EMMA DAWN MERKLEY

Hello family and friends. This is just a brief post to let you all know that she is finally here! Emma Dawn Merkley was born on October 30, 2008 at 4:29P.M. Emma weighed 7lbs. 6oz. and was 19 inches long. Megan was a champ and went without any form of pain killer! I was so proud of her! The labor only lasted about an hour and a half! With just three pushes....Emma joined our little family. Both mamma and baby are doing GREAT! ! ! It was a good day! More to come.

Around the corner

According to my doctor this morning... labor is right around the corner. I am 4 cm and 100% so any day now! And the best news... I don't have to be on bedrest anymore! This is most exciting because I am sure I will have more energy. I swear, the more you lay around the more exhausted you feel! So, we are really excited and hope something happens within the next couple of days.

On another note, there is a population explosion going on! I counted the other day and realized that there are TWELVE pregnant ladies (including myself) in my immediate circle of family and friends. Holy cow! That is alot! I don't want to out anybody that might not have made a public announcement, but you know who you are so CONGRATULATIONS! And if you haven't made an announcement, I encourage you to do so when the time is right. I am certain there are more preggies out there ;).

So I haven't blogged this week because, let's be honest, there has not been much worth blogging about. I have pretty much just taught Noah how to be a couch potato. Last Wednesday, we both woke up with a nasty cold, which has yet to leave us. We have just spent our time reading stories, watching movies and tv. Not too much going on!

Pregnancy update: Friday I went to the hospital for my ultrasound and AFI screening. The fluid levels were back up to a 9... just one point into the 'normal' range, so the bedrest worked! Baby looked great so they sent me home. I had my 37 week checkup yesterday and again, baby looked great. I have not progressed at all, despite the contractions that have come because of a coughing or sneezing fit. So, I go back for another AFI tomorrow and a baby will come if the fluid levels are in the 6 range. Wish us luck! We'll keep you posted....

Tuesday

I must say that being on bedrest really doesn't have any perks. Hope beyond hope that it never happens to you. That being said, I am blogging again today to give myself something to do!!! I am taking advantage of the tag from Melissa (who tagged everyone who read her husband tag).

Steven Luke Merkley

(This is a wig that Luke has insisted on keeping around, despite my protests... so I made him wear it one day. Ooooh, HOT!)

* Where did you meet? At my home in Park City in the kitchen. It was sometime in February of 2005. Luke is happy to tell anyone and everyone that I was not very nice on this first occasion. But it wasn’t that I wasn’t nice… I was just indifferent, (I had some personal issues at the time). When I met him the second time in June at my brother’s house, I was very smitten and found reasons to stop by just so I could see him again.

* How long did you date? 8 and half months from our first date, July 1, 2005.

*How long have you been married? 2 years and about 8 months.

* What's your favorite feature of his? His blue, blue eyes, his height and his Merkley thickness. Noah has the same thickness… no scrawny boys for me!

* What's your favorite quality of his? He is very outgoing… polar opposites from me. He has a willingness to talk to anyone and everyone, even though it sometimes embarrasses me and his enthusiasm.

* Does he have a nickname for you? Hunny and some I won’t mention.

* What's his favorite color? Red and camo if you consider camo an actual color.

* What's his favorite food? He is definitely a steak and potatoes man, but loves his sushi too!

* What's his favorite sport? Hunting is a sport to Luke. If I had to pick a traditional sport it would probably be baseball but he hasn’t played in years.

* When and where was your first kiss? It was about a week after our first date at my house. Luke would say that it was a little longer than that, but it wasn’t.

* What's your favorite thing to do as a couple? Being outdoors, or taking a drive.

* Where is his favorite vacation spot? Really, not so sure on this one. There are lots of places that he would like to go or go back to… but of the places that we have been together, I would say Jackson Hole.

* Do you have any children? We are lucky to have one amazing little boy and a little girl on the way!

* How old is he? 27

* Who said I love you first & where? Luke said it first and I had no hesitations about saying it right back.

* What's his favorite type of music? Country, country, country.

* What do you admire most about him? His ability to be easy going and his knowledge about the gospel. Actually, his knowledge about everything! He is smart and doesn’t give himself credit for it. He is also very interested in current events and is so well informed in what is going on in the world around him. It is very admirable that he cares.

* Do you think he'll read this? Yep. He likes checking the blog and actually reminds me to update if he thinks it has been too long. And also, I forewarned him… and he wasn’t too happy. Oh well!

Noah's drawing

Noah took a really late nap on Sunday the 5th. He wasn't ready to go to bed, but I was, so I let him sit up on the bed with me and read stories. He quickly spotted the hotel pad and pen sitting on the night table and got to work! We have tried using crayons and paper before, but he wasn't so interested, so it surprised me when he clicked the pen and started drawing all over the paper. He looked rather studious and focused, so I tried to get a picture of him "at work" instead of looking at me, but it didn't work out too well. He doesn't look to pleased that I interrupted him though...

Here is one of his drawings. I am quite proud of it. And I guess if you need a place to stay in Park City you can refer to the phone number at the bottom! Just kidding, come stay with us!

Our Conference Weekend

Now that I am sitting around doing nothing... I finally have the time to post our pictures of our fun filled Conference Weekend! One of the perks of my mom's job is that she got to take us all to a deluxe home in Silver Lake Village over Conference weekend. We had alot of fun enjoying the huge house with all the perks... king size bed, jetted tub, steam shower, pool table and time with family. Plus, we got to watch conference. I loved all the messages about keeping up hope and having faith, especially in these troubled times.

This is the view from the front of the house. I thought it was pretty...
Noah, who loves to be read to, took a book right over to my aunt Claudia and climbed up on her lap.
Noah trying to get Grandpa to play with him while conference was on. He wasn't too successful... I think Grandpa just gave him a pat on the head. Practicing walking... hasn't done us too much good so far.
Noah didn't know what to make of the oversized tub at first, but soon loved it!

The latest...

So, yesterday I went for my first appt. for the baby to be monitored and fluid levels checked. Alas, the fluid had dropped yet again, but baby is doing great! The fluid is now at 7 cm. and "they" are okay with that... but it was still significant enough to send me to L&D to see if they could figure out why.

Went downstairs to L&D to have more tests done. The nurse couldn't find any leakage but discovered that I am already progressed (3.5 cm and 70%) which was kind of a surprise since I'm only 35.5 weeks. But that's what happened with Noah, so not really a surprise! Apparently, my body just likes to get ready early! And that makes labor faster and easier for me, especially since I prefer non-medicated (don't freak out if you didn't already know that).

Anyway, between the low fluid, the progress and only being 35 weeks, my doc decided to put me on 100% bedrest. In the words of the nurse, "You are allowed to pee and get rid of body odor. No making dinner and find a babysitter for your cute little one." So here I am on my first day of bedrest, already bored out of my mind and posting just for something to do! Many thanks to those who are already helping and have offered to help with food and Noah. Poor little guy isn't going to realize what hit him. And I just have to sit around and do a whole lot of nothing. It is so hard when there are things to be done! Oh well, I guess I should try to enjoy the time of rest while I have it! I have to go back to the hospital next Friday for more tests and if the fluid has dropped anymore, I will for sure be induced. That is, if I don't have the baby on my own before then!

Getting ready for baby

At my monthly appt. last week, my doctor felt like I hadn't grown enough and sent me for an ultrasound to check the size and condition of the baby. I had my ultrasound yesterday morning and am happy to report that our little girl is right on track at a whopping 6 lbs. 3 oz. already! She is just fine but my fluid is a too low and the doctor recommend lots and lots of rest. I am supposed to rest every time Noah does and more if I can fit it in! Who has time to rest that much? I will be monitored weekly now and will have to be induced if the fluid levels drop anymore. So... feeling a little like it's time to pack my bags and get things ready!

Time sure flies when you are having fun! I can't believe it is time already for our little girl to join us. I, at the very least, wanted Noah to be walking by the time the baby was born, but he doesn't care too much for it. He took about three steps this morning, and we haven't been able to get a repeat performance since. Noah is expanding his vocabulary, though! He has started saying a couple of more words like duck, stairs, "no, no, no" and "all done!" It is very cute to hear him saying all done when he is finished with a meal or the bath. Let's hope that we can get him walking before the little one arrives. In the meantime, I will be sewing like crazy to finish up her receiving blankets and nightgowns and moving some furniture around to make room for her cradle in our bedroom.

We will keep you all posted if anything changes and we get sent to the hospital. I wonder what it's like to actually go into labor by myself! :)

A great week with Noah!

All weeks are great with Noah, but he has been especially cute this week! He usually wakes up in the morning or from naps crying and this week, has just been chatting to himself instead. He is learning to entertain himself when he wakes up! He has been so loving and happy all the time. Noah wants to give a hug to everyone (see above). He loves giving kisses to Daddy, too! The other night, he kept kissing Luke all over the face... it was very funny. I just had to share these adorable pictures of our darling little boy...

Noah and Daddy enjoying a Curious George book. I was right there, but Noah wanted his Daddy to read it to him.

Noah's makeshift chair. This is our dustpan, actually. Whenever Noah sees it, he puts it on the floor and gets all situated as if it really was his chair. Most of the time, by the time I grab the camera, he has moved but he held still long enough this time!

Noah reading a story in his rocking chair. He climbs up in this all the time and reads stories to himself. It is very fun to watch.