Introducing the newest Baker....

Lilly Emma Baker

March 27, 2012

2:45 PM

6 lbs. 7 oz.

19.5"

The delivery was smooth as can be.  I went from 6.5 cm to 10 cm in a matter of minutes.  Then I literally pushed 3 times and Lilly came into our lives.  I still can't believe that I had such a small baby but my body appreciates it.  You can't see in these pictures but Lilly has a whole head of hair (more than Abby did) and it's a dark shade of brown.  Her eyes are also blue/gray like Abby's were in the beginning.  We can't help but to compare and we think Lilly looks a lot like her big sister!  Of course that may change but see for yourself on Abby's post almost 3 years ago.  

Lilly has a quiet cry that sounds so sweet.  She's taken to nursing really well already and she's a bit of a snorter when she sleeps.  :)  It sounds so cute!  Abby was thrilled to meet her mei mei and is already upset that I won't let her feed, hold and change her diaper just yet. I'm just glad Abby is so interested in participating in her sister's life. 

We will post more pictures in the next few days.  Right now it's time to finish recovering and catch up on some sleep.  But before we go, we wanted to say a big THANK YOU to everyone for your well wishes!  We have the best family and friends!

T minus 5 days

Just had my last doctor appointment before Induction Day on 3/27 and I'm currently dilated 2 cm.  Woohoo!  The anticipation is killing me!  We need to be at the hospital at 5:30 AM and we're first in line in L&D.  My doctor estimated we will get to meet Mei Mei by lunch time.  :)  I'm freakin' huge and seem to have grown exponentially in the last 7-10 days.  Thank goodness I'm still taking my "skinny pills" (aka my thyroid medicine that speeds up my metabolism).  :P

On to other things like what we've been up to for the last week.  Here are a few random pictures.

I just like this picture.  Abby still enjoys eating her "veggie packs" and she actually let me put her hair up in a ponytail this day.  She just woke up from a nap though so it's all lopsided.

Abby attended her first birthday party at a Little Gym (birthday girl in blue outfit) and we were so proud of how well Abby interacted with all the other kids whom she has never even met before.  This was on St. Patrick's Day so she was decked out in green.

Daddy's little sous-chef was prepping the counter as Bryce was making pizza dough in the mixer.  Notice the super cute apronS (yes, plural) she has on - compliments of Ruby and Janice a-yi.  She won't wear one without the other!  :)

Patting down the dough ball.

It's so funny to me because they have the same hands. I think I'm the only one who finds that so darn cute.

Helping Daddy split the dough into 4 equal parts.

Intently watching Daddy knead/roll the dough into perfect little balls

(compliments of all those years at Little Caesar's Pizza).

I love this picture.  I can't believe I got it on camera too.  It's Abby's face longing for approval after presenting her dough ball to Daddy.  That's all kids want - is love and approval.

And she got it, of course.  :)

Sticky dough fingers!!!

And last but not least, last night Amee masi came by for dinner and I actually remembered to take a picture this time.  Miracle.  We enjoyed salad, homemade pizza and mango sorbet for dinner.  Abby was endless entertainment for us all (Ams, thanks for being such a good sport!) and she sure does love her Amee masi! 

Side Note:  Just look at me.  I'm so ready to *POP*!!

Today is class picture day for Abby and she's been all excited about it.  I hope it turns out well.  :)  Tomorrow is my 33rd birthday and I'll be celebrating it with a pedi and watching The Hunger Games with my MIL and then dinner with Bryce.  Our last date before we become parents of 2.  I'm very excited and only wish Ruby were here to share in the fun!  Stay tuned for pictures of Mei Mei and the big name reveal upon her arrival!  :)

My babies

Ugh.  It's that time of the pregnancy.  I'm so ready to have Mei Mei.  I'll be 38 weeks tomorrow.  Ready when you are, Mei Mei!  We're all waiting!  In the mean time, here are a few pictures from this week.  (This week is Spring Break but my poor Abby did not get to do anything exciting because I'm 37 weeks and having regular contractions.  Abby, I promise next Spring Break will be more fun!).

Abby showing the nectarine who's boss!

Probaby only my 3rd official pregnant picture this go around.  Me at 37 weeks and 5 days.

My sweet baby napping on the couch.  I will forever be jealous of her beautiful eye lashes.  Thanks Bryce!  :)

Proud Papa

One of Bryce's favorite things to play with as a kid and adult is LEGOs.  No surprise here.  I played with my fair share of them as a kid too.  I think it's a pre-req for future mechanical engineers.  So of course when Abby decided to potty train herself a few months back, Bryce rewarded himself her with a beginners bucket of LEGOs.  It's one of her favorite things to play with now and Bryce makes lots of intricate things for her (i.e. planes, cars, bridges, people, etc.).  I, however, do not possess such an imagination so my structures tend to be more basic and boring.  Functional, but boring.  Anyhow, now we started getting LEGOs catalogs in the mail and here are a few pictures of Abby patiently flipping through each page.  Bryce had a "proud papa" moment.  :)

Mei Mei Update:

We will get to meet Mei Mei in exactly 2 weeks!  It's starting to really sink in and we're nervous and excited!  :)  My Braxton Hicks contractions really hurt now and I'm suuuupper uncomfortable so hopefully these 2 weeks fly by.  Keep your fingers crossed!

Lunch with Daddy

This is my conversation with Abby every Monday morning when she wakes up:

Abby:  Where's Daddy?
Me:      He's at work.
Abby:  Why?
Me:      Because it's Monday and he goes to work from Monday to Friday.
Abby:  He's not running in puddles?  (She remembers from him training for Tough Mudder on Saturday mornings...).
Me:     No, he's not running in puddles.

Bryce and I have been meaning to do this for a while so I thought, why don't we just go have lunch with Daddy in his office today?  So we finally did.  We won't be able to do much in a few weeks so why not make an adventure out of it today.  Now Abby knows where Daddy is during the day instead of asking me all the time.  :)  She had so much fun and really wanted Daddy to come home with us when we left. 

Having lunch in Daddy's office.

Helping Daddy with his expense report.  :)

Update on Mei Mei:

We are scheduled to be induced on Tuesday, March 27 which means we have 22 more days to go!  Bryce and I are both getting really excited about meeting our new baby.  We are both very curious what her personality will be like most of all.  Abby continues to be so sweet with her mei mei already.  She gives her constant hugs and kisses and says stuff like "Mommy, I want mei mei out so she can sit right here {pointing to couch between her and me} with us."  So sweet!  We still have a few items on the to-do-list before mei mei comes but other than that, we're ready to go!  We ordered some NB diapers the other day and I forgot how small they were!!  I'm used to being uncomfortable now and I love that by some miracle of miracles, I'm NOT as swollen as I was last time.  I can actually stand (aka not on bed rest), for one thing, I'm not on a NO SALT diet, I don't resemble the Marshallow Man, my skin isn't in pain from the swelling and I don't have carpel tunnel in both wrists!  It's awesome.  Now I know how everyone else feels and it makes this pregnancy a walk in the park.  Let's hope the delivery goes as easy as the 1st time too.