Welcome Hannah Lynn!!!

our baby girl, Hannah Lynn Doyle is here!!!! it's already been 5 weeks since her birth!!!! time flies when you're having fun! and we're having a blast! :) here's one of hannah's first photos taken in the hospital.


hannah was born at North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida on Wednesday, May 21st at 1:43am. she weighed 7lbs 15oz and measured 21 inches long! she's our beautiful angel...our pride and joy!

here's a link to see pictures of her first week! hopefully i'll post some recent ones soon! i'm also seriously thinking about making a blog especially for her.

anyway thanks for looking! we are completely in LOVE with our baby!!!! she is so sweet and perfect and adorable in every way!

other special may events

of course we all know mother's day was last sunday, may 11. i'm not technically a mother yet but i still received a few cards and happy wishes. brian & wendy sent me a "mother-to-be" card, lindsay got me a mother's day card and a package of fun size snickers (yum!) and one of our neighbors on the street brought me a mother's day card as well! the roses in the vase came from our backyard...so pretty! and the bowl contained the snickers (but not for long!).


adam made me cupcakes. i'm not a big fan of frosting so he left them unfrosted for me :) i took a picture of them but they aren't very pretty (since there was no frosting)....they tasted amazing though! he also let me buy a vera bradley bag to use as the baby/diaper bag!!! we went to the mall on mother's day to pick it up. :) these bags are so expensive but fortunately we had some gift money to help us out. we had been searching for a bag for months and it was very stressful because we couldn't settle on anything! it's so nice to have a bag now! and it's all packed and ready for the hospital! :)


another special day in may was monday, the 12th. adam and i were married two years ago! we went on a nice dinner date to Chutnees in gainesville..."fusion of flavors from india". this equals very yummy food! we love going out for indian cuisine. our favorite restaurant is in the process of moving to a new location and it's taking forever! but it was fun to try out some place new. the food was just as delicious! we seriously just need to learn how to make our own indian dishes!

we had a wonderful anniversary though, reminiscing on the past two years of marriage and also the past 7.5 years we've been in love. :) we still have so much to learn, especially as we add "parenthood" to the mix but we are so excited and feel blessed to have one another and the Lord to see us through it all. i love adam. he's a wonderful hubby and is going to make a terrific papa.

the waiting game

well it's may now....where has the time GONE!? adam and i are so excited! we can't get this baby girl off our minds. we can't wait to meet her! the due date is TOMORROW (may 17)!!!! it's hard to believe we're already here! and i could go into labor at any time!!!

baby update: we had another ultrasound at 36 weeks 6 days, back on 4/25 to check baby's position, since she had been laying transverse for a few weeks. and we found out she had finally assumed the vertex position!!!! so praise the Lord! i remember praying the night before our appointment as i felt our baby girl move around. i had never felt her move like that before! it was incredible! so that was a huge relief and answer to prayer! God is so good and so is his timing. :) here is a profile shot of our baby from our ultrasound. she's getting big! and notice how she's pursing her lips! so cute!

we had our 39 week appointment this morning and nothing too new to report. we scheduled another checkup for next friday (if our baby girl hasn't arrived by then). i have no idea whether i'm dilated or effaced at all. i decided not to find out...less anxiety this way. i figure i'd either be disappointed with the progress and start worrying about induction or too excited and more impatient. she'll come when God says so. and his timing is good and perfect! so we're trying to be as patient as possible! i've been praying for months that she will come after may 12 and before or on her due date. this weekend would be great! :)

baby room has come a long way these last couple weeks. my mom came up and made window treatments, closet draperies and a crib dust ruffle using fabrics we had chosen for her quilt (that lindsay made). these items add so much to the room!!! now we just need to put something on the walls. we also got a floor lamp, a night stand and some plastic storage. all baby's clothes and linens are washed and organized and put away. the portable playard (pack n play) is set up in our bedroom, all ready for baby girl! hopefully i'll get around to posting some pictures of everything.

well it's been a waiting game for 3 weeks now (baby is considered full-term at 37 weeks). i didn't expect her to come 3 weeks early or even 2 weeks early. but this last week has been the hardest wait yet! we've been slightly anxious since realizing she could come at any time! i started feeling some menstrual-cramp type pains last saturday. they come and go and they really aren't that painful. i have no idea if they are Braxton Hicks or something else. it definitely feels like stuff is happening though and that my body is preparing for labor. it's been hard to do anything these days...moving around is getting even tougher and i'm starting to feel a lot more aches and pains everywhere. i really have enjoyed pregnancy but i'm just too excited to meet our baby! :)

one month to go!

we're only a few weeks away from meeting our baby girl!!!! how exciting!!! it's been a fun ride and i will definitely miss being pregnant but i cannot wait to hold and love and care for the new addition to our family! i am so excited to be a mama!!! :)

the baby room is coming along: the room is painted, the new window blinds are installed, the crib, changing table, and the glider are all set up. i'd like to put some decorations up. and we still need a lamp for the room. but progress is being made each week!!!! :)

still on the "to do" list:
-wash baby clothes, linens, covers
-call the pediatrician
-pack bags for the hospital
-organize everything!
-clean house!!
-finish shopping (still need a diaper bag and nursing bra)
-cook and freeze a bunch of meals for after baby comes
-make a call list
-get last-minute advice from BTDT moms (been there done that)
-update pregnancy journal (i've been so bad about this)
-get a pedicure!!!
-lots of other things i cannot remember...lol

my 36 week appointment is april 25. then it's weekly appointments til the end! i still have to get the group b strep test, and i think they'll start internal exams at this next visit or the one after. we found out at an ultrasound during our 34 week visit that our baby is laying in the transverse presentation (sideways in the uterus). her head is on my right side, her bum is on the left side, and her feet are toward my cervix. we think she's been in this position since 30 or 32 weeks. the midwives seem optimistic that she has time and room to move so we'll see! i'm praying she moves head down in time for a natural delivery! i'm trying my best to trust the Lord with this situation cause He's the one in control. :) adam is optimistic which is definitely a big encouragement! babies can flip around at any time, even at the last minute! so we'll keep you posted. i'm hoping she turns SOON!!!!

other stuff: childbirth class this past week...we were given a tour of the labor & delivery floor at north florida regional women's center. it was so fun to see all the rooms and "familiarize" ourselves where everything is located. :) we'll be there really soon!! we have two more childbirth classes, then a breastfeeding and newborn care class after that.

baby shower #2!!!!

my lovely sister lindsay hosted baby shower #2 at our house in gainesville on saturday, april 12! we had close to 40 friends attend, most of them from our church here. but we had several out-of-towners and a few repeats from the first shower! there was lots of food, a few games, delicious cookie cake, and tons of fun! adam and i thoroughly enjoyed ourselves and feel so blessed to have so many friends! thanks to everyone!!

yay for food!


cookie cake :) my name was spelled wrong and i didn't even notice til i saw this picture later. lol


baby shower game


baby pool...when will our little one get here?


beautifully wrapped presents


me and my sister. i love her so much!!


everyone's packed in


haha...isn't that cute?


i can't get this picture to rotate....but this is my lovely friend kim and my newest friend madelyn born on march 11. she's one month old!


me and my bff kimberly!


some more expecting mothers!!! heather in october, andrea in july and lauren in august!
yay for more first-time-mommies-to-be!


dirty diapers...what did baby eat? lol. so gross


gifts to our little one


some of our favorite college students!


this is a manly shower!


yay for lindsay's "dream team"! you did it!
seriously, i am so thankful for all your help!!!
(can you believe my profile in this pic!? holy cow...honestly, holy COW!)

baby shower #1!!!!

my wonderful mom threw me a baby shower in palm harbor on saturday, april 5. she made a beautiful cake and some yummy treats. some of her friends, my friends, and some of adam's family members attended! here are some pictures from the day!

isn't this an amazing cake!? it was so delicious too!!!

my sister-in-law wendy and niece madison made the trip down from south carolina!

me and my beautiful sister Lindsay!

shower game: who can guess how big my belly is....my mom was WAY off!!!

presents! i'm showing off these adorable foot rattles! they are too cute!


some wonderful guests


here's me stuffing my face while everyone stares at me..lol!


more guests...my mom-in-law (far left) and two of adam's cousins (to the right)




i am so excited to be a mom!


last but not least...my mom's dog charlie confined to the loft wishing he could join everyone. at least he got watch from bird's eye view.

new life under construction

ever since seeing our baby girl on the ultrasound, the Lord has reminded me over and over of what an Awesome Creator He is. the day after the ultrasound, adam and i went on a solitude retreat with other leaders and church staff members at a state park not too far away. we spent hours in nature, alone with God in an effort to hear his voice, listen to his words and praise Him for his works.

i love nature. i love the outdoors. i love seeing God's creation. i love trees, mountains, oceans, beaches, and especially sunsets. i feel so close to Him when i get outside and see His beauty. but lately, all these things don't even begin to compare to this new life he is constructing inside me. humans are his most prized creations! he spends a great deal on each of us...especially in the beginning, forming our bodies, and molding our personalities.

on the solitude retreat, i read the chapter titled "content to be me" in Calm My Anxious Heart. linda dillow shares a prayer she prayed for her yet-to-be-born granddaughter based on psalm 139. it spoke directly to me and i prayed along with it for my little one growing inside me:

"O God, I praise You that You are intimately acquainted with all her ways. I thank You that You have gone before her and followed her and that You placed Your hand of blessing on her head. This knowledge overwhelms me with gratitude. I thank You.

Right now, You, the Master Weaver, are forming her personality and emotional makeup, weaving them together in my daughter's womb. Wonderful are Your works!

You know all about my granddaughter. You are knitting together her body, soul, and spirit. As a crafter creates intricate embroidery stitches, You are superintending every detail of her beautiful design.

You have prerecorded all the days set before her on this earth. Already You are preparing her portion and her cup.

O God, You are great! I praise you! You have created who she is to be but also what she is to do. You have created her to fulfill a unique plan ordained especially for her. Truly my grandchild is fearfully and wonderfully made. I praise You for Your awesome work. "

i have nothing to worry about since God is creating my little one. he knows all her days and he is fearfully and wonderfully making her! and this goes for all of us...he has created each of us and truly knows us. how awesome!!!

calm my anxious heart

one of my favorite christmas gifts i received this year is a book called Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow. i have heard of this book for some time but never had the opportunity to read it. i started it just days after christmas during some down time we had at the faithwalkers conference.

during the first few pages, linda mentions a "prescription for contentment" that a godly woman who served God in africa tried to follow:

-never allow yourself to complain about anything--not even the weather.
-never picture yourself in any other circumstances or someplace else.
-never compare your lot with another's
-never allow yourself to wish this or that had been otherwise
-never dwell on tomorrow--remember that [tomorrow] is God's, not ours.

how hard it is for women to follow these things...we complain about so much, especially the weather. we picture ourselves in a different place in life almost every day! we're always comparing ourselves to others and what we have and what we don't have. it's so sad!!

i've been meditating on these ever since that afternoon i first read them. it has really helped me with my thought life. i've shared this with many of the girls around me too in hope that it would also challenge them in their thought life. it is so important to be content and not to worry

i'm so glad linda dillow wrote this book. and i hope to share more of what i've gotten out of it so far. and i recommend it to every woman.

It's A GIRL!!!

our BIG ultrasound on january 4th went extremely well! it was SOOOO exciting! we're expecting a little baby girl! and she is so beautiful. the sonographer took all her measurements, checked her 4-chamber heart and her brain. it was so cool seeing her and watching her move around. and so incredible seeing her arms, legs, fingers, hands and feet! we even saw the lens in her eye! we could also see her spine, ribcage, stomach and her little heart beating. :) i could feel her moving around...she seems to be so active in there! and how wonderful it is to be able to say "she" and "her" instead of "it"! adam is so thrilled too :) he was sitting in a chair at the end of my bed, squeezing my ankle while we were looking up at the monitor. "that's our little one!!!" he seemed to be saying to me. he is so happy. he's going to be such an incredible father.

it was about 5 minutes before the sonographer announced we are having a girl. it was so exciting to find out!!! the lady was trying to get a good shot of in between her legs to show she's a girl but our baby kept her feet together like a modest one! :) she's already so adorable to me! the lady did have a hard time checking our baby's tailbone area to see the bottom of her spine. she had to shake my belly a few times in an effort to get the baby to move! i wonder if she'll be stubborn like her mommy! lol. we were given a dvd of part of the ultrasound as well as a few printed pictures to take with us. you can see the video at our website www.adamandmeredith.com.

it was such a joyful day! my sister lindsay got to come with us. we originally wanted her to take a video showing our initial reaction to seeing our baby on the ultrasound for the first time but the room was dark and the sonographer said we weren't allowed to film anything. i'm so glad she got to come anyway. she's going to be a great aunt to our little one. :)

i had my regular checkup with the midwife following the ultrasound. i was so excited that my blood pressure had risen to 126/86! they had me lay down on my left side to see if it would drop and it did right away. everything is looking great though and our baby's measurements are right on schedule. we couldn't be more excited and more thankful for this gift from God. this whole pregnancy and keeping track of the development just blows my mind! God is so cool! :)

i've got more posts coming soon...there's so much to say!

halfway there

pregnancy is so cool. especially this part of it. they say you're able to feel your baby move for the first time anywhere from 16-20 weeks along (closer to 20 weeks for first-time moms). so beginning around 15 weeks, i would sit or lie down really still in an effort to see if i could feel anything. and from time to time, i would feel twinges but nothing like they describe in the books (fluttering or gas bubbles) so i was never certain if it was actually our baby moving. but on christmas eve, while sitting outside around the fire with my family and some hot chocolate, i felt about 5 "kicks" in a row and i knew right away it was Baby. :) i was 19 weeks along then and i have felt Baby move everyday since. the kicks were so frequent yesterday while i was driving, they made me laugh out loud. feeling our baby move around inside is so incredible...there are no words to describe it. but it brings me so much joy. the bond between mother and child is forming and we only have 20 more weeks til we meet face to face!!! i am SO EXCITED!!!

and tomorrow is our scheduled ultrasound!!! lindsay is coming along with adam and me to our appointment. she'll be videotaping our reactions to seeing our baby on the screen. this is our very first ultrasound and probably the only one we'll have, assuming everything looks good and they get all the measurements they need. and as long as the baby cooperates, we'll be able to find out if our baby is a boy or girl!!!!! i'll be back later to post the results!

it's 2008!!!

so it's the new year! hope you all have a happy one. it's gonna be a pretty big year for adam and me. i can't believe all that is about to change. here's a brief look at what is to come:

1/4-our baby's first ultrasound! hopefully we find out if we're having a boy or girl :)
1/9-adam turns 24! happy birthday!

5/12-adam and i celebrate our 2nd wedding anniversary!
5/17-our estimated delivery date!

7/?-jason, joy, ethan & laurel move to russia!

10/8-my 25th birthday...1/4 of a century! eek!

so of course, the most exciting thing is that we're having our baby this year...i'm so stoked!!! and getting quite nervous!!!! i am 20 weeks pregnant now...that means i'm halfway there!!! only 20 weeks to go! and our long-awaited ultrasound is in TWO days!!!!!!!

what a happy new year it will be!!! :)