First 3 months

Edith Jane you are such a joy. You are a precious girl. We are so blessed to be your parents.

 You wore this outfit for about 30 minutes. Nana and Pawpaw were here the weekend that you turned one month old. We took you to eat at Foster's and you spit up in the car on the way. :)

I absolutely adore you in your two month pink sweater outfit from my coworker Jenny Peat. 

2 month stats:

Height: 57 cm (22.44") (47%, Z = -0.06) 

Head circumference: 40.5 cm (15.94") (96%, Z = 1.77) 

Weight: 5.59 kg (12 lb 5.2 oz) (71%, Z = 0.55) 

At two months you were still waking up every 2 or 3 hours to eat at night.

You turned three months just 8 days after you started going to Mrs. Anna's 3 days a week. Mommy stays home with you on Tuesdays and Daddy stays home with you on Fridays. We both love our Edith days.

January 14th (3 months 5 days) stats:

Weight:  6.475 kg (14 lb 4.4 oz)  

You flew home for the first time in your third month to celebrate Christmas with our family in Arkansas. You started sleeping more at night right around Christmas time. You would go down for the night around 8 or 9 pm and wake up 2-4 times a night.

You turn four months old tomorrow. You now go to sleep at 8 and sleep until 7am with usually only one meal around 2 am. You still only have breastmilk and you still sleep in your Fisher Price Rock and Play beside our bed. You take a nap from around 9-10:30, a short nap around noon, and you nap again from around 2-4pm.

A sweet lady from church bought you this onesie.

You love to laugh. You have the best smile.

You love to hold your hands together and touch your feet. You are trying to roll over.

You love your Dad. He makes you smile. 

You can be a very serious girl sometimes. We always wish we knew what you were thinking.

• You love: your O ball, your Very Hungry Caterpillar crinkle book, your paci!, your baby piano, mirrors.
• You do not love: to be startled, having to wait to eat
• Firsts in your 3rd month: flying on an airplane, going to Mrs. Anna's, going to the nursery at church
• Mom's favorite memories: bedtime snuggles, watching you laugh when Daddy blows bubbles on your belly, your smiles in the middle of the night when you wake up to eat, your new love of playing with your crinkle book

Edith Jane's Birth Story

Our sweet girl was born 3 MONTHS ago (I can't believe I am that far behind) on Wednesday October 9th 2013 at 8:16am. She was 6lbs 8oz and 19 1/4 inches long. She is a precious baby girl.

The birth story was somewhat scary, but had an excellent outcome. I was scheduled to be induced due to high blood pressure on Tuesday the 8th at 7:30 am. I progressed appropriately, but my Dr. checked my lab values after I had a urine sample with elevated protein. My lab values were off and Dr. Nieves decided to check them again the next morning. During that time I developed HELLP syndrome. Dr. Nieves then decided to go ahead with a c-section as we needed to get sweet girl out into the world before I would likely progress to delivery. Unfortunately, I was unable to have an epidural because my platelets were so low, and it would be a significant bleeding risk. I ended up with general anesthesia. I was blessed to have two amazing surgeons perform my surgery. Miss Edith made it out into the world with very minimal time in exposure to the anesthesia. We were so thankful for her safe and quick delivery. 

Here is one of the very first pictures of her. Dane was changing her diaper in the newborn nursery. The nursery nurse Maegan was very helpful and kind. We were thankful for her. I love this picture. I wasn't able to be there for Edith's first diaper change, but she has an amazing Dad who would do anything for her and he was right there.

Baby footprints!

Dane brought Edith to me as soon as he could when I was in recovery. I was able to do skin to skin and breastfeed Edith the help of Maegan and my amazing nurse Amy. I was pretty sedated and I feel so grateful to my sweet husband and my nurses for working so hard to fulfill my wish to have this family time and begin nursing my sweet little girl.

I was able to return to my room after a few hours of monitoring and a nerve block that helped with pain control. I had to stay in bed with a magnesium drip for 24 hours after surgery. That meant that Dane had to provide 99% of Edith's care. I didn't even change a diaper until Edith was about 4 days old. The mag drip made me very sick. Dane was/is phenomenal with E. He rocked her, swaddled her, changed her diaper, sang to her, danced with her. He would bring her to me anytime I asked or anytime that I needed to feed her. She is blessed to have such an amazing Daddy.

Edith Jane being all cute and precious on her first day of life.

 She hated to have her arms swaddled down. Now she can't sleep without them swaddled!

 I love her face in this one. 

Our parents were here for the entire week of her birth. My mom even stayed a few extra days and my aunt Julie came down as well. Beth came for her birth too. Our families did so much to help us that week. They rocked Edith, brought us food, cleaned our house, and basically just loved on us. They drove back and forth from the hospital to our house and did anything we asked. Dane stayed with me and Edith the entire time. To be honest, I really don't even know everything that our parents did for us because I don't remember everything. But I know they helped us all day and night.

 We got to come home on Saturday around 7pm. We had to wait for me to start taking blood pressure medicine because my BP was still elevated. I was so happy to go home. Overjoyed really.

Here we are the next day in our bed. Edith looks so tiny. She actually sleeps in a co-sleeper right beside our bed, but we wanted to get a picture of our little family at home. Being home with our baby girl was an amazing feeling.

I have so many new mommy emotions about the birth of our daughter. We love her so much. She is an amazing blessing.

...I am going to try to update more regularly..

North Carolina Showers

Dane and I have been blessed with 3 beautiful showers in North Carolina starting with our shower at Bethlehem UMC in Climax, NC where Dane is serving as Field Education Intern. Dane was placed at Bethlehem this summer and requested to continue to serve there during the academic year. The church hosted a beautiful shower for us on Sunday Sept 8th at 2pm.

These women hosted the shower.  

 Dane and I loved these adorable onesies that we received celebrating our two homes.

The SoCo (Social Committee) at my work hosted a shower for us at my friend Tara's house in Raleigh on Friday night Sept 13th. Dana and Ilana are the SoCo chairs. 

 I honestly work with the sweetest women on earth. I love them and I love working at Duke! They went together and got us a video baby monitor, an adorable onesie with a ruffle skirt, and crib mirror (for visual stimulation). 

On Saturday Sept 14th, my friends Karen, Jenny, and Vail hosted a shower for me for our friends from the Duke Divinity Spouse Group at the church where Jenny works Christ Church in Chapel Hill. These ladies have been a lifesaver for me. They are amazing women. 

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 They created an adorable theme with birds from our "hatching" announcement that we used back in April.

 It was wonderful for all of us to see Gwen because she doesn't live in Durham anymore 

and we miss her like crazy!

Thankful for these friends.

September has been a great month.

 I have had some issues with hypertension and have been put on modified bedrest. I am currently working 2 days a week and resting the rest of the week. 

Dane and I cannot wait to meet our little girl next month. October is only 4 days away!!

 I can't believe it is finally here.

Edith's Cave City Shower

First, I have to give a huge thank you to these amazing hosteses - Callie and Ange, my dear childhood friends. They are fantastic friends, and they know how to host a shower. They coordinated with several people and provided lots of yummy food. Our moms Sabra and Angie and our aunts Wanda, Julie, and Jody also helped. We also want to thank the Bank of Cave City, specifically John Beller for sharing their new conference/community room. It is a wonderful room for hosting events!

 

I love these girls!

 Edith got several great books! She is going to be a reader.

 There was a large pile of beautiful presents!

 We received several personalized items including this picture board from Tim and Karen Palmer. Beth was a big help as she recorded all of the gifts.

Among many other things that we already received, my parents got us a birth-5 Baby Book. It is precious and we are ready to fill it with memories.

 I loved this box of goodies from Dane's aunt Jody. She got us the cutest stuff including an awesome frame with the letter "E" that matches Edith's room.

 Ange made a watermelon baby and Callie made some yummy cupcakes. Angie made her famous sausage balls, mom made a yummy cheese ball and a veggie tray, and my aunt Julie made some delicious chicken pinwheels. We also had some awesome pink punch.

 The fireplace was decorated with pom poms and adorable personalized onesies.

 Angie quilted a beautiful quilt to match Edith's room! It is truly beautiful and I know she (we) will treasure it always. It matches both her ruffle crib skirt and her curtains. We have a grey, pink, and navy pattern theme. I love the quilt. It is just precious.

 Among other things, Angie also made an adorable shirt dress from one of Dane's old button down shirts that is just too sweet for words. 

 Aunt Wanda helped with the shower! Deanna got an adorable haircut.

 Dane and Reid (and Dad- no picture) made an appearance at the end of the shower. Reid wore his pink shirt that we bought for him and Dad to wear to work after the revealment party.

 They were very good sports!

Mom and Beth and I in Edith's room colors. ;) I love this picture!

Me with the Dad to be. This guy loves his little girl. He always asks me how "his girls" are doing. :)

 Jody got Dane a "New Dad Diaper Duty Belt" with lots of baby supplies,

 including gloves and a facemask. ;)

 Dane thinks that the gloves are a great idea...

Inez Bristow took all of these great pictures. Thank you Inez for the memories.

We feel overwhelmed by all of the kind and generous gifts that we received in our wonderful hometown. We will be anxious to return home at Christmas and show off our little love.

I can't complete this post without highlighting another major life event - Callie got engaged while I was home!!

 Great timing Matt . ;)

 Here is the adorable couple earlier in the summer at my parent's house.

I love this girl and I am thrilled for her! We (my family) were able to see Callie on Wednesday when we picked Beth up from the airport. I just couldn't wait until the shower on Saturday. ;) We ate dinner at Zaza's and admired Callie's new bling. I am very excited for her and Matt! They make a great couple, and we are ready to celebrate and prepare for a wedding in ~14 months!! Hooray for fall weddings.

Baby Womack is a Girl! Edith Jane Womack

Dane and I went home in June for Dane to attend Annual Conference. We left Friday night, stayed the night with Beth in Nashville, and headed home to Arkansas on Saturday morning after breakfast at Noshville with the Hambricks. 

Our parents hosted a fun gender revealment party for us at Mom and Dad's house! The party was too much fun and the food was delicious. Crystal Nicholson made our cupcakes with the surprise inside. Beth took almost all of these pictures on her camera. 

 It was great to see our parents. 

 Ross looking handsome. He loved the party.

 Loved the pom poms.

 Reid and Angie came over early to help with the preparations.

 We asked everyone to choose a pink cupcake if they thought we were having a girl and a blue cupcake if they thought we were having a boy.

 Love our mommas.

 Grillmasters. I specifically asked for my dad's burgers.

 Nanny Mert

 Angie and Vaughn

 Mamaw

 My Aunt Wanda

 Sherra and Tony

 Callie made it from LR!

 Ange

 Wanda and Jack

 Catie

 This isn't the final tally, but EVERYONE thought we were having a boy.

 We had two of the best potato salads!

 The weather was nice enough to sit outside some.

 Jody

 Mom worked hard on the food.

 Ross loved Jody. 

 Pop

 Dad to be ;)

 Callie and Matt

 Beth and mom being silly.

 Beth got to eat the first cupcake so that she could photograph our parents. She was very surprised. 

Love her face.

 And the cupcake said... GIRL! :)

 Reid skyped Corey in to the party on the iPad.

 Ross got a pink bandana to celebrate our baby girl!

 yum.

 Aunt Julie enjoying the sunshine.

This is my favorite picture from the party. I'm pretty sure Ross got to taste the icing ;) Love him.

Thank you to our parents for a wonderful party. We had a blast and loved celebrating our sweet girl.

We announced at the party that we plan to name her Edith Jane Womack. Edith was my maternal great grandmother's name (my Gran's mom). I did not know her, but I hear she was a pretty spectacular woman. Jane is Jill+Dane.