March Update

Here are some pics and events in the Mitchell's lives over the past few weeks:

A childhood friend Kendra Clark got married...WAHOO!! Doesn't she look like a princess?!?
















Our garage flooded from a downpour after church one Sunday:














My mom and sister hosted a baby shower for me at our house...here are some pics of the set up:














Joe got to figure out a car seat (THANKS MARIAN!!!!!)














AND...we finally did some more work on the nursery!!















I'll post pictures from my wonderful shower with girls from Sunday School as soon as I get the pictures on a CD...and watch for doctor update next Monday...my sister (Sara) and I both go to the doctors...so we'll have lots to tell!!

Love you all!!

Starting the 8th Month

It's getting awfully snug in there! Your baby weighs almost 4 pounds and is almost 17 inches long. You're gaining a pound a week now, and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, he'll gain a third to half of his birth weight during the next seven weeks as he fattens up for survival outside the womb. She has tiny toenails now, and her fingernails have grown in, too. Some babies have a head of hair already; others have only peach fuzz. Her skin has turned from red to pink. Your baby has started preparing for life outside the womb by storing iron in its liver.

Lynch Wedding

Well, I've now had 3 weekends in a row of my wedding party getting married. Two weeks ago one of my bridesmaides, Courtnye Collins, married DOCTOR Isaac Lynch. Here are some pictures from the Bridal Luncheon and Rehearsal Dinner. Hope you enjoy...can you find the pregnant lady??

The bride giving Ella a kiss:

Late Night L&D Run

Well, we've officially had our first visit to the hospital sans Doctor's Appointment. On Monday I felt pretty bad. Fairly sure I was having contractions during the day (called Braxton-Hicks) I called the nurse...she said as long as I wasn't having more than 2 an hour then I was okay, but needed to monitor them. The night progressed and started feeling worse. As of Tuesday I felt horrible all over and decided to stay home. Lounged most of the morning to keep from "over working" myself and then met with our "soon-to-be" pediatrician (whom I love, thanks Killingsworths). As of Tuesday night I was near tears bc my lower abdomen hurt so bad, but I kept thinking "it's just pregnancy pains, right?!" (thanks again to Eve for those). So, by 11pm we called the on-call doctor and she said to go to Labor and Delivery and just have them check me out. Well...we did...and we were there till 3am!! Poor Joe, even caught an hour of sleep on the floor!! They hooked me up to all kinds of monitors and did some blood work (and other tests you don't really want to know about). All in all everything is fine. They aren't real sure what was causing the pain and by the time we got settled into the hospital I was actually feeling better (of course, it ALWAYS happens that way). So, one crazy night down, hopefully no more for a while. They released us, gave me an Ambien (which is an amazing drug by the way) and ushered us off into the night. Took it REALLY easy yesterday and back at my temporary job today at the Dallas Museum of Art.

I kept thinking...I remember saying that I was ready for her to come out...but after Tuesday night I know God needs to work on us a few more weeks before she's ready. Just pray for health and sanity in these next 8 weeks...I'm so excited to see what God will do in all of our lives once our little "Hope" is here!!

Will also post pictures from the Courtnye/Issac wedding as soon as I have some...Ella was trying to steal the show (and did steal a couple of the shots!!).

Love you all,
Andrea and Joe

Doc Appt/Page Wedding

Well...according to the doctor today we are at 30 weeks and 2 days...I think that's a day ahead of where I thought we were...so maybe we are "due" on the 14th instead of the 15th...who knows...and you put the due in " " because it's only an estimated due date...wouldn't it be nice if she came a little early (insert prayers here) so that she could be around for Mother's Day (and Mrs. Meredith's birthday!!).

Anyway...the doctor today was a different one because we have to meet with each one in the office in case they are on call when she decides to come (again, prayer that it's a little early). I really like ALL the doctors in the practice. I go back on the 24th to meet with my doctor, Dr. Oliver, and then I think we'll be at 33/34 weeks and then we'll start going EVERY week!!

Oh, my sister is having a boy...for those of you who don't know...she is due July 21st and my poor mother might need more prayers than all of us...hormones are running rampant...yeah, you might want to say a couple for Joe as well (husbands put up with a lot during pregnancy, not as much as the pregnant lady, but a lot).

Ella and I stood up for our friends Becky and Russ last weekend as they got married (picture attached) and get to attend another wedding next weekend for Courtnye and Isaac...and then one the following weekend for Kendra and Bill...this baby is going to have weddings down!! She's practically an honorary attendant at all of them!

So, we are doing well...pregnancy is great for so many reasons...just don't ask me what they are at the moment.

We did attend Pediatric Life Support last night so now if she chokes or has breathing problems we know what to do...don't think this made me feel any better...I'm now more terrified than I have been. I just can't believe how much you have to think about and watch for...the lady kept saying "you have to change your way of thinking"...no wonder moms become paranoid!! So, if you come over to our house be prepared...it will be baby-proofed VERY shortly!!

Love you all and thank you for the prayers!!

Andrea, Joe, and Ella

Just an update...

Well, I go to the doctor tomorrow...but I thought I'd give an update today...exactly 10 weeks left from today (till the "estimated" due date)...that's 70 days and I'm not sure I'll make it!!

Here is what's going on with Ella:
Your baby's a bit more than 15 1/2 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds. A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and fills out your uterus. Her eyes open and close, she's able to distinguish between light and dark, and she can even follow a light source back and forth. Once she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have a visual acuity of only 20/400 — which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. ("Normal" vision in adults is 20/20.)
The fetus is packing on the weight now! In the last two weeks, she’s gained almost 12 ounces. She’s a wrinkled little thing, but getting more "baby-like" by the day.


She's kicking up a STORM and you can even watch it sometimes. I think Abby has tried to feel her kick the most, but she gets shy when you put your hand on the belly!! It's so much fun, but I'm ready to count fingers and toes!!