Annabelle 1 Month

1 month!

3 days old

This month has flown by. I can't believe that my sweet baby girl is already 1 month old. She is such a beautiful baby that has brought our family so much joy. Annabelle was 7lbs when she was born and weighed 6lbs. 10oz. when we left the hospital. It's normal for babies to lose weight, no big deal. The doctor wanted to see her the next day to check her weight again. Due to the icy weather we were unable to make that appointment. So, we went on Monday. She still was losing weight and needed to be seen again later the same week.

1 week old

I had decided during the pregnancy that I was going to nurse Annabelle. She had trouble latching at the hospital but the few times she did, she did great. So we kept going when we got home. She struggled to latch but when she did, she nursed for about 20 minutes every 2 hours or so. I thought she was getting enough because there really is no way to measure how much they eat when they are breastfed. She consistently had wet and dirty diapers. Unfortunately she still wasn't gaining weight. Her weight dropped to 6 lbs. 2 oz. The doctor was concerned. She told me to supplement with formula. The nurse sent us home with a few sample cans to get us started.

2 weeks old

So I continued to nurse Annabelle, then gave her a bottle afterwards for each feeding. I didn't think it was going to bother me giving her formula but it did. I sat with her and cried as I nursed her, then gave her a bottle, then pumped. That took 1 1/2 hours! And then I had to do it all again in another 30-45 minutes. All the while I could hear my boys in the living room arguing with each other. I really struggled with the decision to stop nursing her and just give her formula. I had posted on Facebook my struggle and had an out pour of support from my friends. One comment really brought things into perspective for me.She reminded me that God gave me a healthy, pregnancy, an uncomplicated birth, and a beautiful healthy baby girl. He didn't however give me the capability to nurse my children. I made the decision that was best for Annabelle, for me and the rest of my family. Even with this new precious baby, I am a mom to 3 boys who need me.

Valentine's Day

Now that Annabelle is a formula fed baby, things have returned to normal. Normal? Wrong word. Things have settled down as we all adjust. Annabelle has reached her birth weight and then some. At her 1 month check up, she weighed a whooping 8 lbs. 7 oz. She's getting to be a big girl! She eats 4 oz every 4-5 hours and has slept for about 5 1/2 almost 6 hours at night now that she is swaddled. Maybe next month she will move to her crib in her room. 

Welcome Annabelle Joy

January 23, 2013 @ 9:48 am Annabelle Joy Knott entered the world and completed our family.

Here's her story, it's quite the adventure!

I woke up at 5:45 to the pain of a contraction. The contractions were about every 5 minutes. Now, all the baby information says to wait until you have contractions every 5 minutes for an hour before calling the doctor. Are you kidding me?! I called right away, knowing my previous deliveries happened very quickly. I simply informed the operator that I wasn't waiting and I was going to the hospital now. 

I woke Steven up and told him it's time. He quickly showered and got dressed. I called my mom and Steven's parents to let them know we were going to have a baby today.  I woke up the boys and told them to get ready, I paced around the house knowing that mine and Annabelle's bags were already packed but I had nothing ready for the boys. I packed clothes for Phillip, crayons and coloring books, VSmile and his Whizz Kid. The boys were very excited knowing that their sister was going to be born.

We all got in the van that very chilly morning and headed down the street. I heard a noise coming from my van  as Steven drove. A familiar sound but not a good sound. We got to the gas station by the house and found we had a flat tire. WHAT?! So Steven filled the tire and we drove back home to get his car. Contractions were still every 5 minutes and very uncomfortable. We drove back home, unloaded the van and quickly got into Steven's car to find out that the gas light was on. We had to stop again at the gas station.  

From our house to Wake Med Cary is about 16 miles. On a normal day it takes about 20-25 minutes to get there driving up Hwy 55 and over US 1. This morning we got stopped at almost EVERY red light between home and the hospital. I think we went through maybe 1 or 2. 

We finally made it to the hospital. Steven walked me inside and I went to registration. He went out to park the car and bring the boys in. Since we had come in the week before, almost all the paperwork was complete. I never had to go to registration before. I was always taken back to a delivery room. 

I got settled into my room at 6:55. I was told that Deb was the mid-wife on call. I had no idea who she was, never met her before. I was checked and was told that I was between 5-6 cm. I really hadn't made much progress from the week before when I was discharged at 4cm. I was hooked up to the monitors and was told to relax. My mom and Steven were both with me. I was given the option of sitting in the bathtub. I had never done that before and thought it would help me through the contractions. The hot water felt great but I think to caused things to progress more quickly. 

At 9am I was 8cm. This was the longest labor of all my children. I had opted not to have any pain medicine. I wanted to have a natural birth again. I had felt the urge to start pushing. 9cm @ 9:18.

The urge to push was getting greater. I was told to start pushing at 9:30. My mom and Steven were both very encouraging and helping me through the pain. All the pain was worth it and ended at 9:48 when she was born. Ten long little fingers, ten long little toes. She was perfect!!

Steven and I used the phone and did FaceTime with the boys to introduce them to their new little sister. They were not allowed to come back and see us due to hospital policy during flu season. They were so excited!!

False Alarm

Who would have thought that after having giving birth to 3 kids I would have false labor. Not ME!!

On Monday, January 14 I had been experiencing contractions followed by pelvic pain and pressure for about an hour. I decided at 8 pm to call the Doc and see what they say. Heather, the midwife, thought based on my symptoms that I had a UTI. But then I told her my history of delivering early. She suggested that I come to the hospital and get checked out. Steven and I dropped the boys off at his parents' house and headed to the hospital.

I do have to say that the check in was actually nice. I was able to sit in a chair and fill out paperwork. I never  had that chance before. I always got to the hospital in active labor and in lots of pain. This time I was able to walk to my room on my own.

I was checked at 9:15 and measured 2cm 50%. I continued to have irregular contractions. It was very funny to hear Baby Girl's heartbeat and hiccups on the monitor. Plus seeing my belly move was funny. The initial test came back that I didn't have a UTI but they were waiting on official Lab results.

Around 10:50 my contractions that were every 20 minutes had started coming every 8-10 minutes, some of them being quite intense.

Since the initial test showed that I was slightly dehydrated, they decided to put me on an IV at 11:10 pm.  The nurse said that the IV might slow down and stop my contractions, which would be a good things since I was only 36 weeks.

I was checked again at 11:45 and had progressed to 4 cm 80%. The nurses had started getting things ready for Baby Girl's arrival. We had called my mom and Steven's mom who both came up to the hospital, thinking that she would be here soon.

They already made Baby Girl's hospital bracelets.

Steven predicted 2:45 am and the nurse thought she would be here sooner than that. Then it all stopped. I was checked again and still at 4cm 80%. We were discharged with the directions to make a followup appointment with the office for Thursday.

Thursday's appointment came and I saw a midwife that I had never met before. She asked how I had been feeling and I told her that I had been having contractions very irregularly for the last few days, some of them being intense. She decided that there was no reason to check to see if I had made an progress since I wasn't in labor. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! So now I have no idea if there has been any change. Really hoping that I make it to the hospital to have her and not have her in the car. If history repeats itself, then she'll be born within 1-2 hours if that when I do finally go into labor.


I can't wait to meet my precious baby girl, whenever she does decide to make her debut.

Looking Back at 2012

2012 has come and gone. 2013 is a fresh new year that will hold all new adventures and blessings for our family. Looking back over 2012, we had several adventures and new blessings.

2012 started with a HUGE adventure! We went to Disney World with Steven's parents, his sister and her family and his youngest sister. I had never been to Disney World and was just as excited to go as the boys!

The boys rode an airplane for the first time and had a blast!

Shortly after our Disney World vacation, we found out that Ainsley was going to be a big sister. Baby Andrews was due in November. 

 April 8, 2012 was a huge day in Trevor's life. He was Baptized!!

 Steven turned 30!

Phillip conquered his fear and now loves to jump into the pool. He hasn't mastered swimming yet so this just made me nervous, because he didn't want someone to catch him all the time.

The boys and I went to their first baseball game. It was the Carolina Mudcats. They had an awesome time and Trevor even won a jersey!

We found out that we were adding to our family! Baby Knott is due to arrive in February 2013. Knowing my previous history, I'm thinking January.

I went back to Munkacs, Ukraine again this year with Fairview Baptist Church. It was a bittersweet trip knowing that I wasn't going to go back in 2013. 

One of the biggest adventures of 2012 was Phillip breaking his leg. He had to wear a hip spica cast for 6 long weeks! He was such a trooper though and didn't let it bother him. He even learned to walk in it.

Deanna and Andrew got married on Aug. 25th. It was a beautiful ceremony!

On October 13, we found out that "Baby Knott" was going to be a GIRL!!

Harper Shay Andrews made her debut on November 15th. She is a beautiful baby with dark hair. 

2012 was a great year and I can't wait to see what 2013 has planned for us!

The Nursery Reveal....

I know the blue chair doesn't match and I'm planning on recovering it soon, and the TV on the floor is just temporary. 

The ballerina picture is one that I had when I was a little girl that I have been holding on to. 

Thanks to my dad and my mother-in-law for helping me paint!

Being Thankful

This past week we celebrated Thanksgiving. A day where you spend all morning cooking, being with family and friends, and eating WAY too much food. 

I have a lot to be thankful for. I hope to add to this list throughout the year and learn to be grateful for all the blessing that have been given to me. 

1. Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, who took the nails for me and my sins on the cross 

2. I am married to my best friend and love of my life, who works so hard to provide for our family. 

3. Trevor, my oldest son, who I can't believe is going to be 10 in a week. 

4. Patrick, who when he wants to, can be as sweet as can be 

5. Phillip, who is such a ham and full of energy

6. Baby Girl, who will make her debut soon, for completing our family.

7. My parents, who have always been to there when I need them

8. My In-Laws, who are great examples for me in my walk with Christ

9. My Sister-In-Laws, who I have seen grow into beautiful young women, both inside and out.

10. Steven's Brother-In-Laws, who bring the quirkiness and humor to the bunch and whom my boys love 

28 weeks, 8-12 weeks to go!

16 weeks

21 weeks

22 weeks

25 weeks

28 Weeks

I can't believe that I am already 28 weeks pregnant! Steven and I were talking the other day that our little baby girl will be here soon. Anywhere between 8-12 weeks away. I have never made it to 40 weeks with any of my pregnancies. Trevor was 4 weeks early, Patrick was 6 weeks early and Phillip was 2 weeks early.  Going early is not something that I plan for, it just happens.


We have re-arranged our entire house to make room for our Baby Girl. Our office furniture moved into our living room and our living room moved into the dining room. Our dining room table is now being stored at my parents house. We have been working to prepare the nursery and I have been shopping for baby girl clothes. I am not use to seeing SO much pink in our house, this is a new thing for us.

Baby Girl's Clothes

Baby Girl's Room (not done yet, still lots to do!)