September

Hazel practicing her tummy time. Looking in her mirror.

Playing under her overhead toys. Some of her faces look just like her daddy!

Daddy and Hazel.

Me and Hazel. One of the few mom/daughter pictures! We better work on that.

Daddy was singing nursery songs to Hazel! She loves when people sing to her!!

Check out those eyelashes. We think they grow everyday!! Very pretty if I do say so myself :)

Trevor and I were getting ready to go to a gathering and this is how we found Hazel when we were ready to go. I think she had a tough day of playing!!!

3 months old on September 5th!

Cute dress!

Looking at daddy while he was taking her picture.

Hazel is growing up so fast. Trevor and I love being her parents. She discovers something new all the time. Her latest discovery are her toes. She kicks her legs up and touches her toes. She hasn't put them in her mouth by herself yet, but I'm sure that is right around the corner. She also discovered her voice recently. She loves to screech and let us know she is present. She loves to be held, watch TV (just like her dad-we watch a lot of sports at our house), and likes to get fresh when we go for stroller rides. She has also made it to five 9th grade football games to watch her cousin Quentin play. They are having a tough year, but it still nice to get out of the house. She has also been to watch Spencer play three games. Last week was bit to cold for her to be outside. Unfortunately, she won't be able to go watch CFHS Homecoming game tonight, because of the icky weather. But...she will get to hang out with her aunt, uncle, and cousins tonight instead. They all love when they get to see her!!

At the beginning of September, I went back to work. Hazel has adjusted well to daycare. Grandpa and Grandma daycare that is. My parents are watching her when I work during the week and Trevor has her when I work on the weekends. Trevor and I are truly blessed to have my parents watching her when needed. His sister and mom/dad have also helped with watching her. Everyone is a blessing to Hazel, myself, and Trevor!!!! :)

She will be 4 months old on October 5th...I will be sure to post more pictures.

Baptism on July 5th!

Hazel Ruth was baptized on July 5th, 2009. It was a great day filled with many blessings.
She was one month old on the day of her baptism.

Pastor Dobbins baptized Hazel.

Her sponsors are Spencer, Tammy, and Jerod.

Two Month Pictures!!

Hazel is two months old in these pictures! Today she is 10 1/2 weeks old. She had her 2 month check up last Wednesday. She weighed 10 pounds 9 ounces. She has gained 3 pounds from her birth weight. So she is within normal for weight gain. She has accomplished the normal baby milestones: cooing, smiling, following voices, following people as they walk by her (like her mama and then starts to cry sometime!), grasping toys, batting at toys, working on tummy time, falls asleep in her swing, cuddles, and sleeps. Her sleep patterns are erratic, but hopefully she was just having a growth spurt over the weekend! She slept for hour and then wanted to nurse and then slept for a hour....and so on.... BUT... last night she slept for 2 1/2 hours, nursed, and then slept for 4 hours!! Yippee, however; I kept waking up every so often because wasn't awake. Oh well...such is life!

Hazel

I love this picture. Unintentional smile :)


After her first bath at home.

When she's awake, she is so bright and looking around.

I wore this outfit home from the hospital 29 years ago. I was my dads "litte lady." (And only one!)

Leaving the hospital.

Daddy and Hazel.

After her bath at the hospital.

In the delivery room.

Daddy and Hazel.

Hazel Ruth

Hazel Ruth has arrived. She was born June 5th, 2009 at 6:39 am. She is perfect. She didn't want to join the world all on her own; therefore, I was scheduled for an induction of labor on June 3rd. However, there was not a labor room available that evening. Trevor and I were to call the next morning early (5 am) to see if there was a room available to start the induction. How lucky we were because the hospital was full again shortly after we arrived at 8 am. Needless to say, we didn't sleep to well that night in anticipation of possibly going to the hospital the next morning. The induction took some time. I had three doses of Cytotec (to soften and dilate the cervix) as I was only dilated to a one. Those doses did not work! So they inserted a foley bulb and filled it with water in the hopes of mechanically dilating my cervix. They did this at about 8:30 pm. Our day was filled with playing card games, walking, resting (as much as one can in a hospital), and watching TV. From 8:30pm to about 11pm, I had dilated to a 5. During that time, the contractions were getting closer together and more painful. My bag of water broke as well. Trevor was a so supportive during this time as well, because I also started throwing up during that time. I'm sure it was not a pretty sight. Trevor and I decided it was time for a epidural about midnight. From 12:30 am to 4:30 am, I was much more comfortable, the vomiting stopped, I was able to relax, Trevor was able to sleep for a couple of hours, and I was dilated to a 10 and complete by 4:30am. Then the real deal started: the pushing!!! I pushed for two hours and then little Hazel Ruth was born!!!! It was the most exciting thing that has ever happened to us!! It was so neat and it's such a miracle. All babies are miracles! They teach us so much. She weighed 7 pounds 9 ounces and was 20 1/8 inch long. So she was exactly 10 days overdue. She took her sweet time, but that is ok. Luckily, I felt fine while waiting for her! She has done fabulous and has met so many new friends already!!! I will post some much awaited pictures in the next post!!

Post dates: 41 weeks pregnant today!

Yikes....41 weeks pregnant today. I had a doctor appointment yesterday. The non-stress test was reactive (which means: good!), I have plenty of amniotic fluid, the babies baseline heartbeat was 140 during the NST (went into the 170's too), and my blood pressure was fine. So Trevor and I will be going to the hospital sometime later this week for a scheduled induction. Hopefully it will go smoothly! It's good to know there is an end in sight so we can see, hold, and touch our baby.

40 weeks! The due date!

Today marks the day of being 40 weeks pregnant. I'm anticipating the due date will come and go just like any other day we have been patiently awaiting the arrival of Baby Volkmann. I'm still feeling good and continue to get projects done around the house that I've put off since last summer. My dad tells me I'm getting slower everyday and bigger everyday. I'm pretty sure that is the case. I think he likes it though, because he's not too speedy himself. He can now keep up to me :) We'll be sure to spread the news as soon as the day comes that Baby Girl or Baby Boy Volkmann arrives.

Happy Anniversary!

Today, May 26th, Trevor and I celebrate our two year wedding anniversary. I posted some pictures from our wedding day. I seem to find new favorites everytime I look through them. I would marry Trevor all over again; anyday! It was such a fun day and the preparations leading up to our big day were also very enjoyable. The showers, parties, and shopping days with family and friends all were exciting days! Happy Anniversary Trevor. I love you!

What a handsome man!

Graduation

After the graduation ceremony! Trevor was as excited as I was to be done. He's off the hook for a lot of general housework now!!!

This is the class of nurse educators with our primary professor in the NE tract with the cap on.

After I was hooded!

My support crew at the hooding and graduation ceremonies.

38 2/7 weeks!

This was taken yesterday at 38 1/7 weeks pregnant.



What a picture! In this picture, I'm 37 3/7 weeks and my friend Courtney is about 6 weeks behind me in her pregnancy. She is expecting twins. We took this the evening of my graduation party. What a night! Thanks to all those that could come!! It was a fun evening. Prior to the evening, I actually was hooded for my Master's degree in Science as a Nurse Educator in the morning and participated in the graduation ceremony afternoon in Winona. It was a long day, but well worth it!! Now, Trevor and I are just awaiting the arrival of Baby V. Today, I'm 38 2/7 weeks pregnant. I'm still feeling good and just enjoying being pregnant. I have no cares in the world, except to go to work. It's quite nice. The babies room is ready, the carseat base is ready to go, and now we just wait. I had a physician appointment yesterday. The babies heartrate was 136, no cervical dilation, and my blood pressure was good. Hopefully I can post more pictures sometime this weekend. Take care....