Say Cheese!!!

I know I haven't been the best, new proud mama about keeping pictures updated on here...truth is, it's hard to find the TIME when you have a little "leach" attached to your body every three hours, day and night. And, did I mention that our camera broke a couple weeks before he arrived? That said, we've been snapping cell phone pics every chance we get...and here are some of my favorites!


Going home from the hospital...

So excited!!! The sweet "welcome wagon" in the background arrived right away from his Nanma and Grampy in San Francisco packed full of all kinds of boyish goodies! His sissy has, to say the least, taken over the wagon itself and it now totes around many a doll! We are so thankful for such sweet parents (and grandparents)!

Very thoughtful...and I love how this one shows how blonde he is! I'm telling you- he's COVERED in sweet white fuzz!

This is, perhaps, one of my favorite memories of the past two weeks. My Grampa came all the way from Dickson and spent a couple hours just sitting and holding his great-grandson (we couldn't figure out just how many he has at this point...40-something grandkids and somewhere in the 30s for great grandkids!!!...and praying the sweetest prayer over his life. I love this guy more than I can say. I have so many memories spent with he and my Grandma Barb and I was so blessed by the precious time he shared with me that day...

And our first trip to see Dr Brooks must be documented, of course. We love our pediatrician and are so thankful for the wonderful care he takes with our kids!

Hoping big for a new camera soon...and more pics to come! We are doing really well...adjusting to life with a new little person around...and feel so blessed. Thanks for all the prayers and encouragement!

You are...

Sweet baby boy,
I know too well that in a blink you will change so much and these first sleepless days and nights will all be a blur in my mind...so today, I want to remember that you are...

...covered in the sweetest peach fuzz from head to toe...especially on your back and cheeks.

...winner of the longest big toe award in the Andrews family, hands down, from the day you were born!

...not as big as I thought(ok, FEARED!) you were going to be. My belly seemed so much BIGGER and FULLER this time, so I just knew you were gonna be a heavy weight like your Dad (whose mother still hasn't forgiven him for his 10 lb, 24 (yes, people, T-W-E-N-T-Y F-O-U-R!!!) inch entrance into this world!), but you weren't much bigger than your sister. An 8 lb 12 oz, 21 1/2 inch package of heaven-smelling goodness is how you arrived and I think every single cell is PERFECT!

...MUCH louder than your sister was! It took her weeks to make even a peep...you came out screaming and make yourself much more known! Oh we have laughed and laughed at how fired up you can get...and can both agree you get it honest!

...more "Lankford" in looks. Everyone keeps picking another brother of mine that you resemble most...Uncle Joe just told me on skype that he took out his baby pic and thinks it might be him. Nonni agrees. (And he did want me to let you know that could mean a receeding hairline is in store for you...:))

...a lazy eater, unlike the rest of your family. You take twice as long as your sissy to take in 1/2 as much, so that all I have time to do is feed, feed, feed! But oh the sweet times you and I are having, day and night, getting to know each other...YOU, my boy, have the sweetest little spirit in this world and are stealing my heart piece by piece. I love you, Jude.

...going to love well. Two different men in our life who walk close with Jesus came and prayed over you in the hospital...the same prayer, Spirit given, that you would LOVE this world. We prayed so many times over my belly (while you were still tucked inside) that you would be bold in your faith and profession of Jesus Christ. And now we pray that you would bre given a heart full of love for those who need the love of Jesus. You're gonna be a WORLD CHANGER, we believe it!

You, my son (so HAPPY I have a SON!!!!), are so, so loved...

xoxo
Mama

It's a BOY!!!!

Friends...
Introducing you to the new love of my life, JUDE WARREN ANDREWS!!!



Oh the joy in my heart is uncontainable and I now understand how a mother's love does not divide, but rather MULTIPLIES in an instant! More pictures to come, but for now...a couple pics of this first day with our precious son...


It was, perhaps, the sweetest moment of my life to watch Rich hold his son those first few seconds...and he's not put him down much since!

Our little man...we think he's PERFECT!

"Give thanks to the Lord for He is GOOD...His love endures forever!"

We are so thankful to God for this blessing of another child...please keep us in your prayers as we embark on this sweet journey as a family of FOUR!

NESTING

Nesting:
Feeling the need to prepare for the arrival of the baby by cleaning, organizing, etc. Often happens toward the end of pregnancy.

I guess you could possibly say I have been nesting... Within the last two months I have felt the need to clean out and reorganize every single cabinet and closet in the house (Thanks, Mom for your help!), wash every single thing in the house, ask my husband to build a cabinet (and paint it!!) to better store things in our house, clean out my car multiple times (again tonight), dig up bushes, plant other bushes, weed everything by hand :) (Wendy, I know you thought I was crazy...), clean grout, deep clean....yeah, I think I've been nesting lately. And last week when Rich got home, look what I'd decided to do that day...




Paint the kitchen. REALLY needed a change of color, don'tcha think? Suddenly. :)

The nursery is truly almost ready, minus a few things still needing to be hung. Literally, I think every single other item on my "to do lists" are all checked off...and I am STILL WAITING for this baby...

Trying to enjoy these last few days with a baby inside my body, but it is getting harder and harder since it's wanting to be out HERE, with US! :) Loving every second, still, with my firstborn little lady and soaking in our last few days, just us...

Would so appreciate your prayers for our little brood as we "anticipate" (sometimes during the wee hours of morning!) this major change that will come to us in the next week or so...so much joy, some pain (yikes!), and inumerable blessings.

The nest is ready. Come on baby!!!

By the way, to answer the question I am MOST asked these days: I have felt like I was having a boy toward the end of this pregnancy...until this week. Starting to see pink again, people! Oh how I'd love a boy for Rich...oh the thought of another little girl melting my heart again! Couldn't even make the choice if I had to- so THANKFUL God knows JUST WHAT WE NEED!!!! :)


Here's my 38 week belly silhouette...so what are YOU thinking it is? Come on people, let's get the votes in...time is TICKING here!!!!