Gabbie Meets Dallas & Stella

Dallas and Stella have ruled the house since they got here 3 years ago. Not any more… How they would react to the new addition to the family was a mystery to us all. The frist night home, they got to stay at Grandpa Larry’s. Gabbie came home on Thursday and we decided to bring them home on Friday.

This picture sums it up... Dallas with his "Hu?" face and Stella keeping tabs on the new addition!

Well, they did great. They have adjusted nicely and realize that Gabbie is now the one who gets to rule the house. They have handled all the changes that have taken place much better than expected. Kiley called it right… Dallas just accepts whatever changes come his way. Stella very much keeps a close eye on Gabbie.

It will surely be fun to watch them interact and she grows. I am sure that they will be some of her best friends throughout the years. I know they are to Kiley and me!

We're Home!

Our wide eyed little girl!

We were able to come home on Thursday, January 22. We were all ready to leave the hospital and get back home!

I was very lucky to have a great pregnancy with no sickness! I felt great the entire time. I kept worrying it was the calm before the storm and I would have a difficult baby. Well, I am happy to report that this is not the case! Gabbie has been wonderful! The two nights we have been home, she has slept from about midnight until 7am, with just one forced feeding in the middle of that. I wake her up, feed and hold her, and she is out. 45 minutes later, she is back in bed. I don’t know how long this will last, but I will take it for now!

She loves her swaddler!

We have all enjoyed having little Gabbie home, but I think Kiley has especially enjoyed it. He truly is a natural with her. She lucky to have such a great daddy!

It is so fun to watch these two develop a special little bond. She really loves her daddy!

Kiley is close to mastering the burping, feeding, and diapering skills. He has even realized that I was right when I said he didn't his plastic gloves to change her diaper!

She loves to just sit and play with her dad's hands... Kiley thinks it is pretty cool too!

We have gotten lots of emails and well wishes! Thank you to everyone who shares in our excitement of our new little angel! It is amazing to think of how many lives will change due to this one little girl. We are so lucky to have her!

Our Little One is Finally Here!

Our little Angel!

Gabrielle Grace Brannon made her debut into this world on January 21, 2009 (she honored her mom by waiting for Obama to be President!) at 3:35 pm. She weighed 7 lbs 4 oz and was 19.5 inches long!
She has LOTS of dark hair, much to her mom’s delight!

I started sporadic contractions on Tuesday night, which became more consistent around midnight. By 4am, I knew I shouldn’t head into work. At 5:30 am, I told Kiley he should probably get a sub. At 7:30 am we were headed to the hospital. When we got there, the nurse said I was only dilated to a two and it was probably false labor. I told Kiley that if this was false labor, I didn’t want to feel real labor! Within about 2 hours, I was almost to a 3 and was told it was real labor and I could stay! Another hour and I was begging for an epidural! Luckily, I was far enough along to get one!

Now, just a note on epidurals… I LOVE THEM! I told the man who gave me an epidural that I bet he was all the women’s favorite person. He told me that all the women forget all about him within 5 minutes. Just for the record, I will NEVER forget Richard and only pray that God will bless him for his fine work! I didn’t feel a thing after he left. Both Kiley and I are truly appreciative!

She doesn't do this very often, but when she does, she definitely has some lungs!

By 3:00 pm, I was ready to push! At 3:35, Gabrielle Grace entered this world in all her fame and glory! Kiley’s first response was, “She has wild hippie hair!” He couldn’t take his eyes off her after that. He is a natural!

Gabbie and her Daddy... I think he is in love!

Don't worry, we cut her nails as soon as she came home. They wouldn't do it in the hospital! Kiley is shocked she didn't claw her way out!

She had grandparents waiting to see her and has been surrounded by love since she made her debut!

With her Grandma Dianne and Grandpa Chuck

With her Grandma Dianne... If I can only be half the mom she has been, Gabbie will be truly blessed!

Grandpa Larry! He has been so excited! I think she will overtake Stella as his number one girl!

Honorary Nana, Deb. She is a dear, dear friend from work!

We got to bring her home the next day! We were all happy to be home! She has been a delight in the short time we have had her here. I look at her in amazement and cannot believe that it is not just Kiley and I anymore. Our lives will never be the same, and that is a wonderful thing!

The Brannon Family! We couldn't love our little girl any more!

One More Quiet Relaxing Weekend...

before we are parents! Yes, it is true. I can hardly believe it. I went to the doctor's this afternoon and I am not even dilated to a one. However, due to my high blood pressure, my doctor won't let me go past my due date. Now, I have been able to control my blood pressure throughout my pregnancy with medication. (No worries, it is totally safe for pregnancy... believe me, I made sure!) Regardless, they do not want me going past January 22.

So, if Gabbie doesn't come on her own before next Wednesday, I will be induced at midnight. I really don't think anything will happen before that, nor does my doctor. Looks like she will make her debut on her due date of January 22, 2009!

It is still so surreal to me that I only have 7 days left before I am a mom. We couldn't be more excited! Stay tuned...

Dallas and his Day at the Vet

Dallas and his owie!

I found a little blister like growth on Dallas this past Sunday. His Grandpa took him to the vet ASAP on Monday to make sure he was okay. The vet said we needed to get it taken off and tested this week. She thought it was just a benign growth, but wanted to make sure. This had all of us here a little worried. He went in first thing this morning and had it removed. He had to stay at the vet until 3:30 to ensure he was doing okay and came out of the anesthesia okay. He did good but is still extremely groggy. He has been walking around in a total daze all night. The vet said she is confident it isn’t cancer, but has sent it off to be analyzed just to be safe.


Dallas all drugged up! This is not his normal look...

I am not sure who had a tougher day, Dallas all drugged up or Stella alone wondering where her best bud was. You would think she would be in 7th heaven to have a day alone with her Grandpa, but she is just not herself without Dallas.

Dallas and Stella... they literally spend 24 hours a day together. It isn't often that they are seperated, but when they are, it really throws them for a loop!

For all those who aren’t dog lovers, this may seem like a silly post. However, for those who understand how animals can become family, you will know how grateful we are that Dallas’ prognosis looks like he will be more than okay! He is still going to be a dumb dog, but that is just the way we like him!