Week 1

Norm wakes up with me at every night feeding, comes into Addie's room, and sits on the ottoman while she eats. It's pretty cute and it keeps me company and her awake (he likes to lick her feet while she eats). She got to also enjoy her first Halloween experience, she helped hand out candy and then we went over to my Aunt and Uncle's place to have a chili dinner. I also have found different ways to still get stuff done around the house and bring her along, hence her sleeping in the laundry basket when I'm carrying clothes around! :)

Addie's first week home

Going Home- Day 3

On Saturday, we got to bring Adelyn home to meet Norman! He was pretty excited and also not sure what to do with her. We got their introductions on video tape and it is quite funny. He spent the first 5 minutes just licking her, continuously (he really likes her head). I think they are going to be forever playmates when she gets a little older!

Adelyn Rae Julien

On Thursday, October 23rd, at 4:38pm, our little one came into this world. I know that we are updating our blog an entire MONTH later, but, needless to say, it's been quite hectic around here.

On Wednesday, the 22nd, Stef and I went in for my 40+ week check-up with Dr. Locher, where we were told that their was room at the hospital, and if we wanted, we could be induced the next morning. YES!! We got a call at 5:30 the next morning and showed up nervous and excited at the hospital at 7:30am. They broke my water around 9:00am (which is one of the grossest things I've ever experienced, I CANNOT imagine what it would be like to have your water break in PUBLIC!!!!), started the epidural around noon, the drip around 1:30, and by 4:29 (honestly), they told me to start pushing. It was just Stef and our sweet nurse (who is actually Corey C.'s cousin) helping me push. She started arriving so fast, when the doc finally arrived, he told me to NOT push through the next contraction so he could get scrubbed up. So after 9 minutes of pushing she was out and screaming! I told Stef, if our babies came that fast, I won't mind have LOTS more. We joked that she timed her entrance into the world perfectly (I was hoping I'd still make in time to order dinner, which I did!!)

She was 20 1/4 inches long, 7 lbs. 1 oz., full crown of hair, and nice long toes (like her mom and Great Grandpa Gene). I knew that day she was going to be a girl. We had discussed at length girl names, but hadn't agreed on ANY. We had had our boys name picked out since day one, but were pretty stuck on a girls name. Anywho, when she was born, we ended up not calling anyone (not even our family for 2 hours) or emailing because I was adamant that we needed to have her name before we could let everyone know. :( SORRY!!!! We ended up not even deciding on one until the next morning. We had chosen the name Adelyn, but were still figuring out the spelling. So Stef wrote 3 different spellings on my whiteboard in my room and let me look at them all night. I asked all the nurses and everyone who came in, which spelling they liked, and it worked, we had her name spelling chosen by that next morning.

Her name comes from my grandpa's (my mom's dad) grandma Adelade. We had toyed with that name, but liked a different variation of it better, Adelyn. I was sold since day one, but it had to grow on Stef and he ended up falling in love with it. Someday her nickname will be Addie, but we LOVE calling her her full name, Adelyn Rae, because it is so much fun to SAY!!!

40 + weeks & READY

Stef and I just had our final doc appointment this afternoon. It's a go!! Our doctor gave the permission to be induced tomorrow (I guess there's room at the Inn). I'm dilated 2cm and have been having kinda painful contractions all day. So watch, I'll go into labor tonight anyway! The hospital is going to call anytime between 5:30-8:30am tomorrow morning, and then our doctor is going to strip the membrane sometime before noon. So.... Baby J could have his/her birthday on October 23rd. If it's really stubborn, it may be the 24th! :) Another huge blessing is that our doctor is going to be at the hospital for 24 hours tomorrow (that's a LONG shift, but would be awesome if he could be the one to deliver Baby J). Stef and I are going to enjoy an evening of Papa John's pizza and watching a movie.

We love you all and can't wait to publish our next post of BABY J!!!!! Keep us in your prayers! God Bless, Stefan, Betsy, Baby J, and Norm

39 1/2 weeks & Waiting

Norman has found a new favorite resting place. We got a super comfy blanket from IKEA that he has taken a liking to. Everyday when we get home from work, he's curled up with it. :)

So... after a lot of panic, rushing around, and hurriedly packing our hospital bag, Baby J has decided to stay put for the time being. I'm EXACTLY in the same spot as two weeks ago, 1.5 cm dilated, 80-90% effaced, and at a total of 18 pounds. We keep wondering when it will be, but I guess that's the fun part. The baby is kicking and poking around a LOT lately, the doc says it makes sense because he/she has run out of room. :) We love you all and hopefully our next post will be of BABY J!!!

2nd Annual Momentum Boche Ball Tourney

Stef and I hosted our 2nd Annual Boche Ball Tournament this past weekend for the Momentum young peoples group at church. We had a blast! Linnea and Nate were the big winners of the night (Nate won last year, there might be a big fit to see who gets to be his partner next year). Stef made a single elimination bracket, but complained because we didn't start early enough. The boys think next year it should be a double elimination! We'll see about that. We had lots of good food, fellowship, and some bonfire time afterwards. We didn't get the camera out early enough, so sorry everyone, we didn't get a ton of pics!!! By the end of the night, Norm was exhausted and decided his new favorite bed place was our new chair (hence the green blanket covering it).

38 weeks & Baby J's room (almost ready)

Stef and I found a great deal on two new chairs. They are SOOOOO comfy! One gets to be in Baby J's room and the other replaced our blue plaid chairs in the family room (Norm was very upset to see these two go, but it was time). We also found a beautiful changing table on Craigslist about three weeks ago.

This pic is 1 day shy of Baby's 38th week! This past week I had a doc appointment on Wednesday morning, and was told that I am 1.5 cm dilated and almost 80-90% effaced. My co-workers can attest to my behavior the rest of that day!!! I was a nervous wreck, because I was sure that everytime I moved, my water was going to break. I practically walked down the hall with my legs crossed! I came home that night and had a mini panic attack. Stefan found me wandering the house after work, not able to get ANYTHING done. Being the sweet husband he is, we packed our hospital bag together, did a little baby laundry, and went to bed early. I had to finally realize that neither Stef, nor I, can control when Baby J is going to make his/her presence here on Earth. Only God knows Baby J's b-day! We are super excited when that day arrives. We love you all and miss you!!!! God Bless, Stefan, Betsy, Baby J and NORMAN (someone commented that his name has been eliminated from our goodbyes)

36 1/2 weeks

Less than ONE MONTH (if Baby J actually comes on his/her due date) away until we get to meet Baby J!!!!! So exciting! It has officially become impossible to put on and tie my shoes without grunting and getting winded. I had my first long doctors visit on Wednesdsay. So the specs... I gained another 6 POUNDS over the past two weeks, bringing my total to 19. Baby J's head is down (which makes sense because my pants require a lot of pulling up, so that I'm not "saggin" at school), I'm dilated 1 cm, and it's butt is right underneath my heart. We have a countdown started, t-minus 23 days and counting, YIKES!!! It is time to start solidifying some baby names (that would make me feel a lot better). Last night we went to the Hopkins Homecoming game with Anna and Nick. We had so much fun and it was great to see all my old students. They all wanted to pat my belly and say hi to Baby J. It has changed quite a bit since May. We love you all and can't wait to see you soon. I'll make sure Stef posts a few of his favorite pics from the Boundary Waters.

God Bless, Stefan, Betsy, & Baby J

1st Baby Shower

This past weekend our friend's Sarah and Trevor hosted a friends shower for Baby J and the two of us. It was a mix of friends from high school and my family. They were amazing hosts and we had so much fun. We thought we'd share some of the pics from the party. Nesting has truly began at the Julien household. We are having a blast getting ready for Baby J. We officially have a changing table (we'll post a pic later), diapers, crib, mattress and sheet. What else do you need? :) Love you all! I'm off to pick up my hubby. He just got back from the Boundary Waters and I'm sure he'll have some GREAT pics to post soon!

God Bless, Betsy, Stefan, and Baby J

New car and an almost done garden

Stef and I picked up our NEW Subaru Outback yesterday after work. Pretty fun stuff! It's our first family car. Baby J can now safely travel around MN. A guy is coming to purchase Stef's red truck tonight. I'm sure some tears will be shed. No more hauling big stuff!

Dan, my dad, and Stef moved almost all 40 cubic yards of dirt on Saturday into our new garden. It looks amazing and I can't wait to grow stuff, especially tomatoes next year!!! :)

34 weeks and "nesting" has begun

My belly has grown exponentially over the past 2 weeks. CRAZY!! :) I am officially at 34 weeks today. I had a doctors appointment yesterday and weighed in at +13 pounds. The baby measured a week behind (33 weeks along), but that is totally okay with me. Small baby means less pain!!!! :) I tried an experiment this doc appointment. Last time, I ate good old Coco Puffs right before my visit and Baby J's heartbeat was pretty fast. So this week, I had a nice calming bowl of Multigran Cheerios and it dropped like a fly. I don't know if it was a coincidence, but crazy non the less. I have my next appointment at 36 weeks.

Stef had a bit of a "nesting" craze on Sunday night and wanted to clean and fix up the baby's room. We really only have a crib, thought it would be fun to hang our curtains and tidy up! I promise to post a pic of Stef's new daddy diaper bag that he picked out at Target next week. The baby has been SUPER active and my coworkers and students love watching when Baby J sticks its butt up in the air.  It makes my belly all lopsided.  It looks really odd, and doesn't especially feel the best, but it is so cool that an actual baby, made with God's handy work, is in there moving around.  

All is well here in MN. We love you all and pray that God is blessing your lives! :) Stefan, Betsy, and Baby J