Happy One Week Birthday to Madison and a Happy Morning for Big Sister Caitlin Too!!

This morning after she drank her chocolate milk, Caitlin's (loose since June) front tooth finally came out!! We are all very excited!



It is also Miss Madison's one week birthday (and nope, we can't believe it)! Seems like just yesterday she was wiggling around inside of me and I was counting the days until I could meet her! I'm so glad she's now safe in my arms. She LOVES being in my arms and loves being cuddled (Caitlin wasn't really a cuddler so I'm so happy to have this chance with this baby) :)

In honor of her birthday, here are just a few pics.







Love,
Amanda & Family

Madison Grace Hoyt is Here!!!

Our newest miracle arrived yesterday, September 18, 2009 at 12:09 pm.

Madison Grace Hoyt weighs 7 pounds 13 ounces and is 19 3/4 inches long.

She is healthy, happy and came pretty quickly!

I was only in active labor for about 3 hours and pushed for about 15 minutes. When she came out I couldn't stop crying - I couldn't believe that we'd finally made it - she was here and safe and sound!!

God is so good!!

Thank you for all of your thoughts and prayers yesterday.

Here are a few pics of our little lady.













Caitlin, Chris and I are so in love!!

Love,
Amanda and Family

Madison Grace Update - We have a Tentative Birth Date!!

Yesterday I went back to check on Madison’s status. All is going great and the big news is that Madison has dropped into the birth canal and the doctor said that he would like to induce me next Friday (September 18th)!!

Of course, she could come on her own before that, but as of now, we will plan on her birthday being next Friday :)

Madison’s heartrate was at 167 bpm and doctor thought she was approximately in the high 6 to low 7 pound range yesterday!

He thinks that if she’s born next Friday that she’ll be in the mid to high 7 pound range. Wow, we might just have a baby that can fit into Newborn diapers!! LOL – Caitlin was so big she went directly into size 1 diapers!! :)

I have no idea how much weight I’ve gained (if any) – we didn’t even discuss it.
I have not progressed any in the dilation department, but since she dropped (early Thursday morning I felt it!), I have been having more regular and painful contractions.

He says that Madison’s lungs and body (as well as my body) will be ready for her arrival by next Friday if we induce. He sees no reason to wait longer and knows how anxious I am to have her safely in my arms.

So, unless you hear from us before next Friday, we’ll let you know how it goes!!

Thank you for all your prayers and support.

Love,
Amanda & Family

Caitlin's and Madison's Rooms are Finally Finished!!

As you know, we've been working hard to rearrange our house and get the rooms ready for our girls...They are finally done!! So, without further adieu, here they are in pictures:

Welcome to Fairy Princess Land (aka Caitlin's bedroom):










Welcome to The Ladybug Nursery (aka Madison's bedroom):












Thanks for visiting :)

Madison Grace's 36w6d 3D Ultrasound Pics and an Update

Friday I went back to check on Madison's position - we had an ultrasound and then met with the doctor. All is going great and the big news is that Madison has moved from being transverse to head-down and the doctor does not expect her to move again!

So, we will not be induced this week and will just wait it out :)

Madison's heartrate was at 144 bpm, fluid levels were great and placenta was great!

Madison is measuring at about 6 pounds 6 ounces (she gained 1 pound in 1 week - YIPEE!!). She is currently measuring in the 40th percentile for weight so letting her "cook" for another few weeks (and letting her lungs mature) is going to be the best thing for her.

I have gained 4 pounds in 1 week (I've now gained a total of 31 pounds).

I have dilated to 1 cm.

I also got confirmation that I have group B strep (again - had it with Caitlin) so we'll have to get the IV antibiotics within 4 hours of starting labor and then during labor. We'll also have to stay an extra day in the hospital again.

He wants us to get to 39 weeks (that's 2 weeks away!) and expects me to go into labor on my own (most likely).

So, we have a little while longer until we get to hold our beautiful baby girl, but we are so glad that things are working out this way. Checkout the two new pictures from our 3D ultrasound below :)

Thank you for all your prayers and support.
Love,
Amanda & Family

Caitlin's First Days of Kindergarten

Caitlin’s first day was great!

She didn’t eat all of her breakfast (said her tummy was nervous) but then she started bouncing around the house saying she was happy and excited! As we headed out the door to go to Big Mamma’s house she put on her back pack for the first time and said, “Oh, my neck! Oh, my back! This backpack is sooo heavy, Mom! You have noooo idea how it feels!!!” I had to break the news that it only gets heavier and yes, I do know how it feels!! Oh my goodness, she’s like a 30 year old stuck in a 5 year old body!!

They encourage you to take your child to school the way you will the rest of the year on the first day so we got into Big Mamma’s car and headed to the school…

I took lots of pics on the way and before we left and then we pulled up to the front of the school and a teacher opened the car door and took her hand and led her away to help her to the classroom! I got a picture of them walking away. It was pretty weird watching that.

I'm pretty sure I got all the tears out the night before becuase although I had a lump in my throat when she was led away, I did not cry. I was worried all day about her getting home safely, but I think having Caitlin in Montessori for the last year helped. She learned so much there and was pretty sure of herself about going to Kindergarten. I was sure she was going to have a great time there.

When I got the report that she got picked up safely by Big Mamma (one hour late due to the length of the pickup line due to the fact that there are no more buses in our area due to the economy - another story for another time!) my heart fell back into place and I knew that all would be ok.

The rest of the first week was not so good. She came home to report to me that she was not happy because she was not making friends as fast as she'd like to and thought it would be more like Montessori (not so big) and that she'd know EVERYONE and have had made friends with EVERYONE by end of day 2 (I'm telling you, she's my little social butterfly!)! I was worried but finally sent an email to the teacher on Friday night and got confirmation that she is doing just fine - making friends left and right and, I quote, "she does not seem to know a stranger!" I was so excited to hear that she is really doing ok and I think that she is just trying to get my attention at home. I think she is starting to feel some anxiety about Madison coming into the picture. She's been THE ONE AND ONLY for 5 years and now all of a sudden we are focusing our attention on getting things ready for someone else and she is acting a little differently. I think she will be fine at school and once Madison arrives we will all go through some adjustment period...but I can't wait :)

Here are the pictures of Caitlin's first day at school...

About to leave Big Mamma’s house…Caitlin was very excited. Mommy and Big Mamma were nervous.

Caitlin with her Big Mamma

Riding in the car and waiting in line to drop her off…

Her face says to me says, “Mom, are you sure I should go with this lady??”

The teacher took her by the hand and led her towards the school doors.
She got safely to her classroom and enjoyed the first day with her teacher, Ms. Staff.

This is a note that her teacher had us write and return so that she could read it to our child the first week of school.

Madison's 1st Baby Shower

My coworkers were way too generous! Not only did they outdo themselves on decorations and food, but the gifts have been amazing! Here are a few pictures from the shower they had for me on August 12 at the office. I've also included a few pictures of gifts given to me from coworkers separate from the shower itself.

Also, just as an example of how generous people are, one coworker surprised us with the pack n play we'd registered for at Babies R Us (it arrived on our door step one day)! And a different coworker got us the bouncer, bathtub and a bunch of clothes from GapKids!! Wow!!

We are so blessed!

Our Accounting Department pitched in for the Swing

Our Vice President of Environmental made this afghan during her spare time (she does it as a stress reliever!!)

That diaper cake was handmade by one of the hostesses, my coworker, Teri. Awesome!!!

Precious booties from Mariola

Burp cloth and diaper cover from Mariola

Handmade stained glass "night light" made by my friend/coworker/carpooler, Randy. Amazing!!!!