You made my day, Dave!

I'm getting you back, Dave. Here's a story that will embarrass Dave but since I needed to get him back, I'll gladly tell it.

Tuesday nights are Dave's late study nights at school. When we were going to bed that night he asked what time I had to be up in the morning. He was shocked at how early it was, and he asked why. I told him that I didn't get the clean dishes unloaded until 8:00 that night and the breakfast, lunch and dinner dishes put away even later. I had a busy next day and wanted to get a few things done before everyone woke up (like unloading the dishwasher). So the next morning when I went to unload the dishes bright and early, I found them all unloaded for me. I instantly started to cry! Dave was up long before the sun and found time to unload the dishes for me.

It might have seemed little to you, but it made my whole day!Thanks Dave! I love you!

Nate pictures

Nate's so happy because he's wrapped up in his big sister's blanket. This blanket was a gift for Brie from an old student who didn't know we were having a girl...so they stayed safe with green. I'm so glad I saved it because now Nate can use it.

It's too bright in here!

At his 2 week appointment Nate had gained a pound since he left the hospital. He's now 7 lbs. 12 oz. and 21 inches long. We're still waiting for that cord to fall off.

Nate was so content in this position snuggling with Daddy.

Nate is sunning in the window to help with the jaundice. He's doing much better with that.

We try to tell him not to poke his eyeballs, but he doesn't seem to listen to us.

Kisses from Mama!

The papers in the background are Dave's notes while he's reading his perio literature. Nate's helping him study. Either that or Dave is already brainwashing him to want to be a periodontist someday...

Thanks, girls!

I guess the girls could sense myself getting a little too proud of my photogenic self (SARCASM...see post below) so they decided to slam me with a few comments to bring me back down.

A few days after Nate was born:
Ashlyn: Mom, that's silly...your baby is out of your tummy and your tummy it still big.
A few days after that:
Sadie (praying at the table): Please bless Mommy's tummy to shrink.
Today:
Sadie (while driving in the car): Nate is starting to get a little fat on his body. I have a little bit of fat on my body.
Sadie (when we got home and were playing on the floor...maybe my sitting position didn't help): Mom, you have a LOT of fat right around this area (pointing to my tummy).

More pictures....

Sorry I've been slacking and not getting a lot of pictures of Meliss and Nate together. It seems like most of their time together is nursing...not really "family viewable" pictures.

More pictures

Here are some more pictures of Nate for those of you that live far away and are asking for more pictures! In the picture where Dave looks like a "beat up druggie" (as he says) Nate is actually trying to get milk out of his cheek!

Smiles

Please excuse the blurry picture, but you can still see Nate's cute smiles. We were trying to catch his smiles but never had time to focus the camera. Finally we got smart and held the half-way down button to focus it and sat there waiting for a smile. Nothing could have entertained us more than watching all of his smiles. By the way, we know that he wasn't smiling at us. Believe it or not, he was actually asleep in the first and last picture. He was so tired and was totally out of it when he started his smiling show. His eyes were in a daze but kept opening and closing. We're glad he's so happy when he's sleeping.

A lot a bit of Heaven

Sorry I haven't had a chance to respond to many of your emails or phone calls! Thank you for them! I feel like I'm in my own little bubble of trying to soak up every second of every little thing Nate does. I already think he's growing up too fast and I don't want to miss a wink of it. Last night I finished feeding him around midnight. Mom and Dave were already asleep and I figured I would put him down and go to bed myself. Nate had his longest stretch of awake time - almost an hour and a half. I loved being awake with him awake all by myself. We stayed up late together and had the best time. We sang songs and snuggled and cried (I did) and just stared at each other for a long time. And even though I caught my head bobbing several times from falling asleep while staring at him, I kept trying to stay awake to enjoy his sweet awake time. I am in my own little heaven with him. Thank you for all of your prayers for his safe arrival. We are so grateful to have him here and home with us.

Finally home and first day of school!

It was a busy day today and the best part was that it ended with Nate coming home. He ended up spending a couple of days in the NICU for a blockage in his lower intestines. The poor guy's belly got really distended and was pretty uncomfortable. It was amazing seeing all his neighbors in the NICU, many of which were born in the 24 week time frame. The nurses there called him a "whopper".

Ashlyn had her first day of school today and it was quite an event. Her parents, sister and even grandparents walked her to her classroom to see her off. She had no problem going but the rest of us looked like a bunch of teary saps.

It is so good to have Nate home where he belongs. It's almost unreal.

Nate David Walton

He's here!!!! Nate was born on August 10th at 10:36 am. Hearing his first cry was about the sweetest sound I have ever heard. We were a bit nervous about his lungs before the c-section. He'd been on steroids for the last couple of days. Breathing isn't a problem at all. He was 7 lbs 2 oz and 20 inches long. Meliss is doing great. She's already up and walking around the hospital room. We think Nate looks like a combo of a little Ash and Sadie and some of his own look. It is a miracle to have him here.

Friday, August 10th it is!

We just found out today that our c-section will be August 10th at 10:00 a.m. It was scheduled for Wednesday (today) but the lungs weren't quite mature enough. So today and tomorrow they are giving me the steroid shots and he should be ready for the c-section on Friday. One of the best parts of the c-section being post-poned is that I get to take Ashlyn to her school open house tomorrow to meet her teacher and see the classroom. I was really sad thinking that I would miss that. Dave will post pictures as soon as he gets a chance on Friday! We can't wait!

Lemonade and treats for sale!

Here are the lemonade sellers. They worked hard squeezing the lemons and testing the lemonade til it was just right. They made rice krispy treats and toffee bars to sell too. They got so excited any time a customer came. And if a car drove by without stopping Sadie would be distraught! Sadie was the "waver girl" as Ash called her. Any time they saw a car coming, Ash would say "Sadie, hurry, run, wave!!!!!!!!" And Sadie would jump up and down waving her arms in hopes for a customer. Before long they were both doing it each time a car came by. Dave was nice to pull our beach umbrella down from the attic for us. It was a hot day and the shade helped a lot.

Buy Math

I asked Ash what she wanted to do during her last week without school and with me at home. She said she wanted to do a day of homeschool. Funny girl. So today we did school - and this is one of their favorite things to do at school. They called it "Buy Math" and we all take turns being the cashier with a variety of food to choose from. The buyer selects how much they want of each item, and the cashier chooses the price. Then the buyer runs to our supply of coins and finds the right amount. I think those were the best green grapes I've had all summer. They tasted so good.