While my parents and brother and sister were here – we had a tornado in Mansfield! We were in the house for 26 hours without power – which I know was much worse for lots of people in town and around this area – so I am thankful it was only 26 hours without power. We played board games together and actually spent time together instead of being plopped in front of the television the whole time!

Of course we got some snuggling time in with babies too!

Rowyn is almost exactly 3 months older than Fitzy – and she LOVES him!

LOOK AT HER! She is such a pretty little baby!

My sister would kidnap him to NJ in a second if I let her!

Grandma Barden had to come over and get some snuggles in!

It was quite an eventful weekend and we will NEVER forget my 30th birthday!

We had Fitzy dedicated at Liberty Bible Church on May 29th! My family was all here and we couldn’t think of a more perfect time to do it!

During a dedication we thank God for this beautiful baby – for lending him to us and asking His direction in raising him. Our families and the church agree to hold us accountable in raising Fitz under God’s direction! We asked Jared’s dad, Rob Fitzgerald, my brother, and Dan Fitzgerald to say a prayer for our little guy!

Derek asked if I wanted him to hold Fitzy up like in The Lion King – I said OF COURSE!

Our pastor – Lon – with the babe!

The Fitzgerald family – minus Dave & Christy!

Dan showing Fitzy some love!

My sister with her sweet nephew – Jessica and Derek with the little guy!

My parents and Jared’s parents with their first grandson!

We are so thankful for our parents and the love they have shown us! We’ve had GREAT examples to lead is into parenthood!

Thank You God for allowing us the joy of raising this baby! We pray above all that he grows up to love and follow You!

We are LOVING this baby boy! He is so perfect and such a blessing!

Here are some photos during his 3rd week with us!

OH MY HEART!

He LOVES his play mat!

He also LOVES his moose!

Such a cutie!

My sister held a baby shower for Fitzy on April 2nd! She did such a great job with all the games and decorations!

My friend and fellow photog – Aszur – took some shots for us!

The creepy babies Samm used for the games!

Stephanie made this AWESOME cake for me!

I love the little Pooh pajamas! Thanks Aszur!

Aszur is due with her 3rd little guy in June!

Samm – thanks so much for your hard work and AWESOME shower for us!!!!

Thank you to Aszur for the photos and to everyone for coming!!!! Fitzy is so blessed to be so loved!!

Aszur took some maternity photos of me in early April!

These were some of my favorites! I added some textures and edits but they were taken by Aszur!

Thanks again Aszur! I am so glad that God crossed our paths!! I cannot wait to be with you during your delivery of your THIRD miracle!

Today is a hard day. While we are still saying hello to our miracle Fitzy – we are saying goodbye to our baby Schrute.

We brought Fitzy home and Schrute did pretty well with him – other than the fact that he is HUGE! The next day he snapped at my sister and freaked out when we got home from visiting Fitz’s. He was jumping and panting and baring his teeth and not listening to us AT ALL. When he did get close to the baby he nudged him – HARD! He slept downstairs with Jared while Samm and I slept upstairs with the baby. Jared has been sleeping on the couch with Schrute since – I can’t have him in the bed with us – Schrute – not Jared!

I was so scared to be at home with my two babies – Schrute proved to be harder to take care of. I can’t lay Fitzy down ANYWHERE without worrying about Schrute getting in his face and nudging him – or stepping on him – or sitting on him. My days have been spent telling Schrute no – bringing the dog to the bathroom with me – anywhere I go while the baby is laying down. I can’t put Fitzy in his swing, on the floor, or on the couch or bed without worrying about Schrute stepping or sitting on him. He hasn’t been listening to us nearly as well as he normally does – which isn’t really that great anyway! I can’t nurse the baby without Schrute having his nose right on top of us – nudging hard.

Last week I took Fitzy over to Gramma’s and spent some time with Schrute alone – only to have him growl at me when I got near him! UNACCEPTABLE! Schrute’s head is about the size of Fitzy’s whole body – all it takes is one time – one chomp for it to be a fatal accident.

Bottom line – we LOVE our dog – but we LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE our baby. Jared and I don’t feel that Fitzy is safe while Schrute is in the house. I’m not enjoying the dog or our baby the way I need to be cus I am so watchful of both of them. I am not relaxed – I am way too stressed and worried that Schrute might snap at any minute.

Jared and I have CRIED and CRIED about this decision – Schrute is our BABY! He is an angel sent from God to get us through our miscarriage and struggle with getting pregnant. I am so thankful for him and the love he gave us the past two years. I cannot describe the impact he has had on my life. He has kept me company and listened to my cries. He has cuddled up with me when I needed a hug. (I know he is just a dog – but he is truly sent by God at the perfect time for us). He gives us that look that says he loves us no matter what. He waits anxiously for Jared to get home from work to shower him with kisses at the door! He cuddles up with us every night to sleep. He has brought so much joy to our lives!

Today Jared and his dad are taking him to his new home in Sunbury. He will be living with a woman and her hubbie who don’t have children – they have their dogs! Three great danes other than Schrute! A farm with lots of space to run – their own room and bed! Love and attention that will be POURED on him!

We know that he will be loved and taken care of – but it still sucks. Just sucks. People have told us to give him a few weeks – and we have – mostly because it took a while to find this perfect fit – and it’s been a stressful couple of weeks. If ANYTHING were to EVER happen to Fitzy because we couldn’t make the decision to take Schrute to a new home – you would have to institutionalize me! I would never EVER forgive myself. I am taking the little things that Schrute has done so far as warning signs. He is SO big that he doesn’t know what he is doing – where he is stepping – who he is sitting on – jumping on – chewing on. He is being so neglected with our attention on this sweet miracle – and he knows it. He deserves better.

It has been a heartbreaking decision but when it comes down to your dog or your child – there is no question.

We are so thankful for his love and companionship the past two years! We are so excited for his new family and the memories they will make together!

I took these photos on Friday – while I cried my goodbyes.

OH MY HEART – I think he knows.

Schrutie – we love you so much! Thank you for your friendship and sweet kisses over the past couple of years. Have so much fun with your new brothers and sister.

Yesterday our baby boy was two weeks old! I’ve been very blessed with GREAT photographer friends who wanted to photograph his cuteness! You can see all the different photos on my FACEBOOK!

I have been so tired and so focused on spoiling this little guy with love that I kept putting off his newborn photos – horrible right!

When Nicole from Yafeh Photography came to photograph our little guy – I took a few shots – at 12 days old!

PRECIOUS!!

I cannot get over the fact that this little guy is ours!!

Yesterday I took some shots of our teeny baby at 2 weeks old!

I don’t normally include outtakes but this one was too cute!

We are having such a great time loving on our little miracle!

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!