Happy Birthday Ellie Grace!

Blaise has a new playmate! Baby Ellie Grace was born last Tuesday, August 26 to my cousin Lyndsay. My mother tells me that Ellie was the exact same size as me-8.5 lbs and 20.5 inches long. She was almost a pound and a half smaller than her big brother Chase-much to Lyndsay's relief! Momma and baby are doing wonderful! I couldn't believe how different Blaise already looks from a newborn. He's changed and grown so much in these past seven weeks!

Lyndsay and I grew up next door to each other and are more like sisters than cousins. We were together all the time. Whether ballet lessons, roaming the woods, or having a sleepover, we were inseparable.  We both ended up in Alabama for college, got married the same year, and now have babies 6 weeks apart. (Though this is her second!) I look forward to sharing this new stage of motherhood with her. 

The beautiful new family-Jeremy wore pink to celebrate his new daughter. (Little Chase was at home with Gma, taking a nap.)

One Month Old

Baby Blaise is one month old! He went to the doctor for a short check up last Friday and he weighed in at 10.12 lbs- gaining almost three pounds in three weeks and growing an inch!  He obviously enjoys nursing (what baby doesn't?!) and is a good and efficient eater- I'm thankful that he's doing so well!   

We see his blue eyes  (the current color) frequently as he is awake more during the day. He loves to be held and loves to go outside-  this August weather has been so gorgeous! Everyone seems to ask, so I will say that yes, we are getting sleep.  The other night he slept for five hours with out waking- he usually goes between three to four. It's really hasn't been a big deal to feed and change his diaper at night-the whole process takes about 20 minutes (I had imagined at least an hour!) I'm used to getting up during the night with the pregnancy anyway and actually now wake less during the night. When daddy wakes up at six thirty we keep sleeping- sometimes until after ten! I can't complain! Blaise sleeps through loud noises too- the organ and brass instruments at church, the concert at the Botanical Gardens, and even sitting right next to a band at a wedding!  He's done a lot in a month as a new born- I'm thankful that we didn't have him during the cold winter and flu season! 

Blaise is using his hands more and grabbing things- the funniest being David's arm pit hair! While I was taking these pictures, he kept knocking the blocks over with his fist. I'm sure in the coming months it will be even more difficult to keep him still!  

I couldn't resist sharing this one...

The First Four Weeks

Words can hardly describe the deep and overwhelming love we already have for our little Blaise. These first weeks at home  have been an amazing time of wonder and awe of our little baby - and our wonderful Creator for blessing us with such an incredible gift! It's hard to believe that it's already been a month. We are desperately trying to savor each minute as we know these sweet baby days will be gone all too quickly....

Great Grandmommy Ruth (my dad's mom)

Great Granddaddy (dad's dad)

Great Grandma Vi (David's mom's mom)

Boppa trying to feed Blaise ice cream cake! Boppa was hoping Blaise would be born on his birthday, the 23rd, but he came earlier!

Uncle Matt 

(my big brother- who's almost 30!) 

Uncle Paul 

(He turned 23 two days before Blaise was born. Yes ladies-he's single! :) 

Blaise's first bath

He really liked it-for a minute-then the crying came! 

David's Aunt Shirley, her husband, and five girls stopped by to meet their new 'cousin.' Technically, it's their first cousin once removed, but that's a mouth full!

The grandparents can't get enough of their new grandson-

we are thankful to be so close to them!

Aunt Lyndsay

We can't wait for baby Ellie Grace to arrive~ 

due in just a few more weeks! 

 Blaise in his swing- sometimes he likes it, other times he wants OUT!

Daddy had been working downstairs doing some repairs/touch ups on the flat, getting it ready for our new neighbors. He was pacifying a fussy Blaise while I showered- the moby wrap works great! I found this when I got out of the shower. 

Such sweet little moments

A Few More Hospital Shots...

first cousins~little Natalee Joy and Bella Grace

'cousin' Lauryn

'cousin' Nick

Our Birth Story

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine..." 

Ephesians 3:20a

We are praising Jesus for the birth of our new son! Blaise David Baca was born at 4:36 a.m. on Monday, July 14th, at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis. He weighed 7 pounds, 7 ounces and was 20.5" long. We are so thankful for this wonderful miracle! What a beautiful experience and sweet gift from our heavenly Father! May He alone be praised! 

Taken on 7/13-9 months pregnant!

I woke up Sunday morning, July 13, with mild contractions.  I informed David, but assured him that it was no big deal.  We went about our normal Sunday morning routine, but I made sure to finish packing our hospital bags just in case!  At church we sang Isaiah 43 and I  couldn't help but smile and feel reassured that this was a promise from the Lord- "Fear not, for I am with you. I have called you by name, you are mine." During communion, a deaconess who prays for children and babies, wrapped her arms around me (and my contracting uterus!) and prayed for me and our birth and baby, again a sweet gift from the Lord.  

After church, we had a couple over for lunch and showed them our downstairs flat.  I continued to have several contractions an hour, but the length and intensity was not increasing. Later that afternoon, I took a nap, thinking, "I need my rest if this is the real thing!"  Napping was hard, as the contractions woke me up every 10-11 minutes. Later that afternoon we showed the apartment to another couple and then decied to go out to dinner, telling each other this may be the last time, but not really believing that sentiment either.  We enjoyed a Greek dinner in Maplewood and decided to take a walk around our neighborhood around 8 p.m.  The contractions had not gone  away, and David noticed on our walk this was the first time I had to stop and breathe through them.  I later realized that this is probably when active labor started.  When we got home from our walk, we decided to call Aunt Debbie, our labor coach, or doula, and give her an update.  I downplayed it, thinking the contractions were not strong enough and that they would stay this way for awhile.  She said she'd pack her bag, get ready just in case, and told us to keep her updated!  David later told me he was thinking at 10 p.m., "Maybe Amanda can fall asleep if she tries really hard." After a few minutes we both realized it would be a sleepless night, as the contractions gradually grew stronger and it was becoming more difficult to relax and breathe through them.  David called Aunt Debbie around 11:30 to give an update. She suggested I tried taking a shower or bath, but I was flip-flopping between being too hot and too cold.  I just couldn't get comfortable and ended up throwing up repeatedly- realizing that my body was emptying itself- getting ready to deliver the baby.  At this point I knew that I must be getting near the transition phase becuase it was getting incredibly intense- I was deeply struggling to relax and breath calmly through the contractions.  And I knew I couldn't take much more (I knew when you couldn't stand it much longer you were almost there!). David called Debbie again and when she heard the update (and me moaning in the background!), she said we should discard the original plan of meeting at our house and instead meet at the hospital.  I was relieved and absolutely ready to go...but NOT looking forward to the car ride!  Here we are, off to Missouri Baptist a little before 2 a.m: 

Notice my smile here. This was taken during the 1-2 minute break between my contractions! Aunt Debbie said she had never seen someone smile so much during labor-it was such a relief after every contraction that I couldn't help but smile. (I also had prayed that Christ would give me joy during labor-and He did-between the pain!) I was in transition in the car- NOT a fun ride! I kept telling David to "DRIVE FASTER!" because I could feel the baby pushing down and was not comfortable sitting! 

Debbie met us at the hospital around 2:20 a.m., which was the right time to be there, as everything was quiet and calm.  The staff got me to a room right away.  We were all overjoyed to hear that I was at 7cm!  I had wanted to labor at home as long as possible, so being this far along was a concrete answer to prayer.  Only 3 more cm to go and I could push!  The room was dim and we softly turned on a worship CD I had made. Our nurse, Julie, read over our birth plan and was very supportive of it and excited for us, since natural births are not the norm. Debbie was such a calming and encouraging support for me- holding me and coaching me through the incredible rushes of contractions.   

About 4:00 a.m. my water broke and it was time to begin pushing.  Dr. Wasserman was called in and they brought in the squat bar shown above for me to use (squatting helps opens the cervix wider by about 10%, helping the baby descend better. I hear it's how women in Uganda do it too :) I'd been practicing holding my squat in my prenatal yoga classes and at home, so I was ready for this.  The actual pushing part, however, was quite challenging, even more so than I anticipated.  (I was expecting to feel a "relief" but that's not how I would describe it:) But through prayer and the strength of Christ, our baby came after about 30 minutes of pushing!  Dr. W asked me if I wanted to deliver him but I said I couldn't (I was hanging onto the bar), so David got to catch the baby and lay it on me, and later cut the cord.  He told me to look to see what it was....

It's a boy!!! Blaise David!  What an incredible rush of joy! And what a relief to be done with the contractions and pushing! Hallelujah!

Absolutely incredible...

Aunt Debbie, our wonderful labor coach or "Doula",  which is Greek for "one who minsters." She taught David and me the Bradley Method of childbirth.  I highly recommend a doula to every laboring mother! So many, many benefits- including a reduced c-section rate of 50%.

A healthy set of lungs!

He weighed 7.7 lbs and was 20.5" long. 

The grandparents arrived shortly after Blaise was born.  They didn't know I was in labor until David called them after 2 a.m. on our way to the hospital! 

Proud first time Grandparents- Grandpa Harold and Grandma Suz

Blaise meeting his cousins- Bella (5.5) and Natalee (3.5). Natalee was a little unsure about the hospital and new little boy. (She walked in when Uncle David was changing his diaper!)

Great Grandpa Ron (Mom's dad) 

Great Grandma Clara (Mom's mom) 

David and little Blaise

Momma and Blaise

Our new family just before leaving the hospital. 

So much prayer, reading, planning, and thought went into this "birth day."  I am so thankful to my heavenly Father for answering so many specific requests.  Missouri Baptist was absolutely wonderful! I first started planning to deliver at the birthing center in Columbia, MO, two hours away.  (Unfortunately, St. Louis doesn't have one.)  Insurance ended up not covering as much of the birth there as we originally thought, so I searched high and low in St. Louis for a low intervention doctor who was supportive of mom's wanting to deliver naturally (this is surprisingly hard to find!) After doing additional research, I found that the staff at Missouri Baptist had a track record of working with natural mommas.  I completely understand why- it was a wonderful experience!  Praise Jesus and thank you Aunt Debbie, Dr. Wasserman, our wonderful nurse Julie, and everyone at Missouri Baptist Medical Center!

Welcome home!!! Blaise slept the whole car ride home- he looked to tiny in the car seat! 

Daddy and Blaise sound asleep....something we now treasure around our house! 

"For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God." 

Psalms 86:10