Happy Halloween

As most of you know, Halloween is one of Nick's favorite holiday's. Since we have a 3 week old baby, we will not be dressing up and celebrating this year. But, we had to have some Halloween spirit for Dylan's first Halloween!!!!!

Wow, 2 weeks already!

Sometimes it feels like Dylan just got here and other times Nick and I agree it feels like it's been months :) It has been a fabulous two weeks. I am loving my time home with him and simply cannot get enough Dylan. He changes everyday. He hair is getting darker, he is starting to fill out and I think he is getting longer. It is really amazing! Nick has started commenting that I take a ton of photos of the little guy. It's so hard not to!!!!! We've had a few milestones; his belly button fell off, he had his first real bath and his first outing into the real world! We made his Grandpa proud and took him to Home Depot :) We also had more visitors! Dylan met some more of his Aunties & Uncles last week. Thank you all for the wonderful food and gifts!

Meeting more Auntie's!

Auntie Camy

Auntie Anna
Auntie Cassie

Meeting my Great Grandparents!!!

Sunday's with Dad in my Niner's outfit watching football

Benito is learning to share his Grandma

1 week old!

Wow, time flies... I can't believe Dylan was born a whole week ago!! He is doing really well. We went to the pediatrician today and he got an A+! Dylan's world is in 3 hour increments. Every 3 hours we eat, poop, sleep and hang out awake for a few minutes. Then repeat. I'm lucky though. I'm sure he'll get his days and nights confused soon and we'll be up all night, but for now I appreciate this schedule.

Here are some recent pictures of the cutest baby in the whole world! :)

His first sponge bath at home!

He found his smile muscles!

Visitors!

Over the past 3 days, Dylan has built quite a fan club! He has had a lot of visitors that have all fallen in love with him! I don't blame them :)

We had a great first night at home. Sleeping in my own bed was an amazing experience. As was being able to sleep on my stomach again! Dylan did great as well. I think he likes it here :) Our first night home, we had our families over and they brought dinner. It was nice to relax and have everyone around. I also had my first beer in 9 months! Sad, I only finished 1/2 of it...

Today, the Brummets, Honore's & Sara Parr came to meet Dylan. It was a wonderful afternoon and he loved meeting his Aunties!

We also had some wonderful visitors in the hospital!

Auntie Renee & Uncle Marc

Auntie Julie

Auntie Kristin
Below are some of my parents pictures from the night Dylan was born!

Our families filled the waiting room

Waiting so patiently...

Finally! Dylan has arrived!

Dylan Nicholas Kerns has arrived!!!!

Dylan arrived at 8:02pm on October 9, 2008! He is a healthy & happy 6lbs 5oz and is 19.5" long. I was induced on Thursday morning at 5:30am. The day started off well, I had mild contractions and Nick and I spent the morning lounging around the hospital, watching TV and reading magazines. Around 2:00pm the contractions were getting pretty painful so I got a shot of pain medicine to help me relax and allow my body to continue to progress. Around 4:45pm the contractions were completely unbearable so I asked for an intrathecal. This numbed me from the waist down and allowed me to sleep for a few blissful hours. Around 7:00pm I woke up to find the intrathecal had not only worn off and allowed me to feel the contractions again, but I was fully dilated and these contractions were SERIOUS. I was informed that it was almost time to push and there was no time for more pain medicine... WHAT?!?!?!? I promptly told the nurse that I was not pushing this baby out without more pain medicine. I quickly realized that I had no choice in the matter. The baby was coming out with or without pain medicine! After a few choice words for the nurse and doctor, I began to push. Nick was the most AWESOME coach and there is no way I could've done this without him. I pushed for 45 LONG minutes and Dylan was finally born! It was the coolest thing I have ever experienced. The remainder of the evening went by in a blur. I had a bad reaction to the pain medicine and was sick all night. Nick took over baby duty until he had to go home. Thankfully I slept well and was recovered the next morning. We spent 2 nights total in the hospital and came home around 11am this morning. Dylan is absolutely the best thing in the whole world. So far he's been a great baby and we are so excited to start our lives at home!

I just got hooked up to the pitocin and still felt pretty good.

Our first family picture!
A very proud Kernal

Not feeling so hot after the delivery...

but he was worth it!
Nick feeding Dylan a few hours after he was born. I was in no condition to attempt breast feeding.

1 week to go!

Wow, that is a scary title! I am officially due in less than one week. Hopefully Thor knows that! I am hoping he makes his debut this Friday, 10/10. It's 6 years to the day Nick & I met at our friends Marc & Renee's birthday party. Do you hear that Thor, THIS FRIDAY! I am a little scared knowing that he could also come 3 weeks from now at the latest. I am doing everything I can to make sure that does not happen.


Today is my first day off of work and so far I'm enjoying myself. I slept in a little bit, cleaned up, took the dogs on a walk and updated the blog. So far, so good.


Here are some pictures of Julie & I from last Thursday. We are getting bigger by the minute!

37 weeks down, 3 to go (hopefully)...

I can't believe this baby is due in 3 weeks! I have mixed emotions about it. I am so excited to hold him and see what he looks like, but there is still so much to do before he comes! And there is still that whole "birthing" process to deal with. Nick says he is tired of the waiting game and ready for Thor. I'm still feeling good, although starting to slow down. Sleeping is alright but getting a little more uncomfortable. I can't really complain though because the first 36 weeks were so great. :) I'm also starting to get "the line" below my belly button. So far it's pretty light. Hopefully it stays that way. And, thankfully the belly button is still an inny!!! At our appointment last week, the doctor estimated the baby's weight at 5lbs. We are both doing great!


Here are some updated belly pictures for this week. The bare belly one is for you Tara!

Here is what I can see. I have officially lost my feet...

Oh wait, there they are! I can see them when I lay down.

Bob says "hi" :)

I did some minor work in the nursery. I made the crib skirt and window valance. By "made" I mean glued some ribbon on to plain white pieces. I couldn't find anything I liked so I decided to go custom! The valance needs a new bar but the silver one works for now.

Last week Nick & I took a few days off and drove to Southern CA. My doctor said this is my last outing. :) My cousin and her family were visiting from Texas so we spent a few days with them. They have a 14 month old daughter named Rylee and she is the cutest thing EVER! She is learning to walk and toddles around like a drunk :) It is the cutest thing. I'll post some pictures when I get them. We also attending one of Nick's friend's weddings. Congratulations Nick & Robyn! It was great to visit with friends we don't get to see all that often.