She's here----

Annalee Victoria arrived Friday July 24th @ 8:50 am. She came weighing 7.5oz and 19 3/4 long! She has a head full of hair and is wonderful. I can't describe the feeling it is to be a mommy and i can't stop staring at her. I don't have a lot of time to blog about the details, but when i do i will. until then here are some pics of our beautiful healthy wonderful baby girl!

here she comes....

I am going to apologize in advance for the rambling of this blog. It has been crazy the past 24 hours. I had my doctor's appointment yesterday. I was really excited I just knew something was going to happen. Russ and i got to my appointment and waited for the doctor. Thirty minutes later he came in. They measured me and i was measuring at 40.5 weeks!!! I am only 38.5. They checked and i still wasn't dilated, Annalee still hadn't dropped and I have a cyst on my ovary. The doctor suggested a c-section. It sounds scary, but when he told us the options and his advice this was the way to go. We agreed to go along with the c-section and he said "let's schedule, how about Thursday or Friday!" I said "this week?" he said "yep!" Russ and i looked at each other. For nine months we have waited to meet our little girl, but i think this is when reality truly kicked in. So, Annalee will join us on Friday, July 24th at 7:30am and we couldn't be more thrilled. I go in at 5:30 for all of the pre-op stuff and surgery will start at 7:30am. I am excited, nervous, anxious, you name it. They have me down for surgery for an hour and a half. To deliver the baby and remove the cyst. Russ and I have been so blessed throughout this pregnancy and I know everything will go smooth with the delivery. Today I have been frantically getting everything off of my desk at work for my leave. I will be out for 12 weeks!! Tomorrow I am doing all of the last minute things and cleaning the house! Friday our lives change! Next time I post I will post pictures of our little girl! how exciting!!! OMG!

In loving memory...

Yesterday was a sad day for the Hopper's. Our family dog Pepper had to be put to sleep, he was 16 years old. Pepper was a schnauzer who was full of life. He battled through cancer, tumors, bladder stones and hip problems. He was part of the family. Yesterday my mom woke up and found Pepper having a seizure. He was twitching and foaming at the mouth. My dad rushed him to the vet and they said he had had a stroke. The vet told my dad that there really wasn't anything they could do and the best option was to put him down. pepper was given pain medicine and my dad brought him back home. It was decided that we would all meet at the vets around 5pm to say goodbye. I got a call at 4:30, Pepper had another stroke. I got to the vets along with my family and said goodbye. It was so sad, but at least he is at peace. The vet was wonderful and made things a lot easier. Our family is sad, but we will get through. We will miss you pepper!!!

ponds, 4th of July and baby news

I know I have not blogged in forever! Surprise, Surprise. We have been very busy getting things around for the baby and Russ building a couple of small ponds in the backyard.

Our backyard is very large and wasn't very well maintained when we moved in. Russ has been working very hard and our yard is looking really good! We have plants in the front and two small ponds in the back connected with a waterfall! I must say it looks really good! There are also goldfish swimming around! The picture below is when the pond was first being built!! It looks completely different now, but this gives you a little idea!

The fourth of July we went to the beach for a few days to visit some friends, shoot fireworks and have a good time! It was our last outing until the baby comes!!

The baby is due in 3 weeks! The nursery is ready and we are set. We went to the doctor yesterday and she is measuring big! The dr thinks Annalee is around 7lbs right now and thinks I may go early! That would be wonderful as I am now very uncomfortable!

So now is the waiting game......