Introducing Aven Hope

It's a GIRL!

 

 

Aven Hope

Born August 30, 2012 at 12:04 AM

Weighing 7 pounds 14 ounces

Measuring 19 3/4 inches long

 

 

**Birth Story and Week One updates to come, I'm still trying to find time to blog when all I want to do is snuggle the baby. :)

Ch-ch-ch-ch-ch-changes...

I've been given the "okay" from Tyge to blog about this, so here's the scoop. In addition to the major life change of having a child in 6.5 weeks, Tyge has taken on another one - a new job!

I made him a congratulations dinner, including his favorite IPA, on his last day of work last Friday. And random disclaimer - his shirt is a play on Matthew 10:39 - "Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it." :)

He's been with Boston Scientific for 10 years (a long time for someone whose not even 30!) and went into the company with the goal of getting onto their Sales force someday. He started in IT then moved to the Business side when it was suggested he do so in order to be groomed for Sales. Long story short, he put in his time and when it was apparent that a Sales job wasn't in the near future there for him, he began to look outside BSC.

Over the past few months, he's applied at many companies but because he doesn't have any actual sales experience on his otherwise fantastic resume, he had a hard time getting looked at. Anyone who knows Tyge knows that he'd be an excellent salesman as he's so great with people and building relationships, but without the experience on his resume it was hard to get past HR. Well, one place (a Nutraceutical company) he applied at called him back and he had a successful phone screen, then second round onsite interview in MN, then a few weeks ago they flew him out to Chicago for the final round at their headquarters. It all moved pretty fast to be honest and before we knew it, he had an offer! He had beat out others with more experience than him, and the company saw that he'd be a great asset so offered him the Sales Rep job. I was so proud of him! This is exactly the opportunity he's been looking for, is so deserving of, and is a great long term move for him and our family...

...there's just one downside. And a pretty big one at that.

The training program is 8 weeks long, and he'll need to be in Chicago for 4 of those weeks - set schedule, non-negotiable. You do the math - we have 6.5 weeks to go before baby, and he'll be gone for 4 of them, including the week of our due date. We obviously had a tough decision to make and heavily weighed the pros and cons (this was over baby shower weekend when he was gone fishing so we had a loooong conversation that Sunday night!) and in the end, decided he should go for it.

I want to be clear that I am 100% on board with his decision and so supportive of this new and exciting change for him/us, but still have down swings where I worry about him being gone when the baby is born, not being here to help in these last few weeks, missing him like crazy, etc. I guess I've been spoiled because the most he's ever been gone is 3-4 days during a hunting/fishing trip, and those have certainly been when I'm in a, less hormonal shall we say, state. :) I guess this is my "warning" that I'll probably use this blog as an outlet to write about these worries in the weeks to come, but I don't want my feelings and pregnant hormones to cloud the fact that I am SO proud of him, SO excited for him, and KNOW with complete certainty that this is a God-provided opportunity for him.

That being said, he started today and I know he will be an amazing Sales Rep for this company. He has a steep learning curve ahead of him, it will be a huge change from his old job (so weird to say that!), and the timing couldn't be worse. BUT I know he can handle it, and I know God has the timing in His hands as well.

And I never thought I'd say this, and one more month from now will probably be saying it through gritted teeth, but now I'm praying that baby will come late! Cankles and swelling in the humid August heat ain't no thang if it means my hunny is here for Petrie's big arrival.

A Valentine's Day Love Story

First comes love:

Then comes marriage:

Then comes Keely, with news about a baby carriage!

Announcing Baby B, coming August 25, 2012.
Tyge and I couldn't be happier - God is so good.

A new moment I'll never forget...

There are several special moments in my life that I remember many details of, but mainly the look on my husband's face. I'll never forget the look on his face on our first date on 4/27/07 as we were dancing to "The Way You Move" by Outkast. I'll never forget the look on his face the day he proposed, down on one knee in the middle of the Naswauk 4th of July parade on 7/4/08.

I'll never forget the look on his face as I walked down the aisle towards him and as we exchanged vows at our wedding on 3/28/09.

And now, I'll never forget the look on his face as I told him we were having a baby this past Tuesday, 9/6/11.

I guess you could say we've been trying for a few months, but neither of us expected it to happen so soon! I had felt a little "off" all weekend, so took a test that morning and lo and behold, there were two lines instead of one. It confirmed what I already knew in my heart, but seeing those two lines still floored me! I felt a rush of emotions, but Tyge had already left for work so I had no one to share them with besides Keely girl, and she didn't quite get it. I knew I wanted to tell Tyge in person so it took everything within me to not call or text him throughout the day! Let's be honest, I got NO work done that day and instead spend the entire day on Baby Center, looking at nursery pictures, and Googling things galore. I also spent a great deal of time deciding how I wanted to tell Tyge and came up with an idea I loved. Together we had talked about finally getting a nice Nikon DSLR camera when we found out we were pregnant, and I had to stop at Costco on my way home so planned to pick up information on the camera we wanted and give it to him saying, "It's time to start shopping!". Of course, Costco didn't have any literature on the camera, but I found something even better....As I was pushing my cart past the clothing area, I saw a table of baby clothes and a cute little outfit with a tiger on it that read "Mommy's Little Tiger". Perfect.

Surprise hunny - we're having a baby!!!

Luckily when I got home, Tyge was outside with the dog so I rushed in the house with the outfit and "evidence stick" and set them out on the kitchen counter. I shouted at him to please bring the other groceries in from my car. When he came in the house and set them down, I pointed to the counter and said "I got something else at Costco". He took a close look at it, then looked even closer, and stepped back saying "Shut up!" - I believe he also punched my arm in surprise, but I won't hold that against him. :) We immediately hugged and decided to go out to dinner to celebrate. That was one of the best conversations we've ever had, involving how to tell our family and friends, baby names, nursery colors, and so much more.

As of today I am almost 4 weeks along, so we have a long road ahead of us. A scary, exciting, nerve wracking, heart pumping road ahead of us. We'll need a lot of prayer and encouragement, that's for sure! Luckily, there are many of our friends and family who have been down this road, and a few going down it right now, so that brings comfort.

Each moment and look on my husband's face seems to top the one before, and I know that on 5/21/12 (if baby comes on time!), I'll witness the best look on Tyge's face yet.