So Thankful

Nathan and I have so much to be thankful for this year! Our first home, the blessing of our first born daughter and soaking up every moment we can with her! I can't believe that one year ago I was pregnant with Bailey and didn't know it yet! Christmas morning was the day we found out we were pregnant and here we are a whole year later and we have a beautiful 3 month old daughter!

Parenthood has been quite an adventure! I work part time 2 days a week at Collage Center. While I am working, my mom stays with Bailey. She loves her Grandma time (and Grandma loves her Bailey time)! Bailey started sleeping through the night at 7 weeks and now goes down about 9pm and sleeps until 8am! This is very nice for both Nathan and I to have a full night's sleep! Bailey and I enjoy our days at home when I don't work! Being a stay at home mom has always been something that I have looked forward to and I am so thankful that I can still spend the majority of my week at home with her while still being able to be in the office doing something I am passionate about at Collage Center!

Bailey has grown so much in the last 3 months! She has almost doubled her weight! She is a whopping 15.2 pounds as of December 3rd! She started giggling, blowing bubbles, holding some of her toys and sitting up with help from us! We love making her laugh and smile!

On November 20th, we made a public dedication with our church family to bring up Bailey in a household that serves the Lord. We were blessed to have lots of friends and family come to her dedication to support us as we endeavor into the realm of parenthood.

Bailey & I

Our Family at Bailey's Dedication 11-20-11

Daddy & Bailey

We were able to spend Thanksgiving with Nathan's family since my parents traveled to VA to see Holden, Rachel, Eric & Carley. It was great to just relax the whole weekend! I even got in on some Black Friday shopping with one of my friends. Stood in line at Kohls for an hour and my friend and I decided that we need a better strategy next year and we are already making plans! Here was Bailey's Thanksgiving outfit...

Everyone is thankful for ME!

Chillin in her bumbo seat...

Cousin Fletcher catching some snuggles with Bailey and Uncle Nate!

We are looking forward to spending Christmas with both of our families! Bailey will get lots of lovin, I'm sure!

She's here!

Bailey Elizabeth Fries


August 25, 2011
4:59 AM
8 pounds 5 ounces
19 3/4 inches


8:45 AM - Wednesday, August 24th -
On Wednesday, August 24th, Nathan and I went to my OB check up to find out that I was still 3 cm and 80% efaced (the same as I had been the week before). I had decided on Monday, August 22nd that I wasn't going to go to work anymore so that I could stay home and rest before baby. So after our appointment, Nathan went to work and I went home and waited...I was really nervous that my water would break while I was in the car, sitting on the couch or while I was walking around Walmart. So I decided to just relax at home.

9:00 PM - Wednesday, August 24th -
I was having contractions but wasn't sure if they were real contractions or Braxton Hicks contractions which I had been having for several weeks. But then I started having really sharp pain in my lower back. Nathan had gone to youth group and got home about 9:00PM. We went for a walk around the block and then decided to time out the pain I was having to see if there was a pattern. While I sat on the couch and timed out the pain, Nathan did some last minute packing in our overnight bag.

10:45 PM - Wednesday, August 24th -
There was not a real consistent pattern between contractions so we decided to just go to bed. We laid down and I laid there for 15 minutes and couldn't sleep through the pain I was having in my lower back. So I decided to call my Dr...when I got a hold of her she happened to be on call that night and was already at the hospital because she had 2 other patients in labor. So she said that I should come on up to the hospital and she would check to see if there was any progress. So we packed up the car and checked into the hospital at 11:25PM!

11:25 PM - Wednesday, August 24th -
I wasn't completely convinced that I was in labor for real so I was preparing myself to be sent home...After changing into a gown and getting hooked up to the baby heart monitor and the contraction monitor, my Dr. checked me and I had progressed to 4 cm and 100% efaced. My Dr. looked at me and said that she could break my water and get me going and that I would most likely be having an August 25th baby. I looked at Nathan and gave him a look that said, "I'm not sure if I'm ready for this..." We called my mom and Chelsea because they were going to be in the room when Bailey was born. The Dr. came in after I got my IV and said that she had ordered the epidural if I wanted it, all I had to do was ask. I said I was doing okay and would wait a little bit. Well, after she broke my water the contractions hit my like a freight train....I looked at Nathan and told him I wanted to get things rolling for the epidural...

2:00 AM - Thursday, August 25th -
Chelsea came as they were prepping me for the epidural and my mom came in just as they were finishing. I felt so much better as the epidural took effect! My mom got my sister on the phone and I talked to her for a few minutes. She said it was killing her not being there and that she couldn't sleep she was so excited. Well, little did I know that the reason she wasn't sleeping was being she was just about an hour away from Kearney. She had jumped in the car with Riah and Cliff almost 24 hours prior and started driving to Nebraska from Virginia. Her mother in law met her in St. Louis and drove the second half of the trip with her. She drove my dad's car from Grand Island to Kearney and Riah and Cliff went with her mother in law. So about an hour after I talked to her on the phone, in she walks into my hospital room. I seriously get teary just thinking about it again. I thought I was dreaming when I saw her. Because my blood pressure was being monitored, my tears caused my blood pressure monitor to start beeping but I didn't care! I couldn't believe she had driven so far to be there for my labor and delivery. Obviously, she wasn't planning on cutting it so close. Her plan was to get to Nebraska and be here when I went into labor but I happened to go into labor while she was still travelling. I'm so thankful she left VA when she did!

2:30 AM - Thursday, August 25th -
After my epidural, I had progressed to 7 cm! Nathan, Chelsea, Mom, Rachel and I just kind of relaxed in the room. It still felt so surreal that we were about to meet our baby girl!

3:45 AM - Thursday, August 25th -
My nurse came in and checked me to find out that was 10 cm! I looked at her and said, "What does that mean?" (even though I knew). She said that it was time to start pushing! Hardest thing I think I have ever done in my life! My body was so tired but thankfully I had some awesome coaches! Nathan was behind me and was massaging my head, Rachel and my mom were at my left side and Chelsea on my right. I was getting really tired but then I heard the nurse say she was going to get the Dr...I was so relieved because I knew that meant that it was almost over and our daughter was about to be born!

4:59 AM - Thursday, August 25th -
Finally, after 1 hour and 7 minutes of pushing, Bailey Elizabeth Fries was born...all 8 pounds and 5 ounces of her! When I saw her for the first time, all I could think was, "How in the world did that pile of chubby baby come out of me?" She was beautiful!





Nathan and I couldn't be happier! She is adorable and will be 3 weeks old this week! She left the hospital at 7 pounds 12 ounces and at her check up last week she was 8 pounds 10 ounces! She is well on her way to being a chubby baby! She is a great eater and sleeper except for some minor issues with gas... We love just starring at her and taking in all of her faces and little smiles that randomly pop up!

Rachel and my mom took turns staying with us that first week! It was so great to have someone there to help us when she woke up in the night those first couple nights so that Nathan and I could get some extra rest. Chelsea came for a day and helped me tackle laundry, dishes and cleaning (and snuggles with Bailey of course)!

Riah and Cliff got to meet their little cousin! Riah would look at her and say, "She's just so cute!" Aunt Rachel enjoyed her snuggle time with Bailey since she will not see her again until Christmas...




Kellen, Barrett and Fletcher also got to meet their baby girl cousin! Yes, Bailey has a total of 5 boy cousins with a 6th little boy arriving to Nathan's brother and sister in law in December 2011 when they will welcome a 4th little boy into their family.






Nathan and I are so blessed to have supportive friends and family who have come around us as we begin our journey as parents! We are often overwhelmed with gratitude for all the support, meals and time that people have invested in our lives! We are really looking forward to what God has in store for our family as we raise Bailey :)