Princess Marley

Marley Grace Livers

God has blessed us with a beautiful, healthy baby girl born yesterday morning at 8:51 and weighing in at 6lbs 14oz. We're busy with all the proud brothers, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends who are here to meet her, so we'll update with pictures soon. Thanks for all your prayers!

Check, check and check

Things checked off the list:

• Pack bag for hospital
• Make house decent for guests
• wrap birthday gifts for boys from Marley
• let boys pick out birthday gift for Marley and wrap those
• confirm with Shannon about making cupcakes
• charge and pack camcorder, camera and phones
• pediure
• pack diaper bag including plenty of bows and pink things
• load carseat in Nate's car
• finish laundry
• finish all thank yous
• pack baby book with pages tagged for footprints and guest sign in
• take a few maternity clothes to resale shop
• put some maternity clothes away for Katie and Candace
• go give blood and urine sample for pregnancy study and make $50
• oh, yeah, and rest!!

I feel like the last few days have been a whirlwind. You have 9 months and I'm a planner, but there have still been things that needed to be done this last week. That's life...things always needing to be done. Not on the list, but what I have definitely done and enjoyed this week, is snuggling with my 2 boys. It's been hard to not get emotional as I hug them, espeically my "baby" Owen. His life is about to change so much. I'm so glad love continues to multiply and not divide when you have a baby. I just want to cherish this time and it seems like it's gone too fast of only having my boys. Tomorrow will be special for them and I can't wait to see them meet this "baby Marley" who they've talked so much about. I'll try to get it on video.

So my thoughts on having another baby: I'm so grateful that God has given me so much peace and grace this whole pregnancy. I honestly haven't lived with fear or worry and that is only because of His presence in my life. I would be lying though if I said I wasn't anxious about tomorrow. Everything has been perfect, but my history has me replaying a worst case scenario out in mind mind. My heart is still trying to protect itself. I'm scared, a little bit about a 4th c-section and a lot about Marley not being okay. I know not to go there, but I am so so ready to hold that screaming girl in my arms (so so ready doesn't really begin to describe it).

I will be taking a sleeping pill tonight. That was one of the worst things about Owen's birthday---I only slept maybe 10 minutes the night before. We will go in at 7am. I'm guessing she'll be here between 10-noon. I'm now the 1st c-section of the day. Nate will send out a text and email and probably update Facebook as soon as he gets a chance (iPhones make all that stuff just too easy)!! We will take our time with her and I'll nurse before the boys get to come up.

So...next time you hear from me...I'll be a mom again. What a wild journey God has us on.

Feed, Wake, Sleep: repeat

This isn't the schedule for the baby...this is my schedule for ME!! I am so tired lately. I think about sleeping, I want to sleep, during the day I can sleep... and then night comes! I struggle to sleep at night even when I'm exhausted. It's just weird. Blame it on heartburn, or restless leg, or nesting, or anticipation---whatever it is it's annoying!! This momma is tired and cranky!

On a happier note: only 9 more days till we meet this precious baby girl. I am so excited. I can't believe she's almost here. The other day the doorbell rang. Shepherd got a huge grin on his face and said "Baby Marley's here?" Uhhhh...guess I've done a bad job of explaining how baby Marley will arrive! Don't think she'll just appear at our door. Sorry, Shep. The boys are so excited. They are going to be great big brothers.

I've been nesting with the fun stuff and lazy on the not fun stuff. aka the bathrooms are really dirty but all the baby girl clothes are clean and organized!!

Pure Sweetness

Ummmm....it just doesn't get much cuter!!

Praying for Marley Grace.

Pure cuteness!

Handmade quilt...oh so soft. I love it!



Mom and Laura got to come. I'm so glad they got to share in the blessing.

The wonderful gals that pulled off a perfect night. I love these girls.

This girl has socks, shoes, boots, leg warmers, leggings, and tights!!

I'm afraid she might not have enough bows!!!

I having a crush on these amazing burp rags and onesies. Cute doesn't even touch it. www.jelbys.blogspot.com

I am on a high right now. I've been blessed beyond measure in so many ways. Last night I was blessed by some of the greatest friends ever with a baby shower for Marley. I knew that this would be a fun creative cute shower....but I was unprepared for the pure sweetness, thoughtfulness and generosity of my friends. I'm still overwhelmed. I didn't sleep at all last night and just kept thanking God over and over for the people He's placed in my life for "such a time as this". As you see by this pictures this was no ordinary shower! Let's just say I have some really crafty, creative, amazing friends!! (The pictures don't do it justice.)

Go Hogs!!

Well, I'm wearing down. I didn't take any pictures this weekend. Such a shame because the kids got to hang out with both sets of Grandparents and Uncle Brooks, Uncle Dave and Aunt Laura. There would have been tons of cute pictures. I even brought the camera. But, I'm tired and unmotivated. We had a great weekend. Had a little scare Friday night when Shepherd had a high fever and asked to go to bed. He must of slept it off because he woke up a new person!

Our hotel had a pool and hot tub and we took advantage of that. We also did a little shopping at Grapevine Mills. Then we dropped the boys off at my parents and headed to Jerry's Stadium...uuuhhhh, I mean the Cowboys stadium. That place is seriously amazing. The Hogs stomped out the Aggies with a 47-19 win. We had so much fun!! (I was completely worn out after such a busy day.) My commitment to the hogs has been restored.

I had a dentist appointment and doctor appointment today. No cavities and Marley is really really low, but I haven't started to dialate, just soft and ready!

I'm tired. Need sleep. Good night.

Baby showers, Busyness, and Birthday

I've been blessed beyond measure by friends, neighbors and Nate's coworkers. We've had 2 showers and have another in a week. It's been so much fun to get pink frilly baby girl stuff. I'm enjoying how different girl clothes are from boys.

We've been talking to Shepherd and Owen about Marley's birthday and what that might look like. As soon as we mention "birthday" Shepherd starts in "and cake and presents and bouncy house!!" His excitement is evident but I'm afraid he might be disappointed with "just" a baby sister. We are planning to get some cupcakes and have a few presents ready at the hospital as to not disappoint too much. 3 weeks from tomorrow!! My body is definitely getting ready. I'm achy, not sleeping well, and having the lovely heartburn. I take a nap almost everyday and am ready for bed come 10pm. I'll take it all...but might complain just a little every now and then. :)





Tiffany, Marla and Katie

Marla (34 weeks), Jamie (21 weeks) and Katie (13 weeks)

Diaper cake in pink and orange (Marley's future nursery colors)

Leslie, me, Jenny and Sara (all Nate's co-workers

This is the month! In fact, 3 weeks from tomorrow Marley will make her appearance. C-sections are weird. You can plan and almost know that that's the day she will come. October 23, 2009 will change our lives forever. We can't wait. A friend asked me the other day if I was nervous. The answer is yes. Up to this point everything has been "normal", "perfectly healthy", "textbook"...but until my little girl is safe in my arms I will be nervous. I have peace, but am still ready for her to be here. God has been gracious to make this little one a wild monkey. She loves to kick and wiggle almost like clock work. I go to sleep at night being kicked and wake up in the morning being kicked---and I LOVE every minute of it. I'm so thankful for this little life. Sometimes I shy away from announcing my thankfulness because I don't want to rub it in anyone's face. I'm more than aware of others who want so bad to get pregnant or to have their little one here instead of in heaven. Everytime I think of Marley I think of my friends' friend who had the same due date as me, yet October 31 will come and go and she will not have her little girl with her on this earth. It makes me cry. It makes me remember. I want to make it better. I want to bring Poppy back, Reese back, Porter, Halley, Daniel, Christopher, Timothy and so many others who had too short of life. Yet I trust that our God has a plan. It's bigger than I'll ever know and it's perfect. So today I will be thankful. Thankful for my kids in heaven and thankful for the ones on earth.

Little Blessings

I love when God surprises me with little things. Things I haven't prayed about or even obsessed about, yet still something that was in my heart. Before you get too excited just know that this has to do with the kid game Hungry Hippos. Yes, Hungry Hippos.

For about a month or two I've wanted to get my boys the game Hungry Hippos. I thought it'd be a fun game for them to play and might keep them occupied while I tend to Marley. Well, Hungry Hippos new is $18.99!!!! YIKES!! Really, $18.99 for a kids game???? I decided not to buy it but registered for it on Marley's Target baby registry (is that bad?). Anyway, today after dropping the boys off at school a lady walked through the hall and said that the church was having a garage sale this weekend and we were more than welcome to look through the stuff 2 days early! Guess what God had waiting for me? Yup... Hungry Hippos....for 50 CENTS!!! It's only missing 4 marbles.

It was that feeling of being so blessed and loved by God. He knew I wanted Hungry Hippos. He also knew that I wanted to be wise with our money. He blessed me in my patience and I am smiling a little bigger today.