One month ago at 6:07am our sweet lil munchkin was born! I cannot believe how quickly one month has gone by and how slow at the same time!! 

She started out 19 inches long and 6 pounds 8 ounces and is now 21 1/4 inches long and 9 pounds! She loves the little things, like listening to her daddy’s voice and her pink binky, but also loves some weird things like Fezzik barking like crazy, for some reason if she is crying and he starts barking, she falls asleep. 

Demi’s first month has been crazy with her first visit to church for Father’s Day, back to Gainesville for her dedication at Abundant Grace where we were blessed enough to have both families there to pray over her and us as parents! We were so blessed to be back home with our Gainesville church praying over us and this beautiful blessing that I sometimes cant even believe is here! 

With how quickly this past month has flown by, it scares me how much quicker the rest of the time will go! For now enjoying even the crazy hair pulling out moments, knowing that sooner or later we will miss them! 

Monday May 27, 2013, Michael and I welcomed our sweet Grace Demeaux Ross! She was exactly one week early and we couldn’t have been more excited! 

Friday I received a phone call stating that my blood work came back with high levels of Uric Acid, and after going into triage and having a blood pressure of 150/98 and more blood work revealing toxemia and edema they decided to induce. 6:00pm Friday we began inducing and after exhausting every last bit of options at 5:06 on Monday morning we decided to have a c-section. Too many hours of labor to continue, but at 6:07 on Monday morning, Michael and I heard our sweet baby girls cry and experienced an all new level of love we never had experienced! 

Michael and I have been so blessed by the wonderful miracle that is this sweet little one, the promise of Gods faithfulness in our lives and we cannot believe we are parents after all of the years of hearing that I would never be able to see this day! This sweet baby girl is such a beautiful blessing and I am so proud to take on the newest and most wonderful job I could have ever asked for, the role of mommy! 

Weeks pregnant?: THIRTY – EIGHT! ALMOST THERE

What Demi Is Up Too:

Our little one isn’t so little anymore, weighing close to seven pounds and measuring 20 inches long. Fetal development is nearly complete as your baby tends to a few last-minute details like shedding the skin-protecting vernix and lanugo. She’s also producing more surfactant, a substance that prevents the air sacs in her lungs from sticking to one another once he starts to breathe. Most of the changes this week are small but important: She’s continuing to add fat (so she can take advantage of all those photo ops by sporting a round, cute baby look!) and fine-tuning her brain and nervous system (so she can deal with all the stimulation that awaits her once she makes her entrance into the world).

Maternity clothes?: does mostly sweat pants and Michaels tops count??

Stretch marks?: just a few

Sleep: non-existant

Best moment this week?: feeing more and more contractions, making me think she will definitely be here soon!  

Miss Anything?: my being able to move around, we had to go on bed rest from the levels of swelling. 

Movement?: I cant think of a time she doesnt move! 

Food cravings: chicken wings and celery sticks this week! 

Symptoms?: nausea, lots and lots of nausea and swelling, I wish I could figure out what is going on with the amount of water I am retaining! 

Belly Button in or out?: about as out as its going to get

Wedding rings on or off?: all rings off! 

Happy or Moody most of the time?:  A lot of moody lately from numerous triage visits and tons of contractions! 

Looking forward to?: 40 WEEKS!!!!!!!

Weeks pregnant?: THIRTY – SEVEN

What Demi Is Up Too:

YAY!!!!! We have got what is officially considered a full-term baby, even with three weeks to go. That doesn’t mean she’s finished growing — in fact, she’s still packing on about a half pound a week (at this age, the average fetus weighs about 6.5 pounds). That makes it a little crowded in your uterus, so Demi is probably not kicking as much, though she’s probably stretching, rolling a bit, and wiggling (all of which you’ll be able to feel!). Right now, my little munchkin is busy rehearsing for her big debut, inhaling and exhaling amniotic fluid (to get the lungs ready for that first breath), sucking her thumb (to prepare for that first suckle of milk), blinking, and turning from side to side.

Maternity clothes?: that a funny question, I am going to go with what are jeans without stretchy tops!

Stretch marks?: the doctor said moisturizing is a myth, stretch marks are genetic which stinks because my skin is stretching and itching

Sleep: what is sleep? I heard of it before

Best moment this week?: knowing sweet Demi is a big girl who is healthy and fully developed so she is clear to go when she feels ready 

Miss Anything?: my sanity! I am just so ready to be a mommy that the constant growth and pregnancy hormones are driving me nuts

Movement?: I can watch her little body move as I lay on my side which is awesome, Michael says it looks like a scene from Alien

Food cravings: salads and hot sauce!

Symptoms?: feeling like I am back in the first trimester with the nausea and fatigue but tack on some lower back pain and contractions and you have a fun afternoon right there!  she is worth every last bit!

Belly Button in or out?: more out than in

Wedding rings on or off?: Off, fake ring on! 

Happy or Moody most of the time?:  A ton of happy moments but the occasional breakdown at times

Looking forward to?: going ahead and having our sweet baby girl!

Weeks pregnant?: THIRTY – SIX

What Demi Is Up Too:

Demi is now about six pounds and 20 inches long, with soft bones and cartilage to allow a safer journey through the exit door. Most of her systems (from circulatory to musculoskeletal) are ready for prime time, though her digestion system — which has done only practice runs so far — will kick into gear as she takes her first suckle at the breast or bottle.

Maternity clothes?: that a funny question, I am going to go with what are jeans without stretchy tops!

Stretch marks?: I am not sure if it is stretch marks or a rash but good gravy all my tummy does is itch and lovely red marks are beginning to appear, I am hoping its a rash! 

Sleep: yeah, that maybe happens for about an 3 hours or so, hello preparation for baby girl! 

Best moment this week?: knowing I am closer and closer to meeting my sweet Demi! 

Miss Anything?: we are back to a clothes and shoes missing phase! 

Movement?: she loves to stretch out like crazy! I think she is working her way on down! 

Food cravings: spicy, spicy, spicy!!!! 

Symptoms?: feeling like I am back in the first trimester with the nausea and fatigue but tack on some lower back pain and contractions and you have a fun afternoon right there!  she is worth every last bit!

Belly Button in or out?: more out than in

Wedding rings on or off?: OFF

Happy or Moody most of the time?:  A ton of happy moments but the occasional breakdown at times

Looking forward to?: getting the last bits of the nursery ready to meet miss Demi!