Baby Reed is Here!!

Reed decided to enter the world a couple of weeks early. On Tuesday, September 9th, I started having contractions around 9:00 pm. We arrived at the hospital at 10:30 and got checked in. I had decided to deliver without an epidural again but close to 12:30 had almost changed my mind. I told Robert he needed to get the doctor, he hit the call button and the doctor immediately came in. As she is washing her hands she told me I could go ahead and push. But apparently I did not need her permission, because before she could get her gloves on the nurse announced that we had a baby, two pushes and Austin Reed Hall entered the world at 12:30 on September 10th. He was 6 lbs 14 ounces and 19 inches long. Only 1.5 pounds lighter and 2 inches shorter than Zachary but he seems so much smaller. Reed is a fantastic baby. He sleeps and eats alot and barely crys when he is hungry! Zachary is adjusting the best a two year old can. He doesn't quite understand why Reed didn't arrive big enough to play with his toys and why he sleeps all the time. But he will adjust with time. My Mom has been here since he was born and is planning on staying until his first doctors appointment. She has been a life saver as we adjust to this new schedule. I hope you enjoy the pictures...more will be coming soon.

Less than 4 weeks to go. We had an ultrasound at 32 weeks and Baby Reed was 4.6 pounds. He looks exactly like Zachary! The ultrasound technician even commented on it. I travelled for the last time for a couple of months last weekend. We had two trees that were struck by lightning in Atlanta around the same time that Hurricane Fay was suppose to hit Jacksonville, so we decided to be chicken and left town. Actually, Robert's company was closed Thursday and Friday so it worked out well. Still no luck on selling the house in Atlanta, but we have found a great neighborhood in Jacksonville that we like near the Intercoastal Waterway. On the other side of the bridge but still 10 minutes to the beach. If we ever sell our house we hope to have lots of visitors in Jacksonville!!!!

My family is still hanging in there but please continue to keep us in your prayers. Some days are harder than others. Zachary will go days without mentioning his Papaw and then all of a sudden it is all he wants to talk about. He has become very clingy...he will not even let us leave him at the church's nursery. But we know that with time it will get better.

Back in Jax Beach

We were in Asheville for about a month and are now back at Jax Beach. Zachary is settling back in and is content to go to the beach every day and is still excited about Baby Reed. He really has no idea how drastically his life is going to change.
Zachary went camping with Robert for the first time over the weekend. I was convinced it would be a total nightmare, but would you believe that Zachary went fishing, searched for bugs, and slept in the tent all night long?? They had a wonderful time and Zachary is ready to go back again. I got a nice break and went to the hairdresser alone and had dinner with my friend Kerry. I will definitely be encouraging more camping trips.
Baby Reed is still doing well and growing as expected. Of course it is a concern with the stress of the last couple of months but the doctor says he is fine. My mother is coming down right after labor day and will be staying until Reed is born. We are trying to avoid being put on bed rest this time!! So I will be thankful for her help.
Please continue to keep my family in your prayers. Some days are okay and others are very hard - but we just have to take each day at a time. Last week was my first week since my father passed away that I have not been with my Mom. We kept putting it off, but realized that we had to make the break at some point. Robert was very supportive but of course would prefer to have his little boy in Jacksonville with him.

Crazy June

My father passed away on June 14th. Zachary and I made it to Asheville to see him a little over 24 hours before he passed away. They gave him three to 6 weeks and it was barely a day. Zachary and I stayed in Asheville for 2 weeks and are now in Jacksonville Beach again for a week. My Mom travelled down with us and we are going to Atlanta for the 4th of July and then back to Asheville again. I would love to say that it is getting easier, but it is not. There is an empty void no matter what state we are in. I know that time will make it easier and that God has a purpose, but right now we are just trying to take each day one at a time. Zachary asks where his Papaw is multiple times each day...How do you expain this to a two year old when you don't understand yourself.

Baby Reed is healthy and growing well. The due date is still September 25.

Thank you to everyone for all of your thoughts and prayers over the past couple of weeks.

I promise to post beach pictures of Zachary soon!!!!

Zachary 2 Year Old

Contact Information

Our new info is:

411 16th Ave South
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250

Home Phone: 904-372-4581

Cell Phones are the same for now!

We Have Relocated!

Well, we are officially in Florida. Actually, we have been here for a few weeks, but let's just say it has been a little crazy. The first week we were in town we were fortunate enough to stay with relatives while we worked out our rental situation. We are now renting a beach house in Jax Beach (I've been told I have to call it Jax Beach to avoid sounding like a tourist) until our house in Atlanta sells. We are 3 1/2 blocks from the beach which is fantastic. My job search has not been going so well, so Zachary and I go to the beach almost every morning to make ourselves feel better. So far it's been working...I feel much better about being unemployed - until I have to write the first rent check and pay the mortgage! We had originally planned on living in the St. Augustine area once our house sells, but we are enjoying the beach so much we are looking at other options now. Amelia Island, Ponte Vedra and Jax Beach have all been added to our search.

Robert loves his new job. A typical day for him has been to leave the house at 7:15, arrive at work before 8:00. Leave at 5:00, Dinner at 5:45 and to the beach by 7:00. Zachary is thrilled to see so much of his Daddy.

Zachary has really adjusted well. He is now in a big boy bed. I would love to tell you some funny story about the experience, but it was fairly easy. He slept throught the night and has not tried to get out of the bed since the first night we put him in it. If only potty training was going that easy!! He loves the beach and the big water, riding his tricycle and all of the lizards that that are EVERYWHERE!

We found out that the baby is another boy. Believe it or not, Zachary has had the hardest time adjusting to the news. I think he wanted a girl as bad as his Mother did. But we are of course thrilled that the baby is healthy. We are naming him Reed, (my maiden name).

An update on my father. He had a scan a couple of weeks ago and it appears that the cancer is gone. THANK GOD!! But please continue to keep him in your prayers, he is still having a hard time breathing.

I promise to keep the blog up the best that I can. And we would love to hear from everyone! If you are ever in the area or need a vacation you always have a place to stay!!!