Zander- Week 3

So how long should I continue to give week to week updates. Maybe now that we hit a month, I will do every month??? We'll see!!

• ISU women ranked #3 in the nation for attendance last season (just behind Tennessee and UCONN) That's something to be proud of. GO STATE!
  

• We used this tub instead of the foam thing we were using, and he loved it! It was instant relaxation for him! PTL!
  

• Last Thursday was an interesting day. When I fed him at 7 am, he was different the rest of the day. Super upset whenever I would set him down. Of course this was the morning I HAD to get stuff done. We were going to go to Washington to see Andy at work for a lunch with his dept. I was stressed to the max because I couldn't even get rinsed off in the shower without him screaming and turning red. This was the first day he was like this and I couldn't quite figure it out? Who knows. Well even in the afternoon he was crying and I had to get my clothes packed for Alex's wedding. Our fantastic roommate took him to her room so I could get ready and what do you know. He fell asleep for her in like 2 minutes on her bed! Little Stinker!Speaking of sleeping. For 4 nights in a row he slept 7-8 hours! WHOOO WHUUUU!!!!!

• Uncle Al's wedding!

• What a happy day! We were all so excited for Al and Jenna. Although it was hard for me as mommy. (I think I was having some baby blues this week!) My mom came with. THANK GOODNESS! I love her! I wouldn't have made it through the weekend without her!


• So to make a long story short.... It was up and down all day for me because I was so excited to show Zander off and wanted everyone to meet him. But then all of a sudden I felt really bad for him. Like he was being tossed around like a doll :( All kinds of germs, and not getting a good nap, being overly stimulated... etc. All these thoughts flooded my mind, and guess what, I started crying! What a wonderful day and I'm in the back crying!!!Ohhhhhhhh boyyyyyyy!


• Turned out I just needed some family time. I grabbed sweaty Andy from the dance floor and while I was feeding Zander we got to spend some time together. This made me feel better and I was ready to dance again!


• Look how handsome he was in his little tie onesie!

On the way home we stopped at Aunt Katie's pool and went for a dip!

Andy's first father's day! Andy's been giving me a hard time about Zander not having any daddy clothes, we we got him two new onsies that had "Daddy's little Helper" and "Like Father, Like Son" on it! We celebrated at the Cheese Factory with Aunt Katie, Uncle Jason, and cousin Marriah and Dax. It was "Ton's of Fun!" (The name of the burger Andy ordered)

Zander also did his own fair share of relaxing! He's been a lot more alert this week. Staying awake for much longer periods of time! Although some of those waking hours. He's pretty "CRABBY!"
Once again... here's a complete look at Zander's third week!

http://picasaweb.google.com/mrsbishop/ZanderWeek3?authkey=Gv1sRgCN3y08up-cPgVQ#

Zander Week Two

• A big highlight was that he went on his first ever camping trip! Thanks to my parents they made him a nice little nursey in the shower of their motorhome!


• At his 2 week appointment. He was 9 lbs. 11.5 oz. and 23 in. long! He's growing!


• Been sleeping consistently through the night in 3 hour chunks. Sometimes closer to 4 hours. Usually he feeds and goes right back to bed. Every now and then he decides he would like to party and stay awake for an extra 30 mins or so. I'm thankful that's not every night right now!
  
• Has started to meet some friends. Ella, Liam, Claire, Maddy, and his cuz Dax are a few of them! Hopefully we will meet more this week at play group!


• Met Auntie Alice and Jenna this week! He loves his Wranglers!


• Umbilical Cord feel off!
  


• Mom is feeling good! I played sand volleyball this weekend and went for a bike ride :) Really happy about being able to move again!


• Went on a date with mom and dad this week to the Outback, and a stroller ride to get ice cream!


• Andy is back to work full time and comes home everynight wanting to play with his boy, giving him tummy time and eskimo kisses!

• Learned some new dance moves!

• Had the hiccups alot!
  

For more pictures of his 2nd week. Check it out! http://picasaweb.google.com/mrsbishop/ZanderWeek2?authkey=Gv1sRgCI_EyYKT2KPl8QE#

Welcoming Zander!

This is one of the greatest testimonies that we have to God's faithfulness and perfect timing in life. He knew the plans all along and was getting ready to bless our socks off!

Here's the Story....
On Memorial Day this year, we had a great day of just being with each other outside (7 mile bike ride), going on a date and picking up a going home outfit for the soon coming baby. Little did we know that we did this just in time! I woke me up at 2:15 a.m. that night with what I thought was gas cramps. 10 mins. later, same thing. Again, 10 mins. later. That's when I decided to wake up Andy telling him I think I'm starting labor. Although this wasn't what I was imagining contractions to feel like, I had confidence that it was a contraction. Andy started timing the contractions, and we did so for 3-4 hours at home while getting bags packed, cleaning up and going for a walk to Kum-n-Go for a popsicle. By the end of the walk, I was ready to go to the hospital.
We arrived at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City at around 6:30 a.m. and I was immediately hooked up to monitors to see how far along I really was. Soon after, we were informed that the baby was going to come that day! I was then brought to the labor and delivery room, where I was again attached to monitors. This was something I wasn't expecting either. I thought I would be able to walk around, get in the whirlpool, etc. in order to stay more comfortable and move things along. But nope.... they wanted to make sure baby was staying active. Which he wasn't really, so then they wanted me to lay on my left side. :( I hated being on my left side to sleep throughout pregnancy and now I had to lay on my left side while trying to go through a contraction. Not fun! Although Andy was doing a great job helping me through each one. By reminding me to breathe. "In, 2,3, Out, 2,3, In, 2, 3.... " Believe it or not this helped a great deal with each contraction. Speaking of contractions, that is not how I expected them to feel! They weren't no period cramps for me. It was all pressure on my bottom. Seriously like I was going to poop my hospital gown and all over. Sorry for the ugliness of that, but in case you haven't had a baby, contractions feel different for everyone. And that's exactly how mine felt.
In order to keep things moving along, Dr. Smollen broke my water, and I started to get some pitocin. They wanted contractions to be at the intensity level of 60 and I was consistently going through 40's and a couple 60's. After knowing this I decided to receive an epidural. Wow!! That's something I don't regret! I went from being misable like I was going to poop everywhere to being TOTALLY relaxed. I was enjoying being on my left side, reaching contractions at the 80 level mark for more than 2 mins. and watching Andy eat a bagel! What more could you ask for!
Less than an hour later, Dr. Smollen came back in to tell me we were ready to start pushing. REALLY! AHHHH, crazy this is it! This was another thing that was different from I expected. My knees were jacked up to my ears, as Andy was holding my left leg and a high school student observer was holding my right leg as they basically cheered me on while I could see in a mirror that with every series of pushes, the baby's head came down lower and lower. After under an hour of pushing, our new baby was ON my stomach..... It's a boy!! In one moment, Zander became what we had always dreamed of and prayed for. We are constantly being reminded that THIS is what God had been getting us ready for during the last two years. What a blessing from the Father, and a picture of how His Son came into the world to save it.

For a glance at Zanders first week, click here: http://picasaweb.google.com/mrsbishop/ZanderWkOne?authkey=Gv1sRgCNrJ3rHL8LebqgE&feat=email#
Hope that works!

Love,
Andy, Lisa, and Zander

Baby Update

I'm 37 weeks!
Just to give everyone an update and ask for you to pray about a couple of things. I've been 3 cm dialated for about a week. Doc wants me to rest as much as possible when I'm not at work to try to extend it a little bit. She said it could be ANY time! So if you get a chance please pray:

1. That I would trust in God's timing. If labor starts tonight, or if it's not until after my due date. Pray that I would not be anxious and have peace about whenever that is! And ENJOY my last days of being pregnant no worrying.


2. Of course we desire a healthy baby. Pray for God's hand to continue to prepare this baby to enter this world. AHHHH crazy!


3. Teaching... Everyday seems to be getting harder. The students are already getting excited for summer and their motivation is already slipping. Honestly, mine is too to come to work! Everyday I think, "Should I take a sick day" :) Pray that I would have a better attitude coming to school, and that the students will work hard the next couple of weeks.


4. Pray that God would be preparing Andy and I as we enter into parenthood. We have been trying to be intentional with our time together and really taking advantage of these last few weeks where it's just him and I. The thought of this makes me a little sad, but I do realize what a blessing a little baby will be to our marriage as well. He had been SO GREAT! I see his excitement and his willingness to make me feel comfortable and loved. I praise God for him! But yeah, that we are getting prepared for parenthood.
   

Thank you EVERYONE!
Last weekend at 36 weeks! Whoa MAMA! This baby is getting BIG!

8 months

Surprise Weekend!

Andy surprised me with having a trip all planned out over one of my Spring Break weekends. We ended up in Galena, IL! What an amazing time. I'm so thankful for him and his ability to make me feel special! Before we left Galena we went to a coffee shop (no trip is complete without a coffeeshop visit!) and came up with a

Top Ten list of Galena to sum up memorable moments. Here it is!

10. Galena Canning Co.- Here we basically had a free lunch. All the samples of all different kinds of little dips, salsas, chocolate sauces, basically anything you can dip a pretzel in. This is our style of place! Free snacks! Oh Yeah!

9. Gobbies- This was a pizza place we went to that had amazing candian bacon, pineapple, chicago style pizza. We also had beer nuggets (fried pizza dough) super good with honey. We even ate the leftovers the next day! We love leftovers!

8. Durty Gurts- This was the biggest, sloppiest burger we have had. You didn't even need ketchup it was so good. I think it may be the best burger I have ever had. Durty Gurt was quite the character!

7. Potter Demo- Galena is a wonderful Art community. We spent a couple hours watching a well-known potter in the town do a demo on the potters wheel. It motivated me to throw more. Actually the first Monday back from our trip, Andy came to school and we spent a couple hours doing wheel work. Andy's first time. It was great!

6. Hardees- Ok, I know, another food place. But before we got to Galena, Andy insisted we go to Hardee's for breakfast because that's how he started all of his family vacations growing up: A fast food breakfast! It was all about anticipation. I had no idea where we were going, and we were both getting excited. A cinnamon raisin biscuit never tasted so good.

5. Bike Ride- We packed up our bikes for the trip too, and hit the trail they had. (About 8 miles round trip. Good to be back on the bike again. Although I had to take more breaks! Thank the Lord for such a wonderful day of weather, as it got up to the upper fifties and sixties.

4. Steamboat House- Our first Bed and Breakfast we ever stayed in. They had amazing Peach french toast one morning that was ummmmm... so good! We also enjoyed our room that had a beautiful porch connected to it that we enjoyed some good games of cribbage (Andy handed it to me, in one hand he had a total of 30 pts!) We were by far the youngest couple there, but still enjoyed our time, and visited with the 4 other couples staying that weekend during the wine and cheese social hour they had each day.
3. Good shopping! Galena has a great main street with lots of cute little shops. I was on a mission finding a spring jacket (I couldn't get my jacket from last year buttoned anymore :) ) Well, Andy found the perfect one! I also found a cute little hat that Andy said I should get. He kept telling me how cute I was, and I could sense the pride he felt because he was the one that found them!

2. Indulge Day Spa- When we first pulled up to Galena, we stopped and I had no idea what we were doing. We we walked in and he said we were there for a prenatal massage! AHHHHHHHHHHH, what a way to start the trip. It was great! My first massage! Baby liked it too :)

1. Fried Green Tomatoes- Believe it or not, this one has nothing to do with the food although it took place at a restaurant. In the middle of this fabulous meal, Andy pretty much came out of no where and announced to me "I'm about to say something special" HA! This was hilarious to me. I love HIM! I was laughing so hard but then we got into a great talk about how over the years and throughout pregnacy God has taught us how to love each other more, and how we are growing each year. Anyway, I guess I don't need to share the details. But it was the "number one" of the whole trip. So you know it must have been a great conversation!

Ending our trip in Galena with a 7 month pregnant picture!

SURPRISE SHOWER

On our way back home from Galena something was up because Andy said we were going to go to his parents to hang out, but why was he keeping this from me all weekend? We pulled up to his home church building in Center Point only to walk in with a bunch of his family, and my mom, Alice, Katie and Katie's inlaws waiting for us inside! Wow what a surprise! Jenna (Alex's finance) was in charge of getting this whole thing organized, she's such a sweetie!

Kriener Sisters! Well not all of us. Jenna looks like one, just not as fiery like the rest of us :)

We played some great games too:) Hilarious!

THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO CAME! IT WAS A BLAST! BABY BISHOP IS VERY APPRECIATIVE OF ALL THE GIFTS TOO!
Here I am testing out our new jogging stroller complete with baby inside (Dax) from Mom, Alice, and Katie. I guess Dax signed the card too :)

Many people also went in to get our multi-functional pack and play which will be used for our crib, changing table, and play yard! We also got some cute toys and rattles, soft and cuddly blankets, a HUGE box of diapers, a baby care cart, pacifers, washclothes, baby spoons, and really special blanket that was made for me by my Great Grandma Zephie when I was born (I want to talk more about this later!) Until then.....

WHAT AN AMAZING WEEKEND!