Amazing Pictures of Thomas

This week our friends Candice and Daniel brought us a great chili dinner over and Candice brought her camera and took a few impromptu pictures of Thomas and Arden. The pictures turned out great and really captured my kids in their element. There are so many that I love that it is hard for me to pick a favorite.

Arden had such a great time with Candice and really enjoyed taken pictures with her. When Candice pulled out her camera Arden ran upstairs and got her disposable camera and took pictures along side of Candice. Today when we were looking through all of the pictures she kept asking where the pictures of Candice were.

I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as we do.

Click here to see the pictures on The Beautiful Mess website.

Click here to see the slide show that Candice put together of the pictures.

Family Lovin'

Here is a great picture of the three loves of my life. It was taken right before bedtime. Lately, bedtime has been chaos between feedings and bath time. Arden's bedtime has been extended which makes for a long day. However, pictures like this remind me that it's all worth it.

Arden's Loves Her Shoes

The other day Arden received a gift from her Aunt Laura's Mom Nancy. Nancy and Arden bonded back in Sept and they share the same birthday of August 22.

Arden loves her Ruby Red Slippers. She clip clops around the house and I was lucky enough to get her to strike a pose. She loves wearing different shoes and we normally have a hard time getting shoes off of her at the store when she tries them on. This pair is no exception. I have a feeling she'll always have a closet full of shoes.

Eating Good in the Neighborhood

We have been very blessed and thankful that we have many friends who are putting together meals for us over the next few weeks to make our transition and recovery a little smoother. We are so grateful to have the meals and all of them have been delicious.

Our friends Jennifer and Forrest brought us a meal that included cupcakes which Arden thoroughly enjoyed. We also used them to get her to eat everything on her plate. We had her pick out the cupcake that she wanted and once she finished her meal she could have it. It work perfectly. Most of all she enjoyed every bite of it.

Here she is looking for the perfect bite.

Question of the Week

Do you think he has big feet?

The First Day of Spring

Yesterday was the first day of spring and Arden was more than ready even if the weather was not as warm as it had been the day before. Around 10 am Arden decided that she was going to take her beach chair and go outside and sit in the sun. It's only about 50 degrees but she was determined to celebrate the first day of spring.

What a Pair

The past couple of days have been mostly spent recovering and sleep. We all took a nap yesterday which was pretty great. In the mornings I feel great but by the afternoon I can tell that I just had a baby a week ago.

Thomas is doing great with his sister and if he is sitting in his chair she is not too far away. Anytime she leaves or gets up from sleeping she has to know where he is and what he's doing. I have a feeling he won't get to far out of her site.

Looking Good

Arden is really enjoying the nicer weather. Here's a great picture of her getting ready for a walk with Daddy. She is all decked out in her sunglasses and her watch.

Here's a great picture of Thomas. He's wide awake. He's doing really well on his wake/sleep time. He's getting so big already. I can't believe that he's a week old today.

The Big Sister Comes Home

Arden came home yesterday and it was great seeing her again. As soon as she came through the door all I noticed is how big she has gotten over the past 3 weeks. It seemed like she shot up like a weed. She looks taller and sounds older. Her vocabulary is getting larger and she is talking much more clearer.

She had a huge smile on her face and the first words out of her mouth were "Where's Thomas, I want to hold that baby."

She came running around the couch and climbed up in my lap and started to try and take Thomas out of my arms. She was is so good with Thomas. She sat very still and held the back of his head.

Uncle Eric and his finance' Lori brought Arden back to us and they were able to spend some time with Thomas. Arden had such a great time showing everything off to both of them. I am glad they were able to see Thomas while he is still rather small.

Anytime he cries she runs over and comforts him. Today he was crying and she said "Thomas, don't cry. Mommy and Daddy will take good care of you."

Question of the Week

Is there anything better than seeing your entire family together?

Going Home

Yesterday was a big day for Thomas. He was released and able to come home. He does not like to get dressed. I have a feeling that he is going to prefer to be a naked boy.

It was so cold when we left the hospital. The day he was born we tied a record high of 83 and when we left it was cold, rainy and wet. However, he managed to sleep through leaving the hospital and the car ride home. But I of course captured the moments with the camera.

Here are some pictures of us leaving the hospital. Tomorrow's a big day for all of us Arden returns home after being gone for 3 weeks. I can't wait to see that little girl.

Getting dressed

All dressed up and ready to go.

Giving Mommy some lovin'.

Hanging out at home in his car seat.

Day One

We have had a good day. Thomas and I both were able to get a couple of naps in and I have been up and around.

Arden has been such a great big sister over the phone. Last night when we called her to tell her that Thomas was finally here here's the conversation we had with her on the phone.

Arden: "Hi Thomas. I'm your big sister."

Thomas then perks up and darts his eyes over to the phone obviously recognizing her voice and looking for her.

We then hear Arden running through my parents house yelling. "Eric, I'm a big sister."

She then comes back to the phone and says "Bye Thomas. I love you."

She is going to be such a great big sister.

Here are a couple of pictures from today.

He's only a day old and here he is holding his head up for about a mintue or even longer to look at his daddy.

Introducing

Thomas Oliver

March 11, 2009

6:40 pm

7 lbs 15 oz

21 1/2 inches

Baby Watch

Still no baby and nothing to report. However, I was at the mall today and random women and even men would stop me and ask me when I was due. I hope they are seeing something that I'm not. 5 days and counting.... Stay tuned.

Overheard at the Grandparents

Since Arden's been spending time with both her Grammy and Gran Gran and Paw Paw she has had some interesting comments that have made their way back to us or it was something Arden told us on the phone.



Grammy: "Arden you sure are a big girl."



Arden: "No Grammy, I'm little. Daddy's big."



Grammy: "Well what's Mommy?"



Arden: "Mommy's little"



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Arden: "Gran Gran I'm starving to death."



None of us ever remember saying anything like this around her.



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Arden: "Mommy I'm eating popcorn."



Me: "Is it yummy?"



Arden: "No Mommy. It's delicious."



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My brother Eric and Arden were playing around with each other one morning and Eric decides to go sit in the hot tub and here's the conversation that was reported back to me.



Arden: "Eric where are you going?"



Eric: "Arden, I have to leave because you got me in trouble."



Arden: "Eric, don't lie to me, where are you going?"


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Arden: "Mommy, I got a special treat and I spit it out."

Question of the Week

I am now 39 weeks pregnant and there is a full moon this week. Do you think I'll go into labor or have to wait it out another week?

Baby Watch

Plans were made, the bags are packed and Arden's in WV having the time of her life waiting for the baby to come. The doctors were sure he would arrive early...that was a week ago. Now he's asking me about when I want to be induced.

Here I am still waiting and waiting. I am officially 9 days out from my due date. I feel like a kid at Christmas I can't wait for it to get here...wondering what I will wake up and find. I can't wait to see this little guy and get started with our bigger family. However, I am waiting on God's timing. He ordains all the days of our lives before one comes to be. So I know that His timing is perfect and everything is under control.

I miss our little girl. She talks to us everyday on the phone and has so many great things that she's been doing. Every day she asks us if the baby is here. I can't wait for the two of them to meet.

I carry my camera with me everywhere and I will post pictures as soon as I can. Stay tuned...it's supposed to be 70 here today. I think that today would be a great day to give birth.

I am now off to enjoy some time alone before all the excitement begins.

Happy Birthday Grammy

Today is Grammy's birthday. Arden just spent last week at Grammy's and had a great time. We are thankful for her and and look forward to celebrating many more birthdays with her.

She's Got the Right Idea

Tonight I was talking to Arden on the phone and she told the baby to hurry up and get out of Mommy's tummy. I couldn't agree more.

Here is a rare belly pictures of me at 38 weeks.

Question of the Week

Can you believe that we are getting 8 inches of snow in the south and Arden's not here to enjoy it?