Wednesday, March 3, 2010

violet ann



i still cannot believe that cade and i are actually parents to a teeny, tiny little baby. i still cannot believe she is actually here. i still cannot believe how great it all feels. i have heard so many friends and family members speak of parenthood with such fondness and awe but i don't think i fully understood all that they were trying to explain until little vi came along. it truly is an incredible experience.

i feel like i have abandoned this blog for the past few months. i had good reasons though- life was insane and i knew it was only going to get crazier. now that i can finally see my ankle bones and violet is sound asleep, i think it is about time i catch up on life. it would be a let down to start anywhere but on the birth of the babe, so our catch up will be a little out of order. here goes...

violet's due date wasn't until the 25th of february; however, with the help of her parents' genes, she was growing larger and larger with no sign of her coming anytime soon. after various ultrasounds and doctors visits it was finally decided that this baby needed to come by cesarean. honestly speaking, this was a huge blow to us. i had an idea of how her birth would be and this new plan wasn't really part of that idea. after much thought and deliberation with cade, we finally felt at peace with the decision. we realized we needed to do what was best for all of us, so we made the appointment and started to prepare.

here we are the night before violet was born.
we were buzzing around the house trying to get everything ready. we were both so excited- but cade could barely control himself. every once in a while, he would suddenly yell out, "we're having a baby!" or "it is our last night without kids FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES!" we took one last "belly shot," packed our last items and shaved cade's mustache (we wanted people to take us seriously at the hospital and my dad was worried they wouldn't let cade in the nursery with a pedophile stache). we were ready.

we were up early and prepped for surgery right away. cade dressed in his hazmat suit and joined me in the operating room while my parents looked on from the observatory window. i won't lie- i was nervous....about becoming a mom, about having a c-section, about everything. luckily, the operating room was freezing, so i was able to blame my quaking knees on the cold- but i don't think the nurses bought it. the doctors got to work and not long after that, little violet was finally here. it truly was an amazing experience. i honestly could not believe all those kicks, jabs and stirs from the past months were really her. little violet ann.
we had lots of visitors in the hospital and little violet barely touched her bassinet. here she is with her nana and granny
and her cousin addy, who couldn't wait to meet her
and of course she had plenty of daddy snuggle time. cade really took care of his girls while we were in the hospital.
when it finally came time to go home, cade and i clumsily dressed violet and puther in her seat for the first time. you can tell how amused she was with all of this.
since we have been home, the visitors have been coming and going. we even had a surprise visit from mandy, owen and brad who flew in to meet little vi. owen was very tender and was sure to tell violet, "it's ok! it's ok!" whenever she fussed.
we are home now and getting into the routine of things. we just had vi's 2 week check up and everything looks great. thanks to all those who brought us meals, visited us, and helped out. a special thanks to my mom who really helped us our first week home. she is fabulous.
one thing is for sure: we love this little girl.

23 comments:

Lindsey T said...

I can't get over how cute she is!! That first picture is PRECIOUS!!!!! I'm glad the first weeks are going well! Congrats again!

Amy Jane said...

Aah! I can't wait to see her (and you, of course) again! I will be calling you shortly to make an appointment. :)

Congrats!!

Maren said...

Love that hair! Glad you're all doing well.

Missy said...

Ooh, I love how much hair she has! What a sweet little baby. Seriously Ashley, great job.

Karrissa Winward said...

She is adorable! My mom saw you guys in the hospital and said she is beautiful! Congratulations!

Kellee said...

oh we are so happy for you two!!! she is just beautiful and i cant imagine how happy you are to have her here! congratulations! :)

Cassie said...

BEAUTIFUL! I think she has a Bullough look to her. We can't wait to meet her!!

Unknown said...

I love that picture of her in the green stripe sweater with her eyes open. She is beautiful. I love hearing your experience of joining the life of Motherhood it really cannot be explained only experienced. Love your guts can't wait to hold little Vi again.

Alisha said...

Oh Ash, she is SO cute!!! I LOVE her hair!!

Abby said...

Okay, I have never seen a more precious photo than that top one! She is SOOOOO adorable!!!! I love all the pics especially the ones of the grammies. I'd say the picure I got the biggest chuckle out of though was the one of your belly before leaving to the hospital. There is some kind of trick photography going on because look at the chair in the back ground. It's smaller than the belly. Ha ha ha....

Brady + Marsha said...

She is so cute Ashley! I love the hair. Sorry about the c-section. I had one too. By the size of her it looks like the ceserean was definitely the way to go. Your body is probably much better off and baby Vi is healthy and so so cute! Congrats!

maria salpico * said...

WOW!!

Maria here, all the way from Portugal, checking in on you two, and oh so happy with the big news!!
A baby girl!! :)
I'm really glad to see you're doing so well and you seem so happy!

It was really nice to have met you in Brussels. You are both just so inspiring. Honestly, I'dd never met anyone quite like you two. Just the way you embrace every experience, and the way you connect to everyone, even though I didn't really get to know you all that well, it just shows! You really are special people.

I wish you all the best with your new life, and I'm sure little Violet will grow to be one happy, healthy child, and to love life, like her parents.

Maria

Amberlin Gefrom said...

aww she is so precious! Congratulaions! hey I am going private on my blog but would like to invitge you guys...would you email me ambieb1@yahoo.com your blog email so I can invite you guys!

paige and jord said...

ash she is absolutely adorable!! she has soo much hair, i love it! and way to tough out the c-section. good for you girl. you guys look so happy! congrats congrats.

LAINA said...

I am so glad it went well. She has way more hair than Hobbes! She is adorable! I really can't wait to meet her. I can't believe I haven't come out to see her yet. I am going to plan a time to come out and soon , and Dylan is going to tag a long.

Thanks for sharing your story. I think people are usually thrown off when they hear they may have to have a c-section. It sounds like you handled it better than most.

We love you guys and are so so so happy little Vi is safe and sound and here with the greatest parents.

See you soon hopefully. Keep a space open for me and Hobbes.

Kristen said...

She is so beautiful you guys! Isn't it amazing that all those kicks and jabs really are this tiny person? I sometimes miss feeling Sophie inside, such a special experience.

Okay, I had no idea you had a c-section? How are you feeling? I am not going to lie, but I am actually happy that I had one, I decided there are more pros than cons this way. :)No doughnut pillows for one....

When can I come meet her?

Anonymous said...

成功是一把梯子,雙手插在口袋裡是爬不上去的。........................................

Sarah, Jordan, and Faye said...

awwwwwwwwwww Cade she is so cute! congrats!

Heidi Madsen said...

I'm speachless! You and Cade are amazing parents, I just know it. Honestly, she is beautiful. I don't tell parents that the baby is cute if I really don't think so. I really think she is to die for! J and I are so thrilled for all three of you. You make a wonderful family! Congratulations!

The Oborn Family said...

CONGRATS! She is beautiful and I am dying to see her! Might have to pop in next time we are in the area visiting Brad and Jen or something! I will warn you first - cause tired mommies with new babies need advance notice. Even Dane said she is a really cute baby - and that is huge (normally he is pretty quiet or opinionless on the matter!)

Jess said...

SO CUTE!!!!! Oh my gosh I am in love with her and oh that hair!!! AH!!

Megan and Greg said...

How did I miss this post? It was 2 weeks ago! She is adorable! I love how her hair just fluffs out all over! I loved hearing all your details about the night before. I'm glad to hear all is well. By the way, we're expecting! I'm due Sept. 3rd.

Jessica Madsen said...

She really is so beautiful. Look at all that hair! So pretty. i am sorry to hear you had to deliver c-section, and that is not what you wanted. Sometimes things like that are kind of hard. i hope you are recovering okay, and enjoying life as a family of three! I have no doubt the two of you are terrific parents. Baby Violet is a lucky girl. She is darling. Thanks for sharing all the pictures, and for the update. Good luck with everything, and congratulations again.