Visitors Galore!

A visit from Taylor's cousins!

We captured a smile during her nap!

Staring at Dad

Taylor's first snowfall - she slept right through it!

Aunt Kim stayed with us this week, and was a huge help!

Second trip to the doctor

Taylor has enjoyed visits from many friends and family members these past couple of weeks. She's met so many people, and has been awake for about half of those visits! Thank you to everyone who has been by to see her - we have enjoyed your company!!

She had her 2 week checkup last Thursday 12-10-09, and we checked her weight - she is already 8 lb 1/2 oz, almost a pound more than her birthweight! I can't believe how fast she is growing! She does have 2 blocked tear ducts, which we have to give her medicine for 3 times per day. The doctor said that this is very common. Hopefully it will clear up soon. She also has some reflux, which has made her a little bit more fussy than usual, especially at night. We've elevated her mattress, which seems to help a bit. Hopefully this is just a phase, and it will get better over time!

Her sleep schedule has been very erratic lately. She sleeps about 3 hours at a time at night, but when she is up, she usually is up for 1-2 hours at a time. We think that this is because of her reflux, and possibly some gas issues. Again, we hope that this is just a phase!

She is getting much stronger, especially with her neck; she can hold her head up for a few seconds at a time now. She also seems to focus on faces and lights around the room. I swear that there have been a few times when I've made her smile, but I know that all of the books say that it's just a natural reflex. I can pretend that she's smiling at me though!

We are looking forward to Taylor's first Christmas, and hope that everyone stays warm and enjoys the upcoming holiday season!

One Week Old!

Proud Mom

Happy Family

Visit from Uncle Eric

A kiss from Aunt Kim

The "coming home" outfit!

Ready to come home!


Home at last!

Cuddling with Daddy

First bath - not her favorite part of the day!

At the doctor's office... thinking hard!
Lounging on the boppy pillow!Napping with daddy!

Thank you to everyone for your visits, messages, cards, and phone calls! We are so lucky to have such supportive friends and family during this exciting time!

We got home from the hospital on Thanksgiving night at around 9:30pm. Her first night was such an experience. Nothing can prepare you for that first 24 hours at home - we felt so unprepared! But Taylor has adjusted to life at home very well! She has not quite figured out her nights and days yet, and spends more time sleeping during the day than at night. Luckily, Sam and I have started to adjust to Taylor's schedule and have been taking frequent naps during the day as well! The doctor said that she should start adjusting to accommodate nights and days within a couple of weeks.

We had our first doctor's appointment on Monday, which went very well. We are very happy with the pediatric practice that we've chosen for her - all of the doctors and nurses have been wonderful. She has gained 2 ounces since being discharged from the hospital, which is great! She is now 6 pounds 15 ounces. Our doctor said she is right on track as far as weight gain goes. She certainly has been eating enough!

We've only had her for a week, but she has already changed so much! Her face is fuller and her pink color has stabilized. Her facial features have become more defined - we can't wait to see who she looks like! We have gotten to know a few things about her personality already! So far this is what we've learned about our little girl:
Taylor likes... eating, sleeping, peeing on the changing table, getting burped, looking at light coming through the window, her pacifier (only at night), car rides, being held by anyone, her soft yellow and green blanket, looking at people's faces, shivering, grunting, sleeping in her fleece sleep sack, and lounging on the papasan bouncer.
Taylor dislikes... when mom and dad go to sleep, sleeping at night, being naked, getting her diaper changed, having the hiccups, taking baths, tummy time, being hungry for more than 2 seconds, and being cold.

We are looking forward to learning more about her and watching her grow even more!

Introducing: Taylor Grace Pavelka

Born: 11/24/09 at 11:59pm
Height: 19 inches
Weight: 7 lb. 1 oz.

We are very happy and proud to introduce our new daughter to the world! Taylor Grace Pavelka made her appearance at 11:59pm. She is so beautiful and doing great!! Our doctor said she looks perfect and scored a 9 on the Apgar scale.

Tuesday was definitely a surprising day for us! We went to our doctor's appointment immediately after work, and we were told that my amniotic fluid was slightly low and that they would need to induce... right away! We were shocked. By the time we were checked into the hospital at around 4:00pm though, I had started to go into labor on my own. I ended up being induced after a couple of hours, and things went quickly after that! Labor and delivery went very smoothly! I received an epidural, to which I attribute a lot of the smooth delivery! After about 40 minutes of pushing, she came into the world a minute shy of midnight! She REALLY wanted to be born on the 24th!

She is doing really well. We are hoping to stay in the hospital one more night, but we'll see what insurance will allow. She has taken to nursing quite well. She is not a very fussy baby, although she whimpers a lot and it's the cutest little sound! She cries when she gets cold, and when her diaper is being changed. She has the smoothest skin and tiny wrinkly hands and feet. She is also developing some dimples in her cheeks. If I am allowed to say, she really is the cutest baby on the planet!!!!

Sam is doing a great job as a new daddy. He has been practicing swaddling her and has gotten really good at it! He also has been in charge of diaper changes, when she's not in the nursery.

I've posted a couple of pictures. We also had some pictures taken by my wonderful aunt who works for Bella Baby photography. They are adorable! The pictures can be seen at: http://www.bellababyphotography.com Password: 1124taylorpavelka More pictures and updates to come!! Thanks to everyone for your support and well wishes!!! We love you all!!

Home Stretch!

Hi everyone! Sam and I had our doctor's appointment yesterday. Nothing has changed - I'm still 4cm and around 70-80% effaced and ready to go! Our doctor said that we could go at any time, and that she wouldn't be surprised to see us at the hospital this weekend... I told her to stop filling our heads with the idea that we're going early! It doesn't seem like this baby girl is in any hurry! We are definitely getting anxious to meet her, and I am getting anxious to not be pregnant anymore! :)

We had another non-stress test done and everything went great. She seems to be in good health and progressing as she should be! When we hear news like that, we don't mind the wait.

We are very happy to welcome our new niece, Haley Marie Pavelka, into the world this week! She was born two nights ago and she is cute as ever!!! Congratulations to Sam's brother Mark and his wife Colleen on their new addition! :)

Our next doctor's appointment will be on Tuesday. We will keep you updated with any news! Thanks to everyone for their continuing encouragement and support! We can't wait to share her arrival with you all!!

4 cm!

Hi everyone! Well we had our doctor's appointment on Monday... right now I am between 3.5 and 4 centimeters dilated, and 70% effaced! Our doctor said that she is surprised that my water hasn't broken yet. I have another appointment next Wednesday, but hopefully I will be done by then! I can wish, right?

I also had a non-stress test done today, which went well. The only thing was that they kept extending my time. The baby wasn't moving a lot - it's not one of her usual active times of the day! So I ended up sitting there for an hour just to get the right number of movements! Overall, she seemed healthy. We weren't able to get a good ultrasound picture - her hands were covering her face again. I hope this isn't a trend with her!

I was able to get the H1N1 flu shot today at my doctor's office, which was nice because I avoided the long lines at the county health department. Now I don't have to worry every time one of my students has a cough or runny nose!

Well our bags are packed, the house is in order, sub plans are ready at school, we are all set- we just need the baby!

3 cm!

Hi everyone! We just got back from our latest doctor's appointment, and I am 3 cm dilated this week! I'm still 50 % effaced. My doctor said that for a first time pregnancy, that is pretty good. She said she'd be surprised if I went to my due date, but also warned that she has been surprised by other women before! Obviously it will happen when it happens, but I'm very excited that I have dilated one more centimeter in less than a week! Hopefully this means that I am close!

The baby has been kicking and moving like crazy lately too. I think she's getting anxious to come out and meet everyone. She likes to kick VERY strongly on my right side - I think she's practicing waking her mommy up in the middle of the night that way!

Tomorrow I will have another non-stress test done on the baby's movement. Our next check-up will be next Monday so I will keep everyone updated on how that goes!

Let the countdown begin...

Hi everyone! It's been almost a month since I've posted last! This has been due to the fact that we've been SO busy preparing for our little girl, and also that there hasn't been much to report up until now! We had our 36 week appointment yesterday, and got some surprising news - I am already 2 centimeters dilated and 50 % effaced! Our doctor started the appointment with a preparation speech about how most women go past their due date with their first pregnancy. After the exam, however, she was telling me that 2 cm is pretty far along for being only 36 weeks. She said that I need to take it easy and stay off my feet as much as I can until next week, when the baby will be considered full term. Most likely, I probably still have a couple of weeks to go, but according to the doctor, I'll probably go early rather than late!

We also had a non-stress test done on the baby. I sat in a recliner for about 20 minutes with monitors on my stomach, and had to press a button every time I felt the baby move to make sure that her heart rate was accelerating with each movement. She passed with flying colors! We will have to have that done every week until the baby is born, since I'm still considered high-risk with the complications we had in the beginning. It's kind of a pain, but it is reassuring to hear the baby's heartbeat and monitor her movement. She had the hiccups during the test, which was fun because we got to hear them LOUDLY on the machine! The poor girl has hiccups all of the time!

Overall, I've been feeling well! Although I definitely feel like I'm ready to be done. My feet and hands have been very swollen lately, and I've been so tired! I can't complain too much though - the baby is healthy and that's all that matters!

I will be updating the blog often, now that there will be things to write about! I will have another doctor's appointment next week, and will keep you all posted on how it goes! I've posted some pictures below of me at 36 weeks, and some more pictures of the baby's room! Happy Halloween everyone!!

36 Weeks - Just coming home after our school's Halloween parade and party - can you tell how tired I am!?!)

Sam needed to add some Bears decor!

Note that the dresser drawer is fixed!
Crib and bedding