Baby #2–30 Week Ultra Sound

March 23, 2017

This was an exciting day!  I love ultra sounds and seeing our growing boy!  I have been saying the entire time how low and big I think he is.  These things were confirmed when we found out his legs were straight down to my center (where he likes to tap dance) and that he already weighs over four pounds.

We got to make sure he is, in fact, a boy… that he has some hair… and that he already doesn’t like to look at the camera ;)  After lots of maneuvering, she was able to get a pretty good 3D profile pic.

We so look forward to meeting this sweet boy!  Just trying to be patient these days… and now we know that he needs to turn!

It’s a BOY!!!

January 6, 2017

We have been hoping for a baby boy for some time now.  When we found out I was pregnant, the thought of the baby being another girl wasn’t even in my mind.  This was the boy that we had been praying for and about for years!

When we went for our 20 week ultra sound, everything was confirmed and we were excited to share the good news!  It’s a BOY!

We braved the snowy roads and waited two hours for our appointment.  We were glad that Mollie stayed with Melissa and Dallas.  By the time we finally got called we were both starving and more than perturbed, but as soon as we saw our baby on the big screen, our tears/scowls quickly turned to smiles of joy.

On our way back to get Mollie, we stopped to get a big balloon for her to pop.  There was a ton of blue confetti inside…. Melissa and Dallas took some great pictures and video for us.

Next we picked up some cupcakes and went to Moore to meet our parents. 

They were excited to bite into the cupcakes and see blue icing in the inside.  Everyone was super happy!

See the ultra sound pictures HERE

Mollie’s Birthday!

One of the reasons I started this blog was for my future children… The Story of Us…for You. (So this is for you Mollie girl.  I hope some day you enjoy reading about how much you were wanted, prayed for, and loved.)

Mollie’s Birth Story

Mollie Grace McConathy

November 26, 2012

7 lbs 14 oz ~ 20 in.

After all the doctors appointments Nate and I were happy when Dr. Beeson told us not to go anywhere over Thanksgiving.  She said she was 80% sure I wouldn’t make it through the weekend. I was pretty miserable the last few weeks of pregnancy, but from Thanksgiving Day (November 22) on, I was contracting all the time.  Nothing too painful, just a lot of discomfort.  Nate and I opted out of all our family get togethers and stayed home where I could relax as much as possible.  On Saturday, November 23, I went in to the women’s center to see what was going on.  Dr. Beeson had told me to go in if I had any pain at all.  So Nate and I said bye to Claire… had a good cry… prayed in the car, and went to the hospital.  They hooked me up and everything.  Made me go walk around for an hour (we walked to Target and back).  And sent us home.  The nurse said that I may be in “active labor” but with irregular contractions I would be more comfortable at home.  My instructions were to come back when I couldn’t stand up or sleep through the pain.

taking our walk

I didn’t go to church on Sunday and stayed home from work on Monday because I was just too uncomfortable.  It wasn’t too bad at all… just uncomfortable.  I was never more ready to see our baby girl and I was counting down the hours to my appointment on Tuesday because I was sure they would admit me.

Tuesday, November 26 finally rolled around and I was 38.5 weeks along (Although we knew they were off a week the entire time – I didn’t get pregnant while on a mission trip to Nicaragua -- , so I was probably 39.5 weeks).  I was impatiently waiting on Nate to come get me for another regularly scheduled doctor appointment.  He was running a little late, but we hustled on to the hospital, grabbing our hospital bag on our way out the door “just in case.”  <1:30pm> Dr. Beeson was shocked to see me still pregnant, and Nate and I were a little bummed too.  At this point being checked was regular business, so she went on with the exam.  While I was on the table my water broke.  I said, “what was that?” and Dr. Beeson said, “that was your water breaking.  I’ll let them know you are coming down stairs.”  And out the door she went.  My socks were wet and stuff was everywhere.  Nate and I were laughing and I didn’t know what to do.  I stood up and got cleaned up as best I could and waddled my way down stairs to the women’s center.  We were elated.  The day was finally here!

<2:20pm> I was immediately given a room and an iv.  The contractions also immediately got faster and more painful so I was super happy when the anesthesiologist got there to give me an epidural.  (there was no question in my mind that’s what I wanted.  “I live in 2012” was my response when asked if I was going to deliver naturally.  Why not enjoy the experience instead of being in excruciating pain.)  My parents were there by this time, and I was in tears because of the discomfort in my back and whole body.  <3:30pm>  The epidural was no big deal and the immediate relief was awesome.  From that point on I was chill and happy.  Nate’s parents and Hollie and Melissa were also there to check on things.

The nurse came in to check the progress, so around 4:00pm I was dilated 4 cm.  When she came back at 5:15pm I was at 9.5 cm.  (What?  I know…. we were all shocked.)  Things were progressing very quickly and the nurse said she would be back soon.  Around 6:30pm I was  harnessed up in all my glory, pushing and waiting on Dr. Beeson to get there to catch our baby.  After a good four or five pushes and 20 minutes, our Mollie girl was here at 6:54pm!  Healthy and beautiful (…. straight from the birth canal to my chest… but that’s a whole other story.  Skin to skin is a big deal at Integris Hospitals.) she was greeted by Grandma, Papa, Grandmama, Granddaddy, Uncle Brian, Aunt Kim, Brendan, Landry, Aunt Kristen, Uncle Landon, and Aubrey.

It was a very surreal moment.  Holding our baby…. Knowing we are parents and now responsible for this tiny life… Seeing that the love between Nate and I had now produced a sweet little girl.

It was a day that we will never forget, for sure.  I had prayed the entire pregnancy for a quick delivery and a healthy baby.  I would say God heard the cries of my heart and answered my every desire for this day. (And bonus… I didn’t feel anything after the epidural.)

What a beautiful gift life is, and Nate and I couldn’t be more in love and more happy to share that love with a child.  We so look forward to watching Mollie grow and pray that she is happy, healthy, and beautiful inside and out.

What’s in a Name?

Naming a child is hard.  I was very impatient with my good friend Gina, when she couldn’t pick a name for her little girl, but now I completely understand.  It’s hard!  All that keeps going through my mind is Romeo and Juliet.  Why?  I don’t know, but this is what I have been thinking about…

What's in a name? That which we call a rose
By any other word would smell as sweet.

.

Weird I know.  I was wondering for a little while if our daughter should be called Rose. ha.  But in the end I used my better judgment and realized what I think good ‘ol Shakespeare meant...  If a rose was called something else it would still be a sweet smelling, beautiful flower.

That helped me to realize that what we named our daughter wouldn’t make her who she is.  She will be who she is no matter what.  (Sorry if you can’t follow the rants of a crazy pregnant person)  So, it took a little pressure off, and Nate and I finally chose a name!

My favorite name was Anna.  He hated it.  His favorite name was Nora.  I don’t hate it, but I don’t like it enough.  So we compromised and said nobody gets their first choice.  We went through baby name books, websites, family names, graduation programs, and yearbooks.  It was a long process for me.  I didn’t want to decide on something and then wish I had thought of something different, ya know?

We had her name in our heads all along.  It is kind of like choosing a wedding dress.  You love the first one, but just have to try on 100 more before you go back to buy the first dress.

This was going to be her name all along, so why keep looking.  So around the last of November or the first of December we will be so excited to welcome, our precious daughter…

We love old names that are coming back, so we decided on Mollie.  It is pretty precious, and it is also my two best friends names combined (Melissa and Hollie).  I hope that when I tell her that someday she will understand how important good friends are in your life, and that she will always be surrounded by wonderful uplifting friends.  God doesn’t expect us to go through life alone… He puts people in our paths to help us along the way.

For her middle name, Nate and I have always loved the name Grace.  No matter what we named her, her middle name was always going to be Grace.  It is fitting for little Miss Mollie, because we earnestly prayed for her for over a year before she was even conceived.  It is only by God’s wonderful grace that she is a part of our family.  We don’t deserve to have answered prayers, and will always be grateful to have a daughter.  I hope she comes to know God at an early age and always relies on His grace, just like her parents.

We love you Mollie Grace!  And can’t wait to meet you in just a few more short weeks!

It’s a GIRL!!!

I secretly (but not too secretly to the people that know me really well) wanted a girl!  I have always wanted a little girl and told Nate that we would try for a girl at least three times. ha.  I really never thought about having a boy…. Every time we would talk about names, they were always girl names.  Every time I thought about the nursery I pictured purple and pink.  Maybe that really was the motherly intuition thing you always here about.

The weird thing was that Nate was 99% sure that we were having a girl.  He has said it from the very beginning.  He even had a dream about it one night too!  He has some kind of fatherly intuition already and I couldn’t ask for a better husband!  I guess the “hatching” thing is true, where the dads take on some of the pregnancy symptoms ;)

I didn’t want to do a whole gender reveal party, because the ol bank account is running kind of low right now, but I did want to tell our family and friends in a fun way.  So, after we found out it was a girl for sure (like I asked the ultrasound tech if she was 100%… “like I can buy curtains 100% sure” was the exact phrase I used) we were off thinking of something cute to do.

To tell my parents (and one of my big brothers), I wrapped up an ultrasound pic with a pink bow and frame:

I wanted to see my mom’s reaction in person, so I made them meet us for dinner.  I just knew she would be so happy to add her first granddaughter, since she already has two grandsons.  They were happy, but would have been happy either way too.

We also told my two best friends in a fun way.  We ran 4th of July cupcakes by their houses and made them eat it.  There was pink frosting in the middle to clue them in.  Melissa squealed and it was fun!

 

Then to tell the rest of our family and friends…. We text this pic of our dog:

“Our dog is so excited that we are having a BABY GIRL!”

 

And lastly to tell the rest of the world, we put these pics on facebook:

It was super fun telling everyone that it’s a girl!  I have no problem saying it. haha.  For some reason, when we found out we really were pregnant it was hard for me to tell anyone that “I am pregnant.”  So this was a no stress thing.  People already knew I was going to have a baby, now they know it will be a beautiful baby girl!

18 Weeks

July 4, 2012

How Far Along: 18 weeks

Size: Baby is the size of a sweet potato… 5.6 in. and 6.7 oz.  (But actually we found out SHE already weighs around 8 oz!)

New Baby Developments: SHE is yawning, hiccupping, sucking, and swallowing.  SHE is also rolling, punching and kicking!

Cravings: Ice Cream!

Aversions: Still Chicken.

Movement: Definitely some flutters!  Sometimes really big ones!

Looking Forward To: Nate being able to feel his baby girl!

Best Moment of the Week: Finding out that we are going to have a precious baby girl!  Can’t wait!

17 Weeks

June 27, 2012

I forgot to take a bump picture because we were at Falls Creek (Youth Camp), but here we are that week.  It was great!

How Far Along: 17 weeks

Size: Baby is the size of an onion… 5.1 in. and 5.9 oz.

New Baby Developments: Baby is growing some meat on those bones – putting on some fat!

Cravings: Cheese

Aversions: Stuff that is too sweet.  Eggs.

Movement: Definitely some flutters!

Looking Forward To: Going to the doctor next week and finding out boy or girl!  (Nate is sure it’s a girl.)

Best Moment of the Week: Making it through camp and not forgetting to take my vitamins!

16 Weeks

June 20, 2012

How Far Along: 16 weeks

Size: Baby is the size of an avocado… 4.6 in. and 3.5 oz.

New Baby Developments: Baby can listen to us now!  And, Baby is growing hair and forming taste buds!

Cravings: Hummus, Tacos

Aversions: Chicken

Movement: A few flutters!

Looking Forward To: Seeing how I make it through Falls Creek next week.

Best Moment of the Week:  Hearing Baby’s strong heartbeat at our monthly appointment.

April 23, 2012

Positive Pregnancy Test/Telling Nate Our Good News!

Journal Entry from April 23, 2012:

My heart is overwhelmed with joy! Today we found out that we will be parents! After 14 long months of trying for a baby, our dreams will finally come true. I haven’t been feeling very well the last few weeks, and after taking so many pregnancy tests with a negative result I promised myself I wouldn’t take one without signs of a pregnancy. As I thought more about my symptoms I thought it would be okay to splurge and take a test… but telling myself the whole time not to get to excited. Every time I would get a negative result I would feel so defeated, so when two pink lines popped up, I was in disbelief!

I spent my time with God that morning praising Him for His providential timing and for this precious life now growing inside of me. I am completely humbled and extremely grateful. After fearing the word “infertility” my whole adult life and getting a small taste of what it would be like to never conceive, I am more appreciative and excited than I ever thought I would be.

What a joy! What a blessing! Nate and I thank God for giving us the desires of our heart and so look forward to this next chapter of our lives. We know our lives will never be the same and can’t wait to meet our little one.

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I waited all day to tell Nate the good news.  I knew he would be just as excited as I was.  We were together all day at work and even took a trip to Target together, so it was hard not to tell him… but I wanted to do something special when he got home.

So, as I waited (not so patiently) at home, I came up with a plan.  I stopped by Homeland and got a big bun and put it in our oven.  I also made this card and sat it in the oven.

When he got home, he immediately put on his work clothes (or gym shorts and no shirt) to go mow the yard.  Before he could make it outside, I told him I made something for him and it’s in the oven.  He was like whatever and went to open the oven.  When he saw the giant bun, he understood right away that we had a “bun in the oven” and his face turned bright red and his smile filled up his whole face.  All he could say was, “really?”

After I caught this first reaction, I made him go put on a shirt. ha

 

  (I still didn’t have a camera so these were taken with Nate’s phone.) After that, he forgot about the mowing, and we abandoned our diet to eat at Johnny Carinos.  We went crazy with Italian food and even sprung for the chocolate cake!  That was one great dinner with the love of my life!