Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Say hello Aidan!





I'd like to introduce Aidan Alexander Mullen to the world. Here are just a few pics for now. We should be home from the hospital tomorrow and we will provide more...and share the hilarious story of his birth!

Monday, December 29, 2008

Baby and Weather Update!

Well, Cliff had to cancel another teen event today due to weather. It has been so crazy!!!! We have gotten 42 inches in a week and a half and are expected to have another 5 today. I believe it, it is coming down so hard right now!!!! Cliff continues to shovel snow 2 or 3 times a day. We are really praying it lets up sometime soon.

We had our 38 and a half check up today. Last week I was 2 centimeters dilated and 80 percent efaced. Unfortunately for us, today I was exactly the same. BOOOOO! He told us last week that I would go early and this week he smiled and said "Right on time." I thought to myself, "why are you smiling?" He asked me if I was having any contractions and I told him no. During the exam he laughed a little and told me that I was having a contraction right then. I asked him if that was strange that I couldn't feel it. He stated that all women experience contractions differently and I should be very thankful. I expressed my concern that I wouldn't be able to feel them when I needed to know. He laughed again and said, "Trust me, you will know." I feel a little naive at times about this whole pregnancy stuff but I am learning. For example, as I am typing this I am having a contraction. I just know what it feels like now. LOL. Finally he brought us into his office to schedule a day for me to get induced assuming that Aidan goes past due. I am due the 9th of January and he scheduled it for January 10th. Ahhh, I love my doctor, a lot of ob's wouldn't due that, especially with your first baby. So we now know that we will have the little one no later than 12 days from now. Good news!!!

Monday, December 22, 2008

37 and a half week checkup

Well it was a lot of work but Cliff managed to shovel enough snow to get us to my doctor's appointment this morning. Last Wednesday we got 24 inches. Saturday to Sunday brought another 9 and last night we got another 4. It is pretty crazy around here. Unfortunately our garage entrance is in the alley which makes things even that much more difficult. Luckily we had one of our friends from church come over with a snow blower on Friday and that was a big help to Cliff. We also have access to a four wheel drive truck if we need it but thanks to my very tired husband we should be okay.

At our doctors appointment Aidan's heartbeat was 161, which is very good, and he was measuring at 38 centimeters. And I lost half a pound (which is exciting to me, as long as our little one is still growing). After my exam he told us that I am 2 centimeters dilated and 80 percent effaced. We are obviously new at this so we weren't quite sure what that meant as far as timing was concerned. Our doctor told us that was a little ahead of the game though so we were excited. We don't necessarily want a Christmas baby but having him before January would be quite all right with us. After talking to my mom, however, she informed me that it was not abnormal for her to be 2 centimeters dilated three weeks before she was due so who knows what will happen. Cliff asked what we could do to speed things up and he recommended walking. Being that this is not easy for us right now due to the weather, we decided to improvise. Gazey has been having cabin fever so we went home and got her and headed up to the church building. She ran around the auditorium for about 30 minutes, which she loved, while I did my 30 minute speed walk. We are now back at home for the evening. Cliff is currently on the roof trying to get rid of some of this snow to prevent leeks. I'm hoping he will come down soon and just relax. He deserves it!!!!!

Thursday, December 18, 2008

A Very Snowy Anniversary!

Well Cliff and I got a unique anniversary present today. We both got the day off!! Cliff tried to go into work but wasn't able to make it. I called my employer this morning and she told me to not even think about coming in. This was good news to me because it too me 2 and a half hours to drive 7 miles home from work yesturday. So we are taking it easy and enjoying the time together. Let's just hope I don't go into labor considering there is no way to make it into the hospital and they have cut off emergency services to the hospital. Here is a report I found on the internet about our last 24 hour snowfall and some pics and video of the puppy getting her first Winter Washington snowfall. The second pic is of our backyard and the third pic is our front yard. The red truck, that we are borrowing, cliff was able to dig out this morning to get us some groceries, but if you can make it out, there is another car parked right behind the truck. You can't even see it! That car belongs to our temporary roommate Dave. He has been with us since a week before Thanksgiving. I hope he doesn't plan on going anywhere today:)

RECORD REPORT...CORRECTED PREVIOUS RECORD YEAR
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPOKANE WA
1015 AM PST THU DEC 18 2008

...24-HOUR RECORD SNOWFALL BROKEN ONCE AGAIN IN SPOKANE...

LOCATION SNOWFALL PREVIOUS RECORD PERIOD OF
(INCHES) (INCHES) RECORD

SPOKANE, WA 19.4 13.0 IN 1950 127 YRS SINCE 1881


19.4 INCHES OF SNOW HAD FALLEN AT THE SPOKANE AIRPORT OVER THE PAST
24 HOURS AS OF 10AM. THIS AMOUNT SHATTERED THE OLD RECORD BY 6.3
INCHES. THIS RECORD MAY BE UPDATED LATER TODAY SINCE SNOW IS
STILL BEING REPORTED AT THE SPOKANE AIRPORT AS OF 10 AM.





Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Happy Birthday Dad!!!

Today is my dad's 56th birthday!! Wish I could celebrate with you dad but I look forward to seeing you in less than a month!


Monday, December 15, 2008

Best Husband Ever!!


I had my 37 week appointment early this morning. Nothing new to report. On time and baby is still very healthy. After our appointment, however, Cliff suprised me by taking me to a day spa for a full body massage. It couldn't have come at a better time. I had the worst night of sleep last night and my body was so achy. He definitely knows me very well. The spa he chose was right ouside of Spokane and was also a coffee and gourmet chocholate bar. After my hour massage, I came out to have a mocha and my choice from several chocholates. Thank you Clifford for being such a thoughtful husband and soon to be father!!

Sunday, December 14, 2008

Annual Christmas Date



Cliff and I can now say we have an annual Christmas date tradition. We start the night off by going to get coffee. Gazey even likes this because when we go through the drive thru she knows she will get a dog treat. We then, having scoped out the best places, go around town to look at Christmas lights. We were a little disappointed this year with the lack of lights but it was fun all the same. Finally, we come back to the house to watch our favorite Christmas movie "Christmas Vacation." I never seem to get sick of this movie. All in all a very fun cheap date for us!! Here is a short video of what we consider its best clips!! What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?

Friday, December 12, 2008

Eight Things

Eight Things
Got this from my sister-in-law Beth. Happy Reading!

Eight TV Shows I Watch
1. Survivor
2. The Office
3. Amazing Race
4. One Tree Hill
5. Lost
6. American Idol
7. The Biggest Looser
8. Wife Swap

Eight Favorite Restaurants
1. Red Lobster
2. Wendys
3. Pizza Hut
4. Red Robin
5. Chili's
6. Macaroni Grill
7. Subway
8. KFC

Eight Things That Happened Today
1. Slept In!!!
2. Watched an episode of Gilmore Girls
3. Took a shower.
4. Deep cleaned the kitchen.
5. Vacuumed and folded laundry.
6. Took a nap.
7. Read part of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.
8. Went on our annual Christmas Date with Cliff.

Eight Things I Look Forward To
1. Not being pregnant.
2. Meeting my son
3. Maternity Leave
4. My parents coming to visit
5. Walks in the snow with Cliff and Gazey!
6. Thursday Office Nights with our friends at our house!
7. Going to see family in April
8. Sunday small group!

Eight Things I Wish For
1. A healthy baby boy!
2. Health babies for Ryla and Holly!
3. God-loving and God-fearing children
4. A House
5. College Loans to be paid off
6. To be a stay at home mom!
7. To stay in Washington but to be closer to family
8. To never have to clean my bathroom!

Eight People I Tag
1. Holly
2. Ryla
3. Rebekah
4. Amy
5. Erin
6. Lindsey
7. Vanessa
8. Heather

Thursday, December 4, 2008

Family Pics

Cliff and I were getting ready for our first prepared childbirth classes about three weeks ago and decided to take some random pics before we left. We are trying to give Gazey a lot of attention right now because we know she won't be getting as much attention in a few short weeks. I can't believe I am already 35 weeks. I am so ready!!!!!!! This kid is a beast!