Corinne Leona Adkins

She finally arrived! After threatened preterm labor at 33 weeks and days of false labor that would come and go little Corinne finally decided to make her appearance. She arrived at 6:23 pm on January 21, 2012. She is a perfect bundle weighing 7 pounds 9 ounces and 20 inches long. She couldn't be more perfect. Bryan and I are very proud and blessed parents.

After all the hassle of the last few months she made a quick entry into the world. I woke up on Saturday morning with some cramps - which was not out of the ordinary. My Mom, sister and I had a lunch date planned so we enjoyed a nice lunch out even though I was having some significant contractions the entire time. We have had weeks of ups and downs wondering if the contractions I was experiencing were the real deal or not so I wasn't too concerned with these ones. I got home from lunch and Bryan and I started timing the contractions to see if they were regular or not. Even though they were only coming seven minutes apart, they were getting stronger so we decided to head into the hospital. Once we got to the hospital and checking in they were coming about three minutes apart. So they took us into the triage area and it looked like this was still going to take a while. I was only 3-4 centimeters dilated and I guess I didn't look like I was in enough pain so they made the suggestion that we walk around for a couple of hours. Bryan kind of laughed and assured the nurse that this was going to happen sooner than she thought. So the nurse left and got caught up with the many other laboring women that sounded like they were in more pain than I was. This was a good thing because by the time they returned 15 minutes later to check on me I was making the appropriate pain sounds and I was already 6 centimeters. They quickly got me to a labor and delivery room and the rest proceeded just as quickly. We arrived at the hospital at just after 4pm and this sweet little girl was born just two hours after. I guess that makes up for the months of false labor that lead up to the actual delivery.

Corrine Leona Adkins was born with all her perfect fingers and toes and as healthy as can be. She has been a complete delight as we learn how to be parents and adjust to the around the clock schedule that a newborn demands. As we are learning these new skills we are also preparing to pack and travel back to the other side of the world on February 19th. Our first stop will be Kenya to see family and friends before we reach our final destination of Zambia. As much as Bryan and I try to be prepared for the future, life always seems to throw us curve balls. Just as we thought we were heading back to Kenya to work with the company Bryan worked for in the summer, an opportunity was presented that we couldn't ignore. So to make a long story short our plans have changed slightly as Bryan has accepted a position with a different conservation company as their Director of Development. We are so excited about the opportunity and are looking forward to discovering a new country together as a family of three.

So the next few weeks are going to be full of introductions and farewells as we prepare for this next adventure. We are as ready as we will ever be knowing full well that we just have to be prepared to be flexible and ready to learn all new life lessons that are yet to come our way.

A Very Merry Christmas

I can't believe that it is Christmas Eve. Bryan and I spent a fantastic day driving through the mountains and taking some time enjoying one of our favorite places in the world. Every time I get back to the mountains I wonder why I leave them. They are really stunning.

This last month has been very eventful. Between Bryan finishing up his Masters program, our little one trying to enter this world a little early, selling most of our possessions and packing up the rest to make the move to Calgary, we are enjoying the much needed rest during this Christmas season.

I was very sad to leave Halifax behind. It was a fantastic 15 months that gave us some much needed rest, healing and strength. I know that it will be a time of our life that we will look back on with fondness and wish that it didn't have to end. However there are new things in store for us and the call from Africa is too strong to ignore. In the process of packing and preparing to leave I found myself in preterm labor at 33 weeks. That was not in the plan! So off for a night in the hospital for some steroids to speed up baby's lung development and other drugs to stop the contractions to try and convince this little girl to stay a little longer. Thankfully they seemed to have worked and she is still hanging around and making me more uncomfortable each day. I have to remind myself that me being uncomfortable is the best thing for her and that I just need to suck it up and ask for another foot rub to somehow make me feel better. While this was all happening Bryan was finalizing his last few papers and presentations and somehow held it together and finished off his program very successfully. It's great to see all that he has accomplished and I am so proud of him for how hard he worked and stayed focused on getting the most out of this time. With Bryan trying to finish school and me trying not to go back into labor, my angel of a mother flew out to Halifax to finish our packing, clean the flat and help us get all our things on the plane to Calgary. We couldn't have done it without her. I like to think that I'm a strong independent person but I have to admit it was fantastic to be able to rely on her to get the work done. The move went strangely smooth with no complications or surprises. I kept waiting for something to fall apart but it didn't happen!

So now we are living out of trunks in my parents basement waiting for this little one to come - and this time we will let her. It has been hard to slow down and enjoy the last few weeks of quiet days and full nights of sleep. Bryan and I both want to get on with things and start life again. But I have to remind myself that this time also needs to be seen as a gift and to enjoy it for all it's worth. With just three weeks before my due date we are eager to meet this little girl and after all the hassle and worry of her trying to come so early she better not be late!

I hope that all of you are enjoying your Christmas with friends and family. I know some of you may be far away from your loved ones and are doing the best to make this season special. I hope that somehow you are able to create some memories that will make Christmas 2011 a fantastic one. Wishing you all the best!