Funny Face!

We think Payson makes some pretty funny faces so I thought I'd share a few of his latest with you!

Keeping an eye on us....

Little Bunny Foo Foo hopping through the forest...

Isn't Nap Time The Greatest?!?

FYI: Payson was in no danger of "falling off" Zoey...Nick had his hands on him outside the picture...just some peace of mind for you worry warts out there! Zoey was super cooperative anyway and just let him lay on her! What a good girl!

Awwww....

Just some more random photos for you!

Zoey watching over Payson during dinner....

Tummy Time!

Bath Time!!!

Payson had his first "real" bath tonight! He much preferred being in the water as opposed to just sponged down out in the air!!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

We wanted to wish everyone a (belated) Happy Turkey Day!

Introducing Payson Denny Holmes!!!

Payson Denny Holmes was born at 9:06am on November 11, 2009! He weighed 8 lbs 3 oz and was 21.5 inches long! Other than being a little sleep deprived, everyone is happy and healthy...we can't believe our little dude is finally here!! The story of how it all went down is below, hopefully it's not TMI, but if you don't like birth stories just stop after the pictures....Enjoy!!!

Brand New!

A tuckered Payson with Great Grandma & Grandpa Holmes

Heading home from the hospital!


First Day at home with Daddy!

Hanging with Boppa!

Go Broncos!

Day 5 enjoying a little tummy time with Mommy!

As many of you mom's know, getting up to pee every couple of hours is completely normal for the last part of your pregnancy. Well, I had gotten up around midnight....normal. Then I got up again at about 2:00am.....again, normal. This time when I went to lay back down I felt a sort of cramp in my tummy...Hmmmmm....peculiar. I laid down and about 3-4 minutes later there was that cramping again....definitely NOT normal. I realized I was having contractions and Holy Crap!!!! They were about 3.5 minutes apart. I woke Nick up to tell him I was having contractions and that I was going to take a shower in case this was "it". I called my parents to warn them that they may need to catch the first flight to Phoenix and hopped in the shower.

I continued timing my contractions while I showered and they increased to about every 2-2.5 minutes. Holy Cow! Then I think my water breaks. Oh Crap! This is about when I started thinking...uh oh....how long does it take to get to the hospital?!?! (Oh yeah, that would be about 45 minues to an hour.....eeeeek!) I got out of the shower, got myself ready to go, woke Nick up with "Uh, honey??? I think we need to get going. My contractions are about 2-3 minutes apart." He promptly rolled over and exclaimed "Really???" and then something to the effect of "$hitballs, I thought we'd have several hours before we had to go anywhere!" He got the car loaded up, we dropped Zoey at a friend's house, and made our way to the hospital.

Luckily my contractions stayed right around 2-3 minutes apart and didn't get any closer during the drive...I was NOT delivering in my car without an epidural! When I checked into OB Triage at 5am they said I was at 6 cm, my water had in fact broken in the shower, and that they'd get me upstairs to Labor & Delivery right away! They very efficiently sent in a nurse to give me an IV, the blood draw guy came to take my labs and they shipped me off to L & D. Within about 20 minutes one of my favorite people arrived....the Anesthesiologist! I got my epidural when I was around 7 cm (a little too close to the point of no return where they tell you "Sorry, it's too late" for my liking!) The epidural didn't work on my left side like it's supposed to so about an hour or so later we had to adjust the catheder and give me some extra doses for it to kick in properly. Eventually it did and I was a happy camper!

The doc came to check me at about 8:15am. He's talking about letting my contractions do some work to bring the baby down and how it'll probably be a little while longer before I start pushing....then he checks me and finds I'm at 10 cm and the baby is pretty much right there. So it's 8:30am and we decide it's time to push! Holy crap....I thought I was going to play cards with my hubby or read a book after the eipdural...everyone says they got a nap or killed time because everything slowed down after they got drugs. Nope, not me....it was go time!

So from 8:30-9am I attempted to push. I say "attempted" because, if you recall, I had received an extra boost of drugs due to the earlier epidural issues. So there I am pushing as hard as I can and feeling like I'm getting nowhere because I can't feel a darn thing! In the meantime, my mom and dad land in Phoenix and are in a taxi on their way to the hospital. Suddenly at 9am it's like my body figures out which muscles are actually in need of doing some work and I feel like I'm getting this push thing down!

The Doc comes in, get's prepped and a couple pushes later this kiddo is all but here when a nurse announces, "Leah, your mom is coming down the hallway. Do you want her in the room?" I say yes and the Doc says "Ok, stop pushing then"! I hold off for about 15 seconds and my mom makes it to the room just in time for that final push and baby Payson was born! Crazy Awesome timing mom!!!!

I can't believe Nick and I now have a beautiful baby boy! We are enjoying learning all about him (he loves to pee on me and fill his pants right after I change him). We're adjusting to the lack of sleep but he did great last night so we are hoping we're on the right track! Hope you enjoyed the story and pictures! I will attempt keep this blog updated so you all can see Payson grow along with us!

Goodbye Ankles!

For the past few weeks I've had to say goodbye to my ankles and hello cankles...and I am NOT a fan! I also must now rely on Nick to help me get socks and some of my shoes on...thank goodness for flip flops and AZ weather! (Did I just say thank goodness for AZ weather?!?! Well, at least now that it's starting to become bearable I guess I'm aloud to say that!!!)

Here is a picture of me at 37 weeks which is considered "Full Term". To me that means that I've entered that time period where Baby Holmes may make his/her apprearance any day now so I'm forcing Nick to keep his phone on him wherever he may go!

Hope everyone has placed their bet for the baby pool! Goodluck to all and we'll keep you posted!!!

I Miss You Paradise!

Sorry I haven't posted for a while....Nick and I have been busy soaking up some Hawaiian sun with my family on the big island! It was a fabulous vacation with my mom, dad, brother, sister-in-law and nephew! We had a great time and even did family and belly photos on a gorgeous beach (Kikaua Point) while we were there. Here are some of my favorites....I am 30.5 wks in the pics and currently 31.5 weeks with a Dr.'s appointment today!

Baby Holmes Fighting Back!

This video is from several weeks ago but I thought a few of you might
get a kick out of our little one saying "Hey! Stop poking me!". If
you watch where I nudge him or her (right about where my wrist is in
the background) you should catch a glimpse of shim!

Torrey Pines

Nick's squadron was TDY for a week in San Diego so I was lucky enough to escape the Phoenix heat for a while by tagging along. I absolutely loved the weather and was even able to play Torrey Pines with my sweetie! Uh, and I do realize I'm aimed about 30 degrees left of the green....but it went where I wanted it to, so there! ;)

Baby Holmes, meet food baby....

Okay, here's a pic a few days later but after dinner....see?!?!?! Kim, does this make you feel any better?!?!

More Evolution of the Belly

My belly at 24 weeks!

(Well, 24 weeks in the am....I'll have to take a pm pic so you all can see the difference! I'm twice as big after dinner!)

The Big Ultrasound

We had our "big" ultrasound in Phoenix when I was 20 weeks and then again at 21 weeks when I was home visiting in Colorado. My mom's office was nice enough to basically let us have an ultrasound party where both my parents, Nick's mom, Nick and I could all see our little one on camera.











My parents were thrilled to be able to see the baby and it was great because Lori, the wonderful u/s tech, did lots more 3D so we could see our baby's face! Plus she did a great job of staying North of the border so no one could tell if we were having a boy or a girl! Thanks Lori! ;)

Awwwwww....

Nick and Zoey snuggling during SYTYCD.

More Evolution of the Belly!

16 weeks!

Pre-Baby....sort of.

The Evolution of the Belly....9 weeks!

And yes, I know the look on my face is funny. I just still couldn't believe I was prego!

Introducing Pinnochio!

I think it's safe to say that he/she/it has inherited the Lochner schnaze! I could finally tell it was a baby in there this time (12 week ultrasound)!

Yup, it's still there....

Uh oh, Baby Holmes lost his/her Balloon (8 week ultrasound)....is it supposed to look like anything yet????

Um....what is that???

If you guessed a little amoeba hanging from a balloon, well...you're kind of right.....it's Baby Holmes at 6.5 weeks!