Kennedy Elise Groves

Kennedy Elise Groves was born at 10:59am on September 30th. She weighed 7lbs 8oz and was 20 inches long. She has a full head of dark hair and resembles her big sister. She has long fingers and toes. She is perfection!!

The nurses said she was a fantastic cuddle bug and one night when she was visiting the nursery for a few hours they played "beauty shop". She got a bath and they tied a bow in her hair. They said she was like "one of the girls".

My heart is just exploding! I couldn't be more in love with these two little girls. Seeing them together is one of the most precious sites. Carli loves her little sister. She squealed with glee when they met and was so sweet and gentle. She just can't get enough of Kennedy....and neither can we!

It's go time!!

Having a scheduled C-section was such a different experience than going into labor. Friday September 30th, we woke up early to be at the hospital at 7:30am. I did my makeup, straightened my hair, and watched Nick eat breakfast ( I couldn't eat after midnight). I decided to sneak into the bedroom to give Carli a kiss and tell her I would see her later that day.


Nick and I were both calm and excited. I was quickly registered and changed into my gown, IV started, and chatting it up with my nurse.

There was an "anxious peace" about going into surgery. In some ways, I felt prepared...I knew what to expect and I was SO excited to meet our girl. I had the best doctors and nurses and I felt a great comfort that my OBGYN, Dr. Keder was delivering. She held my hand through the prep and we made guesses on birth weight and length to distract me while they did my epidural. Before I knew it, Nick was by my side and it was go time!

To me, it seemed to take a little longer for them to deliver. The doctor said that repeat C-sections can often take a little longer because there is some scar tissue. I was also acutely aware of everything going on around me so time seemed to move slow.... But before too long, I felt a ton of pressure and heard that sweet baby sing! Dr. Keder held her up and said that my guess of 6lbs 10oz was a little low. Nick followed the nurses to the side of the room to lay eyes on our girl and I laid there crying tears of joy.

Within minutes he had her in his arms.

Once they put me back together (literally) and moved me to a gurney I got to hold my baby girl for the first time as they wheeled me into the recovery room. I was so blessed to have such a wonderful experience. There was a lot of hesitation to have surgery again and I couldn't have asked for it to go smoother.  Nick and I sat in recovery passing her back and forth...but mostly me holding her and doing skin to skin. We took pictures, called family, and breathed in the sweetness that only a newborn brings. Before too long I could wiggle my toes...the sign that I was ready to move to my room!!

Funny enough I had the EXACT same room I had with Carli 4 years ago....the only room with a view of The Shoe! It is just so appropriate for our September babies!  I later learned that it was one of the largest rooms and designed for Abigail Wexner (of The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center) when she had her baby.

So in love!!

 

39 weeks

I have been off work all week and getting final preparations for our newest family member ready. I am SO glad I decided to take this week for myself and my family. I got an extra free day with Carli and have been able to stock the kitchen with food for when we are at the hospital and catch up on a few DIY things around the house.
To keep myself busy, I started changing our interior door handles. We are slowly getting rid of all the brass in the house. It is amazing what a difference little changes can make. We have A LOT of doors in this house and I am only about half way done...but we love the new look!

 

My doctors appointment this week was quick and easy. I regained the "missing" 2lbs so I have officially gained 16lbs this pregnancy. All my vitals look great and I am set for delivery tomorrow.

I haven't slept well the last few nights and I have had some pretty crazy dreams. I am sure it is a mix of emotions....excitement and fear. I am definitely ready and anxious to meet this special girl.

My mom is here and we have everything ready to go bright and early tomorrow morning! We have to be at the hospital at 7:30am. Carli is VERY excited to finally have sissy arrive and to have mamaw here for a few days. I just can't believe the time is here!

 

 

How far along? 39weeks
Total Weight Gain? 16bs

Maternity Clothes? yes and I am kind of over it.

Stretch Marks? a few that I am hopeful will fade.

Sleep: Have enjoyed a few afternoon naps this week but my nerves are getting the best of me around 3am.

Best moment this week: Extra one on one time with Carli, finally being free from work, and knowing that our baby is coming on Friday!!

Miss anything? nah, it is all worth it!  

Movement: She is really active between 8-9pm.

Food Cravings? Nothing out of the ordinary

Anything make you sick or queasy? heartburn

Gender: GIRL:)

Labor signs: Braxton hicks are frequent but sporadic.

Symptoms: heartburn, lots of pressure, peeing while sneezing, and a big ole' basketball belly!

Belly button in or out?  Almost flush at this point.

Wedding rings on or off? I have been wearing my band all week.

Happy or Moody most of the time:  So very happy!!

Looking forward to: a special little lady's birthday!!

 

38 weeks

Whoa! What a week! If I am being honest, I am a little surprised I have made it to 38 weeks and 1 day. From the very beginning I assumed this little baby would come extra early like her older sister. I think Dr. Keder thought the same because she told me to be ready for a mid-September baby, yet here we sit on September 23rd! I remember Shane saying early on that his prediction was that this baby would come on Carli's original due date....September 24...we will see soon enough!

Baby girl is fully developed and just gaining a little extra baby fat. I was back up 2lbs this week...so I am chalking up lasts week 4lb weight loss to being sick. She is basically the size of a watermelon. I can tell I have "dropped". I definitely feel the extra pressure and can see that bump is carrying a little lower.
I am still trying to recover from the world longest cold but feeling SO much better than last week. Unfortunately, Carli came down with a bug of some sort and was down for a few days this week. We had plenty of cuddles and popsicles and I am happy to report she is back to herself. Now to keep everyone healthy!!

 



This week marked the first day of fall and my last day of work this year! Woohoo!! My awesome team spoiled me with gifts and Schulers donuts. I must admit I have had a little more anxiety about being disconnected from work  than I did 4 years ago but now that the time has come to officially "unplug", I am ready! I know that there is nothing they can't handle and I am ready to focus on my little family for a few months.

 

 

Contractions have been frequent this week but have yet to establish a pattern. I am moving around pretty slow and get tired easily but luckily have been sleeping very well....fewer potty breaks and I feel like I fall into a nice deep sleep. We have everything ready to go for baby time!! Seeing a beautiful, clean bassinet in the house makes my heart skip a beat!

Although SO VERY excited to meet our baby girl and completely over this stage of pregnancy, I am trying to savor these last few days. This might be the last time in my entire life I am pregnant and get to feel the kicks, hiccups, and the overwhelming joy of carrying an unborn baby....so I am taking it all in.

 

We are also hoping to squeeze in a little fall family fun this weekend before we are officially a family of 4. Hayrides, apple cider, and pumpkins might be in our immediate future....never mind the Indian summer. 



 



Full Term-37 weeks!

I realized today that I have never been THIS pregnant! It is sort of a cool feeling to experience something different with this baby. I am so anxious to see when she will be making her big debut!!
I can tell it is getting close and we have had a few eventful days lately that are constantly reminding us.

Nick's boss is apparently a baby psychic and has predicted the date and (almost) the time of the last two babies born on his team. His guess is this Saturday, September 17 around 4pm. We will be watching the clock at that time this weekend. Today is the last time I will see my boss before I go out on LOA and completely unprompted, she says, "I think this baby is coming this weekend". Anxious to see if these two know what they are talking about!

I came down with a head cold earlier this week and have been struggling to sleep, breathe, and eat....not the best situation at this point in pregnancy. On Monday night, I sneezed and thought for a second my water broke! Pretty funny moment because THAT is something that I have never experienced before...luckily (or unluckily) it wasn't my water breaking but regardless, it was a funny (and wet) surprise.

On Wednesday, I decided to stay home from work. I had barely slept and felt awful so a restful day at home just seemed like the smart thing to do. After laying around most of the day, I noticed that baby G wasn't moving around like her regular wiggling self....I called my doctor who said we should head to labor and delivery to get checked out. All was well...she looked perfect on the monitor and all my vital signs were good. I felt a little silly and didn't want to overreact but all the doctors assured me that MOST of the time decreased movement isn't anything....but when it is something, it is a big deal so you always want to get checked out.
Needless to say, we are hoping for a few normal, boring nights.

Callie has always been so great about sharing her Scholastic Book order forms for her class with me so I can order great/cheap books for Carli. The one I got this week said "DUE 9/30" at the top!
I couldn't help but smile and my little reminder!

How far along? 37 weeks

Total Weight Gain? 12bs (down 4lbs from last week...chalking it up to my cold)

Maternity Clothes? yep!

Stretch Marks? lots of lotion daily.

Sleep: Sleep has been horrible this week b/c of this cold.

Best moment this week: Hitting 37 weeks and knowing that baby girl is thriving and doing great.

Miss anything?  Sleep....I guess I should just kiss this one goodbye for a few months.

Movement: Little less this week but all is well in there.

Food Cravings? I had the most delicious strawberry popsicle and can't stop thinking about it.  

Anything make you sick or queasy? Just this awful stuffy nose!

Gender: GIRL:)

Labor signs: Braxton hicks are frequent but sporadic.

Symptoms: heartburn, lots of pressure, peeing while sneezing, and a big ole' basketball belly!

Belly button in or out?  Almost flush at this point.

Wedding rings on or off? I wear whatever slips on easy:)

Happy or Moody most of the time:  Very happy

Looking forward to: a weekend with no plans and only 1 more week of work this year!!!

 

Carli and I were cuddling on the couch and she started telling me about the baby in her belly. I decided to snap a quick selfie of the two little mama's!

 

36 Weeks

Ok, so this baby is going to be here in no more than 20 days!! AHHHH!!

It feels like the last few weeks have just flown by and here we are literally days away from meeting our baby girl. I am having a hard time thinking about anything else these days....that could be because I am carrying a basketball belly and I am getting around at the pace of a 90 year old woman but I think it is more the anticipation and excitement of our newest family member!

We have had a crazy busy week! Our big girl turned 4 and we had an awesome Little Mermaid party, complete with a visit from Ariel. We were all just spent after the party and since Carli has learned to take pictures on my phone, I found these gem later that evening.

We enjoyed a relaxing labor day weekend (post party) and enjoyed a cookout with neighbors, my third massage in 3 weeks, and a little shopping excursion. I think I have an addiction to tiny baby girl clothes!! I couldn't help but reflect on Labor Day 4 years ago....but no real signs of labor this year!

 

 

Because of my "advanced maternal age" I am having a NST (non-stress test) done weekly. They basically hook me up to a machine and I get to listen to baby girl's heartbeat with a fancy clicker that I push every time I feel her move. The tests are going smoothly and I honestly don't mind it. It's a nice relaxing, quiet time for me and baby. Dr. Keder also checked my cervix for the first time this week. I am not dilated at all.... so although things can change very quickly, we are guessing that we still have a little bit of time...but we are ready when she is!!

 



I only have 2 weeks left to wrap up things at work and I am optimistically planning to meal prep and relax the week before baby G arrives.
We are in the final days as a family of three. We are all just so excited to meet our little girl and love on her.

Nursery Sneak Peak

The nursery is finished and I love it! It is so bright and fresh. All the baby clothes and blankets are cleaned, folded, and put away. Diapers and wipes are set and ready! All we are waiting for is our sweet girl.

I love the gray furniture. I think the light mint walls really make it pop. 

The chair is so comfy!! I can't wait to read books and rock. Big sis helped fill the toy box with lots of "stuffy's" and baby friendly toys. 

I had a custom mobile made from Etsy. It adds a whimsical feel to her room and is just so sweet hanging over her crib. 

Hello September!!!

Our baby is arriving this month!!! I love September!! Such a celebration in our house.

At 35 weeks, baby is practicing breathing and has just about reached her length. She will keep putting on the weight over these last few weeks.

I am now visiting the doctor on a weekly basis and will start the non-stress test next week. Her heartbeat is still falling in the 140's and she is measuring right on track.

I am still in nesting mode...but hiring out a lot of the "help". This past week, we had our air ducts cleaned out so we could all breath fresher, cleaner air. It had never been done so it was pretty gross!
I also had my car cleaned and detailed. It looks and smells so new and clean. We should probably think about installing the base of the car seat soon. I finished packing my hospital bag too!!

To prepare for the big day, I have also filed my claim for maternity leave with work, scheduled our newborn photo session, and we took Carli to her new school to meet the teachers and see the classroom. She is very excited to start next week!

It is clear that I need to SLOW down though. On Tuesday night, I was outside watering the plants and took a little spill walking up the porch steps. Somehow I tripped over my sandal and fell. I skinned both knees and went face first into the front door. My cheekbone is tender but no visible bruise. I was soaking wet...because I was carrying a full watering can.
Luckily, I am fine...but it could have been much worse and I have been extra sore the last few days.

We are very excited about the long Labor Day weekend ahead. We have a very special birthday to celebrate, I have a third prenatal massage scheduled, and we are looking forward to some laid back family time in the cooler temperatures. I can't help but reflect on 4 years ago when Labor Day weekend turned into REAL Labor Day!! My how the time has flew by!

How far along? 35 weeks

Total Weight Gain? 16lbs

Maternity Clothes? yep!

Stretch Marks? few light ones.

Sleep: I have been sleeping pretty well. Few early mornings of insomnia. Just my body preparing for midnight feedings. 

Best moment this week: Carli counting down to her 4th bday. She is so excited! It's super cute!

Miss anything?  I am ready for a glass of wine! 

Movement: Everyday...rolls and wiggles. 

Food Cravings? Apples and peanut butter, grapes, frosty's. 

Anything make you sick or queasy? No, feeling good! 

Gender: GIRL:)

Labor signs: Braxton hicks is the only thing

Symptoms: lots of pressure, some heartburn,swollen ankles, lots of potty breaks

Belly button in or out? Still in

Wedding rings on or off? I wear whatever slips on easy:)

Happy or Moody most of the time:  Oh so happy! 

Looking forward to: A long weekend, Carli's mermaid party, and beautiful (cooler) weather!

34 weeks

AHHHH.....35 days to go!!

I can tell my body is gearing up for this baby to come. I have had some serious contractions this week. They haven't been a coming in a pattern but have lasted several hours. The doctor says the rule of thumb is more than 4 in an hour and give them a call.  I am resting when I can and trying to slow down these last few weeks.

Baby girl is probably about 5lbs at this point. Her kicks and jabs are more like rolls at this point and she is clearly a little cramped! Her fingernails have reached the end of her tiny fingertips and she is getting heavier each week.

More progress on the nursery as we finally have everything on the walls and I LOVE it. Everything is clean and ready for baby. 

We have been so busy with doctor appointments the last few weeks. I am now going weekly and we have Carli's 4 year check up and first dentist appointment too. I know it's best to get all of this taken care of before we have a newborn but phew....it's a lot! 

Carli did a fantastic job at the dentist. Dr. JoJo was great and our girl was so brave. 

She We are so excited about this baby! Carli talks about "sissy" all the time and loves to tell people that she will be here soon. Some of her most recent name suggestions are Bella, Margret, and Sara. 

Baby girl's "take home" outfit has arrived but I can't show anyone b/c her name is on it....secrets are so hard!! 

We have also already been talking about Halloween....sorry kiddo, mommy is a planner!! Since Carli has decided to be Elsa from Frozen...we are thinking of having a little Olaf too! So cute!!

We are looking forward to spending this weekend together as a family and getting a few loose ends tied up so we can celebrate big sister turning 4 years old in 9 days!! 

33 weeks

I have been exhausted this week. The third trimester finally hit me like a ton of bricks! I am walking slower, finding it harder to get comfortable when sitting, and I pee at least 100 times a day.
I have had more and more Braxton Hicks contractions lately.  I can feel her jabs, kicks, and pokes and some are so uncomfortable. I had my first prenatal massage on Sunday and it was lovely. She was able to really focus on a few areas that were really sore...90 minutes of bliss! I may try to squeeze one more in over the next few weeks.


This week baby girl is the size of a regulation football. Carli and Nick both helped with the artwork for our chalkboard.

Instead of calling it a football, she called it a Buckeye...we did not correct her:)

I have washed the car seat, swing, and "miracle" covers as well as two loads of baby clothes.

Sorting by size....what a job!

A delicious snack and a built in table top!!

How far along? 33 weeks

Total Weight Gain? 15lbs at the doctor today.

Maternity Clothes? yep!

Stretch Marks? few light ones.

Sleep: It's hit or miss....some nights are just better than others.

Best moment this week: A super fun block party, a relaxing massage, and a great doctors appointment.

Miss anything?  Missing some of my pre-pregnancy clothes.

Movement: Oh yes! We like watching her move from the outside.

Food Cravings? Still not eating big meals....I have a hard time deciding what I want to eat.  

Anything make you sick or queasy? I was a little woozy after having blood drawn this morning but overall, no!

Gender: GIRL:)

Labor signs: More frequent Braxton Hicks

Symptoms: lots of pressure, some heartburn, some swelling at the end of the day, lots of potty breaks

Belly button in or out? in...but getting shallow.

Wedding rings on or off? Resorted to just a wedding band. My engagement ring is too small.

Happy or Moody most of the time:  Happy!!!

Looking forward to: A little "me" time this weekend and finishing touches on the nursery.

I only have about 20 days left of work and 42 days until she will arrive! I am getting SO excited to meet our sweet baby!

32 weeks!

We are so lucky that we got one last sneak peak at our girl this morning. Carli attended the ultrasound with us. She was very excited!! Walking out the door she had her milk, sunglasses, and baby doll. I told her she looked like a little mommy. She said, "I am a mommy".

Photobombed by Dayton!

The ultrasound went perfect. They checked all the major organs and everything looked great. They also measured her bones, belly, and head... as well as the fluid around her. The doctors are guessing she is about 4lbs 9oz which puts her in the 66th percentile for 32 weeks. He said anything between 10-90% is where they want to be. They also like to see fluid level over 5 and I was at 13. I just feel so blessed to be having such a successful, healthy pregnancy and I can't wait to meet our girl! I think she may be larger than Carli was but still a little peanut.

Sweet little profile  :)

Look at those lips and nose...and the cheeks!! {swoon}





We have decided to go with the C-section for delivery. It really is the safest option for baby and me. I don't look forward to the surgery piece or the recovery but everyone tells me it will be an easier road since I won't have labored first. Let's hope that is true!!

So with that said....our girl will be here 7 weeks from today! I still have a little feeling that she may arrive on her own before that and if that is the case, we will still move forward with a C-section.

We are definitely in the home stretch and time is NOT slowing down. No rest for the pregnant weary!

We are in full "back to school" mode with doctor check ups and dentist appts, registration, and meet the teacher day. Work is busier than ever for Nick and I. His office is relocating to Grandview in 2 months and we are not only rolling out a new technology with my team but I am trying to prepare for 3 months off.  YIKES!! Oh, and last minute baby prep....but we wouldn't change a thing! We are over the moon and loving our little crazy life!

We have been busy!!

Only 50 days to go!!!! Baby girl is continuing to pack on the pounds. She could be close to 4lbs but we will have a really good idea of her size on Friday at our growth ultrasound. She is getting ready to make her debut and is practicing all kinds of important baby skills....swallowing, sucking, and kicking. She is now able to suck her thumb.
I have had a few more Braxton Hicks contractions this week. I haven't noticed a pattern and they aren't close together but my body has started "rehearsing" for the big day!  It is getting harder and harder to get off the floor...or even from the corner of the couch. So much for trying to look graceful.
Overall, I am feeling pretty good....definitely tired at the end of the day but I really can't complain. I have had a pretty perfect pregnancy so far!


Last week we attended a Sibling's Class at OSU Medical Center. Nick and I really thought it was beneficial for Carli and she paid close attention. They showed a quick video about what to expect from our new baby. For instance, she will cry a lot, she won't be able to play right away, and we have to be sure to keep small toys picked up once she starts crawling. Then the best part....Carli got to change a "baby's" diaper, dress and swaddle her. It was really cute! The nurse made a comment about what a great job she was doing and Carli spoke up and said, "I have a lot of baby dolls at home so I practice." We also got to see the rooms that I will be staying in once the baby comes as well the nursery. She loved when they held a little 7lb newborn baby up to the window. She was really engaged and asked questions about the room and hospital. We were proud of her for speaking up in a room full of strangers.

Big sister had a great time!! We were quickly reminded how little she still is when she asked daddy to carry her to the parking garage.

 We also attended a surprise party for Kelli over the weekend. Kelli and Mike were in New Orleans over her birthday so it was a few weeks late....but I think that made the surprise even better!

I have always planned to take monthly update pictures of this baby for the first year with a stuffed animal and I found these adorable socks that she can wear for her pictures. I think Nick is going to pick out a special "stuffy" for the picture too!

We have been loving fresh fruit and veggies from the farmers market all week. Carli is on a serious peach loving kick! We grilled out with the Seymour's Sunday night and devoured delicious cucumbers and sweet corn!! Another bonus of being pregnant in the summertime!

31 weeks and the size of a pineapple!

Our baby girls is measuring about 18 inches long, so she is almost to her birth length. This is a rapid time for weight gain as she will probably nearly double in weight over the next 8 weeks or so. She is the size of a full pineapple.
I have found it more difficult to move around lately. Getting off the couch, out of bed, off the floor are all challenging. My ankles have started to have some swelling towards the end of the day so it may be almost time to retire the high heels...what a sad day. And painting my own toe nails is out of the question! ha!


We have made major progress on the nursery and I LOVE the way it is coming together. Here is a sneak peak....still needs a few finishing touches.

We went to a Columbus Clippers game this week with our neighbors and the kids had a blast! We all had too many hotdogs and too much cotton candy! We are so lucky to have such great people around us that our kids will grow up with.

We have been busy crossing things off thatTO DO list:

-stock up on diapers

-purchase the sit and stand stroller

-Pre-register at the hospital

-Spray paint the book shelf for the nursery and hang (hoping to hang this weekend)

-Complete maternity leave paperwork for work

-Dig out and sterilize bottles

-Wash new (and old) baby clothes

-Wash covers for swing and rock-and-play

-Pack bag  (still seems early but this is something that didn't get done until after my water broke 4   years ago so I thought I would be a little more prepared this time).

-Install car seat (also didn't happen until after baby arrived before....ha!)

And a few more things....

-finish planning Carli's 4th bday party

-book prenatal massage...as suggested by my doctor

-paint front door (because why not?)

-Finishing touches on nursery

How far along? 31 weeks

Total Weight Gain? 12lbs at the doctor today. I was down 2lbs from my last appt.

Maternity Clothes? yep!

Stretch Marks? few light ones.

Sleep: I have been sleeping a little better this week. Still 3-5 potty breaks though. I hope it continues.

Best moment this week: Having a great doctors appt this morning, a fun night at the Clippers game, and getting the rocker for the room!

Miss anything?  This 90 degree weather has me wanting a Summer Shandy!

Movement:  I love to feel her move! The doctor said today when she was listening to the heartbeat that it sounds like a "happy baby"

Food Cravings? Not much of an appetite. I could go for a juicy peach right now. 

Anything make you sick or queasy? No

Gender: GIRL:)

Labor signs: I had back spasms yesterday and was a little nervous at first but turns out it was more tight muscles than any kind of labor sign.

Symptoms: slight ankle swelling, sporadic heartburn, back pain and lots of pressure.  

Belly button in or out? in...but getting shallow.

Wedding rings on or off? It really depends on the day. I can still get some rings on but not always my wedding rings.

Happy or Moody most of the time:  Oh, so happy!

Looking forward to: Sibling class at OSU this weekend and wedding dress shopping with Megan!