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**

The Rock City Trip

This is our trip to Rock City in Chattanooga, TN. It was amazing walking through the maze of rock gardens that were created by one family in the early 1900s before it was donated to the public. We got to see many different types of rock formations and styles of gardens containing waterfalls, a rock bridge, pathways into slits of the rocks and some beautiful views. It was an interesting and worthwhile trip. In the next blog, I will show you the most funny and interesting part of rock city that we got to experience which is called the "Fat Man's Squeeze".

The Adventures of the Beer Belly !

It's finally here!!!!!! To all those people who are asking here I am at 26 weeks. Many people tell me that I'm a little small but whatever I'm happy. But just think I'll get bigger and bigger yeah! heh I say that now right. Well in other events the baby is kicking now off and on. It felt weird at first and now that I think back was probably kicking for a little while but I couldn't really tell. It felt like a big gas bubble but it wasn't gas. Sorry that's the best way I can explain it. The first major kick was recognized on a most auspicious day, my dad's birthday. What a gift eh? I thought so =) I had been trying to get Chris to feel it and that finally happened Aug 11th when we went to visit his mom in NC. When I put his hand on my belly and the baby kicked I had asked him "you feel that?" he was like "that was your stomach". I chuckled and said no that was the baby, he was surprised and said "interesting". The next step I'm trying to take with him is actually seeing the baby move. Though he does have an uncanny knack of being able to tell where the baby's head is by feeling, where I (as of right now) normally have to wait until she kicks to get it right. The baby mainly moves and kicks when I've been sitting or laying down for a little while and when I eat. Gonna be a food lover that one. I've been staying busy at work so he also kicks at the wrong times right on my bladder! ugh that sooo doesn't feel good. I've been practicing all the supposedly good ways to sleep, lift, etc since I first learn I was pregnant so it would go smoothly when I actually needed to do it. Nope still not smooth heh but I tried right. The girls at work joke that I'm already doing the pregnancy walk.

The Ultrasound of Little "A"

Finally, the video of our Secret baby in AnnaMaria's "Beer Belly" has arrived but unfortunately the video got cut off short. I will post the lost portion of the video on the next post in a week or so. If you can figure it out whether Little "A" is a boy or a girl but i didn't get it right on the first time til the specialist told me the true sex life of the baby. You can tell that I'm a Newbie Daddy To Be ! If you know the answer, Don't tell AnnaMaria because she doesn't want to know til baby arrival. Enjoy!

The Long Waiting Post !!

Today, we went to see the baby doctor and got the ultrasound of the baby. It was a very exciting moment to see our baby in AnnaMaria's "Beer Belly" :) The Specialist even recorded two minutes worth of video. AnnaMaria kept looking away when the specialist was trying to determine the sex of the baby. I took a peek trying to figure out what sex the baby is but guessed wrong. It was so fascinating to see all the parts of the baby like the arms , legs, head and spine. Even the heart pumping and the stomach shows. WOW ! We are very excited and cant wait to have this baby. The coolest part is you can see the baby's feet moving when the ultrasound person move around AnnaMaria's tummy with a little pressure. On one part of the ultrasound it looks like it's tapping it's feet to the rhythm of the heart and the tech said it was holding it's foot in the beginning.
The Doctor say the baby's organs and body is perfectly normal and healthy. I think the doctor said the baby is about 12 ounces right now in a growth span of 20 1/2 weeks.
I know what the baby's sex is because I want to know so i can start designing the baby's room and the room will be locked next week. AnnaMaria doesn't want to know the baby's sex and she will not allow to be in the baby's room until the birth arrives. I'm so excited to bring all my creative mind to create the baby's room.
The video of the ultrasound will be coming up on the next post because I have to give the VHS to my co-worker so he can transfer the video into the DVD and then i will download to the computer and Upload into this blogger. Give me a week or sooner. I ll give ya a mass email of video coming up.
Sorry for the long wait post because I was in the middle of peak season for garden and now it is finally over after the 4th of July. So I promise to keep this blogger updated more frequently.

Names Names Names

A lot of you has asked if we thought of any names. I would say we're past that point b/c we thought of those when we were in the final stages of dating heh at least drafts of the name. We had a little disagreement on the boy's name but we finally ended up compromising. I wanted Austin Alexander and he wanted a Bradley so we decided if it was a boy he would be Alexander Bradley. The girl's name we decided on Autumn then had a problem with her middle name couldn't decide. Chris liked Marie but that's too common (at least for me). I was taking suggestions from a lot of different people and I liked Veronica from my mom but it didn't sound right so I believe Chris' mom said Victoria and I liked that. Still a little dispute but Chris said that if we have a girl we'll ask her at birth which name she likes and that will be the decision. LOL Crazy, but I'm saying we're sticking with Victoria. Either way we having a little A.

2nd Dr. appt

Well we had our 2nd dr appt. this past mon and it went really fast. It might have lasted maybe 10 mins. I keep planning for longer but that won't come just yet. That one is at/near 20 weeks where we get another pic ultrasound. During that time we can see if the baby would be a boy or girl. I personally dont want to know until birth at least for my 1st but Chris and others want to so a little disagreement there heh. This dr. appt just checked my weight and blood pressure and heard the baby's heartbeat. My weight dropped a little b/c i lost my appetite for a couple of weeks. Don't get me wrong i was still eating but forcing food and not as much. I've gradually gotten my appetite back and eating now. The baby's heartbeat was faster than before, it went up to 181 bpm. It was freaky for a little bit b/c I didn't think it was supposed to be that high but she said that's normal. We'll see what it will be at the next appt in a month.

This is our new puppy named Toby. He is half Taco Bell dog and Yorkie.
I got him when a co-worker of mine brought to my work and was giving the puppies away and Toby is only one that is blonde color while other are black and tan like the yorkie. Welcome Toby as part of our new family as well.

How I found out and gave the news

Well of course we've been hoping for a little one to come but it seemed unreal at the time. For the last few months every time i had a little tummy ache or felt sick at all my coworkers especially would ask "What are you pregnant or something?" I wouldn't take it seriously. But the week I found out it was the same thing but more of it and you know when you hear more of something you start to believe it. I didn't realize it at the time but I was also craving bacon cheeseburgers. I had like 7 that week! heh Well it came that time where I was starting to suspect so i decided to take a test, 3 to be exact and at different times of the day over 2 days. After the 1st one I got really excited and thanked God but tried to hide it b/c Chris had friends over. I was trying to figure out how to tell him by ourselves. Well apparently my face tells all and he knew I was hiding something so I had to show him. I had put all 3 tests in a bracelet box and handed it too him. He opened it, looked up and said "so your pregnant?". He was telling me that he had known/suspected. Then he was like call my mom. I said i wanted to wait until it was official then come up with a cool way of telling. We came up with Congratulation cards and mailed them to the grandparents and future uncles. Everyone got a big kick out out of it.

Our First Ultrasound

This is our first ultrasound shot and discover our baby is about 7weeks and 2 days. The doctor told us that our baby will be due in the week of Thanksgiving. BoooYahh! I hope our baby is going to be born on Thanksgiving to carry our tradition of holiday family of the third generation. Dad's birthday is on July 4th and my birthday is on Halloween!!

We were amazed when they did the ultrasound and got very thrilled when we heard our baby's heartbeat on the speaker clearly. The heart was beating 141 per min. All you can see the white spot on top of the picture. It took me a while to figure it out until they showed the blood pumping as well. Heh, you can tell that I'm a newbie daddy to be ! PFTH ! I will keep in post for our next visit which is on May 8th.