It's the most wonderful time of the year!

I am so excited that we leave for Texas next Friday! I love this time of year! We are going to have a very busy holiday. We drive to Texas Friday and then we fly out to Michigan on Christmas night. It will be nice to finally meet all of Cory's family. And he finally gets to meet his nephew. I still need to get a jacket for the Michigan weather!! We are sending out Christmas cards this year and here are some pictures from the photo shoot!! The top is my fav. and the bottom is Cory's fav.


Have I been naughty or nice??

Big 12 Champs!

Texas are the Big 12 Champs but only by a second! I almost could not watch this game! I do not understand why Texas likes to do this to their fans!!! Geez my blood pressure goes up so high watching these games. It was not the prettiest game but we got the W and that is all that matters. Now lets just hope we actually decide to show up and play for the National Championship game or else Bama will cream us.

I am a little jealous because my family went to the game! I stole these pics from my sister!

Brody was pumped and geared up for the game!! He is sporting the outfit that his Papa and Robin got for him!!









Brody's game face...You're going down Bama!!!!

1 Month already?

Today Brody is 1 month old! Wow I cannot believe how fast time is going. We went to the dr. and everything looks really good. His genetic screening tests all came back normal. He weighs 10 lbs. 2 ozs. and is 21 3/4 in. long. He is in the 57th percentile for weight and the 50th percentile for height. My baby is a growing boy!

Brody's first month stats:
* Eats 4 to 5 ounces of milk each feeding.
* Eats every 2 to 3 hours during the day or will lose it.
* Sleeps very well at night...wakes up every 4 to 5 hours to feed.
* You love sleeping in your bassinet every night.
* You have the hiccups almost everyday.
* We go through several burp rags and clothes a day because you spit up a lot!!
* Has a mild reflux problem but the dr. is not concerned because you are gaining weight.
* Loves baths except when the water is cold...you hate being cold!!
* Knows our voices and will turn when you hear one of us talking.
* Loves to swing in your swing.
* Loves to stare at lights.
* You are very strong...you were born able to lift your head up and look around!!
* Loves to lay across daddy's stomach and look around.
* Loves the Kisses Christmas commercial where the Hershey Kisses are in a Christmas tree shape and ringing like bells...you will turn your head when you hear it.
* You love to watch TV...just like your mommy!!
* You scream crying when you are hungry or have a dirty diaper...you def. let us know when you are unhappy!
* You hate having a wet diaper on.
* You are the happiest when you have nothing but a diaper on.
* You love being held...thanks to the family...spoiled him during Thanksgiving.
* You like your paci occasionally.
* You bring joy to mine and your daddy's life everyday!

I am so thankful!

There are so many things for me to be thankful for: my husband, my son Brody, my family, friends, this beautiful house, and so much more. This year I have been truly blessed with an healthy baby boy. Now we are a family of three and I could not be happier.

This Thanksgiving was very special. It was our first Thanksgiving as a family with Brody and all my family came to Arizona. I loved having everyone here and Brody was spoiled! Now he wants to be held constantly! When he falls asleep and I put him down, he immediately wakes up. Thanks guys!

Brody's 1st Thanksgiving

This Thanksgiving was also special because it was the first time Lane and Brody met. Lane really wanted nothing to do with Brody! He was pretty jealous when Tara would hold Brody. Good Luck having another one Tara!! But there were a couple of time where Lane was so sweet with Brody. Here is a pic. of Lane and Brody...this was the closest we could get them!

Cousins:)

Another sweet moment...Lane helping his mommy feed Brody

Not only was this Brody's first Thanksgiving, but this was his first Texas game! UT played A&M and Brody got to wear his Texas gear! It was a VERY stressful game but that is no surprise! If you are a Texas fan, you know what I mean! But thankfully we ended up with the W!!!

Future Longhorn

I am so blessed and thankful for everything that life brings!!

My new life as a mommy

I'm not going to lie, this motherhood thing is harder than I expected. I think what makes it so hard is that we have no family here. It is just me, Cory and Brody. I stay at home with Brody, which is the most amazing thing. I know that I will never miss a thing. Cory is such a blessing and I fall in love with him more and more each day. Seeing him as a daddy is the best thing in the world. But it still is so trying. Cory works so I do all the night stuff and then when he comes home he takes over. He changes his diapers and helps with feedings. I wish we lives closer to family but his job is here and it is an amazing. It allows me to stay at home. We have a beautiful home and food is always on the table. We are so very blessed.

I did go through some postpartum blues in the beginning and I now I am getting better. Having a child puts everything into perspective. I thought about everything that could go wrong and I wondered if we would be good parents. I realized that I have to live one day at a time and enjoy life. I have a loving husband, healthy baby boy, and a very supportive family.

Being a mother, I worry about everything now! I find myself waking up throughout the night just to make sure he is breathing. He sleeps right against my side of the bed in his bassinet. He is never out of my sight. He is already two weeks today. Time goes by so fast!!

I am so excited the family is coming for Thanksgiving. It is well needed family time that we all need!!

Brody looking at his daddy...def. a little version of Cory!

Beautiful baby boy

Doing what he does best...snoozing!

Time for Thanksgiving!!!

We are so excited that Thanksgiving is right around the corner!! My mom, Rachel, Tara, Lane, Nana, Aunt Angie, and Cousin Haley are coming in for the holidays! Some get here on Saturday night and the others will get here Tuesday night. My Aunt Terry, Uncle John and cousins might be coming but they would be driving and they cannot leave until Wednesday night. It is such a long drive to only stay 3 days so they still don't know if they are coming. Then about 2 1/2 weeks after that, we will be heading to Texas and Michigan for Christmas! I love this time of year! I cannot wait until the family gets here!!!

Our new life with Brody

Cory and I are both adjusting to our new life as mommy and daddy. We are loving every minute of it. Brody had his first dr. appt. on Tuesday. He is doing wonderfully. He weighs 7 lbs. 8 ozs. and is 20 1/4 in. The doctor said everything looks great and he will see him back at his one month check up. After the doctor left, we were getting him dressed again and he peed all over the table!!

I had my appt. on Friday and everything looks great with me too. The dr. said I have a beautiful scar...ok those two words do not belong in the same sentence!!! I go back in 4 weeks.

Here are pics. of our precious boy!!!

Brody and his silky

Kisses

So sleepy

His fav. thing to do...sleep in his poppy

Passed out

Finally wide awake!

So sweet

Going to eat on Veteran's Day

Sleepy after his dr. appt.

Sweet dreams

Love all his hair!

Loves swing time

Brody's first bath

Look at that smile!

Getting some sun...no more jaundice!

Introducing Brody Austin Stokes

Well Brody Austin Stokes is finally here!! He blessed us with his arrival on November 4, 2009 at 9:40 P.M. He was 8 days early! He weighed in at 7 lbs. 12 ozs. On Tuesday, November 3rd, I went to my dr. appt for my 38 weeks checkup. I had some contractions all weekend so I thought that I might have progressed a little more from the week before. I still had some protein in my urine. She checked my blood pressure next and that's when things got crazy. She took it once and then said, "No, that cannot be right." She took it again and said my blood pressure was 170/110. She told me to change so I could get an exam and the dr. would be in as soon as possible. I was getting a little worried that my blood pressure was so high. It had been high the past couple weeks but nothing like that. My dr. finally came in and told me that I was to go straight to the hospital for more blood work. She examined me and found that I was dilated to a 2 and about 60% effaced. Then she said, " I am going to have you stay the night and you will be induced tomorrow morning at 5:00 A.M." I almost fell off the table!! I was so excited but scared at the same time because I knew that my blood pressure was so high and that he needed to be taken out soon. We went home to get out bags and headed straight for the hospital. Once I got settled in my room, the nurses checked my blood pressure several times and it was completely normal! I don't understand how it changed so dramatically within a short period of time. I thought that maybe I would be sent home but they said that was to risky and that I am for sure going to have a baby tomorrow!

Needless to say, I did not sleep any that night!! At 6:00 A.M. the nurses came in and induced labor. I took the contractions for awhile but the nurse asked me about an epidural and said that she could put me on the list. When the anesthesiologist came in, I was so ready for it! I had felt the labor pains long enough and I was ready to relax! Throughout the late afternoon and evening, the nurses kept coming in to change my position because the Brody's heartbeat kept decreasing with every contraction. I had to wear the air mask, which I hated! Around 8:45 P.M. the dr. came in to check my progress and I was stalled at 9 cm and about 95%. I had been 9 cm for awhile. I also developed a high fever and they were worried that my risk for infection was increasing because they had broken my water first thing in the morning when the started the pitocin. Also Dr. F examined me and noticed that my cervix was swelling really bad. She felt like there was no way he would be able to come out. The next thing I knew, I was being rushed to have a C-section. Everything happened so fast and the next thing I knew, I heard Brody cry.

It was not what I planned or hoped for but it was the best thing for mine and Brody's health. We both came out great and that is all that matters. I could not see anyone for an hour because I was in recovery, but then I saw Cory and he showed me pics of our handsome boy! My mom came in a little after I finally met Brody. I stayed in the hospital from Tuesday night to Friday night. I was so ready to go home! My mom and my sister came for his birth and to help me. My sister stayed from Friday to Monday and my mom stayed for a week.

Brody Austin Stokes...7 lbs. 12 ozs.

Grammy and Brody

Aunt Tara and Brody

Brody going home

A family of three now

Mommy and son

Finishing touches on Brody's room!!!

Well Brody's room is finally finished!! Now we are anxiously awaiting his arrival. I go to the Dr. on Tuesday and I am praying that I have progressed some! I love feeling him move inside me, but it is time to come out!!!

Thanks Aunt Kylie and Uncle Josh!

Today we got a package from Cory's brother and sister in law. Kylie made Brody a scrapbook for the first year of his life! It is the cutest thing I have seen! I kind of teared up looking through it. I am so ready for him to come and it was so sweet for her to take the time and make this for him. We have not met yet but we are going to Michigan for Christmas. I am excited to meet everyone finally!

The Stokes Family...Josh, Kylie and Connor