Holiday Time!!!

Christmas has come and gone, and what a Christmas it was. We braved the airports with a 7 week old and it wasn't nearly as bad as I imagined. Kaley received multiple comments on multiple flights about how she was the best baby ever. Kaley napped most of the way and in between naps she enjoyed people watching on the plane.
Virgina was great with the Mazurek's. There was a constant battle to determine who was next in line to hold our precious little one. Granny and Aunt Bethany won out most of the time. Kaley got even more clothes for Christmas along with some books and "Baby's First Christmas" ornaments.
Kaley celebrated Christmas number 2 in Texas on Sunday with the Vasel's where she got to meet one set of great grandparents.
All in all everybody enjoyed themselves tremendously. Here are some pictures from Kaley's first Christmas.

Auntie Bethany and Kaley

Christmas morning with Granny

Kaley hogging the LoveSac

So peaceful...

Uncle Brett, Rosie (left) and Jasper (right)

Photos

Just wanted to post a few more pics.

Kaley napping in her swing.

Kaley loves her puppy!

We also had some family photos taken by John's dad. We are so thankful to him for taking them!!

One Month

Well I am sorry that I did not post after Thanksgiving. John and I did not take any pictures with our camera so I am waiting to get the ones that Grandpa Vasel took.

Thanksgiving was great! My parents came into town as well as Lee and we had Thanksgiving dinner over at John's parents. It was very nice to have almost everyone in one place although we missed Uncle Richard, Uncle Brett and Aunt Bethany. Kaley got her first encounter with snow at Thanksgiving. Can you believe it snowed here? Yet today it was 80 degrees.

Kaley turned 1 month old yesterday along with Bayla turning 1 year old and Pop (Grandpa Mazurek) turning...we won't say. I cannot believe it has already been a month. It has definitely been the best month of our lives. She is such a joy and we could not be happier. Especially now that she has been sleeping between 6-7 hours at a time at night! YAY. We were waiting for some more sleep and we are finally getting it. It is nice to be able to sleep in longer chunks of time. She is staying awake longer each day which is fun for mommy since I am at home with her. We have fun during the day with tummy time and just mommy Kaley time. Daddy is missing her a lot when he is at work and I try to let them have father daughter time as soon as he gets home from work. I am not looking forward to returning to work. Don't get me wrong I love my job and miss the kids (well some of them) but I am just no where near ready to leave Kaley. I know I still have 7 more weeks but it just goes by so fast! Luckily I am not having to put her in daycare.

Anyways, life is great here at the Vasel house. We are enjoying every minute of life with our little one. We feel very blessed for everything we have been given. We are really looking forward to our upcoming trip to Virginia to see Uncle Brett and Aunt Bethany and mommy and Kaley's trip to Houston where we will finally get to see baby Michael, Dana and Mike! We cannot wait.

Can we say deer in the headlights?

Daddy did you pinch her?

Recovering from daddy pinching me.

Daddy and his girl!

Hanging out.

2 week Check-up

Kaley is growing fast! She grew an inch (now 20 inches) and gained a pound. Last week when we went to the doctor for her jaundice she was 6 lbs 10 oz and yesterday she was 7 lbs 10 oz!! It was a very exciting day for all of us because the doctor said we could stop waking her up every three hours at night and wait for her to wake us up. She has been sleeping so well these first two weeks that we have to actually set an alarm to wake her up to feed every three hours. However, last night was the first night we could let her sleep until she woke up and guess what...that little stinker woke up every three hours on the dot!!!! I couldn't believe it. Actually, yes I could. I knew it was going to happen that way. Oh well, she is worth every bit of sleep deprivation! At least she goes right back to sleep after I feed her. John and I are really trying to enjoy this time that she is sleeping so well and not being fussy.

Her cord fell off yesterday, so tonight she got her first real bath and I think she really liked it. She fussed a bit when we first put her in the water but after that she was very content and didn't fuss or cry at all.

Her Uncle Lee came into town last night and got to see her for the first time which was very exciting for everyone! He couldn't believe how small she is and I can't believe how fast she is growing!

I am sure we will have more to post after Thanksgiving so check back in a couple days.

My Husband

I don't have a whole lot to say considering that life around the Vasel house pretty much consists solely of sleeping, eating, and changing diapers. We couldn't be loving our new life more!

John and I have been married for just under a year and I have loved every minute of it. When we got married last December I thought that my love for him was at an all time high. As I looked into his eyes when we said our vows I honestly thought that I would never love him more than I did at that moment. I was definitely wrong.

Now, as I walk through the apartment and see him with Kaley my heart fills with love even more than it did on our wedding day. I always knew he would be an amazing father but I never imagined just how amazing. For a man who has absolutely no experience with babies he has learned very quickly. I cannot believe that I am so lucky as to have this man who is changing diapers and taking naps on the couch with his daughter on his chest as my husband and best friend forever.

I cannot stop from smiling as I sit here and watch him dance around the house with her and cover her with kisses!

Eating, Sleeping and Sunbathing

Kaley is one week old today and she could not be a more perfect daughter. She eats every 3 hours and in between those times she is very content to just look around or sleep the day away. We have no complaints there.
We took her in to the pediatrician on Tuesday and Kaley had a little jaundice. The doctor's orders were to get her some sun.
Other than that everything else is starting to fall into routine. I am in charge of dirty diapers and making sure Kaley is awake to eat. Then Emily works her magic and I get anything that she might need.
Here are some recent pics of Kaley sleeping in various places and working on her tan to impress all the boys.

More pictures than you can shake a stick at

For all of you impatient people out there, here are all of the photos taken last night on Kaley's birthday. Enjoy..

Baby Kaley's Pics

She's Here!!

Sorry it took so long to update with the big news but the internet here in the hospital is not very cooperative.

Kaley Marilynn Vasel was born on November 7, 2007 at 5:37 in the evening. She weighs 6 lbs 12 oz and is 19 inches long.

Daddy did great during the labor and delivery! He even looked when she was coming out! For those of you who don't know we were just hoping he didn't pass out in the middle of the delivery! But he did awesome. Mommy is doing well but a little sore. Here are just a couple pictures until we have more time.

The Journey Begins...

John and I are currently sitting at the hospital in our labor and delivery room. I just got the cervidil to prep me for labor and then I will be starting the pitossin tomorrow morning at 5 AM. Who knows how long it will be after that. We are hoping for an early afternoon/evening delivery tomorrow but it could be much longer. That's about it, we just wanted everyone to know what is going on! Please pray for a quick, easy, uncomplicated labor and delivery as well as a healthy baby girl! We hope our next update is with pictures of Kaley!

Emotional Roller Coaster

Well I went in to the doctor this morning and my blood pressure was good and Kaley's heart rate was good so when we left we were under the impression I was just to be on bed rest until I went into labor or something changed. My doctor wasn't in this morning so I only saw the nurse but about an hour or so after leaving the office I got a call from the nurse saying that after she talked to the doctor the plan was still to induce. So, I will be induced on Wednesday morning. We will go in tomorrow evening for the prep and stay over night and then the induction will be Wednesday morning. I cannot believe it is so close!! Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers over the next few days!

38 weeks

Just to update everyone who hasn't heard. I went in for my weekly check up this morning and my blood pressure was up again. My doctor decided to admit me to the hospital and basically told me that we should expect to have a baby at the latest by Tuesday. John was in St. Louis (even though he wasn't supposed to be traveling) and I was by myself. She sent me home to pack my bag and then check into the hospital. It wasn't exactly how I had planned to have Kaley but I definitely want to keep both of us as healthy as possible.

I got to the hospital and they hooked me up to the fetal monitor as well as a blood pressure cuff that took my blood pressure every 15 minutes. They took a urine sample as well as blood to run some tests and I was there for what seemed like an eternity...After a few hours and getting my blood work back the doctor came to the hospital and told me that my pressure was staying down while I was in bed and my blood work looked good. She then gave me the choice of being on bed rest at home or at the hospital for the weekend. I definitely chose to go home! So now I am home after a very emotional day. I am only supposed to get up to potty so time is passing by VERY slowly. I go in first thing Monday morning to have her check me out again and we will see what happens from there. Depending on what she says I will either be induced next week or be on bed rest until I go into labor. Not too excited about the bed rest possibility but I want to do what is best for Kaley and myself so I will suck it up and do nothing.

We will keep you all posted about what is going on.

35 week belly

Not the greatest but I figured I should post something before any more threats come in...after a loooooong day at work.

35 weeks

Can you believe it? I am 35 weeks! It is crazy how fast it has gone by. Sorry it has taken me so long to post but life here at the Vasel's has been pretty crazy. As most of you know John and I have been looking to buy a house. We found one that we really liked and put an offer on it. After the inspection we withdrew our contract because of foundation issues. After that, we weren't really sure what to do; however, we finally decided....We are going to build! We are very excited however, it does mean that we won't be in a house until about April. But it will definitely be worth the wait. We went this weekend to pick out our lot and put down our reservation fee. They will then start working on getting all of the permits and everything and the foundation will be poured in January (weather permitting).

Anyways, we have also been taking our baby classes, buying baby furniture, and just preparing in general. John has been traveling a lot lately which has been a bummer but he is now home until after Christmas which will be very nice. I am still working full time and feeling pretty good but things get harder with each passing day and each added pound. I am really enjoying being pregnant and feel very blessed that I have had a relatively easy pregnancy thus far. Other than the SI pain in my second trimester I haven't really had any other problems. Sure it's hard to get up and down and by the end of a 10 hour work day I am very swollen with an achy back but it will all be worth it.

We finally got the last pieces of the furniture for the nursery (dresser and nightstand) on Friday so we were able to really start setting things up. I am definitely in my nesting stage seeing as how I have almost completely finished washing everything in the nursery and putting the nursery together in 24 hours. It is really coming together and I am so excited to have everything done. It is not exactly how I envisioned it since we are not painting the room lavender while we are in the apartment. And we aren't going all out on the actual decorating of the walls and stuff since we will only be here for another 5 months after she is born. But don't worry I will definitely be ready to do everything when we get the house. Emma, John's little sister is even going to sketch us a mural to do on the wall of her room. I sure am glad I married into a family that has artistic ability because nobody in my family does.


Anyways, this week starts my every week doctors appointments which is exciting (only cause it means I am that much closer). I am really hoping I stay on target and go all the way to 40 weeks. Ideally no more no less. I would love for her to be born on my actual due date! For those of you that don't know that is Brett's (my older brother) birthday. Not only for that reason but also because I really am not ready to be off work yet. I still have a lot to get done before I go out and someone has to cover for me.

That is all for now. I will try and post more often now that we are getting closer. I will post an updated picture of me as soon as we take one.

3rd Trimester

I have finally made it to the 3rd trimester! I am very excited to be in the home stretch; however, I am sure this one will drag on as I wait in anticipation. I cannot believe that John and I will be welcoming our daughter into this world in less than 3 months!
I had my first baby shower back home in Houston and it was great to see the people that were able to make it. It is so nice to know that John and I have so much support as we start our family. I am very thankful to have shared that day with family and friends. Our guest room now has piles and piles of gifts for Kaley. It is definitely taking over the room, but we are very grateful for everything. We have another baby shower coming up this weekend and are both so excited to see all of our friends that are coming in town.
John and I are currently house hunting. We are hoping to find something and close by October so that we will have time to paint and whatever else before Kaley arrives. We have found one really exciting prospect and are taking our parents to see it this weekend.
My father keeps asking me if I plan on leaving anything for the second year of marriage...I guess you will have to wait and see. John and I love to do things big so I am sure we have something in store for next year. John and I have now been married for 8 wonderful months and we could not ask for a better start to our married life!
Here are some more recent pictures since that is the big request lately!


Here is John trying to make me feel better about the 26 pounds I have gained so far! He is trying so hard to "pooch" out his stomach. Keep checking...more to come later!

24 weeks

We are getting closer and closer to entering that third trimester. It is crazy to think how fast things are going by. There are certain times when it seems like time just stands still but most of the time the weeks fly by. I am sure the waiting will become harder and harder to bear the closer I get to my daughter's arrival.

John and I are slowly getting more prepared for her grand entrance. We signed up for our birthing classes this week. We are having to do the weekend condensed version because with me working 10 hour days we cannot make it to the weekly classes. We will be taking the class in September. Not only have we signed up for that but we have also started to order and receive some of the necessities. We got her swing, stroller, and car seat this past week. We are slowly putting them together not only to make sure everything is intact but also to allow Bayla some time to get used to all the new baby things that she is not allowed to play with. We are expecting the crib, dresser and nightstand some time in the next few weeks.

Not only have we started getting a lot of the major items we have also started to get a lot of my favorite things...clothes! I just cannot help myself. Little girl clothes are the absolute cutest things around. Don't worry I am buying things in every different size under the moon but her closet is slowly filling up with pinks and such. John even got pink Dallas Stars baby clothes and accessories for his birthday. Haha, what a wonderful wife he has!

Anyways, we are not only excited for our growing family we are also extremely excited for our good friends who are expecting a son we hope to be one of Kaley's best friends...if not future husband (haha), Michael Cash Holman. I have been so blessed to be able to take this journey with one of my closest friends and we could not be more thrilled for them! We are wishing them the best and praying that little Michael holds off until Dana's finals are over and that he blesses her with a quick and easy labor and delivery!

Just another thank you to all of our friends and family who have given us so much support thus far in our lives together! We love you all.

22 weeks

Well, mom came up this past weekend. It was a lot of fun. She was able to go with me to my doctors appointment on Friday and hear Kaley's heartbeat. The doctor says everything looks good. My sonogram was completely normal and she is on track to make her appearance in the middle of November!

I am still suffering from a lot of SI/low back pain so I was able to get a referral to see a PT. I am know that I will have to live with pain until after she comes but I am hoping that with some aquatic therapy I will have a little bit of relief. I know they say your second trimester is the best but she is definitely causing me a lot of pain. I think she is getting back at me for having such an easy first trimester.

Mom and I spent almost 4 hours at Babies R Us on Friday, 2 hours on Saturday and then John and I went back for about an hour on Sunday. It has pretty much become my home away from home. However if you need to know anything about strollers, car seats, play pens, cribs, etc. Just ask cause I am now a professional. We decided on a stroller and a car seat and my amazing parents got it for us as a gift which was awesome. We also bought a crib. So look for nursery pictures to come as we start getting more and more stuff.

It seems as though time has slowed over the second trimester. The weeks just drag on. I know life is pretty much just a waiting game but I can't wait to hold her in my arms for the first time!

By Request Only

I have had multiple requests for a belly picture so here you go. Just keep in mind this is after a long day of work!

Registry Information

Since everyone has been asking about it we just decided to post it!

We are registered at Babies R Us.

The Name Game

As most of you know I take after my mom in a lot of different ways. One of the more obvious ways being physically. We look a lot alike. Which I am very thankful for being as my mom looks about 15 years younger than she really is. Hopefully that will be my case as well.

But anyways the point of this being...yes, we may be a like in a lot of ways but we are also very different in many. One way that we have seen recently with me being pregnant is that my mom never once wanted to know the sex of any of her kids. She was quite content in waiting until we came out. (Although I am not sure how well this worked out for her since she was convinced I was a boy and made the doctor double check after I was born.) I on the other hand had to know! I couldn't wait to find out if what she was. I had to know because I had to be able to identify with her. Another thing I really wanted was to decide on and give her a name as soon as possible. I wanted to be able to call her by name and talk to her using her name.

John and I have been talking about names since we first found out we were expecting. The boys names came a lot easier than the girls. So when we found out it was a girl I thought it was going to take us forever to decide. But it didn't and boy am I glad. So for those of you who don't know we have decided to name our daughter Kaley Marilynn Vasel.

It was very important to me that her middle name be Marilynn as that is my middle name and it was my dad's mother's name. However, coming up with a name that flows with Marilynn was not so easy! However we both grew to love the name Kaley. So that is it. That's our daughter, Kaley Marilynn Vasel.

It's A.....

Sorry it took so long to post after the appointment this morning. When we got home the internet was down and it is just now up and running...

Well, John and I had the sonogram this morning. It was so nice that John was actually able to see the baby. I think it made it a lot more real to him. We waited patiently as the technician pointed out all the different body parts and organs. She attempted to determine the sex at the beginning of the appointment but Little Bit was hesitant to show us the goods. We just hoped that at some point during the visit the baby would decide to spread it's legs. Here are just a few of our sonogram pictures.

In this one you can see Baby Vasel is curled up. It is a great view of the head, body and spine. The baby was moving all around during the sonogram which was neat but still didn't want to show us what we wanted to see the most.

This is a picture of the baby's feet. Don't worry the baby has all four limbs and from what we could tell all it's fingers and toes. But still no sight of the family jewels or lack there of...

But finally, after a little bit of coaxing...
She decided to show us that there was nothing there to see! Yup, that's right it's a GIRL! We are expecting a daughter and could not be more excited. We plan on finalizing a name sometime in the next few days because we both want to be able to call her by name and talk to her. I already know she is going to have her father, grandfathers, uncles and every other man/boy in her life wrapped around her little finger. John is going to be surrounded by girls with me, Bayla, and his daughter running around the house. What a lucky man!

So Excited!

Well, I had another appointment this morning. Got to hear the heartbeat again. It is just so amazing every time I hear it. It is a nice reminder "Little Bit" is still in there. I got some good news as well at my appointment. John and I thought we were going to have to wait until July 13 to find out the sex but we get to find out in 2 weeks, June 29! YAY! I cannot wait! It will be nice to be able to start planning and registering and all that good stuff. Not much else to say...Just wanted to give you all a brief update. Be looking back in 2 weeks for the big news!

Waiting...

Well I have an appointment this Friday, June 15 and I was hoping John would get to be there to hear the baby's heartbeat but it looks like he will be in Canada. I have already threatened him that he has to be here for the next appointment when we find out the sex of the baby. I cannot wait. I am getting very very impatient when it comes to finding out the sex. I want to know now.

As I am sure most of you know we have been hoping for a boy. But lately I am starting to want a girl too. I just see all the little girls at work and at the stores and they are so cute! We will love either one just as much no matter what it is. I JUST WANT TO KNOW! I want to start looking at cribs, car seats, high chairs, etc...

This is definitely a very exciting time in our lives and we are so blessed to have such supportive family and friends. We are also excited to be going through the experience with a couple of our friends as well! This past year has been wedding season for John and I because almost everyone we know has gotten married and now it seems baby season is starting. :)

Copying...

Well, John and I decided to copy Dana and Mike by creating a blog to keep everyone updated on our growing family. It just seemed easier than trying to call everyone anytime we have something to share.

Well I am officially in my second trimester and I am feeling much better already. While I feel very lucky that I didn't suffer from morning sickness, I did have an overall flu-like feeling throughout the first trimester. I was very fatigued and just felt crappy a lot of the time. I am currently around 14-15 weeks...I am still not sure when I go from one week to the next. I had my second appointment today and got to hear the baby's heartbeat again. It was a nice reminder that there really is a little person inside of me.

John has been traveling a lot lately so he has not been able to attend either of my appointments. I have another one in 3 weeks so hopefully he will be able to go to that one. I cannot wait until he is able to hear the heartbeat. It definitely makes it more real.

Well John just got back from Chicago so I am going to go spend some time with my hubby.