Peace On Earth

When one looks in the face of a sleeping infant, one sees a picture of the child of God being held in the arms of the Heavenly Father- fully secure, fully content. This is truly peace on Earth.

Emily Laughs at Bubba

If this doesn't make you smile...

Pictures, Including Some of Dad and Baby!

One of Baby Emily- Ready for her first church visit!


Emily and Big Sis (I love this picture):


No Kayley wasn't asleep:


Daddy and Baby Emily (per many requests):


I just HAVE to kiss her!


Mama's Payback for Dad snapping her picture while she was asleep:

I Just Want to Pinch Her Little Cheeks!

She Steals My Heart!

I Love Pictures of Mama and Baby

I know the rules about not having the infant in bed with you- I tell Rachel all the time. That is the reason I am not sleeping in the bed right now- I am terrified of hurting Emily Grace. However, one good thing about her being in bed are the chances to get the most beautiful snapshots of baby and mama. Here is one I took this morning.

Thank God I'm a Night Owl

Rachel asked me earlier today if I would take Emily Grace's 12:00 midnight feeding (which is not always right at 12:00, of course). I said, "Sure, no problem."

It began at 10:32 PM. Rachel brought her to me. I check for wet and messy, all clear. I get her bottle ready, she eats two ounces, and out of the clear blue comes the loudest explosion of gas I have ever heard a small mammal create. I immediately thought of calling 911 because surely my sweet and innocent butterfly didn't make that kind of noise. I mean, the sound was akin to the wood breaking on my door frame upon forced entry.

I then realized she erupted a massive gas pocket much like BP's ill-fated Deep Horizon oil well. Was she ok? Did she have a butt left? Was it a matter of national security to have so much power packaged in a small body?

I checked the diaper again, and the 2 ounces of white formula had somehow morphed into baby poopies. I will never look at guacamole the same way again.

Anyway, I change her, and she makes not a peep (this is unusual for her). I get her dressed, and she then decides to wake up. I don't mean just open her eyes, I mean she is UP. She is kicking in a way that would make a 1985 aerobicized Jane Fonda proud. She squirms, grunts, coos, and jazzercizes for nearly an hour. Then she gets cranky, and I fix a new bottle. She goes to sleep, and then I wake her up transporting her to her crib.

1 more ounce later, with the help of the glider rocker, she is asleep.

It is now 12:15.

Thank You Lord for making me a night owl.

And thank You for Emily Grace.

More Pictures!

Mom and Baby:



I need to say nothing to describe this little bit of Heaven on Earth!

So Happy Together

Emily Grace has so easily and seamlessly become part of the family- it is like she has always been here. I cannot imagine life without her.

Mom is good, and the feedings are going well.

Wes adores her, and Kayley dotes on her.

Life is good.

Update on Emily Grace

Emily is doing great! She has had two poopies and one wet (a BIG wet one). As expected, her weight is down to 7 Lbs, 15 ounces.

She is absolutely and incredibly adorable, despite the fact that Rachel says she looks like me (Heavenly Father, please do not curse this child in such a way!). All kidding aside, I am thankful for such a gorgeous, healthy, sweet child. She is so sweet- she does not cry as long as she is not wet, dirty, gassy, or hungry. We can't ask for anything more!

Joy

This little girl has brought so much joy to our family. I am so thankful for her.

I took Kayley home last night and she passed out in bed. She was SO tired. Wes stayed with Mom, and even helped change a diaper or two! I am glad he stayed with her. I got some much needed rest.

Mom is tired but doing well. She slept, but of course had to get up several times to tend to Em. It appears Little Em is nursing well, and we have high hopes Rachel can continue nursing.

She will come home tomorrow, Lord willing. They keep moms for 48 hours after delivery.

Stay tuned!

Pictures!

Here is the first picture of Emily Grace:



Our Three Children:



Wes and M:



Kayley and M:

It's A Girl!

Yes, we knew already, but it's a girl! 8 lbs, 3 oz, BEAUTIFUL if I do say so myself!

Emily Grace is here!

I will post a few pictures shortly.

Sleepy in Franklin

Well, this morning's lack of sleep is getting to me. My wife is cruising along right now at 12:15 PM, as contractions get closer and the birth gets nearer. I am by no means bored but I am sleepy! Not being able to sleep is taking its toll on me and her both!

We love our nurse, Kitty. She is really awesome. As long as we have a nurse like her, we will do fine.

Sleepless in Columbia

It is 2:00 in the morning. I awoke with anticipation, and neither Rachel nor I can sleep. Going to try, though. We will begin in 3 1/2 hours, so we both need to to try to sleep.

The Induction is Back On!

Well, at 2:15 we announced it was on hold until the hospital's water main was fixed.

The water main is now fixed, and they called us about 10 minutes ago to tell us it is back on.

So we will be there at 5:30 AM, LORD WILLING!

The Induction is On Hold- for Now

A water main to the hospital has broken, and the hospital called to cancel the induction. If they get it fixed, it is back on, but water mains are seldom fixed quickly.

My son had this to say:

The hospital's water broke, and now someone is going to have to labor to fix it!

Let Me Count My Blessings

I am so blessed.

Our child will soon be born. There are two very healthy children in our family. This is a good day. The Lord made this day, and I will rejoice and be glad in it!

One Week to Go

It is amazing how quickly the time goes by.

From the day we found out Rachel was expecting up to today, with only a week to go until we induce (if Rachel makes it that far), it feels like it has been just a couple of weeks, not 8 or 9 months.

In that time, so much has happened that reinforces to me the fact that life begins at conception. Emily Grace is a squirming, kicking, hiccuping little girl not yet born. I think of how so many things had to come together perfectly to form this beautiful child.

I gain some insight to the mind of God when He told Jeremiah, "Before I formed thee in the womb I knew thee..." (Jer. 1:5). Before Emily Grace is even born, I love her. I know she is mine, and regardless of what anyone says, she is a child- my child. I can only imagine how much more Rachel loves her, because she has carried her, felt her kick, squirm and hiccup.

God is amazing in what He does. We are indeed fearfully and wonderfully made.

The Due Date Has Changed!

This past Wednesday my wife went in for her weekly checkup. the doctor said if she does not deliver by the 21st she will induce labor. So we will have the baby by the 21st, Lord willing!

11 days... wow!

21 Days and Counting

July 23 will soon be upon us.

Rachel is enjoying this wonderful early July cool snap. Temps have been in the low to mid 80's with low humidity, but it going to creep up a little this weekend.

Yesterday the doctor said Rachel is doing well, and is doing just right for a woman at this stage in her pregnancy, especially a woman who has had two children.

21 days and counting- but at this point, she is truly due any day now!

Hello world!

Watch this blog in the next three weeks as we anticipate the birth of our third child, Emily Grace!

Hello all!

Watch this blog in the next three weeks as we anticipate the birth of our third child, Emily Grace!