Carwells Feet and Other Pics

Ok, so we couldn't resist. We may be a little biased, but these are the CUTEST feet we have ever seen.







Here also are a few pictures from the last few days
...including proud papa Jess and mama Tracey


And one of her first sponge baths at home....
Sleeping....ahhhh, life is good

Carswell's Grandparents

Carswell is blessed with not two, but three sets of wonderful grandparents. No fear of her NOT being spoiled...lol.

Jess's mom, Nan, was thrilled to help welcome her first grandchild and has chosen to be called Mimi. Mimi stayed with Jess and Tracey for a few days after Carswell's arrival and was a huge help.

Tracey's mom and stepfather, Mary Lou and George, are known as Nana and Stepa. Nana also came up to Athens to help Jess and Tracey in the early days of transition to new parenthood. This is the fourth grandchild on Tracey's side of the family...all girls!

Tracey's dad and stepmom, Joe and Betty, are known as Gramps and Granny B. Granny B was a big help to Tracey and Jess in the hospital serving as their advocate with all of her nursing knowledge during labor and delivery. They both have been a big support for Tracey and Jess.

Going Home

After a few days of recovery in the hospital where we were well taken care of by our Family Care nurses Carmon and Dena, the three of us headed home for the first time. Carswell liked her first car ride so much, that she sacked out in the car.


We have been home now for a few days settling into our new life and new routine. To see more pictures of Carswell's Homecoming and first visitors, click here

Carswell's Arrival

CARSWELL IS FINALLY HERE!!!!

We are pleased to announce the arrival of our daughter Carswell Leigh Hickey. Carswell arrived on Wednesday May 17, 2006 at 5:17 pm weighing in at 8lbs 5 oz and 2o inches long.






Carswell was due on Friday May 12, 2006 and since she was well on her way to overstaying her welcome and growing and growing, Tracey was admitted to Athens Regional to be induced on the following Tuesday night. Inducement began at 7:30 am on 5-17 and by 5:17pm (cool time huh? She planned that, already taking after her mother we assume), she finally graced us with her amazing little presence.







In addition to her amazing doctor Tom Goggin and L&D nurse Peggy, Tracey and Jess had a lot of support at the hospital during labor and delivery and during the recovery days from friends and family. We can not thank everyone enough for their love and support and for stopping by to meet Carswell. To see more picures from the hospital, click here

Also, to see pictures from the online web nursery, click here

Carswell's Baby Pad

Finally, the nursery is pretty much done! Still looking for a table or small bookcase for the lamp, but all the major work is done. We are stocked and ready to go...all we need now is Carswell.
The theme of the nursery is The Giving Tree based on the book by Shel Silverstein. I had my friend Mary Martha paint the canvas hanging over the crib...she also did the monogram painting on the door. Cari Spangler contributed the adorable polka dot Carswell painting. And Daniel Hayes helped Jess put up the chair rail. Come on in and take a look...let us know what you think.

For more pictures of Carswell's nursery, click here

Hilton Head Anniversary Trip

Jess and Tracey celebrated their 5 year wedding anniversary in Hilton Head. Even though Tracey was 37 weeks pregnant at the time, and no one thought her doctor would ever let her go, Dr. G. gave us the green light and we headed to the beach for our last baby free beach weekend for a while.

While it rained in Georgia, we had perfect beach weather all four days we were in Hilton Head. We spent the entire time sitting on the beach under the umbrella with our feet up relaxing...it was wonderful.

Jess also foolishly challenged Tracey to a round of putt putt...by the picture, you can tell who lost the round and the bet.

To see more pictures from Hilton Head, click here

34 Week Ultrasound

At the 34 week ultrasound, we found out that Carswell is pointed in the right direction (head down), there is no cord around her neck (whew!), and that she is roughly 5lbs 13oz (average weight at 34 weeks is 5lbs 5 oz). Dr. Goggin said that if she gains the average amount of weight per week for the remaining weeks, that she will probably be at least an 8lb baby....but of course, she could slow down or take off weight wise. Tracey is keeping her fingers crossed that she doesn't get too big.

The 34 week ultrasound doesn't allow for great images, since her head is already down, but here is a pretty cool image of her right arm.

Pamper the Parents Couple Shower

In April, our good friends Anna and Mike Smith and Michele Turner and Doug Harman hosted a "Pamper the Parents Couple Shower" at Hilltop Grill in Athens. Everyone brought gifts and a pack of diapers to help us build our stockpile. We are happy to report that as a result of this shower and other diaper gifts, we have several months worth of diapers to hold us over for bit. Thank you for saving us from the multiple trips to the store for these necessities at least for a little while.

The shower was made up of family, college pals, and local Athens friends. It was a great way to visit and catch up with everyone. Jess put his game face on and won the "baby pin" game. It was also obvious that something is in the water this year...at one point, there were 3 babies, 1 toddler, and 5 pregnant ladies in the room.

Huge thank you to the fabulous hosts for such a great shower! Michele, thanks for all your planning and drinking that extra blood mary for Tracey..lol. And to Anna, thanks for everything, especially making the table toppers which are now doubling as swaddle blankets for baby Carswell...so Martha.

To see more pictures from the Pamper the Parents Couple Shower, click here

Neighborhood Giving Tree Shower

It is hard to believe that we have lived in our neighborhood Carrington Plantation for four years now...time flies. While we have been there, we have been blessed and lucky with wonderful neighbors. In early April, four of our neighborhood friends (Jessi, Angie, Heather, and Christa) threw a shower for Tracey made primarily up of ladies from the neighborhood and some of Tracey's other local friends.


Jessi's husband Jay designed the adorable invitations and thank you notes which were a nod to the nursery theme of the Giving Tree. The shower was a great success and a lot of fun...planned down to the minute by the very organized planners who finalized the shower agenda over a bottle of wine from what we hear. Thanks Ladies for a fabulous afternoon and for sending Tracey home with the leftover cake for Jess!

For more pictures from the Giving Tree Shower, click here

Hickey Family Shower in Meigs

In late March, we headed South to Camilla to celebrate Nan's (Mimi) birthday. While we were there, the Hickey Family got together at the family farm after church for Sunday Lunch and threw us a baby shower.

While we expected dozens of FSU outfits from some of Jess's family who are fans and who themselves have received numerous UGA outfits over the years, they restrained themselves limiting the FSU gear to a single pencil....whew! Otherwise, Carswell was spoiled silly, and it was great to have the Hickey Family together to celebrate her upcoming arrival. Jess, Brian, and CeeCee are the youngest and the last of the cousins to start having children, so Carswell will have plenty of South Georgia 2nd cousins to play with when we go home.

One gift we got is flower bank that you see pictured here from Mimi. She instructed us to leave the bank by the nursery door so that everyone will be required to deposit money for entrance into Carswell's nursery...be sure to bring your change when you come to visit...haha!

For more pictures of the baby shower in Meigs, click here

Spring Break Crew Get Together

Ah, the Spring Break Crew....it is made up of Tracey, Kendall, Megan, Leslie, Kate, Cherie, Sylvia, and Jan... as well as a missing Jennie, and our dear old friend JT who just passed away in January.

These are some of Tracey's friends from High School...and you guessed it right, they made a few trips to Destin back in high school and have lots of stories to tell about one another. Since reconnecting a few years ago surrounding weddings and a HS reunion, the local Georgia ladies of the Spring Break Crew (Tracey, Kendall, Megan, Leslie, and Cherie) get together every few months to catch up and have dinner. At their last get together at Cherie's new house (who is taking this picture by the way), the group decided to celebrate Carswell's upcoming arrival with a mini Spring Break Shower. Thanks Ladies!

As always, the girls had a great time. Currently, four Spring Breakers are pregnant...Tracey (1st), Cherie (1st), Megan (2nd), and Sylvia (1st). And so far, all of the Spring Breakers who have had children (Kendall, Jan, Megan, and Leslie) have had girls or are expecting girls (Tracey and Cherie) for the first child...we are still waiting to hear from Sylvia. So it looks like they will all have something to worry about when Spring Break rolls around in the next 13-16 years.

To see more pictures from the Spring Break Get Together, click here

Baby Bonding Spa Weekend

In early March, Tracey's friends from college (The Big Six and AXO Gals) hosted a "Baby Bonding Spa Weekend" in Tracey's honor in Highlands, NC at Shannon's cabin. Tracey enjoyed having a nice relaxing weekend with the girls...Kendall, Lauren, Molly, Adrienne, Shannon, and Jaci...while getting pampered and spoiled at the Old Edwards Inn.

The "Baby Bonding Spa Weekend" has become a ritual with Tracey and her friends. Since the girls are scattered around the state, they take the weekend as an opportunity to catch up and give the Mother-to-be a chance to relax and enjoy a little piece of heaven before her life is turned upside down. Tracey was officially the last one in the group to become pregnant, so she definitely has learned a lot on these weekends in terms of what to expect of new parenthood.

Tracey also learned during the trip that Jaci is pregnant with her second child...Congratulations Jaci!

To see more pictures from Tracey's Baby Bonding Weekend, click here

Kelley and Andrew's Wedding

In February we took a trip to Chicago for Kelley and Andrew's wedding where Tracey was the very pregnant Matron of Honor.

Kelley and all the Bridesmaids celebrated the weekend with lots of activities including a Ladies Night Out hosted by Tracey (everyone drank a few for Tracey), Bridal Luncheon, Rehearsal Dinner, and Hair and Makeup Bonding Time before the wedding.

Kelley and Andrew's wedding was at the Ambassador East Hotel located in downtown Chicago just a few blocks off of Lake Michigan. The Reception was held at the Pump Room in the hotel where Frank Sinatra and the gang use to hang out while staying in the Windy City...our room was actually a few doors down from Old Blue Eyes Suite. The weather was sunny and beautiful for February.

Look at Kelley, what a GORGEOUS Bride!

To view more pictures from the wedding, click here

Surprise Pea In The Pod Shower

Tracey was totally FOOLED! In January, just after she had truly popped and clothes were getting tight, Tracey's friend Kendall invited Tracey and her mom Mary Lou to have lunch with her mom Marilyn and sister Brooke at The Tavern in Phipps Plaza. The lunch was to celebrate Tracey's pregnancy. Little did she know, Kendall had bigger plans.

After lunch, Kendall suggested Tracey and the rest of the lunch bunch go with her to visit the Pea in the Pod maternity store, since she needed to get a gift certificate for a friend. Tracey easily agreed since she was still on the hunt for a bridesmaid dress to wear to her friend Kelley's upcoming wedding in Chicago. When Tracey arrived in the store, she was surprised to see her sister Stephanie, cousin Heather, and friend Anna...all of who...among others...chipped in on a gift certificate for Tracey so she could go on a maternity clothes shopping spree.

For the next few hours, everyone helped Tracey shop, and she tried on an endless number of outfits. In the end, she had tons of cute stuff and a dress to wear to Kelley's wedding. Kudos to Kendall for totally catching Tracey off guard with such a wonderful and generous surprise. She had a great time and has worn these adorable maternity clothes to death during the pregnancy.

To see more pictures from the Surprise Pea in the Pod Shower, click here