Santa's Little Helper

Noah received a package from his GiGi (my mom) last week and I just couldn't resist showing off our little Elf. He is growing by leaps and bounds right now...his balance is improving, he is vocalizing and laughing all the time, and he is learning to play and entertain himself. It is amazing to see him grow into his own little personality. Thank you GiGi for the hat--we love you!!

12 Weeks

Two Months Old

More Smiles

First Smiles

At Home With Noah

Noah went to the pediatrician this past Tuesday for his 2 week appointment. He is gaining weight, now up to 6 pounds and 9 ounces placing him in the 5th percentile(up from 5 pounds 11 ounces at discharge from the hospital) and his head circumference is 34 1/2 cm (9th percentile). He has some catching up to do in all areas except for length as he is 20 1/2 inches (40th percentile). He is a little guy but the pediatrician is pleased at his growth thus far. We are so in love with him and our new roles as parents!

Welcome Noah Anthony Gaspard

Bryan and I welcomed Noah Anthony Gaspard into the world on July 21, 2009 at 6:56 p.m. Noah weighed 5 pounds, 15.6 ounces and was 19 1/2 inches long. We are all home and doing well! Thank you everyone for your thoughts and prayers!

Anya Marie Blanchard

On Monday, June 29th, Bryan's sister, Rainey, and her husband, Albert, welcomed their daughter, Anya Marie Blanchard, into the world. Anya weighed 5 pounds, 1 ounce and measured 18 1/4 inches long. All are home and doing well...just adjusting to the sleepless nights and their new family of 6! Brynn, Cory Jay, and Amaya are all excited to have their new baby sister home. Amaya is a little confused. I think she thinks Anya is her baby doll (trying to put her in the baby doll stroller and play patty cake with her) and does not understand why her Mommy needs to give this baby so much attention and time. Bryan and I have not been able to see Anya yet because I am 36 weeks pregnant and we were not planning on traveling anymore until after Noah's birth. I have a doctor's appointment Monday, so if I have not progressed at all we may try to go to Grand Isle for a night to meet our new baby niece!

34 week Appointment

Bryan and I went to see Dr. Carroll this morning for our 34 week appointment. All is well with baby Noah...heartrate 142-148, belly 33 1/2 cm, and weight gain still under 30 pounds! Our next appointment is in two weeks. The 36 week appointment will be a big one...ultrasound, group B strep test, and the weekly "exams" begin. I am feeling great and really trying to enjoy these last weeks of pregnancy. I hear so many women say how much they miss their "belly" after pregnancy. I love having Noah with me all day long and feeling his every move!

My Husband the Carpenter!!

Bryan has turned our garage into a wood shop. He has been working hard at building a bookcase and a toy box for Noah's room. I have to admit that I was a little skeptical at first when Bryan told me he wanted to build these instead of buying them; however, I am VERY pleased and not to mention impressed!!!

HOT summer in MS...32 weeks down...8 to go!

I know it has been forever since I have updated this blog! I am 32 weeks pregnant now and only have 8 more weeks to go!! Noah is very active and healthy up to this point. I love being pregnant but I can't wait for him to get here so that I can meet him and hold him! Third trimester has been quite a change from second. I am still feeling really great, however, I am more tired, going to the bathroom ALL THE TIME, and my feet are swelling a little. I also have TERRIBLE Carpal Tunnel!! I have had Carpal Tunnel for a couple of years; however, it is SO much worse with pregnancy. I am wearing splints when I sleep and intermittently throughout the day at work. I can barely even write, which is NOT a good thing when you have thank you notes to write. Bryan is going to help me some this week and weekend, so hopefully I can get them finished and mailed out.

We went to our first childbirth class last Monday and have our second one tonight. Bryan and I both enjoy these classes. It is fun to be with so many people at the same stage in life. I love seeing all the bellies and hearing about different pregnancy experiences. The classes help us feel more prepared for childbirth and bringing a baby home. After our first class I felt so emotional...feeling so many things...I'm excited and scared all at the same time. I want everything to be perfect, yet at the same time I know that Bryan and I will be able to handle anything that comes our way. In a perfect world....I want Noah to come a week early, on his own (without being induced), I want to have natural childbirth without drugs or c-section, and I don't want the labor to last forever. Is that too much to ask?? Probably so! I am willing to do whatever the doctor wants me to do for the health of my child. If that means an induced c-section, then bring it on! I have so many friends who have had so many different birthing experiences and the result is always the same...God's greatest blessing...a child.

I also went to a breastfeeding class last Thursday, which I found very helpful. I am very determined to breastfeed for several reasons. First, it is very healthy for my child. Second, it is free (huge motivational factor)! Third, I like the challenge. I have a pump (which I have no idea how to use) and have talked with some friends about how to schedule pumping during work hours. Our daycare (The Little Samaritan) is very supportive of breastfeeding mothers, which will definitely help! I also like the idea of pumping so that Bryan can be a part of feedings too (especially in the middle of the night when I am trying to get some sleep). Bryan begins taking home call after four long years of in-house call! I know this will be good sometimes and other times probably worse than first call, but we will manage because that is just what we do! I am hoping that on nights when he is home but on call, he will be able to help with a few night feedings; however, I am not married to this idea because first and foremost I want him to do what is best for him and his patients when he is on call. I am aware of the fact that things can also happen to mess up my plans for breastfeeding, such as illness, so I will just give it my best shot and we will see what happens.

Other exciting news in our lives....I only have 12 academic class hours left in my PhD!!! Yay!!! I am getting closer to dissertation time which is very exciting to me because I love research and am getting a little burnt out after three years of classes! I am only taking a one hour seminar class this summer and we will see what works for the fall. My professors are so flexible and understanding that I believe all will work out exactly how it is supposed to. I have had some great friends offer to help with Noah on my class nights and I am not scared to take them up on this offer (I hope you are not reading this and thinking...oh no...she remembered). When you need help...who do you go to...family. Well, our friends are our family here in MS! I will definitely be sure to return the favor and offer up some datenight childcare in exchange! Bryan and I are so blessed to have the friends we have in MS...lifelong friends that we will always have no matter where our paths lead! You can't go through residency together and not feel connected for life!

Anyway, I go back to the doctor in two weeks and then after that I will begin going every week. Noah probably weighs about 4 pounds now (give or take a few ounces) and is going to spend the next 8 weeks fattening himself up to meet the world. I still can't even believe that we are pregnant...parents...a family. So many prayers to get here and so many more for the future!

Spring Flowers

I have been trying to practice taking pictures outside with my camera and recently I took some pictures of my Daffodils just after they bloomed.  I think these turned out pretty good.  Spring is the most beautiful time of year!  I am thinking about framing a couple pictures in Noah's nursery.

It's a.....

Bryan and I went for an ultrasound a week and a half ago and had an ultrasound. Baby Gaspard was very active, weighing in at a whopping 9 oz with a heart rate of 154. We were given an envelope with a picture of the baby's gender so we could open it at home later.

Tonight we finally opened the envelope!!! (It has been killing me!!!) Anyway, we are so happy to say it's.......

A BOY!!!

Getting ready for Baby G!!

This has been a really exciting week for the Gaspards.  On Wednesday, Bryan and I went Baby's-R-Us and registered for everything baby that we will need to take care of our little one.  It was really fun and exciting for us because suddenly having a baby seems real.  On Friday, Bryan moved the bed out of one of our guest rooms and put the crib together.  Baby G officially has a room in our house!  I have to admit that this is already my favorite room in the house even though it is a complete work in progress!!  On Friday, we go for my 19 week ultrasound/appointment.  We are NOT finding out what we are having, but we are excited to see Baby G again....it feels like forever since we saw the baby almost 10 weeks ago!  So far, I love being pregnant!  I feel so great and am constantly amazed that there is a little person growing inside of me!  I will take some belly pictures this weekend and post them so everyone can see my ever expanding waistline (or what used to be my waistline).  

Here are some pictures we took of the crib and of course Gatsby and Izzy learning to get used to all of Baby G's new stuff!

Christmas on the Bayou

On Christmas eve, Bryan and I headed down to South Louisiana to spend Christmas with Bryan's family on the Bayou.  We had a great time with, of course, great food and quality time with the family!

Grammy and Paw Paw getting Amaya ready to ride her new tricycle

The Family

Paw Paw Smokey playing the harmonica

Grammy and Amaya

Rainey and I (Me 9 weeks pregnant and Rainey 10 1/2 weeks pregnant)

Albert, Rainey, and Amaya Blanchard

Cory Jay and Brynn

Even MORE Christmas in Atlanta!!!

Sunday morning before we headed back to Mississippi, we had Christmas brunch with my Mom's paternal side of the family.  It is amazing how much family we fit into one weekend.  We were tired but had a blast!!  A very well worth-it trip and a great early Christmas!

Gatsby

Izzy

The whole family (dogs too)

Mom and all her children

Luke, Missy, Bryan, Gracie, Mom, John, Bekah

All the grandchildren and their significant others

(Ashby, Bryan, Tripp, Ceci, James, Gracie, Missy, Luke, John, Bekah)

The Spread