It's official: Lil' girl looks like papa!

Everyone kept asking me, who's baby pictures does Gwyneth look like? Well, I knew she didn't really look like me because I had the hair of an Indian baby and was so chubby, my brothers and sisters called me "chunk" as a nickname. So I always said, I think she looks like a mixture, she must have her own look. Well, I finally got Eric to dig his baby photos out of his parents basement and it only took one look to prove the she is 100% him! Poor Eric is really saddened by this revelation. He said the sweetest thing to me when he said, "I was trying to make another you in the world. But I guess there can only be one!" I love him so much so I'm happy we made a little girl version of him. I hope she has his sense of humor too! Don't you love Eric's scrapbooking skills? I don't know how long ago he made these pages but I'm pretty sure they'd be the same if he made them today. Some of the pictures I couldn't use because he cut them into cute shapes like hearts but ended up cutting out his face, or at least the majority of it. Yes, I am making fun of you Eric, but I guess I'd be worried if you were a better scrapbooker than I. Its like that one "According to Jim" episode where she beats him at racquetball but then its revealed that she cheated and when all is said and done he says to her, "You could've married a guy who you could beat at racquetball everytime, but would you have married that guy?" To which her reply is, "I guess not." I wouldn't have married the guy who could scrapbook beautifully either!

Gigi's current events

Gigi went to church for the first time on Sunday. I think she had a pretty good time. She ate during Relief Society and was almost perfect through Sunday school, then Eric got to take full privileges of being a daddy to walk her around the halls during Sacrament.

perfect angel... or plotting revenge?

She's starting to actually notice that she has toys.

She's smiling all the time! Especially after she gets her diaper changed and is fed!

Believe it or not, she snapped this one of herself!

Thank heavens for hotslings. I love this little contraption and Gigi does too!

Gwyneth rolls over!

Yeah for baby Gigi! Can you tell we're first timers with this kinda stuff?

Eric's graduation BBQ

Just wanted to post some of the pictures from Eric's BBQ which was a huge success! Perfect weather (good thing we didn't wait until June, eh?) and a great turnout. Thanks to everyone for coming and pitching in with the food and drinks. Most of all, thanks to Eric for graduating! I'm proud of you and all the work you put into getting your degree. Now one more year for the Masters.

He deserves some rest!

Gigi Rockin' out of the Womb

I was looking through my pictures and found this. I was shocked to see it but it has to be true. She was always doing hard kicks in the womb. Who knew she was just playing sweet tunes? Our little Rock N' Roll Goddess.

Fun pics of Gwyneth's first 3 weeks

If Eric could dress her, this is what she'd wear everyday! Actually she had a really cute outfit on, but she pooped her pants!

Eric feeding her.

Post bathtime shock.

She looks a LOT bigger than Benson in this picture but his legs were really scrunched up. She is a bit chubbier though!

Just chillin'!

She only cried during her first bath at home, since then she has enjoyed her bathtime.

One of her favorite things to do... spit out her pacifier and cry!

But then she eventually does this... so peaceful!

Newborn photography

I just had Gwyneth's newborn pictures taken by my friend Wendy Anderson and there's a sneak preview on her blog wendyandersonphotography.blogspot.com. There's also pictures of Benson on her blog too! Here's the link to Benson's pictures. She is a great photographer, I'm so excited with the way they are turning out. If you are looking for a photographer that isn't crazy expensive and she gives you the digital copies on a CD, check out her blog, she does other stuff besides newborns too! Thanks Wendy!!

Announcing Benson J? Billingsley!

Congratulations to the Billingsley family for their newest addition! Gwynnie would like to welcome her newest cousin to the world! He is just 8 days younger than her, and measured almost exactly the same as she did at 7 lbs. 10 oz and 20.5 in long. (I put a question mark by the name because I don't know if that's what it ended up as for sure.)

Announcing Gwyneth Breann

Our baby girl Gwyneth arrived Monday, April 27 at 11:47 PM. Weighing 7 lbs. 9.5 oz. and measuring 20.5 inches long. The whole family is healthy and doing well.

This was taken the day before Gwynnie was born. Its hard to believe she was crammed in there!

After 2 very short, but very intense hours of labor here is the new addition to our family!

Sweet little angel! This outfit is already a little tighter than it was when she wore it here at 1 day old! This is because she eats like a champ!


Eric's first diaper change resulted in her carrier being soaked with pee & a little poop too! He's come a long way since then!
The welcoming committee! I'm not sure why everyone is laughing but I'm sure its got to be either because Gwynnie passed gas or over something Eric said.

After Gwynnie's first bath at home her hair stuck straight out like a little baby chick. She's our whole world now in every way. Life does revolve around her and I've never been so tired in all my life. This is definitely the hardest thing I've ever done but I can't imagine life without her. Thank you for blessing our family little baby Gigi!

Nesting

I can't exactly say that the time has flown by since my last post. In fact, I'm not sure time has gone so slowly since I was a kid waiting for Christmas but now I am finally nearing the end of this pregnancy and am very excited, one might say its like Christmas Eve around here! I've definitely noticed the whole "nesting" thing happening. I think I really started getting the urge around the 36th week but still didn't feel like I had enough energy while I was working full-time. This week has been my first week of part-time work until the baby comes so I worked Monday & Wednesday then Tuesday, I nested like a mad woman! I really wish I had taken before photos of everything I did but, I not only got the nursery nearly-done, I also organized about every closet in the house. Oh and on Saturday, I mopped the floors! Now, not to sound like a disgusting pig or anything because I vacuum the floors often and "spot mop" often, but for me to get out the mop & bucket, move the furniture and thoroughly mop, takes a LOT of motivation and probably happened last about 6 months ago! This nesting thing is pretty awesome because I have been getting a lot of things that I normally just brush aside done! I just need to finish decorating the nursery and I can officially say that it is done!

As for Gwyneth, or baby Gigi, she is still moving around apparently just getting fat and growing hair. She is head down and getting ready to be born but hasn't quite made the final decision to, in fact, be born. Eric has been trying everything from driving over bumps in the car to reverse psychology in telling Gigi, "You don't really want to be born because it is so boring out here" but so far she has seemed oblivious! We've been eating spicy foods, going for walks and you know, the whole "hugs before drugs" intimacy thing. If I haven't had her by next week I really think I am going to make an appointment with an acupressurist and try some reflexology but I'm not that desperate... yet! I am only 38 weeks after all so I can wait a little bit longer. May as well take advantage of my nesting time while I have it, right?

Oh, I am also still reading my Hypnobirthing book, gotta get those techniques/philosophies down and a book my neighbor loaned me called "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child". So far, I've been pretty impressed with this book, I think I'd recommend it to anyone with young children. It's not so much a strict regimen of "this is how you need to put your child to sleep and when you need to do it", as an educational guide on the importance of adequate sleep, especially in children, helping you recognize signs of children not getting enough sleep, teaching you about the connection between sleep, hormones, and the mind and setting forth simple suggestions to remedy problems and establish a healthy sleep pattern. It discourages several popular beliefs that I've heard like always waking baby up after feedings so I don't put her down sleeping and some other things I'd heard too, but then teaches you why this isn't important and backs it up with scientific research.

Here's some pictures of our efforts over the last few weeks.

This is just after we'd painted the nursery. "Sage sweater" green with white accents. You'd think painting and caulking the molding and such would've been enough to put me into labor!Eric got this closet organizer with shelves at Home Depot and installed it, you can only see less than half of it but it is great!

Here's the crib and bedding!
Another point of view of the crib and bedding!
The nursery, yeah, its almost done and at least done enough for Gwyn to arrive!
The hall closet that I bought these containers to organize everything in. It seriously made a HUGE difference but I was thoughtless and didn't take any before photos.
Oh and Eric made this Entertainment center a couple of months ago and I've been meaning to blog about it for awhile now but he is an exceptional wood worker! Its not quite finished yet, there will be handles added to the drawers at the bottom and glass doors to the TV stand part but I love having bookshelves. This is my next thing to get to reorganizing though! I'm so not happy with the way it looks but Eric just threw everything onto the shelves, with the exception of a few that I actually did organize!
Eme loves to visit, especially after one of my baby showers when I had this big box for her to play in. She is so adorable! I don't know if I am the exception or what but I love that she will almost always come sit on my lap and snuggle with me, especially at church. She is such a little sweetie.

This was about a month ago after my last baby shower and we were trying to get everything put away... hey, its finally done!

30 weeks!

Gwyneth at 30 weeks in utero, just listening to some mumbo jumbo about how spending 800 billion dollars is supposed to be a good idea! She already knows better than that and she's still a fetus!
Well, Gwyneth most likely isn't going to be here for another 8 - 12 weeks or so and already life is basically revolving around her. The specifics of this involve physical changes, preparation for her birth & life and life changes.

Physically:
- I can't sit for more than like 40 minutes or so without getting really sore somewhere or stiff in my joints. Mainly I've been having a lot of upper back pain which I notice is exacerbated by my job.
- I cannot sleep comfortably through the night any longer. People tell me this is just prep for the sleep I will be missing when Gwyn is born. I'd rather not be prepped for that!
- I am having Braxton Hicks contractions... another thing to prep your body for the real labor, I really don't mind them, so long as they don't turn into the real thing yet!
- My belly is officially in the way of just about everything. This is especially annoying when trying to reach for things because as a very short person, I need to reach for a lot of stuff, which is now impossible. I also can't bend over very well or just reach under the couch to get the dog's ball out.
- I am eating way too much, especially in the sweets department. I really think I ate better before I was pregnant but I have renewed my commitment to being health(ier) and am eating loads of calcium, protein and vitamins and a DHA supplement. As a result, this child should have 20/20 vision and have exception brain function. Only time will tell on that one!
- I get heartburn & gas a lot!

Preparation:

- Taking hypnobirthing, trying to read the book at least 4 times before she is born, practicing techniques & other preparation along with that.
- Getting nursery ready (not very far on that one!)
- Getting all the gear purchased & assembled
- Looking for a good pediatrician, any suggestions??

Life changes:
- Eric's graduation & job change
- Me going part-time, still haven't decided exactly how many days I will be working
- Looking for a babysitter for the day or two I do work, any suggestions??
- The plethora of worries that go through my mind about the responsibilities of being a parent

I am sure there are more things I could add to each of those lists, but when you're pregnant your mind doesn't quite function at 100% so that is what I came up with right now.

One really fantastic thing about being pregnant is that I believe that is the reason I was excused from jury duty today! Yeah! Actually, if my working weren't so critical to our survival right now, I probably would have been intrigued by jury duty, especially the case that involved attempted murder! But right now, it would have been a real hardship, because I would have had to take at least a week off, possibly more! Now, my only gripe with the system is that the process is so inconvenient. They really could make it run much more conveniently and it would if it were a private enterprise but thus we see another wonderful example of government and how it seems to prefer to be inefficient. For example, I had to take one whole day off of work about 2 weeks ago to go to the court physically and fill out a juror information form that should be available online or by mail. Today I spent an hour and a half at the courthouse just reading my hypnobirthing book until a bailiff came out and read a bunch of names that could leave. I did absolutely nothing and it was a total waste of time. They could have called me, along with the other people they read out, on the phone and told us we didn't need to go in or perhaps informed us before we sat around for over an hour but that would be far too easy!

Well, the important thing is, I was excused! The reason for being excused, according to the juror information form I filled out at the beginning of February could be one of many reasons. 1) I am in my third trimester of pregnancy. 2) I would experience a financial hardship by serving jury duty. 3) I am a republican that listens to Fox News, reads the paper (mostly I do the jumble and read the comics), and supports the NRA. or 4) I am prejudiced against certain immigrants for several reasons one of them being I am sick and tired of being stared up and down and having inappropriate comments/noises/gestures made towards me that make me feel uncomfortable and degraded and these actions are always being made by male members of the hispanic population. Seriously, this has been happening since I was like 13 years old and continued into my current pregnancy. It is very disturbing!

Boy I have been long winded tonight! Here are some more pictures to cap this post off!

I am practicing my deep relaxation techniques, joined by Frankie and Roscoe. I bet they thought I was dead!
It was really fun to get together with these girls, and a few more, after the UDA convention last week. I can't wait until our next get together! I am really glad to have been able to stay in contact with so many friends from hygiene school. Hopefully this continues to be the case for years to come!
Now here was a fun experiment... I made this nursing cover and was trying it on to show my friend Meg. Which naturally led to a need for a demonstration with none other than...

My adorable and baby-like dog Roscoe! He wasn't quite comfortable with the situation but conformed enough to allow us the privilege of getting a really good laugh!Tada! Post "feeding", Roscoe is very content and happy in the nursing cover as I am sure Gwyneth will be also. Don't worry, the cover is machine washable.