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A little bonding time with his great-granddad! That’s right, there is DGS IV snuggling up with DGS I!

Pretty proud big sis.

Maddie loves to hold baby Donny and help change his diapers – such a big helper. She also likes to help burp him and get him burp clothes and blankets. So sweet!

Heading Home!

We came in a family of three and headed home a family of four!

Maddie was such a big help, putting on socks and of course, doing the clips in the car seat. Donny came home in the same outfit that Maddie did – so cute!


Our new family of four!

Big sis Maddie!

Maddie got to meet baby Donny yesterday and she loves him! She wasn't too excited to see me in the hospital bed and such but she loved seeing baby. When she came back after her nap she was even more lovey on him, it is so cute. We are all doing well!

Look who's here!

It's a ........ Boy!

Donald George Smith IV was born at 7:14am and weighed in at a whopping 9lbs 12oz and 19.5" long. We are all doing well!

Wordless Wednesday: 40 Weeks

I go to the doctor tomorrow but I figured I would do a belly shot comparison to see if s/he dropped, what do you think…?
                         39 Weeks                                              40 Weeks

39 Weeks

Plus a day or two depending on who you ask. My due date is the 17th so I guess I’m 5 days away or so – crazy! Today I had my doctor appointment so I figured I would post today – I am almost 3cm and still about 60% effaced. She did say that the baby has dropped some and is at 0 station now – so some progress. Oh, and I am holding steady at measuring 41 weeks. She said really any day now is the reality and if I see her next week after my due date then we will talk about an induction – I don’t think this is going to happen – I don’t think Donny will let it. He has been suggesting walks and massaging my feet, etc to try and get things going. Everyone at his work and most of our friends are pretty antsy and anxious about this baby coming. Like I told Maddie (and my mom told us when she was preggo), “the baby will knock when s/he is ready to come out.”

Here I today, lower maybe?

A comparison:
39 weeks with Maddie vs. 39 weeks with #2

I am measuring bigger this time around than I did with Maddie and have gained about 8lbs less than I had with Maddie at this point.

*After my 39 week appointment with Maddie I felt my first contraction – she was born the next morning – 5 days early just like I am now. Will history repeat itself?!*

Wordless Wednesday: Sing Baby Sing!

Our living room/family room/only room in our house has been overtaken by Donny and Maddie’s guitars, Donny’s new amp and the new microphone and stand. Full functional recording studio here people – perfect for a soon to come home any day now newborn baby. Maddie refused to sing into the microphone but baby, she was all about it. And yes, Maddie put on my shoes so she could reach better. I’m pretty sure they are both right foot shoes too.

Maddie Big Girl

Have I told you that Maddie is a big girl? Well she is, even if she is the smallest big girl you have ever seen. And she’ll tell you she's a big girl too – not a baby. I’m pretty sure aside from diapers we are “done” with all things baby and that includes the crib. It worked out perfect to get Maddie’s big girl room ready and transition her into it before baby #2 comes along. We finished her room right before Thanksgiving allowing ample time to make the transition. So many books, etc say not to transition your child until they are ready and exhibit such behaviors as climbing out of their crib. Well, I don’t think Maddie would have ever climbed out of her crib. She did really start to wake up early and just stand at the corner and cry and wait for you to come in though. So, we started with naps at first, that way it was light when she went to sleep and starting to get dark when she would wake up. We also did tons of playing and reading in her room so that it was fun to be in there. We moved all her clothes and buddies in there and then would grab the essentials for her to sleep in her crib at night. We did naps for one week and then we slept in the bed at night and haven’t looked back since. Knock on some serious wood – we have not had one issue with her sleeping in there. And honestly, I think she sleeps better, she is much happier for sure. She has about eight snuggies that she wakes up and talks to, her turtle which was her new night light for her big girl room, and a couple books at the end of the bed. Here is the big reveal:

View when you walk through her door. My mom, Gamma, made the window treatments out of the flat sheet that I ordered. It has fish on it to match the quilt she made Maddie before she was born.


Growth chart which I have yet to actually write on – we gave it to her for her first birthday from Two and a half Sisters.


Reading corner. This chair was actually the inspiration for the room – Pottery Ban Kids light pink gingham. Oh, and that toy box – it is filled with all stuffed animals.


Bookshelf and kithcen. We moved the kitchen in for space in the beginning and because it was a toy Maddie loved to play with and got it into her room more.


The rear wall. I painted the upper half with magnetic paint (which really smells) so that we could put up her artwork for school and home without having to actually “hang” anything.


Close-up of all the artwork. It spans from her first painting, her ghost footprint, Baby Jesus obviously, and fishy pictures.


Side wall. Right not it is just Maddie’s dresser but I want to get a cool big mirror to go over it and then hang stuff around it – just haven’t gotten around to it yet.


Fish painting that my mom made to go over Maddie’s bed.


A close up of Maddie’s bed. We have the XL bedrail which is a couple inches from the headboard and leaves just enough room at the end for Maddie to crawl up – she does have a stool to get up there. It is a full size bed with just a mattress. As you can see she has all her snuggies up there. Big bunnies fill the upper corner where the pillows end. You can just barely see the turtle in the upper left but he is the Cloud B constellation turtle – Maddie is obsessed with him – every night he puts the moon and stars over the whole ceiling. And, he shuts off after 45 min and is cuddly and doesn’t get warm so its perfect to have in bed with her.


Duh, all of Maddie’s bows. I got the “M” from Two and a half Sisters and painted it. It hangs on her closet door.

And there you have it, Maddie’s big girl room!

37 & 38 Weeks

Last week I had my 37 week doctors appointment. Everything was great, I was up 2lbs (ahem, Christmas?) and my blood pressure was 98/62. The baby’s heart rate was in the 130s and I measured at 41 weeks! Holy cow – no pun intended. The doctor said I was about 1cm dilated and 60% effaced so making good progress.

Today I had my 38 week appointment. Again everything looked good, I was down 1lb and my blood pressure was 108/82. I think my total weight gain is about 22lbs which I am pretty pleased with – less than what I gained with Maddie who was about 30lbs at my 39 week visit. The baby’s heart rate was in the 130s still and I am holding steady at measuring 41 weeks – ha! The baby is still head down and I am a “good 2cm” and still 60%.  The doctor didn’t seem like there was an urgency of delivery but just to be ready. So my bag is packed (as best it can be) and I have all paperwork/payments for everything all set so we’re ready! Poor Donny, every time I call him he says “is it urgent?” Nope, sorry not yet!