Things are Good, But Mommy is Sick...

I should tell you that I have my Mimi hooked. She's wrapped around all of my little fingers. She had her first sleepover with me last night, and Mimi took great care of me. Every three hours, she was up giving me my bottle and making sure I had my pacifier. She talked to me and loved on me all night long. She's still here at my house. Mimi's here a lot, and that's really good for me. She just hugs me and never wants to put me down. You should see her face when she holds me; she's the happiest Mimi in the whole world, I think.

I guess you want to know why my Mimi stayed the night with me, at my house. Well, my Mommy is sick. She didn't feel very good early last night; she kept saying she was cold, but everyone, including me, knew it was really hot in our house. So, my Daddy took her temperature, and Mommy had a fever. Daddy was exhausted from working yesterday, so Mimi stayed so Mommy and Daddy could rest. That's all Mommy has done today... Sleep, sleep, sleep. She and I are more alike than we thought.

I'm being taken good care of, you don't have to worry at all. Even now, I'm falling asleep in my Mimi's arms, and Mimi is smiling ear to ear. Life for me is good.


My Mimi after Feeding Me


Mimi Loves Holding Me

Daniel is 9 Days Old...

How exactly is that possible?! Everyone has told us to enjoy each minute because babies grow up so quickly... We believe it now that we have our own. Daniel looks quite different already. His hair is lightening up, his eyes are brighter and wider, his cheeks are chubbier, and his squirminess continues to increase before our eyes.

We didn't write about his first week, but on Monday, he was a week old. He's done so much in just a week; we'd like to share it all with you...


Thanking Mommy for a Good Meal


Loving on Daddy


My First Walk and First Time in My Stroller


The Way I Always Sleep


With My Grandpa


My First Camo Shirt, Ready for Hunting with Daddy


Taking an Evening Nap with My Daddy


My Big Grin for the Camera

Daniel is Wide Awake!

Our first family photo at home


It's 10:56 p.m., and Daniel is STILL awake... Seems as if we're getting less and less sleep these days, but it's moments like these, as he breathes heavily and looks up at me with his beautiful baby blues, that I realize how blessed we are.

We haven't written much as you can tell... We got home and Daniel set in! We've been learning so much about what it means to parent a child. It's the most exhausting yet rewarding thing God has ever allowed us to do. We have watched as Daniel slept through most of his visitors at the hospital, to now, 7 days later, where he will barely sleep a wink for us! Daniel has slept soundly for every single visitor, but when it's just us, he's wide-eyed. I know it sounds as if I am complaining, but seriously, he's amazing... We're blessed... What more can we say?!

Daniel actually sleeping for Mommy and Daddy...


Daniel's Great-Aunt Cathy came to visit...


Mimi loving on Daniel...

The Pediatrician and The Pain

As a young woman, I never took it literally when I read in Genesis 3 about the Lord's promise to women. He clearly says, "I will greatly multiply your sorrow in your conception; in sorrow you shall bear children..." GREATLY MULTIPLY. I totally understand that concept now, having just given birth to my first child four days ago.

However, I don't think that I realized that the pain wouldn't just be during delivery. The contractions beforehand were excrutiating, the hurt just to receive an epidural was insane, and delivery itself had to be what they meant when they created the word, "pain." But, that verse in Genesis doesn't tell you what happens afterwards... Maybe it does in some ways, but the pain you feel as a parent has only just begun.

We took Daniel for his first pediatrician's appointment today. It's the most difficult thing watching your child ache, seeing him squirm and squeal, and hearing his cries for help, knowing there is nothing you can do. It's all a part of life, and as he cooed his way through having his blood taken, after being poked, prodded, and pulled on, it was an overwhelming sense of pain that I felt.

Pain because I knew this wouldn't be the last time he would hurt. There will come times when he aches, and I will not be able to heal his hurts. From that first fever to his first skinned knee, to his first broken heart and his first realization that he is lost, I cannot stop pain from coming his way.

As I endured the pain of delivery, I never understood that my heart could hurt worse than any contraction or push I might attempt. I imagine this is the sorrow and pain God felt when He saw His Son dying on the cross... Can you even fathom what God felt? I don't think I can, but as I saw that Garfield band-aid across Daniel's tiny foot today, I pictured it. I imagined the pain He felt. I attempted to understand the love the Father had for His Son. Because, friends, I have it. I have more love than I ever thought possible for this little boy, and I am thankful for the pain because it means having him.

By the way, everything looks good. No weight loss, no jaundice, no fever... Just a healthy, little gift from God.

Here he is, all ready for the doctor!


Daniel didn't necessarily like the doctor!


Daniel's treat when he got home from the doctor: his first time in the swing!

Our First Visitors at Home

Sleeping Peacefully


Working with Daddy


Daniel's First Friend, Addy, Came to Visit


Amanda Was SO Excited to See Daniel