Growing Up Already!

Tyler looked like such a big boy yesterday. He was laying on the floor on his Rainforest Playmat - so content checking everything out. The cutest part was when Sidney decided to join him. It's only been a week since we brought him home and we already notice that she goes to him when he cries and sometimes just likes to lay next to him. When he's in his swing she will often go over and put her head in his lap, stopping the swing, give him a little sniff and then move on. It's so adorable! I know that she's wondering when he will be big enough to throw a tennis ball!

1 Week Old Today

It's hard to believe that Tyler is 1 week old today! Take a look at some of his latest pics. He's been doing much better with sleeping at night, which is great. For the first few nights he didn't want to be put down between 11pm and 3 am, but he has been sleeping for the last two nights. I hope this is a trend that continues! Tyler has also started eating nearly 3 ounces during each of his feedings. Once in a while he's happy with 2, but most of the time he's looking for more!

Tyler had his first visit to the pediatrician on Saturday morning. She said that he seems to be perfectly healthy! He is truly such a blessing to us!!! He will go back for his two week check up a week from today. I can't wait to see how much he weighs then (He weighed 8lbs 1.5 ounces on Saturday). We took our first outing today... all the way to the grocery store. Afterwards we stopped by Chris' office so that he could show him off a little. Tyler was great the whole time. I think he really likes his car seat and the car!

Feeding time with Daddy

He likes to put his hands on his face or on his bottle while he eats - so cute!

Here's Tyler sporting his Adoption STAR outfit

Tyler's official 1 week photo!

And the story begins...

We got the phone call from Tyler's birthmom at about 10:30 am on February 17th. She was in labor and at the hospital. We spent the afternoon at the hospital with her and her family. Things progressed pretty quickly and Tyler was born at 7:01 pm. We are so thankful to have had the opportunity to be there for his birth! Chris was able to cut the cord and I was the first to hold him! We spent the next couple of hours with him before they took him to get his first bath and his blood work. We returned the next day and spent the day with Tyler and his birth family. Today we went back one last time. We stopped at our adoption agency and signed all of our paperwork. We went straight to the hospital from there. It was just too perfect. As we entered the hospital my cell phone rang and we were told that Tyler's birthmom was done signing her paper work. It took another hour and a half to get them both discharged, but we are finally home.

It is so surreal to be home with our son! It is the most amazing feeling ever, despite being very tired from two sleepless nights (although I know that there will be many more of those in the near future). We are so blessed to have such an amazing relationship with Tyler's birth family. They have become an important part of our life and they have given us a family!

Announcing Tyler James

Tyler was born at 7:01pm on February 17th. He weighed 8 pounds 4.5 ounces and was 20 inches long. Everybody is doing very well!

Shower #2

My second shower was totally amazing! I felt so blessed to be surrounded by so many of my friends. This shower was at the school I taught at for six years prior to this year's special assignment. I have made so many great friends there! I was completely overwhelmed by the generosity of that whole building, there's no other way to explain it. Take a look at some of the pictures from this amazing day!

This picture represents all prime numbers! Very math geek cool!!!

Some of the girls from work

Yes, it's a rice/veggie steamer - I'm hoping to make some of my own baby food.

Roscoe the Round-up pup

One of my friends made this cake - it's so amazing!

Our first glimpse into the future...

Last Thursday we got our first glimpse of days to come. I was at work - about to administer the January Integrated Algebra regents exam to a group of high schoolers, when my cell phone rang. It happened literally as someone was asking me how the adoption was going. I looked down to see birthmom's name on my phone. That always makes me smile, but at this time of day, it made my stomach drop. We are close enough now that any call could be THE call. We used to wait for THE call to be matched, now we wait for THE "I'm in labor" call.

Well, it wasn't exactly labor, but it was news that the doctor was worried about amniotic fluid levels and the size of the baby, so he requested an ultrasound. If things went well, then we would have some nice reassurance and if not, then we may be looking at an induction. Wow! We eagerly took the next day off of work and headed to the appointment. It was so amazing, yet again, to see Tyler on the big screen! I won't lie, it was much more challenging to get a good glimpse of him because he's SO much bigger these days. The ultrasound technician said that he looks very healthy, weighing about 6.5 lbs! All of the concern was for nothing. Birthmom is fine and Tyler is fine - what more can we ask for?

Following the appointment we had a nice lunch with birthmom and birthgrandma. It was so great to see them and spend some quality time together. Chris didn't attend birthing classes, so it had been a while for him - he couldn't believe the belly :-) What a great Friday afternoon we had! So, we are back to waiting again - it shouldn't be long now!