The Blessing

So, the cute little blond is Alison, my niece. Isn't she the cutest in this pic with her bow and funny smile? SO CUTE!!!! Just wanted to share that with everyone...

March 1, 2008
Blessing Shower for Mia
Yvette (Nina) and Aunt Lindsay threw Mia a Blessing with the women and close friends of the Hurst/Haynie Clan. A blessing is a shower celebrating the child, and praying for her, blessing her life with the blessing of the Lord and the family. Wishing good things for her. It was very emotional and very good for me to know that Mia is so welcomed into this world and how many who have been praying for us and for her already are in love with her. Mia got lots of clothes and essentials that she needed. As I go through her clothes, so much PINK! It's fun getting ready, though. Pics are of "the ettes", Yvette (Nina) and Lyzette (Gigi), the proud grandmas, Three (four) generations of Haynie/Hurst women with Nana, Yvette, me and Mia. My sister-in-law Lindsay and I, who with Yvette made everything so beautiful that day. The last one is me and my belly and my ta-tas. whoa. It's big. It's all big. I broke into Toby's t-shirts last night for the first time. I needed the extra room my t-shirts no longer afford me.

Yes, I am nine months pregnant. I am 37 weeks today. Mia is about 6lbs-11ozs right now. She's running out of room in there and this week, she is head down. Last week, she was head up. So, she still has enough room to flip around. She danced and moved the entire time during the last ultrasound on Tuesday. Toby got to see her too. We're getting more impatient to see her, I'm getting more impatient to get her out. I'm kind of over the pregnancy bit. I'm growing more tired every week, but I am still trying to just make it through each day. It feels like I'll be pregnant forever, but there will be an end and a sweet face soon. Toby has been so very good to me, massaging my back and rubbing my shoulders. He's taking good care of his girls.
The nursery is pretty much ready. All we have to do is hang pictures. It's all just a waiting game now, which is difficult for me. I have a habit of making agendas in my head and wanting them to play out in time. But that's not happening with Mia. I'm not in control. I'm reminded of a song we sang in college about how we are not in control, but God is in control. I would get annoyed with that song, honestly, but I know it's because it's true. He knows the day and the hour of her appearance. And that's enough...(big sigh). Yes, it has to be...So, please pray for us as we await her arrival and that I would be calm and relaxed and rested in these last weeks or days. May it come soon. Amen.

Baby Showers!!!

Baby Love Shower
February 17,2008
Lyzette, Heather and my Aunt Nita hosted this shower for me. It was beautiful and check out the cake! It was amazing and tasted so good! We got lots of love from many people, grandparents, greatgrandparents and friends. Mia got a lot of things for her appearance. Cute clothes, her stroller, my glider, pictures, beautiful quilts, diaper bags, blankies, and fun toys. We had a great time! Heather, Nita and Lyzette worked hard to make this happen, and it was so perfect. I appreciate all that they did. I feel much love surrounding me right now.

February 8, 2008
The ladies of Winter Park Hospital Baby Place also threw me a shower. Much laughter was shared as we played Guess that chocolate bar in the diaper, and Guess that baby food flavor! That junk is gross! They made me feel very loved as they gifted us with her pack 'n' play, her convertible car seat and beautifully embroidered clothes, to name just a few. Oh, and diapers! If you ever want to make a soon to be mom happy - give her diapers.

Mia and I are getting big, as you can see. She is not trampolining such much anymore. She is stretching for the most part with some swift kicks to the ribs...that's a great feeling. She is about 5-6 lbs right now and just getting bigger. She is reacting more to the outside world, with pushes against my hands, or Daddy's hands, and large loud crowds. She likes to bootie dance across the top of my belly. It's funny.
We are getting ready for her. Daddy put together the pack 'n play, the dresser, the carseat and stroller, the humidifier and monitors. He did a test run on it all. I was quite impressed. Her nursery is coming right along and we have done her laundry so she now has a clean bed and clothes with many pairs of teeny tiny socks waiting for her little feet! I will be 9 months pregnant in a few days. Hard to believe it is finally here. I also have a very sexy waddle going on! Oh yeah! Toby pointed that out to me the other day as I waddled out to the car. He saved himself as he said that I still looked good to him. We just mosey now. No more power walking for me.

We're Getting Big!

Hello! I've reached the "I feel like a whale" stage. I just do. It gets hard to breathe sometimes and I am trying hard not to waddle. I went to the doctor today and he measured her head during a short ultrasound, and she is about 4lbs 14ozs right now...and I have SEVEN MORE WEEKS TO GO!! Holy Crap! How big is she going to get?! So, that's interesting...
She is head down right now, which is good. I'm very relieved about that, last week she was sideways and I was disappointed that I may have to have a section, but right now that is not in the plan.
Our childbirth classes are going well and we are making some friends. Last week during a labor exercise, we were practicing going through a contraction, and breathing and all that when our teacher wanted the girls to get on our hands and knees and arch our back to relieve any back pressure. She then instructed the guys to kneel behind us...yeah, it gets better...and place their hands on the sides of our hips and buttocks to push in and up to help with the pressure. Great. Toby tries this on me and it did work well to relieve the pressure. But apparently, the instructor thought he did great as well and announced it for everyone to look at Toby because he was doing it right...and all eyes turn to my bootie in the air...what a great moment. I laughed it off and prayed that my ever expanding butt still looked cute in my maternity jeans. Oh well.
My to-do list is gradually getting shorter, but I am learning that when I get tired, I need to just sit down, lie down or take a nap and not feel bad about it. The stuff will get done eventually. One thing I am excited about is that her room is pretty much ready on my end. Curtains are up and pillows are fluffed, all I need now is the bounty from the showers that will soon begin to fill it up. It looks cute. On my pee breaks every two hours in the middle of the night, I sometimes wander in and look around her room and try to grasp how soon she will be with us. I am getting excited to meet her. How very soon, I will go in to that room and watch my daughter sleeping, hopefully, and let the reality that she belongs to us sink in, in all the terror and wonder that that thought brings.
Now is definitely a time of mixed emotions. I am allowing myself to enjoy it. Toby is talking to her more, and rubbing my belly. He can feel her moving more and more. She is stretching a lot because I guess she is starting to realize that she is getting a little cramped in there, her almost 5lbs self! This time is good right now whether I can get a good deep breath in or not. I am going to be surrounded by my family and friends and supported by my amazing husband on this new road of life. I think I'm ready, as much as I can be. But I really just can't wait to meet her and see her sweet face for the first time. It will be so good and so sweet...

Growing through Christmas

Click to enlarge

How your baby's growing:

This week your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14.4 inches long with his legs extended. He can now open and close his eyes, and he sleeps and wakes at regular intervals. He may suck his fingers, and although his lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with assistance — if he were to be born prematurely. Chalk up any rhythmic movement you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and isn't bothersome to him, so enjoy the tickle. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. Wonder what he's thinking? From www.babycenter.com


Hey,
Christmas was a great time with family this year. We spent the weekend with Gigi and Popi
(Dad and Lyzette) and Heather, Micah and Alison. We celebrated with a traditional Cuban meal, it was super yummy! We spent Christmas Eve with Grandma and the Hurst clan with more yummy food. Toby spent Christmas day with Nathan and Lindsay and the girls while I worked at the hospital. The girls were thrilled with everything they got. Mia had a stocking made for her from a student at school and daddy Toby filled it with beach wear! A pink bikini and sunglasses, hat, some ballet slippers and socks. The stocking is pink and green, and so pretty. Daddy did good.

What a difference next year will be with Mia. She'll be moving around a lot next Christmas. It is so crazy how fast she will come! We start birthing classes in two weeks and I meet with a pediatrician the same day. Tomorrow we go see the doctor to get a checkup. Daddy gets to hear the heartbeat, which is always cool. Showers are being planned and then, she'll be here. I am trying to have little expectations as far as the delivery goes. Better to just go with the flow instead of having a plan, because it never goes as planned. We're doing well all in all.

We hope you had a great Christmas with your loved ones. Happy New Year too! May it be full of good things! Natalie

I know, I know it's been too long. It has been a month since we've last updated this blog. I hope people are still checking in on this site. What has happened in a month? I painted the nursery and our room. We registered at Baby's R Us so you can go and check that out at www.babysrus.com . That was overwhelming all of the stuff that is thrown in your face as you walk down the aisles of this store. Natalie's sister helped us out, she is a new mother and had some wonderful advice. Natalie and I went to Arkansas to visit her Dad's family. We had a great time with everyone. I'm getting excited about having a little girl. I know that there are gonna be some rough times, but it's gonna be worth it. It's hard for me to focus on what to say after a month so that's why I'm all over the place in this post. Please let us know that you read this by posting a comment or if you have problems with that then email us at tobyhurst@gmail.com and nursehurst@gmail.com

Toby

Hello All. We're doing really well. I'm getting bigger every day. I'm feeling good too. Mia is kicking and moving around. She started kicking when Toby came home and talked with me tonight. She's had the hiccups a few times which feels funny. But it is a wonderful feeling when she moves. It's comforting and reassuring and just amazing that she is growing every day into her own person and who she already is, personality and all. I think Mia can hear the babies at work. She'll move when I'm holding another baby or attending a c-section when the baby starts to cry. I've heard that babies show empathy when other babies cry. Maybe she's developing that now. I can't wait to see her sweet face and count her fingers and toes!

I've never been this prepared for Christmas. All my shopping and shipping of presents is done, as well as Christmas cards, the cookies, the tree and the decorations. I've been superwoman lately. I think it's because after the holidays, we start childbirth classes for six weeks and then she'll be here soon after that. So, I'm looking at the downhill slope, knowing very soon it will start whizzing by quickly. I'm also trying to do so much now because I know I won't want to do it later on when she and I are bigger. Toby painted the nursery a pretty blue. I know, I know, we're having a girl, but I promise, it's pretty and not boyish. Much more has to be done, but it is a beginning.

We were in Arkansas for Thanksgiving visiting my granddad and the family. My sister brought her four month old Alison, to meet Gran. As she handed her to him when he first saw her, his eyes teared up and he said "Thank you" very quietly. I knew then how important it is for great-grandparents to meet their great-grandchildren. They meet their legacy in the flesh. How amazing it must be to recognize their children and grandchildren in the fresh face of their great-grandchild. Gran spent a lot of time crouched down beside Alison just looking at her. So, this summer, my sister and I are planning a trip to take Mia and Alison back so Gran can meet Mia. Start praying now, because two new moms with two babies and all the equipment on a plane will surely be a sight to behold! We're already planning on passing out earplugs to the other passengers who will unfortunately sit beside us! But it'll be exciting!

We conquered the Registry! We went to BabysRus and did it! What a project, good grief! So much stuff is so overwhelming. We had a lot of help from experienced moms, Lindsay and Heather, which we deeply thank. It was a reality check as we walked through the aisles and began to understand how different our lives are going to be...


I'm back, this is Toby. Sorry about my A.D.D. on the first part of the post. It was really acting up. I wanted to let you know about a cool experience that happened a couple of weeks ago. Natalie and I were sitting on the couch watching football. I muted the t.v. and put my hand on Natalie's belly and said, "Mia." As soon as I finished saying her name she kicked my hand really hard. Natalie and I began talking to her and she just responded with kicks and punches. It was an amazing time. My eyes welled up with tears. Then I got out the book I bought for her "One Fish, Two Fish, red fish, blue fish". As I attempted to read this tongue twister of a book with Natalie laughing at my feeble attempt, Mia continued to move around and kick. I will never forget that moment. I hope everyone has a great Christmas and is able to spend some time with family and maybe reconcile a relationship that went a little sour.

What Really Matters

From Toby:

I've had a rough few days. Without going into details I have had a lot of depressing thoughts that I'm dealing with. They are not fully gone, but there is one thing that keeps putting things into perspective. Last night at Heather's birthday party, Natalie grabbed my hand and put it on her belly. I felt a slight thump against my hand. This was the first time I was able to feel my little monkey. At that moment my heart lit up and things were put into perspective. I have an answer to prayer that is being manifest in my wife's womb. Mia is an answer to many prayers and tears. For a year and a half Natalie and I tried to conceive to no avail. We were on the verge of looking into adoption and then God blessed us with a child. When Mia pushed against my hand last night all of my problems took a back seat to the blessing at hand. Whenever I think about the crap going on inside I try to focus back on my little monkey and dream of the day I get to touch her and see her face to face. Natalie and Mia are what really matter.

Mia seems to be more awake at night. Saturday night Natalie was downstairs after I went to bed and just began talking to her. Mia responded by moving around. That was the first time that Natalie was able to feel her push against her hand. She also wakes Natalie up early in the morning by moving around as well. I sure hope this isn't going to be her regular sleep patterns. She needs to learn to sleep at night and stay awake during the day.

Natalie is almost 21 weeks and here is how Mia is developing:

Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. His eyebrows and eyelids are fully developed. And you can certainly feel him move. He's oblivious to your schedule, though, so don't be surprised if he starts working out just when you're settling down for the night. If you're having a girl, her vagina is formed now, though it will continue to develop until birth.

Please leave comments.

It's A Girl!!!!!!!!!!

Well, bring on the pink! We're having a girl!
Tuesday Toby and I saw our little girl for the first time. She had her hands near her face and was playing peek-a-boo with us. We got a beautiful profile picture where you can see her face, her nose and even her ears. Yvette (Nina), Lyzette (Gigi), Aunt Heather and Cousin Alison were all present as we glimpsed her for the first time, though Alison slept through it! Everything is in the right place and she looks and acts healthy. I can feel her moving around. It feels like she is flicking me and she stays up all night with me as I work.
Daddy Toby has exercised his right to buy. He has already purchased two outfits for this little girl who already is winding him around her little finger! And he has been calling her his little monkey. So, needless to say, he actually found a sleeper set that is hot pink with monkeys on it. She can wear that around the house...maybe not out in public. He couldn't resist. I have a feeling she's going to get anything she asks for. Oh, boy! I'm in trouble.
I'm busy researching baby bedding and strollers and oogling over BabysRus. So many things to chose, but we have plenty of time!
As you can see, I'm getting a bigger bump. I'm 19 weeks today, so we're practically half way through! Time is passing slowly yet quickly at the same time!
Please leave us comments, we want to know who is checking us out! Love you all!