Charlie Grayson Peel: Birth to 3 months

Wow! I know I warned all of you of my ability to get easily distracted but this is ridiculous! I have so much to update all of you on.  First and foremost, the story of Charlie's arrival......

The night of March 2nd, Casey, my brother, both of my parents and I went to eat at Harvey's in Columbus.  Casey and I had a hotel room in West Point since we were having to get up and be at the hospital at 6 am, so after dinner we headed back to the hotel to get some rest before the big day (or at least try).  Casey slept like a bear, as usual, but I on the other hand woke up every hour on the hour getting more and more nervous and excited each time I woke up.  At around 4am I couldnt take it any longer, I went ahead and got in the shower and got dressed.  I wanted so badly to look pretty and have my hair and makeup lookin' good but I should have known better than to doll up the way I did (the make up didnt last long through the tears and my hair was up in a bun within an hour of arriving at the hospital.).  We arrived around 630 then around 8 they started me on the pitosin.  Within an hour I was pretty miserable and had contractions coming on pretty strong.  After they broke my water, I was pretty desperate for the epidural.  After giving me my epidural around 11am, the doctor told us that he predicted that Charlie would arrive around 7 or 8pm and to just try to relax.  About 15 minutes after receiving the epidural, the doctor came in to check me and out of nowhere said, "well, there's her foot!" My head shot up so fast and I immediately asked in fear, "what's that supposed to mean?" (Look, I was pretty loopy, otherwise I would've known that meant she was breech haha) He sad, "Well, it means we're going to have to do a C-section." "How long from now?" I said and he immediately said, "in 15 minutes.".  At this point I was freaking out, scared to death, and not only because of having to have major surgery but also because Casey was not at the hospital right then! he and my brother had gone to get lunch.  My mom called him and they rushed back as fast as they could.  Casey was hesitant at first to go into surgery with me but soon got past it and we were off to the operating room. 

20 minutes later, I looked up and Dr. Whittle was holding my beautiful baby girl over the curtain.  Tears of joy rolled down my face.  She was finally here.  My baby girl.  The most precious blessing.  I cannot explain that feeling of seeing her for the first time only to say that any part of my heart and soul that had previously been empty or broken was instantly filled with joy and love and made whole again.  She was born at 12:21pm weighing 6 lb. 12 oz. and 20 1/4 inches long.  The past three months have been the most amazing months of my life and I'm so blessed to have such a precious little family.....

Will post again soon with more interesting details and stories about mommyhood.
xo-Holley and Charlie

Sneak Peek!

Here is a sneak peek look at some of Charlie's nursery!

the dresser to the right of the window...once put together, changing table will go in front of window.

A few of my favorite things...The ceramic piece with the 3 little birds is my all time favorite find.  I have a tattoo on my right wrist of 3 little birds symbolizing the song by Bob Marley.  My dad sang it to me when I was little so it was very special to find "3 little birds" for her :)

Also, that is my sterling silver set from when I was a baby :)

The word cross Casey's sweet mom got me!It says Charlie (mirrored) on the top, Charlie Grayson (mirrored) on the left and right, and God's Most Precious Gift (mirrored) on the bottom! Can't wait to find the perfect frame.

LOVE these pillows on the day bed in her nursery.  I'm waiting on the monogrammed pillowcase to be ready to go on the big euro pillow.

I'm waiting to post more pics of the nursery until I have a painting above her crib, the changing table put together, and pictures hung.  Expect the final pictures within the next 2 weeks!!!

xoxoxoxo

Nesting:preparing for my little bird

If you know me well, you know that I'm not a very organized person.  That's not to say that I don't love the idea of being organized because I can highlight, post it, and *star* the HELL out of a day planner...but never look at it again after the first attempt.  I guess now, with only 6 weeks left until I become a mommy, I have an urgent need to get organized and ready and have things PERFECT. 
As far as the nursery goes I don't have much left to complete. All of the furniture and necesseties have been purchased and put together with the exception of the changing table (which comes with an instruction manual resembling the math section of the ACT) and the glider. The last things I need to do are to paint a picture to go above her crib, fill frames and hang pictures, and hang some shelves on one of the walls. 

One of the most IMPORTANT and CRUCIAL things I wanted to get done before Charlies arrival is to tend to my car.  My mother refers to my car as "the battlewagon" considering all four sides sport a beautiful dent, scratch, and/or bang, my passenger side mirror is hanging by a wire and has been for 2 years, everything under the hood makes a strange noise and not to MENTION the interior.  Did I mention that I drive a 2005 fully loaded Honda Accord?  Did I mention that it was bought BRAND SPANKING NEW  and I have ragged it to the full extent throughout my 'college' years(I'm very ashamed of not taking care of such a nice graduation gift).  Needless to say, it wasn't in any condition to serve as transportation with a baby.  Yesterday we dropped the ol' gal off at the dealership and *big sigh*...it is FINALLY getting put back together! I even ordered brand new floor mats and look forward to getting the interior all cleaned and detailed before putting them in.

Only 6 weeks until Charlie arrives and I can honestly say I'm proud of my ability to be getting things done with success!!!

Check back with me this afternoon for more blog and some pics of the nursery!!

xox

Update! :)

Hey friends!! 

I'm so very sorry it's been so long since I last blogged.  Like always and again, I've procrastinated and done everything BUT update all of you on what's been going on.  Christmas could not have been anymore wonderful. Charlie got WAY more than I did which I'm honestly adjusting just fine to.  It's such a wonderful feeling to be filling her closet up with precious clothes and accessories and watching her nursery come together beautifully! Casey and I had several Christmas Stops to make...on Christmas Eve, Casey and I opened our gifts to each other then went to his parents house for supper and gifts. His family knoooowwws how to do Christmas I tell you what!! I loved every minute of being a part of the family and enjoying celebrating Christmas with Casey and his loved ones.  Casey, Charlie and I got so many great gifts! After that we headed over to my mothers house for gifts and we all went to the 10pm episcopal church service.  Christmas DAY we went to my mimi and pops (my dads parents) for lunch and then our last stop was my moms then my aunts for Christmas with my other side of the family.  have I lost you all yet? haha.  I just cannot get over how blessed we are to have spent such a wonderful time of year with our wonderful family...not to mention all the great food and gifts :)

For New Years, Casey's brother and his wife had a party at their house so we just brought in the new year over there which was super fun (especially since there was TONS of snacks :) )  It was the first time that I've really 'dressed up' since being pregnant and while I did enjoy rockin' the baby bump, I ended up trading in my  patent leather bcbg heels for my favorite pair of houseshoes well before the countdown began.  

The BEST news I have since I last blogged is that I had some Maternity pictures taken last week.  Amelia Patterson, a friend and fellow tri delta from MSU, took the pictures for me and I am so blessed to have used her talent for my pics!! soooo....even though Amelia has not edited the yet, here is a picture of the bump...

30 weeks

I absolutely cannot wait to see the final pictures! I look forward to her coming again when Charlie is born to take her newborn pictures.

I will post more pictures of the baby bump and hopefully some pictures of the nursery as well.  You all have become well aware by now that I'm not very swift with updating you on things much less adding pictures when I say that I will so hopefully this one will suffice for now :)

And even more exciting than the pictures....I had my final ultrasound today and let me tell you, 4d ultrasounds are AMAZING.  I will try to send a picture of her sweet little face via mobile upload if I can.  She is absolutely beautiful and growing perfectly.  She weighs 4lbs. 30oz!! He also pointed out to me that she has alot of hair on her head which doesnt surprise me because I did too when I was born!! 

Forgive me for writing this blog so briefly and in a hurry, I just wanted to post to say that I have not forgotten about my blog and to finally post a preggo picture. 

Look for a more detailed and interesting blog in the near future with some more pictures....hopefully ;)

xoxo