Tysinger Family Adventures

New Blog!

2009-09-14T18:21:00.000-07:00

Dear my few and faithful followers!

I have started a new blog called "It's a Good Day." Click here to visit and become a follower there too for updates whenever I post something new.

The blog you're reading now has served it's purpose well and I do plan to post here everynow and then - mostly updates and pictures about Emma - of course! But, most of my postings will now be on the new blog - and will be more frequent and about more topics/ideas/fun giveaways and more! It's really to help promote my little side business and online store, but I want it to also be a place people can hopefully be inspired and encouraged.

I hope you follow me over to this new blog! I need readers and would love to have you. :)

Picture Time

2009-09-10T19:50:00.000-07:00

Been taking more pictures lately, because - well - I have the cutest kid ever. I mean, seriously people. Take a look at these pictures and try to deny it. I double dog dare you.

Listening to her baby boom box, singing and dancing all around the house!

Chasing the cat, but she escaped once again using her feline swiftness!

Super cute sporting her preppy look.

Would you look at these doe eyes? My doll baby.

Look at the rottenness in this face! Little stinker.

Some Good News!

2009-09-10T17:54:00.000-07:00

So we just reached a HUGE milestone in our house. After just one week of transition, she is OFF FORMULA! Yep - that's right. She had a bottle of just milk tonight before bed. Such good news for the old wallet!

Also, I'm super excited about an awesome giveaway over at Sew Fantastic! Check it out here. And wish me luck!

Eleven Months Old!

2009-09-06T11:25:00.001-07:00

It's less than one month before Emma's BIG DAY to turn one! Here are some 11-month pictures.

See all four teeth?! There's more on top, too, that you can't see!

Eating BIG GIRL FOOD! The spoon is just for show. :)

This is her "radio" she carries around, singing and dancing!

And this is her just being cute.

Emma in Action

2009-08-24T12:57:00.001-07:00

While I'm on a posting blitz, here's a video of Emma trying her hand at drumming....the old fashioned way. Thank God for cheap toys.

Promised Pictures (One Week Late)

2009-08-24T12:41:00.001-07:00

Want some more adorable pictures like this one with Emma and Daddy sharing a sweet moment? Sorry they're a week late. Can I claim being a full-time working mom?! Anyway, here they are....be forewarned: She's getting cuter by the minute. :) *PS, I hope to post some videos next!

In her first pair of sneakers yesterday! She doesn't look too impressed, huh?

Our FEARLESS child falling off her folded-up seat,

which she had been climbing on like a little monkey up a tree!

This was about 5 minutes into her first taste of Jell-O!

How are we supposed to resist this sort of cuteness?!

Getting good at making messes.

Proud of herself!

Got into Daddy's ties...and thought it was so funny!

My sweet, sweet girl. Oh my.

Oh My Goodness

2009-08-14T18:23:00.000-07:00

Before everyone croaks, I promise to have some new photos posted over the weekend. You won't believe everything.

NEWS FLASH #1: Emma is walking.

That's right, folks. At about nine and a half months old she took her first step. Now at over 10 months old, the kid never stops. seriously. never. If she's awake, she's moving. Hmm...takes after her dad, I believe. I hope to get a video posted of that this weekend, too.

NEWS FLASH #2: Emma has more teeth.

After much hard labor, whining, drooling and general fussiness over the past few weeks, Emma has broken her top two teeth. Oh, and SHE was in no great mood either. They were a tough few weeks, but she was a trooper and we got through it. Such a tough kid. The teeth are not all the way down yet, but finally have broken the skin. Four down, too many more to go.

NEWS FLASH #3: Emma laughs...and laughs...and laughs.

seriously. again. the little stand-up/walking comic spends *most* of her waking moments giggling, laughing, and sometimes all out belly laughing -- at herself. That's right, ladies and gentlemen. She thinks she is funny stuff. It's so cute, and makes us laugh, but she'll laugh at herself eating, walking, dancing, etc. That brings me to...

NEWS FLASH #4: Emma likes to boogie.

It's really a new style of dance she's started...it's all the rage in our house. You can join in, too. Here's a few easy to follow steps. 1) stand bowlegged holding on to something for support; 2) shake head vigorously from side to side, like a dog shaking off after a swim; 3) bounce while bending at the knees ever so slightly until you... 4) start laughing so hard you plop down on your behind. Tip: step four is easier when wearing a padded diaper.

And finally,

NEWS FLASH #5: Emma is getting married.

Well, not quite. But today at work (the church) I came across a roster for the one-year-olds class and saw Emma's name at the bottom. She's officially part of her first "class"...which means she might as well be starting school...ergo she might as well be driving...meaning she's all but married and out of the house. Oh dear me.

So, there's your up-to-the-minute updates on Miss Emma. Plans are feverishly in the works for Birthday Bash '09 - so watch for details coming soon. And, as promised, I'll work on those photos and video ASAP.

Happy Fourth! (And 9 Months)

2009-07-05T18:09:00.000-07:00

We took our first road trip with Emma this weekend to visit our good friends Jennifer and Tim and their boys Jaden and Dillon, who live in the mountains of North Carolina near where I went to college. We had a BLAST! Emma did wonderfully, other than keeping her serious face on almost the whole weekend (she does that lately with new people, situations, etc.) . Friday was also her 9 month birthday. Here are some photos from this great vacation. They are kind of out of order - but you'll get the idea.

Emma and Dillon - Cute couple, right? :)

With Jen's dad Scott, giving her serious face.

Naked baby picture. I could not help myself.

She wasn't sure about the pool at first!

Decided she likes it!

Super cute in her swim suit!

Watching fireworks with Dad...she seemed interested, but was not scared or anything!

Eric, Emma and Jaden.

Notice the coat. It was chilly in the mountains at night!

With "Aunt" Jen.

With "Uncle" Tim.

Emma's first road trip - AND Happy 9 Month Birtday!

Father's Day and Photos (many, many)

2009-06-24T18:12:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry it's been so long since I've updated. Most of this post will be about Eric and Emma's first Father's Day. Followed by LOTS and LOTS of photos of little Miss E.

So Eric's first Father's Day was wonderful. We all went to church then took daddy out to lunch before he had to go off to work (pooh!). After a much deserved nap, Emma and I drove down to Asheboro to go to dinner with Paw-Paw and Eric' family. It was a lot of fun! The special part of the day came when Emma gave her daddy the present she made.

This original artwork was made with her hand and foot prints on a canvas we can hang somewhere in the house. I think Eric will cherish it forever. For the record, Eric has been a wonderful father - I know he would be. What a special day to share with him.

And now, for some photo fun:

Announcing Grayson Cole Browning

2009-06-08T06:03:00.000-07:00

My nephew, Grayson Cole Browning, was born Saturday, June 6 at 6:26pm in Raleigh to my sister Cyndi and brother-in-law Josh. He was a healthy 7lb. 2oz. and 20.5 inches long - and looks like a perfect mix of his mom and dad. Emma is preparing all of her big-cousin advice to

share with Grayson once he comes home. :) Here are some pictures.

Local Celebrity

2009-06-05T18:44:00.000-07:00

Miss Emma is starting to have a following here in the Triad. Click here to see what I mean.

8 Months and Counting (THIS IS LONG!)

2009-06-04T17:35:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe, but our little girl is 8 months old. Wow, where has the time gone? Now we are waiting for baby Grayson's arrival (my sister's first baby) just next week. There's a lot to update you on Emma. Hang on, here we go!

She's still battling ear infections. This last round had a sore throat thrown in for fun...and when I say fun I mean torture - for us all. She's much better now, but we've got to get these ears under control. Tubes are in the future, but Dr. O'Kelley would like to see how the summer goes first.

We've got two BIG NEWS items. First, Emma is the proud owner of two brand new pearly whites! She's worked so hard for them and now two little teeth have finally poked out...her bottom center teeth. So fun and it makes her look like such a little girl. (Kind of sad for mom.)

Secondly, Emma is now independently mobile. That's right...we've got a crawler. And let me tell you, if she's awake, she's on the move! The kid is amazing. And, to add to the festivities, little miss over-achiever is now also standing. I think she just might walk early like I did (9 months).

And finally, here are some recent pictures (the one standing up was just taken tonight). I like to call the following "8 Months at a Glance."

If you look real close at this one, you can see a tooth (click on picture to make bigger).

This is her far-away-look model pose. :)

Doesn't this face just make you smile?

This was at the doctor's over the weekend...she's a trooper, isn't she?

Her new friend, Grandpa Sid. A friend from church.

Look at this big girl standing!

Not sure what she was thinking here...but a cute nakey-baby picture!

Won't Emma Look Cute?!

2009-05-19T13:27:00.001-07:00

So, I follow lots of blogs written by some fabulous women and moms with some great ideas, crafts, talents, stories, etc. One of my favorites is Make It And Love It. In addition to wonderful, do-able crafts, Ashley does bunches of giveaways for fun items. This week is especially fun! Check it out here and cross your fingers for me! We're hoping we win and Emma can look even more adorable in these hair clips (when her hair "comes in" - ha!):

On The Move!

2009-05-17T17:44:00.000-07:00

Watch our little Miss On-the-Move!

(Sorry it's a little dark. Can you see it? Our kitchen has bad lighting.)

Pictures say a thousand words...

2009-05-12T16:43:00.000-07:00

I don't have much spare time lately, so here's a quick update. We're still battling with her ears - nothing serious, but keeps getting ear infections. Hoping she's better this week. She crawled once over the weekend and is getting ever closer each day to crawling more and pulling up on things. Super exciting! And here are a bunch of recent pics. Oh, by the way, Mother's Day was great!

You're Invited to a New Blog

2009-05-09T05:48:00.000-07:00

I've created a new blog called "Happy Is As Happy Does". Click on that link and check it out. I'm on a mission to add some extra happy to everyday life. Why don't you join me. And while you're at it, invite your friends, family, cranky co-workers and anyone else who could use a little more happy. Hope to see you there!

PS - This blog will still be active, so keep visiting us here too!

Feeling Crafty...

2009-05-04T15:28:00.000-07:00

So I was feeling really crafty over the weekend. Here's what I came up with. Both ideas came from Make It and Love It which has some super great ideas. She has a lot of sewing projects, but I don't sew, so here are a few I could actually tackle.

Fabric Covered Frames:
(original idea for cork board, click here)

I didn't do cork board, but for actual photo frames. I also changed it up by using double sided tape that works with fabric. My edges are not perfectly crisp, but you can't tell that unless you look really closely. And, to finish the back off and cover up rough edges of fabric, I used peel-n-stick black felt. Worked nicely. I made these as Mother's Day gifts for two friends I met through our birthing class...shhh...don't tell!

Pin Cushion:
(original idea, click here)

I LOVED this idea for a Mother's Day gift for a good friend who quilts. (Sorry photo is blurry.) I had several quilting squares I hand-sewed several YEARS ago that never got to the final stages so thought one would be perfect for this. I also opted for a round $1 ceramic ramekin from Wal-Mart. The original idea calls for a square container. That might have been easier. I had trouble figuring out how to close it up an maintain smooth rounded top, so (thanks to my husband's brilliant mind) I stuffed the fabric as a ball (underside looks all sorts of messy) beforehand. Then I lined the bottom and sides of the ramekin with hot glue and just set the ball firmly down inside - worked GREAT! Then I added a little ribbon. Hope she likes it!

Emma's First Play Date

2009-04-22T15:37:00.000-07:00

Last weekend Emma and I met two other mommies and babies from our birthing class. Megan and Elle, and Ressie and Brayden. We went out to lunch first, where we ate on the patio and listened to a band play. It was great and Emma was an angel. I think she loved the music and watching all the other people. She even held hands with Brayden! Then we went to the park and walked with the kiddies in their strollers. It was gorgeous weather, a bit warm, but so nice to be out. Here's a few pictures of our fun day out.

Emma's new friend Elle:
Emma's new friend Brayden:

All of us on our playdate!

The Up and Down Obsession of Baby

2009-04-15T06:18:00.000-07:00

I was talking with Cyndi, my sister who is very close to having her first baby, about how easy it is to become obsessed with your baby. Especially when she is as cute as mine happens to be. I follow other blogs of mommies and friends who I have a feeling can relate.

It all starts that first time you hear the precious first cry and touch her cotton-soft skin. The first time she opens her eyes to the new world around her and finds your loving eyes starting back at her. And the obsession begins. But before long you're obsessing over feedings, types of cries, sleep patterns, skin blemishes, color of snot, odor/frequency/color of poop, and rate of motor skill development.

Then one day she smiles at you for the first time and you melt all over again. You are in awe over her super-baby intelligence to figure out how to stick her toes in her mouth. You brag to your friends and family over her newfound ability to say "da-da." (OK, so she says that to the cat, the tv, in the bathtub, while playing in the car, looking at her blocks, and as she does a summersault while attempting to lunge for her teething ring....but I'm sure she's thinking of her father in every case.) So the obsession continues.

Of course, there are things that help keep the obsession in check. When she begins pulling on your hair, shirt, earrings, and bottom lip while feeding you wonder if there's a way to momentarily paralyze her hands. And when she twists toward the wall and sticks her naked, sticky hiney into the air during a diaper change or stiffens her legs when trying to manipulate her into her pajamas...her cuteness subsides momentarily. That helps with the obsession.

Yet, all of that is followed by a sweet, sloppy and wet, wide open "sugar" (what we call kisses). Or she'll spray particles of green peas everywhere when she laughs at a funny face you make during dinner time. Or she'll double over with a big ol' belly laugh at the camera when you try to take her picture. And the obsession continues.

I dedicate this post to all the other mommies out there who can relate to the up-and-down obsession we have with our kiddies. Especially the following fellow mommy bloggers who have helped give me an outlet to laugh, cry and plain hang in there with the rest of 'em!

My sister, Cyndi at "Baby Browning's Journey"
Kaycee at "Life As a Mom at 21"
Jennifer at "New Home, New Baby"
Nicki at "La Familia Jimenez"
Michelle at "Her Cup Overfloweth"

This roller coaster life of a mom might be tough at times, but I wouldn't trade a minute of it for anything. Not even for a week long vacation to Hawaii with just me and the hubs...probably....maybe...most definitely not. :)

Easter Day and Fashion Statement

2009-04-14T15:44:00.000-07:00

Here are some photos of Emma from Easter day. We hope everyone had a wonderful Easter celebrating the Risen Christ! Hallelujah!

Here is Emma all ready for church on Easter.

Here is Emma dressed in her fuzzy bunny pants (with tail on back, too) and her "Baby's First Easter" bib.
Here is Emma and her cousin Aden, who is almost 1 year old.
And, here is Emma in a super cute outfit all the way from England. Thanks Nana! We wanted Nana to see how adorable she looked in this get-up....certainly got the cutest kid award at daycare.

Easter Pictures

2009-04-09T18:21:00.000-07:00

Hi all. Here are the pictures I took of Emma for her first Easter (and six-month pics). We went to the arboretum here in Greensboro last weekend when the weather was so gorgeous. Enjoy!

Poor Kid

2009-04-06T18:58:00.000-07:00

Emma went to the doctor today for her routine 6 month check up. Good news is, she is up to 25 inches long and 15lbs 12oz and the doctor was very pleased with her progress and said all looks great. All, that is, except her ears which were both INFECTED! We were absolutely shocked. She didn't have any symptoms and had not been extra fussy or anything. Poor kid.

To top that, she got three shots and is dealing with her first case of diaper rash (thanks to a little bit of diarrhea that might have something to do with the ear infections). She was about as pitiful as one kid can get tonight. I think it was the shots mostly, which gave her a low grade fever. The same thing happened with her last round of shots. I feel funny saying so, but the up side to her not feeling well is that the cuteness factor is HIGH! She cuddles so close, nuzzles into your neck...and tonight she nearly fell asleep on her changing pad while we got her ready for bed. Usually she fights getting dressed for bed because she's so ready for her bottle. Poor, poor kid.

"Six Months - I MADE IT!"

2009-04-03T19:00:00.000-07:00

If Emma could talk, I bet that's what she would say...and this (above) is the face of excitement she would make (too . She turned SIX MONTHS old today. I truly, honestly, cannot believe that she is already one half of a year old. On one hand it still feels so new and like we're getting used to everything. On the other hand it feels like our precious girl has been part of our lives forever. And now, in just another SHORT six months she'll be one year old. Wow.

Here's a quick (maybe) update, followed by LOTS of pictures from this week and today. So, now six months old, Emma is a pro at sitting up! She also rolls from her belly to her back AND her back to her belly. Every now and then she acts like she wants to crawl when on her belly but as she gets her knees up she just tips over to the side instead of thrusting forward. Maybe next month. She is WONDERFUL at playing now and laughs and smiles all the time. She seems engaged by her toys, passes toys between both hands, will hand toys back to us, and EVERYTHING goes into her mouth. Speaking of that, she is definitely teething, but no teeth just yet. The past several weeks have been interesting trying different foods. So far, she has had sweet potatoes, green beans, peas, pears, peaches, squash, oatmeal cereal, and just tried bananas today. She seems to like everything. Only downside is that we've had some trouble with - um, shall we say - staying "regular." But we're working on it. She's still sleeping pretty good, although she's started waking up for a bottle once a night sometimes. We think it's growing spurts....although she's still a little bitty thing. We're excited to see how much she weighs at her 6-month check up on Monday. She seems so petite and compact to us.

Now here's LOTS of photos.

For Your Viewing Pleasure

2009-03-25T19:03:00.000-07:00

So, once again, almost an entire month has gone by since I've posted. It's pitiful, I know. I'll post more soon, but for now here's two pictures to hopefully hold you over.

Five Months (Almost)

2009-02-28T18:29:00.000-08:00

Here is Emma at almost five months old (in nearly two days). This has been a great few weeks of firsts. First meal of cereal with a spoon sitting in her big-girl high chair...first time rolling over...first time pulling mommy's hair (ha!)....and first time SITTING UP, as you'll see in plenty of the pictures below. Wonder what this next month will hold. The pictures are all in random order....just a bunch for you to enjoy!

Playing with one of her favorite toys.

With Molly at daycare.

Learning to play nicely with others...even if they're stuffed.With Aunt CyndiSitting Pretty all by herself!!!Petting the cat for the first time - only a little fur pulling.Sweet reflection...Sitting in big-girl high chair for the first time.Just plain cute...looking very "big girl."

Videos - Emma in Action!!

2009-02-18T17:10:00.000-08:00

Here is Emma's first attempt at eating cereal from a spoon! (Don't mind the cheesy commentary.)

And here she is doing her new trick - ROLLING OVER!

And this one is so super cute of her laughing at one of her toys. You may have to turn your speakers up to hear it really well.

4 Months Old!!! (and lots of pics)

2009-02-07T18:36:00.000-08:00

I am ashamed that it's been almost a month since I've posted ANYTHING! Time just flies by and I'm always so busy now. Being a mom means very few free minutes! Anyway, Emma is now FOUR MONTHS OLD and growing like a weed. Her check up on Friday went well. She is just over 24 inches long, and 12lbs 10oz! Still looks pretty petite.

She is now playing with toys on her own pretty well, almost sitting up, grabbing her feet all the time, and DROOLING like crazy! She makes all sort of noises like she's talking to us, chuckles like an old man, and cuts her eyes over like a flirt when you talk sweet to her. She's such a stinker!

She's doing great at daycare, but has spent a few weeks sick from the other kids. A stomach bug went around and she caught it - which was not fun. Then as soon as she got over that, her snotty nose and cough came back. We'll be SO glad when Spring is here to stay (and the warmer weather!).

Here are several photos of our big little girl!

All smiles! She is the absolute cutest kid ever.

With our wonderful friends, Judy and Rick.

Enjoying a moment with Rick:
More smiles while playing:
With dad during a Tarheel game:
Standing up to cheer!
Sitting in the kitchen in her very cool seat, while mom and dad cook dinner.
Napping (SO SUPER ADORABLE!) with a blanket Eric's grandpa's wife made.

Go Panthers! (and Playing)

2009-01-11T16:08:00.000-08:00

Emma was all ready for the big play-off game day on Saturday...making Daddy proud. Too bad it didn't help the Panthers pull off a win (thanks to Delhomme forgetting which team he played for).

And here she is playing with her new exersaucer that a friend gave us. I think she was thinking, "So many toys, so little time."

THREE Months Old! (And Cuter than Ever)

2009-01-05T17:49:00.000-08:00

I might be a bit biased, but I think Emma is getting cuter with age. I honestly sometimes simply cannot stand how adorable my daughter is. Here are some recent photos now that she is THREE months old. Can you believe it?!

Emma loves watching her new mobile(s) she got for Christmas!

Pretty girl all dressed in her Sunday Best. This is one of my most favorite pictures:
Daddy and Emma love flying around:

Me and Emma out to lunch with friends recently:Here is "Big Girl" Emma sitting in her new Bumpo booster seat watching TV:

The Holy Family - Hee Hee

2009-01-02T08:52:00.000-08:00

Here are are playing Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus at the Children's Christmas Pageant at church a few weeks ago. Jesus was super cute as a baby, wasn't he? :)

Christmas and Such....

2008-12-29T15:49:00.000-08:00

This post is dedicated to my grandmother, Dorothy Smith. Today is the one-year anniversary of when she went to be with her Lord. Miss you, Grandma. Thanks for looking down on us.

It's been a while since I've posted and a lot has happened. I've been sick with ear/sinus infections, Emma started day care today, and we had Grandpa and Nana for a visit! But most importantly, Emma had her first Christmas AND was baptized. Everything was wonderful. We spent the first part of the day with Aunt Cyndi and Uncle Josh in Raleigh. Emma (and we) received lots of fun toys. Then we went to Maw-Maw and Paw-Paw's house for dinner and more great gifts. Below are lots of photos to help explain the past week or so.

Here's Emma all dressed up for Christmas Eve service at church. Thanks to Kaycee at PrissyMiss Boutique and Life As A Mom at 21 for the headband!
Our family Christmas picture. Emma was clearly not feeling the camera.
Here's Emma looking at one of her new books she got for Christmas!
Here's what Emma gave her mommy and daddy for Christmas...she HELD HER OWN BOTTLE for the first time! YAY! :)
With Aunt Amy...
Playing with my new piano from Aunt Jen, Uncle Tim, Jaden and Dillon:
Emma was baptized on Dec. 28 while all our family was in town. Emma wore a dress my grandmother made for me when I was a baby. Here we are with the Grandparents.

Our Brave Little Girl

2008-12-18T18:51:00.000-08:00

We took Emma for her 2 month check-up (even though she's technically 2 1/2 months old). She's looking great! She's up to just under 11 pounds and almost 22 inches long! That sounds huge since she was only 6 lbs. 13 oz. at birth, but she really is quite petite we think.

The big event for today's visit was getting her first round of shots. She took one orally that must have been quite tasty (her first taste of sweetness) because she gulped it down. Then she got three shots, one in one leg and two in the other. She cried of course, but was very brave and did great overall. A good friend recommended we wait and give her a bottle after the shots to help comfort her. We did that and it helped a bunch - she was asleep by the time we left the doctor's office! And so far today she hasn't been too extra fussy. Just extra tired and maybe a little more clingy.

Here's a picture of our brave little girl with her three band-aids...plus a random cute one and a rare shot of me and Emma - just for kicks.

We Elfed Ourselves for Christmas!

2008-12-12T07:54:00.001-08:00

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Sunday Best

2008-12-07T14:40:00.000-08:00

Had to share this precious moment. This is Emma completely zonked out after church this morning....shows you what hard core praise and worship can do!

Daddy's Little Tar Heel

2008-12-05T17:30:00.000-08:00

This posting is for Eric. I married into a Tar Heel lovin' family. But Emma has it in her blood! Here's the proof...ready to cheer on Hansbrough, Lawson and all her boys in Carolina blue...making Daddy proud.

Two Months Old!

2008-12-03T15:50:00.000-08:00

Can you believe Emma is two months old today? Me neither! Here she is sleeping in her swing tonight with the Christmas tree in the background and her Carolina Tarheels bib on in honor of the big game tonight.

A lot has happened in the last week of Emma's life. She had her first Thanksgiving...got to meet Great-grandpa who came to visit from Florida...helped decorate the house for Christmas (well, she slept through most of it, which was a BIG help - HAHA)...AND I went back to work. I was pretty sad about going back to work after two glorious months home with my baby girl, but it's time to get back to reality and settle into a schedule. Things have gone pretty good so far. I haven't cried (a small miracle) and Emma has behaved pretty well for both Eric and Judy, our great family friend who is helping to watch her through December.

Oh...and here's the best news of all. Are you ready for this? Emma is sleeping 9-10 hours a night. Yes, you read that right....TEN HOURS!!! She goes down around 9pm and sleeps until usually around 7am!! We know that this could end any day, but it sure is nice while it lasts. The only down side is that she tends to be a bit fussier during the day and is hard to get down for naps. Still, pretty awesome, huh?!

Here is Emma with her Great-grandpa and sleeping in her Christmas pants.

All Smiles! NEW VIDEO

2008-11-25T15:08:00.000-08:00

It's almost scary how darn cute my baby girl is. In the following video, you can see how she's started smiling. She can focus on toys and faces much better now. Here, she can't take her eyes off the bears hanging above her pack-n-play. Oh, to be a kid again. :)

IT SNOWED!

2008-11-21T09:20:00.000-08:00

Well, we woke up this morning all snuggly in our warm beds to SNOW! Just enough to dust the ground and cover roofs. I can't remember the last time it snowed before Thanksgiving! Now it really feels like the holidays.

Here's a picture from off our back porch (mostly melted here).
Here is Emma bundled up for a trip to Wally-World. She was excited about the snow, too!

Here's Looking at You, Kid!

2008-11-13T15:17:00.000-08:00

Here are some recent pictures of little miss Emma. So cute I can't hardly stand it...even on days like today when she's copping an attitude. That's a momma's love for you. :)

Officer: "Hands Up!" Emma: "I surrender. I am guilty of being the cutest baby in the world."

Dressed in her Sunday Best:
Something extra peaceful about a Sunday nap:

It's a hard life for a little girl:

Doctor's Visit...Right on Track!

2008-11-11T17:08:00.000-08:00

Emma had her first month (technically 5.5 weeks) check up today with the pediatrician. Dr. O'Kelley actually goes to our church and is super nice so we're thankful to be able to see him. Emma is up to just over 9 lbs and 20 1/4 inches long! Right where she should be. Other than a little cradle cap on her forehead (nothing some cream and time won't clear up), she got a clean bill of health AND was deemed "beautiful" by Dr. O'Kelley - but we didn't need an expert to tell us that. :)

Developmentally, she is starting to develop a real personality. She has begun cooing those sweet baby noises. She even is starting to smile at us. However, she also can have a bit of an attitude when she's impatient for food or sleepy. Gee, wonder where she gets that. Hee Hee.

"Watch Me Play!"

2008-11-04T08:38:00.000-08:00

Watch Emma play on her play mat...looks like fun! Not sure if she really knows what she's doing at this age, but she seems to enjoy making the chimes jingle. So cute.

One Month Old!

2008-11-04T08:31:00.000-08:00

It's hard to believe, but Emma is now one month old! As a mom, I'm amazed at how fast she is growing and already want her to slow down. Here are a few pictures we took yesterday (her one month birthday).

Happy Halloween!

2008-11-01T08:26:00.000-07:00

We're all just about feeling better now, just in time for Halloween! Even though miss Emma did not have an actual costume this year, she did sport some pretty cute pumpkin attire to celebrate the festivities. Here are some pictures...Enjoy!

"My first Halloween and all I got was this stupid hat."

"Babies Gone Batty!"

Pat from the church carved this for Emma...great, huh?!

Under the Weather...

2008-10-28T18:25:00.000-07:00

I regret to inform you that 2/3 of the Tysinger household are under the weather. Poor miss Emma has developed a snotty nose and a tiny cough. And I've been battling a nasty stomach bug the past day or so. I'm getting better, I think, but according to the pediatrician, Emma might hold on to this tiny cold for a few weeks. He checked her out really good today and feels that it's nothing serious. No fever or congestion in the chest.

Let me tell you, as a momma, it breaks my heart to think of Emma being sick so soon. She does not act like she feels badly, so that's a blessing. But when she wakes up from naps she sounds just pitiful trying to breath through all that snot! We've been instructed to give her saline drops in the nose and suck out the boogies (gross, I know), use a humidifier, and let her sleep in her car seat to so she doesn't get too congested lying flat. Hopefully within a week or two she'll be back to normal.

We'd appreciate prayers...that Emma doesn't get worse before she gets better. That I continue to bounce back. That Eric doesn't catch anything. And that Eric doesn't loose his mind taking care of his girls. Have I mentioned lately that he'll be winning the Best Husband of the Year award? :)

Mom's Brag Day

2008-10-23T11:20:00.000-07:00

As a new mom, I am entitled to brag about my little girl as often as I want. So, I have self proclaimed today as "Mom's Brag Day" during which I will post several pictures (below) about how cute and wonderful Emma is. Anyone have a problem with that? Didn't think so. :)

As an update, we're doing good and starting to get into some sort of routine. Emma and I try and go out at least once a day...to the store, for a walk, for a drive - to give us something to break the day up. She sleeps almost the entire time we're out. I think she loves the motion of the car and the noises out in public. So far we've been to Target, Wal-Mart, the Bicentennial Gardens, the church office to see folks, and to daddy's work (Triad Stage) for introductions. So, it's been a fun week. And, even though we didn't want to, we've done it all without Grandma! Who knew we were capable on our own. Ha. :)

My baby lost her cord nubby! I was so proud - funny what excites you as a mom:

Emma on her play mat for the first time. So cute watching herself in the mirror:

On our first walk at the Bicentennial Gardens. Loves fall as much as her mom:

Simply the cutest kid in the world:

Getting Back to "Normal"

2008-10-18T06:19:00.000-07:00

OK, so for all of you fellow women readers out there, you'll appreciate this. So this morning I'm getting dressed to meet friends for breakfast (thanks for watching Emma, Mom!). On a whim I decide to try on my pre-pregnancy jeans, thinking the whole time that I'm setting myself up for a disappointment. To my utter amazement, they slip right on! Holy postpartum weight loss, Batman!

As you can imagine, I'm on cloud nine right now. Not only have I dropped all but ONE pound (updated) of my baby weight, I'm wearing NORMAL clothes AND have a beautiful baby girl to go with it. Guess you could say we're getting back to "normal"...even if a new, crazy, wonderful normal.

Emma's Firsts...

2008-10-13T13:04:00.000-07:00

We've had several firsts this first week. There are sure to be many more!

First Walk Outside:
First time sitting in bouncy seat:
First time in swing:
First story time with Mom:

Introducing Emma Grace

2008-10-10T09:24:00.000-07:00

So, obviously, she's here! As you can imagine, life has been crazy since little miss Emma's arrival on October 3. She's now a week old and ever bit as beautiful as the day we met her. Check out some photos below. More to come, of course.

Here's a brief summary of our birth story. The doctors decided to induce me on Wednesday, October 1 due to slightly elevated blood pressure, which they were concerned would continue to increase. We arrived at the hospital at 9pm that night, expecting to have a medication that would help soften the cervix and prepare for labor. Well, I was already contracting on my own according to the monitors, so instead they started the pitocin on a low setting to keep them coming regularly. That continued overnight. At 8:30am the next morning, the doctor tried breaking my water but failed because I was only 2cm and not very effaced. So the pitocin was increased throughout the day until 5pm, at which time Dr. Adkins WAS able to break my water.

Now, up to this point in the labor game, my contractions were NOT bad. I could feel them and was even uncomfortable at times, but kept thinking "this isn't bad at all." Once the water broke, however, TRUE labor contractions began and the whole ballgame changed! I was only able to tolerate those contractions about 45 minutes before asking for an epidural (no hero here)....God bless the inventor of the epidural. After several more hours of contracting and laboring, I was not dilating much at all and Emma was still high up.

At one point in the evening we had a scare. The nurse tried flipping me from laying on one side to another hoping to encourage Emma to drop lower and help me dilate. However, as soon as I got to one side, her heart rate dropped significantly and before we knew it there was an intense rush of nurses helping to lie me back, put oxygen on me and help get her heart rate back up. Took several minutes, but all ended up being OK. But it sure was scary and upsetting. After that episode, the nurse called the doctor and it was decided that Emma was getting tired of labor and needed to go ahead and make her entrance - so a C-section was planned.

So, Emma Grace Tysinger arrived into this world on Friday, October 3 at 12:57am. She weighed 6lbs 13oz and was 18.5 inches long. She is absolutely beautiful and has had her eyes wide open and been holding her head up from the very beginning. We left the hospital on Monday, October 6 and have been getting to know each other at home with dad ever since. I'm feeling great and Emma is a wonderful baby - doesn't cry much and smiles at us (even if she doesn't know it yet). Although I expect it to be hard to find time, I will try and give updates as often as I can. Thanks for the love and support!

The Wait is Almost Over!

2008-09-30T10:46:00.000-07:00

How does October 2 sound for Emma's arrival date?! At our doctor's appointment today, she is measuring around 7.5 lbs and looks great. But because my blood pressure is slightly elevated (not bad) and we're at 39 weeks already, and the fact that she's a good size and I've started to dilate/efface on my own, the doctor feels it's a good idea to encourage her to come on out. I think they might be concerned about her head growing too much if she "bakes" much longer because she's still not dropped down very far. But that's just my opinion.

So, the plan is to admit me to the hospital on WEDNESDAY night to begin a 2-stage induction. I'll see our OB that afternoon for one more check. Then when admitted, I'll get a medication that softens the cervix and gets things started. Once that kicks in, they'll start pitocin to regulate things and really get it moving. From there, we'll just have to wait and see...but she should arrive sometime Thursday.

We're very excited to know we'll be meeting Emma very soon. We'd appreciate your prayers, and will update as soon as we can. Love to you all!

Momma's Little Pumpkin (And u/s Update)

2008-09-18T14:25:00.000-07:00

Today's doctor's appointment went well, but we were expecting to be scheduling an induction for within a week or so since the last appointment showed Emma measuring ahead. Well, the ultrasound we had today showed her measuring pretty much on schedule (around 37.5-38 weeks) and at 7 lbs. So, if I've not gone into labor on my own, we're going to wait and see how big she is with another u/s in two weeks. I am around 1 cm dilated, so we're at least headed in the right direction!

The great part about today was seeing our baby girl again. She's got such adorable chubby cheeks, so I decided since it looks like she'll be an October baby, "Pumpkin" sounds like a great nickname. Momma's little pumpkin. :)

Another shower...and some pictures

2008-09-09T18:05:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from our shower on Saturday. We loved seeing some of Eric's family and friends from Asheboro. The ADORABLE cake was made by, of course, our good family friend, Tammy! (She also did our wedding cake.) The quilt we're holding was made by Judy, our "third mom." We knew we were getting a quilt but are blown away by this one. It's so perfect for our little girl and her nursery. Below are some pictures from the shower. Man, I look so tired and puffy! And I posted a few photos of the completed nursery and a belly shot taken today. Can I grow anymore?!?! :)

Emma Measuring Ahead!

2008-09-08T19:50:00.000-07:00

Well, it's late, so this will be brief. We had an appointment today and I am measuring at 38 weeks...that's TWO WEEKS ahead. About 6 weeks ago, at 30 weeks, I was measuring at 32 but that doctor said it didn't mean anything at that point. Then our 35 weeks visit had her measuring right on schedule. Today, however, the doctor felt it warranted an ultrasound to make sure just how big she's getting. So, next Thursday (the 18th) we go for an ultrasound and to see our primary OB to discuss the results of the u/s and any suggested measures to take. If she is, in fact, getting big, he may suggest being induced sooner than later. Or, if she's REALLY big, a c-section. We're hoping for the former if she's getting big.

We'll keep everyone up to date, of course. It would be great to see her sooner than we thought, and would be great to be able to tell the folks when to hit the road...but I'm really hoping for things to be as natural as possible as far as being able to let my body labor. So, thanks for your prayers as we wait to see what happens. Love to all! Oh...and I also owe you all some pictures. Finished the nursery and had another shower or two since the last posting. Will get to that ASAP.

PS - Yes, her name is Emma. Emma Grace. :) So, that cat's out of the bag.

Nursery....It's Coming Along.

2008-08-21T17:56:00.000-07:00

Just posted a few pictures of the nursery. There's a lot left to do...I can't wait to get my creative juices all over that room! We hope to get the crib soon. It was out of stock when Eric went to get it on Monday - pooh! The cradle will more than likely be in our room the first few weeks. I'll post more as we get more done.

On another note, I'd appreciate prayers for me at work. I'm starting to feel quite overwhelmed as my time begins to run out doing projects and extra work ahead of time. I've been working over several days the past few weeks and the list keeps getting longer! Thanks. Love to all!

Baby Shower #2 and 33 Week Update

2008-08-16T11:52:00.000-07:00

My mom and sister threw me my second baby shower on August 2. It was so much fun, even though I was exhausted. I had not been sleeping well for several days and woke up that morning feeling tired, weepy, and sore. But, thankfully had a good time with friends at the shower. We played some fun games. My favorite was a game where my sister melted mini candy bars (chocolate) inside of diapers, then everyone had to guess what candy each "poop" was just by smelling it...see the grossness below! The other game was the one where everyone tore off a piece of crepe paper to guess the girth of my baby bump...Patty won! Thanks to all the ladies for such a great shower and great gifts....including our stroller/car seat, pack-n-play, clothes, diapers, blankets, etc.

Now for an update. I'm now at about 33 weeks. So hard to believe we're in the home stretch. After a couple of weeks of bad sleeping, and waking up with a severely sore arm in the mornings, I asked the doctor about it and found out I have pregnancy induced carpal tunnel. Thanks to a wrist brace, I am sleeping and feeling SO much better. I feel like a new woman! Although, I think I've started puffing up a bit in my face which makes me look tired all the time. Baby girl is doing great. The doctor estimates she's about 4.25 lbs. She's really low, head down, and the doc thinks she'll more than likely stay that way until birth.

I think I mentioned we started our birthing classes a few weeks ago at the hospital. They're going great. I'm actually thinking hard about trying to do things a lot more naturally than before. I just figured I would HAVE to have an epidural to make it through. But, pregnancy has a way of making me feel like I can take on the world. I've not ruled out pain medications (I'm no hero!) but I'm hoping breathing and relaxation can help me through a lot more of it than I originally thought. Who knows...we'll see. I posted some 33 week pictures, to the right.

Since we're approaching the last several weeks, I'll try to post whenever there's news or progress. Otherwise, I'll be spending lots of time in the nursery, at work (trying to get ahead for maternity leave) and extra sleeping (while I can!). We'd appreciate prayers for these last weeks and a great delivery. Will write more soon. Love to all.

Clairvoyant Predicts my Birth Experience! (Ha!)

2008-08-01T14:58:00.000-07:00

Ok - so this is totally just for fun. Someone on Baby Center (website community for expectant moms) posted this site where "Madame Zaritska" predicts your birth experience based on your questions to a few of her questions. Here's what I am apparently in for....guess we'll have to see just how clairvoyant Madame Zaritska is. Other than the boy part, sounds pretty good! I could certainly handle a 4 hour labor!!! And, neither Eric or I had much hair at all when we were born. Oh well - at least a good laugh. Enjoy.

Madame Zaritska, our resident clairvoyant, wants to help you prepare for the arrival of your child. Here she does here best to predict certain aspects of your labor and birth experience. What she senses for you...

The day you deliver, outside will be foggy. Your baby will arrive in the early evening. After a labor lasting approximately 4 hours, your child, a boy, will be born. Your baby will weigh about 6 pounds, 6 ounces and will be 22 inches long. This child will have blue eyes and some very fine hair.

31 Weeks...Good News...and Start of Classes

2008-07-31T10:41:00.000-07:00

Just heard from my OB's nurse. All came back normal from yesterday's 3-hour glucose test. Can you hear my sigh of relief?! The test was not as bad as I expected, although I came away with four holes in my arm I would rather not have. :)

Not much else to report. Things are moving right along. I'm at 31 weeks now and continuing to grow. The little one moves almost constantly now. Last night in bed Eric and I watched her do some sort of flip or something. My whole belly looked like waves in the ocean! It's getting easier to imagine her in there taking up so much room. We did find out at our last appointment (on Monday) that she's head-down. That means her feet are up and doing a lot of kicking where I can actually see it...but thankfully she's not made it up into my ribs yet.

On Monday we also started our series of classes at the hospital. Women's Hospital here in Greensboro actually has a wonderful education center specifically for these classes. Monday was the Infant CPR class. It was good to feel prepared for protecting baby girl, but also neat to meet several other young couples who are expecting around the same time. Next Monday evening begins 5 weeks of birthing classes. I'll let you all know how those go. Even though he won't admit it, I think Eric's nervous to watch the birthing video - so pray for him! :) More coming soon...

Last Vacation As a Family of Two

2008-07-23T18:47:00.001-07:00

We are spending this week at the beach...our last vacation as a family of two. We had planned to go to New York City, but found out at the last minute that the apartment we were going to use (a friend of Eric's) does not have air conditioning. Not a good plan for a 7-month pregnant woman who needs naps and cooling off periodically. So, we made some last minute arrangements and have had a VERY relaxing time at North Myrtle Beach. So far, we've had some great meals, some great alone time, some great walks on the beach...and I've had some GREAT naps. :) The little chickie has been moving a bunch, so I can only assume she can tell how relaxed mommy is. I've posted a picture taken on our balcony...30 weeks TODAY!

Glucose Screening

2008-07-17T10:26:00.001-07:00

Well, I had my one-hour glucose screening during Monday's appointment - and found out today that I failed it by ONE point! So, I'm going back on July 30 for a three-hour screening that can actually determine Gestational Diabetes. I don't have any of the symptoms that indicate any problem, have not gained much weight respectively, and have been feeling good, so we're keeping our fingers crossed for a good result. I'd appreciate your prayers. To be safe, I guess this means no cheesecake while we're in NYC next week. Oh well. :)

Holy Third Trimester, Baby!

2008-07-03T12:48:00.000-07:00

Ok, so just this minute I realized by looking at a pregnancy calendar that we just entered the third trimester. Can I just say HOLY COW?! I'm feeling a little bit overwhelmed all of a sudden at how much there is left to do. We don't even have the crib purchased yet! Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday that we were telling our parents the good news.

I must say, though, that I think my body certainly believes it's the last trimester. I'm starting to have a little bit of a hard time heaving myself out of bed, feeling a bit larger every day, and the wish for a mid-day nap time is creeping back from how I felt the first several weeks. And, can I just say among friends, that the stretch marks on my belly will now and forever be not so fondly referred to as my "momma battle scars." But don't fret, baby girl, I wear them proudly.

Now, despite the panic over my to-do list and the changes going on in this alien body of mine, I can't describe the amazing realization that in just about 13-14 weeks we will have our little girl with us! God willing all will go smoothly and we will all be healthy, but we will actually get to MEET her. No more, "I wonder what she'll look like" and "I can't wait to get to know her."

I have so much enjoyed having her all to myself during this pregnancy. Me and momma's girl. I better savor that while I've got it. I have a feeling once she's here she'll be all daddy's. :) *Sigh.* And so it begins, the parent's mantra, "Where has the time gone?"

Our First Baby Shower

2008-06-30T14:52:00.000-07:00

Today, my co-workers at the church threw us our first baby shower. It was SO much fun! We played a cute game of "guess the baby food" which had everyone guessing the flavors of jars of baby food that were missing their labels. Then, as the guests of honor, Eric and I had to taste test each one to confirm the flavors...scary! :) HaHa. Here's Eric doing some tasting.

We had a light lunch of yummy appetizers and fruit. Perfect for a hot summer day. The cake was made by a church member who owns her own bakery. TOTALLY ADORABLE, and tasted even better than it looked. Take a look at the cute creation.

We are so blessed to have such generous friends. We received a bunch of great gifts to help us get the nursery started. I got my Bobby - yeah! We also got several blankets, our infant carrier (the kind that lets you "wear" the baby around), some cute rattles and toys, books, gift cards, the humidifier, and several other cute stuff. I'm so lucky to be part of such a wonderful church family AND staff.

Away We GROW!

2008-06-18T18:40:00.000-07:00

Baby girl and I are now at 25 weeks. Oh, how times flies. I realized it has been awhile since I took some pictures, so here are two for you (Belly Shots #5 to the right). For fun, I included a shot from above - so you see what I see...NO FEET! I am starting to feel like I'm getting a little bigger every day. I actually had to do an old "heave ho" move the other morning to get out of bed. Ha! It's incredibly hard to believe that we only have around 15 weeks left. Holy cow! More to come, soon.

I'm Nesting!

2008-06-07T17:29:00.000-07:00

We've all heard that mothers-to-be go through a "nesting" phase when they want to clean, organize, make things - generally prepare for the baby. Well, I believe I'm there. I'm going to admit something here that might be hard for some of you to believe (and not so hard for others), but I can tend to be somewhat of a procrastinator - especially on the weekends. Chores, blah. Laundry, blah. Yard work, double blah.

Well, in two days time I have gotten more done than I ever thought possible. I've cooked some treats, cleaned the entire downstairs, done the laundry (from start to finish!), scrapbooked five pages for the baby's book, AND (drum roll, please)...have hand sewn two burp cloths. I completely expect some of you to doubt the truth behind this claim, so I have proof. Check out the picture of the burp cloths to the right. Cute, right?! I might even try a matching bib.

I've got a whole list of other baby crafts and goodies I'd like to tackle. With the weather as hot as it's been I need lots of indoor projects to keep me occupied. A side note - it was 100 degrees today in Greensboro. Ugh. Some of the crafts on my list include custom-shape cut out bath time sponges, mini lamp shade night light, thank you cards, felt children's book, decorated wooden letters (baby's name) for wall of nursery.... to name a few. I'll post photos as I make my way through the list.

Let's just hope this nesting phase continues long enough to get some of this stuff done!

Quick Update

2008-06-04T05:30:00.000-07:00

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday for a quick check-up. And when I say quick, I mean 20 minutes in and out of the door! Usually we wait longer than that just in the waiting room, so it was a nice surprise! Blood pressure was back down around normal (yeah!) and have gained just a few more pounds - still right where the doc would like me to be so I'm pleased. Other than that, he measured my belly for the height of the uterus - which now reaches well past my belly button. WOW, huh?! Baby girl's heartbeat was nice and strong. She's been kicking up near my belly button now, which is cool because it's starting to get easier to feel from the outside.

That's about all to report for now. Just cruisin' right along. We go back to the doctor July 2, then two weeks after that for the glucose screening. Oh - and some of you have been asking. We've registered at both Target and Baby's-R-Us. Love to you all!

She's Got the Moves!

2008-05-27T10:29:00.000-07:00

Sweet little "Baby T" is getting the reputation of being a mover and a shaker! The past several days have brought a HUGE increase in kicks and twists and tiny little punches. No mistaking she's on the move. And, to Eric's great excitement, he was able to feel her little acrobatics on Saturday morning. She is usually moving around when I first wake up in the morning, so I've been urging Eric to try and feel her. As he feels around, I kept saying, "Did you feel that?...How about that one?" Finally on Saturday, he could feel the faintest little nudge. Since then he's felt her a few more times. The kicks are getting strong enough that sometimes they will stop me in my tracks. Yesterday in the mall, one kick made it all the way to my belly button and almost tickled!

Many of you have told us this, but we agree that there is nothing better than this feeling. No doubt it - she's got moves!

Halfway There!

2008-05-20T16:14:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe, but we've made it halfway there - 20 weeks! Wow, time sure is flying by. I've posted a picture so you can keep up with the growing process, but I don't see much difference. I do, however, feel more and more pregnant each day. I went to an arts festival over the weekend with Cyndi and a friend...walking around all day is getting harder. And the funnel cake tasted better than ever. :) If the scales at home are correct, I don't think I've gained any more weight, but we'll see at next appointment on June 3.

The biggest change lately is how much she is moving around. It still feels like a gold fish swimming around, but more noticeable. She likes to move mostly at night when I'm sitting around and relaxing. Every once and a while she gives me a pretty decent "Hey Mom, I'm down here!" bump. It's such an indescribably awesome feeling. Eric can't wait to feel the kicks, too.

So, at the halfway point, all is well. Feeling great and loving being pregnant. Thanks for all the prayers and support. Love you all!

Strengthening Our Family

2008-05-12T07:51:00.000-07:00

For those of you who don't know, I work at a large church here in Greensboro. Every Monday we do devotions at the beginning of our staff meeting. The scripture for this morning was Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. Verse 12b reads, "A cord of three strands is not quickly broken." This made me think about the "third strand" we're getting ready to add to our family. Eric and I have been blessed with a marriage where were can rely on each other as life partners, friends, encouragers, someone to hold us up when we fall. I am a stronger person with Eric at my side; and I hope he'd say the same for me. And as we await our precious little girl my thoughts have been focused on ways she will need us, for food, protection, guidance, wisdom, education, love, acceptance, and so on.

Through this verse from Ecclesiastes, God reminded me this morning that this little person will become part of what makes our family so strong. She will not only need things from us, but we will need things from her. She will provide us with strength that neither Eric or I can bring to the family. Her spiritual gifts will enrich us and make us stronger. And throughout the years, I am sure she will have the chance to hold us up in times of trial and need. What a powerful realization - and a blessing beyond compare. Thank you, God, for these tiny reminders each day of your faithfulness and love!!

BIG NEWS - It's a...

2008-05-05T17:40:00.000-07:00

Well, we had our 18 week ultrasound today and found out that we're expecting baby GIRL Tysinger!!! The pictures were pretty clear and don't leave much room for doubt. I cried and Eric cheered....both happy emotions, of course. She was moving all around. It was so neat to watch her move hands, fingers, feet all around. I'll post some pictures soon, but there were two that are just priceless. We caught her with her foot completely above her head - a future gymnast, maybe? Then, at one point she gave us the hang-ten sign (or for some of you, the TX Longhorn symbol). So funny.

Anyway, all measurements check out and all the parts are right where they should be and accounted for. We've been thinking our due date was October 1 because of the measurements at our 12 week ultrasound, but today she measured right on track with the first prediction of October 8. SO...we're just going with early October.

My health checked out right on track, too. Finally gained just a few pounds and my blood pressure is down a bit from where it was at the last check-up. Hopefully it's starting a downward trend. The maternity clothes my mom bought me when we visited them recently are serving their purpose! Thanks, Mom.

I started my water exercise class last Thursday - which was awesome! It's me and a few "grandmas" but I love it. It's relaxing and, based on the increased fluttering afterward, the baby seemed to love it. I go every Tuesday/Thursday at the local YMCA.

We've not bought anything for the baby quite yet because we wanted to know first what "flavor" we were having. So, after today's appointment we went straight to Babys-R-Us and registered for the first batch of things. Man, it's overwhelming! And, Eric is upstairs as I type getting ready to paint the nursery a pretty green. Speaking of which, I'd better go and at least offer to help. :)

Remember to check back soon for the most recent shots of our sweet baby girl.

17 Week Update

2008-04-27T12:28:00.000-07:00

Well, on Wednesday we hit the 17 week mark. In my last blog, I said 17, but was a bit ahead of myself. Think I'm anxious to make it to each week. This means we're almost at the 5 month mark - so amazing how fast time is flying by!

I posted a few photos (see to the left). Until I saw the picture from this week, I don't think I realized how much by belly has grown already. Of course, I started on the "lovably huggable" soft chubby side, but keep in mind I wasn't nearly this ROUND out front - promise! WOW - guess there really is a baby in there. :) With the growing belly, I've found myself beginning to rub my belly at night without even realizing it. I feel proud of my mommy-bump, but also protective. Eric talks once and a while to the baby - usually to say good night or good morning. So sweet. He just has to learn that there's no reason to yell for the little squirt to hear him. :)

The only other update is about something that happened yesterday. I had a scary dizzy spell in the bathroom. I was standing at the mirror for several minutes (grooming) and suddenly felt light headed, dizzy, had blurry vision, and heard ringing in my ears. I sat down on the toilet to gain my composure and had to wait a few minutes for it to start to pass. Eric was at church rehearsing with our children's choirs for a play they did today, so I called him since I didn't like being at home alone and feeling like I might faint. He came right home, but also suggested I call the on-call nurse with our OB. I should have thought of that. When I told her what happened, she asked a few follow up questions, and since I wasn't experiencing any other symptoms she decided it was probably nothing major. I laid down for about an hour, relaxed, drank some water, and felt better by the time I got up. Looking back, we think I might have had my knees locked or something standing for so many minutes - lame, huh? But a good lesson for me to pay more attention to what I'm doing and how I'm doing it. So far, have felt back to normal - but since my blood pressure has been up a bit we're going to keep an eye on it.

One more week until we go for our ultrasound! So, hopefully our next posting will have some EXCITING news! Be sure to check back - we plan to post about once a week unless there's something special to tell you about.

Thanks again for your love and support.

So Far (Through 17 Weeks)

2008-04-22T09:10:00.000-07:00

Many of you have asked how Teresa's been feeling. We're at 17, almost 18, weeks now. She's been feeling great so far! The first two weeks brought a little bit of nausea and trouble with smells (anything!) bothering her. Luckily, though, she never had actual morning sickness. After that subsided, which happened over night one day, there has been some noticeable fatigue but that's about the extent of it.

Our first few doctor's appointments have been great so far. We are happy to be seeing Dr. Holland at Physicians for Women of Greensboro. He's a mild-mannered, soft spoken doctor who doesn't rush up through appointments, but doesn't fill us with unnecessary information or discussions either. He's great to thoroughly answer any questions we've had and explain what's happening at each stage.

At our 11 week appointment we anticipated being able to hear the heartbeat for the first time. They traditionally use a Doppler device on the outside of the belly. However, after some uncomfortable pushing and poking, Dr. Holland could not find the heartbeat. Teresa felt a little uneasy about that at first, but we were quickly reassured when Dr. Holland suggested we do an ultrasound to make sure everything looked OK. After waiting over an hour (no wonder they schedule ultrasounds separately!), we went in for the ultrasound and were able to hear that marvelous sound for ourselves. For those of you who have never heard a baby's heartbeat like this, it sounds sort of like rushing water with a constant wave pulsing through it. The heart beat registered at 169 beats/minute. If you're one of those people who trust in old wives tales, you might think this high heartbeat indicates that the sex is a girl. But, only God knows! We also walked away with the first photo of our little one. It was a perfect profile view. We intend to post the photo up soon, so be sure to check back for that and subsequent u/s photos.

All other appointments have shown mother and baby to be in great health. Teresa is pleased to have not yet gained any weight. Since she started out on the, well, lovable squishy side, the hope of both doctor and mommy is to keep weight gain to a minimum. To help this goal, Teresa has enrolled in a water aerobics class at our local YMCA twice a week. Our only slight concern is that Teresa's blood pressure has been elevated somewhat over the past few appointments. At the latest appointment, we asked Dr. Holland about this and he is not yet concerned. Supposedly, this can happen to moms during the first half of the pregnancy then level off until the end. We'll keep an eye on it and pray that hers does just that.

Our next appointment is Monday, May 5 during which we will have our next ultrasound and hopefully discover if we're having a bouncing baby boy or giggly baby girl. If you want to know the truth, both momma and daddy to be have a strong feeling that the little critter is a girl - and have felt that way from the very beginning. However, you know how those things go. We'll be thankful and ecstatic to simply have a healthy baby. We hope to announce the big news soon, so check back often! More to come...

Welcome to our Baby Blog!

2008-04-22T08:56:00.001-07:00

Well, we're expecting our first baby! What an awesome and wonderful and crazy blessing. After seeing a great blog from some friends who recently had their first baby, we decided to do the same thing. We hope to help keep everyone up to date on how things are going throughout the pregnancy, any special news or announcements, dates for showers, and hopefully also some photos along the way.

First and foremost, we want to give the glory of this pregnancy and the little miracle being created to God! We feel in complete awe that this child's tiny life has been touched by our Creator and that we have the privilege to be entrusted to raise him/her. Kind of scary, but also exciting! We welcome and appreciate your prayers and thoughts throughout the next several months...that things go smoothly, we all stay healthy, and that our doctors and nurses are given the insight and discernment to give us the care we need.

So, enjoy this blog and feel free to share your comments, your own pregnancy stories and/or advice.