Eleven Months Have Flown By!

Eleven Months!

Sweet girl!

At Eleven Months, Julianne...
Wears size 3 disposable diapers!
Models 6-9 month clothing! She is getting to be really fit from all her activity! And she finally fits into some 0-3 month shoes!
Loves exploring everything, walking with someone or with her Dyna (her favorite pushing toy!). She stands up by herself and has even taken a few steps!!

She eats what mommy and daddy eat and LOVES steak!

She has SIX teeth!!!! 

Says MAMA, Papa, and Bah!!

Still has a full head of dark hair and brown eyes!
Weighs 19 lbs and is around 26" long...still!

As always, our lives have been running 100 miles per hour. Brian is working so hard at school, and we are both looking forward to May when he graduates. 7 years of straight school can wear on you quickly. He also played intramural flag football, and they made it to the semi championship game!! It was a fun last ride. He's playing volleyball now and is enjoying it, as always!!

I've been juggling quite a bit lately. I'm teaching 2 preps this year, handling all of the fundraising for cheer, and I just began my last class for my graduate degree. I will graduate in December with my masters - praise The Lord!! I need a break!

Julianne has been an active, fun loving, and talkative little girl. We are enjoying every moment...just wishing we could hold her this way forever. We are so lucky to have such a sweet baby, and we thank  God that she was given to us. 

Julianne is being such a strong baby while mommy and daddy go to work and school. We hate leaving her...and I'm pretty sure she doesn't like it either! My mom and mother-in-law keep her throughout the day, and she even stays with her best cousin, Hunter, every now and then! We're lucky to be surrounded by such love. 

We've been to two first birthday parties (Happy birthday Ethan and Atley!), the pumpkin patch, a first homecoming (go Cats!), a first PARADE (go Rams!), and much much more!! Julianne's 11th month has been a good one. I can't believe this is my second to last post for the year....my sweet angel is getting too big. I love her more every day, and knowing that God has such good things planned for her makes watching her grow up so sweet. I'm holding her in my arms right now as she snoozes herself to sleep....gazing at those sweet eyes makes me melt. I just LOVE these moments! 

Julianne, we love you more than you could ever know. Having you as a daughter is an honor and a joy. You'll always be our baby girl. Much love, sweetheart. 

From our family to yours...

Baby Girl is 10 Months Old!

Ten Months Old!

I had to post it - LOOK AT THAT PONY TAIL!

At Ten Months, Julianne...
Wears size 3 disposable diapers!
Models 3-6 and some 6-9 month clothing  (YES! She's gone down in size).  She is getting to be really fit from all her activity! And she finally fits into some 0-3 month shoes - her cute little feet are finally covered!
Loves patting glass windows, pulling up, standing up, and walking with her pusher! She stands up alone...until she realizes she IS...and quickly sits back down!

She eats baby food 3 times a day, and she LOVES to eat off of mommy and daddy's plates, too!

She has FOURRRRR teeth - that's two more than last month! She has the bottom two and the top two!

Says Mama, Papa, Buh Bye, and BA!!!!!! 

Feeds herself anything you will let her eat - she LOVES steak, turkey, all veggies, fruits, and bread.

Still has a full head of dark hair and brown green eyes!
Weighs 18 lbs and is around 26" long!

This month has put us into a very strict routine.  Here's what Julianne and I do on a daily basis:

5:55 am - Wake up, put on makeup, fix my hair, get dressed....and my sweet hubby brings me coffee and a smoothie at my vanity :)

6:45 am - Wake up Julianne, nurse her, and kiss her goodbye :(

7:05-7:10 am - Head to Work

7:35 am - Brian takes Julianne to the sitter

7:50 am - The first bell rings!

8:00 am - Julianne eats Breakfast!

9:00 am - Julianne takes a nap

11:15 am - Julianne eats LUNCH!

12:37 pm - Lunch bell rings, I RUN (literally...it's a sight) to my car, rush to the sitter, jump out of my car, plop into a chair, feed Julianne while eating a sandwich and some chips, put myself together, kiss Julianne goodbye, and head back to work

1:37 pm - 6th Period bell rings!

3:15 pm - Julianne feeds herself a snack

4:00 pm - Rush to the sitter...hold my baby for a few minutes, feed her, pack up Julianne, head home, and FINALLY....relax.

6:45 pm - Julianne eats DINNER!

8:00 pm - Bath time

8:30 pm - Bedtime routine...feed Julianne again...put her down

8:50 pm - Start grading, lesson planning, sometimes eating DINNER, showering, and cleaning the house....

It's a long day, but I LOVE being able to see my baby girl throughout the work day.  It makes it so much easier to know that I will get to see her from time to time.  Brian is JUST as busy with school and work, and we both do all we can to give her all our attention while she is awake.  We have barely had any time to sit down this month, but we figure that's why God gave Julianne to us while we are young - we can take it!

This month, Julianne, Brian, and I went to the ASU game at The Dallas Cowboys Stadium (or is it AT&T stadium now?....eek!).  It was SO much fun, and we had a great time cheering on the Rams from field level. We are so blessed to be a part of the alumni of Angelo State, and we will always bleed blue and gold.  Brian has the privilege of serving on the ASU Alumni Board of Directors this year, and we are enjoying all that comes with that honor.  

My cheerleaders are in full swing perfecting their nationals routine and preparing for games each week.  We are having a blast together, and I am reminded why God has placed me to be a teacher and a coach at this point in my life....as difficult as it may be.  Those precious girls light up my life and make me smile every day - I'll be forever grateful for their kind hearts!  

Guess what we are doing already?!?! PLANNING A FIRST YEAR BIRTHDAY PARTY! I can't handle the thought, but making decorations for my gorgeous angel is so much fun - I AM LOVING IT!!! I already look forward to the day when we are planning her wedding......although, I can wait....at least 25 years!! We are so excited for all that we have going on this next month - may it fly by so that Christmas comes soon!

We love you all - thank you for always being supportive and for helping Brian, Julianne, and me become all we want to be.  

From our family to yours...

9 Months Already!?

Nine Months!

At Nine Months, Julianne...
Wears size 3 disposable diapers!
Models 6-9 month clothing...and now she has been wearing 3-6 again. She is getting to be really fit from all her activity! And she finally fits into some 0-3 month shoes!
Loves exploring everything, pulling up, standing up, and walking along the couch! She even stands up alone! 

She eats baby food 3 times a day, and pears and spinach are still her current favorite! 

She has TWO teeth! We've been waiting for more, but they haven't come yet! 

Says MAMA!!!!!! Ohhhh....best feeling in the world! Poor thing cries when I leave, and it's awful! 

Feeds herself little puffs or yogurt melts at snack time each day! Daddy has also started feeding her small bites of table food. She LOVES steak!

Still has a full head of dark hair and brown green eyes!
Weighs a little over 17 lbs and is around 26" long...we think!! We have her 9 month appointment next week!

This month has been very busy with a TON of changes. We moved back from Mansfield and began our second big move of the summer! That's right...we are selling our house!!! We've moved into our new house, and when I say moved...I mean we sleep here, and we eat on paper plates. Yay! It's been an adventure for sure. 

Just a few days after getting home from Mansfield, I loaded little girl up with my mom, and we headed to New Braunfels for an AP training. Did I mention I'm teaching two subjects this year? I am now teaching English IV and English II Pre AP. whew! Little girl was a doll in the hotel and handled it like a champ. 

Since being back, I have been at work full time. As always, it is a depressing feeling to leave my angel, but the smiles and laughs I get when I return let me know that she still loves me! I hope I'm making her proud. 

Brian is doing well! He finished his clinical rotation and aced it...of course! He had his LAST first day of school yesterday....EVER!!! We can't wait for May -- graduation is so close!! 

We had a bittersweet month...already counting the days until Christmas. Only....we have a 1st year birthday to celebrate before then, and I just don't know if I'm ready for that!! Eek!

From our family to yours...

Eight Months Old!

Eight Months!

At Eight Months, Julianne...
Wears size 3 disposable diapers!
Models 6-9 month clothing...and finally fits into newborn and some 0-3 month shoes! She has teency toesies!! And she adorns precious bows and flowers of all colors :)
Loves crawling, pulling up, standing up, and walking with mommy and daddy!

She eats all baby food, but pears and spinach are her current favorite! She also drinks water fairly well from a sippy cup! 

She has TWO teeth!

Says MAMA!!!!!! Ohhhh....best feeling in the world! 

Feeds herself little puffs at snack time each day!
Adjusted so well to Mansfield and adores her big "sister," Marlee!

Loving having mommy home with her all day long! Wishing it didn't have to end...
Still has a full head of dark hair and brown green eyes!
Weighs a little over 17 lbs and is around 25.5" long...we think!!

This month has been a ride for Julianne! We have been all over the metroplex...including getting lost...twice! We have been to the zoo and more!

Julianne took her first family vacation with PPatti, PPaw, MoMo, Lenny, mommy, daddy, and HUNTER to Great Wolf Lodge! Boy did she love it!! She is totally a water baby. She laughed and splashed and played for four hours straight in the water - we were pooped! It was such a great time, full of memories and keepsakes to forever treasure. 

On Brian's 25th birthday last weekend, my parents came up, and we went to the Fort Worth zoo! It was a blast and definitely worth the trip - we had a great time. 

We have been shopping just about everywhere, and I'm pretty sure Julianne has become a bonafied city girl! We have truly enjoyed it here. This week, we will celebrate my birthday and enjoy every waking second we have with each other because school will begin this next month, and all 3 of us just hate it for me and for Julianne. We are ready for the day when I don't have to work. 

We are very sad about leaving our temporary home in Mansfield, especially the people we have been staying with for the last few weeks. Marlee has been a perfect match for J and has been such a good helper and babysitter, and Laura and Craig have been very kind and welcoming to us in every way. We're sad to leave but anxious to get back to our real home. We miss our families a lot!

Another fun month in the books for us - watching Julianne crawl, feed herself, and grow up is a joy and a blessing. We feel so lucky to have such a precious bundle. Love you, sweet girl. 

From our family to yours....

Look Who is 7 Months Old!

7 Months!

Too Cute!

At Seven Months, Julianne...
Wears size 2 disposable and size 1 cloth diapers!
Models 3-6 month clothing...and finally fits into newborn shoes! She has teency toesies!! And she adorns precious bows and flowers of all colors :)
Loves doing the army crawl...especially if she is crawling toward an iPhone!!

Eats just about any baby food on the planet and has TWO teeth!!!
She puts just about anything in her mouth to chew on...including her toes!!
Adores going outside, playing with her toys, watching Mickey Mouse, shopping with mommy, and laughing with daddy! She will pull herself up if she has her block toy to hold onto!
Loves standing up!! She also likes taking steps and walking short distances.
Loving having mommy home with her all day long!
Still has a full head of dark hair and brown green eyes!
Weighs a little over 16 lbs and is around 25" long...we think!!

This month has been the BIGGEST for Julianne. She has been one busy busy girl! First, she was the most precious flower girl for her Auntie Sarah and Uncle Sam on June 8th. Julianne modeled a precious tulle dress that made mommy and daddy swoon! She was sooooo good throughout the entire wedding and never made a peep!

Then, about 4 days later, Julianne and I moved to Mansfield, TX to be with Brian during his clinical rotation for PT school. We have enjoyed our time in Mansfield. We love the nearby parks, shopping, the aquarium in Dallas, and of course, the family time. 

On June 16th, Brian celebrated his first Father's Day!! We had a great day together golfing and being a family. Julianne and I are so very blessed to have Brian in our lives. He makes us both feel so special, and we love him more than he knows!

Then, on June 26th, Julianne got a brand new cousin!! Hunter Leonard Christo was born to my sister and her husband, and we were able to be in Angelo for his birth! It was a great day and was the beginning of many memories together!

This month has been one to remember, and I won't ever forget all we have done and the memories we have made. I am so glad to be able to stay home with Julianne this summer. I am getting way too spoiled and don't like to think about August! 

In the meantime, I will just enjoy every little moment I get with this precious baby girl! Happy 7 months, sweetheart!

From our family to yours...

Our Sweetie is 6 Months Old!

Six Months!

Too Cute!

Look at That Smile!

At Six Months, Julianne...
Wears size 2 disposable and size 1 cloth diapers!
Models 3-6 month clothing...barely fits into newborn shoes! She has teency toesies!! And she adorns precious bows and flowers of all colors :)
Loves crawling backwards, scooting, sitting up, and trying to pull up! She loves her teethers!
She puts just about anything in her mouth to chew on...including her toes!!
Adores going outside, watching Mickey Mouse, looking at pretty lights (especially the mosaic one at P Patti's), watching Remi and Riley, and dancing with daddy!
Can roll over from her tummy to her back and her back to her tummy over and over!! She has also picked up crawling....backwards!!! She will pull herself up if she has her block toy to hold onto!
Loves standing up!!
Sleeps through the night!
Misses mommy and daddy during the day, but is super strong when they're gone!
Still has a full head of dark hair and blue green eyes!
Weighs a little over 16 lbs and is around 23" long...we think!!

We have had a great month with our girl! We have had many firsts and some wonderful memories!

The most incredible moment was waking up on Mother's Day, knowing that I had the privilege to raise such an incredible daughter. We had a wonderful Mother's Day. Brian and Julianne brought me breakfast in bed, and later in the day, Brian took a photoshoot of Julianne and me! It was just perfect. 

This month, we have also taken Julianne to her first pool! She looked absolutely PRECIOUS in her bathing suit! We have hung out outside almost every weekend this month and just took some special time to be a family. In four days, I will be off from work for the summer! Finally, some girl time with my sweetie!

At the end of this week, Brian moves to Fort Worth for his second residency. Julianne and I will follow him the next week after cheer camp and Sarah and Sam's wedding. 

We are also trying desperately to pack up our house because we are moving houses this summer. We will put ours on the market and try to sell it while we are in Fort Worth. What have we gotten ourselves into!?! We aren't quite sure how it all will play out, but we are ready for it...whatever the future holds, we will take!!

The most incredible moment of this month happened yesterday, May 26th. Brian and I, along with our families and Julianne's godparents, dedicated Julianne to the church and to raising her to be a woman of God. It was a magical moment to hold her in our arms, dressed in pure white, knowing that we will see her like that again someday...

Tears of joy rolled down my face as I prayed over her sweet, innocent head. She is a blessing from The Lord, and we give Him all the praise and thanksgiving. We couldn't ask for a better gift, and we are humbled by His grace and His trust in giving us one of His most beautiful creations. I have attached a photo of her in her white gown and handmade head piece. I hope one day to use the head piece in her wedding...gosh, what a day it will be!

I've said it before, but I will say it again...Praise God for this little girl!

From our family to yours...

5 Months Already!!

Five Months!

At Five Months, Julianne...
Wears size 1 disposable and cloth diapers!
Models 0-3 month clothing and small 3-6 month clothing...STILL doesn't fit into newborn shoes! I'm serious...poor girl will have the smallest feet! And she adorns precious bows and flowers of all colors :)
Loves sitting up and rolling over from her tummy to back and back to tummy. She reaches and tries to scoot for toys! She loves playing with her Bambi toy!
Has figured out that she has FEET!! She loves holding them and putting them in her mouth!! She's also doing a wonderful job on her tummy!
Adores going outside, watching Disney Channel (specifically Doc Mcstuffins, Jake and the Never Land Pirates, and Micky Mouse Clubhouse), and shopping with her mommy! Mickey Mouse can cheer her up...even in the worst of her tantrums!
Can roll over from her tummy to her back and her back to her tummy over and over!!
She also sits up all by herself!!
Loves standing up!!
Sleeps 10 hours straight at night!
Misses mommy and daddy during the day, but is super strong when they're gone!
Still has a full head of dark hair and blue green eyes!
Weighs a little over 14 lbs and is around 23" long!

This month has been a tough one! We love our sweet girl so much, but we are having a hard time balancing all we have going on. Working, going to school, coaching cheer, planning parties, and trying to be the best parents we can be has left Brian and I utterly exhausted! We are in need of some good naps!

We wouldn't trade any of it for the world. Julianne completes our lives so very much, and we couldn't imagine being without her. We are so thankful for what God worked in our lives for us to be able to have her. She is incredible.

We are greatly looking forward to next month because by the end, we will be done with work and school and on to our great adventure in Fort Worth. We have a ton to look forward to this summer. We will become aunt and uncle sometime in June! And we will have another brother on June 8th. This year has been so good to us, and we just know it will only get better from here.

Until then, we will keep enjoying each smile, laugh, twinkle, hug, and slobbery kiss from our precious angel. Praise God for children.

From our family to yours...

I Can't Believe It, But She's 4 Months Old!!

Four Months!

Love that Laugh

When She is This Cute, It's Hard To Pick Just One!

At Four Months, Julianne...
Wears size 1 disposable and cloth diapers!
Models 0-3 month clothing...STILL doesn't fit into newborn shoes! She is a teency tiny little foot model! And she adorns precious bows of all colors :)
Loves sitting up in her Bumbo and reaching for her toys, laying on her tummy and pushing up, playing the piano on her Kick N Play mat, sitting and laughing at mommy and daddy!
Has figured out that she has HANDS!! She loves staring at them!! She's also doing a great job at holding her bottle while mommy is at work!
Adores bath time, going outside, watching Disney Channel (specifically Doc Mcstuffins, Jake and the Never Land Pirates, and Micky Mouse Clubhouse), and shopping with her mommy!
Can roll over from her tummy to her back over and over!
Lifts her head up and has full head control! She also sits up by herself for 5-10 seconds at a time!!
Loves standing up!!
Sleeps 10 hours straight at night!
Misses mommy and daddy during the day, but is super strong when they're gone!
Still has a full head of dark hair and blue green eyes!
Weighs a little over 13 lbs and is around 22.5" long!

We have had a big month here in the Holik house!! Julianne is slowly finding her laugh, learning to sit up completely on her own, and grasping and holding things like a champ! It has been such a joy to watch her grow and see her little eager eyes wonder. I just love her with all my heart.

My parents moved houses, and we have been busily trying to make their house look and feel like home. The best part is...they are only down the road now! It is so nice to have an extra hand so close! Julianne and I stayed the weekend there because Brian went to compete in the PT Olympics in San Antonio. He did great, surprise surprise!, in all of his events. But goodness! We were glad to have him home!!

We found a place to stay in Fort Worth, which is so nice and comforting. This summer will be a challenge, no doubt, but we are ready to see what The Lord has in store for us.

Julianne had a great spring break and was spoiled to a T having mommy and daddy at her every beckon call! She was so precious, and we quickly realized what we were missing. It is always hard to go to work and leave Julianne in the morning, but spring break made it much worse. What a tease!!

We're looking forward to Julianne's first Easter!! It should be a fun one. In the meantime, I'll be grading papers, preparing lessons, planning a lingerie party, a baby shower, and a bridesmaid luncheon. Brian will be studying and tutoring. Oh yeah! And we will be a little busy being first time parents...yeah...that, too. Oh how our lives have changed in a year.

On April 1st last year, I found out I was pregnant. Can't believe how quickly this journey has flown. It has been, by far, the most rewarding, humbling, and loving experience we have ever had. Still praising God for all He has given to us. I don't know how we could ever repay Him.

Blessings to you!
From our family to yours...

Julianne is 3 Months Old!

Three Months!

Couldn't Choose Just One!

At Three Months, Julianne...
Wears size 1 disposable and cloth diapers!
Models 0-3 month clothing...still doesn't fit into newborn shoes! And precious bows of all colors :)
Loves playing in her Bumbo, her Baby Einstein jumper, her Kick and Play Piano Mat, riding in the car, talking and halfway giggling, and smiling!
Adores bath time, reading books with her mommy and daddy, watching Disney Channel, and shopping with her mommy!
Can roll over from her tummy to her back over and over!
Lifts her head up and has full head control!
Loves standing up!!
Sleeps 10 hours straight at night!
Misses mommy and daddy during the day, but is super strong when they're gone!
Still has a full head of dark hair and blue green eyes!
Weighs a little over 12 lbs and is around 22.5" long!

We have had a very very big month!! Julianne is so excited to announce that she will be meeting her little cousin Hunter in June! She simply cannot wait to meet and play with him :) She is also eager to wear a big fluffy white dress on June 8th as the flower girl to her Auntie Sarah and soon to be Uncle Sam! What a fun month we have to look forward to!

Brian and I have been super busy with school and work, and we have been relying a lot on our great friends and family to fill in the gaps. We feel so blessed to have such wonderful family support!

After a lot of prayer and thought, Brian and I asked our best friends, Zach and Makensie McCormick, to be Julianne's godparents. They have been so wonderful to Julianne, and she adores them, too! We can't wait to see what Julianne's life has ahead of her, and we know with Zach and Kens by our side, she will be raised to be an incredible young woman of God.

Spring break is right around the corner (7 days and counting!), and we are pondering taking our first big family vacation! I will be holding Cheerleading tryouts on the 8th, so I have a lot between now and then, but gosh...I'm looking forward to it!

Brian has confirmed a clinical site for this summer, and we will be moving to Fort Worth on June 2nd for 10 weeks! I am so proud of him and excited to see all he learns at Ben Hogan Sports Therapy institute! Fort Worth is a long way from home, but we are eager to see what The Lord holds for us there.

God has been so good to us, and Julianne continues to amaze us every day. We fall in love with her more and more as she grows. Thank you, Jesus, for such a precious precious gift!

Eager to see what the next month has in store for our sweet girl!

From our family to yours...

Our Angel is 2 Months Old!

Two Months Old!

At Two Months, Julianne...
Wears size 1 disposable and newborn cloth diapers!
Models newborn and very small 0-3 month clothing! And precious bows of all colors :)
Loves Pandora Baby Einstein playlist, watching Little Angels 123s and Veggie Tales in her bouncer every morning, riding in the car, and smiling!
Adores bath time, reading books with her mommy and daddy, and shopping with her mommy!
Can roll over from her tummy to her back!
Lifts and holds her head up for long periods of time!
Sleeps 9 hours straight at night!
Handles mommy and daddy being at work and school like a champ!
Still has a full head of dark hair and blue green eyes!
Weighs a little over 10 lbs and is around 20.5" long! We have a doctor's appointment Tuesday and will have more accurate measurements then :)

Life has been fast and furious since Julianne turned one month! I had to return to work on January 7th, and we have had a tough time. It is so hard to say goodbye to my sweet baby girl every day, but I know God has placed me in this job, and I am working hard to make Him, Brian, and Julianne proud! I am so thankful for my mom and mother-in-law for taking care of my precious angel while I am away from her.

Julianne also had her first two big road trips this month! We celebrated with Mr. and Mrs. Garrett Davidson as they joined together in marriage in Odessa, Texas! It was a great trip, and Julianne was a hit!
Then, we traveled to Dallas, Texas for Julianne's first cheerleading competition. My Central Bobcat cheerleaders competed at the NCA National Cheerleading competition, and Julianne wore her first cheer uniform - I was beaming with pride :) Julianne loved the hotel and was the cutest little thing!!

Julianne also experienced her first snow! What a wonderful month it has been watching Julianne grow! We love her more and more each day. Praise God for children. We thank Him each and every day. Can't wait for the months ahead...

From our family to yours,

Our Little Model

In all the rush of the holidays, toys, diapers, feelings, and going back to work, I haven't had much time to post! Our baby girl is absolutely perfect and doing just incredibly well! I have a lot to post about her, but what I need to show off more than anything is her newborn photos! We have had these pictures back for a few weeks, and I catch myself constantly staring at them. I don't know how God made such a gorgeous girl!!

Annette at Great Expectations did an incredible job again...she makes us all look so good! Because we find Julianne to be too precious for words, we are still keeping her photos off of Facebook. However, since we know all of you are our friends and family, we don't mind showing her off on here at all!!

Without further ado...take a peek at our little model!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our Sweet Girl is One Month Old!

One Month

At One Month, Julianne...
Wears newborn diapers and newborn clothing! Finally out of preemie sizes!
Loves anything that lights up or plays music!
Adores bath time and tummy time!
Can turn head one side to the other on her tummy!
Lifts and holds her head up for long periods of time!
Loves to smile and coo!
Has a full head of dark hair and blue green eyes!
Weighs a little over 8 lbs and is around 20" long! We have a doctor's appointment tomorrow and will have more accurate measurements then :)

Words cannot express how much we have fallen in love with this little miracle. She has captured our hearts and wrapped us around her tiny finger. Where has the time gone? It seems like just yesterday we were bringing her home.

Brian and I thank God for this previous gift, and we lift her up in prayer every moment of the day! Praise be to The Lord for children. They are the closest thing I know to His perfection.

Being a mom and a dad has been the greatest pleasure we've ever had. Though we hate to see her grow up so fast, we so look forward to the years to come.

We love you, baby Julianne...big as the sky! Happy One Month!

From our family to yours,

"For this child, I have prayed..." 1 Samuel 1:27

What a blessed Tuesday Brian and I had last week!  Here's the whole story....(and hang tight! There may be pictures, too :))

At 2:40 am on Tuesday morning, I woke up to a weird feeling...I sat out of bed, thinking it was just another trip to the bathroom, and suddenly, I knew things were out of the ordinary.  I said "OKAY!"  Brian sat out of bed and said, "What's wrong?"  I turned to him and replied..."Well, I'm pretty sure my water just broke....nope, I'm positive it did."  He smiled...and we both broke into a brief term of shock and fear!

We started the question game...
So what should we do?
Should we go to the hospital now?
Or should we try to get a few more hours of sleep?
And of course....when are those horrible contractions going to start?

First thing's first...I knew I had to get my make up on and hair fixed.  Brian jumped in the shower and made himself a big cup of coffee.  I ate a banana and drank some juice because I figured I wouldn't get to eat for a while.  Brian ran around like a crazy person, and I sat thinking about what the next few hours might be like.  We called our moms and began the call list.  I was supposed to work that day and be off the next day, so my mom took care of letting the appropriate people know that it was highly unlikely that I'd make it to work that day.  We packed up the bags and made our way to the hospital about 3:30 am.

We were taken straight into a delivery room because my labor was escalating quickly.  Oh yeah...I forgot to mention - those contractions I was thinking about had definitely set in!  My sweet husband coached me through them like a champ - I don't think I could have made it without him.  I was hooked up to the IV antibiotics that protected Julianne from the Group B Strep I had contracted during pregnancy.  We were ready to go - just waiting on our little miss.  With every contraction, things got more and more real, and Brian became the best father in the world!

I labored naturally for 5 hours and was finally to the point where I just didn't know how much longer I could go.  The nurse and epidural doctor lady (not sure how to spell her real title) said that they thought I could do it naturally because Brian was such a good coach, but Brian and I both decided an epidural was best.  I got the epidural, and well...things were fantastic after that!  About 3 and a half hours later, our little miss Julianne May Holik was born.  It was a fast and fairly easy labor, and I couldn't have asked for better support throughout the entire thing.

Julianne May Holik weighed in at 6 pounds 15 ounces and was 19 inches long.  She had a full head of hair (just like her mommy and daddy when they were born!).  She was such a cuddler from the beginning and loved being in mommy and daddy's arms.  What a glorious moment!

Brian was absolutely smitten...

We got Julianne all cleaned up and ready to move upstairs and meet her family!  About 2 hours after she was born, she was ready to feel all the love that had supported her the past 9 months.

We stayed over night in the hospital and made our way home on Wednesday around 4:00 pm.  She was just precious and had a fairly good night....

Since then, she's slept through the night (yes, we have to wake her up to eat!)....she loves her swing...loves to eat...and LOVES being in mommy and daddy's arms. She gets more and more beautiful every day.  She's the most precious gift from God, and we thank Him for a healthy baby and healthy mommy!  We are just so blessed...

There will be more updates and pictures to come, but because we think our baby girl is just so precious, we are trying to keep her pictures off of Facebook for now! So look to the blog for posts and pictures.  Much love to you all and thank you, again, for all your support and prayers during this unbelievable time in our lives.  Julianne is just a beauty!

From our family of three to yours,

(Our first family picture!)

Waiting On Our Little Miss

One thing is for certain - patience is very hard to practice when you are 39 weeks pregnant. I...WE are doing our best to stay patient, but it isn't that easy! We are so blessed to be surrounded by loving family and friends that are pushing us on in this journey!

We have had two beautiful showers since my last post. Brian's PT class threw us a baby shower and dad-chelor party! Such fun! We feel so lucky to have them all in our lives. Some of my closest friends and their beautiful mothers threw us a shower that was full of joy! Thank you to all who made this journey so beautiful for us.

Not sure when our little miss will make her appearance, but we will be sure to let you know as soon as she does!

From our family to yours...

Oh The Changes in 34 Weeks...

Brian and I sure have had our fair share of CHANGES in the last 34 weeks.  We've completely changed our eating habits, which have resulted in an easy pregnancy.  We've officially learned the meaning of the following words:

• Bumbo
• Boppy
• Pack 'n Play
• Diaper Genie
• and BumGenius

We've enrolled in nursing, labor and delivery, and newborn classes, which have completely erased all modesty surrounding pregnancy.  Oh! And we've completely changed our gorgeous guest bedroom into a precious nursery.

Without a doubt....Brian and I have had a lot of growing up to do these past 34 weeks, and I think we've done a fantastic job!

Really quick, I'll give you an update from my last posting....

Let's see. Julianne is moving/flipping/hurdling like CRAZY. She basically NEVER sleeps, which is cool when I want to feel her, but not so cool when I actually need sleep. Brian and I have decided she's going to come out either doing a tumbling pass or a 300m hurdle race. We are almost completely finished with Julianne's room - her furniture is all in place, decorations complete, curtains finished, closet....FULL!, and her bedding will be finished this week!  Before we know it, we will be laying her down to sleep...

I have been doing well.  Despite the fact that I am busier than I have ever been in my entire life with teaching, coaching cheerleading, going to graduate school, and being pregnant.....I'm actually making it! I just got home this Friday from my last out of town game.  I'm officially at the point where traveling is just too risky, and though I trust the trainers with football and cheerleading injuries, I'd really hate to entrust Julianne's delivery to a few high school trainers. Bless their hearts....

So, I will remain at home for the last out of town Central game.  Cheerleading is the fun part of my job. I have the best squad, and learning all the ins and outs of coaching has been a joy!  We practice four times a week, which takes a toll, but I'm pretty used to it by now, and Brian and I squeeze in some personal time as much as possible.

Let me take a moment to toot my horn about my husband.  He has been INCREDIBLE.  Actually, incredible doesn't quite cover it.  I am an English teacher, and I just don't think an adjective exists that describes how wonderful he is.  He has had the last two months off from school, and though he has two jobs at the school, his work load is pretty slim.  Without hesitation, he has just taken over the house work, cooking, grocery shopping, nursery decorating...EVERYTHING!  He makes me breakfast every morning, grades papers when I need it, packs my lunch, and makes me dinner every night....after he rubs my swollen ankles.  Honestly, I don't know why God blessed me with such an amazing man, but He sure did pick the perfect guy for me.  I love him more than he will ever know, and Julianne is so lucky to have such a marvelous daddy.

Our appointments have gone very smoothly.  Because of the Strep B bacteria found early on in my pregnancy, I am taking an antibiotic every day until delivery.  Once in labor, I will be placed on an IV that will transmit the antibiotic to Julianne and me throughout the delivery.  Apart from this minor annoyance and worry, everything is perfectly fine!  

Julianne is pretty tiny (in a totally healthy way!), so we are expecting a 6-7 pound baby, but you just never know! 

Oh! Our first shower - well, it was just great!  It was held at Wall Brethren Church in early October - perfect weather...perfect set up...perfect...EVERYTHING!  We had so many wonderful people come to show their love for our little Miss, and we felt very blessed.  The women who threw our wonderful shower deserve lots and LOTS of thanks and praise - God bless them!

Finally, our registries are finished and ready to be published, so here goes...

We are registered at the following places:

Babies R Us

Target

Fancy Pants (a precious store in the Sunset Plaza)

andddd.......

ETSY!

We LOVE Etsy (yes, even Brian loves it so much that HE has an account!).  When we saw that they had registries, we got super excited! Now....you can only create wedding registries, but we just created a wedding registry....full of BABY stuff!

Here's the link: http://www.etsy.com/registry/OTM3MHwxNTkxNzg0Nw/

I think that's about it...I'll post again in a few weeks - not too many weeks left on this journey...UNREAL!

From our family to yours....

She Has a Name!

Brian and I are so excited to finally announce the name of our sweet baby girl!

Let's get the story first...
Brian and I have been toying with two gorgeous names since before we knew she was a girl (and really since before we even knew we were pregnant!).  We loved them both so much that we couldn't imagine choosing just one.  Because we loved them both (and still do!), we just couldn't make a decision, and every time we would lean toward one more than the other, our hearts just would NOT let us decide...

Well, two weeks ago, my mom and I found the fabric for Baby H's bedding, and we found the lady who is going to make it for us.  When the lady asked us what name she could monogram on the pillow, I had to tell the story I tell every time:

"Well, we haven't decided.  We know that May will be her middle name, but we just can't decide between ___________ and _________."

The lady told me to let her know when we had decided because she could do the pillow last minute.  I went home and told Brian that maybe it was time to decide a name.  We had both thought we would wait until she was born, but there was a big part of us that still wanted to have her name picked out prior to her birth, but we just didn't want to decide.

It seems as if our "time to talk names" happens before church. We have talked seriously about Baby H's name for about a month now, and it seems like every time we talk about it...it is right before church!! Strange...but true! Well, this time was no different.  Sunday morning, we both woke up and quickly began talking about Baby H's name.  We thought we had decided on one, and we were pretty much settled...decided to tell our parents that afternoon.  Then, I said her name, and Brian said, "I'm sort of disappointed it's not _____________."  I smiled because I thought the exact same thing! And so it's settled!!!....for real this time!


Baby H's name will be.....




Julianne May Holik


She will be unbelievably gorgeous and perfect...just like her name!

From our (growing) family to yours....
♥

Crunching Numbers...

On Tuesday, I officially sat at 25 weeks pregnant.  However, for the past week, I've been so frustrated/confused.  Let me explain.

They say women are pregnant for 9 months...or 40 weeks.  Well, I know I'm not a math teacher, but I can do simple multiplication, and no matter how many times I try....9X4 is NOT 40.

So...last week, when I became 24 weeks pregnant, it was a kicker for me.  On the 9 MONTH scale (9X4=36 weeks), I am 6 MONTHS PREGNANT.  On the 40 WEEKS scale (40/4 = 10 months), I am somewhere around 5 and a half months pregnant.

WHICHEVER.....Our baby girl is due on December 4th, and today is August 23rd.  I'll let YOU do the math because I just can't seem to make sense of it in my head :).

So at 24 months, a lot of things happened in my life and in the life of our sweet daughter.  I officially started a new job at Central High School, teaching English IV and coaching varsity cheerleading.  I have my classroom ready, my lessons planned, and my mind wrapped around the fact that school is coming, ready or not!  So....bring on Monday!

Also at 24 months, my sister, Morgan, got married to Lenny!  I served as Matron of Honor, and our sweet daughter held my hand throughout the entire thing!  It was such a great time - full of love, joy, and lots of smiles (and flips in Baby H's case!).  Morgan looked beautiful, and Lenny was so handsome.  They did endure a tiny fiasco at their honeymoon, but thanks to Sandals resorts and Lenny's insistence, they got a refund from the nasty place and headed straight to Sandals-Montego Bay!  Brian and I went to Jamaica, too, on our honeymoon, and we were just down the road at Sandals-Negril!  We loved it, and I'm sure Morgan and Lenny are loving it, too!

Brian FINALLY comes home tomorrow from his residency in Temple.  We (Baby H and I) are SO ready for him to be here.  We miss him so much, and I'm pretty sure he misses us, too ;).  Because he did his residency this summer, Brian gets to take all of September and October OFF from school -  woohoo!! I'm sure you can imagine what that means....a honey-do list.....a long one.....that includes painting....and putting together cribs....and decorating with fru-fru decorations...and all things BABY H!  I know this whole girly thing isn't really what Brian is USED to, but he is definitely in love with his little girl, and I know he will be a great daddy!

I promised some pictures from the reveal party, and I FINALLY got them uploaded and edited....so here ya go!

Everyone got to write a note to our sweet Baby H...can't wait to let her read these someday!

Everyone got to cast their vote...boy or girl! 

Everyone wore their guess...either a bow or a mustache! Everyone looked so cute!

Everyone got to suggest a name...they were all so sweet!...well, most of them!

The table of yummies!

Everyone drank lemonade out of these mason jars that I made with burlap!

TEAM BOY!

TEAM GIRL!

Such a beautiful surprise!

I was already so in love with her!

Ready or not...TEAM GIRL!

From our family to yours....

It's a Girl! ♥

What a wonderful, beautiful, PERFECT reveal party we had!  Everyone just fell in love with our sweet Baby H even more.  We had a great turnout of our closest family and friends to celebrate this glorious time in our pregnancy journey.  Everyone dressed up in pink or blue to show their vote of what they thought Baby H could be!  I haven't uploaded the pictures yet because they were taken on a different camera, and well, I just haven't. SO! I will post another blog soon with those pictures - they are great!  

My mom did a fantastic job of keeping a secret.  REALLY!  I think she could have taken that secret to the grave!  She didn't give off any sense of what it could be the entire time she knew - I was so proud of her!  She revealed it in such an awesome way, too.  She filled the CUTEST pinata (that was shaped like a baby carriage) with pink candy and pink pacifiers.  Also, she had Brian and me pull the "plug" of the pinata, which was the cutest little onesie that said "FYI: I'm a girl!"

Honestly, it was the most perfect surprise we could have ever imagined.  Brian thought it was a girl, and I thought it was a boy!  When we saw the pink candy, we both just broke into sheer pleasure.  We fell in love with her on the spot!  She is so beautiful and perfect already, and we simply cannot wait to meet her in December...or November...whenever she decides to meet us!

Since finding out about our precious baby girl, we bought some of the CUTEST clothes and goodies.  In fact, everyone has!  Our entire families have already bought her the most precious little outfits and accessories.  Good grief - can she just meet us already so we can show her off?!  But really, we are just so happy.

Here's the video of the gender reveal - enjoy!

From our little family of 3 to yours,