The First Week

We did a lot during Nathan's first week of life.  These are some pictures from that week.  Nathan's favorite thing to do is snuggle!

Nathan, still a little swelling and some bruising.

Daniel holding Nathan.

Daniel and Eliza are the first to volunteer to hold Nathan.  They do have to fight Dad for a chance though.

Nathan's fisrt spung bath at home.  He screamed the whole time!  He slep really well after that.

Sleeping like a baby!

A visit from Dr. Pinkerton

Dad surprised us for lunch one day.

Bradley helped entertain us for lunch.

Eliza and Daniel joined in.  They are pretty silly kids!

Daniel, Eliza and Bradley snuggling with Aunt Darcy in the big chair.  They had a lot of fun thanks to Aunt Darcy!

Resting snuggly on the couch.

Nathan's version of "floating hands."

We took Aunt Darcy to the Duke Gardens for a picnic and to feed the ducks.  It was pretty hot, so we stayed in the shade as much as possible.

Daniel feeding the ducks.

One of the many catfish the fight the ducks for the bread. 

Eliza had to climb up on this rock to get away from the ducks.  They just kept getting closer and closer.  It made her a little nervous.  She did love feeding them.

Relaxing in the shade with Aunt Darc.

Less swelling and bruising today! :0)

This little turtle had a shell about the same size as a soft ball.  He climbed up on the branch and floated around on the pond in the breeze.  It was pretty fun to watch.

Daniel and Eliza eating their lunch.

After we had lunch the kids and Aunt Darc walked around to explore the gardens a little more. I took Nathan back and fed him in the van.

Cool bridge...

getting ready to go swimming.

Eliza checking out the lily pads.  They blossoms are so pretty!

The next day we went to the Eno River for a picnic.  The kids and Aunt Darcy enjoyed cooling off in the water.  Nathan and I hung out on the bank in the shade.  Too bad they don't make comfortable rocks to sit on.

The water was lower than I have seen it before, so the water fall slide wasn't as comfortable to go down.  Darcy was brave enough to try it once.

Eliza enjoyed having Aunt Darc all to herself.

We took boats this time to send down the waterfall.  Aunt Darcy was at the bottom to catch them and throw them back up.  The boys had a blast!!

Can you see the UFO?  I caught this one on its way back to the top of the water slide.

Eliza chatting with Aunt Darcy.

As always we had a blast at the Eno River!

Thanks Aunt Darcy!!

Eliza became so big over night.  I have worried about how she would handle not being the center of attention anymore, but I shouldn't have.  She has been such a good helper and she loves her baby brother!  She loves to hold Nathan for me.

June 24-29, 2012

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.