Baby Layla is here! And she is GORGEOUS!!! Collin and I went to visit the sweet new baby girl this morning, and Collin got some beautiful images of the new family. I can't type much, because I'm off to a Christmas Eve thing, but I wanted to share some with you. The whole family is completely thrilled with their new addition, and excited to come home this evening. I am posting a link to Layla's slideshow at the end of this post, so be sure to check it out. It's one of my favorites EVER! Merry Christmas!




Click here for the slideshow: www.cmsmithportraits.com/slideshows/Laylanb

She's Here!!!

Layla Ann was born this evening at 5:35pm! She weighs 7 pounds 13 ounces and is 19 and a half inches long. Daddy sounds SUPER-proud of both of his girls, and said that Gillian did a great job with the delivery. Owen has already been to meet Layla. Things sound GREAT with the Plasman family tonight! What a Perfect little Christmas present! I will report more as I hear it from Gillian! Praise God for this new little one!
-Aron

Perfect Words

Owen's school had pajama day today and I think most classes had their Christmas celebration too. Paul and I both took Owen this morning, I had pb&j sandwiches to take in for the class party and it was pretty foggy out this morning so Paul wanted to drive me. Owen's sweet teachers gave us the most beautiful Christmas gift when we arrived, it's a laminated photo of Owen, maybe 8x10?, with the most perfect words under his beautiful face... "A unique and unrepeatable miracle"
I can not tell you how many times I have cried looking at his precious face and those precious, true words! What a wonderful gift! I will cherish it forever!

Still Waiting!

I had my weekly doctors appointment this afternoon and everything was great....BP 118/80 or something ridiculously good like that...urine was good, still dilated and effaced the same as I have been for the past 6 weeks! Needless to say, there has been no induction scheduled. I'm bummed out about that cause I'm so anxious for Layla to be here and so tired and bored from the bed rest...but obviously it's working, that and the BP medicine they have me on. Anyway, I can only pray she'll come soon...along with some walking, spicy food, and some other things that have been known to work...we'll see. Anyone have any suggestions let me know!

Oh Christmas Tree

I don't have a picture of us picking out the tree because unfortunately since being put on bed rest we didn't go to our usual tree farm to cut down our tree...instead we made a quick trip to Lowe's and there just wasn't anything special about that so... here are some pictures of my wonderful family lighting and decorating the tree for me!!! This is the first year ever that I haven't put the lights on, thanks mom! I HATE putting the lights on the tree! My mom and I did discover that it's much easier if someone helps you and well, you know that just doesn't happen in our homes, how 'bout yours? Paul and Owen put almost all the ornaments on, I did put on a few, and I'm very proud to say that I haven't re-arranged any of them!


my sweet mom, she's helped me out so much during this pregnancy and bed rest! I LOVE YOU!

Owen showing off our newly lite tree

My boys decorating the tree!!!!

Owen was really working hard!

silly boy with bells on his ears!

my boys having fun!

LOVE Y'ALL!

Owen distracted by the Drake and Josh Christmas movie.

I love our tree, I love my sweet family that decorated it for me, thank you so much!

Christmas Cookies

I haven't been able to do much of anything with Owen since being put on bed rest...so yesterday we broke out a box of gingerbread cookie mix and proceeded to make a mess! Owen has definitely inherited our perfection gene (ugh) any little tear of a leg or arm caused him lots of grief, but we still enjoyed it!

making a mess

not wanting to have his picture taken

still not wanting his picture taken but it's easier with his cookie in the picture too

these are the cookies we saved...there's me, paul, owen, layla, and santa. we put santa in the freezer and we're going to take it out on Christmas eve to put on santa's cookie plate.

I'm Out

on bedrest for the duration....a friend brought her portable blood pressure machine to work today for me and it was steadily rising throughout the day so I stopped by the doctors office on my way home to have them check it and it was 150/102! I also gained 2.5 lbs in 24 hours...no it wasn't the ice cream I ate last night it's the fluid storing in my legs! Dr. O had some blood drawn to check for signs of HEELLP syndrome, hope to find out tomorrow or Friday? So I'm on strict orders to stay horizontal for 23 out of 24 hours, yeah...really hope she comes or they induce soon cause this is going to be BORING!

NST

My feet, ankles, and calves look like they belong to someone else, they are so swollen since going back to work after the long weekend off! Yesterday I checked my BP at the grocery store pharmacy and it was high so this morning I left work and headed to the pharmacy to check it again...still high, 155/97! I called the doctors office, they had me come in and my pressure was 130/90, no protein in my urine and still dilated 2cm. Dr. C wrote an order for a NST (non stress test) twice a week, I guess until Layla arrives? So I left his office and went to the hospital for my NST which I absolutely LOVE because it's so quiet and relaxing! They wrap a monitor around my belly that records her heartbeat and they keep a BP cuff on me that checks it a few times during the hour (i think it was about an hour). Layla's heartbeat rhythm was perfect and my BP went down to 111/60!!! Looks like some bed rest could do this mama some good! ;) I'm still working as of now though, as long as my BP stays under control, and I will be going every Tuesday and Friday for the NST, and a little r & r!