"How does it feel to know that she is now in control?"

So, Cory had to travel to the FedEx facility in Memphis, TN this week for work. Although it was only for three days, we still feel like we are newlyweds, and are sad to be apart. It was a fairly uneventful week, work-wise. I would come home, make dinner, and relax with the doggies and Hollywood. With the exception of my Tiyng Fely's passing last weekend, everything was pretty quiet... which is nice.

This past Wednesday, I woke up, got my normal "good morning" kick from Hollywood around 7:00am, continued to get ready for work, and move on with my day. It was a busy day, but nothing too crazy. I wasn't running around at work, but I was busy at my desk. That evening, my parents and Christopher came overto bring me some sinigang... I had requested some while Cory was gone because I was craving it. :) Had dinner with my family, my mom made some yummy fruit smoothies for dessert, we watched tv, talked a little bit about the baby and the dogs, and called it a night. A couple of hours later, I was sitting on the bed with the dogs, crocheting Hollywood's hot pink & black rock star blankie, and I realized that I hadn't felt her move... in fact, I hadn't felt her move all day. And when my mom was over making dinner, she had actually asked how she was moving, and it didn't dawn on me that it had been pretty calm in my belly. So, of course, in true Annaliza fashion, I started to panic. I text Cory, who was out on a business dinner in Memphis. He called back immediately, I told him what was going on. We decided that it would be best to call the doctor... Better safe than sorry, right? So, I called the on-call physician at Saddleback Memorial. Not a millisecond after I said the words, "I don't think I've felt the baby move since this morning..." did Dr. O'dell instruct me to come to the ER and up to Labor and Delivery. I called my mom to come pick me up, I called Cory to let him know, and I proceeded to ball my eyes out. I was like, "Are you serious? Am I having complications while my husband is out of town? I can't do this again..." I balled and balled and balled, then finally stopped, got myself together to get dressed, and told the baby that I loved her and would not let anything happen to her.

It's amazing how quickly they take you up to Labor and Delivery when you are having potential complications. Typically, my experience in the Emergency Room has included a 2-3 hour wait just to get triaged. As soon as I arrived, I told them my name, the on-call doctor had already told them to expect me, and a wheelchair was there in less than 5 minutes.

In Labor and Delivery, they had me in a room that had about 5 beds in it. I'm guessing this is where they process you before deciding to admit you or make you go home. I had to change into one of those backless gowns (sexxay), and they strapped on a fetal heart rate monitor and some other monitor for contractions, and then the list of questions began. When was the last time you felt her move? What did you do today? What did you eat today? Did you fall? etc etc etc... I started to cry. Before I could literally lose it, the nurse turned on the monitor and turned up the volume, and the sound of a galloping horse came through the speakers. It was the baby's heartbeat at a fluctuating 150-180 bpm, which I'm told is a good sign. And not 5-10 minutes later after I was laying in the hospital bed, Hollywood started to let me know that she was doing just fine... punching and kicking with intention. That's my girl. The nurse and physician continued to check her heart rate and movement and they said that she is an extremely active little one. They asked if her kicks were always THAT strong... I said YES. And the reassured me that it was a good sign to come in. If I wasn't feeling THAT all day long, then it could have been a sign of distress... so better safe than sorry. "She must have been taking a really long nap." They kept giggling at how much she was moving now. As if she knew that she was being "watched"...

They monitored me for a couple of hours before discharging baby and me, and telling us to take it easy. The nurse handed me some informative handouts and my discharge papers to sign, and said that she hoped to see me back at 39 weeks. I was like, "Why 39 weeks?" She said, "so you don't go over too much"... I thought that was cute. She reminded me to ALWAYS call if I had questions of concerns... better to keep baby safe. And, while I was getting ready to leave, she said the words that will ring in my ears forever...

"How does it feel to know that she is now in control?"

PUNK...

My mom laughed... she's been telling me since I was a little punk myself, that she can't wait until I have a little girl to cause my hair to turn white and my heart to race at all times of the night. Haha!

Anyhoo, we are all doing well. After pretty much having a heart attack in Memphis, Daddy is home, protecting mommy and belly... and dogs too.

Before I go, I do want to send love, hugs and prayers to all of my family during this difficult time. Tiyong Fely was a loving and influential individual in all of our lives, and he will be missed.

First comes love… then comes marriage… then comes a baby in a baby carriage…

HELLO!

It has been WAY too long, I know. And I’m sorry. I’ve been asked by several people to start this blog up again now that the news of our future baby girl is out in the open! I had intended to keep it going, but, you know life… it took over.

A quick update on Cory and I… Marriage has been bliss. I can’t imagine my life without him. He would totally die without me. J We still live in RSM, we have made some home improvements to the condo to get ready for the baby – new hardwood flooring, new living room and dining room furniture to make space for the baby. Right before we found out that we were pregnant, we added a new family member. Her name is Winnie. She is a spunky little Yorkshire Terrier… just like her older brother Gizmo. She is a punk, she terrorizes Gizmo, she ADORES her Daddy, and is just the cutest bundle of 6lb energy that we could have hoped to add to our Smith brood. Other than that, life has been pleasantly the same… still working at Endologix (ok, maybe that is not so pleasant), still loving my ANGELS, I am growing to love the Pittsburgh Steelers, still addicted to snowboarding even though I am unable to participate this season, and loving the life we have created together and looking forward to the life that is about to become.

A quick update on baby girl Smitty… I peed on a stick the day before Cory’s birthday, August 25th. I very faint line popped into the screen, which led to tears of joy, but still some apprehension. We had just miscarried only a few months prior, so getting excited wasn’t really in our wheelhouse quite yet. Still, every day, Cory encouraged me to stay positive. We took it easy. We laid low. Our 8 week ultrasound came along, things looked good, heartbeat was strong. Due date was set for May 7, 2011. But even Dr. Han was a little apprehensive and didn’t want to get too excited. Our 12 week ultrasound came, apparently I was stiff as a board in the room. The technician had to tell me to relax… and there was baby… doing what looked like sit ups and karate kicks on the screen. We finally started to take a deep breath and believe that this pregnancy was going to be just fine. The technician asked if we were going to find out the sex. And before the word “yes” could escape our mouths, she said that it looked like a girl. Which made sense… all the old wives tales about how girls suck the life out of you. The first trimester was taxing on me… I got the morning sickness, the dry heaving, the extreme exhaustion, the mood swings… no crazy cravings, and there was a point where all I wanted to eat were smoothies from Juice It Up. So I guess that’s good that I always wanted fruit. A few weeks into my 2nd trimester, the yucky prego symptoms went away, and the fun part has begun… and here we are.

We just past 22 weeks. I feel great. Cory claims that I am now glowing. I think I’m just sweating profusely. My tummy has popped a little bit, so now I actually look pregnant, and not like I just ate an entire side of beef to myself. We confirmed at 20 weeks that we are in fact having a girl. Well, 90% sure. During the ultrasound, the little brat was practically sitting with her knees into her chest, they couldn’t get a clear read, but were positive that there were no “boy parts”… The technician and obgyn said that we can do another ultrasound at 24 weeks to confirm again, but it’s a girl. And since we had been thinking that it was a girl since 12 weeks, we were happy. I, for one, am petrified of the teenage years… especially remembering what I was like… but hopefully Cory can deal with her then. Haha! And now, walking around Target or the mall, seeing teenage girls in short shorts, mini skirts, hanging all over boys… I’m getting heart palpitations just thinking about it. See, this is what happens when you actually put out into the world “I only want boys”… my bad.

Anyhoo, with only 4 months left til d-day, we have a lot to do. We will start the nursery… moving furniture out, painting, picking out baby furniture (damn that stuff is expensive). We just started on the baby shower plans, so I’m excited for that! The theme for the room is obvious if you know me… in case you don’t… it’s WINNIE THE POOH!

As the next months whiz past us, I want to thank my Baby Daddy for being so patient and so kind… And so adorable. He is so excited at the thought of having a daughter… a Daddy’s Girl. He talks to my belly every morning and every night. Her kicks have reached the point where they are strong enough for him to feel. That is a whole other wonderment to me. Feeling your baby kick… to think that once there was nothing there, and now there is… and it’s kicking you. There are daily soccer matches between 1:30pm and 3:30pm and again between 10:00pm and into the night… sometimes it’s not just a kick, she just stretches those legs, right into my bladder. OH BOY… or should I say GIRL!

Alright, so I got the first blog out… I will def try to keep up on this so you can all enjoy and experience our first lil bundle of Smitty joy.

Love and Miss you all… Happy 2011!