Chloe's bath time 6 wks old

   Chloe loves her bath time! She even gave a quick smile!!

Chloë and Mommy

Thank goodness that Chloe is a much cuter baby than I! I looked like a little Asian redheaded baby. For all of you who wanted to see a pic of Chloe and I as an infant.. here you go. I wish I had a better pic, this is a picture of a picture. Thats as good as I can get right now. I am starting to see little things about baby Chloe that are mine, like her little wrinkled hands, maybe her eyes, and her little feet are starting to rememble mine. She has started to smile and we are both getting more sleep these days. I am really starting to enjoy her more and more. I am feeling an intense love for this little girl.                                                     

I loved you from the very start,

You stole my breath, embraced my heart.

Our life together has just begun

You're part of me my little one.

As mother with child, each day I grew,

My mind was filled with thoughts of you.

I'd daydream of the things we'd share,

Like late-night feedings and Teddy bears.

Like first steps and skinned knees,

Like bedtime stories and ABC's.

I thought of things you'd want to know,

Like how birds fly and flowers grow.

I thought of lessons I'd need to share,

Like standing tall and playing fair.

When I first saw your precious face,

I prayed your life be touched with grace.

I thanked the angels from above,

And promised you unending love.

Each night I lay you down to sleep,

I gently kiss your head and cheek.

I count your little fingers and toes;

I memorize your eyes and nose.

I linger at your nursery door,

Awed each day I love you more.

Through misty eyes, I dim the light,

I whisper, "I love you" every night.

I loved you from the very start,

You stole my breath, embraced my heart.

As mother and child our journeys begin,

You have daddy's skin and your mommy's chin.

Our week in a nut-shell

How our saturday go these days- Adam and I took Chloe to the post office today and weighed her on the scales in the lobby. She weighs 9lbs 12.8 oz.! After the scales we went to the park and Chloe had her first picnic!

We had a long day of hanging out around the house so we decided to take the baby out to the grocery store, post office, and park.. Woo! pretty exciting huh? lol

My dad, step mom, and sister came down to visit this week.We really enjoyed having them here. Chloe fell in love with her Papaw! It looks like she is scared in this picture, but really she adored him. My dad even got Chloe's name tattooed on his arm when we went to Haight and Ashbury in the city. So I guess he fell in love with her too!

Chloë or clonë?

Chloë in the above picture

Adam above

Chloë above

    Adam above

Do you see it or is it just me?

One month old!

My little Chloe is one month old!! I can't believe I have a one month old daughter!! She is getting so chubby. She already has a double chin! I love her so much. She is cooing and making eye contact with us when talk to her. She is a little feisty at times, expecially when she is hungry. She loves bath time and being held. I worry about her happiness all of the time and if she is feeling loved enough or if she is bored. I suppose most people have more family around to give their babies extra love and it's only Adam and I here in the bay area. I hope that will be enough. She is just so tiny and innocent. She is so new from heaven and I feel a heavy responsibility.

Bless this child

Chloe was blessed July 4th 2010. Adam's parents came down for the blessing. It was a beautiful blessing. Chloe's daddy blessed her with faith and discernment and among many things she was blessed to keep good friends around her and my favorite part was that she will look to me to be her example and that her and I will have a close relationship. I was so proud of Adam getting up in front of all of those people and blessing our child. I feel so blessed to have such a loving husband who adores me and my baby daughter.

The birth of little miss Chloë

Wednesday June 9th I went into the Dr.s office and they stripped my membranes in hope to start labor on my own. Later that night while I lay in bed I felt slightly stronger contractions than I had been feeling but didn't get my hopes up. At two thirty in the morning as I was laying in bed coming down off a contraction I felt a pop. I immediately got up and went to the bathroom to check and sure enough my water had broken. So I woke everyone up, called the Dr and jumped in the shower. We arrived at the hospital around 345 am and in that one hour my contractions had become very strong.  They were back to back and pretty intense. A few hours of natural labor and I was through. They called in the anesthesiologist and I got my epidural. Wow what a relief! I could actually enjoy the experience I felt great.. for a couple of hours anyway. As my contractions got stronger I started to feel that the epidural was only working on my right side. So they called in the anaesthesiologist and attempted another epidural to remedy the problem. It took the same way and I could feel everything on my left side so they just turned up the epidural, which I had a bad reaction to. I couldn't stop shaking and crying and I felt totally paralyzed from the waist down. Finally I convinced them to turn it way down and that I would rather feel the pain than be paralyzed. They checked me and I was finally at a 9 1/2 at around 4pm. So they got the Dr and got the room ready.. but my best friend Audrey was supposed to be in from Utah but her flight was late so she hadn't made it yet she was 20 minutes away! My Dr agreed to wait for her and when she finally arrived I pushed twice and Chloe was born. They laid her on my chest and she was all wet and warm. I fell in love with her instantly! I couldn't believe that she had dark hair. Where did that come from? They let me hold her for a long time while I was being stitched up and then they took her and weighed her and measured her. She was 6lbs. 12 oz and 18 inches long. After months of debate on her middle name (Adam wanted to name her Lulu) he decided I deserved (having been through 14 hrs of labor) to name her what I wanted which was to honnor my mother Renee. He knew how much my mother means to me and how much love I have for her .We named her Chloe Renee Baird.

Looks like an induction

So it looks like little Chloe baby is going to be born this Friday June 11th. My doctor is planning to start my induction Thursday evening. My Dr has been sending me  to the lab and drawing my blood each week to monitor my platelets because they have been low. They keep getting lower each draw, and they want to put me on a steroid and get them back up by using an oral medication (prednisone) which makes your platelet count higher. Well it only works while you are taking it and would drop if discontinued so they want to go ahead and induce me while on it to insure a high count. I was really bummed at the news of losing my choice to have a "natural" labor. I am only dilated to a 1 and my cervix is still high. I know my body isn't quite ready for labor and I worry that forcing it to do something it doesn't want to will cause complications. So I go home from the appointment worried. I voice my feelings to Adam at lunch. My sweet husband is now worried and is on the Internet doing research calling the doctor back and asking questions and calling friends who could give us medical advice as to how serious this would be if we waited another week. After praying, and thinking about what little options we feel we have, we have come to terms with the induction and have decided to be positive that things will go well for us and we are so excited that little Chloe will be here in 2 DAYS!!

To induce or not to induce..

First I guess I should say I am leaning toward not having Chloe induced. I was hoping to get stories or opinions from those who have had inductions. I went in for a Dr. appointment this morning and my Dr informed me that he will be out of town the week I'm due. He suggested we induce early (the weekend of the 12th) and told me I have the choice to induce or take the risk of an on call Dr. if I were to go into labor during that week. At first I thought about it and kinda considered it. I was excited at the thought that I could see my baby 5 days sooner than my due date and I am soooo ready to meet this little girl I can hardly stand it!! BUT I have read so many books and watched a few documentaries on child birth and I have heard all about pitocin and the issues it can cause. So i think I'll just take my chances with the on call Dr. (if thats the way it goes) and go into labor naturally. Any suggestions?

Red Raspberry leaf and Evening primrose oil??

                 Anyone tried this? I wonder if any of this will really work?

red raspberry leaf-  Many midwives report that red raspberry leaf aids in focusing the pre-labor contractions that help a woman’s uterus to prepare for delivery. The high vitamin and mineral content help replace those lost via blood loss during delivery. Also, the alkaloids will continue toning the uterus as it returns to its usual size. In some women, the high mineral content may even help their milk to come in. It also contains fragrine, an alkaloid which help tone the muscles of the pelvic region including the uterus. This allows the uterus to contract more powerfully and effectively during labor.

evening primrose oil- Proponents of natural birth methods and many midwives swear by using evening primrose oil to help ripen the cervix. Evening primrose oil contains prostaglandins, which are used for inducing labor. It is said to help soften and ripen the cervix to help prepare it for the birth of your baby. Evening primrose oil is more commonly used by midwives. Very few obstetricians employ this method for softening the cervix. Most go to the medical methods of stripping the membranes or inducing labor with prostaglandins or pitocin.

Sweet baby quilts from the Bairds

My mother in law Patsy, and sister in law Erin made baby "Lulu" some sweet adorable baby quilts that I love! Erin made the soft lavender and yellow baby blanket, and Patsy made the mint and pink blanket.

Terrible Terrible Massage experience!!

Today as I was running my errands I see a massage place that is having a grand opening here in Pleasant hill. So I thought, well I'll go check it out. It would be so nice to get a good massage, and I deserve it right? I AM 8 mos. preggers.. so I decide to go in and I am greeted by a young Asian woman who is assuring me that " We do wonderful pregnant massage good for mom and baby" I thought well I might as well try them and if I like it I can have a regular place to go every month. So She shows me to a room and closes the door. So like usual I get completely undressed and slip under the sheet on the massage table. (Of course my tummy is huge and I have to lay on my side during the massage) A lady walks in and greets me and points to my tummy and says " how long" So I tell her I am 8 months pregnant and she then pulls the sheet completely off my nude body and gets her oil. This I am not accustomed to during a massage. I instinctively put my arm across my bare chest and she starts rubbing oil on my back and grabs my arm that is covering my naked boobies and pulls it back over my head to where it was comfortable for her to massage while sitting on her stool. To make a long story a little shorter she hurts me the entire time because she uses her knuckles to grind on my bones.. NOT my muscles !! and gives me a full nude butt / side boob massage that wasn't wanted( who needs a side boob massage??). she taps me to lay on my back and as I am rolling onto my back I grab for the sheet to cover up while she massages my leg and foot. I think Finally my breasts are covered! but from the waist down I am not.. Finally She is done and leaves me to get dressed. I think to myself ..This lady is capable of walking in on me while I am trying to dress so I grab the sheet to cover up. So as I am trying to put my underwear and pants back on (quickly) and hold the sheet... She then walks right in and tries to hand me some water. I am obviously trying to get dressed and trying to cover up so I tell her to put the water down on the table and I'll drink it AFTER I am dressed, but she instead pulls the sheet from me and tries to help me zip up my pants!!!! While I am exposed on top!! I try to tell her No no I can do it ( I'm pregnant not a paraplegic!!) and finally she leaves me to dress. I hurry faster than someone in my condition should and go to open the door and it hits her. She is crouched by my door trying to look in the crack. Maybe for another peak? Maybe to make sure I didn't leave without tipping her? I don't know but THIS was one of the strangest experiences of my life!!!

Today I went into the beauty supply store to grab a few things I need, and my favorite worker was working today and I hadn't seen her in there for a while and as she was ringing me up she goes " Girl you are lookin r-e-a-d-y. Look at her face Delores don't her face look fat? Girl you so lucky you havin that baby soon. It's bound to get hot!" I smiled and told her I am feeling ready and can't wait to have her, thanked her for my things and walked out the door. Fat face huh? Who knew.. I guess when you look at yourself for 8 months it's harder to see the gradual change. I asked Adam if my face looked rounder, but (like he should) He said no not to him.

"A watched pot never boils"

I thought I never understood what people meant by "I'm so done being pregnant" and maybe I still don't in the same way. I guess to me me that meant that they weren't enjoying the experience anymore, but that's not how I feel. I still love being pregnant, I am just feeling so impatient! I will be 36 weeks this week and I keep thinking.. You never know maybe it will happen this week? AND I STILL HAVE 4 WEEKS LEFT!!!! I am too excited.. It's like when you are a kid and can't sleep because it's Christmas eve. I wake up at night thinking about her and I cannot go back to sleep for hours.. Every night. I have an appointment on Tuesday May 18th and they will check me for the first time. I don't expect to have dilated, but that would be cool if I am! Sorry to those of you who are reading this and thinking.. boring.. but It's all that's on my mind and I can't help but write it out. My grandmother always says " A watched pot never boils"

My very first quilt

I am taking a quilting class and am down to the last two classes! I am not the best quilter but I really enjoyed making this one.. Still needs so much work but it's starting to come together..

Oh baby!

Need I say more?? I am getting so BIG! Anywhere I go people ask me when I'm due. I look nine months, but I still have a good 7 weeks left!! Baby girl Baird is really plumping up. And she found that she can really stretch out her legs if she wants to. My right side sure feels the exercise :) I am still feeling very well thank goodness! I do wish she would come a little early though because I can't wait to meet her and see what she looks like! I guess I am impatient..

Chloë's baby shower

What a beaufiful day for a baby shower! The sun was out and felt like spring! Baby Chloe got some wonderful things. We had lots of delicious food, and had so much fun! Thank you to all who helped and thought about us that day. It was sad being away from family for the shower but people from my church came and made it great!

Carmeled apples!

This weekend my best friend Audrey came to California to throw me a baby shower. We made carmel apples with pink and white m&ms as shower favors the night before. They turned out so pretty!

My dream crib!!!

Adam and I have been wanting this Pottery Barn crib since I first saw it around Christmas time and We finally got one!! It weighs around 200 lbs! We hope to pass it down as a heirloom piece. I am just now starting on the nursery because I couldn't start without my centerpeice!! <3

Visitors from Idaho.

Last week my and brother and sister-in-law (Adam's sister) Kali came to visit from Idaho with their three little kids. Tyler (3) Ethan (2) and Hanna (1). It was so fun having them here. We went to the Jelly Belly factory, To the Golden Gate bridge, and to the Oakland Temple. They stayed a week and went and did fun things everyday. They went to 6 flags, Muir woods, Peir 39 etc. The kids were really funny and Ginger loved having so many people on her level to lick in the mouth. She got PLENTY of french kisses!! Baby Hanna is feirce about her food, Tyler is active and loves asking many many questions, and Ethan has the cutest smile! We really enjoyed seeing them and hope they come back to visit again.

Baby blessing dress

When I was a little girl my baby cousin died at nine days old and was burried in my baby blessing dress. My grandma told me that when I have my first daughter she would make sure I had a baby blessing dress made so that I could pass it down to my daughter's daughter. My Grandmother had one of her best friends (Kathy pohl) make me this beautiful dress. It was origionally a wedding dress and after so much work and beautiful thought it turned out so wonderful. I really love this baby blessing dress, it means a lot to me. I can't wait for Chloë to wear it.

The wonderful world of 3-D

I had such a pleasant time last week when I went to Oklahoma to visit my family. I felt so supported and loved while there. My family seems so happy to be welcoming in a new family member and I am so blessed to have them in my life. While I was there I decided it would be fun to go to one of those 3d ultrasound places with the whole fam and get a peek @ my little girl. She was so alert and active!. They gave me 35 minutes of footage to take home with me and I have watched in 3 times since! She is so funny she chooses to lay her little feet on her forehead and kick up. She is so flexable! Maybe she will want to be in ballet :) The ultrasound tech kept having me roll from one side to the other to coax her into putting her feet down. Once we finally got her to take her feet off of her face and put her hands down, her umbilical cord kept floating in front of her face and it was hard to get a good shot of her . I think she may look like Adam. It's hard to tell but it looks like she has Adam's forehead, lips, and maybe his slightly cleft chin? Only time will tell.. The second picture is kinda freaky it is in 2d of her yawning.

*Baby Bows*

I have been wanting to make Chloe some cute baby headbands and bows for some of her outfits I got her. A friend of mine knows how to make them and offered to teach me today. I loved it! We had such a good time! Here is what I made :)

True romance

So for all of those who know the story of the antenna ball, here is a story to add to it.The old story goes: Back when Adam and I were dating I had a talk with him about being a little more romantic. Romance and Adam do not always come naturally. It's not that he was a bad boyfriend, (or husband), it's just that sometimes he needs a little direction. I told him I would love it if once every week or two he would do something romantic for me. I had just left on a trip and was gone for a week. I left my car at Adam's house while I was gone, and went there to pick it up when I got back. I had not seen Adam yet and got a text later that day from him asking if I had noticed anything "Romantic" about my car. I hadn't, so I told him I would go look and call him back. I thought hmm maybe he had my car detailed and washed, or had I missed a boquet of flowers in my back seat or something? So I looked and found nothing. I then thought "Oh he made me a mix CD" and looked in the disc changer and found nothing, so I called him back and told him I didn't see anything. He said "try looking for your car" I didn't understand, and then I saw it... There it was... a Jack in the Box antena ball on my antenna. He then says see.. I did something romantic for you! Once I told him about how I had a hard time finding my car in parking lots. It must have stuck out in his mind... because not only was there that particular incident, but (The new story 3 yrs. later) this weekend I came home to find Adam proud as a peacock of himself. He goes "Go look at your car" and I found a new antenna ball.. yet again from Jack in the Box. He said "See I did something romantic for you".


 

Ladies Victorian dinner

I was invited to a Vitorian style tea party/dinner where we had to dress up in victorian attire and I had nothing Victorian to wear, and nothing that I fit into.. so I bought this dress at target ( not maternity and not victorian I know) and decided to wear it to the Dinner tonight. Adam came home from work and I was all dressed and ready to go. He then said that he hoped I still had the receipt ... I was thinking that he didn't like the dress/color or something. He then continued saying "because you have to take the dress back to target, you won't fit into it next week" So here is a shot of my pretty little dress before I have to return it to target so some skinny girl can buy it and enjoy it :(

Kids say the darndest things

I'm so excited to become a mom! It will be so great to have a kid around:)

The Office

Jim Halpert: Question. What kind of bear is best?


Dwight Schrute: That's a ridiculous question.

Jim Halpert: False. Black bear.

Dwight Schrute: That's debatable. There are basically two schools of thought--

Jim Halpert: Fact. Bears eat beets. Bears. Beets. Battlestar Galactica.

Dwight Schrute: Bears do not... What is going on?! What are you doing?!

Veronica is engaged!!

Our friends Veronica and Peter came into town this weekend and went to Carmel where Peter proposed! It's about time PETER!!  We drove up to see the happy couple and spend some time with them. Veronica's sister made us a gourmet dinner, and we got to hear the story of how it happened. Congrats V & P!!

Thank you Grandma Carolyn!

Today we recieved a package in the mail from grandma Carolyn. She had made adoreable little booties for lulu, sent us a gift card to babies r us and made a cute photo book! It's so nice to know that family is excited about lillte Chloë. We love the gifts! Thank you Grandma C!

Chloë @ 23 weeks

Little miss Chloë has been such a joy for me to carry. I really enjoy her little presence with me all of the time. I always worry about her comfort and happiness in there. I hope she is cozy and enjoying her stay. I was running errands the other day and everywhere I went someone asked me what I was having, or when I was due. It's crazy to me how quickly I went from no one knowing to strangers feeling free to comment... And even touch me.. Now don't get me wrong I am not one of those people who hate people touching my belly, but I was in the 99 cent only store getting soil for our plants and a man aproached me and said "Oh your pregnant! Do you know what you're having" I replied a girl and he goes "Can I" and before I could respond both of his hands were on my tummy. He then says " Tell your man to get a gun girl you can never be too cautious" and walked off. Like I said I don't normally mind, but seeing as though he took me off guard AND I was at the dollar store (in concord)... Being pregnant is such an adventure!

Baby quilting!

I am taking a class in April that is from a lady who is supposed to be a quilting guru. I am getting so excited to take it, because Iwant to make my little girl a soft comfortable quilt. I have never made a quilt befor so I really don't know what I'm doing. I went to Joanne's and got some random prints that I thought were cute. They don't all go together, but I can use some for future projects. Here is my material I picked.

Valentines day!

Adam got me flowers for Valentines day and took me to dinner! The flowers filled our entire house with a sweet floral scent!

Weenie Dog day!!!

On Saturday we decided to take Ginger down to the East bay doxie meetup group's Valentines event so she could hang with her own kind. She met her boyfriend there ( as seen below) Though she never got his name, here she is rounding second base 1/2 way to third!!!   

Ginger and I @ the doxie event.