It's football time at the Fessler house!

Well, I lied. Yesterday I posted that tv was not so important in our lives now that Will is here. How could I have forgotten that college football started this weekend? At our house Georgia football rules, and Mike has been looking forward to watching today's game for awhile. Today, though, was special because he got to share one of his favorite things with his son.
My two UGA boys
Our little puppyDAWG!

Adventures in Parenthood

Our first few days home with Will have been going well. We have certainly had our challenges, but we have also enjoyed the pleasure and blessing of having our little boy at home. I am doing my best to take it easy, but it is hard especially when I think that I am ok. My body, though, quickly let's me know that I have a lot of healing still to do. Mike is home with me and is doing a lot for me which is a big help. Its been amazing how much our attitudes towards everyday life has changed. All of a sudden tv, reading books and cleaning the house are not important, we simply want to sit and watch Will and see what he will do next.

We are still working on a lack of sleep. I don't think either us have slept since Saturday night and not just because Will came Sunday morning. For those of you who don't know, Mike and I both had a stomach virus the night/morning that Will was born. Luckily the epidural took away all of the sickness pain, as well as birth pains, so that I could concentrate on having Will. Mike was not so lucky. He had to endure the virus throughout my entire labor. He was awesome though and never left my side, even though I know he felt horrible. It was not the ideal way to have a child, but at least now we have a fun story to tell and retell. I'm sure Will will tire of us telling it one day. :)

So far this week, we have gone to the doctor, all is well, and gone for a short walk around the neighborhood. We have also learned that baby boys can and will pee at anytime and that we better be ready. Mike has nearly been peed on twice today and I almost got it yesterday. Good thing that we have plenty of clothes for Will, because we have changed his outfits at least 5 times a day!
Tummy Time!!
Already Sucking His Thumb

Will Is Home

As promised here are pictures of Will! We were discharged from the hospital this afternoon and everyone is doing well in the comfort of home.

Our Lil' Man Is Here!!!

William Michael Fessler was born on Sunday morning August 24, 2008 at 7:19am. He weighed in at 8lbs, 1oz and was 19.5 inches long. He is absolutely the most beautiful and precious thing we have ever seen in our lives! We are so excited and thankful to finally meet him and see what he looks like. What an amazing miracle that God has given us. We're a little short on sleep as expected, but everyone is doing well after a very "interesting" Saturday night/Sunday morning. We'll post more on that later, along with pictures! Thanks to all of our friends and family for your prayers and support for us during this special time.

Doctor's appointment

We went to the doctor today for our 38 week check-up. I am still at 4 cm, but I was told that I am 80% effaced. The midwife was pleased with the progress and even decided to "help" us out a little by stripping my membranes. I have to say I was scared of this because I have been told that it hurts, but I never even felt it. We'll see if it works. My friend Lori has had it done with all three of her kids and has gone into labor within the next day. My cousin Holly had it done, but for her it didn't work immediately.
I did not go to work today, my appointment was during the school day so I had already taken half a day off. When I came home yesterday, I noticed that I didn't feel great and that I was very crampy. I decided to call my assistant principal and go ahead and take off the whole day so that I could sleep in and rest. Good thing! I did not sleep at all last night because of the cramps. In fact I woke up at 5:30 AM with Mike and his alarm. I was so awake that I loaded the dishwasher and straightened the living room. I did fall asleep shortly after that, though, and slept well until about 9:30. It was wonderful! Who knows how many more days I'll have to sleep in!
Tonight, Mike and I enjoyed a double date with our friends Jay and Aimee. It was spur of the moment, but we went out to eat and then played Monopoly while eating chocolate cake. It was good just to fellowship, eat, laugh and talk. We had a really good time and honestly I think Mike and needed that to take our mind off of things. Thanks for the phone call Aim!

Nesting at 38 weeks

Every pregnancy book that I have read and every girlfriend that I have talked to have told me about "nesting". Evidently it is a strong desire to have your house spotless right before you go into labor. I have this desire right now. So far tonight, I have washed 2 loads of clothes, cleaned downstairs, vacumned upstairs, cleaned bathrooms, organized our desk, dusted the whole house, watered the plants outside, and even bathed the dog. I did all of this after I had a nice two hour nap, of course. For those of you who know me well, you know that I DO NOT enjoy cleaning. I try to clean the house, or hit the highpoints, at least once a week, but here lately I have become almost anal. I want everything to be perfect, just in case Will decides to come tonight or tomorrow or whenever. I want to make sure I come home to a clean house. Maybe this unusal behavior means that labor is soon. If not, though, at least I get to enjoy a clean house for now!

On another note, we go back to the doctor on Friday to see how things are going. I can't imagine that they would tell me that I am any farther dilated and labor not be around the corner. Being that this is my first pregnancy, everybody has had advice, comments and stories for me. Some of this has been a little worrisome, a few people have made me feel as though I am abnormal to be 4 cm dilated and walking around and working. I know that they did not mean to do this, but seeing as how I worry over everything, it has been hard. Thankfully I have had several good friends, my mother and other family members that have reassured me. Mike has also told me to stop listening to other people's stories and to remember that everyone's pregnancy is different. He has also encouraged me to focus on enjoying these last few days of my pregnancy. So, that's what I am trying to do.

I do want to thank all of my friends and family who call to check on me. I am not a good phone person, I am horrible at calling people because I am always afraid that I will bother them or interrupt something important. But, I have enjoyed people calling here lately just to say that they are thinking of me. It makes me feel good. I am going to make a mental note to work on doing that in return for my friends and family after things have settled down with Will.
Me at 38 weeks-Can I get much bigger?

Ode to Whitney

Let me preface this by saying that this won't be lyrical or poetic or "ode" in form as the title may suggest......I just like the way it sounds. And, the fact that I'm sure I'm breaking all the rules by posting on my wife's blog will probably cause a major uproar in the blogosphere, but I'm willing to take the risk. So, my reason for posting this is simple: to show Whitney my love, support, and encouragement, and give all of you some insight as to how special she really is. I'm not much of a blogger except to do a little editing work for Whitney, so I'll do my very best, but I'm sure I'll fall way short.


To begin, I know there are a ton of incredible women out there, most of whom read this blog:), but in Whitney, I feel like God has given me the most precious gift imaginable short of His grace. She has met all of my expectations of a wife, and exceeded them a thousand times. Our journey over the past 3 years has been an amazing time of sharing daily life together, growing closer to each other, and learning what really makes one another tick. I have found no greater joy in life than doing anything and everything to bring a smile to her face. While we have had our share of disagreements, we have never actually been engaged in an all-out war with each other. (Which is good for me!) And, I don't say that in any sort of arrogant way, we are two very laid-back people, and it usually takes a whole lot to get us to a boiling point.

I really never thought I could love her any greater, until last December when we found out we were pregnant. Then all these new emotions and feelings swept in and took everything to a whole new level. I know most of you are saying, "Mike, just wait 'til he gets here!" That's a post for another time, I'm sure, but we're not there just yet. So, I was scared for my life after reading all the books and hearing about the 1st and 3rd trimester "mood swings." I figured I'd be dancing around the house on pins and needles for 9 months. To be honest, there were a couple of moments early on where I may have opened my mouth and inserted my foot, but that's not totally unusual. Only this time I received a much different reaction, and learned quickly that this thing was for real and there was no turning back. I'll never forget one of the first times her lunch didn't agree with her (sorry, babe), and she kept telling me how sorry she was. I asked her if there was anything I could do for her and she kept saying she was sorry. Here was a pregnant woman, dealing with all these physical and mental changes happening to her body, going through some super uncomfortable moments (there's nothing worse than vomiting) and she was worried about me! She was actually sorry for me to see that, and I'm like, babe, what do you have to be sorry for? But, this is the heart of Whitney, one of the most selfless people I have ever met, and I am so blessed to have her for my wife. Throughout this whole time, I have expected the worst to come out in her, but instead she has shown me the best. I am continually amazed every single day at the joy and grace with which she has handled this thing. It sort of hit me this week as we are getting closer and closer to the big day, that she has never really griped or complained about anything she has gone through. As uncomfortable as she is, she continues to absolutely blow my mind with how strong she is. So, it hit me this week that I had to somehow put this into words, even though my efforts have been feeble at best. My appreciation for her grows stronger and stronger every day, and I felt like this was a good way to show her that.


Whitney.......You Amaze Me! I am a little bit more in love with you every day. Thank you for being the wonderful wife that you are. Thank you for your unending support of all my hopes and dreams, as dumb as some of them may have been. I can't wait to see you as a mom, and if these past 9 months serve as any indication of the future, then I know you're gonna be great. I Love You With All My Heart!


Will......when you get to read this, and one day I hope you do, I hope this gives you just a little glimpse of what your mom was like before you came into this world. She's incredible isn't she?We are praying over you every day, buddy. You have what it takes!! I Love You My Little Man!


Isn't She Beautiful!

How much longer!

I went to the doctor yesterday afternoon and found out that I am now offically 4 cm dilated. The midwife felt confident that I would not last much longer, which is fine with me. Last night Mike and I went to do a last minute BabiesRUs run and then came home to make sure everything is ready. His co-sleeper is set up, his clothes are washed and ready and the car seat base is in the car. So now we wait. I hear tomorrow there is supposed to be a full moon. Maybe Will will decide to come soon!

Photo Shoot Sneak Peek

I mentioned that my friend Dez did a maternity photo shoot with Mike and I on Monday. She has already edited them and added a few to her company website. Check them out at www.photosbysugarsnap.com.

Week 37 update

So much has happened in the last week, and frankly I have been lazy and not posted anything. Tonight I plan to recap, as best I can, all the wonderful things that have happened. Get ready for Fessler Family overload!

*Last Wednesday, 8/6/08, we went to the doctor for a check-up and we got a little unexpected news from the midwife. She told us that I was 3 cm dialated, thinning out and that Will's head was down and in position. She sent us home to get a bag packed just in case. She basically said he could come any day. Mike and I were a little shocked. We thought we had more "for sure" time to get things done, but now we are in a waiting game. Our next appointment is Thursday. If we haven't gone into labor, we will see if anything has changed.

*Last Thursday, 8/7/08, our friends Jay and Aimee suprised me with dinner and a gift for the nursery. Mike knew about this the whole time, but didn't tell me, so it truly was a suprise! :)
FYI...Jay and Aimee have been such a special couple in our lives. Mike went to high school with Jay and the two have remained close friends. Aimee and I met through our husbands and became fast friends (we are both avid readers, so that helped!). We have spent a lot of time with them and have gone through three pregnancies with them. Needless to say, I have learned so much about being pregnant from Aimee. Thanks Aim for all the advice!
Jay painted my gift on the wall in the nursery over the crib. It is perfect!

*Saturday was a lot of fun! Mike took me shopping to get some pjs and other stuff to pack for the hospital. He then sent me to get a pedicure. It was awesome! At this point in my pregnancy I would willingly pay someone everyday to rub my feet and legs.
My parents came Saturday night so that they could attend my shower the next day. They brought me a new pair of pj's to take to the hospital. Two new pair of pajamas in the same day, plus a pedicure. Life can't get much better than that!
My beautiful new french pedicure. Thank you Mike!
This was a suprise gift that came in the mail from my sister's mother-in-law. Isn't it cute! But, then again, I love things that are monogrammed with initials or names!

*Sunday my sister-in-law Joy and Aimee threw me a shower. Aimee cooked chicken enchiladas, Joy made her world famous bean dip and my friend Fibia made some awesome rice! It was wonderful! Friends from our home team at church stayed around and gave advice along with my mom and mother-in-law Debbie. Thank you to all of you for the gifts, but also for the fellowship, and support that each of you gave me.
The cake from the shower. Joy and Aimee went with a book theme. I loved it, but I am a librarian!
After the shower my mom made curtains for the nursery. I can't say enough about her talents. She is pretty amazing!

*Today was the first day of school, with students, but that wasn't the highlight. Dez, another awesome friend from our home team at church, did a photo shoot with Mike and I. We got some great belly shots tonight. She took several in the nursery and then took us into downtown Dallas. It was great for Mike and I to spend some time together away from the house, but it was also fun to spend time getting to know Dez even better. Thank you so much Dez! We can't thank you enough for the memories that you have preserved for us! We can't wait to see the pictures!

Well, that wraps it up! It was a busy week, but as you can tell it was filled with blessings from family and friends. Mike and I have really been overwhelmed with the outpouring of love and support from everyone. It is amazing what people do for you when they truly love you. I want everyone to know how grateful we are for everything that has been done for us. We could never have gotten this far without all the support!

Hurry Up and Wait!

Here it is the beginning of August. We are finally 9(10) months pregnant. Will can come at anytime and we will be thrown into parenthood. We feel like we can't wait for him to get here but, we have to wait just a little longer. For the past few weeks Mike and I have talked about how we are so ready to see Will, and even how I am ready to not be pregnant anymore, but we have also tried to focus on enjoying each other for these last few weeks. I have to brag on him, he has been so good to me during this pregnancy. He has doted on me, and not let me lift a finger. He reads all the pregnancy books with me and has even gone to every doctor's appointment. We have our next appointment on Wednesday of this week. I will now be going once a week, which makes sense, because we are four weeks away from the due date.
I started school today. It was so good to see all of my friends and to work in my library. It really gave me a sense of purpose to be working and not laying on the couch watching TLC and Jon and Kate re-runs. I was really surprised to come home and find out how tired I was. I haven't been sleeping well at night, and I did not sleep well last night. In fact, Mike had me take a nap when I got home from school because he knew I didn't sleep well. I can honestly say that I am tired right now and am looking forward to a good night's sleep, or as good as it can be at 9(10) months pregnant!
My 36 week belly
Last week, our friends Todd and Lori Magouyrk had their son Henry Monroe. We were so excited to go and visit them in the hospital and celebrate their new little boy. He is so cute and tiny and I enjoyed getting to rock him for awhile so that Lori could eat dinner. Todd and Mike go way back. They went to opposing high schools, but played East Cobb baseball together for several summers. These two are tight friends, but very competitive. They have had fun for nine months talking smack about whose son will be the better ball player and so on. I think that Lori and I just hope that Will and Henry can grow up to be good friends like their daddies, not who will strike out who or have the highest batting average! Anyways, welcome Henry. We look forward to watching you grow up!