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Halloween

Want to get some quick Halloween photos up mostly for the Texas fam, but for all of you interested as well.

Here is Hamilton and Luke.  If you asked Hamilton what he was for Halloween he would say 'a sharptooth' (which you would have to watch The Land Before Time to understand that response), but he was a TRex.  Luke I put in a 'My first Halloween' sleeper.

And then a family shot.  We didn't get into the fun of dressing up this year (if you remember we were a Toy Story family last year).

This video is so precious to me.  I had to feed Luke so Mark and Hamilton started the TOTing and I caught up with them a little later.  This is the house I caught up with them.  You watch Hamilton leaving and saying 'Thank You' (he's the first Thank You you hear) and starting to head to the next house.  I say 'Hey Bud' then you see him get all excited and say 'Wanna see all my candy?'.  It was priceless - nothing like your children getting excited when they see you.  Happy Mark captured this brief moment - he was off to the next house in a flash.

 

 

October Fun & 1 Month Old

We took Hamilton ice-skating for the first time.  He had lots of fun.  Just Mark and Hamilton skated - I stayed with Luke and took pictures.  They skated around the rink like this for about an hour before Hamilton was cold (forgot the mittens and coat) and Mark's feet were aching.  Honestly, I forgot how cold it is inside an ice rink - next time I'll remember to bring our warm accessories :)

Mark and Hamilton cleaned out and carved our pumpkin.  Hamilton wasn't so sure about the seeds, strings, and mess involved.  Hamilton picked out a silly face to carve - I don't have the finished product in a picture...I'll post with our Halloween pictures.

I can't believe the little man is 1 month old today.  Time has flown and crawled all at once.  Crawled in that the newborn stage is much harder than we remember, but flown in that I feel like we just got home from the hospital yesterday.  He is doing well overall.  Eating every 3.5/4 hours, nursing great, and gaining weight - he's 9.5 lbs. now and starting to chubby up a bit.  He's quite alert and awake a lot - doesn't sleep nearly as much during the day that Hamilton did.  He's not as much of a fan of the swing, but does enjoy the bouncy and play-mat.  Luke is quite gassy and needs gas drops after almost every feeding.  Right now he takes his last feeding around 11:00, goes until about 3 or 4 in the morning and then eats again around 7 or 8 - not too bad for a wee 1 month old :)  He loves to be swaddled, but only in the fleece swaddle and to fall asleep he likes to be rocked with his head just slightly tilted backwards over your elbow so that it rocks pretty heavily back and forth.  In looking back at the pictures of Hamilton at 1 month I realized that I could dress Luke in the same outfit.  (I know I won't be able to do that each month since we are opposite seasons so I thought I'd put Luke in the same top for his 1 month shots on the same blue dog I took all of Hamilton's on).  So here are Luke's pictures.  I've added one of Hamilton at the bottom just for comparison sake.  I do think they look alike - at least enough to be brothers!

Just wanted to show you how red-ish his hair is - Hamilton did not have this color at all - hopefully he'll stay red :)
And here is Big Brother back on 5.11.07...

That's all for now - I'll update again after Halloween so you can see what Hamilton decided to dress up as this year and the boys together.  Thanks for all your texts, phone calls, emails, meals, prayers, and overall support of our family - we really appreciate the outpouring of love!!

Oh and just so you know I do know how to dress a baby for Fall weather - pants and socks were what he was wearing all day, just took off the pants for the pictures so he could show some leg :)

 

What We've Been Up to as a Family of 4

Once again it will be more pictures than words, but wanted to keep you updated with how we are doing. 

First, my mom left after being here 2 1/2 weeks - her help was such a blessing!  She took amazing care of Hamilton while we were in the hospital and continued to take him to school and fun outings once we got home.  She also took care of the 1:30 a.m. feeding for Luke to give us a little more sleep.  What a great Emmy we have!!  Here she is with her boys before we took her to the airport.

I found Luke sucking his fingers just like we saw in his sonogram!!  Among other things - I do know for sure that the baby that was inside is the baby we brought home HA!  (Two other big clues:  his consistent hiccups and his crazy kicking/punching movements.)

We had a big weekend - took Hamilton to the County Fair, had his TBall End-of-Season party, and his last TBall game.  Here are some pics...

He asked me if there was going to be a train ride - I had no idea there would be.  He rode this I think 3 or 4 times (in the engine each time of course).

Yes this would be him puckering up like a fish for the entire ride :)

Baby Luke slept the whole time...

We met up with a new family friend - Kelli and Josh and their daughter Addison who is in Hamilton's class at school.  This is Hamilton with Addison and her younger sister Kate.  Hamilton is quite the ladies man :)

We had our TBall End-of-Season party at The Kinsey Family Farm.  The kids got to go on a Hay Ride, eat Pizza and cake, and get their trophies.  Here is Hamilton getting his trophy from Daddy the Coach.

And here are my boys at their last TBall game for our first season (of I'm sure/hoping of many seasons) of organized sports.

And here is Mark and his boys during their first weeks of life at the baseball event going on at that time.  Mark was coaching high school baseball at the time Hamilton was born and coaching Hamilton's TBall team at the time Luke was born.  I was able to put them in the same outfit.  So amazing to me - God knew what would be going on 4.5 years later, but I had no concept of what blessings he would bestow upon us.  Love ALL my boys dearly!!

And just a quick update - we are doing really well - adjusting to less sleep during this stage.  Patience, Perspective, and Perserverance are my prayers these days.  Luke is a great baby and Hamilton is the sweetest big brother.  Mark, of course, is such a great help.  He is such a wonderful, involved, and intentional Daddy.  How amazed I am at the man I was given for my husband and teammate in parenting!  I am so thankful for such sweet friends that are bringing us dinners each week - what a help that is.  I have been able to get out of the house this week - even making it to CBS Tuesday morning and getting some errands done with Luke while Hamilton is in school. 

All in all - I'm LOVING my new normal!!

We Are Home

Leaving the Hospital

Big Brother Excited

First Bath - big brother helping of course

We are adjusting well.  Posts are going to be short, but at least trying to keep you updated.  Newborn nights are a lot tougher than I remember :)  Today I feel a lot better regarding surgery recovery.  Mom is here until Sunday.  Big brother is awesome!!  Luke is precious.  Thanks for your prayers!!

I also updated the pregnancy picture album if you are interested.