25 Days!

Well, I can't believe it has already been 3 weeks (scratch that 25 days now that I am finally getting to finish this post) since our precious Drew arrived! We have been enjoying this time of getting to know Drew & getting back on the "baby" schedule. Drew is a really sweet baby & content most of the time, especially if he is being held! He's also quite comfy in his bouncy seat or in his car seat, thank goodness because he spends a lot of time in the car shuttling his older siblings back & forth to this or that...and just today I put Drew in the sling while I was making lunch & emptying the dishwasher & he slept contentedly while I had my hands free! Yay for slings! I think the biggest adjustment so far for me is once again getting used to only having very short amounts of time to get things done between feedings...throw in carpool & everything else & it seems like every task I start gets interrupted for one reason or another...I'm not crossing many things off of my To-Do list each day...but I am making progress bit by tiny bit!

So please bear with me if I'm a bit slower responding to your email or phone call...or if I haven't YET sent you a Thank You note for your kind gift or delicious meal...I am working on them slowly but surely...emphasis on the slowly! We are forever grateful & thank God daily for all of the many ways people have showered us with love & kindness these past few weeks...the meals & gifts are each so special to us & a tremendous blessing! Thank you!

These first days have flown by with lightning speed & I find myself feeling like Drew is already practically heading out the door for Kindergarten! He is growing and changing already & it is hard to imagine that he could actually still be in my belly (my due date was just Saturday!) So I am ever thankful to be breastfeeding & to have those regular times during the day when I get to sit down & feed the baby...the same with the night-time feedings...tired as I am, I cherish each opportunity to cuddle & pray over my sweet little guy!

So this is probably all I have time for...I need to top-off Drew's tank & put him down for hopefully a good 2-3 hour stretch! So I will leave you all with some photos of our first few days, well actually the first few weeks...sniff, sniff he's growing up so fast!

Drew in the bouncy seat at 5 days...snug as a bug in a rug!

In the bouncy seat at 19 days, look how those cheeks are filling out! Pictures from the first week...

(Please excuse me while I clear my throat!)

Drew found his thumb early, but only sucks it every now & then...

Sweet peanut!

The proud big sister...have I told you about the time she tried to change Drew's diaper & left him naked from the waist down...you can guess what happened! And as of today, she has done this twice!

Darcy lovin' on Drew!

Where ever there is good sleeping going on, Sammy (the cat) is there!

Very happy big brother! Jack does not tire of talking to & snuggling with Drew.

A poem Jack wrote in school when Drew was 10 days old:

My Baby Brother by Jack Howard

My baby brother

he's cute

oh

Shhhhh

he's sleeping

Let's be quiet.

Waaaaaaaaaaaaa

He woke up

Here come my mom

Dinner time for baby

Yum Yum Yum

He's done eating

time for bed again

good night baby
***********************
Drew's first bath

All clean & smelling wonderful! (Is there a sweeter scent?)
Snuggle time with Mama!

Drew's first walk! (Can you see him beside Sophie in the stroller?) Here he is all snuggled up! He enjoyed the walk & didn't make a peep! Sweet little piggies!
Sophie after her Easter Parade at school.We're going to need a bigger island in the next house!

And here is some lovely paneling that I found to use in the nursery...What? Waterfalls on paneling is not in style? I can't believe you think it's a bit out-dated!! Okay, so it isn't for the nursery...This paneling is just a small sample of the lovely decor that adorned a little lake house that Jeff's family is renovating...the ENTIRE house (closets included) was paneled with all kinds of scenes...deer, pheasant, rainbows, waterfalls...quite a panelers delight! Thankfully it looks great painted!
Here is the new dock, ready for summer fun!And the new family room...we enclosed the old screen porch, raised the pitch of the roof & added in the new windows to take advantage of the view! This nearly doubled the size of the family room space & gives the whole house a nice airy feel! We are looking forward to enjoying that view for many years to come!
Well, judging by the sounds coming from the bouncy seat beside me, a diaper change is in my immediate future...so I must say good night! Thanks for checking on us & I promise to be a better blogger! Happy Easter!
Jesus Christ is RISEN!