The New Addition

This morning at 9:36, Tucker Bradley Fiehler was born. He weighed in at 7 lbs 8 oz and was 20 inches long. He is doing great and has Nicole's big blue eyes and little nose. Nicole is recovering from the labor and is just a bit tired and sore.

Here are some pictures of Tucker, Nicole and a few eager visitors that were at the hospital already.

Will today be the day?

Interesting facts for the day:

--According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 12,000 babies are born on October 5 (TODAY), making it the most common birth date in the US.
--The least common birthday is May 22, with an average of 10,259 births.
--More babies are born in August, with 369,000 birthdays on average. February has the fewest births--310,000.
--The most deliveries take place on Tuesdays, with an average of 13,169 births; Sundays see the fewest, with 7,347 (partly due to scheduled deliveries).
--The October 5th baby boom may have something to do with where it falls in the calendar year: about nine months after New Year's Eve.

So, we'll see... I'm not especially hopeful this baby is ready to come before this day ends, but I just thought it was interesting that I could potentially have a baby on the most popular day of the year! 6 MORE DAYS TILL THE DUE DATE this Saturday... we'll keep you posted!

(these facts came from the recent issue of "Fit Pregnancy" magazine)

The end of a great season...

What a special night we had last night! The Gibbs, the family I work for, wanted to have a "retirement party" for me before the baby came to celebrate our time together. I had no idea how sweet the night would be! Brad and I drove up to see all 4 boys, dressed up in their white shirts and jeans, with hair fixed and all, holding a beautiful bouquet of flowers for me, "Miss Nicole". They ran to greet me and we immediately started a photo session to get pictures with all the boys and me. Melissa thought of all the details...making all my favorite foods that she makes--a yummy sun dried tomato dip for an appetizer, tortilla soup, guacamole, and ending with a yummy chocolate cake with chunky cherry icing! We ate a "fancy" dinner on the dining room table as the boys served as waiters. The most special time of the night came when they gifted me something I will treasure FOREVER--letters. Melissa and all the boys except little Taylor of course, wrote me letters of thanks for these years we've had together. They took it to the next level and each read their letter out loud to me... so, of course, no dry eyes were present! It was precious to hear the things they had to say and the memories that come to their minds when they remember all of our time together. Melissa blessed me beyond words with her sweet letter to me...I think the boys were very concerned with how hard they saw "Mommy and Miss Nicole" crying (something they don't see very often)! Melissa and I have just always been amazed and blessed by how well this situation has worked and although I'm excited about taking care of my own baby and they are in great shape for me to leave, it is sad as we think about not seeing each other most days of the week and sharing in the friendship that we have grown so used to. Thankfully, this relationship with the Gibbs will continue...the boys are all ready to be brothers to my baby (they are all hoping for a little boy, of course!) and I can't wait to continue to watch them grow up!

As I finish up this four year season of taking care of the Gibbs boys--I like to think I've had "the best internship ever"! It is hard to believe that almost 4 1/2 years ago, I sat across from Melissa for an "interview"--still on Young Life staff, not engaged yet, and thinking that being a nanny would be a great temporary job as I moved to Huntersville. We could have never known that it would not only turn out to be my job for the next 4 years, but that we would become like family and partners in their household in the most perfect and natural way that you could imagine. When I started working for them, Taylor, the youngest, at almost 4 years old, was not even born yet...Jackson, a 5th grader, was just starting 1st grade, Jason, at 6, was just potty training and barely talking, and Miller, at 8, was just in preschool! I could never write enough about how much I have learned from Melissa on motherhood... she is so many things that I hope to become and after seeing her in the day to day routine, the hard times, and the easier times, I am so amazed at her consistency, integrity, and faithfulness as she plays the role of Mom to these 4 busy boys. I couldn't have watched a better example and I KNOW I will be a better mom because of her! To say the least, we have seen each other through a lot in these years... from small milestones like taking first steps, learning to read, learning to swim or ride a bike, and first days of school... to the more intense times of Taylor's battle with leukemia...

As a lot of you know, Melissa is a gifted writer, and I'll leave you with a few excerpts from her letter that sum things up well...

"I can't imagine a situation that you can't handle. You have cared for twin newborns, potty trained, home-schooled, administered chemo, cleaned up vomit, mini-golfed with a baby strapped to your chest, sat through an elementary school play, and learned the words to hundreds of songs on XM Kids."

"I hope you will smile a little smile of remembrance when your child takes that first bite of rice cereal, or take a first step, or goes poo-poo on the potty, or cries at the sight of a costume "character", or learns to read, or jumps to you from the side of the pool, or sings "God is so Good". I hope you'll fondly recall your first "children".

So, here I go...leaving this great experience and off to become mommy to my own little one. Thankfully Melissa is just a phone call away...

Enjoy this slideshow from the last few years!

10 years later...

How has it been 10 years since I graduated high school!?!? So, I'm experiencing one of those weird life milestones as I approach my 10 year high school reunion! Unfortunately, it is this weekend and I obviously can't make it since I'm 9 days away from my due date with this baby... But, it brings all kinds of thoughts and memories as I think about high school and the fact that I'm 10 years out from that time of my life! High school was a really fun time for me...I think of my great friends, amazing experiences with Young Life, mornings at Boulevard Bagel, "cheering on" all my cheerleaders friends and sister at all the games, fun times on the tennis team, driving my Honda civic, sleepovers that almost always included cookie cakes, Mexican dip, and karaoke... it all seems so long ago! I'm thankful for the good memories and also very thankful to not be in that stage of life anymore! So glad that we grow and mature over time and I would like to think if I showed up at my Rose High reunion this weekend, that people might see some of those differences in me... But, since I won't be able to show up myself, I'll just rely on my friends to tell me all the good gossip on who's still the same, who's changed, who's married, who's got kids, etc.... Happy 10 years to the Rose High School class of 98!

2 WEEKS to go...

Well, first of all, THANKS for all your concerns, prayers, and comments after my horrible bad "wreck day". That was easily the hardest day of my life and I could not be more grateful for how the baby and I were protected in what could have been a much worse situation! I do have a great husband who is yet to get too worked up about the car damage...which is by the way, too astronomical to record on the blog. Thanks babe...

So, we're getting SO close to the end! We just have 15 days to go! Yes...we're counting by days, not months now :) After all this time, it is just unbelievable that we're approaching the end...or the beginning I should say! I'm feeling pretty good...just wondering if my ankles could get more swollen, these little feet could kick my ribs more, if heartburn could attack my throat any stronger, and if it could be any harder to get out of bed at night for all the 3 or 4 times that I have to use the bathroom... nothing but fun times when you're 38 weeks pregnant! But, we're ready...bags packed, gear purchased and assembled, nursery all "nested"...and so excited to see when this little one is going to decide to come out and join us! Don't forget to vote on if you think it's a boy or a girl and we'll keep you posted in these next few weeks!

Thank you Lord and Volvo!!!

So after sitting on the sidelines of the Fiehler Fam blog, I am finally getting in the game and contributing. My change of heart was brought about by an eventful day that has Nicole not so much in the "blogging" mood.

After a busted chin for Taylor and a deep sigh of relief for not needing stitches, Nicole headed to run some errands. In the process of stopping here, running in there, she was making her way to the post office when she got in a wreck (we will not place blame on the blog but details will come further down). Needless to say, she was very shaken up - a little bit physically and a TON emotionally. To all those who have experienced life with a woman that is 8 months pregnant I do not need to expound on what "a TON emotionally" is and to those who have not just be patient as your day will come.

Upon arriving at the wreck I checked on Nicole who was able to walk away with no bumps or bruises. Being that she is so close to her due date, the officer on the scene called the ambulance to come and check her out. After discussing the situation with them and given the fact that her doctor's office was about 250 yards away, we just decided to go there and have them check her out. We were quickly shuffled back and they hooked her up for a "non-stress test". Mom checked out fine with no abnormal contractions and baby checked out with normal heart rate and was being quite active. THANK YOU LORD!!!

As far as the details of the wreck, basically Nicole did not see a car coming from her right when she pulled out of a parking lot to go straight across the street (but remember we will not place blame). The Volvo is looking pretty rough with some damage on the bumper, front right corner, and all down the passenger side. The Corolla that met the Volvo is not in as good of shape as I would imagine that its days will now be relegated to spare parts.

While you might not think of the Volvo as one tough ride, today it was tested and came through with flying colors. Nicole and baby are safe and sound - THANK YOU VOLVO!!!

Greenville shower

It was another fun weekend of celebrating! I took my last trip of "travel" to Greenville to celebrate with friends and family and shower Baby Fiehler a little bit more! My sweet friends, Jordan, her mom Sue, and Courtney threw me a fun shower full of a lot of my favorite Greenville friends! We are getting close to having everything we need for this little one that is due in less than 4 weeks!

Beth gets the "sister award" because Saturday was her birthday and she "took one for the team" by doing the baby shower thing for a big chunk of her day! She was also my chauffeur on our trip to Greenville so that I could be somewhat comfortable in the car...THANKS BETH and HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Enjoy some pictures from the shower!