Thankful

This Thanksgiving was a bit different for me, but in so many ways it was the same. It's so good to be with people you love (even if it's not your family) and do the things you always do.

The Gray/Walter family once again invited us to join them for Thanksgiving, and it was a crazy full house, like always! It was a little different for me this year, with little E, but it was still so good to chat, look through Black Friday ads, eat great food, watch football and play games. She slept through most of it, mercifully. She got lots of attention as the smallest baby in attendance, a title she will have to relinquish next Thanksgiving (if we're here), because there will be three--yes, three!--babies littler than her. The Walter/Gray grandbaby number is going to double next year! That is truly something to be thankful for.

This year I am so thankful for so many things. For a healthy baby, such a good transitional job for Andrew, and for a church looking at Andrew for a job in the ministry after such a long lull in interest. For an amazing family that I will get to see a large part of this Christmas. For a great church family and friends, with so many in the same season of life as we are and many who aren't. For a great place to live, now that I'm spending so much time here. It's so easy to complain about how hard our new life is, but God has been so good to us in so many ways. It is good to stop and give thanks in this season for all the ways He blesses us.

It seems like Thanksgiving is all about Christmas shopping in our world, but instead of rushing right into Christmas, it's important to let Thanksgiving have its affect on our hearts--looking back over the year in thankful reflection, getting ready to end the year with the celebration of the birth of Christ--our biggest reason to be thankful.

Ok, off my soapbox, and on to what you really come here for. :) Happy Thanksgiving!

Our little E was a bit sad when we got home, but here we are on her first Thanksgiving!

Happy Noises

Baby made her first happy noises today! While I was throwing in a load of baby-poopy laundry, she was in her crib with her mobile going and some toys on the side to look at, and she made a happy noise! She also had hiccups, but she did it again twice more, so I'm pretty sure it wasn't just an accident. And she was swatting at the toys a bit. Yay baby! She's getting to be such a big girl. :)She has been a sleeper lately--she slept for a couple stretches of five hours between feedings yesterday. She makes up for it with marathon eating sessions, so I have been paying for the extra time! haha

She was so good this weekend with all of our activity. She slept through all of dinner with our friends and through the whole 24 movie! What a nice girl. :) And church was definitely easier this week, although it's still tough--I want to stay in the service, but if I wait until she's crying before I leave, I make a scene. Next week I'm getting a sling (my friend makes them--it's like the Moby Wrap), so I'll probably try that in church to see if she does any better.

Here is her daddy getting her ready to go to DeWayne and LeAnn's for 24 and chili. Which was great--the chili and the movie. :) It was so good to see friends from Strang and catch up on all the work gossip.

So, we've been going and doing a lot, and I'm still getting the hang of taking her places. For example, I forgot to reload the diapers in the bag before we went to the Grays' to watch the Gators game. Bummer thing to forget. I did have one in there, so I changed her before I fed her, hoping she'd fall asleep and that would be that until we got home. Oh no. She did a big poop while I was feeding her, and I didn't have any more diapers! So, because she was sitting in her poop and because the game was boring, we went home early. But at least we were close to home and in a good time to go home. Learning that lesson could have been much worse!

But I'm starting to feel more like myself again, just as a mom. Life does go on after the baby comes, no matter how much you have felt like it never will during a never-ending night feeding! And yes, it does get easier, and she does get cuter and more fun. See? :)

Getting Back to Life

Andrew and I have been starting to get out a bit more this last week... encouraging, but tiring and sometimes stressful. My dear friend Rebecca came to visit for the weekend, so that actually made it easier, easing into going places with some help.

Saturday night we went to watch the Gators game. I broke out the headbands--isn't she cute?


Sunday we went to church. It was so good to go to church, but going with a baby is nothing like going without one! Especially because she's so new, it was pretty nerve racking with all the people wanting to see her and touch her. But it was worth it to worship and hear the sermon. I have a feeling I won't be taking notes on a sermon for a long time! We do have a pretty awesome nursing moms' room, though. They have helpers who hold your baby and bring you snacks. :) Baby looked really cute, but by the time we got home she was screaming, so we didn't get any pictures of her. :(

Life with little E is tiring, but good. She's still not in a routine, but I know that will come, and when it does life will be easier for all of us. She is pretty inscrutable to me sometimes, still, but we are getting some of the tricks down. Today when she was fussy, I strapped her on and vacuumed the apartment. She quieted right down and fell asleep, and the apartment got clean! We borrowed a swing from our friends, and she will usually have at least a few good minutes with the swing on high and the white noise turned on. Sometimes she'll take a good long nap. Yay for tricks. :) Now, if only she would fall back asleep after I feed her in the morning when it's light outside! We are pretty much up for the day by 7:30. Maybe I should just go to bed earlier!

Here are a few random pictures, of the sweetie to close. :)

Getting her diaper changed

Hanging out on the bed, sitting up like a big girl

Holding Momma's hand (she did this herself-it was so cute. And notice, Momma has her rings back on, yay!!)

Doctor Visit

Today we went to the pediatrician for E bear's two-week checkup. She's still perfect! Yay! :)

She is up to 9lbs. 7oz., which is 5oz. above her birth weight. At this visit she was supposed to be back up to birth weight, so we are doing great! And she's grown longer too--she's up to 22 inches. She's my big eater, that's for sure! The doctor said all is well. We'll go again at one month, when she'll get her first shots. :(

It was kinda stinky--the appointment fell right at the time she was supposed to eat, so she was rather upset. But I fed her, and she fell fast asleep in the carseat on the way home. Isn't she cute? (This one reminds me of one of her ultrasound pictures... amazing how good those were.)


I can't believe she's two weeks old already! It's nice to be past those initial days... I already feel so much more confident taking care of her. We are learning more about each other every day. God has truly blessed us with this amazing little girl. :)

Growing Baby

This morning I looked at baby E and thought she looked older... what do you think? I took the picture below just a few hours ago--she full and happy sitting on her Mimi's lap (Andrew's mom). It looks like she's looking at the camera--I knew my girl was going to be photogenic! ;)

She is 10 days old today, and she's doing great. We're getting used to each other and I'm getting more comfortable taking care of her. She had a great checkup at the pediatrician, and we've been out of the house several times--she loves being outside. We've gone for a walk, and we even went to our little friend Peyton's one-year-old birthday party yesterday at the park. E was such a good girl, and all of her friends loved her. :) Here she is in her party outfit.

It was nice for me, too, to get dressed and get out. You can't see it in the picture, but I am wearing my old jeans, :). They are very stretchy, though, and they are very tight, but still! :) I really enjoyed talking to my friends and feeling like a part of the world again--it's amazing how cooped up it feels to stay at home all day. But it's worth it for these first few weeks, and I love taking care of our little one.

Having a baby is a roller coaster ride for the emotions, for sure--I feel totally in love, totally inadequate, like I would do anything for her, and like I want to give her the world, but sometimes like she is too much to handle. But God is faithful--this morning since we didn't go to church we sat in our living room and prayed and had a devotion time together, and it was so good to remember that the baby is a part of our lives, part of God's plan for us. He gave her to us, and He will give us everything we need to take care of her. Even though this time can be rough, we'll get through it, and it's unlikely that she'll be permanently scarred. ;)

E baby's First Outing

Since it's voting day, Momma had to leave the house for the first time since we brought E home. Since her daddy was out working, baby E got to come with! She enjoyed the short drive to the polling place, and she was so calm the whole time! We actually saw a couple of people we knew, strangely enough, and they ooed and ahhed over her, as did all the poll workers.

I wanted to get a cute picture of her with her "I voted" sticker, but, it figures, all the being good ceased once we got home. Here's one of her a little mad, but you can see her cute carseat and if you look closely, her little sticker. And the swaddle blankets Abby gave us are perfect for the carseat--they have a little hole for the seatbelt!

Here she is a little calmer, taking a nap after her big trip to the polls!What a good citizen our baby is. :)

Baby's First Bath

Our little one had her first at-home bath before Grammy and Pop-pop left yesterday.


She was rather enthralled by the baby in the mirror.
She actually enjoyed the first half--washing her hair and arms, but she was not thrilled when we got her torso and legs all wet and cold.
She calmed down enough to open her eyes for a towel picture... what a cutie.
Here's to the many baths in the future which she will enjoy, not scream about. :)