We Survived!

We survived the first week!!!

The first couple of days Hunter spoiled us and only got up once at night and most of the time it was me waking him to eat.  But (as I have found out) this was only temporary!

The first night home was probably the hardest, not for Hunter, for me.  The plan was to have him sleep in the room next to us but that didn't last.  I think I put in a good effort, Joe might disagree, but at 1:30 AM I had had enough and the crib moved into our room.  Of course, this still wasn't good enough and by 3:30 AM he was asleep on my chest.  I always thought people were crazy when they told me that their baby slept in their rooms for the first few months but I am one of those crazies now.

A big thank you to the following for bringing us dinner the first few days we were home: The Hills, The Robinsons, The Iveys, my mom and sister.  We also have to send a big thank you to Mama Nelle who stayed with us for the first five days.  She stayed on top of the dishes, laundry, took care of the dogs and I'm sure many other things that I don't even know about. 

Our lives have definitely changed.  I will probably never sleep the same again but my heart is filled with such joy that it doesn't matter.  We have a beautiful, healthy baby boy who melts our hearts!!!

Dear Hunter Alexander

Welcome to the world, precious one! You joined our family at 2:24 pm on September 9, 2010, weighing 7 lbs 9 oz and measuring 20 1/2 inches. It is true what every mom has said that the minute I laid eyes one you I entered a love affair like no other.  You are just absolutely perfect in EVERY single way.

Your Dad and I were convinced that you were going to come early but you waited until your planned arrival.  I wonder if this is going to be a permanent part of your personality?  Are you going to be a punctual person just like your Dad?  I am so excited about the journey we are about to make with each other, learning each others ways, and loving every minute.

I love you, Hunter Alexander.

Love,
Mom


 

On the way to the hospital...

    Our last picture as a family with only four-legged, fur children! *Not pictured...Toro the cat*

This Is It....

9/7/10....never was a date on my radar of potentially important dates until NOW!

9/7/10....marks the final night in our home as a family of two.

9/7/10....is the last time that our only children will be of the four-legged, furry kind.

9/7/10....THIS IS IT!!

 Tomorrow at 9 pm we will be checking into Labor and Delivery at Plano Medical Center to begin 'helping' Hunter on his journey out into the world.  May he enter the world as a healthy and happy baby, knowing he is already loved! 

Waiting on Hunter....

Today Joe and I celebrated our 11 year wedding anniversary by going and having our pictures taken before we become an 'official' family of three.  These pictures were taken at 4 pm, the exact same time our wedding ceremony started on August 7, 1999.

It seems so Pharr away....

On June 21st we were the happy couple walking into Republic Title in McKinney to close on the Pharr House.  I would love to say we will miss that house but the truth is we were ready to move on.  Don't get me wrong, that house was good to us and we have many wonderful memories from the eight years we owned it.  BUT, we could NOT be more in love with our new home then if you told us we were getting it for free.  It is in the neighborhood I have wanted to live in since I was a child and now I have the pleasure of raising our son here.  I am constantly amazed at what a truly blessed life I lead!

Hunter's Lodge

Today my mom and her close friend, Sandy, came over to transform Hunter's nursery into a log cabin.

When Joe and I started looking around at the different options for nurseries we were surprised to find so few choices.  Of course our list of criteria didn't help simplify the process at all:
1) No Disney or cartoon characters
2) Not in the stereotypical 'boy' colors
3)Wanted to use the colors that the room was already painted in when we moved in
4) Something unique-didn't really want to result to the 'bed in a bag'

Put limited options and our list of criteria together and we were definitely up for a challenge.  As we started to think outside the box, we came up with the lodge theme.  Once we made the decision things just seemed to begin falling into place.

First, my sister told us of a little boutique in Plano that had a lodge nursery theme.  The scouting mission was made by my mom and I and we fell in love with the idea, just not the price! The boutique actually wanted over $800 for the crib bedding. 

Second, I am lucky enough to have an arsenal of Martha Stewarts in my life.

Martha Stewart Number 1: Jennifer Hill

Jennifer has the amazing gift of being able to sew and create beautiful bedding, curtains, pillows, etc.  The other important part was she was willing to make the bedding and all I had to do was get the fabric and supplies!!

Martha Stewart Number 2 and 3: Mom and Sandy

The boutique walls were painted to look like a log cabin and the creative juices of my mom were on overdrive.  She ended up taking her friend, Sandy, to the boutique and together they decided that they could paint the nursery.

Martha Stewart Number 4: My brother-in-law

This year Joe shot the biggest buck of his lifetime and we decided that we were going to have the head stuffed.  As we were thinking of where we were going to hang this deer, I got the idea of creating a faux fireplace that could proudly display the buck.  My brother-in-law is a talented wood worker that was up to the task of building it.

Martha Stewart Number 2 and 3: The Return of Mom and Sandy

To complete the fireplace, my mom and Sandy returned to paint it.  They created a beautiful river rock style fireplace with a roaring fire 'inside.'  These two women could definitely go into business together with their talents.