Visitors

We have been so blessed by our many friends and family members who came to visit while we were in the hospital. I wish we had pictures of everyone that visited, but unfortunately we didn't get photos with everyone. Here are some of the pictures we did get.


Aunt Sissy


Mindy


Jeremy and Joy


Uncle Charlie


Aunt Karen, Uncle Craig, and cousin Karena

Going Home

We're home!

Pull Up Head

Elissa had to take Reagan to the doctor yesterday (ear infection) and there was a long wait. Reagan was getting fussy, so Olivia entertained her by being Princess Pull Up Head. Here is her "royal highness."

More Pictures of Miss Amanda

Thank you to everyone for your continued prayers, good wishes, and support. We are so happy and proud of our newest addition. Here are some new pictures from Amanda's second day.

Blessings

Amanda Grace Shingleton

V-Day Decor, The Cake, and Tomorrow

I got a "wild hair" on Friday and decided that I needed to decorate my house for Valentine's Day. Since I have been posting all of my decorations lately, I figured I would post V-day too!







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As I mentioned in my last post, Elissa got here early. She has been very helpful in fixing meals, cleaning, and taking care of Olivia. On Friday night, she decided to bake a cake. She reminded us that she was not a "baker" before she even began. The process seemed to be going well and the cake smelled delicious. As she got down to the icing, we heard her sigh. She had forgotten to ice the center of the cake before stacking them. No biggie...the cake was slanted but it would still taste great! Then she realized how unstable the cake really was...

This photo was taken before we cut the cake. The cake was delicious, but we got a huge kick out of our little "Betty Crocker!"
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Tomorrow is our big day. Amanda Grace should be in my arms by this time tomorrow. I am nervous and just ask for your prayers. I am praying for a healthy baby and a problem free surgery. I am sure that we will have updates and photos tomorrow.

Elissa wrote a really nice blog about Amanda and me last night. You can read it on her blog. It is on my sidebar. The Lindseys.

Happy Monday!

Sissy and The False Alarm

On Wednesday I woke up and was not feeling very well. I had the worst backache ever and was nauseated. I didn't eat much for breakfast and the thought of lunch made me sick. I stayed in bed for most of the day but had to go pick up Olivia around 4:45 p.m. When I got up to go get her...I got sick. I was sick several times and finally around 7 p.m., Adam called the doctor's after hours number. They told him that if I got sick even one more time to bring me into labor and delivery. I got sick again and again and again and so off we went. I didn't think that the baby was coming but I wasn't sure what was wrong so it made me very nervous. As it turns out, they think I had a stomach flu and I was severely dehydrated. I called my sister to let her know what was going on and she hopped on a plane first thing yesterday morning to come here. Lifesaver! She took care of the girls all day yesterday while I rested.

This is a photo that Elissa took of the girls at the park yesterday. They had a great time!

So cute...

My neighbor (and friend), Renee, brought me the most adorable wreath for my door. It is made from decorated burp cloths. It is so creative. I wish that I had thought of it myself. Once it's done "being a wreath," it can be taken apart and the burp cloths are usable.

Getting Ready For Baby

Adam and Olivia (and me, sort of!) worked on putting the baby stuff together yesterday. Olivia has been playing with the bassinet and stroller ever since. I know she is getting excited. Here are a few pics!







Before Olivia was born, Adam got me a new purse (about 3 days before we had her). Yesterday he decided to keep up our little tradition. And if you know me, you know I love a purse! This is the newest addition to my purse collection!

Fishing with Daddy

Adam took Olivia fishing yesterday. She got a Dora fishing pole for Christmas from her Uncle Brian and she couldn't wait to test it out. Unfortunately the fish were not cooperating, but she did get a lesson in putting a worm on the hook. (She told me it was okay because the worms don't have eyes!) She also had to learn a lesson about nature calling when you are out enjoying nature. I am glad that her daddy was there to handle that one!




Today we went to Shady Grove for lunch since Adam had the day off for MLK day. Olivia went from fisherwoman to diva! She looked so cute in her pink tinted "shades" and her purse that Uncle Brian got her in New York City!

Hannah Montana

Olivia was invited to a Hannah Montana birthday party for her friend Inaya on Saturday night. Inaya turned 7 and so Olivia was the youngest person at the party. She loved it all the same. "Hannah Montana" came to the party and sang songs and signed autographs. The girls danced, watched the Hannah Montana concert DVD, and had lots of snacks and birthday cake, of course! I dressed Olivia up as Hannah. She was the only one in costume...Oops! (As I have said before, I get carried away!)

An Admission...

I have been really nervous about the upcoming birth of Amanda. Not because I am worried about having 2 children or because I don't feel equipped to care for her, but I guess because I am so used to all of the bad stuff that it's hard to accept the good. I got her nursery ready but have not put together the cradle (for our room), opened the monitors, gotten out the stroller or opened any of the bottles, outfits, pacifiers, toys, sheets, blankets, etc...for fear that somehow I will "jinx" myself. Adam suggested we assemble the cradle and stroller this weekend as well as test out the video baby monitor (yes I am THAT crazy) and install the car seat. Reluctantly I have agreed. Again, I am not reluctant because I don't want her, but quite the opposite. I want her so badly that it seems too good to be real.

At my doctor's appointment today, she reminded me that next week would be my last visit. I will fill out all of my paperwork and do all of my initial blood work next week. 3 days later, I go in for surgery. It almost seemed real! I decided that I better start getting myself ready...really ready.

Until today, I had 4 bottles for baby A. Only 4! I also had about 4 pacifiers and if you have a baby that uses pacifiers or "bops" as we call them...you know that 4 can last no more than a day or two without getting lost. We had some diapers because of the lovely diaper shower my sister gave me, but I figured more is always better than less and of course, formula. So...I took a leap and went to Babies R Us. I stocked up on:





I guess what I am saying is that I let myself get excited. And in saying that, I ask for your prayers for Amanda. I ask that you pray that she be born healthy and that their are no complications. I would appreciate it and I know baby A will too!

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On another note, I can't remember if I've mentioned that Andy (our cat) has been biting me for the last 9 months. He doesn't bite anyone else, but when it comes to me...he is like a vampire. Today he has tried to bite me 2 times for no reason. Last night he drew blood from my ankle. I am starting to think that he is from Pet Cemetery or maybe he just belongs there! (Oops! That wasn't nice of me to say!)




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One last request...I read a blog regularly called Jenna's Journey. (I still can't add links for some reason or I would link it here!) Jenna was induced on Monday and had a beautiful baby boy. He has pulmonary hypertension and has been in 3 hospitals now. She is trying to recover from a c-section after only 24 hours in the hospital and is traveling all over Arkansas to be with her son. Please pray for her, her family, and her son, Brayden. You can visit her blog from the links on my blog to read the whole story.

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The cat is now in the entry way of our house howling. It almost sounds like a baby crying or voices of some sort. I really don't know what his problem is. What a jerk!