July 1st--Aliyah Grace Merritt was born! Aliyah was 10 lbs and 20 inches long. I was induced at 38 weeks. I was in labor for 5 hours my shortest labor yet. Aliyah is so beautiful! She has such pretty bright blue eyes. Aliyah is so good she only cries when she is hungry or has a dirty diaper. Her sisters are so in love with her. They think she is the most awesome little baby. They are such great helpers too. I wonder how I ever raised a baby without them. LOL! I decided to nurse Aliyah, mostly because of the price of formula but also because it is healthier for her. Aliyah loves to nurse but we are having problems latching on properly. My nipples or nibbles as my 5 year old calls them are cracking and bleeding. It hurts so badly when she latches on. It's been almost 3 weeks now and it really hasn't gotten any better. I pumped for an entire day and night to let my nipples try to heal. Hopefully we can get it right soon. I plan on returning back to work on August 13. Aliyah will be 6 weeks old. I wish so badly that I didn't have to. When i return to work I plan on breastfeeding when we are together and at lunch time and pumping during the day when I'm at work. I miss my little baby being in my belly, but I'm glad she is here. She is such a gift. I would love to have just one more. Hopefully I can talk my husband into it.

September 3, 2008

I took Aliyah to the dr today for her 2 month check up. She was 14 lbs 11 oz and 23 1/2 inches long. She is gaining about an ounce per day. Dr. Fernando says that she is in the 95th to 100th percentile in height and weight. He says that she is healthly and strong and doing well. She also recieved 4 vaccinations 3 shots and 1 orally. Even with 3 kids that never gets any easier she just cried and cried. I felt so Sorry for her.

Aliyah is holding her head up now pretty good. She is sometimes sleeping through the night also. She is smiling and starting to coo. She has the prettiest smile. She looks just like her big sister Alissa.

This is my 5th pregnancy. I have had 2 miscarriages and 2 live births. I miscarried this year in May 07 at 12 weeks and 3 days. It was very hard. I am also raising my step daughter.

We are very excited about the new baby. My girls can't wait till the little baby gets here. With the past miscarriages, we waited till I was 11 weeks to tell the girls. That was so hard. They found out on Christmas morning. I had a present wrapped with my first ultrasound pics and a onesie that said Don't mess with me I have three big sisters. My oldest looked at me and said what does this mean. I said I'm pregnant. And they all screamed...We knew it!

The girls and dad are all routing for a boy. And I don't care, as long as it is healthy. I think it would be neat to have a boy. But I also think having a girl would be much easier.

February 12th--Today I had an u/s and we found out we are having a baby girl. My husband and all 3 of my girls got to be there. The girls thought it was so cool. As soon as he put the doppler on my belly you could see her little butt and pee pee. I looked and the screen and said is that a baby girl and the Dr laughed and said I'm about 95% sure. We saw her face and she has my chin! It was so awesome. My poor husband 4 girls and me under 1 roof. Oh well God gave us girls for a reason. I'm feeling her move more frequently and harder. Every once in a while you can feel her on the outside.