Nora Cordelia

I did say I'm not very good at keeping up with these things, but in my defense I've been a little preoccupied!  :-)

She's here!  And we are thrilled.  She is absolutely precious.  Cute as a button, even has a button nose.  It's been an incredible month in all ways.  Some days are long and I wonder if we'll ever get more than 2-3 hours of sleep and in other moments I feel like she just came home from the hospital.  Getting to bring this little one home and celebrate Christmas in the same month has been pretty special.  I'd be lying if I said I was incredibly sentimental and intentional about it.  We have barely left the house, not a present was bought - for anyone - even Nora.  I spend most of time thinking about when to feed and change her next, if I can get a shower and maybe a nap in there too is fun.  So, I wish I had let my heart and mind focus on Christmas and what it means.  But I did think about the Virgin Mary alot more than I ever have.  In the last week of my pregnancy we drove to downtown Richmond to see a play.  We had to take some cobblestone streets.  I thought that this baby was gonna come out in the car with all the bumping around.  I couldn't help but think of Mary, riding a DONKEY, a long ways.  Sleeping in a barn.  Delivering her baby in a dark, dirty place.  Here I was in a sterile hospital, with pain killers, and cable TV, and nurses, not cows.  Joe knew how to help, unlike Joseph I imagine.  But what I've thought about mostly were the moments and days after Jesus was born.  Here was this young girl, holding her first ever baby in her arms.  He was beautiful and frightening all in one breath.  She was in awe and didn't know what to do at the same time.  Not only was He her baby, He was her God.  What that really mean't she'd find out later.  But I've imagined her just staring at him, holding his little perfect fingers, listening to him breathe.  Soaking it all in, cause it goes so fast.  She didn't know what He had come to do for her.  To change her and save her.  In those moments with out knowing the future of the One she was holding, the Bible says she pondered and treasured all these things in her heart.  As a new, scared, hormonal, and in helpless love mom - I can relate with Mary as I ponder and treasure these moments in my heart.  In the last week Joe and I want to capture each moment that we can.  We don't want to put her down ever because the next time we pick her up, she's bigger.  In fact she IS bigger.  This girl can eat - in a month and 5 days, she has gained a little over 2 pounds and grown 2 inches taller.  She is changing so quickly, I can see it even in her hands, her nails aren't those microscopic newborn nails anymore, she's becoming a lady.  Here's to hoping she doesnt bite them and they look ugly like mine! haha!  Anyways, I'll spare you any more hormonally emotional rambling and just post some of our favorite pictures of the last month with Nora Baby!  You're going to melt, like we have!

Okay, here we go!!

Apparently mom is clumsly.

Hello world!  Nov 25, 2012 - 10:33am

First family picture!

Here I am, after my first bath!

Coming home from the hospital on Nov 27, 2012

Sleepy me and sleepy dad

My first outing to the pediatrician's office

Me and my dad!  

Catching some sun!

My dad wrote a 20 page paper the week I came home from the hospital.  He even did it one handed!

Big Brotherdog, Jack, is very proctective

First family outing to the dog park, Jack was thrilled!

Catching a smile!  We are excited for her to smile on purpose - we have't caught that yet! 

I love this picture, she looks hilarious!  

My freinds Mary Lee and Ed from Florida gave me my first Disney Princess doll!

Cousin Lilly gave me her best gifts.  Can't wait to use my arms and play with this stuff!

My big cousins, Alaina and Lilly

Kisses from my dad are the best!

1 Month old, I love to fall asleep on my parents shoulders

Tick, tock, tick, tock...

Here we sit, the little one and I.  It's Wednesday November 21, 2012, almost Thanksgiving Day and almost a week since I saw the doctor.  Last Thursday my doctor said she'd be surprised if I didn't have this baby by thanksgiving.  So everyday day since then has felt like I'm past my due date as each day has come and gone without going into labor.  This morning we head back to the doctor and I hoping they just send main to the hospital to deliver this turkey!

38 Weeks, the final countdown!

Well, here we are 38 weeks into pregnancy, 2 weeks to go!  I can't believe it.  Sometimes I feel like I've been pregnant forever, but most times I can't believe how fast it's gone.  I hate to think that way because  it means she will grow up so fast too.   This week is sort of "slow" for me.  I'm trying to enjoy the quiet and rest, because I have a feeling this won't ever come again.  At least not for a long time.

Joe and I havent' been very regular about taking any pictures, and if we do take them I forget to do anything with them.  Here are two we took yesterday.   Joe isn't a fan of the "dad-holding-the-baby-belly" photo.  I made him do it.  This was his retaliation.  Oh well.  I hope this girl is funny or at least appreciates her dad's "humor".

Happy 87th Birthday Grandpa Collin!

Yesterday Joe and I drove over to Norfolk, VA to celebrate my Grandpa Collin's 87th birthday!  We packed the hospital bag, just incase, but thankfully didn't need it!  We had a wonderful time with family, short, but sweet.  Literally and figuratively.  Aunt Janine made a killer coconut cake.  Baby girl had to have it with ice cream.  She's so demanding.   I think Grandpa Collin had a great time.  There was a great turnout for his party, good friends from his church and family all came in for BBQ Ribs and then come cake!  He got ALOT of chocolate and coffee as gifts.  We all know the way to his heart is through his stomach!

Yeah, thats Collin.  He's pretty much the man.

I wouldn't be surprised if he still looks like the above.  Thankfully he's modest!

Baby Girl getting to have lunch with Collin and Aunt Janine before she's born!

Collin is amazing.  He isn't my biological grandpa.  My grandpa, Harry Deschamps, died when I was two.  My grandma Ethel remarried Collin in 1995.  They were 70 years old.  They thought maybe they'd have one year together, but God gave them 11 years of wedded bliss.  They were incredible models of how to love your spouse more than yourself and then how to love God more than your spouse.  God took Grandma Ethel home in 2007 after a pretty traumatic illness.  Collin was heart broken but said that he believed God had more for him to do on this earth still.  He has loved and missed her daily, but he never let it slow him down.   You'd think that the stroke he had at 35 would have slowed him down too.  Nope.  He was Mr. Universe and a beach gymnast in his hay-days and at 70 when he married my grandma, he took me and my brothers to the gym and SERIOUSLY put us to shame w/ his weightlifting.  Now at 87, he can hardly walk.  His heart is failing and it's hard to understand him, but he keeps on going!  He sure can still put down a pot (or two) of coffee, and he'll whip you in a fierce game of Rummikub.  Up until a week ago he was serving in a prison ministry, leading men to Christ.  He is active at his church and never misses a Sunday service.  He meets weekly with his pastor and and another friend for breakfast.  He faithfully emails anonymous people around the world and points them to Jesus through an online organization called GMO (Global Ministry Outreach).  He is a powerful prayer warrior and spends time in the Word every day.   If there is anyone I want to be like, it's him.  He has had many trials and heart aches, but he dies to himself everyday in order that others may live.  His heart is for his Maker.  I know he yearns to go home to Jesus and his bride, Ethel.  But I for one am thankful for the times I can be with him on this earth.  I thank God for the blessing of having a grandpa, who has pointed myself, and my family to Jesus through the dedication of his life to Jesus!   Happy Birthday Grampie!

The Calm Before the Storm...

So, I've started a blog.  If it's anything like my journal, you may hear from us once in a blue moon.  And if having a newborn is anything like I'm told, then, yes, writing a blog will be TOP priority! ;-)

No matter, we thought this would be a nice way to update our family and friends about the little girl who is going to enter our house in T-Minus 3 weeks and counting!

While Joe is swamped with his 3rd semester of Grad School,  we have been enjoying these last few weeks we've had together before Little Girl comes home.  Time together has been very rare until just recently and we've been enjoying each moment we get.  We have seen family members, had dinners with friends, made fires in our fireplace, spent a weekend together at an amazing marriage conference and even had killer success yard sale-ing for baby items!  Although we are so excited to meet her, and expand our family, we are nervous to "lose our freedom" and leave the "just the two of us" part of our marriage.  We know God is good and that we will be madly in love with her, but there are so many feelings that swirl around as the date gets closer and closer!

Jack is sensing a change coming too.  Over the last few months he has become my shadow.  He follows me everywhere I go at home.  If I'm in the kitchen, he's asleep under my feet.  If I'm on the couch, so is he and he probably has his head on my belly.  Lately, I've had a really hard time sleeping and you can often find me asleep in our guest room in the attic, and of course, Jack follows me up there at 3 in the morning each time!  I don't know what dogs know about pregnancy, but he certainly knows something is up.  One of my girl friends came over with her 6mo old a few weeks ago.  Jack wasn't the slightest bit aggressive, but he did not like me holding that baby.  He army crawled his way to my lap while I was sitting on the floor w/ the baby.  He nuzzled his head as close as he could and you could just tell he wanted my attention.  He was sweet though.  Joe and I have been trying to take him tot he park and play ball as often as we can.  Thankfully there is a great park almost in our back yard.  In time we'll figure out how to throw the ball again, while holding a baby.   But needless to say, jealousy will be an issue with the Obersomethings soon.

Here are some October pictures of, well mostly Jack (another thing that will change soon! haha!), and a few things we've been up to lately:

Jack taking his morning nap on his sister!

Holiday Wreath I made, only cost me $6.00!

Strollers are very handy for carting groceries so this pregnant chick doesn't have to make so many trips!

33 Weeks Preggers!

Joe's Birthday in October!  Burger, Fries, Salad and a delicious Coconut Cake!

Jack in the ready position!  He's an outfielder.

Amazing yard sale find!  $60!

Another amazing yard sale find:  Glider in amazing condition:  $20!!

Lunch with Great Grandpa Collin and Aunt Janine in Williamsburg, Va

Trick or Treat!!  Jack the Civil War Soldier and Pumpkin Head Baby!

Uh, stop taking pictures and chase me, woman!