Some family pics

My friend Breann who takes amazing pictures came over before Christmas and took some family shots to give to my parents and my in-laws. As you can see, it started out with us wanting the dogs in the pictures, but that quickly took a turn for the worse, so it ended up just being the 4 of us. Then she took some wonderful shots of the kids. He, he, I LOVE saying kids. :)

Look who's a week old!

I can't believe how much our little man has changed in a week!!!!

Best friends

Introducing Gideon Vincent

Well we did it. Our new baby is here. Gideon Vincent Crandell was born on Thursday December 4th at 8:23 am. He was a big guy, weighing in at 9lbs. 2oz and 21in long. He was brought into the world via c-section and that was a blessing. As I told in the previous post, we found out he was breech because of an ultrasound they did, after I went to the hospital because of the flu. And after talking to my doctor, we decided against turning him outside the womb prior to my due date because we thought he might be a big guy anyway. Well that turned out to totally being a "God thing". When he was born, we found out not only was he big, but the cord was wrapped around his neck 3 TIMES!!! If we had tried to turn him, I would have had to have an emergency c-section and Gideon's life could have been in jeopardy. Needless to say, God's hand was totally on our family and I am SO thankful. When I think about how good God has been to this family, well it brings tears to my eyes. And I can't wait for you all to meet the completion to the Crandell family.

Thursday's the big day

Well, I saw the doctor this morning and the baby is still breech, so I have a c-section scheduled for Thursday at 7:30am. Ironically my actual due date. I am so excited. A little nervous but trusting in the Lord and maybe this is a blessing in disguise, because of all my problems with delivering Esther. Can't wait to share this experience with y'all.

In God's hands

Well, I ended up with the flu on the Friday after Thanksgiving. We were supposed to have my family and Steve's family over for dinner that day (14 people in all), but needless to say we did not. I ended up going to labor and delivery around 1pm, since I couldn't keep anything down and I was having contractions about 7 minutes apart due to dehydration. The doctor subbing for Dr. Avants told me to come in so they could give me some fluids through an IV and some anti-nausea meds. Steve and I ended up being in the hospital until 8 that night...YUCK!!! But before I was released, the doctor wanted to check the amniotic fluid and make sure the baby was OK. When she did an ultrasound, she informed me the baby is breech!!! And I will be having a c-section. A little bummed of course, but I am trusting in God. I have an appointment with Dr. Avants on Tuesday morning and will most likely schedule my surgery then. Just praying that I don't go into labor before then. Flu and labor...not my idea of a rip-roaring good time. Please continue to keep me in prayer and that the surgery would go smoothly and the baby would be fine. I guess there is more of a possibility of the cord wrapping around the baby's neck when they are breech. Again, I will keep you all posted, especially when I know the actual time and date of the c-section.

38 weeks and things are progressing

Well, I had another OB appointment today and I am dilated to a 1 and 30% effaced. I was praying before I went that SOMETHING would be happening, so this definitely is a praise. But my doctor imformed me of some bad news. She is leaving town (to Oregon) for her only vacation for the year on Wednesday and won't be back until the 30th. She is really hoping I have this baby before then, so she can be there to deliver the new addition. I totally believe that this baby and I are in God's hands and His perfect timing, I just want His perfect timing to include my amazing doctor. Only He knows. So I am doing all I can to move things further along, but be praying. I am really anxious and SO READY to be the mommy of 2.

Essie's new digs

Well it's official, our baby isn't a baby anymore!! Esther is in her big girl room and LOVES it!! We love it too. I can't believe how well it turned out. I want to hang out in it all the time. I love the bright colors and just how fun it is. Steve did an amazing job on the stripes..one of the many times I don't mind his eye for perfection. I hope Esther loves it for years and years to come.
(You can click on the pictures to see more detail.)

A close up of the valance we finally put up. My mom sewed the fabric and Steve attached the grass.

A close up of the quilt my mom made for Esther's crib and her soon to be toddler bed.

My hero

The flag is waving off our front porch this morning, in honor of all the men and women who have served and are serving our country. Today is a special day, especially to my family because the head of our household currently serves our country wearing the uniform of the Air Force. I am proud of my husband regardless, but especially because he made a choice 11 years ago to join the Air National Guard. He takes his job seriously and works hard and of course it hasn't been easy on our family. So far, it hasn't really affected Esther, but it has affected us as a couple. But honestly, not in a bad way. Steve and I have grown so much, not only in our relationship with each other, but in our relationship with the Lord. When the one person on this earth that you rely on SO much isn't here, you continually learn to fall back on God, which we all don't do as much as we should. I also have the most amazing letters that we have written each other when he was deployed to countries that include Greece (right after 9/11), Germany, France, Turkey and Curacao. Those letters I cherish SO much and wouldn't trade for the world.

I love you, babe and am so proud to be the wife of a "military man" and it's not just because you look SOOOOOO good in those blues. :)

Fun at the park

Juno and Bleeker

Our friends Nick and Breann invited us to their annual Halloween bash this past Saturday night. We were trying to figure out what to go as, me being pregnant and all. We decided Juno and Paulie Bleeker from a movie that we LOVE, Juno. Steve had the costume DOWN and we got tons of compliments. Plus it was fun to get out with our friends, KID-FREE!

The hosts of the evening, Sarah and John (aka Breann and Nick).

Lisa is definitely yin to Rick's yang.

Trisha and Matt, who honestly I have never seen Aidan-free. Always to have fun just as adults.

Athena and her boyfriend, Eric. She was the cutest little lady bug I have ever seen.

A fun filled Halloween

Our Halloween festivities started off on Thursday, when Esther and I met my mom's group at the local park for a trick or treat at the park. Everyone's kids dressed up and played and then we handed out candy and little toys to everyone. It was such a fun way of seeing all the kiddos dressed up because a lot of us go our seperate ways on actual Halloween.

One of the moms, Heidi brought her puppy to the park and of course, Esther was enamored.

Samantha, Callie, Esther and Nathan.

All the kids together. Still can't believe they all sat still for THAT long and all together.

On Friday, Steve and I started off the evening going to our church's Harvest Festival. My mom and dad were helping out in the preschool area, so of course we spent most of our time there.

Esther trying her hand at a football toss.

Esther with my mom at the fishing booth.

Our little kitty cat. Isn't she the cutest?

This was Esther's favorite booth. You flip a frog on this wooden hand into a inflatable pool. Esther couldn't get enough, plus it didn't help that all the workers were clapping and going crazy for her. She was eating it up!

When we finished up at the church, we went to my parents and spent the evening hanging out with Nana, eating pizza and passing out candy to trick or treaters.

Esther's first messy taste of a KitKat bar.

We did hit a few houses in the neighborhood and one of the houses was passing out vampire teeth. I wasn't sure about putting them in Esther's mouth, but once I did and she saw herself in the mirror....well the picture says it all.

It was such a fun couple of days and just seeing everything through Esther's eyes. Oh the joy of being a parent.