Hello World, I have arrived!

Trying to crawl.

A rare daytime nap in the crib....

Dressed for Mother's Day brunch....

"Hoppy" Easter!

Made in the USA.

Got Milk?

I Rule!

So Tired...

OUR LITTLE ANGEL...

Here are some more old photos of me as a baby. I still think Donovan looks like me even though everyone I see insists he looks like my husband!

Donovan Alfred Shetty

Donovan is a Celtic name that means "dark haired warrior" and Alfred is my Dad's first name....

7 lbs. 5 oz. and 20 inches

Born: August 3rd, 2007 at 2:01 am

The Little Prince.....

Donovan's Aunt and Uncle.... His Moses Basket....

Donovan with his "Nonna" (Grandmother in Italian)

Daddy with Baby....

I originally thought that Donovan was a mini version of my husband, but my Mom gave me this newborn photo of myself and I think I can see resemblence between me and my son. Of course, I think Donovan is 100% cuter than me. Check it out:

Donovan-------------------------------Allison

Mommy and Baby....

August 5th, 2007

Well, he's here! I just returned from the hospital and wanted to let everyone know earlier than today, but I did not have Interent access until now.

So, here it goes....After having bloody show on the morning of Thursday, August 2nd and leaking some kind of fluid, I called my husband at work so he could take me to the L&D unit of the hospital. Once there, they examined me and montiored the baby but it turns out everything was still in tact and I was still only 1 cm dilated, as I had been for 2 weeks. We got discharged, and we were hungry so went out to get something to eat. I found that, despite being hungry, I could not eat very much as I just didn't feel all that well.

We arrived home and I decided to try and make myself feel better by going to have my nails done at around 3pm. A few hours later I was sitting on the sofa watching some TV show, trying to take my mind off the discomfort I felt in my lower abdomen. I could not get into a comfortable seated or lying position and even walking around didn't help much. At around 8pm, I called the doctor on call at my OBGYN's office and described the feeling as "pelvic pressure." She said I could go back to L&D and she would prescribe an ambien to help me sleep or suggested I take a warm shower and try some benadryl for sleep instead. I opted for the warm shower, since I had already been to L&D once that day, but the pain got really bad while taking my shower so I dried off and called for my husband. He was on the phone with one of his sisters and I told him I thought we needed to go to the hospital. Then, I doubled over in pain and screamed bloody murder and his sister started screaming at him over the phone to take me to the hospital and off we went!

Once in triage, I found out I was 4-5 cm dilated and the contractions were 2-4 minutes apart. I couldn't believe it! I was in labor and in a few hours I was going to finally see my baby boy!!!! The first question I asked after that was about my epidural and they told me once I got my IV and they moved me to a birthing room then I could get it. Unfortunately, there was a woman just before me who wanted one so she was getting hers first and it was taking FOREVER! The contractions were SO intense by then and I didn't know it but my water had broken by that point and I was probably 6-7cm dilated. I started to scream and cry that it was going to be too late for me to get the epi if they waited any longer and my husband started to get really mad as well, so finally the dr. came from the room next store and quickly administered it to me. In 20 minutes I was feeling SO much better. I don't know how anyone gives birth without one of those. IT HURTS!!!!

A little after 1 am, it was time for me to push and I have never pushed so hard or worked so hard for anything. I was crying and screaming that I couldn't do it, and the dr. and nurses and hubby were all coaching me on and I just wanted to relieve the pressure. After about 40 minutes of pushing, they placed him on my stomach and I have been in shock ever since!!!!! I went really fast for a first timer, from what I was told, and did not have to push too terribly long either. The experience was much more intense than I ever imagined. My husband was amazed and can't get over me or our son right now. It's great!

Anyway, we're home now on Sunday. Since I arrived at the hospital in the evening on Thursday, I got two nights after that to stay in the hospital. I am so glad to be home. I am sore from where I was stitched up "down there", but that's to be expected.

Donovan has been an angel so far. Hubby is awesome with him- a natural- he has to show me what to do!!!! He's an absolute doll. We're just crazy about him! I can't believe how much we love him already....

Thanks to everyone who posted such nice messages!!! They brought tears to my eyes!

My name is Allison and I just had my first baby! However, until now, our adorable 12 year old blue Persian cat named Oscar substituted as our baby. I am 32 years old and have been married for 4 years to my true love, Rupesh, who also goes by the name of Gianni and is 33 years old. We live in the beautiful Sonoran Desert of Southern Arizona, where we enjoy sunshine more than 300 days a year. This is my parents' first grandchild so they are very excited, and my sister-in-law and my brother are also so happy to be a first time aunt and uncle as well! Here are some photos of me with my husband and my family:

In Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

In Udaipur, India

On a cruise ship, somewhere in the middle of the ocean....

My husband, me, my brother, my Mom and my Dad at my best friend's wedding. I was matron of honor.

Me with my beautiful Mom

My husband, me, my brother and my Mom

My brother and his bride, who got married this May in Hawaii. I was one big bridesmaid!

Oscar, the cat!

A SLIDESHOW OF OUR LIVES BEFORE WE GOT PREGNANT- WE TRAVELED ALL OVER THE WORLD!

Cool Slideshows

2007 Year of the Golden Pig

Hey, does everyone know that our babies, born in 2007, will be born in The Year of the Golden Pig, according to the Chinese Zodiac? This comes around only once every 600 years and children born during this time are said to lead very lucky and prosperous lives. In fact, the birthrate in Korea is expected to go up by 10% this year because of this, which apparently is good since their birthrate has been flat in recent years. Of course, there is some debate over the validity of all of this, but I just thought it was a fun little fact! Someone told me about this and then I looked it up on the Internet and I can hardly believe it! Someone was nice enough to give me the most adorable Golden Pig statue/piggy bank for my baby!

Baby shower photos:

My favorite ultrasound photo of Donovan- a close-up of his sweet face.

Oscar, our cat, sleeping in the baby's Bug A Boo stroller!

Donovan's safari-themed nursery....

UPDATES

August 30th: Baby weighs in at 9 lbs. 4 ounces, suprassing his birth weight in less than a month!

October 4th: Donovan weighs in at 13 lbs!!!! This puts him in the 80th percentile for weight. He also had his first round of immunizations- YUCK! 4 shots and one liquid oral vaccination. He screamed bloody murder when stuck with the needles, but thankfully the nurse was VERY quick and we were able to calm him down quite easily. He spent the rest of the day mostly sleeping after the ordeal. We gave him infant's tylenol every 4 hours, and he was fine. He didn't even develop a fever.

December 6th: Donovan is now 16 pounds 3 ounces and 25 and 3/4 inches long! He also had more immunizations- YUCK!

February 6th: Just went for Donovan's 6 month check-up this morning. He's 19 lbs. and 27 inches, 75 percentile for both and the Dr. is pleased with his development, so we're happy. 4 shots plus an oral vaccination. It sucked, but it's over... At the 9 month appt., no vaccinations so at least we get a reprieve- Yay!!!

February 24th: A bottom tooth is starting to poke through Donovan's gum!

April 30th: Donovan has two bottom teeth and a third top tooth is poking through. He is rolling all over the place and "inch worming", but no crawling yet! He now says, "Dada, Mama and Nonna", which is Italian for "Grandmother". My husband, my Mom and I are the ones around him the most and we love hearing him "talk". He's a delightful baby. We're just crazy about him. His nine month check-up is Friday, May 2nd.

May 2nd: Donovan had his 9 month appt. today. He is 21 pounds and 10 ounces and 30 inches, 64th percentile for weight and 94th percentile for length! He is doing great! They did poke his big toe to get some blood to test for iron levels. They do the test right there in the office. He is not anemic and it must not have hurt because he did not cry or scream...

May 6th: I was letting Donovan do his usual routine of rolling around and "scooting" to get his toys and sure enough, he raised himself up on his hands and knees and rocked back and forth for a few seconds before he collapsed lol! This is the first time he has done this and I was tickled pink, or in this case, tickled blue ha ha ha! I imagine that in a month or less, he'll be crawling all over the place! Wow! What a day!!!!

May 11th: My first Mother's Day! My Mom and husband went in on a gift for me together and presented me with this beautiful diamond bangle! I love it!