2 Weeks Old

Waverly's 1st Bath

Here we are getting Waverly's bath ready. The boys thought it was pretty funny that we would give her a bath in the kitchen sink. But it is the perfect size for her. Waverly LOVED the water and just sat like this the whole time.

Coolidge thought he needed to help, too. Mostly by dumping cup-fulls of water on her head. What a good big brother!

Campbell's First Day of School

School started August 12th just the week after Waverly was born. This is an exciting school year because Campbell is starting Kindergarten!! Luckily Andersen had a few weeks off of work for Waverly so he was able to get the boys up and ready for their first day of school and he even took pictures for me! Apparently Mason and Coolidge thought they were going to school too. Don't my boys look handsome?
Here is Campbell standing in front of his name on the bulletin board in the hallway. This is where they display their work. Nice cheeser smile Campbell!

Campbell is already hard at work! I have been so worried about Campbell starting school, but I guess it was just what he needed. He loves going to school and his teacher has even called to tell me how well he is doing and how creative and fun he is to have in class. That phone call made my day :o)

Porter is doing great in 3rd grade and all of his hard summer work is paying off. A lot less traumatic than last year. It is so nice having Porter and Campbell back in school. Unfortunately, Mason has taken on Porter's role as the house tease. There isn't an hour that goes by that he isn't making Coolidge scream! Hopefully they will be able to work things out before I resort to locking Mason in his room all day.

Waverly Alivia

She is finally here! Waverly Alivia Grigg was born August 4th just a little after midnight. She was 7 lbs. 14 oz. and 21 inches long. She is so beautiful and already has us all wrapped around her little finger.

So, how did it all go down? Well, my due date, Monday, Aug 3rd finally came and not much seemed to be happening, but I still had a few errands I needed to get done before I felt ready to have her. My sister Amelia was able to stop off here on her way home from Washington D.C. to help out whenever the baby decided to come. So, with her help we loaded up all the boys to go run errands and after making stops at some of my friends' houses, the library, and Lowe's we finally ended up at Wal-Mart for some much needed food shopping. For some reason I can never run errands without ending up at Wal-Mart. By the time we got to the check out line I was starting to feel some mild contractions. When we got home, we made dinner and I mentioned to Andersen that we might be going into the hospital that night. I have found recently that Andersen does not take me very seriously. So, because it was Monday night we decided to go on a walk down by the creek that runs through our back yard for Family Home Evening. The boys wanted to show Amelia the cool trails by the creek. About half way through our walk the contractions start getting more consistent so I tell everyone that I need to head back.

Here we all are on our walk. Porter took the picture for us.
So I start walking back as fast as I can, not caring if anyone is following or not, because I start to loose my vision which is the first indicator that I have a migraine coming on. So the whole way back I'm imagining myself in labor trying to push with a migraine and having my head explode. When I got home I grabbed some Excedrin Migraine and headed for the shower to try to relax a little and see if the headache would kick in or not. While in the shower I realize that the contractions are not going to subside and that this was it. Andersen came in to check on me and see if I was alright. I told him that we needed to go. He kind of laughed and said, "are you sure?" And I told him that he needed to call our friend Lisa to see if she could come and watch the boys so that Amelia could come with us. "When should I tell her to come?" he asked. I told him "right now" and I think it finally sunk in. Lisa was awesome and was there right away and we were off to the hospital. We drove both the van and truck so that Amelia could get home after the delivery. After a few short detours we finally decided where we were going and made it to the hospital. Thanks for the fun ride to the hospital Amelia :o)

We got to the hospital about 10:30 pm and the 20 questions start. The hospital is a University hospital so there was a medical student his attending and the real doctor all asking me the same stupid questions like, "when was the start of your last menstrual cycle?" or "how much did your other children weigh?" "When are their birthdays?" or my favorite, "do you plan on using birth control after your delivery?" I think that is the worst time to ask that question if you don't want a skewed answer. And each one of them asked the same questions so it ended up being 60 questions. Couldn't they just cheat off of each other? Not like I'm going to be changing my answers! And all the while I kept trying to tell them that once I'm at the hospital I go REALLY fast. Example: Coolidge was born just a half hour after we got to the hospital. But of course no one ever believes me. Do I not come across as a serious person?


We even left for the hospital much sooner than we have in the past because I had decided that with a possible migraine and being sick a few days before I might need that epidural. So, we're sitting there waiting for them to finish all their admitting paperwork and the contractions are getting stronger and closer together. Finally they wheel me into a birthing room and get me all hooked up to their monitors and the anesthesiologist comes in. Excited at the thought of sweet relief I "sit perfectly still" even through the body-shaking contractions and fore go the deep breathing, but the Dr. cannot seem to find the right spot. He keeps hitting a nerve on my left and then on my right and then on the left again and again. My water even breaks while he's trying to get the epidural in. My water has never broken on its own. Just when I'm about to tell the guy to forget it, the baby is coming, he says, "it's in!" Yay! All the pain of getting the epidural and none of its benefits. I sit right back on the bed and give two good pushes and she was out!
And she was totally worth it! I still can't believe we have a little girl. She is much more dainty than the boys were, with long beautiful fingers and LOTS of dark hair.
Although, Campbell did ask me why she looked like a boy. Maybe once her hair grows longer he'll be able to see the difference.

When the boys came to the hospital to meet her for the first time they were all mesmerized by her. And they all wanted to hold her. And they couldn't stop rubbing her hair. I'm afraid that she is going to go bald.

I was so glad that Amelia got to be in the delivery room with us when Waverly was born. You did a great job cooling me off and cheering me on Amelia! I love you!

Our first family photo!

I think Mason is the most smitten with Waverly. He tells me about 5o times a day, "the baby is so cute!" He loves holding her and rubbing her hair. And he's always the first to notice when her eyes are open. He's always talking to her and getting her toys to play with. He is going to be the best big brother.

Andersen stayed with us that first night in the hospital, but the second night he sent Amelia to fill in for him. Which worked out great for me. Amelia brought her laptop and some DVD's and we both sat in the hospital bed watching movies having our own little girl's night with Waverly. That made the hospital stay a little bit more bearable. I don't know what I would have done without Amelia.

On Wednesday the 5th we were able to bring her home. It was a great Anniversary present to be able to sleep in my own bed without a nurse or doctor coming in every few hours. The boys were all ready to welcome her home.

Here are all the kids with their Aunt Amelia. I love this picture. We miss you Amelia!

Baby Shower

A few weeks ago, while Andersen was in Miami at a "Physics Review" for his first board exam in September, a few of my friends put together a baby shower for me and the baby. I know a lot of people brought food, but I'd especially like to thank Angela and Nancy for putting it all together. It was a great success!


Here are my friends Jacklyn and Ashlee. Looking good girls!


It was a great turn out and I had so much fun visiting with everyone. I LOVE having a full kitchen. There's Allyson, Karen, Tricia, Aubrey, and Lisa.

Joy and Mindy.

Here's Angela N., Nancy, Jessica, Tressa, and baby Maryann (Allyson's little one) just kicking back and relaxing.

And Kristen, Jennilyn, and Angela. Sorry Angela! I thought you were looking at the camera. Kristen is due just 2 days after me with their first.

I think Nancy is getting a reputation for making awesome cakes (she made the flag cake on my 4th of July post). You just can't go wrong with fruit and white chocolate. It was delicious!

And I got to use these cute dessert plates that my sister Joann and my Mom had gotten me for my birthday. Joann always gets me exactly what I never knew I wanted. I love them!

It was hard keeping the boys away from the dessert table, but fortunately Nancy brought her daughter Maddy to watch them for me during the shower. Thank you so much Maddy! You're a life saver.

Here are few shots of me opening presents. This baby is going to be one well dressed little girl. I loved all the pink and the little dresses. Everyone was so generous, I am so grateful to have such good friends.

Coolidge especially loved opening the presents. He didn't really care to much for what was inside, but the tissue paper was fascinating!

Well, there were a few things he had his eye on.

Angela and Nancy, you really know how to throw a party! I know I wasn't the only one exhausted by the end of the night ;o)