Nathan's First Photo Shoot

A friend in our ward, Liz, asked if her husband, Ben, could practice taking new born pictures on Nathan.  Ben has been taking classes for photography, but had never done new born pictures by himself.  We told them we would love to let him practice on Nathan.  The pictures turned out really cute. These are some of my favorites! 

I love the little calic Nathan has.  It is really cute in this picture.

I love this one!

We wanted to do a ring picture after seeing how cute our cousin, Baby Luke's pictures turned out. 

Liz printed off a couple pictures for us to see right away from Wal-Mart.  She had to argue with the lady for like 20 minutes before she got the pictures.  They kept telling her that she needed the copywrite from the professional photographer in order to get them.  She told them the photographer was her husband and he had just taken the pictures in their kitchen two hours earlier.  They finally gave her the pictures and they are super cute. 

June 26, 2012

The Newest Family Addition

On June 22, 2012 the newest member of the Shirley family made his appearnce into the world.   We arrived at the hospital at 6:30 am to get the paperwork taken care of and get the IV started.  Dr. Peck came in around 8:30 am and they started the PIT around 9 am.  Unfortunately the Dr. didn't brake my water, so I hung out at a 4 until the Dr. came back around 2:30 on his lunch break.  Since I was still at a 4 he broke my water at 2:45 and Nathan was born an hour later at 3:43pm.  Since I was expecting it to go quickly I didn't get an epidural.  During the last 30 minutes I was seriously questioning my desission not to get one.  However, later that evening I was glad I didn't get one.  Recovery really is faster with out an epidural.

Dad and his little boy...

or...not so little of a boy!

Nathan Charles Shirley

8 lbs. 6 oz, 21 1/4 inches long

He is bigger than all his siblings!!

He does not enjoying being naked.  He likes to stay covered and snuggle!

Proud bid brothers and big sister with baby Nathan.

 

The kids fight over who gets to hold baby Nathan first.  Daniel is always willing to help and asks more often than the other two. When I asked Eliza if she liked being a big sister she told me not to call her names.  I had to smile.  After we talked about what it means to be a big sister she decided she was good with being a big sister. :0)

Nathan and Aunt Darcy

Did we mention that he has hair!

Darcy was good enough to drop all her plans and come help with the kids.

Nathan and Dr. Peck.

Nathan and I did so well they let us go home after 24 hours.  It was nice to be in my own bed and not have someone coming in every hour to hour and a half to check my vitals. :0)  Nathan did really well the first night at the hospital and had a little bit of a rough night the first night at home, but he has done really well since then.  We are so glad Nathan made it here safely!

Final Week

During the final week before our little brother was born we decided to take care of a few things we have been meaning to get a round to.  First we met our Dad for lunch.  Since he has been at the VA this month we went to the near by Duke Gardens.  He had been there once before and told us to bring extra bread to feed the ducks.  It was fun to watch the kids.  They had a blast!

There where also catfish and turtles that woukd come and fight with the ducks over the bread.  It was pretty funny to watch.

Eliza and Dad

Dad's lunch break was only an hour long so we couldn't stay as longas the kids wanted, so we decided we would have to go back some time soon.

The gardens are beautiful! 

Daniel really liked this spot.

Thanks Dad for showing us the gardens!

Later that day we met our neighbors at their new house to go swimming.  The community pool is a block away from their house.  The pool has a nice big area roped off for small people.

Daniel and Bradley really enjoyed using Eliana's goggles.

Eliza felt so big because she could reach all by herself!

The boys raced back and forth for a long time.  It was so fun!!

Eliana

Owen

We really miss having them live next door and playing in the cul-de-sac.  It is nice that they live so close still.  Thanks for taking us to the pool!

June 18, 2012

38 Weeks

We are rapidly getting to the end of this prenancy.  Sometimes I can't believe how close we are and others I didn't think it would ever end!  I let the kids try helping me get pictures to document the finaly week, but they had a hard time getting the pictures focused.  Usually it took them so long to take the picture that I had weird looks on my face.  After a few minutes of Bradley, Daniel and Eliza taking turns I finally called Andy out and asked him to help me out.

This is the best one Daniel took.  The kids were excited to be in the picture with me.

Andy distracked the kids in the house and then came to help me out.

In a lot of ways the last few weeks of this pregnancy have been easier than the last few weeks of Eliza's pregnancy.  I am very grateful for all the prayers and support we have gotten from our family and friends.  Thanks!  I couldn't have done it with out you. 

Happy Father's Day!

Unfortunately Andy was on call for Father's Day weekend, and it was a rough weekend!  He was gone a lot.  He did make it for the last two hours of church, which was good for me.  The Sunbeams miss "the boy teacher" when he isn't there.  They also do better during the lesson when Andy is there as my back up.  He had to go back in to work after church, so we didn't see him again until about 5:45pm.  He had some calls to make when he got home, but after that we did presents.

The kids were very excited to see Dad come home.  They missed him a lot!  Daniel has been asking everyday if Dad gets to stay home that day.  Bradley also mentioned that he thought Dad should take the summer off like he does. :0)  If only!

Still getting some snuggle time in.

The first present is...

 

A new shower head!  It has 8 different settings and some message.  We thought Dad would enjoy it since having a hot shower in the morning is how he wakes himself up.  Especially good on those early mornings!

Last but not least...Lawn Darts!  The kids thought this would be another fun game we could play with our Dad.  It is also one that would work well to take camping.  We are still waiting for Andy to decide what kind of new electronic he needs for this upcoming year of residency.  Once he decides that will also be for Father's Day.

We are so blessed to have such a great Dad!  He has sacrificed a LOT in order to provide for us.  He is also very sensitive to all the struggles we have in his absence and does his best to make up for it when he is home.  We couldn't ask for a more motivated, determined, loving Dad. 

We Love You Dad!!

Happy Father's Day!



Playin' in the rain

We got a little rain this last week and the kids enjoyed playing in it.  They made a dam in the gutter to stop the water.  They used rocks and leaves.  It actually worked pretty well to make a little puddle. 

Showing off their muscles!

I am not sure what they were doing in this one.  It almost looks like they are getting ready to attack!

Monday night when Andy came home late he found a little toad out by the mailbox.  He put it in a container to keep him over night and show the kids in the morning.  They loved it!  They would put their fingers on the plastic at the top of the container and then squeal when he jumped up at their fingers.  It was really cute!

After they played with the toad for a little while before breakfast we let him go on the front lawn.  The kids loved holding him and watching him hop on the front lawn.  We can't wait for him to visit again.

May 11, 2012

Stories around the camp fire.

For our ward primary activity they did "Stories around the camp fire."  They invited the families of the primary kids to come to the activity.  Each family was suppose to tell a story about one of their pioneer ancestorys.  The boys weren't excited about telling a story until Andy offered to help them make costumes. 

Bradley and Daniel in their costumes.  I think they turned out so cute!

Eliza can't be left out of a picture these days.  :0)

At the church they had each family sit on a quilt together and eat popcorn and apple slices.  It was a lot of fun.

Eliza next to the "camp fire."

They also had little tents and tee pees set up around the cultral hall.

Eliza loved them!

Bradley and Daniel telling the story of a great, great, great, great, great grandpa who helped build the Manti, UT temple.  During the winter he and his family lived in a cave in the side of the hill.  They had to be careful though, because there were rattle snakes hybernatin in the cave.  The boys loved the part about the snakes.

It was a fun activity.  There were a couple stories about snakes as the pioneers crossed the plains.  Later that day Andy and I were able to go the the temple together.  We haven't been able to do that for a while and it is our last trip before baby brother arrives.  It was really nice to be able to go again.

June 9, 2012