She's Here!

Belated post yet again, I know. It's hard to keep up with facebook and blog and everything now that we are the proud parents of Anneka Faith DeGroot! Hard to believe that she is 8 weeks old already. I was induced on January 10th and on 1/11/11 at 1:09 a.m. (we tell people 1:11 because no one knew the time for sure), Anneka was born at 5 lbs. 10 oz. She had gained more in the last 3 weeks that I was on bedrest than they thought she would. She was and is very healthy and gaining weight like a champ! At 6 weeks, she was already 10 lbs., 1 oz! She is eating well and sleeping 5-6 hours at night. The first 8 weeks were really rough for me, as I have gone through 6 different infections having to do with breastfeeding, 1 of which landed me in the hospital for 2 days on IV antibiotics. I have said many times, I wish I could just focus on being a new mom instead of all of the medications and creams and everything else we've dealt with! Hopefully those are all behind us. I have to go back to work for 2 weeks full-time starting next Tuesday, and then will be going 1-3 days per week. We are very blessed with CJ's new job that it allows me to not have to work full-time! Below are some pictures of the first 2 months with our dear daughter. She is learning to smile and coo and hold her head up. She has numerous hilarious facial expressions that keep us laughing. What a blessing!

Baby's Room and Pregnancy

Wow. So I've neglected the blog throughout this whole pregnancy! The last 8 months has definitely had its ups and downs and this pregnancy has not been without its troubles. We had to go to the doctor 6 different times with the possibility of miscarriage or pre-term labor. For those that don't know, am now 36 weeks and 4 days and on Monday, they will be inducing labor. She is a little peanut in the 7th percentile and they think the placenta may not be doing its job and allowing her to grow normally. Our faith has definitely been tested and refined throughout this process as we place our little girl in HIS hands (as if we ever had control anyways). In preparation for her coming, we had someone paint the third floor, and the third floor bathroom is about 1/2 way done with a complete remodel (pictures to come after we paint!). Below are some pictures of the baby's room on the 2nd floor and a few of the growing belly pictures that those of you not on facebook haven't seen. Please pray for a quick delivery once they induce and a healthy baby girl!

Baby's room

Crib, rocking chair, changing table

Closet and more drawers

Blanket

Mobile and bedding

20 Weeks

26.5 Weeks

34 Weeks

36 weeks and 3 days, last belly shot!

News!

Wow...last post was April 8th. Unacceptable. However, I have a very good reason for not posting from early June until now. I was not feeling great because...I AM PREGNANT! I am 14 weeks along now and due January 30th. Weeks 9-14 were especially rough with the nausea, but hopefully I'm on the upswing now that I'm out of the first trimester! We are very very excited. In other news, please pray for a job for C.J. His structural/civil program at WashU is disintegrating, so he graduated with a Master's in May, and has been looking for a job here in St. Louis since. We've had lots of disappointments and we are wondering what this means for our lives! We would love to stay in St. Louis, but need to be open to the possibility that God has something else in store for us since a LOT of doors have closed here so far. So, I guess..rejoice with us and pray for us!

Spring!

We are definitely getting an early spring here in St. Louis! With the exception being today, most days have been in the 70's and 80's over the last few weeks. We have been loving it! Here are some pictures of a walk we took in the park on Easter!

Mani and Keri walking under the pear blossom trees

Forsythia and Redbud

C.J. and Keri under the magnolia tree

Magnolia blossoms

Keri and Mani by orange tulips

Love the color combination in the front garden down the street!