Waiting!!!!!!!

Epidural is in...monitor shows big contractions...but she is feeling no pain. Does she have legs? Well, we can see them but she can't feel them. Doc Cassady is watching closely...and all is well. We are getting excited. Miss Emma is calling all the shots....just like she will the rest of their lives! Update from Gabby....future grandmother on the Russell side.

In LABOR!

Labor update! We were supposed to come to the hospital at 7:30 this morning....but they said no....wait. We fretted...and fumed....took a nap....went to breakfast at McDonalds. Then...the call. "Do you want to have your baby today?" YOU BET....and off we went. We are now at Mercy and in labor! Labor is going well......lots of laughing and cutting up so far....but just asked for the epideral! Charles is not the doc on call.....but he is definitely in doc mode with a touch of daddy! He is excited! We are excited....the Cassady's are on their way. Jim and Greg are on their way....YEA! Stay tuned for updates.....Emma will soon be here!

Our cousin Taylor...

My husband, Charles has several first cousins on his mom's side of the family. Family get togethers with the Cassady's are usually full of lots of laughter, lots of food, lots of games, and lots of hilarious memories. The Shaw kids belong to Aunt Molly and Uncle Les. You've got Jessica, Taylor, Samantha, and Parker. They are great! So fun to be around and they have such a great heart for the Lord. Anyway, Taylor is currently a student at OU and I swear everytime I see him he looks a little more like Charles everyday. They also have similar personalities but Taylor has the dancing skills that Charles wishes he had. :) So, my mother-in-law calls me yesterday and says Taylor has a new post on YouTube and to check it out. I have added it to the right side of my blog so be sure and check it out. (He is lip singing to Taylor Swift.) That kid cracks me up!!!

Beautiful Wedding!

I am posting a little out of order but I wanted to make sure and post some pics of the Purdy wedding. Charles' best friend from medical school is Aaron Purdy. He was married last month and it was beautiful! He and Samantha married at the Gaylord Texan Hotel in Grapevine, Tx and it was stunning! Here are some pictures of the day. Congratulations Purdy!

The next day at the cowboy game! They won!!

Chri-stache Party

This year my husband was invited to a Chri-stache Party. It is a Christmas party and the way you get in is by having a mustache and a toy for Toys for Tots. Charles and his co-workers all worked for a week or more growing out their facial hair to create the perfect look. They all dressed in seventies outfits and all I have to say is WOW! Charles looked so hilarious and like he stepped off a movie set. I fixed his hair and well... I will let the pictures speak for themselves. :)

Creepy!!

This is Charles the next day at work... still with the mustache and chops in tact.

Uses for a Belly Bump!

Well, I am huge! My belly is growing at an alarming rate now and I am pretty much miserable. (not that I am complaining) :) I can't bend over, I can't see my feet, shaving my legs is impossible, I waddle everywhere I go and I am having a really hard time finding any clothes that fit. (besides sweats) My cousin Jenny called me yesterday (she is also 9 months pregnant) and we are both having what her Dr. calls irritable contractions. She said the reason they call them irritable contractions is because you are very irritable while they exist. I would have to agree with that statement!! But in spite of all that I have discovered a really wonderful and exciting use for the belly... I went out to eat with some friends the other night and discovered it makes a wonderful table. I can set all kinds of things on it and they don't move an inch! It is like having a lap table attached at all times and I love it! This is a great use for the belly that no one tells you about! No more reaching... just set it on the belly! (at least for the next few weeks!)

Weekend for Emma

Well, this past weekend was the much anticipated painting of the baby room and moving in of furniture! My mom (Gabby to her grandchildren) is a great artist and she spent all day Saturday and a few hours on Sunday painting murals on Emma's walls. My Dad (PopPop to his grandchildren) took furniture from my grandmothers home along with the baby bed I had as a child and refinished it to create adorable furniture! Up until this weekend I have been totally scattered and unorganized with everything involving baby. But mom and dad swooped in and really pulled it all together for us! I am so blessed and grateful to both of my parents for taking their time and lots of energy to help us create a beautiful room for Emma. They are such giving and wonderful people and there will never be enough words to say Thank you! I love you both very much!!!

Also this Sunday was my baby shower at our church, Memorial Rd. My hostesses were awsome! The invitation was adorable, the decorations were perfect (on the table was a christmas tree with different little owls as ornaments), the food was delicious, and the travel system they gave me was really needed and generous. Amy- I love the book you made me also! God is good and the friendships he has placed in my life through this church mean the world to me and have helped me through some rough moments in my life! For this I am forever grateful. Thank you girls!! It was perfect! (Hostesses: Gwen Antwine, Amy Carnagey, Tiffany Gulledge, Rachel Hamilton, Beth Hall, Jana Hornbuckle, Brooklyn Lovett, Beverly North, Joanne North, Andrea Rieger, April Williams, and Michelle Young)