Bathtime

First Bath

Rubber Duckie Your the One....



Henry's first bath time pictures-- thought I would share.

Born May 9, 2011

Henry Thomas Dockendorf was born May 9, 2011 at 6:55am. He was 7lbs 14oz and 20 inches long. Here's his story:

Jared and I had decided to stay home from church on Sunday morning due to my decreasing comfort level in large crowds. When I woke up on Mother's Day (May 8) I just wasnt feeling like myself but I dont think I had been for awhile... being 10 months pregnant can really make things not feel well after awhile. ha! In order to cheer me up Jared told me to take a shower and we would go grab a bite for lunch. While getting ready my water broke at 1pm!!!!! SHOW TIME! Panic set in! After Jared calmed me down and we got the dogs settled in, off we went to the hospital...

We arrived at the hospital at 2pm. After the nurses got me all settled in on the monitors it was a waiting game. Because my water had broken I had to remain in the hospital bed which as time went on became very uncomfortable. Dr. Waller (doctor on call) came in to meet me and discuss the possibility of giving me Pitocin (an artificial hormone that mimics Oxytocin that induces labor). My birth plan was to have a natural birth without any medical intervention, and so I was told that they would give me 12 hours without Pitocin to see if there would be any cervical change... but if there hadnt been a great amount of change there was a risk that the baby could get an infection. So with little cervical change over a 10 hour period I had no other choice but to begin small doses of Pitocin at midnight. Let me tell ya, that really kicked things into gear! Around 5am I was in excruciating pain and close to 10cm dialated by about 6am mamma was ready to PUSH! Dr. Waller came into the room while I had begun pushing and decided that it would probably be long morning of pushing... but little did he know that Henry was ready to meet us! With only about 30-45 minutes worth of pushing he was finally here and absolutely perfect! God has truly blessed Jared and I with the most beautiful bundle of joy. I have never experienced a love for someone so intense like I have being a mother.

We spent a couple of nights in the hospital and were discharged on Wednesday afternoon... now the fun has begun! He is almost 3 weeks old and has settled into his looks and our hearts. It has taken quite a bit of adjustment at home to having a newborn, like running on only a few hours of sleep, and nursing every 2 hours... in between all of that are diaper changes and washing the never ending laundry pile. But I wouldnt change a thing. Last Monday was his 2 week pediatric visit and he weighed 8lbs 10oz! A big eater!

The Final Steps

My interior design semester is coming to a close... let's just say, this semester has been somewhat interesting. As a part of the design program the senior class has been asked to create individual memory boards that represent them, their work and accomplishments throughout the past 4 years. There have been so many ups, downs, ins and outs.... overall I know this is a valley that God has taken me through.

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep....

The nursery is complete! It is so exciting, and just what I had pictured in my mind. Now all it needs is a sweet little baby to add the finishing touch.







My dad's old baseball glove from high school



All Wrapped Up

With only 4 weeks to go the nursery is just about complete... I ordered my glider chair last week and it should be here in just a few days. Jared will have fun putting that together. =) He has been such a good sport with all my hormonal imbalances and nursery DIY projects.

The baby shower was such a huge success and the gifts were wrapped so beautifully... I have this "thing" for wrapping paper and bows, and so I tried to think of a creative way to re-use them..... Here is what I came up with using a bit of hot glue and a wreath!

Just a little added bonus of my own....

Cake Pops & Pinwheels

Last weekend Celes and Mom gave me a shower of blessings... The theme for the day was "A Little Man is on His Way." There were chocolate mustaches and tissue pinwheels. The decorations were beautiful! Everyone enjoyed the cupcakes, cake pops, and chocolate covered strawberries. Mom had put together Kristina's Baby Shower Bingo which was lots of fun due to the misinterpretations of the rules -- lots of laughs. We celebrated at Mother Kay's (my 95 year old grandmother) house which was extra special to me and an event that I will truly treasure. She wasn't able to be with us that day, but we did go and visit her that evening and told her all about it. She is very excited to have a little boy join the family.

Dessert Table (the night before)

Mom & friend Deb with Mother Kay