Emily Morgan Mayo

Born February 17, 2011 at 3:19 p.m.

6 lbs 13 oz, 19.75 in

Absolutely beautiful!

Um, Hello? Emily? It's time!

Well, I definitely though I would have a photo of Emily Morgan to post by now, but apparently this is just the beginning of the surprises she will bring along with her. Instead I have posted some photos that a friend of mine from church took of us to help us remember this special time.

Thank you Mary Beth!!

We are still going to the dr every week and this past Monday he said that if I haven't come in to deliver by my appointment next Monday, he will just keep me overnight and induce early Tuesday morning, February 22. So I guess that is the plan - worst case scenario we will meet her sometime Tuesday, best case scenario - ANY DAY BEFORE THAT!! Obviously prayers for Emily deciding to cooperate the sooner the better are greatly appreciated. I do know that it is all in God's time and that is the only timeframe we want to be in, it's still hard to genuinely be patient. (any of you that know me know that patience is NOT one of my stronger virtues. However, I've got being stubborn in the bag, so I guess you get out what you put in, right? I am sure my mother is just looking down and getting a good laugh right about now.)

I just wanted to give you all one last update (hopefully) before Emily arrives. I will do the best I can to get photos up when she gets here as well as try to keep you all updated on her progress. Please continue to keep us in your thoughts & prayers.

Love,

Sarah

HOLY SMOKES - IT'S FEBRUARY!!

Do you know how many times Jason and I have said, "I can't believe we are going to have a baby in February!" The last 9+ months have been such an amazing time in our lives and in our marriage as we have been trying to anticipate how Emily Morgan's "birth-day" will unfold. To say that we are excited is just silly. We are absolutely beside ourselves, seriously. We feel like we are just operating in limbo as we wait out these last few days before we finally get to see the face of this miracle that has been growing inside me.

We are now on a schedule of going to see the dr every Monday for a check-up. Things have continued to progress just as they should. I weighed 151.8 yesterday and that is a total weight gain of 30 pounds. However that is FOUR POUNDS more than what I weighed just one week before. I am pretty sure that can be accounted for by the 2 lbs of fluid that has collected around the area where each of my ankles used to be located :) My dr says Emily is about 6.5 pounds right now, she is still head down...like really down, dr says she has dropped and it could be any day now. His actual words were, "I'm expecting her to come in the next week or so" - OR SO? That's like saying add a 'dash' of sugar, or 'some' water when you are trying to follow a recipe...really?! ugh! CAN'T TAKE THIS WAITING...GOING CRAZY!!

I feel like I am ready to bust. She feels so big and tight in there, it really is amazing. I do know that I am not that big compared to a lot of pregnant women, but I have to say that I feel huge for me!! I might not ever be completely ready to be a mom, but I am DONE being pregnant. I am just so thankful that it has only been this last month that has been uncomfortable. I have had an absolutely wonderful pregnancy - and even this last month is still not totally unbearable - I'm just way more aware of Emiliy's presence these days.

I am so ready to re-do this blog and take down all of these pictures of Jason & me when we were babies and replace them with the ga-zillion we will take of Emily. Thanks again to all of you that have taken the time to follow our progress and lift us up in your prayers over these last months. We CAN NOT WAIT to introduce her to you all!! So excited!

Until next time...

Normal? Boring?

Yep, that's me. My dr says that everything about my pregnancy is just that...normal and boring. I say WONDERFUL!! You all can keep your opinions about whether or not I'll EVER truly be normal to yourselves :)

Last time I posted, way back in November - I was going to be tested for gestational diabetes at my next dr's visit and well, everything was fine with all of that.

We now go to the dr for a check up every two weeks. That will change to every week in January. My last dr's visit was December 20 and I weighed 146.5 lbs. I have been consistently gaining a pound a week, which is (I am sure you can guess...) normal. At our first appointment in December Emily had already "assumed the position" with her head tucked neatly between my hips and her feet up near my ribs. She is very active...which shouldn't really be a shock to anyone who has ever spent 45 seconds with me. I feel her moving all the time...sometimes, it takes my breath away, literally and figuratively. We haven't had a sonogram to share with you in a while (we might not get another one before she comes) so I have posted an updated belly shot. My goodness she feels SO BIG in there!!

It has been wonderful being pregnant during Thanksgiving & Christmas! Not only have the holidays kept me pre-occupied, but I have gotten to spend time with SO MANY people at such an exciting time in our lives. In November, Jason and I were able to make a long overdue trip to Carolina Beach to see my dad and his wife Janet, as well as my (step) sister and niece. I even got to see my Aunt Beth and Uncle Tony who were kind enough to come down from Greenville for the day to spend some time with us as well. We got to stay in Leland with my bff Corie for a few nights too AND got to spend some time with her mother as well. I told Jason that was the most productive trip I had made to NC ever...we covered a lot of ground.

The second weekend in December, Corie came into town for what I thought was a "routine" visit - but much to my surprise she had somehow managed to successfully coordinate (from North Carolina) a baby shower for me with some of my most favorite people on this entire planet - which was better than I could have ever imagined or expected. Including somehow managing to get another one of my life long best friends, Monica, who lives in NY, to be there - with her 6 month old in tow - for the event. I got a ridiculous amount of stuff, including some very sentimental gifts. So many monogramed pieces as well as practical items. My favorite surprise came from a very dear friend, Jennifer Swatek. She commissioned a friend of hers to paint a precious oil painting for Emily Morgan's room that is a beautiful tribute to my mother, me and Emily (pictured below). Just another reminder of how God has graciously blessed me time and time again with the most wonderful network of friends and family throughout my entire life.

We added a room to our house that we are thrilled with. It's always nice when you get to use the phrase, "exceeded all of our expectations". We love it and it provided us with some much needed breathing room throughout the rest of the house and also allowed us to work on the nursery, which is basically completed, except for a few minor details. Jason & I and are just trying to control our excitement at this point. My excitement of course is shadowed by the curiosity & anticipation of how my labor will go, but I have to say, I am completely confident in my choice to birth at Brookwood with Dr. Huggins. He has been an absolutely wonderful part of this entire pregnancy.

I will do my best to keep you all posted & please continue to keep us in your prayers.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!

God bless you all!

Sarah

We're down to DOUBLE DIGITS...

As of today we are 98 days from our estimated due date, February 12. I haven't posted in a while because other than my belly (and other various areas) getting bigger, not a whole lot has been going on. I mean aside from the whole growing an entire person OUT OF NOTHING thing. Our last dr's visit was October 25th and everything is still progressing just as it should. We are now to the point where they can simply hold a little monitor to my belly and clearly hear Emily Morgan's heartbeat without the whole big sonogram machine. That was a pretty big step. I have gained 19 pounds at the point the picture below was taken and I am still feeling great and just overwhelmed with joy and anticipation. We go back to the dr. on November 22 - our 2 year anniversary (I can't believe it's only been two years). I have to drink some sugary orange drink thing before I go so they can draw blood to detect if I have gestational diabetes or not. I think I am more afraid of the blood/needle thing than I am the results of the test. I have definitely struggled with my sugars so I am interested to get the results. However, I trust God to give me EXACTLY what I can handle so because of that, I have the sweet luxury of not being worried about it in the least. God has been so great to both Jason and I throughout this entire experience blessing us both so much, I have faith He will only continue to do so from here on out. We know that it is only by the grace of God that we are even on this journey together at all and we are so SO thankful to Him for blessing us with such gracious friends and family to share in this with us.

Everything and everyone has been just AMAZING.

Thank you for your thoughts, prayers & support.

Sorry there's not more to share right now, but as always we will keep you posted.

God Bless!

Jason, Sarah & Emily Morgan

It's A Girl!

So today was the big day and we are happy to announce...IT'S A GIRL!! Jason and I will be welcoming Emily Morgan into the world sometime in the beginning of February - official due date 2.12.11. For any of you that don't know, Emily was my mother's name and Morgan is my father's mother's maiden name. Obviously, very sentimental and endearing - especially if you knew either one of the wonderful women they're named after.

The sonogram technician said we couldn't be in better shape. She checked everything from the size of her little head to the blood flow in the umbilical cord. According to the tech...''She is perfect!'' And she said Emily was putting on quite a show for us today too, she definitely has a lot of energy. It's amazing to see how much movement there is inside when all the while I am still only feeling random kicks, and Jason can't feel anything. Based on what we saw this morning though, I think I'll be doubled over in pain if the ninja training going on as Emily gets bigger.

I have gained 15 pounds so far, total. I feel great. My belly feels more cluttered than stuffed at this point but I think I definitely look pregnant. I guess I am moving a little slower these days but I don't care - I love it! I can't believe Jason and Sarah...are having a baby girl...Unbelievable.

Here are two stills from the sonogram we recorded this morning:

''Emily Morgan, Peace Ya'll''

I mean, I know you see that! COME ON!!

That is ridiculous. How funny is that?

Little feet!

These are the sonogram shots:

And this is what I look like today:

We are so thankful to God for the blessing of this baby and give Him all the glory for the miracle that it truly is. I mean, we had a grain of rice 20 weeks ago - how do you even take all that in?

Please keep Emily Morgan in your prayers, as well as Jason & myself.

Thanks for following us this far - we'll keep you posted.

Love and Blessing to all of you.

The Mayos

Jason, Sarah & Emily Morgan

Belly Shots

Ok, so obviously we did not find out the gender of the baby Monday, we actually did not go to the appointment at all. Jason played in Orange Beach on Friday & Saturday night and we had the opportunity to stay Sunday & Monday so we did. I called and spoke to the dr and he said the only purpose for the appointment was to try and find out the gender and there were no other tests that had to be done. So, in the interest of staying at the beach AND also because we have the big ''20-week check everything out from head to toe'' sonogram coming up September 27th, we just decided to pass on the seemingly unnecessary visit.

I am so used to posting my sonograms for you to look at on each blog update, it's weird not to have anything to show you. That being said, now seems like the perfect time to take advantage of all this extra space to unveil the Mayo 'expansion development' occurring around my mid-section. We've been closely monitoring my growth, taking pictures every few days but, it's only been here recently that much of anything has been changing.

Two Saturday's ago (August 21) I believe I felt the ''fluttering'' in my belly I've read so much about. Just like all my books say, it's hard to explain and is very inconsistent, but it is definitely a different sensation than I have ever felt in my belly before. Other than that, I am in my 17th week, I still feel great and Jason and I are so so excited!

I promise to update the blog and let you all know if it is a boy or girl as soon as we leave the dr's office on September 27th! (woo-hoo! soooo excited!)

Thank you so much for following our progress. We love you all and appreciate all of your prayers and support.

MamaMayo

Moving Right Along...

We saw the doctor again on Monday and we couldn't believe the progress Baby Mayo has made over the last month. As you can see, there has been SO much growth and development, and all with little or no indication of such on me physically. I do think it's safe to say I have a small pooch (Although, I can't decide if it's a true baby bump or if I've just given up on sucking in - but either way - something is going on for sure!)

I am now officially in my second trimester (week 13) and I am thrilled to report that I did not have to suffer through any nausea or sickness of any kind. I feel great! The biggest changes I am noticing right now are that I am no longer exhausted all the time, and a little bit of clumsiness is setting in. No weird cravings - except anything I see anyone else eating.

Baby Mayo's heart rate was 153 which is normal and the doctor says all of my vitals and weight gain are right where they should be as well. He said, ''You are just cruising right now.'' It's amazing how much peace that simple statement provided.

We go back August 30 and the doctor says there's a 90% chance we will be able to find out the sex of Baby Mayo on that visit. That is, of course, if he/she is in the mood to cooperate. (I have been telling Jason this whole time that based on our combined personality traits, the one characteristic I know our baby will have is stubbornness.) So we're not making any promises on exactly when we will be able to reveal the gender - but we promise to let you all know as soon as we know.

We did see a little movement again this time, not much but Jason made the observation that the appointment WAS before 11:00 and it IS a Mayo after all, so he/she was probably still asleep.

As always Jason and I appreciate your prayers and we love you all. God could not have blessed us with a better circle of friends and family to surround and support us as we bring our first little one into this world.

Blessings to you all!

MamaMayo

Baby Mayo has buds!

Hello Friends! Today was our second visit to see the doctor and we got another sonogram. Today is the first day of week 10 in our journey. It is so amazing that it really is about the size of a green olive but you can still see so much! We saw a lot of movement, as well as a strong, healthy heartbeat. The heartbeat was 118 at our last visit and is now up to 176 which is normal for this stage of development. They did change our due date to February 12 (from Feb 14) which is just getting Baby Mayo's birthday closer to being on the same day as it's maternal grandfather on Feb 8, or paternal grandmother on Feb 7. Either of which would be thrilled to share their day with our little one. Other than that there isn't too much more to tell. The doctor says that we are moving along just fine and that everything looks good.

I am very low on energy these days which is pretty weird for me - but that is normal in the first trimester also. I have not however suffered from any nausea or morning sickness as of yet and although I am not out of the woods yet, my doctor says that if it hasn't started yet, it probably won't. WOO-HOO!! Praise the Lord for that!

Our next appointment is August 2 and we will have more pics to share with you then, but the big day when we find out if it's a boy or girl won't be until the appointment after that - some time in September.

Thank you again for all of your prayers & for following our story.

MamaMayo

Our First Sonogram

Okay friends, I have decided to do a blog because I don't want to turn my facebook page into Baby Mayo madness. I know that some of my friends, even though they love me, could really care less about getting the play by play of this pregnancy. So, you are more than welcome to follow Baby Mayo via Making Mayos, I just ask that you please bear with me as I am new to this whole blogging thing.

So here we go...

Jason and I had our first official doctor's appointment today and we got a tiny glimpse of Baby Mayo. We found out that I am 6 weeks and 3 days pregnant putting my due date on February 14th - Valentine's Day - it just fits perfectly into the story that has become ''Jason and Sarah''. Baby Mayo is 7mm in size (around the size of one single grain of rice. RICE?! seriously?! It's just so unbelievable!) We were able to see and hear the heartbeat on our little grain of rice and the doctor says that everything looks great! Of course I attached the sonogram image that shows not only Baby Mayo, but the yolk sac as well. (The yolk sac is the first thing that becomes visible inside the gestational sac in an early pregnancy ultrasound. It nourishes the developing baby/embryo until the circulatory system has developed. The yolk sac is visible on a transvaginal ultrasound by about five weeks of gestation, but it ultimately disappears as the baby grows.) Of course I totally copied that from a preggo website - I didn't even know I had a yolk sac until today.

Jason & I are both so excited we can barely control ourselves. I personally have waited my entire life to land this job & pray that I can be half the mother to this child that my own mother was to me so many years ago. I know she is looking down from Heaven smiling through her tears of joy at the wonderful blessing God has so graciously given to us.

Thank you for your prayers and support and I will do my best to keep those of you that are interested in knowing, IN the know. Our next dr's visit is July 12th so unless any major changes arise before then - that will be the next time you will hear from me. God Bless.

MamaMayo