Pierson's first pictures

Great news - Melissa delivered a healthy, happy baby boy at 11:59 AM on October 9!! Pierson Everette Hall weighed in at 6 lbs. 14 ozs. and measured 20.5 inches. Melissa is an incredible mom already! We did not sleep Wednesday night as we left for the hospital around 12:30 AM, and her patience, composure, and strength during labor and afterwards has been absolutely overwhelming - I could NOT be more proud of her!



Pierson is in great shape - he's passed all of the tests they've given him, and Lord willing, we'll all be headed home Saturday morning. Here are a couple of pictures courtesy of proud new granddad "TP".

So Done...

"

Only 18 days until my due date, only 13 days left of work." This is what I say over and over again in my head these days, espically today. I am done... I currently have 2 pairs of pants and 5 shirts that "fit", 2 pairs of shoes and they are flip flops, I know I slept last night but it couldnt have been that long, and I have asked my doctor to keep my weight to herself! :) I keep telling myself, "My mom had all of her kids 2 weeks early, maybe I will too." Although I am pretty sure it wont happen, it is so nice to dream and think that he could be here this weekend and I could be on my way back to normal! If I am hoping for this I should probably pack the hospital bag and get the car seat installed...might be important! We finished all of our shopping last night and bought out Babies R Us and Target. Now it is just time to start organizing...which leds me to my next topic.

I know nothing, really, I knew that I didnt know anything but really I know nothing. I called my mom to ask if you put baby powder on after diaper changes or baths. Really, how are you supposed to just know these things. She said both...well great, so should I put the baby powder in his room with his changing pad or in the bathroom with his bathtub and other bathtime things?!? Should I go buy another thing of baby powder and have one in both places?? Then there are the bibs, where do you put these since they dont really need them until later, do you just pack them away or do they go in the kitchen, cause that is where I eat and surely he will eat in there at some point, right? Like I said, nothing. And these are just the small things. I have a book that I bought and there is an entire chapter devoted to giving them a bath. I just stopped reading and thought, "I have been bathing for years...surely I can handle this one." Probably not though, this is where a great mom comes in. She reassured me this weekend that she will help me and teach me and guide me, and told me that I didnt have to read anymore books...I love her, seriously, how great is that!

I go back to the doctor on Friday and I am hoping for some progress! Pray with me...please! :)

Full Term and a Doctors Appt.

Well we have made it. I am technically full term and if I was to go into labor at this point they wouldn't do anything to stop it. I went to the doctor this morning and was told "there isnt much going on." So Pierson will probably make his debut around his due date, which is fine with me...we still have some things to do! This week will consist of purchasing the things that we still need and packing our bags for the hospital. 3 weeks and counting...

The Last Few Weeks

Well, once again we have been super busy but it has been so much fun!

1. A few weeks ago Nate and I got to spend the weekend away at the Gaylord Texan. He won 2 free nights at work and it was so wonderful! We slept in until 9:20 on Saturday morning August the 9th and marked it as the last time for a long time to come! So wonderful! The weekend basically consisted of sleeping, eating, and a little shopping...right up my alley.

The view from our room.

A random picture before dinner - 30 weeks!

2. We went to College Station to see Nate's grandfather (his birthday weekend mentioned before) and got to spend time with our good friends from college, Daniel and Amber. They are due 2 weeks before us so it was really fun to talk baby all weekend. We also got to spend some time with Nate's family and watch the little kids bowl...too cute!

3. We finally have all the nursery furniture so we moved the last of it in, hung his name on the wall, hung the curtains my aunt made, washed some clothes and started organizing. The first load of little man clothes was too cute...so much blue!
4. We have finally "finished" our house. Everything we have been talking about doing for the past year and a half is done. We figured if we didnt do it before Pierson got here we probably wouldnt anytime soon. It feels so nice!

5. Work threw me a WONDERFUL shower and we got our carseat and stroller!!! Are you serious...this is one of the best gifts ever because you can't leave the hospital without having this one! It was so much fun and Nate and I felt so loved by everyone that I work with!

Me and Katie

Really excited...he picked out the stroller!

It was a huge accomplishment for him to put this thing together!

6. My wonderful family and friends threw me a great shower. The invitations were precious, the games and little details so much fun and cute, the food and cake were amazing! I am still eating it! :) They spent so much time thinking of every little thing you can imagine and once again we feel so loved! We got SO many wonderful gifts that we will use and enjoy!

Erin, Sara, Lindsay, Me, Jennifer, Megan, Kellie, and Jana - all the hostesses!

How cute are these!! Nate was obviously excited since he called our child Natron until we decided on Pierson. I think he is still hoping he will get to name one of our children this and I have no doubt that Pierson will be Natron every once and a while!

I go back to the doctor on Friday and I am hoping to find out if we think this child will come early. My feet and ankles can hardly take it anymore! I have some serious cankles! I broke a pair of shoes last week at work. They just couldnt take the pressure anymore! I never thought I would post pictures of my feet but here they are in all their glory!

Check those babies out! Check out how far apart those shoe laces are!

The shoe...I am saving it! :)

Better Late Than Never

S0 last Friday, the 15th was my wonderful husbands birthday. The big 28 years old and his last birthday without being a dad...how crazy is that! We ended up going to College Station to visit his grandfather who hasnt been feeling well so we didnt get to do all the wonderful things I had planned but we are going to try for another weekend. We did however get to hangout with friends we hadnt seen in forever and spend some great time with family.

It is so hard for me to believe that Nate is 28, we celebrated his 19th birthday together...almost 10 years of birthdays together. He is such an amazing husband and there is not a day that goes by that I dont thank God for him. He loves the Lord, works so hard for our family, leads by example in such an amazing way, and loves me more than anything. He tells me everyday how much he loves me and that I am his favorite. He has been so incredible during my pregnancy making sure I know that he still thinks I am beautiful, encourging me and lifing me up when I am down, and more! He is going to be such an amazing dad and I cant wait to see him with Pierson.

Nate, I love you and cant wait to spend 50 more birthdays together!

Big Sister

We may have some jealousy issues come October but isnt she so cute?? We think so!

74 DAYS!!!

So, only 74 days until my due date...are you serious! In some ways I feel like it is around the corner, other days (i.e. when it is 106 degrees outside) I feel like it is forever away! I did decide yesterday that I am fine if he wants to come early! As usual we have been very busy painting and setting up furniture. With lots of help from family (thanks Mom, Aunt Pamm, Tara, Megan, Jay, Jared, Erin, and Sara) we finally finished painting and the crib and hutch are set up! I LOVE IT! I didnt know how I was going to feel about blue walls, since blue isnt really my color, but it is great...so boy! Nate loves it too and he finally has a room in our house that is blue...one of his requests since before we were married...he was very patient!

In the process...lots of tape! :)

And, I guess i will go ahead and post an updated picture of my large and in charge self! Seriously, I felt CUTE pregnant until about 4 weeks ago...now I just feel large pregnant, not so cute anymore. And for those of you who know me well you know it is huge for me to post a picture of myself that is not flattering! Here is the latest pic at 29 weeks...