Anya Noelle

ANYA NOELLE DANGUY

Born 12/25/09 at 1:50 PM

7 lbs 13 oz

21 1/2 inches

We had the best Christmas present anyone could ask for this year, our baby girl Anya Noelle. She has already brought us so much love and joy.

Anya's birth story: On Christmas Eve I was starting to have some painful contractions. They were a good 10-15 minutes apart, but I knew that Anya would be coming soon. We went about that day with going to the YMCA, last minute shopping, decorating Christmas cookies and then went to a Christmas Eve party that night. By the time of the party I was pretty sure I would be in active labor sometime soon. Once we got Isabelle down for bed that night, Charles and I started putting together her new kitchen set so it would be ready for Christmas morning. The contractions were getting a little harder at this point. I was hoping that I would be able to get up Christmas morning and do all of our traditional Christmas stuff and then go into labor late Christmas afternoon or evening and have the baby on the 26th. When I finally crawled in bed at midnight I told Charles that either the contractions would pick up or stop all together. Well within a minute of climbing in bed the contractions jumped to 3 minutes apart. I waited about 20 minutes, but I knew, Anya was coming Christmas Day whether I liked it or not. I had Charles call my mom and she came over with Erin and Mikenzie. My mom went with us to the hospital and my sisters stayed at my house so they could be there when Isabelle woke up in the morning. We got to the hospital around 1am and got checked in pretty quick. They sent me up to triage to monitor my progress. I was dilated 3 when I got there. They checked me again an hour later and I hadn't really progressed. They called the doctor on call to see if he wanted to admit me. I was really worried they wouldn't admit me since I wasn't progressing. Fortunately he took another hour to call back and by then I had her check me again and I was dilated 4 centimeters. So they admitted me. After my all natural birth experience with Isabelle I knew I wanted an epidural this time so as soon as I could I had them send up the anesthesiologist to give me the epidural. Within about an hour of being in my room I got the epidural. At first I had a really scary reaction to it. I started shaking uncontrollably and felt really nauseous. It scared me pretty bad. But with a some time it went away. It took almost a good hour for the epidural to really work, but once it did, life was great! I finally got to get a little sleep and relax. Charles and my mom both slept for a while too. My contractions slowed down a bit and I wasn't progressing very fast. I stayed dilated at 6 for a few hours. I knew from last time with Isabelle that once my water broke that things would go a lot faster. I told the nurse that, but she said only the doctor could break my water and he usually didn't come in till I was fully dilated. Well that wasn't going to do me much good. Finally my water broke on its own at 11:15am. Within an hour and a half I went from being dilated 6 to 10. I told the nurse like I felt like pushing a little before 1pm. She checked me and then called the doctor right away. Well he took his sweet time getting to the hospital. I had to hold off pushing for almost an hour till he finally strolled in. When the nurse saw him in the hall she had me do one practice push and then told me to stop so he could come in. Well two pushes later Anya was born. It was pretty amazing to hold her in my arms for the first time. What a special spirit she has about her. My family all got to come up to the hospital and meet our little angel. They even brought our Christmas dinner to the hospital for us. We got discharged the evening of the 26th and went home and had our "Christmas morning." After our Christmas gift of Anya joining our family, we really didn't need much more.

Welcome baby Anya!

Momma and baby Anya

First family picture.

Isabelle was so happy to finally see little Anya!

Papa and Anya

Anya in her Christmas stocking

Isabelle loves her little sister!

Momma and baby Anya

Papa and Anya having some cuddle time.

My mom was a huge support during the whole process. Thanks Mom!

Happy Grandpa!

Ma and Aunt Louise had come up for Christmas day so they got to meet little Anya.

My cousin Jessa was in town from West Virginia for Christmas and came to visit us at the hospital.

All cozy.

Cassie and Chloe with their new little cousin Anya.

Charles' sister Elise was here for Christmas break. She got to spend a lot of quality time with Anya and Isabelle.

Erin and Ashley right after the birth.

Right after we checked into the hospital. I had told Charles I didn't need a wheelchair, but the hospital made me use one anyways.

Finally admitted, just waiting for the epidural! (The epidural was fabulous! I definitely recommend it.)

Isa was only there for part of the labor. She was very concerned seeing me in the hospital bed.

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve we made our traditional visit to Brad's Christmas Party. My whole family has been going every Christmas Eve since I was in high school. Isabelle was so excited to be able to wear one of her "pretty, pretty dresses."

"Cheese!"

Erin and Isabelle being silly

Brad, Isabelle, and Liz

Earlier that day we went to my mom's house to decorate Christmas cookies.

Isabelle thought it was great and kept wanting to eat the cookies.

Visits from good friends

This year we had some really good friends come and visit. The most recent was the Tamai family last month. Ryan and I have been good friends since our first year at BYU. For his 30th birthday he came with his wife and two darling daughters all the way from California to visit us. It was so fun to see them and get to know his wife and daughters better. Unfortunately, Charles was gone in India during their visit so he wasn't able to join in the fun times. We tried to pack a lot into the time they had here. We went to Wet 'n Wild, City Walk, Downtown Disney, and of course down to Vero Beach. But the best part was just visiting and catching up. It was fun to watch our girls play so well with each other and to see each other as parents.

Kaella, Ryan, me, and my mom

Me, Karen, Ryan and their newest addition, Kaella

Kianna (or "Banna" as Isa called her) and Isabelle, they got along so well.

The Schars

Earlier this year we had a great visit from the Schars. Raphael and Charles were mission companions and of course I knew him too on the mission. Raphi was also one of our groomsmen in our wedding. Raphi, his wife Annika, and their daughter Linea live in Switzerland, so it was a long trip over for them. We were so grateful that they made the effort to come and see us. It's hard to live so far away from good friends. This was our first time meeting Annika and Linea, but it felt like we had known them forever. It was wonderful to have them here.

Old mission comps and their daughters

Me and Annika

While the Schars were here we spent some time down in Vero Beach. My Aunt and Uncle took us out on their boat and we went and had a cookout on an island. It was a beautiful and fun night.

Isabelle loved little Linea!

We are so grateful for good friends and the joy they bring us. Our house is always open for anyone who wants to come and visit!

Papa is home!

After 6 long weeks in India, Charles finally came home last week! We are so excited to have him back home. Everything is back the way it should be! Isabelle gave him a great welcome at the airport. She didn't want to let go of him, she just kept hugging him and hugging him. It was really sweet. With not much time left till Christmas we are trying to immerse Charles in the season with music and decorations and of course Christmas shopping. Now that he is home I am ready for this baby to come join us. One more week till she is due, but who knows when she will decide to grace us with her arrival.

Holiday Fun

Isabelle has loved this Holiday Season. Everything that has to do with Christmas she calls "Christmas." She is especially fond of big Christmas trees. She gets so excited and dances all around while screaming "Christmas." She hasn't quite gotten the idea of Santa yet, she thinks he is a "snowman," but I am totally okay with that.

After lots of crazy Christmas shopping on Black Friday, Isabelle, Erin and I headed over to my Dad's house in Melbourne. We had a wonderful visit with him and Deana. On Saturday morning we went to the Brevard Zoo. Isabelle loved it of course.

Isabelle and Erin being silly!

Isabelle checking out one of the animals before brushing it in the petting zoo.

We brought a wagon to pull Isabelle around, but she preferred to pull the wagon herself.

Isabelle loved all the birds.

Watch out Erin!

Dad and Erin

Isa and Erin hanging out at Grandpa's house.

When we got back from my dad's house we headed out to pick out our Christmas tree. Usually I always get it the day after Thanksgiving, but since we were at my dad's we didn't get it till Saturday. Isabelle was a big help on picking out the tree.

Isabelle with her Nana.

We spent a day in Lakeland with Erin. Isabelle loved this Christmas tree! She couldn't get enough of it!

All decorated!

Last weekend my Dad and Deana came over from Melbourne. We had dinner and then went to see the lights at UCF. Of course the first thing Isabelle spotted when we got there was the carousel. She absolutely loves carousels so we had to take her on it. After waiting in line for almost a half hour just to buy a ticket for the carousel, Isabelle finally got to go for a ride.

Looking at the lights with Grandpa!

What a great Holiday Season it has been. It has been sad not having Charles here with us to enjoy it, but we are definitely looking forward to him coming home tomorrow and sharing a lot more holiday cheer.