Happy Holidays

hello...
sooo fall semester is over..sheww that was rough. we just got back from Miami taking a course for our MBA program, left 2 days later for ohio for the holidays...here are some updated videos, sorry i've been so behind, with finals and everything, i got WAY behind.
we had an amazing first Christmas with Mr Noah- he riped open his gifts and giggled himself silly, hope everyone is having a great holiday season and a happy new year
love
the Hodge family :)


this is what we call his "happy dance" he started doing this and laughing and now does it all the time when he's excited or happy...it just cracks me up! i think he does it most on the hardwood floors b/c he can really boogy ;)




This is my absolute favorite...hearing his laugh-- he is such a joy and such a giggle monster...hope you enjoy hearing his laughter as well :)

Holiday Photos

Here's a teaser for our newest photo session :) more to come!

Noah - 7 months

Noah hit 7 months and at this point he was scooting around the floor. He was moving around the floor in ways you didn't know because you would turn around and he would be on the other side of the floor. But as of 12/11 he started officially crawling! See the video below. He scoots along and gets on all 4's.

6 months 11.5.10

Noah turned 6 months on 10.28.10 he is such an amazing lil man! We just can't get enough of him! he is now 16 lbs 3 ozs and 27 inches long!!! we started solids at 6 months and i am making all of his baby food...organic, homemade :) there's a pic of mom and i making him pumpkin babyfood. its so fun and i know exactly whats in his food: NO preservatives, NO chemicals, NO junk! here are some videos of him and a few from when mom and scott visited...and some halloween pics :) enjoy...AND leave us a comment, we're wondering if anyone reads this anymore...
Ashley, Dave, Noah and Bella

My Weekend w/ Noah

So Ashley went to a conference this past weekend and it gave me a guys weekend with Noah. It was a crazy weekend in a way because I also had Bella and her buddy (Scott and Elizabeth's dog) Canyon who was visiting. So I had 3 sets of eyes on me most the time and I was busy juggling tasks left and right. I loved it though because it gave me time to bond with Noah. A lot of times it is tough since we don't get home until a little after 5 and then its play time, a walk, bath and bed. Not much time in there and I don't often get to feed him before he goes to bed. But of course I got to feed him all weekend long. So we did what every guy did on Saturday and Sunday....watched lots of football. It was great football weekend as Ohio State won, Cleveland Won and Pittsburgh lost...woohoo heh heh heh. I taught him well :). We also did do some errand running and took walks with both the dogs. He was very good for me and played and took naps easily. The tough part has been putting him to bed at night. He always fusses for me on Tuesday nights (when Ashley has class)...however he was perfectly fine and he even fell asleep in my arms one night. That is probably one of the best experiences because it is so cute. (BTW he did that again tonight after fussing, I started singing to him which calmed him down, his favorite song is Father Abraham). Anyways it was a great weekend and I am glad I got to bond with him and have some guy time.

5 month photos

well we went to the Dr again today for more shots...we're doing the Dr Bob's delayed schedule....so he got 2 today and was a total champ!! he's such a strong boy! he cries when they stick him and then as soon as you pick him up and cuddle him- hes fine and laughing at the nurse! haha we are so lucky! here are his pics with his new 5 month stats...

Noah- 5 months old

Well i just can't believe it, but Noah will be 5 months old on the 28th!!! tihs is just CRAZY to me!! my sweet lil baby is growing up...how do i make it stop?
Noah is THE most amazing baby EVER!! he's sooo happy,smiling all the time, content as can be. He TALKS sooo much its insane! please visit the snapfish link i posted below- there's a video of him talking...he willdo this for ENTIRE car rides! he also does it in the morning when he wakes up for about a half an hour!
He sleeps 12-13 hours everynight and has beensince he was about 3 months old.
i'm so thankful i've been able to exclusively breastfeed this entire time and hope to for at least6 months and would love to for his benefit for a year, but i told Dave and myself, after 6 months i won't pressure myself as much,BUT i was a pumping nazi when i was home with him- before i went back to work and have over 300 ozs frozen (we bought a deep freezer forit)...so even if i make it to 10 months, the frozenwill last us a while :)
Miss Shannon (Noah's nanny) is amazing and sooooooo good with him! Dave and I are back in grad school--crammminngggg in classes to get done sooner, so she stays with him Thurs nights whilewe're both in class. everyone keeps asking if i'm going to back off onwork, but i just feel so comfortable with her that i never haveto worry about him-- actually SHES teaching us a lot! haha so that makes it a lot easier on me :)
sometimes i do wish i could be part-time-- mostly the days when things aren't going well atwork- haha, but for the most part i love what i do and enjoy being able to help save other babies lives everyday :)

We decided to wait on starting solids for Noah untilhe's 6 months old. i read a ton of research (yes,i'm THAT nerd! haha) and it just seems to all recommend waiting until 6 months- that breastmilk is all they need right now. so,until he starts waking up inthe night OR turns 6 months well wait. however, this was hard for me b/c i'm SOOOO excited to start making his puree's... i already bought the freezer trays: http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Cubes-Contains-Phthalates-Bisphenol-/dp/B0027ACPBI/ref=sr_1_6?s=gateway&ie=UTF8&qid=1285463784&sr=8-6 and the beaba baby cook: http://www.amazon.com/Beaba-Babycook-Baby-Food-Maker/dp/B001LQCOIS/ref=pd_bxgy_ba_img_c and a ton of recipe books....BUT decided that my own excitement was trumped by what's best for Noah :)
sooo besides being completely inlove with Noah and wanting to snuggle him all day long- we're doing well!!

We miss everyone so much, please post or send us an email- i'd love to hear from you all! we've been so busy, its hard to keep up with everything...so leave a post for us :)

album 09\20\2010- (150 photos, 3 videos), by Ashley Hodge

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos

update...Noah is almost 4 months old!

HEllo
WOW sorry its been so long since i've posted...life has been crazy and i no longer have the time on the internet i used to :)
so Noah is the most fabulous, happy, fun baby EVER...thank you Lord for that! b/c the 1st 3 months with him weren't exactly so... he was just not ready to be in the world yet, i guess :) so now he smiles, LOVES to play in his play gym...is soooo strong- he holds my fingers with his hands and can pull himself all the way up to standing and then stand there! he's been doing that for about a month now...AMAZING! he sleeps 12-13 hours a night consistently (knock on wood) and talks up a storm...really haha

so basically we are totally in love with him :)
i went back to work about a month ago and its been going well...minus waking up at 4 am and being completely exhausted some days, its been pretty good. our nanny is FABULOUS...did i mention fabulous? she helps keep the house clean and does laundry all the time and most importantly, loves and takes amazing care of Noah! i think he sleeps better with her than me! she worked and trained at a montesori here in Mt Pleasant and has a wealth of knowledge about babies and their care-- that our family has def. benefited from!

dave has been traveling for work :( he was gone last week and mom came to stay with Noah and I and he's also leaving this week and i'm on 1st call...the dreaded combo! ahh! so our nanny will be spending the week with Noah and I incase i get called in or work late, she will be here to care for him :) PS the nanny's name is Shannon...i'll just call her that from now on :) so hopefully this week isn't a disaster- i have to admit i'm a lil worried...say a prayer for us :)

Mike and Tara's wedding is coming up soon!! (my sister-in-law) on sept 19th, so we're excited to see everyone soon!! and we're so happy its here on Daniel Island too :) we have all matching outfits...Noah's gonna look like a lil pimp :) hehe

we also start grad school this week :( eughh i just want this to be OVER SOOO bad so i can be a wife and mom...its such a burden right now. i try to havea good attitude and learn and take it all in, but its really hard when Noah's at home and i'd rather be learning more about making babyfood than business law! haha for those of you who don't know...Dave and i are in teh MBA program at the Citadel- we're about half way-- he's 2 classes ahead of me b/c of his business undergrad :( soo i had everything planed out that we could take one inclass course and one online, so i'd only have to be away for 1 night a week- esp b/c i'm TRYING to breastfeed for close to a year (or at least until i have enough frozen milk to make it a year) sooo i just found out i have to take 2 in class courses this semester adn 2 online next semester...good for later, bad for now :( so i'll be in class on tues adn thursdays...and Noah will pry be in bed when i get home---eughh this is gonna be really tough, but Dave adn i decided it will be better for him for us to be gone now than when he's walking adn talking and asking where we are :( its just gonna be tough on me now! i really hope i can keep up with his growing appetite as well...so we'll see how it all goes :) i'm thankful we've made it this far exclusively breastfeeding :)

AND i'm going to be making his babyfood...so i know exactly what he's eating adn it will be all fresh and organic (hopefully local as well!) so i'm excited for that-- if anyone has tips, i'd love them! i bought containers to freeze it in...so we'll see how this new endeavor goes :) hehe

i guess that's it for now!! miss and love you all! i'll try to post more videos tomorrow :)

Dave, AShley, Noah, Bella and Roomba too ;)

album 08\14\2010 (187 photos), by Ashley Hodge

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos

Noah's first dip in the pool and videos from his birth

28 weeks prego

10 minutes after Noah's arrival

Noah weighing in :)

Noah Dale Hodge

Noah Dale Hodge

Noah, 10 weeks old July 10th- first trip to pool

Noah, 10 weeks old July 10th- first trip to pool

Noah, 10 weeks old July 10th- first trip to pool

Noah, 10 weeks old July 10th- first trip to pool

Noah, 10 weeks old July 10th- first trip to pool

snuggly sweet Noah

snuggly sweet Noah

videos of the last 2 months with Noah

so i just finally figured out how to post videos!! sorry its taken so long, but i'm finally getting them up...hope you enjoy watching him grow as much as we do :)
love
Dave Ashley Noah and Bella

play gym

smiley boy

Noah's 10 weeks old

Mom mom melbie singing Father Abraham

Noah's 9 days old

Noah's asleep!!! Dave dancin haha

Noah's first bottle...3 weeks old

Noah's first bath

Noah's first week

Noah's first week

father abraham with mom mom melbie

Noah Newborn Session (70 photos), by Ashley Hodge

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos

Birth photos (109 photos), by Ashley Hodge

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos

Ultrasound pics (14 photos), by Ashley Hodge

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos

maternity session (54 photos), by Ashley Hodge

I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
Click here to view photos

10 weeks old

hello

SOOO i'm so sorry i've been TERRIBLE at updating this blog- and i absolutely hated when my friends had babies and would disappear from the earth and not post pics! haha and now i understand why...motherhood is BUSY!! haha

soo we thought he had reflux...turns out he doesn't and i'm starting to think he was just extra hungry :( so i've just been extra nursing him at night and putting rice cereal in his breast milk and he seems fine now...but who knows, it changes daily :)

i've posted pics on snapfish and here are the links for your viewing pleasure :) if you would like any printed, our photographer: Tamara Hart... www.bumpmeetbaby.com has given me the photos so you can print them on your own- isn't that amazing?!

and i'm still trying to figure out this blog posting pics, so it says the pics are posted somewhere- hopefully there's a link somewhere on the page- haha

but we are doing well, enjoying every moment with him. i go back to work in 1.5 weeks and have no idea how i'm going to do it!!! never thought i could love someone so much...its really amazing!!

well that's it for now :) check out the new pics!!

5-12-10 2 weeks old!

on the way home...4 hrs after birth ;)

trip to pediatrician..5 days old

octopus outfit :)

out n about...day 3 with mom

Hello!
here's an update from week 1 and 2 of Mr Noah's life:)
we went to the pediatrician and he was losing weight b/c all he wanted to do was sleep day1 and day 2...so we worked on the eating deal, went back to pedi and he gained back all his weight by 6 days old!! (they are supposed to gain it back by 2 weeks...so he turned into a rockstar eater!haha)
i also thought i'd jump on the scale when we re-visited teh birth center for our 6 day appointment- just to see...AND... OH MY GOSH i had to look again... i lost 21 lbs in 6 days!!! whoa---i was elated!! i was paranoid it would be hard to get the weight off after pregnancy... i gained a total of 24 lbs and whoa so i wasa only up 3 lbs at 6 days post :) yippie!! super excited about that... my stomach has now returned to normal and i can actually feel my abs again... it was squishy for the first while--which totally freaked me out! haha its weird to flex and feel nothing... so i'm glad that's returning as well- haha
i feel amazing! i'm so glad we had a drug-free birth b/c i immediatelt was up, walking around- ready to face the new challenges of parenthood...thank you Lord for letting that happen :)

Noah is going through a growth spurt right now- so he's trying to eat every hour....eugh, but prior to this he was on a 2 hour schedule and was sleeping for 3 hours a night at 3 days old!! so we think he's doing very well!

things we've learned about Noah:
he HATES to have a dirty diaper-- as soon as its dirty...the whole neighborhood knows about it :)
he's also VERY hungry--everyone knows when its time to eat
he's a GREAT traveler...my mom was here last week and since 2 days old he's been running errands all day everyday
he loves his big sister, Bella and how she licks him to death
he loves to snuggle and be held
he is VERY alert...always awake, looking around, smiling and taking everything in
he already holds his head up!

my mom came in on day 2 and stayed until day 10--and it was PHENOMENAL to have her here...bad thing was i was so emotional when she left!! who was goign to take care of us now?! she made dinner, cleaned, organized, soothed baby, and most of all loved on all of us...we're so sad she's gone adn wish she could just permanently move here :(
thankfully Jeannine came in on day 12 and staying until this friday...Noah just loves his Nana and we are soo glad she came in to help us too!! what would we do without our amazing mothers ?!!
so we are all doing well, adjusting to having a new, precious life to care for...and enjoying every moment of it!! he's getting so big already!!
cant wait for everyone to meet him... he's such a joy!!

miss and love you all
ps- we have TONS of pics i'll try to upload soon and videos of him and his first bath, etc...we'll also post soon, so check back :)
ashley

Noah Dale Hodge 7lbs 0 ozs 19 in, born 4/28/10 @ 455pm

sooooo here's the long awaited story...

4/27/10 @ 1130pm my water broke... i wasn't sure if that's what it was or if i was peeing my pants- HAHA... so i figured the CNM (midwife) would tell me to just go back to sleep, so we did...as i was laying there i thought about the time limit to deliver a baby once your water has broken (to prevent infection, etc.) so i figured i better call... so i called Judy Osborne (the CNM on call) to make sure that's what we should do because i wasn't having contractions at all..

At this point I am confused since all along I've learned that she should be in active labor or at least starting first stage labor when her water breaks. So the fact that she is totally normally is confusing but I wasn't going to complain for her.

** side note**

Dave and I months ago- probably back in Jan or Feb were guessing when we thought he'd be born- i came up with April 28th in my head and asked him his date... he said APRIL 28th!!! i screamed, "No way! that's the date i was thinking!" so just a side note about how odd it is that this all happened and he was really born on April 28th!! too funny!

so i wasn't having contractions or anything, Judy said to go back to sleep (take a Benadryl if needed...she must not know who she's talking to...the QUEEN of sleep! who is knocked out for DAYS with 1/2 a Benadryl..haha) so she said to sleep and if i wasn't having contractions by noon the next day they would have me come into the office and try some natural means to get things started. so we went to sleep... i was a little concerned that i was contracting and afraid after all the scares with my BP that i would end up in the hospital on pitocin after all- so Dave and I just prayed against that and went to sleep... to wake up to my phone ringing at 830 am- it was Judy the CNM calling to check in... she said how's it going? i said fine, i've been sleeping..."have you had any contractions?" "Well, a few, but i think they are just braxton-hicks b/c they aren't painful at all- i can just feel my stomach get real hard" "okay- well do you know about how far apart they are?" "Ummm...now i felt like an idiot b/c i have been sleeping- so i have no idea! haha" she just laughed and said...rriighhht, you've been sleeping- haha, wow-- yes i just slept through all the excitement...oh well!

so she said i want Dave to go get you some things to make a drink and drink it at 10am if you're still not having contractions... and it takes about 4-5 hours to act and hopefully by 2pm you will be calling louise (our doula) and we will be rockin and rollin in the middle of the night tonight and have a baby hopefully...

below is the recipe:

4 Tbsp castor oil...umm can i say i thought it was Kastrol Oil (the kind you put in your car--haha thank goodness Dave knew better!!)

4 Tbsp almond butter

1 C apricot nectar

1 C champagne

6 drops lemon juice

so Dave goes on the run...he laughs b/c he said he felt like an idiot buying Champagne at 9am on a weds! HAHA

That morning was all too normal. She was feeling fine and I woke up and started working from home. After I get word of the receipe I run to the store to find the odd ingredients. The nectar and butter weren't so hard to find. Castor oil was a lttile hard. I finally found it at Wal-Mart. The Champagne was funny since I was at the ABC store at 9am on a Wednesday, that was a first.

he comes home with it and i talked to my friend michele, who said she thought castor oil made y ou vomit and really bad stomach cramps... so, of course, i'm dreading the drink at this point- scared if i take it and i vomit all the way through labor--how miserable! sooo i procrastinated until about 1130 until i actually started drinking it... i told dave...umm so in this glass could make you vomit, diarrhea, stomach cramp and go into labor- the worst pain you've experienced in your life...WANNA DRINK?! HAHA soo i drink it and sit around and nothing...so i took another nap...still nothing

about 145 i started feeling menstrual crampy, my doula needed a big heads up b/c of childcare, etc. and i remember my mom saying her labor started feeling like she was goig to start her period- so i figured i better just call...called Louise told her i was feeling crampy, but that we didn't need her yet, just a heads up...she said sounded great, sounds like things are progressing and to call her with updates every hour

At this point, I am thinking here we go, it's gonna be 4am before this baby comes out...but regardless I was excited to finally see him. I went into this crazy nesting/cleaning phase in between her contractions.

***SIDE NOTE***

we have been told over and over again that the typical 1st labor lasts for 15-17 hours...fact

so keep this in mind for the rest of the story...

so about 15 mins later i knew it was labor b/c they were definite cramps and they would come and go- nothing unbearable, but def. noticable... so i got in my "side relaxed position" like a well trained Bradley Childbirth Student and began to try and relax...meanwhile, i have no idea what got into my husband...i guess NESTING took over his body b/c he was cleaning like a mad man, organizing and finishing minute details around the house- then i hear a screwdriver going...the last screw that was missing from his crib just came in, getting the mail, oh my goodness- i had no idea what got into him, but these contractions at this point (230) were pretty painful and i was very uncomfortable... and they felt like they were getting pretty intense. so i said, hunny, please stop and come help me- my back is killing me! so he came and started rubbing my back and helping me get into different positions to try and get comfortable...welp none worked except on all fours in our living room...staring into the rug! haha so that's where i stayed for the next hour-- contractions were VERY intense lasting about 30-45 secs and a minute apart... so i'm feeling like what is the deal? we learned in our classes and you read online they start about 15-20 mins apart lasting a few secs and SLOWLY progress to lasting a minute and a minute apart in ACTIVE labor...well i was only a half hour- max hour into real labor, so i started getting ticked that i just couldn't get a break from the contractions and they were very painful... the CNM called and Dave told her where my contractions were- i couldn't even talk to her at this point ( note to self and all-- in subsequent labors-- this is a SIGN That you are progressing WAY faster than you think you are! haha) and i heard her say to dave on the phone "good, sounds like things are progressing, remember you will be at this point with contractions closer for a couple hours or more before you need to head in" --- yes, in my pain, i heard this and wanted to break down adn cry--- HOURS of this? i didn't know if i was being a baby or what, but that just sounded like i couldn't do it--- HOURS? i was already dying! haha

so i told myself i had to focus and get through it...so a nice lil pattern on our rug became my focal point for the next hour--

i finally told Dave... i just don'tthink this is right- i'm not getting any breaks, i'm SUPPOSED TO GET BREAKS like at least 10 mins b/w and there is NO BREAK- it goes one right into the other! i don't think this is right...call Louise and ask her to come- she'll know what to do- i need help! haha

Dave was so absolutely amazing throughout the entire thing- rubbing my back, bringing me OJ to drink, reminding me to breath and stay focused- i couldn't have done it without such an amazing partner to stand by my side the entire time!!

She kept groaning and monaing (rightfully so I might add) but my job as I learned it was to keep her focused on breathing and focusing on the contractions. Also, I was massaging her back trying to take away some of the pain.

so he calls louise adn tells her to head on her way- not to drop and run, but head on over...she's about 45 mins away and its 330 at this point- (one hour into labor) she said...remember we're about to get into rush hour traffic- so i'll be glad to come over there, but then we should plan on laboring at your house for quite a few hours or else we should just head to the birth center now ... so again, we've been told labor is goig to be at least 15 hours- so we thought, we had PLENTY of time...mias well come to our house...meanwhile, i am having contractions that are lasting a minute now with no breaks in between, but again, i thought i was just being a baby and wasn't handling the pain well- so i kept telling myself to man up... its go time and i have to getthrough this...little did we know that i was transitioning at that point in time and was the toughest part of labor-- i somehow skipped the easy/light stage! long story short Louise shows up at the house- i couldn't even acknowlege her i was in non-stop contractions --she looks at me for a few seconds, looks at Dave and says- we need to get out of here-- her demeanor is saying she's a lot farther than we think she is- so Dave runs and is frantically loading the car-- louise helps me through a contraction and OH MY GOSH-- i have to push!! so i tell her omgosh lousie- i have to push!!! she's like ohh no...dont' push- try to breath through it- whatever you do don't push! so i get to the door and PUSHHH--- anyone who's had a baby knows that when you haev to push- there's no stoppin it!! its such an overwhelming sensation! so she gets me int he back seat of the explorer and tells me to ride on all fours to the birth center and that she would call Judy.

At this point I am like O. M. G. I felt crappy because we were still at home and she is ready to push!!??!?! But it went against everything we learned and heard from others. So I kept thinking there is no way that we are this far along, it's been like an hour. So I am running around (staying calm but really kind of crazy, just not showing it) trying to get everything in the car to leave (side note: the bag were packed by the door, just not in the car)

**side note-- the birth center has 1 CNM who does office visits/ clinic for the week adn the other CNM is on call for labors and deliveries- so Leslie was in the office that day and Judy was on call- so Judy was coming from home as well-- again this is at 4pm, so right int he middle of rush hour!...thank goodness this all happened during business hours and Leslie was there!!

we're driving like crazy to try to make it to the birth center before Noah comes out in the car! i had urges the whole time and kept trying to mentally talk myself out of these overwhelming pushing contractions! then in between these pushes i was painfree-- so then i thoguth great- did my labor just stop and i'm goign to get to the birth center and they're going to tell me i'm 5 cms and a baby and to go back home>! how embarassing! haha ...THEN...i felt him come down!! i said Dave-- call louise- he's coming out NOW!! he calls louise who said...book it-- we gotta get there- tell her not to push!! so i tell Dave- you have to take the emergency lane or something b/c we just hit traffic on 26- and i knew he was on his way into the world!!... the only thing i could think of to save us was to SIT ON MY HEAL!! hhaha i figured if i sat on it his head couldn't come out!! HAHA soo we squeel into the birth center on 2 wheels and i get outa the car- no shoes on-- walk into the clinic side b/c they have to check you before they'll let you push the secretary looks at me like i'm a luny b/c i'm pushing int he lobby!! HAHA Leslie checks me and says...head over right now... i had no idea what that meant- so i looked at dave he didn't know either- look at Louise and she's like...its time to PUSH, you're ready!

Of course, I am behind every slow grandma on the way. So I am passing people left in right weaving through traffic. I did my best to focus and get there as fast and safe as possible. I probably would make a good wheel man for the mob given the way I was driving.

they asked me earlier in the day which room i wanted and i wanted the front one...except the tub wasn't full-- the other room THANKFULLY was already set-up for that night- an orientation at the birth center and a tour of the labor rooms, so Leslie filled the tub up (these tubs are huge- bigger than hot tubs, so it takes time to get them filled up-- so Leslie apologizes, but says ash, you need to get in now, so its goign to be the other room-- at this point- i didn't car about the room, water birth anything-- all i knew is that he was coming out and i needed someone to catch him!! haha

so i go into the room- walk into the water and have another contraction-- leslie says...you're a great pusher- he'll be out int he next push... push again and never felt anything sting so bad in my life-- so i decided he was coming on the next one so i didn't have to feel that pain any longer than i had to... pushed again and out he came- she pushed him up to me and i pulled our son out and into the world!!! Dave was sitting right behind me and helped me hold him...what an amazing experience!!! i am so glad we chose a drug-free birth experience and soo glad it was at the birth center- what an amazing group of women to help take care of Noah and i --thank you Judy and Leslie!!

It was overwhelming. Not even 10 minutes before I got behind her to help her, he was out. He kind of flew out too. It was breath taking. I was in awe at this point. He came out looking good and hearing him cry was awesome.

so 3 hours of hard labor, 4 pushes arrived at the birth center at 430- and Noah Dale Hodge arrived at 455pm weighing in at 7 lbs even, 19 inches and 1000lbs of cutness!

**side note...soo meanwhile i walked into the tub, Leslie, the secretary, the photographer are running around getting the room ready for a delivery! and somehow in this fast and furious labor we got a doula, photographer and 2 midwives haha... and

HUGE thanks to Tamara for the beautiful photos...check them out: www.bumpmeetbaby.com

HUGE thanks to Louise for coming to the house and telling us to get in the car and GO- or else Dave and i would've still been at home thinking we had hours to go- thanks for saving us and being fabulous help throughout

Good think Lousie told us to go or else we would of had him at home. We had a full force though when we got there. 2 midviews, a doula and a photographer.

HUGE thanks to Leslie for making our delivery fabulous...street clothes and all :) and JUDY for the same and making our entire experience a dream!

4 hours later we left the birth center and headed home with our new bundle of joy!!

MEGA HUGE THANKS to my wonderful and supportive husband...who was with me every step of the way...from rubbing my back, to bringing me things to drink, to driving me like a mad man, to communicating with the outside world about everything going on...to becoming the best father any child or mother could ask for. he has been up with me every night taking care of Noah and being 100% involved- i now understand why people say you have a new found love for your spouse after childbirth- and that i def. have...more love and respect than i ever thought i could have for one person- i love you hunny and can't wait to raise our little guy together and make tons and tons of memories together...thank you

thanks everyone for everything :)

Love,

Dave, Ashley, Noah and Bella

bed rest :( and finished photos of the nursery

Bags all packed and ready to head to the birth center...now we just need LABOR!!

Bella's on bed rest with me --HAHA

this is where the rocker will go- its supposed to arrive this week sometime :)

got these stuffed animals online- they were expensive, so i thought they were goign to be huge...NOPE aparently they're some collectors item--oops! haha, oh well!

finished changing table

entrance...just love the lil table/stool with his name on it :)

Finished crib with the mobile

finished closet shelving-- thanks Hunny!!

Dave building the closet

The diapers attacked him!! haha thanks everyone for all the gdiapers!

Blue Angels...soo amazing!

of course, Bella came along

Dave and I at Patriots Point watching the Blue Angels

the bushes in front of our house turn to complete flowers-- love them!

Dave and I before we left for the shower his work had for us

OH MY GOSH!!! huge belly!! haha almost there...no stretch marks- thankfully!! BUT i'm sooo ready to have my normal stomach back!!

37 weeks!!

below is a sweet gift from a friend with his name embroidered..and how cute is the bag?!

So...

i was feeling really shaky and weak at work on Weds, thought it was just my glucose dropping, but figured i'd better call the midwife to check- we ended up missing each others phone calls, in the mean time i ate a yogurt- felt fine, so didn't call back- figured it was nothing... happened again at dinner that night- ate- felt fine... happened again at work on thurs and thought i better call to see if this is normal. she asked me to have someone take my BP, if it was low- drink some gatorade, if it was high- call back. my BP is usually really low, like 100's over 40's... i went in teh hospital and hooked myself up to a monitor and it was 153/104!!!! oh my gosh! so i called back- they told me to come right in... it was still high when i got there and the protein in my urine was elevated (from my baseline levels) so she had me lay there and rest for a bit and took it again- and it thankfully dropped to 120's... so i had to do a 24 hr urine test (to test for protein in my urine) and get a bunch of labs to check my liver and kidney function (pre-eclampsia can have some serious effects on those!) so she said if it is elevated and i do have preeclampsia i would have to be induced and have him at the hospital :( so that was a HUGE bummer and sad moment when you plan for one thing and hope for it and in a flash it can be taken away from you. Everyone thinks i'm/ we're crazy for wanting a completely drug-free natural childbirth, but it something we desire and think is the best for Noah, and it really stinks to prepare 9 months for that and maybe not being able to have it... long story short- the labs all came back normal!! PRAISE JESUS!! so i'm still on bed rest and i go back in monday to get checked again and if he's still not here by tuesday then i have to repeat the urine test to make sure it doens't turn to pre-eclampsia.

all last week i was so stressed with work, teaching, school and exams AND making sure everything was ready for baby that i really think that had a large effect on me... i was also getting up early for cases and class at night- working 12-14 hr days then goign to class-- maybe this was my bodies way of saying STOP i cna't do it all!! so hopefully the bedrest will bring everything back to normal--- another bummer is that my leave time with Noah is starting now :( so i just pray he comes soon so i can be home with him for the majority of the time i'm off and not sitting here alone on the couch! haha

dave has been amazing, taking care of me and bringing me everything i need, cooking, cleaning AND getting everything ready...we are OFFICIALLY READY! below are the finalized pics of the nursery and the new shelf he hung and the new shelves he put in the closet :)

soo i'm sitting/laying on the couch feeling like a COMPLETE BUM, watching movies, stalking people on facebook and blogging-- thank goodness for the internet :)

so hopefully Mr Noah makes his arrival SOON!! we're hoping this weekend, but i don't think that will happen...keep us in your prayers :)

also...check out the poll on the side and vote!!