So...I have been back to work for almost 2 weeks...It's getting easier each day. Both Lee and I are extremely comforted to know that Lillian is in great hands while we are at work, her Grandparents! We are blessed to have them as a resource. She gets to hang with Grandma, Grandpa and usually an uncle or two...we know she has a blast! We cannot give enough thanks...

Update on Lilly's stats @ 9 weeks...my guess of her being less than 10lbs was correct! 9.8 is what she came in at...only the 19%! Her length is 22.5...she is actually above average with this @ 51%...The doctor still says that she is a very petite, yet healthy little girl! The doctor also said that based on the amount of movement she has, we should all be taking bets as to when she is going to crawl...Let me tell you, when we do tummy time, this little girl makes it from one side of the blanket to the other...she hates every minute of tummy time, but man does she move! She talks (coos) all the time...more and more each day! It's amazing! And her smiles...oh her smiles, just melt your heart...

Gotta run...
M

Our Lillian...she is growing up so fast! Although she is only 9 weeks old today, it seems as if the 3 of us have been doing this for much longer. It's amazing! We will get her updated length and weight on Wednesday...Considering she still fits into her NB clothes, I will assume that she is not yet 10 pounds. She is getting long, however!

We have the house decorated and seem to be in the Christmas spirit...going to see Santa this weekend! Lillian's stocking came (Thanks Mom!) and it is beautiful! A mermaid with candy canes and such...totally goes with her ocean themed room! We are so excited and blessed to be parents...what a joy Lilly brings to our lives.

Still cannot upload the video...need a cord or something...will post as soon as we pick up the necessary part :-)

Have a great week and enjoy the new pics....these are some that did NOT make it the final rounds for our holiday card selection...

Love to all.
Mindy, Lee & Lilly

Mommyhood!

What can I say other than I wish that I was in possession of the winning lotto ticket b/c that way, I would not have to miss anything that Lilly does! She is sooooo funny! Today she was laying on a leap frog activity mat with the big "baby gym" watching the lights, looking at the mobile and just laughing and cooing! It was sooo cute! She would look at me and then at the lights and crack up!!!!!! Naturally, when I came back with the video camera and reg camera, she had tuckered herself out and was asleep.

Getting ready to have Uncle Peter help me this week with some video posting so that everyone can see how much she has grown.

Gotta run....Hope all is well with everyone! Will get some new pics up later this week.

HAPPY TURKEY DAY EVERYONE!
Mindy, Lee & Lillian!

Hello there....we are at the end of Lilly's 4th week and it seems to have flown by!! She is growing like a weed!!! We had our 4 week check up this afternoon and the doctor said she is doing very well. She has gained 1.5lbs, grown 1 in, and has a 14cm head since the last visit...not sure about the head thing, but doc said she is a very healthy, yet "petite" little girl.

I must say, I was a bit nervous heading to the docs today b/c I thought Lilly was going to get her round of vaccines today...I had prepared for this over the past few days b/c I knew it was going to be harder on me than on her...Thankfully, I have a whole month to continue to prepare b/c that happens next visit, not this one...we only had 1 shot today. Still, it tuckered her out...she has been sleeping for almost 3 hours. I was going to wake her up earlier, but thought the poor little thing only had a 45 min nap today so I let her sleep. Hopefully, she will eat in a few and fall right back asleep :-)

Check out the new pics....Once I am able to upload...having problems again!! uuuggghh!

We had our first play date with Molly and her 3rd daughter, Stella. It was so cute to see the babies coo at each other!! OK...gotta run...need to get Lilly up!!

Love to all!
M

Our baby...

As I have said before, this parenting thing is by far the most challenging job I have ever had...and I LOVE IT! I am always up for a challenge!! Lee and I are identifying all of the different cries Lilly has...I think we have the "FEED ME" and "CHANGE ME" cries running through our brains on cue every 2-3 hours.

Lilly has changed so much in the past 3.5 weeks! She cracks us up...She has all of these little expressions, like the I AM SICK OF THE CAMERA face (as seen in so many of the pictures ha ha) and the cutest "happy eyes" as I call them, when she see's her mommy...who am I kidding...we all know she simply has gas when she smiles at this point, but it's nice to think she smiles at me at least 3-5 times a day!! (She is going to love reading about this when she is older!! ha ha..) We cannot wait until her full on personality develops! Right now, she seems to be a bit stubborn, somewhat feisty and when she wants to be, the sweetest angel you have ever seen....Does that remind you of anyone??

We have been pretty busy the past few weeks...lots of visitors! Gramps & Grammy (Bill & Bonnie) came to visit on their way back to Florida, Auntie Pam, Auntie Rachael, Grandpa Pez (Lilly will come up with a cute name for him when she starts chatting it up!), Grandma D (who comes over a few times a week) and a few others. We have taken a few field trips (as I call them)...one to see Daddy and all of his work friends at the HD. Today we went to Grandma and Grandpa D's house for Uncle Joe's birthday. Tomorrow is her first "play date"...My good friend from high school is in town with her new born and will be visiting us tomorrow :-) Lilly has been getting to know what it's like to be on the go!

I think that's it for now...y'all can see the Halloween pics. We had a blast!! She had a cute sleeper (Thanks ARAMARK!!) with orange polka dots that she had on that night.

Gotta run...she is waking up!!

Best to all..
Mindy, Lee & Lilly

Well, well, well....it's been a long week! I thought that I lost ALL of the pictures I had stored in my computer, including the ones of Lilly's first week! UUGGHH! Thanks to a friend from high school (who happens to work for Google), he was able to help and save the day!! Thanks Aarron!!

Please enjoy the slideshow of Lilly's first week...

OK...so, we induced on Tuesday, October 7, 2008...Lillian Claire Pevzner Downer was born at 5:29pm, weighing in at the surprising weight of 6.10lbs...As per our previous posts and to much surprise of the doctors, we were expecting a "large" baby, like in the realm of 8-9lbs. She is a little peanut!

Will post more later this week...until then...like I said, please enjoy the slideshow of our little angel!

M

Passing 40 Weeks!!

So, we are due tomorrow....Friday, October 3, 2008 is the day that we have been planning on our daughter coming into this crazy world...

Yesterday, I was sitting the OB's office thinking..."I know she is going to tell me that we are ready to go, that Lilly is ready to be brought into this earthly world today, that I needed to call my husband ASAP because the minor cramping I was feeling were these God awful contractions I have been hearing about, etc...etc....etc...."

What I was actually told was the polar opposite...Lilly has found a nice, warm, snuggley place within me that she is no quite ready to give up. We are no where closer than we were a few weeks ago (which was NOTHING). I think that my OB was feeling sorry for me and said I was dilated a whole cm this trip...not exactly music to my ears. I asked her if I could schedule a c-section for Friday, she grinned and said how about we induce on Tuesday. I almost felt like I was going to have to negotiate to get our daughter out, but being that she is the medical professional and while I can treat a cut with the best of them, I opted for the Tuesday induction. So, there you have it folks...Tuesday, October 7, 2008....Lee and Mindy Downer will officially be PARENTS!! That is, if she does not come out sooner :-)

We ask that everyone please keep us in your prayers as we embark on this new venture...Lillian Claire Pevzner Downer....what a blessing!

Mindy, Lee & Lillian!

7 more days...really 8

Well, we are due next Friday...any bets on if we will make it or not? All winnings will go directly into a 529 plan for Lillian's Auburn fund :-)

Getting ready for maternity leave...starts Saturday...for 8 weeks! Gotta run...wrapping up dinner. It's great to have some time to cook again! Sooooo relaxing for me!

Are we there yet?

We have just a few more weeks to go...3.5 to be exact. Lillian is starting to drop and according to the last doctor visit, I have started to dialate. Who knows when she will come?? As in the previous posts, we hope and pray that she waits until after The Braves season ends!! We only have 9 more games in 1.5 weeks. Please stay in until then!!!! ha ha.

My energy levels have dropped and I feel like I am suffering from narcolepsy. Yes, the feet...OH MY GOD!! I had no idea the human body could support such fat feet...perhaps the sub sandwich like feet contribute to my duck like waddle?? ha ha. I have ONE pair of shoes that I feel half way comfortable in...and they are wearing thin, hope they make it the next few weeks!! OH...did I mention I now 4 shirts that fit? Unless I would like to seem like the prego belly dancer...All of my other maternity shirts have turned into belly shirts!! It's nuts!!! OK, enough whining today...

Gotta run...it's time for work!! Have a great day everyone :-) Lillian is giving a kick to everyone right about now :-)

Mindy Pez

Not much longer!

Well...I have 3 days in a row off and then into 7 of our last 13 games of the season! I cannot believe how fast The Braves season has flown by!! We are still hoping that Lillian holds her arrival until after 9/26 :-) She is supposed to join until 10/9...

Lee has given me strict orders to rest and relax on my 3 days off. Lay on the couch with my feet up. For those who REALLY know me, know that I would love nothing more than a Lifetime Sunday, but with only 5 weeks left (if that), there are some things that need to get done (damn those articles in Parents magazine!)...like prep some meals for when we come home from the hospital...so I am making some sauces, some quick fix meals that involve mixing in rice or pasta and a meatloaf. I also realized that we have not washed ANYTHING! Again, for those of you who REALLY know me...know I rarely do laundry! I guess you can say I am officially NESTING! So the relaxing day my amazing husband wanted me to have is not so restful! He is so wonderful!! There is always tomorrow :-)

Gotta run...Spaghetti Squash is done! Time to get the meatloaf in the oven!

Mindy

THANKS RACHAEL & PAM!

One more quick post for today...I wanted to THANK Rachael and Pam for hosting a kick ass shower for Lillian and I a few weeks ago! The 3 of us have been great friends since we were 19/20? And, well, let's just say that we are not so young anymore :-)

Both of y'all (and Lauren too) did such a wonderful job with the theme, the games and the food! Especially the Guthries Chicken Tenders!!! Mama G...thanks for opening up your home!! WOO HOO!!

THANKS!!!

Love y'all!
Pez

We are having a BABY!

After the shower a few weeks ago, Lee asked me "has it hit you yet that we are having a baby in 8 weeks?" Other than feeling her move, knowing that she is growing inside of me....the answer was a straight up NO!

I thought to myself....There is still so much stuff to do! We have to get her room ready, go through all the gifts, organize her clothing, buy supplies (right?), put together all of the equipment, get bottles, get her room ready, buy supplies, go through all the gifts, get her room ready,buy supplies...AND for me, most importantly, GET THROUGH THE END OF THE BRAVES BASEBALL SEASON 9/21...I thought, oh my God, I will just die if I go into labor at The Braves Chop House!! I felt like a my brain was a word jumble all of the sudden!

Not to mention I feel like a beached whale with the CANKELS and the ginormous belly Lillian and I have created!! I have entered the stage in the game where it 's pretty much uncomfortable to sit, stand, lay down, or do anything b/c my diaphragm gets crushed by my stomach on a regular basis, my ankles swell up to large sausages if I stand for 20 seconds etc...all of you mom's know what I am talking about, no need to go on :-)

After our doctor's appointment this week, I was told that I was measuring on the high side of average and that we are looking at roughly an 8 pound baby, at least. I said OH MY! To which the doctor reminded me that 8 pounds is still within the average range...I went to work after the doctor's appointment and as I was walking in, one of the security guards stopped me and asked me about the baby. I shared with her what the doctor just told me about the "high end of average" size I should expect...her response was "Must have been a man doctor telling you 8 pounds was average, no female would say that"...I laughed because it was a male doctor!! Crazy! So....we are looking at a good size baby...I guess that's why I feel so large!!

Anyhoo...gotta run...it's my day off! I am going to get my nails done and depending on the size of my feet, maybe my toes too!

Hugs to all!!!

Love y'all,
Mindy, Lee & Lillian!

Our first Blog!

Well...I think that my myspace page is the closest thing I have to the blog...but not everyone is able to view it, so here we are...on the tech wave to share the last 8 weeks of our lives before they change forever!!

We are expecting our little angel to join us in roughly 8 weeks. There was a shower yesterday to celebrate everyone's excitement for her arrival...Rachael and Pam were such great hostesses!!

I will probably not post daily, or even weekly until after Lillian Claire arrives simply because I plan on working up to the end of baseball season...the last Braves game is 9/21. And Lee...well, he also has a full time job AND is nesting like crazy every free moment he has in our new home as he eagerly awaits his little girl coming into this world!

If I may say so...my husband is truly amazing! We just moved into our new home a month ago and he has totally transformed it from the stale old people's house into a warm, welcoming home...He is the most amazing man and I love him to death!!

Once I receive the pics from the shower, I will upload and share with everyone! Until then...mark as a favorite and check back weekly to see what's going on in the Pevzner-Downer household!

Hugs to everyone!!

Mindy