The Homecoming !

Time to go home. After 1 day in the hospital Autumn got to get all dressed up. As you can see, she wasn't to happy to leave her comfort zone. She cried almost all the way home from dressing her to on the road. She eventually got to snooze in the car. She had a crowd to send her off in style and got to come home to a "dressed up" home. Chris was anxious for us to get home a see her room, which he's been working on. When Chris and I arrived we had to wait a little for my parents so my dad could videotape the "experience". I walked into the baby's room with such joy. Chris did a wonderful job and I love him more than ever for the thoughts and love he put into it. After I got to see all the little things that he did, I sat down so Autumn and I could take it all in. Toby looked on with curiosity with his ears pricked up high to find out where that sound was coming from. Autumn was making herself known. After a small feeding we all got to just sit and relax, and become adjusted to our new home.

The Daddy's Work of Baby Room

Finally I can reveal my work of the baby's room that i had worked on for weeks. Brian had helped me to some stuff that i need extra hand. I had installed new pergo flooring whole room, painted the room, install crown molding, install all new outlets and ceiling fan. I even ripped out the old closet shelfing and install multi purpose organizer in the closet that you can adjust when baby grow older in the future. I had been searching for the teddy bear stencil and finally found the booklet in Ebay while fighting to win the bid !!! I made this room as Teddy Bear theme with stencil work of teddy bears. Each teddy bears has word next to it of an action like Love, Peace, Imagine, Dream, and so on. Made the final detail of two teddy bears holding the hearts each side of Autumn Victoria's name right above the crib. It has been a real experience working with my ideas in the baby's room. Enjoy browsing the pictures of the baby's room.

Autumn's Arrival to the New World

Finally, our baby girl had arrived to our new world. Her name is Autumn Victoria Shaffer and was born on Nov 23rd, 2007 around 2:04am. She weighs 8 lbs. and 1 oz. with the length of 20 3/4 inches.
AnnaMaria had several contractions on the night before Thanksgiving and all day on thanksgiving. We were glad that we had thanksgiving at our house with both our parents along with her brother Brian. We were all sittting on the couch watching a movie and around 8:30 pm AnnaMaria turned her head to me and said my water broke. I flipped my turbo button (ack can you say Panic ). Running up and down the stairs to get clothes on and grab her bag while Anna's Dad videotaped me running like madness! We arrived at St. Mary Hospital in Knoxville, TN around 9:15pm.
I'm gonna let Anna tell her story because my head was up in the air during the whole incident. But I can say one thing the birth of Autumn was the most amazing moment of my life and I could never stop smiling even in my sleep still have the smile.


(Anna's Version)
The experience of a lifetime that I would gladly do over. It all started at 12:30am Thanksgiving morning, lying in bed and getting cramps/contractions. I turned to Chris half asleep and ask the time. A few mins later it happens again. By the third time Chris was like why are you asking for the time so much? I said contractons he was like oh ok. Nothing to freak over because I'd been having false contractions for months. These kept going on for hours and I knew something was up. I started trying to time them but that's hard when your half asleep. Yes that's right I was still sleeping through them when I could. Come 3am Chris and I were talking/joking, saying C-"Just let me have my turkey." A- "Just let me have my sweet potatoes" heh. We had planned to go over Chris' dad's house for dinner but had to call and be like that's not going to happen. So all throughout the day I was waiting for the 5 min in between the contractions to call the dr. All day they had been running between 7-13 mins. Chris just kept giving me looks like so? I had to keep saying no. Halfway through the day I was thinking that this is proboly another kind of false contractions. After dinner the family sat down to watch some movies. I was thinking about calling my nurse line to see what they could tell me then all of a sudden I had no doubts. I felt a contraction build then burst. My head was lying in Chris' lap so I just turned and looked up and said my water broke (calmly). It was like a blur from there to everyone. Chris got up so fast it felt like he pushed me off the couch heh. It felt like I was the only one not freaking out. I remember saying "chill, nothing can happen without me." Well I changed my clothes and we left for the hospital. I never did get to the 5 mins to call the dr. heh After we got to the hospital and got set up it was all a waiting game. The nurse had asked me if I was getting an epidural and I was like umm yeah! By the time it was ready to push we missed the thanksgiving deadline. Oh darn! Earlier the dr. had mentioned that for 1st time mothers it was normal that they pushed for 2-3 hrs. I was like nah that's not going to happen. So the time came to push at 1:40am. After 2 sets of pushing the dr. was like okkk , that 2-3 hrs of pushing is not going to happen. I told her that I was going for a 2:00 baby. I was so close! It was an amazing and awe inspiring moment. At first I couldn't believe I did that, I still think that sometimes. My baby, I have a baby! Definitly a dream come true. One of the best moments for me is seeing Chris hold Autumn. I've been waiting for that moment ever since I found out I was pregnant. My family, my life, my loves. I'll love them forever.

(Sorry I goofed on the pictures the are not aligned upright so you ll have to turn your monitor or laptop sideway to see some of the pics ) :S

2nd Baby Ultrasound

Finally we are back from 2nd ultrasound with Dr Edmonds. This is most amazing show to see on the ultrasound. At first you'll see the size of the head and brain and then move to the face of the baby. You can see the eyes nose and lips while the baby has both arms wrapped around the chin. The doctor moved to see the tummy and heart. Then you ll see the femur of both legs. After all the calculations of the baby, the computer show us that the baby weighs about 7 lbs and 1 ounces in Anna's belly. While doctor scan the baby's face and you can actually see the baby's eyes are blinking. ITS AMAZING !! I'm so excited after the ultrasound and cant wait to be a proud father.
I got more post coming up this week for baby shower pictures and Halloween event coming soon this weekend. Just bare with me in timely manner cause I have so much stuff going to get things done. Have fun watching the video! Love ya all !

For those of you who want bigger and better video you can go to www.YouTube.com and on the video search box type as Our Little Baby "A" 2nd Ultrasound! or you can cut and paste the title to the box

Learning Experience taken to new levels

Well we took our birth class. Lots of information to take in. We had an OB nurse teach the class, loved her humor and realistic outlook on pregnancy. Some people would find her humor korny but we liked it. I'm just hoping to get her or someone like her as my nurse. Chris had 2 interpreters there to help make sure there was no misunderstandings. The best/ funniest part about that was that they were both younger women, mid 20's, and they commented to me that this was a great birth control for them. lol A lot of the things they talked about I knew about but it allowed Chris to become more knowledgeable, comfortable and confident in what was happening and what was to come. Of course they showed a birth and all the guys in the class weren't watching or every now and then but off and on. It was cute. We got a tour of the hospital women's ward, really good security. Chris and I had already kind of toured it months ago when I wasn't showing. The receptionist definitely looked at me weird back then because I wasn't "showing" but we were all showing for the class. =) But just think we'll all get a little bit bigger and I'm expecting it with glee.(At least right now heh) Keep eyes open for bigger pics. (hopefully)

Little "A" New Room

For those of you who were asking me about the baby's room, I only can describe the color but deep details will not be revealed until the birth of the baby. I want to make it surprise for AnnaMaria so I have installed a new door knob with a key for me only and she will not be able to see the room til baby's birth. I can tell you that the room color is the top half of the room above the chair rail molding is a light soft yellow and the bottom half is a light soft sage green color. The moldings are white. The crib and dresser will be a tea stain pinehurst color to last for future years. Sorry Guys, I can't tell ya anymore further :) I promise to take a picture of the room as soon as the birth and Little "A" will be posing as a model in the new room!

Also, people have asked me if we did a baby registry. We did our baby registry in both Target and Baby R Us. Just type the name AnnaMaria Shaffer and city we live is Powell, TN. We would like to ask you a favor if you are planning to purchase something on the registry, the people told me to be sure you let the cashier know to take it off the list so we don't end up getting something double. Thanks! Have Fun ! We are coming up to Maryland on the weekend of Sept. 7th to 10th.

Fat Man Squeeze

That's the "Fat Man's Squeeze". Who you think we got through first, Me or AnnaMaria? Well I ll give you the clue......UMMPPFFTH , OHHH MAN ! , *Holding Your Breath!, and Think Skinny ! See Answer Below!

Well, We actually made it through!

**No one got harmed in the making of these pictures**