Were having a Baby!

2010-09-23T17:46:00.000-07:00

2010-09-23T17:44:00.000-07:00

More pics of Elijah!

2010-09-23T17:42:00.001-07:00

Elijah's Birth

2010-09-23T16:51:00.000-07:00

It was perfect! I could not have hoped for a better experience. I can't say I want to do it again any time soon, but it was well worth the precious gift received. So here's all the detail...

The doctor told me a few days before I went into labor that I was not dilating and I may have to be induced. To say that I freaked out would be an understatement. This was my worst fear and after all the walking I had been doing I was so disappointed. So I was sad for a day then I decided that it would be ok, I know God had a plan for this birth. So Thursday 9/9, a week before my induction date I woke to a few hard contractions. They stopped so I went to the gym, walked 3 miles but I felt a little off all day. I was not hungry and I just had a feeling that something was happening. I decided to go get acupuncture after my walk hoping that it may get things moving....and it did. At 5pm contractions started. Not little contractions, but hard need to breath through and bend over contractions. I was making Jerome a special dinner that night which I was determined to finish so I just cooked through the pain. I kept thinking "there is no way I am actually in labor right now". Jerome got home at 7pm and by then contractions were 7 minutes apart and getting stronger. At this point, I knew I was in labor. Our plan was to labor at home for as long as possible, so we ate dinner and Jerome cleaned the kitchen. Jerome was the best coach ever. He helped me try different positions, laying on the couch, the birth ball. I finally got in bed and just focused on breathing. At 11pm, we decided it was time to go since my contractions we 2-3 minutes apart. I don't even remember the drive to the hospital! We got to the hospital a little before midnight the nurse checked me and said "Wow you are already 7 cm dilated". I looked at Jerome and totally started crying. I guess I just could not believe this baby was actually coming! Jerome got on the phone and started calling everyone. Before I knew it everyone was there. It was awesome to have so much support. Melissa and Jerome walked the halls with me. Jerome helped to to remember to breath and through each contraction he massaged my back. An hour later I was at 8cm and got in the shower to relieve some pressure. When I got out I was having that feeling everyone says you have when its time to push, like you need to use the bathroom. I told Jerome to get the nurse. And sure enough, I was 10cm.

Crazy!! That moment was so exciting but so scary. The realization that we were about to meet our child was overwhelming. I think I finally asked for the epidural at this time, but did not end up getting it.With help from my Mom, sister, Jerome, Melissa and Jerome's Mom I pushed for an hour. Nothing can prepare you for the intense emotion you feel during this time. Extreme exhaustion, excitement, fear but the moment Elijah was out and they laid him on me, literally every thought and emotion left me. I was completely speechless, just looking at this little person. Finally they said It's a boy and I looked up at Jerome and saw a proud father looking down at his son. That was the best moment! After they stitched me all up, the rest of the family came in. My Dad, brother, sister Christine and Jerome's step mom Elizabeth. It was such a blessing to have everyone there as my Dad prayed over Elijah for the first time. It was an amazing experience and it feels even more amazing to be a Mom. Tomorrow Elijah will be 2 weeks old and its been a busy 2 weeks, filled with so many emotions. There have been some overwhelming moments but when I look at Elijah's little face all I feel is the most intense love. Thank you Lord for this gift!

40 WEEKS!!!

2010-09-05T15:47:00.000-07:00

Baby Manos is due today September 5th!! We have finally reached week 40. Within a week (hopefully) I will be holding a little baby in my arms. I spent the morning celebrating my Mom's birthday. We went to brunch at Mimi's Cafe in Dublin and enjoyed some family time. Family time in the Edwards pack means someone is most likely being teased or being sarcastic. I think my brother was on the receiving end of the teasing today, but he was also dishing out the sarcasm as well. I am so proud of the Man he has become!! It seems like just yesterday when he was just that annoying little brother and now he is so mature and respectful and has been blessed with the sweetest woman in his life. Its a pleasure to spend time with both Justin and Christine! Although, I could do without the weird/scary iPhone pictures they have:) The sweet little hostess tried to seat us at a booth, and I took one look at it and said "Ummm I don't think I can get my belly in there, I will need a chair". Welcome to full term pregnancy!! This belly gets in the way of everything. Its really strange to even hug my hubby because there is a basketball in between us. I am feeling great and have been enjoying maternity leave. I have been walking every day and its been so awesome to be home to make dinner for Jerome. Normally I would not get home until 6:30 or 7pm, so its been a treat to spoil Jerome a bit before the baby arrives. After all the waiting I just can't believe the day has finally arrived. Its so hard to wait!! I just want to meet this little baby and kiss it all over. I am so thankful to have had such a great pregnancy. I never had any major issue and the baby is healthy! Now all I need is a quick and painless labor:)

Finally..The Nusery is done!

2010-08-23T20:03:00.000-07:00

Yes, the nursery is finally done. It makes everything so real. Jerome did a wonderful job painting the room a light beige and putting the furniture together. We can't wait for the baby to get here and add some gender appropriate touches to the walls. The room is so relaxing and I am looking forward to sitting in the rocker with little Jordynn or Elijah and making lots of memories. Thanks to all for everything you have given us for the baby. From furniture to clothes to books and everything in between, Jerome and I can't believe how blessed we've been. You have all had a part in getting this little room ready and stocked full of the necessities. When we first found out we were having a baby I felt so overwhelmed thinking of everything we would need. It's amazing how God provides because we really got everything we needed from our loved ones.What a lesson in learning to trust God for the big and small things in life. I am praying that I learn each day to trust God in my ability to be a mother.

So I am 38 weeks, which means I have 2 weeks until my due date on September 5th. Crazy, time has flown by. I officially started my maternity leave today and had such a relaxing day. I slept in, went to the gym and walked, ran some errands. Once I got home I spent the rest of the day laying at the pool. It was so nice to just relax and not be staring at a computer or worrying about catching a BART train. Thank you Lord for this time. I am truly appreciating every moment of peace and quiet.

In other Manos family news, Chabot football has officially started. Great timing right, new baby and the crazy busy football season. Thankfully, I know we have such amazing friends and family so I will have lots of help. I am just sad because I know I won't be able to make it to every game this year. I am so proud of Jerome and all the hard work he puts into being the best coach he can be. I won't lie, I definitely get frustrated about the time commitment, but when I see Jerome out on the field it all goes away. God has given him such a gift in coaching and his ability to be an example to young men. There is nothing like watching your husband be used by God. Its like a gift that keeps being unwrapped as you realize the depth to which God is using you. I am so proud of you honey! If anyone wants to come cheer the Chabot Gladiators on with me, just let me know. Me and the baby would love your company!!

34 Weeks, 40 Days to go!

2010-07-28T11:56:00.000-07:00

On Sunday we hit our 34 week mark and we only have 40 days to go until the due date. Hopefully the baby makes his or her debut on time or a little early. Here is a little info on what’s going on with the baby this week.

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

We have the room ready for the baby and we are finishing up our last few natural birth classes. I can't believe how far we have come over the last 8 months. I have felt so loved and taken care of by all of our family and friends. God is so amazing to put so many great people in our lives to support us through this time. God has really shown me ( and I am sure I will continue to learn) how to lean on others and be honest about what I am going through. Asking for help can be hard for me, but you all make it so easy. I absolutely can't wait to do some special things for everyone in our lives who have gone out of their way to be there for Jerome and I. We love you more than words can say!!!!

A few pics form the Baby Shower!

2010-07-27T22:02:00.000-07:00

I had a great time at the baby shower and can't believe how generous my family and friends have been. This baby will be so loved! Thanks to my Mom, my Mother in law Adele and my sis for making it great day!

Celebrating 5 Years of Marriage

2010-07-21T21:51:00.000-07:00

On July 9th, Jerome and I celebrated our 5 year wedding anniversary. Time has gone by so quickly and here we are expecting our 1st baby. I am so blessed to be married to an awesome man of God who supports me, encourages me, shows me and my attitude so much grace, but most importantly a man who loves me. I don't think we have had one day of marriage where he did not tell me he loves me or thinks I am pretty. BLESSED! Jerome spent the 9th at a golf tournament, so when he got home we had cake and apple cider and watched our wedding video. It was so fun to look back 5 years ago and see all of our loved ones supporting us. It was also pretty fun and sweet to see the people who cried during our ceremony....Cheri!! hehe

We did finally really celebrate out anniversary the next night and went to a nice restaurant and actually got dressed up. Or as dressed up as you can get 8 months pregnant. The dessert was my favorite part of course.

OOPS...Sorry Jerome

2010-07-13T20:52:00.000-07:00

I forgot to post the pics of Jerome painting. He is very proud of his work so I had to make sure to post. He has a become a great painter and I am so thankful I did not have to do it.

Pics of life at 8 months.

2010-07-12T21:27:00.000-07:00

Here are a few photos of life lately. My first load of baby laundry, Jerome painting the baby room and my growing belly. Also, a picture of my brothers beautiful girlfriend who just graduated college. Go Christine!!!!!

32 Weeks and Counting!

2010-07-12T12:11:00.000-07:00

Wow, I can't believe we are 8 weeks away from meeting Baby Manos! It feels like time has gone by so fast, but then I look at the calendar and I realize its been a long journey. From morning sickness to waiting for a baby bump to appear then wishing the baby bump was not so big. I guess a lot has happened over the last 8 months. While the baby has been busy growing BIG and strong, this time has also been essential to Jerome and I trying to becoming mentally and spiritually prepared to be parents. I have always respected other parents that I know, as well as my own Mom and Dad but being on the verge of becoming a mother has given me a whole new respect for parents in general. I have many moments where I need to tell myself if they can do it, so can I. I mean sometimes its hard enough trying to take care of myself and now it will be all about taking care of a baby. If nothing else, the last few months have shown me just how much I need God. Not just knowing he is there if I need him, but truly relying on his spirit to guide me in my actions and thoughts. I know that need only becomes greater as I Jerome and I try to raise our children. Yesterday at church, we were singing a song about God's Grace and I was thanking God that I will have his grace upon me as a mother. I pray my little one will learn to be forgiving and full of grace also.

So Jerome and I have also been doing A LOT of nesting lately. Yes, I said Jerome and I. I think he gotten bitten by the bug worse than me because every weekend for the last 3 weeks he's been painting rooms in our house. Its so cute to see him so enthralled with getting our home ready. I will post a few pics of the house, but every room was updated with new paint and Jerome is most proud of the 1/2 bath downstairs that he painted RED! It looks beautiful. Thanks Babe! Your hard work means more to me than you realize! The babies room is almost ready and I have been having lots of fun doing the first few loads of baby laundry. Its all so tiny.

Oh, and Yes we are 32 weeks pregnant. My belly has gotten bigger than I thought it would and my poor skin has stretched more than I imagined possible. And we still have 8 weeks to go, amazing what the body can handle. Little Manos is VERY active and its been absolutely amazing to watch my tummy move. It just fills me up with so much Joy knowing there is a little person in there. I have to be honest and say that I don't enjoy the not sleeping part. My legs are so tingly and twitchy at night so its been hard to sleep. Thankfully Jerome has been so sweet and will rub my legs and feet when they get really bad. This week they say the baby is between 3-4 pounds and nearing its final length.

I will post pics soon!

More Pics of life recently...

2010-06-20T08:26:00.001-07:00

7 Months and Still Stretching......

2010-06-20T07:53:00.000-07:00

Can you believe Baby Manos will be here in 2 1/2 months? Time has flown by. I always thought 9 months seemed like forever but, not anymore. We still have so much to do but have just been busy have fun and enjoying our last few months as a family of two! I am 29 weeks today so I am close to 71/2 months preggo. I am feeling good, but starting to get very uncomfortable. I have stopped teaching my pilates class because it is just too hard to get up and down from the floor and I get out of breath so easy these days. I am still walking and doing cardio at the gym, which is very funny since after I am on the machine for 20 seconds I have to get off and go pee again. JOY! The baby moves around so much now and its very distracting at work. I always stop what I am doing so I can watch my tummy roll and poke out. Its like play time and the baby is not even here yet. Jerome has not yet gotten used to the baby pokes. He puts his hand on my belly and when the baby move he still jumps. Jerome is getting used to lots of other things though.. We started taking our natural birth class and we are both learning a lot and it has sparked some great conversation about our role as mom and dad. Last week, it was so cute. He said "so what will my role be" I was like, "well, you are the Dad". I guess he wanted to know what he could be in charge of if I am feeding the baby and stuff like that. It makes me smile and feel so full of Joy when I think about how far we have come in the last 7 months. He is already becoming a great Dad and I love that he wants to make sure he has a role and time to bond with this Baby. I have been praying that God will continue to mold both of us into the parents we need to be for this little person and especially that we would patient. I think there is no better gift to give a child than being a praying parent. I learned from my Dad a long time ago, that he would pray over me my brother and sis. He would pray for our future's, faith and also for the partner's we choose in life. It is so fun to be able to do that now for our child. Its never too early to pray for the future of a child and I can't wait to see what Jordan is like.

Ok, so what else have we been up to in the last 2 months. We done birth classes, yesterday we took a breastfeeding class and YES, Jerome went with me!!! He was such a goof the entire class but we had fun. They had dolls to practice positions with. One of the feeding positions they call the football hold. Of course Jerome was all over that "this is how you hold a football, 4 point of contact". Too funny, we laughed and learned a lot. I also got my last Tahoe trip in before the baby arrives. We went up recently with the Kanoho's and had so much fun getting to spend a few days with Chloe and Kailie. Chuck and Mis you a guys are fun too!

Enjoy the pics above, I look like quite the stretched out basketball thes days!!

6 Months!!!

2010-05-16T19:27:00.000-07:00

I am super tired and trying to finish laundry before the week begins, so I just thought a would post a few pics. I will write more later this week since I have lots to update everyone on. Time is flying by! Well, were 6 months today and I thought I would post a few pics of the growing belly. I can't believe how big my belly has gotten. Who knew skin could stretch so much!

It's Been a while...

2010-04-12T20:42:00.000-07:00

Sorry for not posting in a while. I've been a bit....well lazy to be honest. I get home from work and just wanna eat and go to bed. But I know everyone wants to see the growing baby bump. So I had to post some pics tonight.

Ok, so what else has been going on? I am 19 weeks, which means I am just about half way. The baby is about the size of an Apple or Mango and weighs about 5-7 ounces. Next week we go in for our 2nd trimester untrasound so check out the detailed anatomy and find out the sex of the baby. BUT....we are not going to find out, we'll wait to be surprised. We are pretty sure that we are naming the baby Jordan/Jordynn either way! So exciting. Jerome and I have also been busy thinking about plans for the baby room and making a list of things we need to do around the house before the baby gets here. Gotta get everything done before football is in full swing.

My best friend Mis also took me to start my registry. Thank goodness I have her because it can be very overwhelming looking at the list of stuff they say you need. It was a fun day and really emotional. We were looking at car seats and it just totally hit me that I would be carrying around a baby soon. Crazy! Jerome stayed away form the baby store on this day, but we did go just to look for fun and of course he had to play around with gadgets.

And yes, I do have a baby bump that is taking a lot to get used to, but thankfully Jerome thinks its cute. I am still managing to teach my pilates classes and I even managed to run a 5k a few weeks ago.

13 Weeks!!!

2010-03-03T17:04:00.000-08:00

Baby Manos is 13 Weeks old! I can't believe I am already getting into the second trimester. Everyone says this is the honeymoon phase of pregency.Here is whats going on with the baby this week.

Baby's now the size of a peach!Your fetus is forming teeth and vocal cords...savor this, their nonfunctional phase. Baby is approaching normal proportions, with his head now only one third the size of his body. And intestines are in the process of moving from the umbilical cord to baby's tummy -- much more convenient

Crazy Stuff! If you can read this or anything having to do with the development of a fetus, how can you not believe in God? It so amazing what God does with a child in the womb. The bible says "before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart". God not only knows our children before they are formed in the womb, but he is selecting every little detail that will make our babies individuals, inlcuding the number of hairs on their heads.

Body Image

2010-02-22T18:19:00.001-08:00

So on a funny note, this past week at work these maternity mannequins popped up all over the building. I work at the Old Navy corporate office for those who don't know. So its not totally strange have naked mannequins sitting around the office, but since I don't work near the maternity group, we usually don't see them. Every time I walked by, I just felt like they were staring at me, probably because I was staring at them. Seriously, I wanted to go touch them and try to imagine if my belly will look like that. These darn things are so tiny, just another reason why body image can be difficult during pregnancy. They just look so unrealistic. So i decided this is the last time I will feel bad about my body during pregnancy. I will continue to maintain a healthy lifestyle, exercising, eating my fruits, veggies and frozen yogurt, but I will also embrace the other changes!! Enjoy the pics of these silly naked mannequins, they even have them in different colors.

Your body changes A LOT when you become pregnant. I guess I was under the assumption that the changes did not start to take place until the 3rd or 4th month when you have a noticeable bump. I will add that to the list of pregnancy misconceptions I was living under. Needless to say, about right after I took the test, things started happening. Weird things!! Some I don't like, some my hubby likes, but they all come with the territory. One of my Good friends Tiama, who is currently in Med school, was kind enough to give me info on a few other changes that will happen also. " I know that at 22 weeks the uterus size usually reaches from the pelvic bone to your belly button and after that the number of weeks old the baby is equals the number of centimeters big your uterus is. For example at 30 weeks your uterus will be 30cm large. So that's some info that you can expect to happen. They will also test you for all kinds of stuff like STD's, Diabetes, and GBS (group B strep) but that is all normal to test for. Hmmm what else can I tell you, drink plenty of water even though you may not want to because you have to pee constantly. Water helps with the constipation, and overall health too."Thanks Tiama Mama, you are such a good friend!

I am starting to feel much better and the nauseous feeling that had become my friend night and day is beginning to pass. I am still feeling extremely tired and spent this past weekend taking very long naps. Not feeling guilty about napping is defiantly a perk of being pregnant. So anyway, I finally had this amazing realization sitting in Church on Sunday. Bare with me, it may be a bit mushy... We were singing this song about giving yourself up to be completely used by God, and I realized how much i feel like that applies to being pregnant. Romans 12:1 says"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God - this is your spiritual act of worship." I just felt like God was reminding me that there are numerous ways to worship him. Right now, my body kind of feels like it being sacrificed for the health and well being of this child. This is not just our baby, but its God's Child and Jerome and I get the privilege and task of raising him or her in the image of Christ. This is just the beginning of a life long sacrifice that we will make for our child and God. What a gift to be able to worship and give thanks to God in this way. He is allowing us to be parents and I get the privilege of carrying this child and feeling the presence of another human being so close to my heart. I will really have to continue to pray that I enjoy this time and this special act of worship and obedience.

First Baby Pics!

2010-02-07T09:49:00.001-08:00

Our first doctor appt was Wednesday and we were able to see the baby for the first time. It was an incredible experience to see baby Manos and truly know that I have a life inside of me. I was only expecting to see a blob type shape, but was surprised to find that you could clearly make out the head, body, arms, legs and feet. The baby was moving a lot too while the doc was taking the video so you could see the legs and arms moving like crazy. I think we definitely have an athletic little one, which of course made Jerome very happy. We have taken to calling the baby a boy, so perhaps we have a little quarter back!!! Of course we would be happy just to have a healthy baby. The doctor confirmed that I am about 9 1/2 to 10 weeks. Our due date is 9/5/10. Which means.....yes out baby is due the first week of football season. I will be doing everything I can to make this baby come a few days early. I would hate for Coach Manos to have to leave his first game of the season early because his wife went into labor. I think God must have a sense of humor to plan our babies due date in this week.

Why didn't anyone tell me...

2010-02-02T18:52:00.000-08:00

that I was going to feel completely crazy during the first trimester! I mean, you've all had kids. All I hear from you is that it's so amazing bringing a child into the world. Someone forgot to mention the nausea, moodiness, constipation, being so tired I want to sleep with my clothes on and let's not forget the tears that come out of nowhere. So..if you are wondering how I've been feeling, that should sum it up. Poor Jerome, he is not quite sure what to make of all this emotional craziness, but we both hope it ends soon. He's become fabulous at just giving me a big bear hug and letting me cry as long as I want. He is definitely earning himself some points!

While I haven't been feeling so great, the thought if whats going on inside me does make it better. Its amazing to me that God designed our bodies and minds to handle such an incredible task. At the moments when I literally want to lose it, cry and vomit everywhere, I remember this amazing gift God has given me. I may be sarcastic and a bit negative about how I'm feeling, but I do know how blessed I am. Thank you Lord for this opportunity to love another human being the way that you love us. I pray that Jerome and I are able to be a constant example of your grace and compassion in this baby's life.

So this is my 10th week, and were finally going to our first Doctor apt tomorrow. I can't wait!! Jerome is hoping were having twins, but I think one will be enough. Here is a pic of the size of the baby this week. It's about the size of this Kumquat in the picture. It seems so small, which does not make sense because my tummy is already starting to pooch out a little. All I can say is that pregnancy is crazy and amazing, all at the same time!

Celebrating our Baby News

2010-01-28T18:04:00.000-08:00

So even though were on our strict Dave Ramsey budget, I decided our baby news was worth doing something fun to celebrate. Good thing I have been setting aside extra $$ for a special occasion. I surprised Jerome with a day at Point Reyes and then a night away in Bodega Bay. In my head it was meant to be just a quick, but relaxing and loving little getaway. I planned a yummy picnic lunch to eat on the beach at Point Reyes then a trip to the lighthouse to go whale watching. After that, I would pretend we were driving home, then......Surprise, Were heading to Bodega Bay for a romantic night away. He would find the suitcase I snuck in the trunk and be so excited! Like I said, in my head it sounded great. But since someone (me) did not pay attention to the weather, our weekend turned out a little different. Jerome loved it anyway.

We had to eat out picnic in the car because it was pouring and very windy. When it died down, we went for a short walk on the beach, but decided it was too cold to go to the lighthouse. Oh well. Maybe we'll see the whales another time. He was so surprised when I did not drive home but instead went in the other direction. We had an amazing room with a fireplace, which was great because it was still raining outside. We ended up staying in the room instead of exploring Bodega Bay. It was still fun and a great way to celebrate our little one. The best part was being able to surprise Jerome. I am so thankful for Jerome. He is such a great man and I am so excited to see how wonderful he will be as a dad.

I will post more soon about how I am feeling, but right now I am extremely nauseous and being on the computer is making it worse. The joys of pregnancy!!!

2010-01-08T15:24:00.000-08:00

We're Pregnant!!!

I can't believe its finally happening. I feel like we have waited for so long to feel like the timing was right and were so happy. Its true what everyone has told me: "There will never be a perfect time". I am glad we waited because Jerome and I really enjoyed the last 4 1/2 years of marriage being able to focus on each other. I know that this is in God's perfect timing and I feel so amazingly blessed. What a gift it is that God would allow Jerome and I to raise his child. God is so Good!

We found out that I'm pregnant the night my grandma Penny passed away. I think somehow she knew and I know she is rejoicing in heaven. I think we thought it would be negative, but sure enough 2 bright pink lines popped up!!! We just looked at each other with big eyes for a minute, in shock mostly but then came the joy. We hugged, looked at the test a few more times. Then of course we were off to the bookstore for What to Expect When You're Expecting.

It was so fun getting to tell everyone and your excited responses made both Jerome and I feel so special.

Ok, well that's enough for now, check back in for updates on me, the baby and Jerome of course! Maybe I can even get him to post on the blog too.

For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11

Inspired to start a blog!

2010-01-03T13:27:00.000-08:00

I've been inspired to start a blog since I love reading my cousin Tawny' blog. What a great way to stay connected to friends and family.