TWO WEEKS OLD!

What!!!???? How can it be?! Two weeks old?! Ahhh! We love him so much!

My mother in law Jennie is on her way over to help me so I can finally unpack from last week so here are some of the things that have been happening around here since we've been home and maybe a few from when we were still in Georgia....

Here is our home for the first week of Evan's life. Room 411 was spacious and good to us. No one complained about the all night crying or evidence of hair being pulled out. lol. Since he was still in the hospital for his first 4 days, I was able to blog at night. Now... not so much. ;)

Once Evan came "Home" we took some family portraits on the bed.

When we returned to Tennessee, I couldn't get out of the car fast enough to enjoy our Welcome home sign! Thank you Katie and Lindsey! It was the best. I was wishing there would be an 'It's a Boy" cheezy sign in our yard by some miracle and to our surprise... there were signs inside (Marrion is THE BEST!) and out, plus some 'elves' had come to drop off some much needed gifts and supplies. That changing pad is my best friend, I'm sorry but it is. The sign in the bedroom is from the Primary Children and adults at my church. I was sooo touched by that, a true surprise and I will cherish it always. On the subject of true surprises, "Aunt" Loretta send us some 'spooky' flowers! It was so nice to come home to a clean house (again, Marrion is awesome) and fresh flowers. Thankfully our pets were still very much alive. ;)

(See the spooky spider in the arrangement?)

Wondering if our pets missed us? They were very curious about their new noise maker...

On to some of Evan's FIRST Visitors!

(Sorry Lowery's I forgot to take on of you. frown.)

Grandma Jennie, Grandpa George... Amber and Henry

Aunt Nanci, Uncle Matt, Cousins Brooke & Lauren... Our Friend Liz

Todd, Denise and Taylor

"I like my real home mom and dad."

Ok, as you can see, Grandma Jennie is here and taking care of Evan. We can all thank her for letting me get a lot done in the bedroom, including finally being able to unpack my suitcase! Also, I was able to start this post because of her. Thank you Jennie. We had a great day. We hope you like the pictures below that we took after you left...

Sweetly peaceful, had to get a shot. Then... his other personality, 10min later... ;). Look at him wiggling out of the feet and trying to pry that thing off himself. :D lol. Try as he might to discourage us, we still love him. xoxo....................

We have been enjoying her son. I haven't had time to do anything while Michael is a work so we appreciate the love and help from our friends. Liz, you have been so great and I have a feeling, you'll be over again when I have something else to put together or need some dinner. lol. Lauren, thank you for introducing me to a great delicious sandwich from Ruby Tuesday (Turkey burger, YUMMY!). Shannon, the pictures are amazing and we can't wait to get them printed! Thanks Gildays for letting Evan and I invite ourselves over for his first Monday Night Football Experience! He's hooked and will be back. GO TITANS!

Bye for now folks, we are having a wonderful journey and can't wait to see what is next.

Tennessee Baby Shower Celebration

(click invite to see it bigger)

Thank you to Lindsey for organizing this shower. I asked her if she could make it friendly for church friends and also welcoming for my client friends. I hope you will all come to celebrate our joy. This will be set up like an 'Open House' where you come and go throughout. We cannot wait to share Evan with you but hope if you have small children, you will arrange to come without them since Evan is still so young and little. I hope you understand.

I asked Lindsey if I could post the Invitation on here as I know many of our friends follow the blog and this gets the word out. Thank you Shannon Hairr Photography for making this beautiful invite! If you have any questions, like the invitation says, you can contact Lindsey Connolly. I/We cannot wait to see you. My Mom Karla will be there and my sister Ashley (#10 of my family's 11 children) from California. Also Michael's Nashville crew; Mom Jennie and step Dad George, brother's family; Matt, Nanci, Brooke and Lauren will hopefully be there. Michael's Aunts and Uncles from his Dad "Robert"s (Evan's middle name sake) side will also be invited. It will be a ton a fun with just those people aside! Don't miss it. smile.

p.s. i hope this wasn't tacky to invite you all but i really want you to come and see Evan finally. ;) this is the best way to let you all know... you never know what fun will be had around the corner.

P.P.S. It's co-ed so no excuses guys...

Have we really been home a whole day now!? I am sorry, where has the time gone? ;) lol. I know.. welcome to parenthood. smile. I promise that we have much to post about but seeing as this is the first time on the Internet in 2 days, it may be a minute. I actually hope to post tomorrow, especially, hope to post about the "Celebration" that will be at my church on Nov 7th. I can't wait to see everyone! Before then, I'm looking forward to our first Shower on Friday with my good ol' friends at Tangerine. I cannot wait to see them and hug them and brag to them. Get ready! I have tons of wonderful pictures to share too. And Lori, to answer your question, I do it late at night with Evan is asleep or in 'the pouch' before I have to go to sleep. I admit, I sacrificed for all my family and friends, who also couldn't wait to see him. Thank you for being so excited, it makes us feel soooo loved. Speaking of that, wait till I post the House Warming we got from multiple friends. Simple and sweet, it meant a lot to us. Lastly before tomorrows efforts. I'd like to publicly thank (every one but particularly:) Marrion for watching our house and pets so lovingly while we were gone. They are still alive and the house still stands! And again, Tara, we cannot repay you for your generosity of giving us a way to stay for free the time we spent in Georgia to 'live' with Evan. We could not afford to do that and will not forget your love.
I'm itching to post! I won't sleep thinking of what to say to everyone and choose which pictures to put up.

Locked and Loaded!

Our People! We are finally leaving Georgia! Agghhh... Don't get us wrong, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay in GA, everyone was so nice and very happy for us wherever we went. Whether it was at the hospital, walking around 'Cobb Mall' or at the hotel's breakfast bar, everyone gave us well wishes and beamed at our newborn (much as I imagine all of you will do when you read this & see Evan yourself the first time. smile). So as we slept in, thanks to powdered formula (who knew?) as opposed to the liquid we've been using but ran out, Hannah left a 'gift' on our voicemail that we are good to go home! We packed our stuff took some pictures, prepared the baby and off we have went! Let's talk about what we will miss...
Having someone else pay the rent for a week! lol. Thank you again a million times Tara!
What we will miss is Courtney. We didn't visit but once after Evan was born because we we so busy getting adjusted but we love her so much.
Courtney, if you are reading this, you know you have changed our lives. We know that you are as excited for us as we are that you have given us such a gift. You have also given Evan the life you want him to have and with that, you have made you're first responsible decision on behalf of your child. We hope you will always feel proud of your choice. Your unselfish sacrifice effects everyone we know because a stranger has not passed our way without knowing how badly we wanted a family. Not a stranger has passed that hasn't prayed for us to get a baby and that also prayed for our potential birth mother to choose us. You chose us. In my prayers at night when I would plead to my Heavenly Father for our dream of having children to come true. I prayed that our birth mother would 'recognize' us when she saw us (be familiar to her) and we would also 'know' her when we saw her (we didn't want to
miss a thing) and since we first talked on the phone it is as if we Have recognized each other and always known each other. You said it best when we met in person the first time. You said it felt like a reunion and I told you that I believe we knew each other before we came to earth & somehow hatched this plan to help each other. We're so grateful our plan came together... We love you and look forward to seeing you again.
With that I will leave this posting to stare at my beautiful sleeping son and reminisce with Michael on what has just happened to us and what is next to come...

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As requested, more pictures. Obviously it is busy with a newborn and we have been up all night and sleeping in late. Frankly we'd rather spend time with him than talk to you, no offense. ;)

Today we met with Courtney and gave her our gift. She loves it. We had a great time visiting and she enjoyed watching Evan move and open his eyes and make baby noises and even cry. (but is very glad WE are up with him all night) he he he.

We hope to be home soon and to get adjusted in our own house. Hope all is well with you and your love ones. Please enjoy the show below...

Visiting with Courtney today. She loved holding my hand with her finger and seeing how much I look like her and the people she knows.

The Best.

"everybody was kung fu fighting"

Glamour Shots.




Displaying my superior swaddling skills. And a sweet moment with Daddy / staring contest. (Michael won)

My favorite gift to myself... a sling for Evan. And sleepy time in the car.

Don't really like the first one of this series but wanted you to see what a "little man" he is next to me. Crazy. Video is especially for "Mee-ma" Jennie. ;) Not just displaying the "born in 2008" onesie but also how huge these preemie clothes are on our son. (I can fit three fingers into his waistband) And another "couldn't resist".

I love you but why is your finger in my mouth? Eat your heart out Amber...I know you are jealous of me kissing those lips! LOL.

Serious contemplation. Evan the Jawa (that's for you Uncle Jesse - smile)

Pure Love. pure love.

Giving a "thumbs-up" for the Halloween knit cap gift from the nursery at Kennestone Hospital and foot close up that NO one can resist.

Home Alone?

Whispering me sweet nothings.....and ...displaying "I still live with my parents" onesie on my FAVORITE blanket.