What Have We Been Up To?

It's hard to believe that tomorrow our baby boy will be 4 weeks old!
It's also hard to believe that it's been that long since I updated this thing! Sorry to everyone for holding out on you. While two kids isn't complete chaos, it is a lot more time consuming than having just one.
So, here are some pictures starting at the hospital and ending with a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend. Enjoy!

Exactly 41 weeks pregnant and ready to head to the hospital!

When we got to the hospital, I was shaking I was so nervous. I had gone into labor with Gracie on my own, so I had no idea what to expect with an induction. Um, can you say fabulous? Induction is totally the way to go! I think I was in pain for a total of 10 minutes the entire day. The worst part was getting the IV!

Our last pregnant picture taken just before I got ready to push.
They prepped me to push, and 10 minutes later, Jack came into the world!

All of that was inside of me!!
10 lbs 5 oz. 21 3/4 in. long
Here is our newborn baby boy being checked out by the nurse. I still can't believe how big he was!!

Check out the note taped next to his crib card:

His face was so purple and bruised that it looked like he wasn't getting enough oxygen. They had to put that note there so nobody would panic and think something was wrong with him.

Even with all the bruising, he was absolutely precious!

Check out the prize-fighter!

Don't swaddled babies look a little like Glo-worms?

We brought Baby Boy home on Wednesday, November 11, and this wonderfulness greeted us when we got there:

The bow from our door at the hospital made it all the way to our front door at home :o)

Gracie meets Jack for the first time.
The look on her face when we pulled the blanket off the carseat was absolutely priceless! She had the biggest grin on her face and she yelled "Ooh! Baby!" Her next move was to try and give him his paci (even though he was completely fine without it).

A very nervous Daddy helps Big Sister hold Baby Brother.
He was so afraid she would squeeze him to death...

and the next morning she almost proved him right!

That weekend we decided Big Sister needed a special treat, so we set up her bouncy house. She wasn't so much interested in bouncing as she was running around the yard getting into everything!

"Blowing" on a dandelion...

Big Sister loving on Baby Brother

The week of Thanksgiving, we made the trek to Columbia to visit my side of the family. On Wednesday, Chad spent the day meeting our new tenants to sign a lease (YAY!) and visiting old friends at Carolina's practice, and I got to spend the day introducing Jack to family and friends.

Meeting Jamie

Best friends and a sweet baby!

Meeting Uncle Nate

Meeting Uncle JJ

Wednesday night, Amy stopped by with her baby boy, Watson, to meet Jack.
Amy's little girl, Emory, is 4 months older than Gracie, and when she told me she was pregnant again last January, we joked about how I must not be far behind. Talk about eating your words...Watson's gender was also a suprise when he was born in September, so we were SO excited when we both had boys! How fun it will be to watch our baby girls and baby boys grow up together :o)

Best buddies already!

Sweet Watson was not happy that his Mommy was holding another baby boy!

Thanksgiving Thursday started off with the annual viewing of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and breakfast fixed by Mom and Gracie. We had such a great day relaxing with family, eating yummy food, and watching LOTS of football on TV!

Watching the parade with Mommy

Napping with Daddy during one of many football games on TV.

On Friday morning, some sweet friends took me out for a post-baby brunch at Vera's Veranda in Lexington. We had such a nice time catching up, and they "showered" us with lovely gifts for Baby Boy.

Meeting Evan for the first time. Thank you Ev for arranging such a special brunch!

Friday was also Chad's birthday, so we packed up the whole family and met friends at D's Wings to celebrate over dinner.

"Daddy's Little Wingman"
Do you think he looks a little bit like his Daddy?

Saturday we watched the Gamecocks beat up on the Tigers and just hung out around the house.

Our future cheerleader and linebacker with Daddy.

On Sunday we went to church, ate lunch, and headed back home.
Gracie tends to not mess with Jack until he's in his carseat...

Fish face!

We had a wonderful first 3 weeks with our sweet Baby Boy. Thanksgiving takes on a whole new meaning when you have so many new things to be truly thankful for.
We hope that everyone else is as blessed as we are during this holiday season.