Georgia Gilmans

Amaris Joy Gilman was born on May 23rd (her grandpa's birthday) at French Hospital in San Luis Obispo. This is the story of her first few days as part of our family. We are so blessed!

I woke up Friday morning (the 22nd) having contractions that were 7 min apart and Derek and I began to practice our relaxation techniques from our Bradley classes. (It's easier to practice handling a contraction when they are actually happening). Around 11 am, Kaley, Mimi and I went to get a 3 generation haircut by Nicole Waldhelm. We took this picture when I got back to show the haircut and because I was pretty sure it would be my last pregnant picture for quite a while.

Later that evening Aaron and Greta invited us over for a yummy dinner. It was a great way to pass the evening having fun with friends but was a bit interesting when a strong contraction came along, leaving me silent for a bit. Here's a picture of me and Greta with the two girls.

By bedtime, the contractions were strong enough to keep me lying down. Here is Kaley helping me relax.

Sammy and AJ helped me relax too!

 We couldn't sleep that night thanks to the contractions, so we ended up watching Bride Wars and going for a cold 4am walk around the neighborhood. Finally we slept a couple of hours and woke up Saturday morning ready for our big day. Barbara, our doula, came to the house after breakfast and helped us make a plan to head to Pismo Beach to walk around before heading to the hospital. We got to the hospital around 12:30 after having experienced 28 hours of methodically progressing labor and were rewarded to learn that I was halfway dilated already. Amaris was born at 7:10 pm after a few intense pushes with the doctor barely able to get his gloves on in time. She was a nice hearty size at 8 lbs, 7 oz and 21.5 inches.

I'm actually proud of this picture. This is what I looked like 2 hrs after her birth. It's true what they say about natural childbirth leaving you with lots of good hormones.

Kaley and Mimi made it to the hospital by 9 pm and here is Kaley's first glimpse of her new baby sister.

Kaley brought Amaris a present, a monkey blankie similar to Kaley's favorite duckie

The next day my dad, G, flew in and got to meet Amaris too!

Say cheese: Derek, Cori, Amaris, Kaley, and Mimi

Admiring the baby

Our favorite nurse Suzanne was with us through labor up unti the very end. She was back the next day to take great care of us and celebrate Amaris' birth

Amaris gets bundled in her GT hat to come home the next day

Here she is after a few days at home

Cori and Amaris

Kaley loves being a big sister

Mimi perfects her technique of soothing the baby by bouncing on the exercise ball

Enjoying some cuddle time

Big sister holding little sister

One of my favorite pictures of her in the bouncy seat

More of Kaley holding Amaris

Kaley has lots of excess energy these days! Here she pretends to be a farmer while riding her "cow" G

G talks to Amaris over breakfast

Proud sister peeks into the bassinet

Becky was our first visitor to meet Amaris

Annie brought Finn over to meet his new buddy. Our due dates were 2 days apart and the kids are 2 weeks apart.

Dad, Kaley, and baby

Kaley loves having her friends, like Kade, come over to visit

One nap on her belly and Amaris scooted herself all the way to the wall of the bassinet

Derek, Kaley, Amaris, Rebecca, and Kade

Kaley and Kade being silly

Last Tuesday, my mom (aka Mimi) arrived in Santa Maria to help us until the baby is born. Well, no baby yet (today, the 18th is my due date) but we sure have had some fun times passing the days. Here are some picture highlights of what we've been up to.

I don't have pictures of this but Kaley has two new favorite pretend games that both involve dress up. First, is "going to Alaska" which involves her stuffed Alaskan Huskies, rain boots, snow gear including hat and mittens. Then she transitions to the other game, "Beach in my Bedroom" which is based on my favorite children's book but involves changing in and out of swimsuits and using blue towels on the ground to go swimming. Right now she has mixed the two and is wearing her swimsuit with the boots, winter hat, and mittens. So cute! She wants me to wear gloves too but that makes it hard to type and I'm about 100 degrees to hot right now anyways.

Saturday we went to the YMCA pool so that Kaley could actually use her swimsuit for something more than pretend. She hadn't been swimming in 9 months but only took the first 10 minutes to get over any fear and start boldly jumping in. I'll put a couple of videos in too.

The splash after jumping in

Video jumping in by herself

Video swimming to the side by herself

This is me (and my baby belly) at 39 weeks. I'm still growing a bit each week and wondering when I'm going to run out of room.

For Mother's Day and a self-birthday treat, mom and I went and got the best pedicure we've ever had!

Friday, we went for a long walk in the gorgeous weather with Blake and Debbie.

Our walk ended at a park where the kids could run and play while I rested

Here is me and Mimi

Mimi has been teaching Kaley to appreciate computer games and kid's websites

Saturday we celebrated Cinco De Mayo a week and half late. Kevin and Kade were festive.

Rachel, Justus, and Becky smile for the camera

Noelle and Kaley pose Owen-style by laying on their bellies

Derek getting the pinatas ready

Oops, a duplicate

Kaley and Brayden counting their stash of candy

Kaley takes a swing at the pinata

Rachel says" Kevin try these two laffy taffies together"...so he did. I bet it tasted like strawberry banana.

Derek loved playing with Kade "walking" around the gym and was rewarded with many smiles

Sunday was car wash day. Derek is so good at involving Kaley in his projects. Plus, she got to wear her swimsuit again!

Kaley helps dad back the car into the driveway.

We had a fun and busy weekend together...right up until 5:30 pm on Saturday night when Kaley woke up from her nap with a vomitrocious tummy ache that lasted for days. We are so thankful that she has more life in her today and is starting to drink some liquids because there is nothing quite like seeing your little one hurt and not being able to do anything about it. We did get lots of pictures from a class field trip to the pettting zoo, a morning at the park with friends, and a trip to Avila Beach with lots more friends.

The petting zoo actually came to Kaley's school. I enjoyed getting to watch the kids all interact. Here Kaley is feeding a carrot

Now feeding the goat

The whole class enjoys sanitizing their hands aftewards

Kaley and Brayden

Kaley, Brayden, and other friends

Kaley and Josiah, climbing high

Kaley's favorite part of the park, the dinosaur. She named it Honey this time

A half-hearted smile

Look at the crab Chris caught at the beach

Last time you saw me and Annie (with Amaris and Finn) it was at our 33 weeks baby shower. Now we are 38 weeks and the babies just keep growing

Kevin and Kade (self-proclaimed short legs) race Debbie and Blake (long legs)

Kaley has a special hug for Debbie because Debbie was cool enough to take her to see the waves

Noelle and Kaley pass mud back and forth. Great fun!

We can't bear to smile even though we're having a great time together

I am so late getting Easter pictures up but some of them were so cute and so fun that I thought you'd want to see them anyways.

Here is our happy family on Easter Sunday morning all dressed up

Our last Easter in front of Grace Baptist

Kaley being girly in her cute green dress

Kaley and her puppies

Hanging out with Rob, Katy, and Nick Grindy before lunch

Lunch at the Jones house with lots of friends

Kaley counts eggs with Dad while Rebecca looks for more

Egg hunting!

Kaley joins the Baldizon family for a photo

Look what we found!

Cori (pregnant with baby Amaris) and Amaris (pregnant with baby Kaitlyn) - due 7 days apart

Kaley tries to help Rebecca get Kade's attention

The 4 kiddos

Katy, Rachel (and Justus), Amaris, Cori, and Rebecca

Watching all the parents try to get Nick and Kade look at the same time

Kaley counts her eggs with Rebecca

More helping Rebecca get Kade's attention

Happy Gilman family

The next week we did a bit of family nesting to get ready for the baby. Kaley helped Dad vacuum the car.

And then they worked together to install the infant car seat. Now Kaley rides behind the driver

Kaley and Mickey helped Derek resize the infant seat to fit a small baby

Kaley hugs her friend Gabby. Gabby moved back to Texas and this was her birthday party

Kaley and Gabby in the sandbox

The kids celebrating with baloons

What's in here?

Eating cake and playing with party favors was a hit

More cake and party favors

This has been a great weekend! Thursday was my (Cori's) 29th birthday! It started out with the smell of bacon as Derek made me a delicious breakfast of cheese omelet, bacon, coffee, and yummy doughnuts.

We enjoyed Cookies and Cream Ice Cream Cake and a dozen pink roses. At least I won't share my birthday with Amaris, though my due date is getting closer (3 weeks to go)

Saturday was the YMCA Tir-4-Fun sprint triathlon. Derek did the whole race: 1/4 mile swim, 18 mi bike, and 3.1 mi run. I didn't want to miss out even though very very pregnant. I put together a team of friends and I did the swim portion. (The guy next to us in line has matching shorts to Derek). I got lots of funny comments all day about my baby belly and participating.

This is our friend Kevin at one of his turns in the pool. He took 3rd in his age group!

Here I am getting ready to go!

Derek and i are both ths picture. He is on the right hand side of the 2nd lane from the left and I am on the right hand side of the far left lane. Derek had his fastest swim time, a personal best!

Here I am, still going.

Here I am tagging Debbie for her to start the bike ride portion

Here is Derek coming in from the bike ride portion. He also had a personal best on the bike portion. He will do another tri again someday but not on a mountain bike.

Greta, my teammate, ran a fast 5K and here she is at the finish line!

Here is Derek at the finish line, checking his time as he crosses

This is our team of Cori, Greta, and Debbie (left to right) also known as "Tall, Taller and Tallest"

Kevin, Jared, and Luke celebrate being done

We had such a large group of friends who did the race and that made it so much more fun. Michlle H. and Zoe R. are missing from the picture but they were there too!

Kaley loved jumping in the bounce house near the finish line

Our team took 1st place in our division. Here is the "medal" ceremony.

Happy team (trying to stay warm on the super windy day)

Last week, Derek's Mom came out to visit for a week and we had such a nice time. Kaley especially loved all the time with Grandma. Kaley doesn't let me refer to her as "Mom" because Kaley says, cleary she is Derek's mom not my mom because my mom is Mimi.

Kaley and the puppies cuddle with Grandma

Kaley got to dye Easter eggs for the first time

More Easter egg dying

Monday we drove to base to have a picnic lunch with Dad at the park. This is one of our favorite Monday treats!

Kaley learned to make a bird feeder out of pinecones and peanut butter

Grandma brought a gift for Kaley - a huge Bedtime Bear who has become a hit

More pictures at the park.

I couldn't resist this picture. So much for Kaley's privacy. She has decided to read magazines while on the pot, particularly funny is the fact that she is reading up on her Parenting

Mimi found this sweatsuit in my keepsake box. It was mine! I love seeing Kaley wear old clothes that I remember as favorites, esp with Care Bears on them

Kaley has learned so many card games: Uno, GO FIsh, Old Maid, Rummy, Crazy 8's and more.

More card games

Grandma had lots of tea parties with Kaley and Bedtime bear

Big smiles!

Our last night together - went to Cool Hand Lukes

I'm gonna miss my friend Shelly and her kids Gabby and Sammy. We've been playing vball together while she's been in CA but she is moving back to Texas

Kaley and friends gather around a DVD at volleyball

6. You drink sweet tea at every restaurant you come to

5. Piggly Wiggly, 'nuf said

4. The base liquor store has a drive through for Fried Chicken

3. You drive to a town in South Georgia called Adel (pronounced Aay Dell) which Google says has 70 restuarants. You get to this 1-exit town and find that 65 of the restaurants are in the truck stop and the other 5 are in buildings that "used to be" a Hardees (aka Carl's Jr)

2.The best BBQ restaurant in the city is attached to a local gas station. Later we found the best breakfast biscuits at a different gas station

1. There's a machine that looks like a Coke Machine in front of the mini-mart. Except it says "Live Bait" instead of Coke. You can press the buttons to choose your preferred flavor of LIve Bait before you head out to go fishin'

It's been a while since I've posted on the blog but we've had a lot happen since then. Two weeks ago, we got Derek's next Air Force assignment, which includes his new job and when and where we will be moving. It is a huge PRAISE and is even better than we'd dreamed. Derek will be working as a hands-on engineer repairing damaged C-5 aircraft at Robins AFB in Warner Robins, GA. We will be 3 hours south of my parents in GA and 5 ish hours north of Derek's family in FL. We will move at the end of June, when Amaris is about a month old.

After we got word, we put a plan in action to go on a house hunting trip together last week (while I am still able to fly). Kaley stayed with Mimi and G in Rome, GA and Derek and I spent many days on a house hunt. We like the new town and had a good experience and were overwhelmed by the many housing choices. Ultimately, we decided to work with a local builder and our real estate agent to build a new house of a floor plan we like in Bonaire which is about 7 minutes from base. We love the floorplan and the neighborhood and are thrilled to be able to take the best pieces of all the other houses we looked at and put them together into one Gilman house. Picking out colors, cabinets, etc...was fun too. I still can't believe we're finally going to buy our first house. Oh, and one of the best parts was they let us pick out our lot and it is going to be Derek's dream yard, .6 acres overlooking a wooded area! It should be ready on July 2nd with good weather and good paperwork processing!

Here are some pictures from our trip:

The Gilmans with the sale sign in front of our lot

A model of the kitchen. The wall on the left will actually be cut out to look from the kitchen into the great room

Dining room model. Ours will be red too, but a little bit deeper and redder in color

Great room with 2 story ceilings

Another kitchen model. This was the most fun to pick out stuff. We'll paint it green and have dark wood cabinets.

This shows a sample of how there will be an opening from the kitchen to the great room

Our choices....

View of the neighborhood from lot. There's a playground on the other side of these houses

My favorite picture. Derek with the sale pending sign deep into the lot

Behind the lot, there is a privately owned pond that is quite pretty. It will be the view from our 2nd story bedroom window

One of our favorite houses that we didn't choose had a strange quirk (and potentially an expensive one to fix). The modular shower in th master bath was too short for Derek. He looks like he is trying to shower on a cruise ship

We took some time during the weekend to go to Rome to spend time at my parents house. Here Derek gets a warm greeting from Kaley after a few days apart.

I got some cuddles too!

Three generations of girls. Mimi, Mom (Cori) and Kaley

We drove to a halfway point for dinner on Monday night and got to have dinner with Derek's brother Josh.

This weekend there have been two types of shower. One is a peanut shower (see below) and one is a baby shower.

Kaley and Dad invented a new game while I was out. It is playing in the box of styrofoam peanuts that some of her birthday presents had come in. I've never heard so many giggles.

Here's a video of Kaley in her peanut box

Rebecca hosted a wonderful baby shower for me and Annie on Saturday. The pictures are a bit out of order because this first one is of Rose, Annie, and Kevin hanging out with their kids after the shower

Becky, Rachel, Justus, Stephanie, and Owen at the shower

A happy smile - excited about the Bumbo seat

Jess gave me some cute PJ's to wear!

32 weeks! I like this picture of me with Amaris' name on the fireplace

Here's another shot of the fireplace decorated with the 2 kiddo's names

Cori, Rebecca, and Annie. Thanks Rebecca! We had a great time!

Cori and Annie (due May 18th and May 16th)

Catrin with new baby Darby (Rose's baby) and MIchelle with Aubrey

Last week, Melissa, David and her son Derek had been visiting for a couple of weeks. We had a great time but the time flew by. Here we are saying goodbye on Thursday evening. They are back in Alaska now but will move to Sacramento this summer!

Also last week, we said goodbye and sold our pool table. It was been party of our home since 2001 and has many memories attached to it, particularly playing lots and lots of pool games to keep me standing and moving when we thought I was going into labor with Kaley.   We played a couple of last games and sent it on its way to a happy new owner who will use it lots.

Kaley wore her new uniform outfit on Friday to go have lunch with Dad. She was all smiles when we got home so we got some great pictures of her with her dogs.

Don't blnk. Sammy doesn't usually hold still for hugs this long.

Friday night it was quite chilly but we wanted to get out of the house. We took Kaley's dragon kite and headed to the park.

Look at that Dragon fly!

She loved chasing it and giggled lots

We got to see a beautiful sunset and it got even chillier after that

Kaley likes holding and flying the kite herself best

We ended by playing on the empty playground. Derek found that he could fly the dragon well from the top of the slides.