Hailey Elizabeth

It happened. The birth of our sweet baby girl, Hailey Elizabeth Kjar. 

We LOVE her.

Here's how it happened:

When I went for my second to last doctor visit she told me that she had scheduled the induction for Saturday night and not Friday. So we planned on "checking in" to the hotel hospital at 5 pm. 

Christmas night my mom flew in and went with me to my last doctor visit (pre-baby). My doctor told me I was a tight 2cm so the induction seemed quiet necessary. Friday night we were with Alex's family and before we left for home he and his dad gave me a priesthood blessing. It was such a wonderful thing and the Spirit truly helped calm me and help me feel a little more ready.

In the last few weeks I've been checking the clock every time I have to get up and use the bathroom (you know to see how often I am going or if I really want to get up because I have only an hour left before I'm up for the day) and Saturday morning I woke up at 5:30 exactly. 

I kind of laid there and thought, This is weird, I don't have to go to the bathroom, why am I awake? As I laid there I felt that I needed to get up and go to the bathroom anyway, so I did. 

The whole week I'd been wanting my water to break on its own but with news at every doctor visit that I have no progression it seemed hopeless. I even told my family I didn't care where I was or who was around if my water broke I just wanted it to happen. 

So there in the bathroom the last of my plug came out (gross, I know) and then water! Victory! My body did it-figured out something and started doing what it was made to. I was so happy and relieved!

I woke Alex and let him know and then we got my mom up and let her know-they were both super excited. We all showered and got ready and headed to the hospital around 8am.

 They told me I was still about 1.5cm but my contractions were already 2-3minutes apart just not strong enough. So they started me on pitocin and by early afternoon my contractions were intense enough for me to get an epidural (I wanted to go natural but I'm glad I didn't :).

 I was able to take a much needed nap but when I woke up I had a fever so they gave me antibiotics and by early evening I was ok. By 4:30ish my doctor came to check on me and told us I was at a 10!  Oh yeah! It was that time-I started pushing and at 5:40pm, on Saturday, December 28th, she was born!

Her first photos: I'm one proud Mama!

Baby Hailey's feet!

It happened so fast and we are beyond happy to finally have our little one here with us! She weighed in at a healthy 7lbs 14oz, sporting a nice head of hair and measuring 20.5 inches long.

Our silly One Week Old

We've had her for a whole week now and are more in love everyday and happy that we have been so fortunate to add to our family and know a greater measure of the love the Lord has for each of us.

Hailey is the first grandchild on both sides of our family, the first great-grandchild on the Kjar side and the first great-grandchild on my entire side of the family to born within the covenant. We are truly so blessed to have her and are so glad that she chose to come to earth and get a body. She's so cool. 

pregnancy in pictures

14.5 weeks

17 weeks: GIRL

almost 18 weeks

20 weeks: Halfway

21 weeks

Full Term

Last week-feeling huge.

I just can't believe how close we are!

Ladies and gentlemen, we made it, we are full term! This Tuesday at my doctors appointment I was told that I was super tight and wasn't making any progress so she attempted (there's no way to know if it worked for sure) to strip my membranes-can you say uncomfortable and ow?! So when I went in to the office today she tried again to strip me. Apparently, I was at a "soft 1cm" and Baby is at 8lbs 1oz (Alex was a 9 pounder and I was 8 something) so we decided that if by next Friday, the 27th, I hadn't gone into labor on my own I will be induced. Insanity! 

I never thought I'd be one to be induced and am really hoping my body can figure things out on its own. We have two more visits next week and I had my last day of work today so hopefully things will start to happen! 

In other news we got Baby's blessing dress in the mail, my mom finally committed to a flight, we got a much needed oil change and I did this survey I stole from a beautiful friend's blog.

About the Mommy!

Name: Emily 
Age: 24 
Hair Color: Brown
 Eye Color: Brown

About the Daddy!

Name: Alex

Age: 25

Hair Color: Brown

Eye Color: Brown and green

Finding Out!

What day did you find out?: Cinco de Mayo, 2013
How did you feel when you found out?: SHOCKED, anxious, excited, and everything else
Who was with you?: Alex of course
Who was the first person you told?: Other than Alex...my parents!
How did they react?: They were on their way to the temple and so excited!

About the Pregnancy!

When was your first appointment?: June 16th

When is your due date?: Christmas Eve-December 24, 2013

Have you had any ultrasounds?: Yes, like 8 now. 

Have you heard the heartbeat?: At every appointment!

What was the heartbeat?: What kind of question is this-it's fast and so real!

Sex of the baby: Sweet Baby Girl

About the Birth!

Do you know what you are taking with you?: Hopefully everything we need and some cute outfits for Baby Peach.

Who is going to be with you?: Alex

Are you going to videotape it?: I would rather die.

Natural or Medicated?: As natural as can be, then medicine please.

Do you think you will need a c-section?: No, but you never know!

Will you cry when you hold your baby for the first time?: Maybe, I'll certainly be happy to finally see her!

Do you think Daddy will cry?: He might tear up

Do you know what you will say to the baby when you first hold him/her?: I love you, or something like that.

Do you have a name picked out?: We're pretty sure we agree on one.

Is your baby going to be named after someone?: No

About Week 39!

How far along are you? Too far, 39 weeks 3 days-4 to go!

How big is Baby? Today she measured at 8 lbs 1 oz

Weight Gain? Duh

Stretch Marks? Ugh, yes.

Sleep? When Baby lets me. 

Symptoms? Well it's flu season so I now have a runny nose along with all the other symptoms of pregnancy.

Movement? Of course, especially at night!

 Food Cravings? Not really.

Labor Signs? A few Braxton Hicks and fewer "real" contractions.

Belly Button in or out? In for life!

What I am looking forward to? Snuggling and kissing a little angel fresh from heaven!

Best moment of the week? Having a one last ultrasound of baby!

Other Random Questions!!
What was your first symptom?: Gas probably but Alex will say, missed period for a few months.

What is the baby’s room theme?: Grey and pink, I guess.

What was the first thing you bought for the baby?: We bought a pink blanket!

Will you cloth diaper?: No thanks. 

BFing or Formula?: Why yes, in that order.

What is your favorite pregnancy book?: I started two...I like Secrets of the Baby Whisperer

What do you look forward to doing again once you are no longer pregnant?: Breathing, laying on my belly...VOLLEYBALL and other sports!

What physical features do you hope baby will get from Daddy?: Those gorgeous eyes and perfect smile and everything.

What physical features do you hope baby will get from you?: Height

Is he ready to be a Daddy?: He has no choice but yes, he's the best!

Are you ready to be a Mommy?: Oh gosh, I think so-pray for me!

false alarm

It happened! On Saturday morning I thought my water might've broke. 

So naturally Alex went into panic and I went into denial. 

He was in the shower when I told him and he wanted me to call the doctor but since it was a weekend (after hours) they had to check me at the hospital, which is literally across the street from their office. 

Of course I hadn't packed my hospital bag so I did that first and took a nice warm shower all the while putting Alex over the edge-he really wanted to make sure everything was ok. 

When we got there we found out that the paperwork and insurance forms I had given them a week or two earlier was never entered and so we had to sit down and do the whole process right then and there. It was a good thing I wasn't really in labor!

It was a super slow day at the hospital so we felt no rush or pressure and were able to see what will happen when Baby really is on her way! The nurses were nice and a fellow doctor from the office I go to was there and super friendly and informative. 

After checking Baby's heartbeat and showing us that I was having contractions (just not "big" ones or any I could feel) they sent us home and we just relaxed for the rest of the day. 

I think we were both kind of happy to have a sort of test run and hopefully when out little peach does come we will be able to stay calm and have a pleasant experience. 

I am so happy that I have Alex as my forever soulmate and am really hoping Baby has more of his features than mine because he's so dang attractive! 

I can't believe we are growing our family and I am really hoping to be the best wife and mother I can be because I truly do have the best husband and baby!

the most wonderful time of the year

We got our very first Christmas tree! I love it! This will be our 3rd Christmas together and the first two we were college students that went out of town, Texas, to celebrate. This year we have no choice really in traveling or not so we'll be here in Georgia, having a baby, and celebrating with Alex's family and really starting some of our own traditions!

Also, can we believe it's DECEMBER!?! What in the world-we're having a baby this month-in weeks-in days! Things are getting more unreal. We had our hospital tour and doctors appointments every week, I don't know what to expect but I know I want to have baby out of my belly and into my arms to give her kisses and snuggles. I've tried telling her this but nothing has changed yet. C'mon Baby!

spoils of thanksgiving

Now that I am so large my tossing and turning in the night and getting up to use the bathroom has started to really take a toll on Alex...poor him. He's told me he can feel me get up at night and that my body pillow is taking up the entire bed. Luckily after we had Thanksgiving dinner at his grandpa's house we were able to upgrade to a Tempurpedic-king size bed!

Thanksgiving Day:
We're terrible picture takers and this isn't flattering at all but oh well-this is our 5th Thanksgiving together.

Apparently his grandfather, an orthodontist, traded a set of braces for the bed but wasn't impressed so after a while he gave it to us! It's been wonderful for Alex to not feel me moving so much and to have room. I love it too, it just makes getting up a little more difficult because you mold right into it! 

I wanted to do some Black Friday shopping and convinced Alex to take me. We were able to find some king sized sheets and comforter set on sale which was awesome and what we needed since we had a queen. We also got a bassinet for Baby that all ended up matching each other-awesome! Now we have a nice queen bed for my parents when they come for the holidays and cozy king for us and a spare twin waiting at Alex's parent's house when we move into a bigger space! Hooray! We are super thankful for all the things we've been blessed to have!

Just a silly photo after washing all Baby's clothes...she's supposed to be that big when she comes out-weird!

nose frida

Alex had his work Thanksgiving dinner this week and he made funeral potatoes. They turned out so good and all the ladies he works with were super impressed. The business he works for is really a close knit group and they were so kind to invite me and get to know us better. The food was all so great and I was so full I didn't know if I could even drive home afterward! In the care package my friend Summer sent me last month we got a Barbie and Ken doll that are supposed to represent her and her husband Mark and I was sure to have them join us in our feast!

So happy to have Mark and Summer join us!

My visiting teachers stopped by too and gave me some gifts because they both missed my shower. One of them, Emily who had her first baby last Christmas, gave me some of her favorite things she has with her daughter. Behold the SnotSucker! hahaha I died at this little apparatus it is so crazy-thank you Swedes. I also got my super cute diaper bag in the mail from Amazon. I shouldn't be so excited about a diaper bag but I am!

You literally are supposed to suck out your child's boogers. 

Skip Hop makes the cutest bags!

We also had our last class of Lamaze! I can't believe we are one step closer to being parents and soon my doctor visits will be only a week apart. I'm anxious for any extra ultrasounds and to see how good our little peach is growing.

we did it!