One Week Old Today

Happy One Week Birthday, Colton! We had a little fun with his one week pictures today. I got the block idea from a friend's blog, who I think got the idea from someone else :) If I can remember, I want to take a picture of him each Thursday in the first four weeks and then every month on the 12th to see how much he's changed. We're sporting the "slick" hairstyle today! We gave Colton his first shampoo on Tuesday. He seemed to enjoy getting his hair washed, but he did not like the sponge bath. After his shampoo, his hair was so wet that I was afraid he would get a cold, so we used the hair dryer (on low of course) and dried his hair. He loved it!!! I'll post a picture of his "blowdry" soon.

One week old today!



These "swaddler" blankets are the best. He loves being swaddled tight before his naps.

Day 5

Here are a few more pictures of Colton's debut. He is already so loved by so many! We are doing great and enjoying being at home! I know I'm biased, but he's such a wonderful baby. I cannot believe how much I love him already! Basically, he eats (often), stays awake for 5 minutes or so and then sleeps until its time to eat again.

Proud grandparents (Grandad Frazier and Grandma Karen)
Proud Grandmothers (Bunny and Grandma)
Uncle Zach and Colton.
Proud Papaw (This was Day 3 - Colton is sporting the "Rock Star" hairstyle.) Days 4 and 5 show Colton wearing the "Slick Look." I'll post a pic soon.
Bunny (Pennye) - Mom is staying with us this week and has been a lifesaver! I'm so blessed to have such great family! More pics coming later...

He's Here!!! Colton's Big Debut!

***********COLTON FRAZIER CONLEY***********
Born: Thursday, July 12, 2007
Weight: 8 lbs 12 oz
Length: 20 inches
Eyes: Navy blue
Hair: Dark, long and curly
I'm here!!! Just a few minutes old!
Future ACU Wildcat???
Our precious miracle!
Proud Daddy and Son!
Mom and Elvis (I mean Colton)...After his bath, the ladies in the nursery styled his hair.

Better than Christmas Morning...

Waiting on Baby - Day 6...

Well, we are less than 24 hours away from meeting our sweet baby! I am so excited. I don't know if I'll be able to sleep a wink...

The plan is to go in tomorrow morning for an induction starting at 7:00 am. Jack took me out on the town this evening and we had our "last meal" as DINKs... This time tomorrow, God willing, we'll be holding Colton!

Thanks for your continued prayers and sweet encouragement. Parenthood, here we come!

Waiting on Baby...Day 5

I realized it's actually Day 5 past our due date. The doctor's appt. went well. I'm 90% effaced and 2 cm dilated. Other than that, no change. We're still on for inducing Thursday. I was able to ask some more questions and am feeling better about being induced if need be.

My sweet husband and mom are taking good care of me. I've been "banned" from driving myself anywhere, so mom has been a very gracious chauffer! Yesterday, we hit Target, Wal-Mart and Barnes and Noble for some last minute errands. Today, she drove me to the dr's office and then hung out with me until Jack got home. We watched "Freedom Writers" - it was really good! Thanks Mom for all your help!

I feel a little bit like a "ticking baby bomb". I could explode at any moment :) Thanks for the prayers and thoughts! Hopefully the next post will announce Colton's big debut!!!

Waiting on Baby...Day 4

No news yet...It's looking like Colton is holding out 'til Thursday. However, we are going to the doctor today one more time at 1:30 just to check on things. I wasn't supposed to go in again, but I started getting nervous about waiting 10 days in between appointments, so I asked to come in one more time. I'll let you know how it goes.


I'm really hoping to avoid being induced if at all possible. Please say a prayer that Colton will come on his own and that it will be the right time. No matter what, though, I know God's in control and we can't wait to meet this little man, regardless of how he gets here!

Waiting on Baby...Day 2

So, no baby yet. He's got exactly 7 hours to get this show on the road if he wants to be born on 7/7/07... We've had a little talk and I just don't think he's quite ready. I've told him that the sun if finally out in North Texas and yet he seems content to stay put. I'm afraid he might take after his mom in the "running late" department. Oh well.

In other news, Jack and I had an exciting day of errands. I'm not being sarcastic either. It was really fun to get out of the house and see the sun shining! First off, we went to eat at Potbelly's. Next, I went and got my hair cut while he browsed around Barnes and Noble. Then we took our coins to Coinstar at Kroger. This is one of my favorite things to do in the whole world. (I know - it doesn't take much to make me happy.) We've been putting all our change in this "vacation jar" since we got married. We also have an overflow ice chest that was about 1/2 way full. I predicted we would net $150, Jack predicted $90 and Colton got in on the game with a guess of $75. Colton was closest - our grand total was $67. (It was $73 before the Coinstar took it's share.) Looks like we won't be going far on vacation...smile. Actually, we've both been guilty of stealing quarters out of the jar quite frequently... We wondered if people at the store felt sorry for us as we must of looked kind of desperate - a way pregnant woman and her husband lugging an ice chest full of coins.

The last time we went to Coinstar - Jack had a completely full ice chest of change (don't ask me why he stores his coins in an ice chest...) and he made $300 - enough to pay for movers at the time.

I've been listening to my Ipod and thought I would leave you with the words to some sweet songs I'd forgotten I downloaded... They are from a CD called "We've Been Waiting For You" by Carolyn Arends. I've been a mess since I listened to it! We can't wait for you to come, Colton!


Come Anyway by Carolyn Arends

I’m not the least bit ready for you
But come, come anyway
I’m not the least bit worthy of you
But come, come anyway
I’ve only seen you in my dreams
And gleaming in your daddy’s eye
But I love you madly already
You need to know that I Can hardly wait to see your face
So come, come anyway
I know the worlds a scary place
But come, come anyway
Cause you’re the greatest proof there is That there’s a loving God alive
And I love you madly already
You need to know that I Never heard a sweeter sound than your heart beating
Never had a higher hope than you
I’ve only seen you in my dreams
And gleaming in your daddy’s eye
But I love you madly already
You need to know that I Can hardly wait to see your face
So come, come anyway Come, come anyway
Come

Moving

It was just a little flutter like a butterfly... oh yeah
A tiny kick or something somewhere deep inside... oh yeah
Was it an elbow, was it a knee
Were you trying to say hello to me
Well hi to you and let me say
Baby you just made my day
Chorus: 'Cause I'm so moved to feel you moving
Just to know you're in there grooving
To the song of life inside your soul
Baby it's so wonderful
To know your heart is pounding and you're really real
I'm so moved to feel you moving
I wish you coulda seen your daddy's face... oh yeah
A little like you were from outerspace... oh yeah
And then we laughed, and cried a bit
We never quite imagined it
Would be so great, and sweet and strange
To know for sure you're on the way(Chorus)
You're moving us to parenthood
It's awful scary but it's really good
And until now we never knew
That as you grew our hearts would too
And we're so moved to feel you moving
Just to know you're in there grooving
To the song of life inside your soul
Baby it's so wonderful
To know your heart is pounding and you're really real
I've gotta tell you it's the biggest deal
And now we're falling head right over heels
We're so moved to feel you moving
It was just a little flutter like a butterfly... oh yeah

Psalm 139

I run to the cleaners
Stop by the bank
Pick up some groceries
Gas up the car
Same old routine
EXCEPT
Now all of it's sacred
Charged with wonder
Every breath is for two
YOU
Are being knit together
Here in my womb.

Such knowledge is too wonderful for me...
Too lofty to obtain.

So I run to the cleaners
And I stop by the bank
Afraid and in awe...

Everything's different
Because even this moment
You are being fearfully, wonderfully made.

Waiting on Baby...

We are officially ready for baby. Not that it's up to us of course, but we had a small crisis that was just averted 2 hours ago when the Fed Ex truck dropped off our new camcorder charger. You see, we purchased a camcorder about a month ago to capture Colton's birthday and newborn moments and a couple of days ago we decided to charge it and get it ready to take to the hospital. We discovered that we had lost the charger and no stores in Dallas sold a replacement. And our camcorder was completely dead! Talk about a little panic. We had to order directly from the manufacturer. Thankfully it came before Colton did! So, we've given him the all clear to get on with the show.

Here are a few things I've been up to to keep occupied. It's so hard waiting!

• Cleaned the bathtubs.
• Organized all my stationary.
• Vacuumed the closet.
• Vacuumed the baseboards.
• Downloaded 15 CD's to my Ipod and made a "labor" playlist.
• Watched way too many "Baby Stories" and "Birth Days" on TLC and Discovery Health.
• Attempted to read several baby books - I just can't concentrate on anything for very long.
• Made a hair appt. for a hair cut tomorrow that hopefully I'll have to cancel.
• Washed all the sheets and clothes in the house.
• Washed all the dishes.

Now, I think I'll go for a walk. I know I should appreciate this non-busy time of life, but we're just so ready to meet this little man. I dreamed about him for the first time last night. He had blue eyes and spiky blond hair. Not sure if that is possible with Jack and I's genetics, but we'll see. I've had lots of weird dreams about random things but never specifically about him. Maybe that means he's coming soon. I'm still predicting 7/7/07... I'll keep you posted.

Two Years Down...

Jack and I celebrated our 2nd anniversary on June 11th and I'm just a little slow in posting pictures. I thought it would be fun to highlight our "DINK" years (double income, no kids) years before we sooon become a family of 3 and "OIOK" (one and a half income and one kid). I am so blessed to be married to Jack. He keeps me laughing and makes me feel so loved and special. I can't wait to share parenthood with him. He will be a wonderful dad to Colton!

Here we are in the dating years! We had our "first" first date in May of 2003. We went to a restaurant called "Johnny Orleans" in uptown Dallas. Our "second" first date happened in late August of 2003. We went to "Tin Star" and played putt-putt.
Here we are on the evening of our engagement: December 4, 2004.
Our first home: Established June 11, 2005.
The dozen beautiful roses Jack sent for our 2nd anniversary. We celebrated by eating at "Patrizio's" in Highland Park and watching the movie, "Breach." I am bummed that I didn't get a picture of us all dressed up for our 2nd anniversary, but the one below is close enough. This is us now - happily married and awaiting our little miracle, Colton! Parenthood...here we come. Hopefully, we will always remember to date each other and keep our marriage centered on God - the giver of all these good things!

Latest Baby Update...

Well, I had my last doctor's appointment today and I am 80% effaced and dilated to a 2 which means progress...yeah! The doc said things look "favorable for labor" and that hopefully Colton will come on his own. However; if he doesn't come by July 5th (the due date) - she will go ahead and induce on July 12 (9 days away!) So there's a pretty good chance that he will come on his own between the 5th and 12th...which is what we want. I'm still voting for July 7, so we'll see.

This is a good time to practice patience and wait on the Lord's perfect timing! Any ideas on how to do that are welcome... It's definitely easier said than done.

Have a wonderful 4th of July everyone!

Fireworks

Loyal, patriotic, proud, all-American...these are just a few words to describe my wonderful husband. He is very supportive of our troops and loves American history. However; he gets "beat down" by fireworks. I know! What's more American than fireworks? He says, "Seen one firework, you've seen them all." Ugghh! Thankfully, our little firecracker, Colton, hasn't seen one yet, so Jack will get to experience them for many years to come through his eyes!

To his credit, he did pull over last night and let me watch the end of the Wylie fireworks show on our way home from the movies. So fun!

We keep thinking of these Saturdays as "bonus" days. We took full advantage of our married without children status and slept late, read, ate lunch with friends, then went to the movies and saw "Live Free or Die Hard". It was really long, but good. I always worry that the loudness of the movies disturbs little Colton, because he becomes really active during movies. I had a few contractions during the movie, but nothing lasting long enough to call the hospital about. On the way home we decided to rent the original "Die Hard" since I had never 1-3. It was a little too much excitement for one night, I guess, because I fell asleep and missed the last hour.

*Baby Update - Nothing yet. We have our next doctor's appointment on Tuesday, July 3rd, so we'll see if we have reason to rent "Born on the Fourth of July!"

As Big As I'm Going to Get...Hopefully

This is me at 9 months pregnant (around 39 weeks and 3 days). We're ready for you, sweet Colton!
This adorable little man took me to the movies today. His name is Javi and he's 5, but wishes he were 13, a penguin and wants to ride in a helicopter soon. He told me all this while we were waiting for the movie to start. It's good to have goals! He was the ringbearer in my wedding and his mom, Jenilee, is a special friend of mine. She is also the one who will be taking care of Colton when I go back to work part time in September! We went and saw "Surf's Up" - It's a penguin movie about surfing. Go figure. AMC Theater has this free movie camp in the summer and they offer older movies for free on Wednesdays at 10 am. Last summer we started the tradition, so we thought we better get one movie in before Colton comes. We had a great time. He made me excited to be a mom to a little boy!

Latest Update...

The Dr.’s appointment today showed no progress and it looks like Colton will be waiting another week to make his debut. However, the doctor had me scared at one point when she exclaimed, “Oh, I think you’re leaking amniotic fluid.” To which I replied, “What does that mean?” She said, “Well, you’ll need to run home and get your stuff and then come back and have this baby.” I started to panic a little bit, then she actually checked the fluid and said, “Never mind, it’s not amniotic fluid after all.” Ugghhh!! Talk about a roller coaster of emotions!
Today’s scare was probably good for me as it served as a reality check that this baby is coming soon...so I came home and really packed my bags, washed my hair and shaved my legs just in case!

Everything is pretty much done in the nursery. All his clothes and blankets are washed and put away. I packed Colton a little bag today, too. He will have 4 "coming home" outfits available for his wearing pleasure. I couldn't choose just one - but I will, I promise! It's so weird to think that we will be going to the hospital as a couple and then returning home as a family of 3!

I'm so excited, but completely a bundle of nerves at the same time!

Have a great week everyone and I'll keep you posted!

Shower #3

On June 10th, Colton and I were honored with another amazing shower. Pictured are the hostesses and I around the lovely snack table. They used maps for the tablecloth and hung airplanes from the light fixture. They also had gerber daisies inside blue wooden boxes that said "It's A Boy!" So cute! The food was great, too - petit fours, strawberries, grapes, cheddar cookies, and blue and brown m & m's. (Pictured: Darla, Elaine, Jill, Jenni, Kelly, me, Tianay and Cindy) Sweet, beautiful friends - Jenni, Lisa and Emily.
Four beauties on a couch... Laura, Angie, Lisa and Dana.
Paige, Wilkin, Brittany and Karen - Jack's sweet family made a special trip to attend the shower.
Roxanne, me and Karen. Thanks everyone for such a special day! And a special thanks to my sweet mom. She was the picture taker and helped us take all of our baby gifts home. Coming soon...pictures of the finished nursery and hopefully my last pregnancy picture - as big as I'm going to get...

Showered with Love

My wonderful co-workers at school threw Colton and I this amazing shower on May 2! They really went way out! Here's the proud grandma "Bunny", mom and dad! Colton received some tiny "Converse" shoes. They are precious!

Our art teacher made this fabulous sign.
Each table had a suitcase filled with baby essentials and a sweet note from Colton.
The seats reserved for Mom, Dad and Bunny.
Me and the lovely hostesses with the mostest! Nancy, Jennifer, Tammy and Jenny. (Not pictured - Susan, Laura, Barbara and Karen)

Yummy "cupcake" cake! Laura decorated it with scrapbook stickers - so clever!


Colton is one blessed little boy!

Updated Nursery Photos...

Shelf over the changing table.
Shelves over the twin bed.
Aren't his little hats so cute? I know - I'm a sap - but they're just so little!
Shelf and mobile over bed.

We're about 95% complete. Just missing the map and a few pictures to put over the crib and adjacent wall. My wonderful dad, brother and hubby spent Father's Day yesterday putting up the chair rail, shelves and curtain rod. Thanks Dad, Zach and Jack! Sorry I didn't get a picture of my favorite guys in action!

Apples and Oranges

I wanted to jot down a couple of things about this pregnancy that I want to remember. Each week I received two e-mails (from babycenter.com and american pregnancy association) telling me how Colton was growing inside of me and what new miraculous thing he could do. Growing eyelashes, sucking his thumb, brain development...etc. It's so amazing! I read Psalm 139 this morning and just thought how blessed I am to be carrying this little boy inside of me. And to think God knows him even better than I do is just too cool for words.

Psalm 139 (NLT)
1 O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me.

2 You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.

3 You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do.

4 You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord.

5 You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!
7 I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence!

8 If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.

9 If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans,

10 even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me.

11 I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night—

12 but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.

13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb.

14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.

15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God. They cannot be numbered!

18 I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!

19 O God, if only you would destroy the wicked! Get out of my life, you murderers!

20 They blaspheme you; your enemies misuse your name.

21 O Lord, shouldn’t I hate those who hate you? Shouldn’t I despise those who oppose you?

22 Yes, I hate them with total hatred, for your enemies are my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Each e-mail would also compare the size of Colton or my womb to a random object - usually a fruit. I thought this was pretty funny and compiled a list of all the fruit stages we've been compared to throughout this pregnancy...

My uterus:

Weeks 1-8 - Pear sized (about normal)

Weeks 8-13 - Grapefruit/Softball

Weeks 18 - Cantaloupe

Week 25 - Soccer Ball

Week 40 - Watermelon/5 lb. Sack of Sugar (Yikes!)

Our bouncing baby boy:

Week 3 - Pin Head (0.006 inches long)

Week 5 - BB Pellet (1/2 inch)

Week 6 - Pinto Bean

Week 7 - Medium Green Olive

Week 8 - Plum

Week 9 - Large Lime

Week 11 - Peach

Week 12 - Adult Fist

Week 13 - Softball

Week 15 - Hand Spread Open Wide

Week 19 - Banana

Week 21 - Small Doll

Week 25 - (2 lbs) No more fruit comparisons from this point on...

Week 30 - (4 lbs)

Week 35 - (6 1/2 lbs)

Week 38 - (7 1/2 lbs) We hope this is where he stays :)

So there you have it... Isn't it amazing that our little "peanut" was once the size of a pin head and in just 38 weeks has grown into a 7 1/2 lb baby!

Happy June!

Here I am at 35 weeks. And I'm standing in the nursery!!! My wonderful mom did most of the painting. I pretty much rolled for 10 minutes then rested for 10 minutes. I was a very slow helper. There will be a chair rail where the white stripe is eventually. We just couldn't resist putting all the furniture in, even knowing we'd have to move it to put up the chair rail. I've already started putting away his little clothes in the drawers. It is so fun! We still have a few more things to do (there's a map, travel posters and shelves to go on the walls), but it is definitely getting there.
This is the bedding that my super-talented Aunt Cindy made. The photo doesn't do it justice. I will take more photos when we hang the curtain, so you can see it all together.
I had this globe/lamp when I was a little girl. It's so fun to be able to use it in the nursery.
Here's the bedskirt and sheet.

I cannot believe it's already June... We are at T - 27 days and counting until Colton's arrival. Yes, we have chosen a name (we've actually had it for a while - I just haven't blogged about it yet.) I guess we decided it around the first of April. We both liked the name, so we started calling him by name to try it out and it just fit! We are keeping the middle name a surprise until his actual birthday. I had a dr's appointment today and everything looked good. The dr. thinks he's right on schedule (size wize, etc.) Jack thinks Colton will make his debut on June 28. I'm thinking July 7. Anyone else want to make a prediction???