anything afterwards in her NST. I was able to say goodbye to my ladies there. It seems so sad in some ways, for months I have seen these people more than weekly and to be cut off so cruelly so instantly. I thought it might seem more cruel because with the cold and a new baby I probably won't have a ton of adult interaction.

They called with the results and her lungs are mature so we will be having this baby tomorrow. The c-section is scheduled for 9:30 AM at the new Hospital on State St and 53rd south. I can't believe it is really here. I can't wait to hold this sweet child in my arms and see her finally. It totally creeped up on me this time around. This will be my last baby, it makes me a bit sad. But, I will cherish every moment as best that I can. How blessed I am to have my beautiful children. I will have Kersten post something when he finally can so that you know all the stats etc. Hooray! Shaak-Ti is almost here.

T* Fam Christmas Party

Christmas Day with My Mom and Al was absolutely fabulous. They always give us a homemade gift and also a piece of beautiful original pottery. This year Al made archival boxes for each of us and we became members of the Photo of the month club. Each month they will give us a new picture from our heritage to put in the box. WE LOvED ThiS! Each box was individual to the person. For instance, mine was forest green with the inside in yellow daisy paper, My sister Amy's was red with Music notes inside, Nik's was blue with Painting from Monet inside, Em's was red with Lighthouses inside and Audrey's was blue with Blue square pattern inside. He also made one for Lena that was Green and had Circle paper inside. He had her mom send over pictures from her childhood to stick inside. Lena was a really cute red head little girl. The pitchers we got this year were incredibly beautiful. I love that mine is a bit squatty and more yellow, Each of us really felt that the pitcher we received was really ours. For the husbands Al made a picture fold out of their wives. Mine had one of the pics Al took when I was on the cover of those books. Kerst loved it.

Here are the people of the hour, My mom Jeanne and Al. Again, forgive the pics I had to take them from my perch on the couch. Which sometimes does not make the best shots. Their home is always so much fun, the food was excellent as always. It was nice just to be together. Also for the Girls we got an assortment of Stampin Up stuff from my mom and Alicia her step daughter in law and a really cool blue bag to put it all in. That in itself was present enough.

This year we opened presents from each other with my mom. This by far since I was a little kid was my favorite part of Christmas. This year we picked Emilee's family, we gave them the 3rd season of the Cosby Show, (Spencer and Kristin have become obsessed with this show) and Scrabble Jr. Amy and Jason had our family and gave us the movies Ratatouie and Meet the Robinsons. We have already watched one of them. Noah keeps eating cheese like the Rat. The little kids were the funniest to watch. Allie got her first baby Cabbage Patch Kid from Aub's fam and Kara got a Barbie, it was just some wild and crazy times. Thanks Mom and Al for the fun Christmas. We were so totally spoiled this year, I think we stink a little bit.

Christmas Morning 2007

Santa Claus came to our house last night. Noah was a very good boy this year. One of the first things Noah looked at was the cookies we left for Santa. He had to leave Santa a Root Beer Coke. Silly Santa must have been in a hurry, for he left one of his cookies with just a bite. Noah talked about it all morning. He knew right away which presents were from Santa for they were in red Santa paper. Christmas is so much more fun when you have kids. What a fun morning.

This definitely was a Star Wars Christmas. He got tons of Galactic Heroes and the Clone Troopers Transport ship Transformers. play food that he could cut by himself and the Feed the Dog a bone game. Dad and Mom got him his favorite book "I Really Want to Eat a Child" and his Camera. It was a really good day. He played and played all morning. Going around in circles and having the best time.

Kersten got me this really sweet paper cutter. It is really a two in one, with different kinds of blades etc. I am itching to use it. Really fun. I also got a new soft yellow robe and Noah got me the movie Hairspray, I am so excited to see it.

When Noah and I picked out a present for Kersten from him, he was very insistent that this is what he wanted to get him. I showed him a couple of options and he chose Ocean Thirteen. Kersten got new hiking boots and a robe also. And we got our joint gift of a new computer monitor. Hooray! Since right now this is my best place to document things.

At school, Noah made us a bell painted glittery blue with his picture on it for the Christmas tree. And he made a card with his hand print also in blue and wrote us a card all in blue. By far this was my favorite present. He was so proud. And it was all blue as he kept pointing out to us.

It was a really nice chill day. We hung out in our pajamas until it was time to go to my mom's. We have never had such a chill Christmas where we did not have to run around like chickens. It was so fun watching Noah's joy and him just playing and exclaiming over and over again how happy he was. What a nice holiday

F* Family Christmas Eve Bash

Tonight we had our annual Christmas Eve bash at the F* family. They open all of their gifts Christmas Eve and as the family keeps getting bigger, it keeps getting crazier. As a Christmas Surprise/blessing we got a new monitor yesterday. Thank you NIk for the sweet delivery. I thought I would go nuts without a computer. So last night, I parked it on the couch and did not move the entire night, but it made it difficult to get good pictures. So this year they are a bit lacking. We always eat German Weinies, potato salad, cheese ball, assorted yummy treats homemade by Mom F* and lots of other food. Before we went to the party we gave Noah one of his presents from Mom and Dad. A new Blue camera so he could take pictures at the party. Each time he would take a picture he would laugh with delight. We got spoiled beyond our wildest dreams. His family always goes overboard. The most fun was watching everyones reaction to their surprises. A highlight was when Christel opened a shower radio/CD player so that not everyone would have to listen to her music while she showers. She laughed for a good 10 minutes. Also, when Grandma Christel gave us all yogurt containers exclaiming that she lucked out this year for Smith's had a sale on yogurt, inside she hid some $ and other surprises. Every year she finds some new way to conceil her gift. It was as always so very much fun.

Josh was so hyper and excited about the presents, he could barely breathe. At one point while we were eating he came into the kitchen and said "You guys, I am going to DIE, if you don't come right now". He took Grandpa Heinz shopping for presents from him. He picked out lotions for his aunts (he smelled every one), and something healthy for his uncles, they got a heat wrap for he could not find any apples. It was really sweet to see his excitement for giving us his gifts. He received an N64 and then kept asking to go home so he could play all night with his mom. He is such a ball of energy.

Ginny received this framed picture from South Africa where she served her mission. She totally loved it. For added fun, My mom Jeanne framed this for them. She was really excited.

Here are Jason and Verity. They gave each other some comical presents. Jason even gave Ver some Feetie pajamas. They got a Wii from her fam so we gave them the Tombraider game.

Noah and Dad spent most of the evening figuring out these awesome Star Wars Transformers. Darth Vader turns into a Tie Fighter and Obiwan into his ship. The Grandparents gave it to him and it was a huge hit. At bedtime I had to comfort him for about 5 minutes for we would not let him sleep with them last night. I was so proud of Noah after each gift he opened he would have to play with it for awhile before opening another. He showed genuine appreciation to everyone for his gifts, even giving them hugs, which is no small feat. It made it easier to have everyone else open gifts since he was not begging for more.

Overall it was a very fun night, as it always is. We were spoiled beyond our wildess imagination. The food was fabulous and the chaos was magical. Kersten and I watched The Bourne Ultimantium before we went to bed. Awesome Show, Kerst is is heaven . I am very tired

Farewell for a bit

Our Computer monitor went out a couple of weekends ago. I thought I would go crazy and it was only 2 days without a computer. Sadly, the monitor we borrowed has got to be given back tommrow as it is part of a Christmas gift for someone. So I don't know when I will return. I have asked Kersten to try and post something the day the baby is born so that people out there will know etc. We will see what we can do. Hopefully, we will not be monitorless for long. Farewell, Farewell. Parting is such sweet sorrow.