Week one as a family of five

Our first week at home has been absolutely wonderful! The big boys just adore their little brother!  He is endlessly entertaining to Nicholas and he loves to laugh at all his baby noises (especially the ones from down south :)  ). 

Nana didn't get a picture with Andrew at the hospital...can't believe that since she was there the entire time...we will have to make up for that!

 We got our dining set this week.  We bought it the week before Andrew came and couldn't be happier with how it looks in the room.  After seven years of marriage we FINALLY have our own table!!! yahoo!!

 we put the buffet table under the stairs for now.  I cant wait to decorate now.  Our downstairs is finally looking somewhat finished!

 

 Curtis is thrilled to have a new snuggle bunny and is content just to sit next to him and stroke his head a million times.  Both boys have really taken to having a little brother to protect and have been truly wonderful big brothers! 

Random post with pictures all in random order...can you tell I'm typing one handed while nursing a little angel?! Tomorrow we will brave mass for the first time as a family of five!  Then our seventh anniversary on Tuesday.

Name that baby...

Andrew Gabriel - June 22, 2012

Nicholas Michael - November 30, 2009

Curtis Cole - December 30, 2006

WOW!  Can you believe how similar they all look?  Especially Nicholas and Andrew?!

HE'S HERE!!

Praise God, Andrew Gabriel has arrived!!!  He was 8lbs 3oz and 20 1/2 inches long.  He is absolutely beautiful and everyone is just head over heals in love with him.  We are still in the hospital struggling with some jaundice issues so I will post more when we finally get out of here. Just wanted to post a few pictures to make sure everyone got to sneak a peak at him. 

39 weeks and 1 day...but who's counting?!

Yep...about to hit the mark of being the most pregnant I have ever been.  Nicholas came 10 days early, Curtis came 5 days early, Andrew however appears to be in NO hurry. 

We got grass in our front yard this week, it looks amazing!  If I wasn't 39 weeks and 1 day pregnant I would run downstairs and take a picture to post :) Also, our backyard demo is done and construction has begun! Our enormous deck is taking shape out there and we can't wait to be done with the mud pit that is our back yard.  Also, we FINALLY have our own dining table! We have been married 7 years and have never owned a formal table.  We were thrilled to finally find one we absolutely love at Ashley Furniture.  It will be here next Wednesday and will look beautiful on our new room sized rug and brushed bronze light fixture.  Again...not about to run downstairs for a picture :)

Okay Andrew I officially said you were taking your time and in no hurry.  Now you can come out just to prove me wrong! Next blog post will include a picture of a baby, even if that means I don't post for two more weeks...

38 Weeks

38 weeks today...no baby yet but there is certainly a lot going on around here!  We have had two crews in our front and back yards all week long...no one is done yet but man its sure shaping up out there! 

goodbye pool!

all broken up now

and in the front our trees got trimmed...you can actually SEE our house now :)

from our front door step...that's A LOT of branches cut down.  Now its time to add grass!

the pool is officially leveled! today the patio was demolished and hopefully they are going to begin working on the sod

37 Weeks

20 days from my due date with Andrew

20 days from my due date with Andrew

Three days before Nicholas was born (13 days from my due date)

Officially 37 Weeks today.  Absolutely can not believe that things are getting so close!  Curtis came 5 days early and Nicholas came 10 days early...anyone want to place any bets on when Andrew will come?  I'm going to officially guess Fathers Day the 17th.  Here are a few pictures to compare my belly to the belly with the other boys...(couldn't find one of Curtis...I have lots of actual pictures but not too many on our computer :(  ) 

Firsts

Today was a big day of firsts for Curtis today.  It was his first day of vacation bible school and his first swim meet.  VBS was really exciting for all of us.  He has never done a class or school or activity when we have dropped him off and come back to pick him up later in the day.  As many sports as he has played and classes he has taken I have either volunteered to help or stayed to watch.  I decided that being 37 weeks pregnant was a good enough excuse to sit this one out!  Mommy was a bit nervous to leave him...and of course Curtis wasn't at all!  He was super excited to see a few of his friends from swim team and baseball were there and barely turned to say bye to Mommy before rushing off with his friends.  When I picked him up he talked my ear off about everything they did and recounted every second of their day :) When I asked his teacher how he did she said "he is super smart and jumped right in to answer all of the questions we asked"....that's definitely my boy...I'm sure he had more than enough to say :)  I asked him if he remembered to raise his hand before he answered questions and he assures me that he did.  I'm not too sure about that but was glad that he had such a fun day!  He goes every morning the rest of the week and can't wait to see all of his friends and to tell his teacher all about his swim meet. 

The swim meet was super fun! Curtis had a cheering crew there as always (Nana, Pop Pop, Papa, Jacob, Nicky, and I) all armed with cameras and loud cheers.  My mom calculated that she went to swim meets for 19 years of her life...then had an 8 year break...and is now back at it again!  These meets bring back SUCH memories for Mommy!!  Curtis's freestyle relay won first place (they were the only ones swimming in their heat :)  ) they were all super excited to get blue ribbons!!! so funny!  He did really well in his individual freestyle, placed fifth, and was excited about his yellow ribbon.  Jacob and I have been proud of how hard he is working in practices and how much he has improved from the beginning of the season.  We can't wait to see how much more he will improve by the end of the season!

Curtis with his super sweet friend Megan waiting to get "tagged" with his races

Nicky of course wanted to get tagged too...

his first ribbon!

Curtis has really been working hard on his dive and really did a great job!

swinging his ribbon on his ear...silly goose

all the kids packed on the waiting benches before their races

Jacob's Home

Jacob's home!!!! Praise God!!!! May is over and the "month of Andrew" has begun.  Curtis has been looking forward to changing our calendar for quite some time.  We had a lot of blessings wrapped up in May...but our hearts were torn being away from one another all month.  Since Jacob has arrived home we have all been literally curled up in his lap just soaking him in (poor Jacob...I'm a bit large to be doing that now days! )   our plans for the rest of June involve lots of swim meets, vacation bible school, lots and lots of pool time, and preparing for little Andrew.  We will be 37 weeks on Wednesday so things are really getting close!! The hospital bags are mostly packed...we can't wait to meet our little man!! Here are a few cute pics from our Memorial weekend stay in Galveston with the Counts family...