August 25 - Hungry Hippo

Hello everyone! I am so happy to finally arrive. It was a long, rough journey for both mommy and me, but I made my debut last Monday night and I am so happy to be here! We came home from the hospital Thursday night and I am all settled into my new home. I love my colorful nursery, comfy crib and my furry siblings!

So far, here are my favorite things:
*Swaddling - I love being swaddled, it makes me feel so safe and secure
*Snuggling - I love to snuggle with mommy and daddy
*Sleeping - a girl needs her beauty sleep!
*Hair Washing - I'm not a huge fan of the bath, but I love it when my hair is washed, it is so soothing
*Eating - mmm, it really does a body good. I can't get enough of the milky goodness. Apparently, babies lose 10% of their birth weight and it takes 2 weeks to gain it back, but I already gained 3oz (above my birth weight) just 4 days after I was born (mommy and daddy say this is because I am such a good eater, I'm a hungry little hippo)

Many of you keep asking who I look like. If you look at baby pictures of mommy and daddy, I don't look like either of them. But I think I have mommy's eyes and chin and daddy's nose. Time will tell though! I can say this much, I am super adorable and I promise you will all fall madly in love with me when you meet me (yes, I am that charming!)

XOXO,
Julia Elise

August 18 - Hello, world! My name is Julia!

Here I am!
*Julia Elise
*6 lb 1oz
*19 inches
*9:54pm

This is the first photo ever taken of me. Aren't I a cutie! More to follow as soon as my parents get out of that hospital! I can't wait to go home and settle into my new home.

August 15 - Stand Up, And Cheer with Us, the USA is Fabulous!

Another tired morning after staying up late to watch Olympic coverage. I told myself I would only watch the first 2 women's gymnastics events (which started after 11pm) and catch the rest in the morning, but I couldn't tear myself away! Kudos to everyone, last night the USA rocked the house on multiple fronts!!

• Beach Volleyball-okay, I admit I'm not the hugest beach volleyball fan and I usually fast forward through most of the sets but I actually watched the whole first set last night when May-Treanor/Walsh overcame a deficit to keep their streak alive. Well done chicas!


• Swimming-what can I say, it was simply an amazing night in the cube. Metals for Coughlin (tied for the most metals by a US female swimmer in Olympic history!), Soni (she beat Jones!! major upset!!), Lochte, Peirsol (1-2 in the backstroke!!) and Phelps, Lochte (1-3 in the IM, way to go guys!)


• Gymnastics-of course, as you all know, this my favorite event of the games. I was concerned after the Chinese gymnasts were overscored on the beam (seriously-they each had multiple, noticeable bobbles and WEREN'T PENALIZED!!) but the judges finally got it right on the floor and the American's went 1-2!! Congrats to Liuken and Johnson, they were fantabulous! I was so excited that I didn't sleep for an hour afterward. I also want to congratulate Semenova of Russia, she was great-I think she deserved the bronze metal.

As far as Hot Lips goes...she is a big fan of the Olympics already, especially the gymnastics. She was flipping and somersaulting the entire evening (especially during the floor routines). Tonight, we'll watch more swimming (it will be the toughest race for Phelps, the 100M fly) and start track and field. I'm also psyched for the individual diving events (hopefully we can sneak in a metal, it will be tough, the Chinese really are the best in the world when it comes to diving).

I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon (39.5 week check-up) so I will keep everyone posted!! It is really just a waiting game now...!

August 11 - USA! USA! USA!

If you are like me this morning, you are a tad tired from staying up late to watch the Olympics last night-but man was it worth it! The 4x100M free relay was one of the best races in history! J.D. and I were cheering so loud in the living room that we woke up both dogs from a deep slumber and I thought I might go into labor from all the excitement (no, it didn't happen). Congrats to Phelps, Weber-Gale, Jones and Lezak for showing the "Frenchies" who rules in the pool!

I can't wait for tonights coverage-Phelps will go for his 3rd gold metal in the 200M free and we get to see the men's gymnastics team final. I'm so proud the US team made the final, especially considering that both Hamm's pulled out last minute due to injury. Go Horton and company!

In non-Olympic news, I had my 38.5 week check up on Friday and everything went well. My next appointment is this Friday and then the following Thursday (if I make it that long). The doctor estimates that the baby will be 6lb8oz when she is born, it will be interesting to see how close he is!

Oh-I discovered a new love for Hot Lips-ABBA!!! We had the pleasure of seeing Mamma Mia! this weekend and she loved all the singing and dancing..especially 'Dancing Queen'..she was really jamming when that song came on.

*week 39 'status check' - I'm still feeling fabulous! I've embraced the bump and don't mind showing it off. I guess this is how most women feel in the 2nd trimester. Oh well-I'll take feeling good now for however long it lasts; I know I'll be a sleep deprived mommy soon enough!

August 4 - The Name Game is Closed!

Okay peeps-Friday was the last day to submit name entries and a few of you got them to me just in time. Thank you to everyone who participated. I know some of you couldn't decide on just one name and emailed me multiple names..so while J.D. and I reviewed every name that we received, if you submitted multiple names you aren't officially entered into the contest. Sorry!

Here is a list of the submitted first names:

• Alexis
• Ana/Anna
• Ava
• Ayn
• Bailey
• Bella
• Bonnie
• Chloe
• Cindy
• Harper
• Isabella
• Joy
• Justine
• Layla
• Lily
• Lydia
• Madison
• Molly
• Olivia
• Seven
• Winnie

J.D and I narrowed our list down to two potential names and ONE of those names is listed above. Feel free to guess which name you think it is, but remember, you won't find out the actual name until she arrives!

*I understand that some people may not like every name listed above (hey, they aren't all my favorites) but this is a fun game so if you want to email me comments, please keep it positive!

August 1 - Calm Before the Storm

Okay peeps-so I'm now 8.5months pregnant and I must say that other than back pain when I first get out of bed in the morning (which goes away after being active for about 10min) this is the BEST I have felt since I've been pregnant. I had a doctors appointment yesterday and he said it is definitely unusual to feel so good this late in the game (he said most women are begging to be induced a this point, especially during the humid summer months).

In other news-the carseat is installed, the baby's bag is packed (and in the car) and we've filled out the baby book (as much as we can at this point). The baby's room is officially 100% done (J.D. installed a shelf last weekend and we put up the penguin piggy bank, some picture frames and books) and it looks fantabulous. This weekend, we're planning to have our bags packed and we'll start cooking and freezing dinners.

Oh-and we still haven't formalized a name yet, I guess that is pretty important!!