Isabelle's First Week

Isabelle Mae

5 days Old

Gabby is all giggles holding her new sister

Isabelle's First Bath

Poor thing just cried threw the whole thing...

Happy New Year of the Rabbit!

Isabelle's first week was pretty chill... she spent most of her time sleeping and eating, with small amounts of time looking around. The most eventful part of the week was when she had her first bath. She wasn't a big fan and screamed threw the whole thing but dang did she smell so sweet afterwards... awww, I love the smell of a newborn baby after a bath. She's lifting her head-up a lot more and makes this funny sniffing sound when she's about ready to feed. It cracks me up.

What I know about Isabelle so far... she likes my boobs A LOT, she hiccups about three different times during the day (she did this in the womb too), doesn't seem to mind having a dirty diaper, and is a good sleeper.

Miss Gabriella is continuing to be a great big sister. She comes home and everytime asks to hold her "new baby sister" and rarely uses her name. She talks about how beautiful Isabelle is and that she's happy that she got what she wanted (baby sister). She told a bunch of people at school that her name was Isabella so we've had to make some corrections. She told me that she just likes that name better. Gabby is begininng to write her name out and is still enjoying school. Today they celebrated Chinese New Year by watching a dragon dance and visiting some offices to collect a "humbao" or red envelope with candy in it.

This following week is Chinese New Year, which means TONS of fireworks. We're looking forward to hanging out as a family...

Isabelle Mae Tebo is Born!

Happy Birthday!

Mommy and Isabelle's First Meeting...

Look at that healthy baby girl!

Self-Portrait of mama and baby Bella

Self-Portrait

Isabelle and Mommy's First Night Together

Isabelle Mae Tebo

Mama's Girls

Big Sister, Gabriella

She's LOVIN' her sister!

First Tebo Family Picture

Mommy Heaven!

Gabby and Bellas's First Meeting

Daddy's Girls...

Awww... Trav's two baby girls...

Daddy is a lucky guy!

Leaving the Hospital

In the car... we're ready to go home!

Welcome Home Isabelle!

Travis and I are over the moon to have another healthy baby girl! As many people know already, I was not-so-secretly hoping it would be a little girl. Gabriella was so insistent that she was going to have a sister and I wanted her to have that. Plus, I always wanted a little sister myself and now I can watch them have this special and unique relationship... I get a little teary-eyed just thinking about it...

Born: January 21, 2011 (Travis is October 21st so this should be easy to remember)
Time: 6:00 pm
Weight: 7 pounds 6 ounces
Length: 20 inches
Chinese Name: Li Ming (Bright/Beautiful). Our ayi, or nanny, gave her this name.
Zodiac Sign: Aquarius
Chinese Year: Tiger (Just like dad) and since she's the, "Tail of the Tiger," or towards the end of the year that means that she will be strong, according to the Chinese.

Nickname: Gabby and I like, Bella. Travis likes Izzy. We'll see how this pans out... I don't care about the "Twilight" reference that Bella has... I love it anyway. It was a name I thought about when we had Gabriella, which was about four years ago. An actress named her daughter, Sophia Bella, and I always thought that was such a lovely name. Right now, we seem to just be sticking to Isabelle…

Story about Name: Travis and I like strong, feminine names. In particular, we like long names that can be shortened so there's a variety of options for when they get older. I've liked this name for awhile and it's one of the few that hasn't been tainted by a student. Plus, all three of us really liked it. I'm also a sucker for the second or third syllable of the first name being the same as the last name... I just think it sounds nice and it flows well with her big sister's name, Gabriella. Even better, it's the Spanish version of Elizabeth, which happens to be my best friend's name. The middle name, Mae, is a family name. It's my middle name, my cousin Marie's, my second cousin Madalynne, and both of my grandmother's had this for a middle name. It made sense to carry on the name.

Labor Story: I was 41 weeks and 4 day pregnant when they induced me on the 21st. We could have waited until Monday, January 24th which was when I would have been officially 42 weeks, but let's face it... the weekend is much more convenient. They put a prostaglandin in around 9:30AM to ripen my cervix and I started feeling "something" around 11 am. Around noon they were little annoying contractions and progressively intensified. We were originally placed in the ICU because there weren't any birthing suites open. Around 2 pm, we could move rooms and when we got there I remember looking at Travis... this is it... holy crap... contractions were getting worse but do-able. Of course I'm excited but freaked-out. I've done this before but I know it's going to get worse. Dr. Afnan came by and said hello and that he'd be around tomorrow. Around 5 pm (about 5 minutes after the doctor left) was when some serious action started and the contractions were getting crazy. The midwife said I was 4cm dilated so in my head I was thinking that this was going to take awhile and the strength of the contractions made me feel like I was in hell. During the worst part, my mind went into some other world, I breathed through the contractions, and envisioned holding a baby... Shortly afterwards, I literally felt a pop in my belly and the baby drop. I told Travis to get the nurse, then a gush of water came out, which was my water breaking. Then I felt this uncontrollable impulse to push...I was clearly no longer in control of my body. I always read about the pushing impulse but didn't experience it with Gabby. At one point I screamed to cut the baby out. No amount of training can prepare you for the completely raw and primal experience of the final stage of labor. A couple of pushes later, out she came. "It's a girl!" I forgot to mention that the TV show "Modern Family" was playing in the background. An awesome show and a great distraction. Travis didn't realize I was having the baby and missed it because it happened so fast... they put her on my chest and it was instant love. Travis and I were crying like little babies because the whole thing is such an emotional journey... very surreal because I’ve been imaging this for a long time… people who know our story, know how much we wanted this... and she's here! Travis was an amazing coach, and as we like to say we "team tebo-ed" it.

After labor, I took a shower and ate some dinner. Travis stayed with me in the hospital on Friday and Saturday night, running home in the morning to pick Gabby up and bring her in to hang out with her little sister. We made it home on Sunday just in time for dinner. Everything about this pregnancy and labor has been a trillion times easier. I’m hoping this continues in the days and weeks to come.

Thanks to all the friends, family, and colleagues that have wished us well. We appreciate your support on this phase of our journey through life.

Getting Induced (Again) Today!

Put a fork in me because I'm done... or at least I feel that way, not sure about the baby. He/she seems quite content. I've been surprisingly laid back about this whole thing... I won't be pregnant forever, right? Although I can't believe I'm almost two weeks late. Anyway, we leave in about five minutes... I'll either have the baby today or tomorrow. Can't wait to meet this baby!

Blogspot is blocked from the Chinese government so I can't give updates when I'm at the hospital, we have a VPN that works at home which is why I'm able to blog right now.. I'll post some pictures and a baby announcement as soon as I get a chance... Keep checking and wish me luck!

41 Weeks and 1 Day... Update

41 Weeks and Going Strong!

Before and After...

What a Difference 21 Weeks Make

I never thought I'd make it to 41 weeks but I did... Still waiting, feeling okay. I'm still experiencing those painful Braxton Hicks Contractions but they come and go.

I saw the doctor today and still nothing is happening... I'm not dilated at all and the baby still hasn't dropped. I had another NST and the baby is doing great. Dr. Afnan got the paperwork organized for my possible induction on Friday. I say 'possible" because we're still holding out hope that all of this will happen naturally... Wishful thinking?

The plan if there's no baby Tebo soon... I'll go in Friday morning at 8:30 am and they'll put a prostaglandin in around 9 am to ripen the cervix and hopefully get things started. That stays in for 24 hours. If nothing happens within those 24 hours, then I'll get some pitocin which will hopefully do the trick. If that doesn't work, I may have to get a c-section, or, surprisingly I could go home. I can't imagine it coming to a c-section. That seems crazy but nothing so far is going as planned!

Keeping my fingers crossed!

40 Weeks and 5 Days... Update

We saw Dr. Afnan again today to see how the baby is doing and talk about what the next steps are... Since me and baby are healthy, we're going to continue to wait and see how things happen naturally. If nothing happens by Friday (January 21st, 41 Weeks and 4 Days) then we'll induce. That'll give Travis and I the weekend so he won't need to worry about sub plans.

Next up, if I don't have the baby, I'll see the doctor this Tuesday for another NST.

I have a hunch things are happening... today I've been getting pretty painful Braxtin Hicks contractions... Having one right now... Ouch.

40 Weeks and 3 Days... Update

I saw Dr. Afnan today... Love this guy!

I did another Non-Stress Test (NST) and everything went great and the baby is healthy. Yay! The monitor detected some contractions but I still cant feel anything. Not sure if that's good or bad. It does make me feel better that SOMETHING is happening. I also got an ultrasound to check the aminiotic fluid and that's normal too. I loved watching the baby move around. I wanted to ask what the sex was but resisted. That's some serious restraint. The baby weighs over 8 pounds, but the best part... the baby was sucking on his index finger. The ultrasound technician and I had a good laugh at that and she let me watch for a little while. It's so weird knowing that I have a human baby in my belly just hanging out in there...

If the baby doesn't come within the next day then we'll see the doctor on Saturday and consult about what to do next... I'll be 41 weeks on Monday.

Funny Chinese Signs

I saw this at a Chinese Sea World in Qingdao

"Special Use for the Old, Lonely, and Single"

Ouch, that's harsh

They forgot the 't' in Peanuts

"Fried Dry Fish with Peanus" Ha!

Bruce Willis, the driver

Found this ad at the grocery store.

Really disturbing stuffed animal.

I saw this in the play area at our clubhouse.

No one has seen it since last summer.

Ready for Baby!

The Crib

Baby will sleep in our room for awhile...

Wardrobe and Baby Changing Station

I know, this needs some color!

Can't wait to spruce it up with blue or pink.

40 Weeks... Induced but Nothing...

40 Weeks Pregnant

At the Hospital... Waiting...

Creepy Lop-Sided Belly!

Monday marked my 40th week of pregnancy, so I went to see my doctor to make sure everything is okay... I'm seeing a new one, Dr. Afnan, he wears bow ties everyday which I find a little odd but he's super nice, gentle, good listener, but most important- I trust him.

I shared with Dr. Afnan that I wasn't feeling the baby move as much so they gave me a Non-Stress-Test (NST). basically, they hook you up to some monitors to hear the baby's heartbeat and I press a button every time it moves and the machine graphs all of this. Holy cow the baby was moving during that! However, the heartbeat slowed down (they call them decelerations) four different times. There were two times that it was significant because it went from 140 to 90 beats. To play it safe, the doctor wanted to induce me that day. I was a little bummed and totally not prepared, but whatever is best for the baby. I was admitted around 11:30 am and they put a prostaglandin in to ripen my cervix. The machine said that I was having contractions but I didn't really feel them, but more importantly, no decelerations from the baby... I kept myself busy with the iTouch- thank gawd I brought that with me because there's wireless! Around 4 pm, I felt something a little stronger but those went away. Travis arrived around 6 pm and we hung out, watched an episode of Glee, and went to bed early... just waiting for something to happen...

The next morning, I felt just fine and really wanted to leave. The midwives mentioned giving me pitocin (drug that simulates Oxytocin, which brings-on contractions) but I was very clear that I didn't want that. To be honest, I was scared. I heard horror stories about how painful that can make your contractions, especially if they give you too much. Plus, if it doesn't work then they have to cut you open and get the baby out. That all seems really overwhelming... Luckily, our doctor agreed and we did another NST Tuesday morning and everything was fine. After they took the prostaglandin out, they observed me. I wasn't dilated at all (maybe a finger-tip), so we went home. I really missed Gabby and she was SO HAPPY to see us. I swear she just grew-up a little that day I missed. She said, 'I want the baby out now!" I couldn't agree with her more.

I go see the doctor tomorrow, unless of course I go into labor, and I'll do another NST and see how the baby is doing and if I dilated at all... Of course, I'll keep everyone updated.

I ovulated late the month I conceived and Gabby was six days late... so it looks as though we may have a couple of days, but who really knows.

Send my some positive labor vibes****

Gabby's Imagination and Lady Gaga

We are deep into the imagination, magical thinking, and "why?" stage of her development... She says super imaginative things... she was walking down the stairs and saying that there was poison on the stairs and we had to be very careful and started explaining a story about a mean lady and monsters and how we need to be quiet...

The nickname, "Gabby," has proven to be a well deserved name. This girl loves to talk your ear off and has the "gift of the gab,' as the Irish would say. Lately, she has been telling our friends stories about movies and princesses. She almost makes up the story as she goes but with so much enthusiasm and energy. It's hilarious. She is obsessed with the Disney princesses and Barbies... she naturally just gravitated to that. Every chance she gets, she still wants to wear her Snow White dress. It's just the girl in her, I suppose. On the other hand, she plays like a boy. She has no problem running around, getting sweaty and dirty.

She also LOVES Lady Gaga. When we drive around in the car, I'll ask her what she wants to listen to and she says, "Paparazzi and Pokerface." You can hear her in the back singing away...

Everything in the past couple of months is "why?" Why do you work? Why do we have to clean-up the room? Why do I have to eat my vegetables?

39 Week Update

I'll be 40 weeks pregnant this Monday! Holy Crap.

We saw the doctor on Tuesday and the baby dropped and I'm now one centimeter dilated... My lower back is hurting, I'm sleeping like crap, and I've been having lots of Braxtin Hicks contractions that have been a little painful... SO things are moving but we still don't know when I'll have the baby. The doctor said two days or one week... Real helpful but this whole thing is not an exact science so I'll be patient. Today we saw our old child-birth instructor, Kathi Levitan, who has also offered to help give us labor support. We went over positions, how the midwives work at the hospital (we hired one for Gabby's birth so we never used a Chinese one), and went over ways we could make the experience even better. We're going to watch some birthing videos and read over some things so that we've got all our bases covered. I'm not scared this time around. It's weird. I know it's super painful and it will totally suck but I also know that I can do this. I know what to expect and I'm ready to kick ass and take some names all over those contractions. Yah, baby!

Gabriella the Ham

Being super silly

Shaking her Booty

I found these pictures of my daughter from early December... I just think she looks super cute in these and wanted to share.

New Year's Eve 2010

Probably one of the last family

pictures with one kid?

Gabriella and Mommy

Self-Portrait

The Tebo family went to a New Year's party at the Williams's house. We had a nice time chatting to people and enjoyed the yummy food. Gabby was being entertained by the older kids, so we were able to chill and hang-out. We didn't make it very long... and left at 10 pm. Travis and I went home, put Gabby to bed, and watched the movie, "The Social Network." Pretty uneventful but I'm not complaining.