3rd Trimester

Today is my due date and I wish I was still pregnant, awaiting the birth of my healthy baby girl. Since Taylor came 3 weeks early, I never really expected Leah to wait this long. But, I especially didn't expect what happened to happen.

My third trimester was fairly uneventful until the Friday before Christmas. I had a lot of Braxton Hicks contractions, but I had those with Taylor, so I wasn't worried. The Friday afternoon before Christmas I started having real contractions. They weren't taking my breath away, but they were certainly more uncomfortable than Braxton Hicks. I finally decided to call the doctor and they had me come into the hospital. I was only about 34.5 weeks and my doctor hadn't checked to see if I was dilated. I wasn't, so they gave me a shot to stop them and we came home. I look back and wish so badly I could've had Leah that night. I would have her in my arms right now. I know she's in a much better place and being loved perfectly, but it's so hard not having my baby girl with me.

I ended up calling the doctor again on Christmas Eve because I had contractions for 4 hours every 2-4 minutes or so. Again, they weren't taking my breath away, so the doc told me not to worry. Eventually, they stopped that night. I continued having contractions like that for another week or so before they finally stopped coming regularly for a while at a time.

I'll tell Leah's story in another post, but here's my pregnancy pictures from the last trimester.

      28 weeks with Taylor                           28 weeks with Leah

32 weeks with Taylor                           32 weeks with Leah

                                                             

I don't have 36 weeks with Taylor               36 weeks with Leah

Christmas Fun

Christmas started off at Mama Donna and Papa Rex's on Christmas Eve. There aren't many pictures from that night, but here's one of Taylor and Mama Donna dancing with Dora on the Kinect. 

This are the presents Santa left for Taylor. Santa brings Taylor 3 presents, just like Jesus got. The donuts were just a little extra treat.

Just a picture of our tree this year.

She's up! Her first question was, "Where's my bike?". It was the only thing she had asked Santa for and she expected it! We'll have to work on the lesson that you don't always get what you want.

She was excited about her "big girl" overnight bag for spending the night with grandparents.

Mama Donna and Papa Rex came up to have breakfast with us and see what Santa brought her. She also opened her presents from Mommy and Daddy. Adam built her this dollhouse for Christmas. She would watch him work every night. She has been so excited to play with it!

A ball and glove!

Dora backpack with Map!

Leg warmers for dance. Her friend Savannah wears them every week and she's been wanting them so much!

She also got a new bag for all her dance clothes.

Telling us the Christmas story using her Little People nativity scene and her new Jesus Storybook Bible.

Loving her new bike!

She did not want Mama Donna and Papa Rex to leave, so she blocked them into the kitchen.

Nannie and Papa came up the day after Christmas and spent the night. Taylor had so much fun opening all her presents from them!

A guitar! 

Daddy showing her how to play!

New cowgirl boots! She wants to wear these everyday!

She also got nail polish and Papa even let her paint his toenails. 

We had another wonderful Christmas and had more chances to teach Taylor about Jesus. Next year I plan to do an Advent calendar and read Scripture and have a service project each day.

Dancing!

Taylor started dance (ballet and tap) classes back in September. She LOVES it! In October we got to have a Peek Week and see what all they work on. Over Christmas, they had a party and did a couple of dances for us. It's so cute to watch her dance!!

Taylor and her best friend Savannah! We recently changed schools so Taylor only sees her at dance. 

Dancing by the teacher

Snacks after the ornament exchange

Here's a video of the tap routine. Both the videos of her ballet routine are upside down, not even sure how that happened. 

Leah's Sprinkle

I'm writing this after we've already lost our precious Leah, but I want to remember everything I can about the time we had with her. I'll write more about her short life later, when I can. For now, here's a post about the sprinkle my wonderful friends threw for her. 

Amber and Julie, two of the hostesses

Misty, another hostesses, and her daughter, Jules.

Taylor even got some presents!

All the presents!

Jules and I even dressed alike!

Taylor and Henley, precious girls!

Hilary was another hostesses.

Handmade blanket by one of my favorites ladies at church. Her card said
"handmade withprayer and love". I really wish I had gotten to wrap Leah in it. 

Shirt for Taylor with matching Little Sis onesie.
I really looked forward to dressing them in those shirts. 

Admiring the picture frame Aunt Karen made.

I never got a cute diaper bag with Taylor so that it wouldn't bother Adam to carry it.
But, it was one thing I wanted with Leah, so Mom got one with her initials monogrammed on it. She even picked one out that wasn't too girly for Adam to carry.

Super cute diaper cake that Berber made for Leah. We got enough diapers to last for several months. We'll figure out what to do with all those soon. 

Wreath for our door at the hospital. It did sit in her room at Children's for several days and was on a stand at her funeral.

My sis and her precious baby, Andi!

 After all the shower fun, the kids went outside to play!

 I really wish we could be using all the wonderful things we got for Leah at the sprinkle. I wish we had more time with her to let her know how much she is loved and by how many people. I have to remind myself that she's with Jesus and His love is perfect and better than mine.

We love you, Leah!