Molly Katherine Bowling

Just a quick update!

2009-10-16T09:35:00.000-07:00

Wow, I can't believe that Molly Katherine is 4 months old! At her 4 month check-up this week she was 12lbs 14oz and 25" long! She is such a wonderful baby and we are enjoying every new stage. Sorry for such the short update and I promise I will update more very soon!

Napping on the beach! She is a great traveler and as you can tell she did exactly what you are supposed to do at the beach...relax and sleep!

2009-07-23T17:24:00.000-07:00

Wow, I cant believe that Molly is already 7 weeks old! Our lives have truly been fulfilled and I cant think of any thing I would have differently. She is such a wonderful baby. At her 6 week chcek up she was 21" long & 8 lbs 11 1/2 oz. She growing so fast!

I have to go back to work next week and am really going to miss spending time with my sweet little girl. I am so thankful for the time we have gotten to spend together as a family.

Below are pictures from about 2 weeks until now. I have tried to keep them in some what of an order so that you can see how much she has changed as you scroll down.

2 weeks old

Daddy gave her a mowhawk after a bath

Sleeping on daddy! She still loves to sleep like this.

Her Aunt Laura loves her

Lindsey came and stayed with us while Bj went fishing in NC...thank goodness for her help!

Molly.s first visit with her great grandmother Williams

Molly.s great grandmother Nix

Great grandparents Whitten

Molly loves her Aunt C

Bj's first Father's Day

Katherine's brick in the infant memorial garden at St.Vincent's. I still cant believe it has been a year since Katherine was born. That day was a lot more difficult than I had expected but then when I reflect back it is amazing how much our lives have changed.

We spent an afternoon with Molly's great Aunt Betty

So she hated bath time at first but has grown to love it!

Happy 4th of July

Happy 3rd Birthday Emma!!!!

Molly finally got to meet Norah!!

Its amazing to think that this time next yeat you will not be able to even tell there is an age difference!

Anthony!

She loves play time!

6 weeks old

Our Sweet Baby Girl Is Here!

2009-06-17T09:33:00.000-07:00

Molly Katherine Bowling was born June 10th at 5:13 pm. She weighed 6lbs 10oz and was 20 1/2" long. She is now a week old and we are loving every minute with her. She is such a blessing and we are so thankful that she is now here with us and healthy. We all are doing great! And are finally getting adjusted to the new sleeping hours.

Me before going to have my cerclage taken out. We knew that there was a chance she would be born then but had not really expected it.. Everything went really good getting the cerclage out and the dr told us that we should have a baby with in a week and left the room. About 2 minutes later my water broke!

We were so excited that the BIG day was finally here!

My water broke around 8:45 am and Molly was born at 5:13 pm . It was the most amazing moment in our lives!

She has BJ feet

She still doesn't like bath time too much

Changing the first dirty diaper...not too bad!

Going home

She did great on her first car ride

Welcome Home Molly

Quick Update

2009-06-03T13:45:00.000-07:00

So, this is not the best picture of me but a good shot of my growing belly!

We went to the dr today and everything is still great! Molly's heartbeat was 161 and my belly is measuring around 37 weeks. We are so thankful that this has been such a healthy pregnancy and that we have made it this far! I am having the cerclage taken out June 10th. That is one week y'all! We really hope that Miss Molly comes that day or soon after! I will be 37 weeks which is considered full term and she should be perfectly healthy! I am so ready for her to come and am at that the point where I am just plain miserable. My feet are so swollen they hurt and it is getting so hot outside I don't see them getting better until she arrives. It is also getting very hard to sleep. Okay, I guess that is enough complaining.

On another note we were in Florence this past weekend for a very close friends wedding. It was a very pretty wedding and I was happy to get to share the special day with them. Here are some pictures. Not sure why Bj and I never got our picture taken together...

It is awesome having such close friends!

The happy couple!

Tiffany, Norah, myself, Knox & Ashley

Young Love

He is such a cutie!

And Norah is such a doll!

It was so nice to get to sit down and spend a little time with Justin & Sonia

Growing Growing Growing

2009-05-18T18:41:00.001-07:00

I can't believe that I am already 34 weeks! It will not be long now until we get to meet Miss Molly. The closer we get the more and more excited we are! As you can see in the above picture I have really grown. About the time that I think there is no way my belly can get any bigger, it does! We have completed our preparing for parenthood and breastfeeding classes and are pretty much prepared or at least as prepared as you can be! I go to the doctor on Wednesday and if there is anything new then of course I will update.

The below pictures are from our trip to the Cahaba River today. It was a beautiful day and we really enjoyed ourselves...especially Bodie. The Cahaba lilies are blooming but most of them are under water due to all the rain we have had. If you have never been out to see the lilies and are local to the Birmingham area it is well worth the trip. We are thinking if it doesn't rain the rest of the week by Thursday or Friday the water will be down and you will be able to see them much better.

Talented Friend's Work

2009-04-30T10:39:00.000-07:00

I wanted to share some of the adorable things that one of my great friends, Ashley made for Molly. You can see more of her work by clicking the Great Day Graphics link to the right of the page.

The thank you cards that match the shower invites. I didn't add the invites because of the address and phone numbers...I couldn't figure out how to blur them out.
Yummy bunny sugar cookie

Baby Shower & A Fun Filled Weekend

2009-04-28T08:59:00.000-07:00

Molly's Baby Shower

I had a wonderful baby shower!

All my wonderful hostesses! Thanks for everything!

My Sweet Grandmother

My sweet niece Caroline

Emma & Caroline helped me open all the gifts!

Bj & Hudson relaxing on the front porch after the shower

Emily & Norah

Diaper stacker that Polly made for Molly!

Diaper cake that Lamm made...so original as always!

Molly's dress to come home in that my very talented sister-in-law made!

My wonderful hostesses gave us our travel system

Beautiful quilt that my Stepmother's aunt made for Molly.

Sweet quilt that Mona (Bj's grandmother) made for Molly

Super cute blanket that Lindsey (my youngest sister) made for Molly

The first two blankets my sweet grandmother made and the other came from a family friend. They are all beautiful and I can't wait to have a little girl to use them!

Here is a picture of all the gifts we got at the shower. I feel so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends!

The yummy food table and beautiful flowers that Euna arranged (they all came from her yard).

Patrick & Ashley's Couple Shower

Emily, Lamm & I threw a couple's shower for Patrick & Ashley on Saturday night. We had a great time and good food! Here a some pictures from the evening.

So glad that Kelli & Jack came!

He is the best little guy!

Check-up

2009-04-20T18:24:00.001-07:00

The check-up today was pretty good. There were no changes with my cervix from 2 weeks ago and Molly is right on track! She weighs about 3 lbs now and looks like she has some hair! Her heartbeat was 155. I was actually measuring about a week ahead of what I am really. Guess that might be why I feel so big...dont get me wrong I love that I am growing...it means I have made it further in the pregnancy and that Molly is growing also! The doctor said he would see me again in two weeks and I would still be pregnant!

The above pictures are profile views from a quick ultrasound we had today. The ultrasound tech had a hard time getting a good shot because of the way she was positioned. We also tried to confirm she is still a girl and the tech said she was pretty sure but once again it was hard to tell.

Not finished yet

2009-04-17T14:20:00.000-07:00

So the nursery is not finished yet but here is a little update. Polly finished the cushions for the rocker, and I love it! I have kind of finished the fabric inserts for the chifferobe...the larger door was too big and still needs some work. The fabric looks a little heavy in the picture but that is because it needs to be cut down. I have not yet found the motivation to do it! I also have her closet in some sort of order. I would like it to be a little better organized but it will have to do for now. And by the way if anyone looking at this is thinking that I have a problem with shopping, it is almost all hand-me-downs! Mom found the cute lamp, pillow and a rug (not pictured) that have really started pulling everything together!

Our first rose of the year! This rose bush was the best Valentine's day gift I think BJ could have given me. It blooms all spring and summer and is truly beautiful. We really enjoy it! I can't wait for the other things in our small flower bed to start blooming!

And so I have been at home for almost two weeks now! What am I doing with my time you are wondering, well I am not totally sure. I started reading Twilight and Christian has tried to teach me to smock. I really want to be able to smock but have not made very much progress this week. Hopefully after a little more practice I will catch on! I also have really been enjoying the beautiful weather. I have been sitting in the backyard reading and a farmers tan started! I also have been trying to keep up with work to some degree. At first I thought I would be able to keep up a little better but without being able to go in the office every few days it makes it really hard. So I decided to let girls at the office handle things as much as possible and that I will enjoy my time at home. I am not sure if I will ever get this time off again. I go back to the doctor on Monday and I have to say that I am ready!

Happy Birthday BB & Happy Easter

2009-04-13T09:04:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful Birthday/Easter weekend! We spent Bj's birthday and Easter with family and my great friend Lamm. It was a beautiful day so Bj got to spend some time working in his garden and I was able to relax in Bj's parents beautiful backyard . I can't wait until this summer when we will get to enjoy his fresh veggies!
The other great news is that it has been a week since my last doctor's visit and I am still pregnant! I am feeling great but trying to take it as easy as possible. I have tried to start a few hobbies to keep me sitting and from not being so bored. Christian tried to teach me how to smock yesterday so I have spent the morning practing. I am going to need a good bit more practice but have plenty of time on my hands. I have also started reading the first book in the Twilight series! I have not started back sewing just yet but plan to at least long enough to finish the door panels for the chifferobe.

Home from a not so good doctor's appointment

2009-04-06T10:40:00.000-07:00

So I had a doctor's appointment and things didn't go as well as they have been. When they checked my cervix today it only measured 1.8. They like it to be around 2.5. So, I am officially off work until "further notice". They gave me a steroid shot to help develop Molly's lungs just in case she does come early. I go back in the morning for another shot and then back April 20th for another check-up. Dr. Mckee seems to be very positive that he when he sees me again in two weeks that I will still be pregnant. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers as they are very much needed right now.
Molly is doing great! She is right on track as far as her growth goes and her kicks and punches are getting stronger and stronger. I will be 28 weeks tomorrow. We are so excited about her becoming part of our family and today really scared us becuase I honestly had not expected it. But hopefully with lots rest and lots of prayers we will not meet her for a few more months.

Nursery

2009-03-30T19:40:00.001-07:00

So, after seeing the pictures I posted of the nursery I decided I needed to get motivated. I found the curtains yesterday and Bj hung them for me tonight (he is working hard for the husband of the year award or as he says he already has it!). He also mailed the cushions for the rocking chair to Polly today so that she can recover them. I am so thankful she was able to do it for us because I am not sure I would made it through it. I think I am officially going to give up sewing! I have finished one door of the chifferobe and now am not happy with it...not sure what I will do now. Like before these pictures help me see what else I need. Next on the list is a rug, bookcase and a lamp. I have also with Bj's help rearranged the furniture in the room just about every way possible and am still not sure what to do. It is such a hard room to arrange just because it is so small and has one almost full wall of windows and another of doors.

I will be 27 weeks tomorrow and can't believe that we have made it this far already! I have been feeling great and am no longer going to sleep at 8:00. I go back to the Doctor next Monday.

26 weeks

2009-03-25T07:41:00.000-07:00

Life is wonderful! I had another great check-up this week and my belly is still growing away. I am now 26 weeks! Molly's kicks and punches are getting stronger and stronger every day. I have not been able to tell a punch from a kick but am always trying to. We have started working on the nursery and are making progress at a very slow pace. The bed and changing table are up and ready but the chifferobe and rocking chair still have a ways to go. I have been trying to sew myself but am so messy at it that I get frustrated and put it down for weeks. I will get it finished and will post pictures when I do. In the mean time here are a few of the unfinished projects.

You really can't tell much from this picture except that I really need to get curtains!

Here is the rocking chair but the cushions have to be recovered so I just have the fabric laying on them.

I have mentioned before that we have been given many many clothes, blankets and bibs. It is wonderful and I don't think Molly will have to wear the same thing twice very many times if any at all. We are so thankful! Now I must find a place to put it all. Once I get them organized I will post some pictures.

We are also so happy that Spring is here and have really been enjoying the beautiful weather! Bj has just returned a bit early from a very rainy fly fishing trip in NC. My mom came and spent a few days with me while he BJ was gone. Here are few recent pictures of Caroline, Alen & Bodie one day when they stayed with us for a little while. Bodie loves Caroline and will let her basically do whatever she wants to him as you can see.

23 weeks & I just keep growing!

2009-03-07T16:20:00.000-08:00

As you can tell I am growing away (I guess that means Molly is too)! I have been feeling her kicking more and more everyday. I love it! Everything is still going great! This pregnancy has really been a blessing and we are so excited about our growing family. We go back to the doctor on Monday so check back and hopefully we will have new ultrasound pictures.

So, I had to fire the place I normally get things momogrammed. Really it is not as much the mistake you see above but because they have moved and it is now really out of my way. I took a couple of onesies and burp clothes to get monogrammed and as you can see they got the burp clothes right and the onesies wrong. I was so disappointed because they were so cute. Oh well! I am planning on going to see the Lamm in a few weeks and will take her new onesies (plus a few other things) to monogram correctly!

Checkup

2009-02-23T11:16:00.001-08:00

Our Check-up was great today! Molly seems to be very healthy and developing perfect. Her heartbeat was around 158. I am also doing great. I actually had the best cervical length today that I have had since the cerclage. We love getting to see her during the ultrasounds! She seems to be a little more cramped than she has in past weeks because today her legs were up around her head. I go back again in 2 weeks.

Sweet profile!

In this picture it looks like she is sleeping with her hands folded on the side of her face..so sweet!

And this picture is just to confirm that she is definitely a girl.

Molly Katherine

2009-02-17T17:46:00.000-08:00

We have finally decided on a name! Bj and I really have not had a problem disagreeing on a name just actually picking one out (I have had more of the problem than him). I had wanted her to have a classic name but maybe one that was not popular. We both had really liked Margaret and we would call her Maggie but I have a little bit of an issue with her not going by her actual name. I am not sure why it was an issue for me but I do know that my entire life I have had to correct people on how my name is said and spelled...it gets old after a while. At one point we had talked about Molly and I am not sure why we ever strayed away but Sunday night we were talking and I remembered Molly. And so we thought about it for a few days and have decided that we will name her Molly Katherine Bowling. We love the name and I know that we will not meet her until the end of June but the name seems to already fit!

A little retail therapy...

2009-02-14T06:09:00.000-08:00

So, I have had a little retail therapy for a little nervous energy! It has all been in good fun for Miss Maggie's nursery (no we have not made the final decision on a name yet but that is what we have been calling her). In the past few weeks I have been cleaning out the guest room (which will be Maggie's room) and have made good progress. There is very little left in there that is not going to stay which is great since that room seemed to be a catch all before. Once the room was clean I decided it was time to think about decorating! And so it all got a jump start when I found a cottontail fabric that I just love and has continued from there. I had wanted to do the cottontail fabric for the all the bedding but decided that it was too expensive. So one day this week I found a solid pink bumper, bed skirt, sheet and coverlet at a really good price so I bought it thinking I could use the cottontail fabric as a accent fabric in the room. Then yesterday at lunch I decided to stop in a fabric store around the corner from work to see what they had. Well, they had the cottontail fabric but in a different color way. I went ahead a bought a few yards thinking it would work especially for the price. Well, I got it home and compared it to the other and I am now regretting not waiting. The fabric I bought is a lot more cream and has brighter colors which may end up working okay.

Thanks to Lyndy and Christian I am already pretty well stocked on most things. Lyndy is giving us Emma's baby bed, changing table, bassinet, swing, highchair, car seat, pack-n-play, lots of clothes, bottles, blankets and monitors! Christian has given us at least 3 years worth of clothes! We are so thankful for everything.

Here are the some pictures...

So this is the fabric that I originally fell in love with.

This is the fabric that I have purchased.

The bedding

Baby Book...I found this book and just fell in love it with it. You would think finding a baby book would be easy but it is not. I guess because so many people scrapbook that that is what most people use but I am too messy for scrapbooks!

20 weeks and kicking

2009-02-13T12:38:00.000-08:00

Wow, how time flys! I can't believe that I am already at 20 1/2 weeks. Everything is going great and we are so very thankful. I have been able to feel the baby moving and kicking for a week now. Bj has also been able to enjoy feeling her move a little. It is such an amazing feeling and it was something that I had really been looking forward to. Along with us being able to feel her moving, my belly has really grown in the past week or so! We go back to the doctor in about a week and as usual I am ready. Although I have to admit that I am not near as anxious as I usually am...which is major progress for me. But please continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers as we still have a long way to go.

In case anyone is wondering we have not made the final decision on a name yet but are really leaning toward Margaret (Maggie) Katherine Bowling (even if most of my family doesn't like it)!

Why is it so hard to pick a name?

2009-02-04T09:03:00.001-08:00

29th Birthday and 18.5 weeks pregnant

Since we thought we were having a boy, I hadn't really thought of any girls names. Now I am ready for this little girl growing away in my belly to finally have a name. Here is what we like so far

Kate Elizabeth Bowling

Margaret ( Maggie) Elizabeth Bowling

Margaret (Maggie) Katherine Bowling (Maggie Kate ?)

My favorite so far and Bj seems to agree is Margaret Katherine! We are going to give it a few more days just to make sure. But like I said I am ready for this baby to have a name!

18 week ultrasound & a nice suprise!

2009-01-29T17:11:00.001-08:00

We have a very healthly baby GIRL!!!! And had a great doctor's appointment today. We got to enjoy seeing our baby moving all around while they looked closely at each sweet little body part. The ultrasound tech was wonderful in taking the time to explain to us what everything was. She weighs 9 oz and is measuring right on track. My cervix still looks great. We are thrilled that the baby is healthy and is a little girl. Now we must decide on a name. We are pretty sure that the middle name is going to be Elizabeth but are not set on a first name yet. We have plenty of time to figure it all out. I can't wait to start feeling her move! The doctor said it should be any day now. The picture of me is from today before we went to the doctor. And all the other pictures are the baby of course. We never really got a great profile shot because she always either had her arm or hand in front of her face. I love the picture of her legs!

Oh, I just can't wait!!

2009-01-26T17:33:00.000-08:00

6 weeks

8 weeks

10 weeks

12 weeks

I thought I would share these pictures because we think it amazing to see how much the baby grows in just two weeks . We just can't wait to see the baby again at our 18 week check-up Thursday 1/29. As many of you already know at my 15 week check-up they we were not able to tell the sex of the baby even though at 12 weeks it looked like a boy. So much so the lady doing my ultrasound said she was 80% to 90% sure it was a boy. We should be able to tell for sure this week! Everything is going great! I have started feeling better and really have no complaints. We feel very blessed and are so thankful for a healthy pregnancy. Of course I will update everything again on Thursday!!

Valentin Lopez V

2008-12-28T19:01:00.000-08:00

Baby Alen is here and we couldn't be more thrilled! He was born 12/27/2008, weighed 7lbs 7 ounces, was 19" long and has a head full of dark hair! Mom and baby are both doing great. As you can tell his big sister and Uncle BB were in love at first sight!

Also everything went great with my cerclage on Monday and have not had any problems since. I actually have felt great but am still trying to continue to take it easy as much as I can. We are very thankful that the pregnancy is going so well!

What a great Christmas gift!

2008-12-19T14:46:00.001-08:00

Today I went for a check up before I have my cerclage on Monday and we got a great Christmas gift! While the lady was doing the ultrasound she ask me if I wanted to know what I was having and of course I said yes. I had not expected this since I am only 12 weeks along but had heard that you can tell earlier with boys than girls and as you can see we are definitely having a little boy! It was a little bitter sweet because BJ wasn't there to share my excitement but I did call him first chance I got. We couldn't be more thankful for a healthy baby and so excited about his arrival in late June or early July! As you may can tell by the blog name we are going to name him Clark but are not set on a middle name yet. We do have a few picked out and I think I will let BJ make the final decision.