Welcoming Baby Chaz

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For this child we have prayed...

We are proud to announce the birth of our son, Donald Charles Slater, III. We are calling him "Chaz". He was born at Albany Medical Center on July 28, 2009 weighing 10 lbs and 3 ozs and is 20 inches long. We feel so blessed and completely full of joy as we celebrate this new life God has so graciously given to us.

The Nursery

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The last couple weeks I have been diligently working on the nursery. I guess you can say I am getting into that "nesting" mode. I want everything to be ready ahead of schedule so that when I bring our baby home it will all be ready.

I have been painting a few things that I will use to decorate with. I found some pictures online that I really liked and then I saw the price of them and was not about to pay $60.00 for one portrait. So, I got crafty and went to Michael's and bought some little canvases and decided to paint the pictures myself. I think they turned out pretty good. I am not a Picaso but had a good time painting them. I still have to get some picture hangars and hang all my creations on the walls of the nursery.

I also am happy to report that all the baby's clothes are washed and put away. All of my spots to put things are completely full though. I have to go and get a dresser since I am out of space in the little wardrobe I have. Baby Chaz certainly is not lacking in the clothes department. We truly are blessed to have had so many clothes, etc given to us at the baby shower. Also, my sister-in-law gave us several boxes of clothes that her 2 year old outgrew.

I was outside today sanding another project I am working on for the baby's room. It is a little 4 drawer night stand. It will come in handy for sure. I definitely need the drawer space. I am going to paint it to match the colors in the room. I will have to post pics of it when I am finished.

The countdown is on and I am more than ready to have this baby and bring him home. I give thanks to God for His help for getting me this far.

He's a BIG boy!

I went to the doctor yet again this week. When I was having my ultra-sound the tech told me that this is the week that they need to measure the baby again. After taking the measurements, she told me that the baby weighs 4 lbs, 1 oz. And that he is a big boy! Wow! They are supposed to induce me early and I am glad of that. I have a feeling he is going to be huge! Being diabetic, I am not surprised that he is big. That usually is the case. I am just 29 weeks(tomorrow). They will do another ultra-sound to check growth again in 3 weeks. I guess that will tell us more. I am just glad that all is well and he is a healthy baby.

I am posting 2 pictures that the tech gave me yesterday. It has been a while since I have gotten any pics. While she was doing the ultra-sound, we could see the baby open and close his mouth. He was swallowing. I could see his little tongue. The tech showed us white stuff on his head and said that is the baby's hair! Yay! He has hair. I hope he has lots of it! I am so pleased that we got to see so much yesterday.

I am also very pleased that my mom was here from Ohio and got to come with me and see too. She left and went back yesterday after we came back from my appointment. She came here to help me get the nursery ready. She painted the room and it looks terrific! The color of paint I chose is Shasta Daisy. It is a very pale yellow and looks creamy in some light. Now I have to order the bedding and get the furniture in there. I will post pics when I have it ready. I cannot wait to have it all done! I am getting more and more excited to meet our little one!

Getting near the finish line!

Yesterday I went to my weekly doctor appointment. I got my usual ultra-sound and progesterone shot. I also talked to the doctor. I usually do not see a doctor every week but since I am getting close to the end of my pregnancy, I will start seeing him more. We talked about what is going to start happening in the next few weeks. On my 37th week, I will have the cerclage removed. That is the stitching they put around my cervix to keep it closed. This will be the week of July 20th. If I do not go into labor at that point, then I am scheduled the 4th of August to be induced! I hope that I will go into labor on my own, but if not I at least know I will not have to go to my due date of August 13th. So, this really means that I have about 9 to 10 and a half weeks to go before our little bundle arrives. I am getting excited to meet this little boy that God is so graciously blessing us with.

I can't believe it! We are having a...

BOY!!! I never in my wildest imagination thought that I would be pregnant again let alone find out that we are having a son. When I found out I was pregnant I wanted it to be a boy. When the ultra-sound tech told me that it was a boy, I thought, " what do I do with a boy!" I know that is funny, but I have never had a son. My daughter is grown and all I have ever known is having a daughter. I am very, very happy about the fact that I am giving my husband a son.

As of yesterday, I am 25 weeks pregnant. At 37 weeks I will have the cerclage (stitches) taken out and after that, anything could happen!

I hope and pray that all goes well with my delivery and that the baby does not get too big since I am diabetic. It is also scary to think that when I had Krystle, she weighed 8 lbs. and 1/2 and ounce. I have heard that babies get bigger as you go. And when Don was born, he weighed almost 10 pounds! I just hope the size my husband was when he was born does not have a bearing on how much this baby will weigh!

I am feeling this little one kick me all the time. He kicks so hard sometimes that it actually startles me! I love feeling his kicks. So does his daddy. Though sometimes he is stubborn and will kick as soon as his daddy takes his hand off my tummy!

We feel so blessed and are anxiously waiting the birth of our little boy. Please continue to keep us in your prayers.

Baby Face

I had my 20 week ultra sound this week. They check the baby completely. It takes quite a while and it you want to know the sex of the baby, they will tell you. Well, we are having a...... BABY! lol We are keeping the sex of our baby a secret for now. Keep checking back and when we are ready we will be telling everyone! We are so blessed to have this baby coming into our lives. I look at this picture and am amazed at its beautiful, little face.

Wishing

I wish I could...

Hear the sound of your giggle
See you down on the floor playing with your Daddy
See the look on your face when I tell you that you are going to have a new brother or sister
See you open your presents today on your birthday
Take you to church and teach you about Jesus
Teach you how to bake cookies
Watch you play in the snow
Take you camping and see you make your first s'more by the campfire
Hear you call me Mommy
See how messy you get making mud pies
Know if you have bouncy curls like your sister
See your daddy teach you how to ride your bicycle
Know why you cannot be here with us...........

To wish is to desire or long for something. To dream about something that you have hoped for.
Today is the seventh birthday of our daughter, Jenna. She gets to celebrate her birthday in heaven.
And I will remember her and wish... and celebrate her in my heart.

Jenna Faith Slater was born sleeping on March 2, 2002

4 Months

I am excited to share with you that my husband, Don and I are going to be parents!!!! As of today, I am 4 months pregnant. It is hard to believe at my age I am going to be a mommy again. God has plans for me that I never even though of. I ask for your prayers. I am a high-risk pregnancy. I had what is called a cerclage done almost 3 weeks ago. That is where they stitch your cervix closed to prevent early dilation. I am also an insulin dependent diabetic and have high blood pressure. We are praying for a healthy baby. God knows how our hearts were broken 7 years ago when we lost our baby daughter, Jenna. Please remember us in your prayers.

The Long Winter

Well, it is now February. We made it through the blustery month of January with it's blowing snow and frigid temperatures. As I am sure you all know, Punxatawney Phil's report says that we have at least 6 more weeks of winter. If you live in New York like I do, it is to be expected! One thing I have realized since I moved here seven years ago is that we have a long winter and a short spring. Even in late August there are leaves that already start to change. It makes me miss the mid-west where I was born and raised. I don't know about you, but I am ready to come out of hibernation and see some daffodils in bloom!

New Year, New Beginnings

It is hard to believe that another year has passed us by already. I am so thankful for the many blessings that God brought our way last year. I cannot say there were not any difficult times. That would mean my life is a "bed of roses"! Let's just say that the last two months of 2008 were so great that it made me mostly forget all the things about 2008 that I would rather forget! :)

We have "great expectations" for this new year! There is alot to be excited about. So- keep us in your prayers. There are changes coming our way. We give God all the glory for his many blessings in our lives. My prayer for each one of my family and friends is that God will be at the center of your lives and that He will richly bless each and every one of you.