Two weeks ago we welcomed our son into the world! It is still absolutely unreal to type those words!

We went to bed earlier than normal on Wednesday night the 27th. I remember waking up and going to the bathroom and then going back to bed around 2:30 AM. At 3 AM I woke up again thinking – wait – I already went to the bathroom – why is THIS happening! I went to the bathroom again and there was a HUGE crack of thunder and flash of lightning – and I said – Jared – I’m soaked! He said – WHAT!!! I asked him what I should do – should I call Johna?

You have to understand – on Wednesday afternoon I ran into Johna at Wal*Mart and we made lunch plans for Thursday. Johna said – that’s fine but we will prolly be at the hospital cus my guess for Fitzy’s birthday is tomorrow! So OF COURSE I had to call her at 3 AM and tell her that I thought my water broke! She said – well I guess you better call the hospital! In my moment of WHAT IS HAPPENING – I said – am I supposed to just let this leak everywhere on the way over? We haven’t put the car seat in yet! I have a bag packed – but do I have everything? What are we gonna do with the bubs? Jared’s parents are leaving in the afternoon till Sunday! I AM NOT READY FOR THIS!

I called the hospital and they said to come over! AHHH!!! I know that due dates don’t mean anything but I wasn’t due till the 5th of May! I was in shock that this was actually happening!!

We called Jared’s parents and his mom came over to stay with Schrute for the early morning hours. I called my mom, sister, and brother to let them know we were on our way to the hospital! Johna and Jared were my support system until Samm got there from NJ – just in time!

We got to the hospital after driving through rain, wind, and a crazy thunderstorm. The nurses met me at the ER door and we went up to the OB floor right into the birthing room to do paperwork and make sure that my water had broken. It had! I made my next round of phone calls to let people know that I would be having a baby within the next 18 hours! The nurse asked if I could feel the contractions – but I told her no. It wasn’t until a few hours later that I realized I WAS feeling contractions – I just didn’t expect them to be so mild – at the moment!

Johna came over and walked the halls with me until it was time to be hooked up to the monitor. At 8 AM my contractions weren’t progressing so they put me on Pitocin – which moved things right along! By 10ish I was 3 to 4 cm and when Samm got there at 12 I was reaching 7 to 8 cm. Samm and Johna switched out and before long it was time to give some practice pushes. I had Fitzy’s birth photographed by Bridget Reed – a FABULOUS photographer – and she spent the morning in the room with us! When it was time to practice pushing – I opened my eyes for one of the first times all morning – and looked around. Bridget was gone! I said – where’s Bridget? As soon as I mentioned her name – there she was – and I knew that I could practice pushing! Crazy the things you think about and don’t think about while you are in labor!

Jared and Samm were holding my legs and cheering me on – telling me to push and counting for me! Pushing was harder than I thought it would be – I couldn’t get the hang of it at all! Samm kept saying – his head is RIGHT there – you can do this! Jared was awesome – he encouraged me to no end! I pushed for about 45 minutes and then there was this miracle in front of me! Jared cut the cord and Samm took some fresh photos to text our family! As soon as Fitzy was out – I got a migraine and couldn’t see the right side of my vision – so I thought he was cute – at least the left side of him! Thankfully the aura went away pretty quickly. He didn’t cry when he came out – and I just needed to know that he was okay and then I zoned out! I really don’t remember much of anything after that until my parents got there!

Having Bridget in the room to photograph the birth was one of the BEST decisions I ever made – make sure to check out her slideshow here!

Fitzy was born on Thursday, April 28th of 2011 at 2:17 PM. He weighed 7 lbs 7.7 ounces and was 19.5 inches long! 7 is the number of completion and perfection – how AWESOME is that!! He looked so much like Jared when he first came out!

He is only a few moments old in this photo – thank you so much Bridget for this photo!

He is perfectly healthy and happy and so amazingly content! He hardly cries and eats ALL the time! He is a great sleeper and is just the cuddliest baby I have ever known!

Jared took the whole week off and just went back to work on Monday – we miss him so much during the day!

Here are a few shots of our days in the hospital!

OH MY WORD! JUST LOOK AT THAT FACE!!

My dad with his first grandson!

Momma and Dadda!

My Gramma Geiger and my cousin Vanessa!

Fitzy with Dan Fitzgerald – one of his namesakes!!

Oh sweet baby!

What a sweet baby boy!!

I took some photos during our first week home together too – not nearly as many as I thought I would but I was just so busy loving this little guy!

It’s TIRED in here!!

BE STILL MY HEART!!

My friend Jenn is starting a business – Janey Joy – which is where this BEAUTIFUL hat came from!!

And of course I had to include a few of our other baby!

Isn’t he BEAUTIFUL!

We still cannot believe that Fitzy is here in our arms and is ours! Thank you so much for the prayers during our labor and over the past two weeks! We felt them SO MUCH!!!!!

How much time do we spend waiting? Waiting in line – waiting at red lights – waiting for food – waiting for answers. I’ve written blogs about it before – WAITING – and am sure I will write blogs about it again!

I wrote that blog on August 24th – I was pregnant and didn’t know it yet! Here is a portion from that blog –

Now we wait again. We wait for a child. I have known from the moment I can remember that I’ve wanted to be a mother. That I was meant to be a mother. 2009 was a year for change. I quit my job – started a new one – we got a puppy – and found out we were going to be parents. We waited for our first appointment and waited more when the image I knew I was supposed to see wasn’t there. We waited for our baby to miscarry – waited to start trying again. Here we are – a year and a half later – still waiting for a miracle. Praying for a baby – our baby.

On March 28th of this year – Jared’s mom was given a word in church. That our children would rise up like mighty oaks. Our children.

On April 11th of this year – Dave called us again with a word for us. We would have children. Lots of them – running around in our yard – jumping on trampolines – and they would be our biological children – they would all look like Jared.

On August 15th of this year – we met with our Pastor – because I am angry, tired, sad, and weary. He told us that God has children for us – our biological children. But first we must open our hearts to the notion of taking in a child that is not ours – biologically.

So we wait and pray.

Because we are all waiting – for something.

For a new job – a spouse – a baby – a moment alone – a day without worrying about your weight – a friend – and for Jesus to come back.

I waited a little over week after writing that to find out that we were having a baby. Looking back on it now – it seems unreal. Looking down at this big belly that doesn’t fit in my tank top as I type this – seems unreal.

And still I wait. I wait for this baby to be born. I wait to hold him and cuddle him and love him. We wait to stay up at night with this little miracle. We wait to hear him say his first word and take his first step. We wait. Forever – we wait for something!

I am waiting to feel that first contraction and wonder when we should go to the hospital. Waiting for my water to break. Waiting for that moment when I wonder if I can do this. If I can get through this. Waiting to hear his first cry and see his face for the first time. To hold him in my arms and kiss his cheeks. To look into Jared’s eyes and thank him for this amazing gift that he gave me. To introduce him to his family and friends – people that love him and have prayed for him for YEARS!

Waiting to have him fall asleep on my chest and sigh that sweet baby sigh. To take him home and introduce him to Schrute. Oh – so many things are waiting for you baby!

I am so thankful for EVERYONE that has been involved in our lives! For those of you that sent cards and gifts and prayers and words of encouragement. For those of you that came to showers and SHOWERED us with love and gifts! For those of you that love him so much already! I am so amazed at what the world of FACEBOOK has brought to our lives! So many of you I would have NEVER met if I didn’t have this blog and a FACEBOOK account!

I cannot WAIT to post the photos that Bridget Reed will be taking during his birth! I just CANNOT WAIT for this moment to happen!

I am praying and praying and PRAYING for all you out there that are waiting for a baby. I am praying that God would pour out strength and faith and hope.

Until next time – I will be right here – waiting … for this baby – for YOUR news about a baby coming to YOUR family!

While I was at my parents a few weeks ago – I hit the 35 week mark!

My sister took some belly shots for me – but first we had to do some awkward maternity photos!

Samm was YELLING at him to COME OUT!

Samm also enjoys punching. She says it’s okay to punch me – I’m not pregnant in my face!

And we had to get an awkward one of me and Jared!

I do love those ones!!!

WHY OH WHY did SHE get that beautiful head of hair and not me!!!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE those shots!

MY FAVORITE!!!!

I LOVE that swamp and just had to get a few shots in front of it!

Samm – thanks SO much for taking a few shots of me throughout the week!

On Saturday the 2nd of April my sister hosted a baby shower for us @ MPWC!

Stephanie Martin – the bride on my header and homepage – MADE this cake for us! Samm told her what she was thinking and then let her have creative freedom!

Samm made this diaper cake for me! I love the washcloth lollipops and the sock roses!

Peggy – a former barden photography bride – brought along her little miracle!

A close-up of the washcloth lollipop and the frozen baby game! Samm got these little plastic babies (which were pretty creepy) and froze them in ice! Whoever melted all the ice and got the baby out – without sucking on the ice – won!

Samm with our niece Rowyn! Oh I just LOVE her!

Who has the best diaper? HAHA! Loved this game! I had to pick Ashley – she is on the far left – because of the pacifier!

THANK YOU to EVERYONE who came to our shower! I had a great time and felt so amazingly blessed with all the goodies you gave!

On Sunday – March 27th – my bff Johna threw a baby shower for our little guy! She made me an awesome diaper cake and some fantastic cupcakes!!

Her little gal – *M* – who I just love!!

She helped me open gifts – and was so excited about EVERYTHING Fitzy got! She proudly showed me the butt paste she got Fitzy!

I thought is was SO funny!

My dear friend Jessica got this little outfit! SO CUTE!!

From Gramma Barden!

From our new – dear friend Ronda! Jared LOVES this one!!

Belinda’s little guy – *C* – OH MY WORD – the cuteness is spilling out of him!

I love love LOVE this girl!

And just because – our cheesy prom pose!!!

Thank you SO MUCH Johna and Matt for hosting this party for us! We love you guys SO much!

¹⁰ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. ¹³ Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ¹⁴ Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, ¹⁵ and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. ¹⁶ In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷ Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.

That is the “verse” we have chosen for Fitzgerald as his life verse!

We are so excited to raise this little baby with God’s direction!

I don’t even know what the prize might be – but I want to run a contest about Fitzy’s birth!

Make sure to comment on this blog post with your guess on his birthday – the time – his weight – his length!

I’m not sure if there will be one winner or four!

THIS CONTEST ENDS APRIL 24th – which marks 38 weeks!

More than anything – I am so excited to see his little face!!!!

On March 19th we had our first baby shower! We had it at our church – Liberty Bible Church – and had such a great time!

I love love LOVE peeps! I wanted to keep it low key – and the balloons and peeps worked great!!

My beautiful friend Stephanie made this cake for me – UNBELIEVABLE!

My friend and fellow photographer – Megan Hampton made these for Fitzy!!! AMAZING!

Kelly and Hannah got this BEAUTIFUL diaper bag for us – OH MY! I love it!

Tarren MADE this AMAZING scrapbook for Fitzy! I can’t even begin to describe the awesomeness!

THANK YOU EVERYONE who came out to celebrate our baby with us! We are so blessed to have EACH OF YOU in our lives!

Two years ago today I woke up to incredible pains at 4 am – knowing that today would be the day that Enoch left us. It was painful and emotional and one of the most difficult times of our lives.

We knew for a week that we would be miscarrying – but having it happen made it so real and so permanent.

I write today to remind myself of where we are. To encourage you with our miracle to keep hoping for yours. Remember – I am that person that found it hard to hope – I still do at times! It was hard to hope without getting my hopes up – cus they would be gone every month.

Here are the blogs that I wrote 2 years ago to help get out my feelings about what we were going through.

3.11.09 – COMFORT

3.12.09 – BEAUTY FROM PAIN

3.13.09 – PROMISES

3.22.09 – SPRING

4.21.09 – FINDING PEACE

We have a little more than 7 weeks until our expected due date with Fitzy – our miracle! I sit here and shake my head as I type – still in shock that there is a baby kicking me. That after two years of heartache we will be blessed with another child – this one in our arms!

I write to encourage you. I write to give you hope. I write to let you know I am praying for YOU! I am praying that God will give you peace – strength – comfort – and the ability to give up control – to let it in God’s hands.

We miss Enoch so much – but we rejoice in the knowledge that he is rejoicing with Jesus! He is safe and happy and beautiful! We will see him again someday!

We are so thankful for the chance to reach out to all of you that are struggling! We are so blessed to know all of you and pray for you!

Thank you so much for your support, love, and prayers you have showered us with on our journey to becoming parents!

I wanted to end this post with a promise of new life – a promise that God cares!

If God takes care of the flowers in the ground – He will take care of YOU!

I cannot wait to have maternity photos taken! In the meantime – Jared took some quick shots for me when we were 27 weeks pregnant!

And then again at 29 weeks!

I am still in shock that I actually have my OWN maternity photos – that there is a little boy kicking my insides!

GOD IS SO GOOD!

Thank you again to everyone who reads my blog, supports my photography, and rejoices with us over this miracle!