Some pictures of Brodie from this week

Brodie's homecoming outfit


Pictures of Brodie & Daddy





Pictures of Brodie & Mommy




Brodie

Brodie's first doctor's appointment

This morning Brodie had his first appointment with his pediatrician. He did good until the nurse told us to strip him down to just his diaper. He did not like that, nor did he like getting his temperature taken. Once we were able to take him back to the room, we swaddled him in one of his blankies and his world was right again. Then, he had a nice dirty diaper while we were waiting for the doctor. :)

The pediatrician, Dr. Loeb, is so nice! We're glad we chose her to be Brodie's doctor. She said that Brodie was looking GREAT! That was so wonderful to hear! She said that most newborns, at their first appointment, have lost weight, but Brodie gained weight! haha She did say he did look a little jaundice, but because he's gaining weight that it's nothing to worry about or anything to go get blood work done. That was good to hear too.

When we got home from the doctor's office, Brodie was asleep and slept ALL afternoon! Baby boy had a long day at the doctor's :)

Here are a few pictures from today, April 24, 2009:

After we got home from the doctor's this afternoon:




Brodie yawning:


Brodie and Daddy:


Brodie and Mommy:

Brodie's first outing-4.23.09

We had our first outing today. We had to run to Target for a few things and then to the gas station. Brodie did AWESOME! We have a stroller/car seat travel system, so when we got there we took out the stroller and put the car seat in it. Brodie slept the ENTIRE time we were there! No fussing or crying! He slept on the way to Target, the hour we were in Target, to the gas station, and back home. He's so amazing! Ben and I are so lucky!! :)

Home pictures with Brodie

Here are a few pictures since we've brought Brodie home.

Right after we brought Brodie home, we put him in his lamb bouncer and laid is "rockstar" blanket on him. (4.22.09)


4.23.09, up close and personal :)


4.23.09, with his "big sister" Vida watching over him on daddy's lap

Family who came to visit while we were in the hospital

God-Parents, Scott & Tuyen Cortus


Nana Rita & Grandpa Mark


Berlice Moeller


Meg Johnson

Look how I can hold my head up already!

Web Nursery picture link

Go to the below link: (copy & paste)
http://www.saintlukeshealthsystem.org/slhs/System/Saint_Lukes_Health_System/Web_Nursery/Saint_Lukes_South.htm
Then change the date to April 20 2009
Then click on Alana G
Then click on Brodie's name, and you will see about 10 different pictures they took at the hospital.

Enjoy :)

P.S--We got to bring Brodie home today and we're all doing great! He's only had two crying fits that lasted about 15-20 minutes each. He was hungry and tired :( poor baby. But those are the only two times he's had a crying fit. Other than that, everything is going SUPER smooth!! Ben and I absolutely LOVE being parents to this sweet, amazing baby boy! We're always telling each other how much we love him! He's only going to make the love that Ben and I have for each other grow. :D I love our family!

A few pictures of Brodie :)

Welcoming Brodie Joseph Gwinner

We went to the hospital at 6:30am. Once we got situated in our room they started my pitocin. At 8:45am they broke my water and I was dilated to 4cm. A couple hours later (about 10am) my contractions started getting intense so I requested that wonderful epidrual. Once I got that, everything got sooo much better! An hour later, I got checked again and I was dilated to 5cm and 90% effaced and baby was at a -1 station. By 12pm I was dilated to 7cm! Maybe about an hour later, around 1pm, they had to put me on oxygen because the baby had dropped further down the birth canal and the pressure on his head was making his heartbeat drop. But they said that it was totally normal, nothing to worry about. But the oxygen did help stabilize the heartbeat. By 1:45pm I was dilated to 9 1/2 cm! By 2pm they told me to start to push. We started pushing, but my contractions weren't close enough so we pushed for about an hour--totally didn't feel like that! It felt like only 10 minutes!! lol And by 3:10pm, our son was born.

Brodie Joseph Gwinner, 8 lbs 4.5 oz, 19.5 inches long and he has the sweetest face! All the nurses talked about how big his little baby hands were for a newborn. I thought all along that he was going to be between 7-8lbs, closer to 8lbs. :)

We love him SOOO much! We get to leave tomorrow and go home. The labor & delivery was sooo smooth and all the nurses were wonderful! The pushing was great as well! Didn't tear! Woo hoo! lol After it was all done I told the doctor and nurses that I could probably do that 5 more times! haha :)

It's so surreal how he's here now and not in my belly. But it's the most amazing feeling, my heart is filled with so much unconditional love and joy. He's beautiful.

<3 <3 <3

Article on CNN

I also came across this article on CNN.com today which really had me feel at ease with becoming a new mother. I feel like it was provided on the site today just for me! haha :)

Here it is: http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/personal/04/17/o.truth.about.motherhood/index.html

3 more days! Monday is THE day! :)

Our last appointment was Wednesday, April 15th. There was no progression from the prior week's appointment. We went ahead and scheduled to be induced on Monday, April 20th. We'll be going in at 6:30am and hopefully little man will be here by Monday evening/night. If not, he'll be here Tuesday morning.

Ben and I are SOOO excited! This morning I kept looking at our pets and telling them "By this time next week there will be a baby here! He won't be in here (pointing at my belly), but he'll be here (pointing on the outside of my belly)." I really don't think they understand, but that's ok. This morning as I was telling Sasquatch (our male cat) that, and when I pointed to my belly he started licking it, giving baby kisses. :) That just made my heart swell with joy! Our dog, Vida, she ALWAYS gives my belly kisses. I really have no worries that they'll be good with our son.

I can't wait to make that phone call to all our family and friends, letting them know that our son has arrived and he's x lbs and x oz, and measured in x inches. I can't wait to see his little face for the first time and kiss him. I can't wait to hold him and touch his little hands.

It's so amazing how when we first started this journey it felt like it was going to take forever to get to this point, and now, there's only 3 days left. I'm going to be a mom and Ben's going to be a dad. I can't even begin to express how amazing and awesome and wonderful that is to me.

The next time I post baby will be here!! :D Yay!!

Oh, here are a couple pictures from two weeks ago...

3 weeks left, or maybe sooner!!!

Hallelujah! We are getting cloooooser! haha :)

We had our 37 week appointment yesterday and our doctor checked our progression. She said that we are 3cm dilated and 75-80% effaced!! When she said that I was just like "what, really?!" haha :) She said that we could have this baby at any moment or it could be a few more weeks. But, she had us make our next appointment for next Wednesday, but she doesn't think we'll make it that far!!

This is all so exciting! While Ben and I were picking up our car seat and stroller yesterday, I looked at him and asked "So, how nervous are you?" haha He asked me the same thing. I'm nervous, but I'm SOOO excited that it could be any day that we meet our son!! I can't wait! I can't wait to hold him in my arms and to kiss his face and to bond with him! I can't wait for him to bond with his daddy!! This is such an amazing adventure, and it's only going to get better! YAY!!

Hopefully the next time we post, it'll be pictures of our little boy and his welcoming post!!

Yay, only 4 more weeks!!

Wow, only 26 more days!! We had our first appointment of April today, the nurse said that we're "like a book"! She listened to baby's heart beat and measured him. She said that we're measuring perfect and he's a "happy baby" in there! :) She also did a Group B Strep test today, so our next appointment we should know the results. Also, I've been sick for the past 5 days with a nasty cold. I'm starting to get over it. It's not pleasant, but I would rather be sick now than be sick after baby's born. Just gotta keep the Kleenex close :)

The nurse also talked about induction. She said that if he hasn't came by the 39th week we can plan on getting induced. We're thinking about it, but we haven't decided.

We pretty much have everything ready for baby boy when we bring him home. One of our friends gave us a great suggestion for the pets! She said that when she had her little boy, the nurse took a little plush toy and rubbed it all over her baby to get his scent all over it, and then stuck it in a bag for them to take home to their pets to smell and play with. We thought that was a great idea, so one of the toys we got from the shower-a cute little lion, we're going to take that with us when we go into labor. That way, when he's born we can rub the lion all over him and while I'm still in the hospital with our son, Ben can go home and let our pets smell it and get used to that scent.

We were just talking today about how excited we are for everything, this new exciting journey of parenthood. We couldn't be more ready for this little guy!