Sleep is so over rated!

Ok, the death march has stared. Thursday night we got about 1/2 hour sleep total, Friday was better, two hours tops...but last night was good. We got about 4 hours each. Not straight through, hour here, hour there. But we have great news, SHES EATING! ALOT! Nat latched on great with the help from Tia Cristy, and she fed for over 1 1/2 yesterday straight. Most she ever ate was maybe 15 minutes. But then she ate through the whole night. Have to get her schedule to where she eats during the day, and sleeps at night. But for now, we are just happy shes eating.

Val is doing great. Her belly is going down pretty quickly. Lilly has been a god send all week, taking care of us while we care for Natalie. We can not say thank you enough.

Tia Cristy and Tio Carlos came up for the weekend for a visit also, along with Danny and Saddy.

Well, cant be too creative and fun with the writing, too tired. But heres some more great pics!

Thank you also for everyone that keeps sending flowers after flowers after flowers! WOW!

Day four

Great news, Natalie is coming home tomorrow! Val and I are heading in to spend the night with her. She will be in our room all night, and if her blood count come back clean, my little angel gets to come home! WHOO HOOO!

ok, had to get some pics up of Grandma Lilly and Nat!

Happy 3rd Day Birthday Natalie!

Hello everyone! Things are going great down here. Little Natalie is doing great! She is still in the NICU, but Val has been breast feeding for the last two days! She has taken to the "boob" really well, just like her daddy..hehehehe! MICHAEL!!(As my mom would yell!)

Shes looking really good and pink. Here breathing is 100% better. We are hoping to take her off the O2 today, and start weening her off the IVs and Antibiotics. Sad news, we wont be able to take her home today. They will probably keep her for a couple more days. Val will be discharged, but we are trying to see if we can stay longer. Keeping our fingers crossed.

My greatest joy so far is singing to my little girl. Every morning we start with Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, and end with Over the Rainbow. She seems to love my voice, and love vals touch. The minute val snuggles up with her, she stop crying.

Heres a quick pick of her this morning. I know she may look a little chubby, but shes really small, only 18 inches. Dontcha just want to pinch those little cheeks! heheheh

I want to thank everyone for the flowers and gifts that were sent. Val room is covered in flowers, i think the last time I counted there were over 10 bouquets of flowers!! It smells really nice. Thank you also for everyones kind words. We love you all, and please keep us in your prayers. It makes it that much easier knowing that Natalie will be surrounded by such loving friends and family!

All our love you everyone!

SHES HERE!!!

Thats right! Hurricane NATALIE is here! Val went into labor Sunday night, around 8pm..while we were at our last Lamaze class! how funny, huh? That night we went to the hospital around 1:30. Val was dialated 3 cm. They wanted to send her home, but val wanted to wait one more hour. Sure enough, she started dilatating 1cm every hour! Next thing you know, we are admitted, val has an epideral, and WHAM, out come little Natalie! Did i say LITTLE??

Dauberts do nothing Little!

7lbs, 2 ounces! 18 inches long. Look out world, here comes NATALIE!

LOOK AT THOSE CHEEKS!! Vals doing great, recovering right now. We are going off of no sleep for over 18 hours, but holding strong. Natalie is in the NICU right now, getting antibotics...she will be in there for the next 48 hours..sigh...but better safe then sorry!

Heres our little BUDDA BABY!

Ask a GUY about Pregnancy?

Why you dont want to ask advice from your typical male!!

Pregnancy Q & A & more!
Q: Should I have a baby after 35?
A: No, 35 children is enough.

Q: I'm two months pregnant now. When will my baby move?
A: With any luck, right after he finishes college.

Q: What is the most reliable method to determine a baby's sex?
A: Childbirth.

Q: My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she's
borderline irrational.
A: So what's your question?

Q: My childbirth instructor says it's not pain I'll feel during labor,
but pressure. Is she right?
A: Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current.

Q: When is the best time to get an epidural?
A: Right after you find out you're pregnant.

Q: Is there any reason I have to be in the delivery room while my wife
is in labor?
A: Not unless the word "alimony" means anything to you.

Q: Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth?
A: Yes, pregnancy.

Q: Do I have to have a baby shower?
A: Not if you change the baby's diaper very quickly.

Q: Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and
act normal again?
A: When the kids are in college.

HAHAHAHAHAH...more to come later!!

Week 34 and counting

Holy cow, we are down to 7 weeks! YIKES...guess there is no backing out now! Sorry for the delay on the blog, things have been super busy and stressful. Last we chatted, we had just finished up on our first baby shower. We made the trip down to McAllen a couple weeks later for another shower, this one put on by Tia Cristy. This was a "Ladies" only party, but I made the trip down to bring all the booty back! Val will talk more about it below.

The baby room is finally done! Wooohooo! Last thing to do is put the baby seat in both cars. Hopefully get to it this weekend.

Natalie has been kicking up a storm lately! Its great to watch Val's tummy, seeing all the little feet and hands moving around. Val says I have to stop asking Natalie to "Come out and Play"...guess we need to keep her in till the timer goes off in the Daubert Incubator! hehehehehe.

Last week we went to our first Lamaze class. Very educational. They showed a couple videos of real births. MOM, YOU NEVER TOLD ME ABOUT THIS! I kept looking for the stork, but it turned into a scene from ALIENS movie! hehehehe...it was funny to watch all the soon to be dads squirm and fidget! We couldn't believe how long the labor could last, and what we are going we are in for. But I promise to be a great "Coach" for Val, and be by her side through everything!(Guess that the least I could do, seeing I did this to her..hehehehe) But seriously, I am getting so excited to see Natalie, and to bring her into the world. Val still looks great, people don't even know shes pregnant when they see her from behind..but when she turns around WHOA....hehehehe!

We have big news from our circle of friends:

The Sullivan Twins are here!! Miranda and Julian are adorable and even though they had to stay at the hospital for a little while after their birth, they are doing very well and have come home! Mike always said that Darlene and Kevin would be good breeders. CONGRATULATIONS SULLIVANS!!

Rubi and Carlos from McAllen also have good news.....they are about 18 weeks along and having a little boy early next year!! Yay, we need some more boys! Julian will have someone to hang out with in his "boys only" tree fort when we have parties at the Sullivan's. :-)

Even our Mexico friends are joining in! Lee Anne and Lalo are expecting a little one in about seven months in Manzanillo, Mexico. We are looking forward to hearing more from them. Boy, girl? Will they find out?

I'm ready for Natalie to be here too. I know it's going to get worse, but that is why I feel like I should be sleeping better now and getting some rest. I am getting tired faster lately and the bathroom trips are more frequent, so I think these are all signs that Natalie is getting bigger, pushing down and telling us she's getting ready to come out.

The shower in McAllen was a big success. Tia Cristy did a fabulous job and received a great response with about 40 women. We played games, wore diapers on our lapels and oooh'd and aah'd at all the cute gifts we received. The girl has more clothes than me already! I want to thank everyone who made it to the shower, especially Sally and Laurie who came all the way from Wisconsin and Chicago to be with us!

Here are some pictures of the finished nursery. Mike has done a great job putting together the furniture and putting up shelves...well, doing everything while I watch and try not to boss him too much. As soon as things settle down a little after the baby is born, (does that ever happen?), you are all welcome to visit and meet Natalie and see the cute nursery....of course, the best room in the house.

Love from the wet, but nice and green, Austin, TX.
Here are pics of the Natalies Room..FINALLY DONE! whew!


And now some notes from the DAUBERT INCUBATOR!

My Baby
Your baby's preparing for his arrival in just a few short weeks! This week, the protective vernix (that white, waxy coating that's keeping his skin safe) begins to thicken, ensuring his birthday suit stays smooth and well-moisturized during D-day. Your baby will likely arrive covered in the stuff, especially in the folds under his arms, behind his ears, and in the groin area. But it'll all be washed off very shortly after birth -- during his first-ever bath. (So adorable!) By now, your baby weighs around 5 pounds and may be as long as 20 inches, head to toe.
My Body
You may feel like you've been seeing your doctor more than you see your best friend these days. You're likely visiting twice a month now, and starting in the next two weeks, she'll probably want to see you weekly until your baby's born. At these visits, your doc will keep tabs on the baby's growth and vitals. She'll monitor your cervix to see how much you've dilated -- a sign that labor's approaching.
And speaking of labor, does your belly feel a bit lighter these days? Called dropping, lightening, or engagement, it's common around this time, as your baby settles lower into your pelvis to get ready for her big move outta there. Another labor signal to watch for is extra-thick vaginal discharge that's pink or even a bit blood-tinged. It's the start of -- excuse the yuck factor here -- your mucus plug dropping. The mucus plug is a ball of tissue that's been blocking your cervix during pregnancy to keep your uterus safe from germs. Losing your plug doesn't mean that labor's starting ASAP, though. Many women lose their plugs up to two weeks before labor officially begins.

My Life
Been pondering how you'd like your baby to enter the world? Granted, you can't totally control what will happen during labor, but you're bound to have preferences about some things, like relieving pain, who'll keep you company, and what'll make labor easier on you (a designated coach or having your iPod handy, for example). This is why birth plans were invented: So that you, your partner, and your doctor will all be on the same page when it comes to how you'd like things to go -- in a very ideal world, of course. Some women are comfortable enough with a thorough talk with their doctors and partners; others might feel more at ease by putting it all down on paper. If you do draft a birth plan, be sure to keep it short and to-the-point -- one page or less. Doctors and nurses might glaze over if they're handed your version of War and Peace.

Week 27 WOW

Sorry its been a while since the last post, things have been super busy at the Daubert house. Things at work are going great, for both Val and myself. And last weekend, our friends threw us a baby shower. There were shower games courtesy of Kelly and the girls, lots of food(Master Chef Kevin and his beautiful wife Darlene), and we were surrounded by all our good friends! Everyone was so generous, with toys, clothes, and diapers, diapers, and more diapers. Oh, and got some great insight on what to expect from all our friends who have little ones already...Butt Paste and tripplenipple cream??? What have I gotten myself into?? hehehehe

We can't say thank you enough! Thank you to all our hosts, the Sullivans, the Harrises, the McCreas, the Yzaguirres, and Alyson Fins, and Karsten Baker!

Below are some pictures of the Baby Shower.
Val is doing great, getting bigger and bigger each week. We have been trying to get walks in every night, when possible. She is still as radiant as ever, I always catch her rubbing her belly in the mirror. It's so cute! Every morning when we carpool into work, Natalie wakes up at the same time and starts kicking, making Val squeal and giggle. We both start laughing!

We are almost finished with the baby room, paint and touch up are all done. We have most of the furniture in, including the great rocker that Lilly and Chet gave us, and a combo armoire/changing table that Tios Cristy and Carlos gave us. Patrick and Kate came down from Dallas with their little girl, Sadie, so Kate made sure that the room was fully approved by little Sadie, rocked in the chair, tested the toys, etc.

And now some notes from the Daubert Incubator!

Our baby shower was great --all our hosts outdid themselves!Kelly made the diaper cake you seen me holding in the picture. She was also the MC for the games and did a wonderful job - she even did Baby Loteria (Bingo) in Spanish! Darlene, always the over achiever, had the house set up and ready, even though they just moved in less than a month ago. We can't thank Rubi and Carlos and Kate and PJ enough for hosting even though they had to come all the way from McAllen and Dallas, and Alyson did a gorgeous job with the invitations and helping with the logistics. We are lucky to have such wonderful friends!

The past four weeks have gone by fast, but I can definitely feel the extra 23lbs I'm carrying around. Today was Father's Day, so the daddy-to-be got a pancake breakfast and his pick for lunch - Fudrecker's, of course! He deserves it!

It's passed this mommy-to-be's bed time, so that's all for tonight. Love, Val

AGES & STAGES-Whats going on in Valeries Belly

"MYOB" Mind your OWN body

Once that belly starts sticking out, relatives, friends, acquaintances, and strangers may approach you to ask questions, offer unsolicited advice, or try to touch your tummy. Some women are delighted with the attention, while others feel more private. It's perfectly fine to express how you feel and say, "Hands off!" or "No, thanks!"

Your Baby
Your babe is safe and protected

right where he is, cushioned by amniotic fluid and nestled in your womb. His lungs are capable of breathing air. Waves of brain activity occur in the sectors that process sensory input, especially visual and auditory stimulation.
Your Body
You might experience mild swelling in your hands, face, ankles, and feet. This is common, but severe swelling can be signs of high blood pressure, or preeclampsia, and should be reported immediately to your doctor. Keep your legs elevated, stay off your feet, and drink plenty of fluids.

Week 24

SIX MONTHS TODAY!

And we have finally named our Princess.....Drum roll please

NATALIE GRACE DAUBERT

Wow, OK so it's been sometime since the last post, but we have been super busy! Grandma and Grandpa Daubert came down last week for a visit. It was great to see them, and of course we put them to work right away! ha.

Mom went with Val and the girls (Darlene and Kelly) on Saturday shopping at all the baby stores. Mom surprised us with getting us our baby stroller! Thank you so much Mom and Dad!
So while the girls where playing, the boys went to work. We painted the baby room a really nice pastel yellow. We are going with all pastel colors in the room. We even found a perfect fan that we based the colors on. We painted the doors pastel colors to match the fan. Val just loves it! It was a lot of work, but we want the room to be perfect for our little princess!





And then of course, we got to put together the baby crib. It was easier than I thought. It looks so precious in the room. Of course, Val had us moving the crib from wall to wall till she found the perfect spot.









And then we have MOTHER'S DAY!


So both Mom and "Mom to Be" got a big bouquet of flowers!


Memoirs from Mommy!
The past four weeks have gone by very fast. Between taking my last work trip, figuring out what to register for (thank you Kate and Kelly for all your input and advise), and visiting with Sally and Jack, I don't know where all the time went. I've also gotten A LOT bigger lately. I gained 8 pounds in 4 weeks!! I was a bit shocked, but the doctor said I was right on track.


Natalie is active and swimming around all day. She reminds me every once in a while that she's there and she's hungry. (Of course, I'm hungry too...I'm just glad I have my cute little fridge in my office with all kinds of snacks and milk -- yes, mom, milk.)


The nursery is looking great! We (well Mike) would have been working for a lot longer if we didn't have Sally and Jack here to help. They were great! And I love the colors. The crib is also very cute and all set up ready for a mattress, bedding, and a little baby girl. I'm so glad that Mike is an artist becuase I would have never thought of the cute color combinations he put together on the walls and doors! Mike is going to be such a great dad and our kid is going to have the best art projects ;-) .

This weekend Tio Carlos and Tia Cristy will be coming to Ausitn. We are also looking forward to spending some time with them and also getting an extra day off next week for Memorial Day.



And now notes about the INCUBATOR!

Week 24 of 40
Itchy and Scratchy
Right now, you may be suffering from minor ailments. Whether you're itchy, scratchy, or achy, this time is full of hiccups, burps, and other cramps and interruptions. Keep your eyes on the prize, and remember: these annoying symptoms are signs of a healthy, developing pregnancy.
Your Baby
Your child's organs and tissues are growing, with the biggest gains in muscle and bone mass. Her bones, organs, and blood vessels are visible beneath her thin and transparent skin.
Your Body
Your uterus is the size of a soccer ball. You may have pains down the side of your tummy, or along the sides of your lower abdomen from stretched ligaments. The skin over your abdomen may be stretched and dry and itchy, too. As the uterus presses on major blood vessels, the blood supply to your legs slows down, causing cramps when you stand, sit, or lie down for long periods.

THAT ALL FOR NOW!!!

Week 20

Well, you would never have guessed, that week 20 involved drinking games with pregnant women! HEHEH. We went down to see Kevin and Darlene' new house, and were sitting out back on their patio. Kevin was so proud that he could balance his beer on Darlene's belly...so of course I had to try on Val! Now there's a lot of talent between those two! (I'm guessing this looks a little "white trash"?hehehehehe)
In case I havent mentioned it, Darlene is 2 weeks ahead of Val, with twins! So of course, I'm there to help keep Kevin sane, which usually has to do with beer...lots of it! heheheh!

Here's a great picture of the best friends, and their bellies!


I don't think Val could be any happier, with the fact that she and Darlene get to experience this together. Two best friends, both going through one of the best times of their lives, together! Val just gets all giddy knowing that the Daubert and Sulivan kids will grow up together, and hopefully be best friend!
And the fact that she has two other close friend, Kate and Kelly, who both have little new born girls, makes the whole package complete! Look out world, theres some beautiful little girls coming your way!

NOTES FROM VAL:
I'm feeling well and can feel the little one moving around in there more and more. The doctor says that 10lbs in 20 weeks is "text book." Not sure if I'm quite a "text book" example, but so far, so good. Mike has been a model husband! He rubs my feet and gets me snacks when I'm hungry, which is quite often It has also recently been pointed out to me that he wins the Best Husband award because he brought me flowers at work when we found out we were having a little girl and he started this blog. I completely agree!!!!! He's the best, but I already knew that.

I can't believe that Darlene and Kevin moved. Especially right now...but they did it. They have a fabulous new house in South Austin and it's perfect for lots of kids. Mike helped Kevin move the heavy furniture around while D and I caught up and chit-chatted about our eating habits, work, etc.

This week I'm in the full blown nesting stage. And you guys thought I was organized before!! You ain't seen nothing, yet! We've reorganized the hall closet, the bedroom closets are almost done, and the "office" is about ready to be converted to the nursery. Mike has been great at this as well. I've been so inspired to organize, that I've even spilt out all the wrapping supplies into different categories and drawers. The little clothes we've gotten is on little bitty hangers in the newly empty closet, and the garage sale pile is also growing. But don't worry Mom and Dad (Daubert), there will still be plenty to do when you come visit in May :-).

Till next week....love you! Val


"Whats going on in the Daubert Incubator!"
Look out, blossoming curves ahead! You are a goddess. You may feel more physically and psychologically adjusted to the pregnancy now. Your fuller hips and breasts can make you feel more feminine and desirable, even sexy. Where you want to take this newfound voluptuousness is entirely up to you.
Your Baby
Soon your child will be as hairy as a coconut. Relax, as most of the fuzz will disappear by the time your child is born. Hair sprouts on his head and eyebrows, and brown fat forms in his neck and chest. These will keep him warm when it's cold.