Happy Halloween from our sweet lil pumpkin!

BitterSweet

Okay, so this video is a major tearjerker and absolute hysteria for this hormonal post-pregnant woman... So I apologize in advance if you shed a few tears. This is a beautiful story of appreciating everyday as if it's the only day and a great reminder for me to be thankful for my healthy little boy! I don't know this couple but am amazed at their faith and perspective in the midst of this heartbreaking trial they have endured!

Tucker Weekly

Happy 3 weeks Tucker! Again, it is hard to believe that another week has passed! But there is a great feeling of knowing that we've gotten through some of the hardest (and most sleepless) nights and that we're starting to feel like having Tucker around is our "new normal". We love him! It is so fun to watch him grow... here are some highlights from this past week:

--HE WOKE UP! All of a sudden this past weekend, he just didn't seem so sleepy anymore. He discovered a "whole different level" with his scream and stayed awake a lot more during the day...and some at night too :)
--He had his first bottle with Daddy...Daddy and Tucker loved that!
--He had his first infection--an eye infection, AKA lots of "gooky eye", so we have to treat that with an ointment for the next several days
--He met his new little buddy, Bosten...they had a "Lay Date"...they layed beside each other in our arms :)
--a few more outings...lots more walks...
--And he is definitely growing--see his cheeks for proof!


Bundled up for a walk!

Just the three of us...

Well, we survived our first weekend on our own! We have had the first few days by ourselves in our house with Tucker and it hasn't all been pretty but we;re making it! We're enjoying the nice weather around here to be outside some with Tucker, we're catching naps when we can, and we're enjoying watching Tucker grow and change each day!

FAT and HAPPY!

That's our big man... We had Tucker's 2 week appt today and are amazed at how much he has grown! When he was born, he weighed 7 lbs, 8 oz and when we went to the doctor 5 days later, he weighed 7 lbs, 3 oz. Today was 10 days later and they hope babies are at least back up to their birthweight... Tucker not only did that but way exceeded it by weighing in at a BIG 8 lbs, 11 oz! The nurse assured us that he wouldn't be in the newborn diapers much longer! That puts him in the 75 percentile for weight and he's in the 50 percentile for height. The doctor is very pleased with how well he's eating, of course and says that everything else looks perfect as well! We are so thankful for a healthy baby and for the big cheeks he has to show for it!

"Tucker Weekly"

Happy 2 weeks old to Tucker! I thought I'd try to give a little detailed update each week, hence the "Tucker Weekly". It is so hard to believe that he's been with us for 2 weeks already! It seems like he just got here but it seems like forever all at the same time! This week we had Brad's parents here enjoying Tucker and helping us out in all kinds of ways around the house. We are so thankful! We're entering "the real world" of the three of us when they head home tomorrow... It should be interesting but we are looking forward to figuring out what our "new normal" looks like and experiencing life as our new family of 3!
Tucker is doing really well for the most part...he's still eating GREAT can't you tell in the cheeks? :) He's sleeping pretty well which has to be connected with the full belly. He sleeps most of the time during the day and does pretty well during the night, or at least part of the night :) He's not screaming, or should I say, squealing, as much when we change his clothes or his diapers so I guess his body temperature is adjusting more and more. He still grins all the time when he's sleeping so he's really fun to just hold and stare at. We've had a few outings this week to Birkdale and Target--I mean, where else does he need to go? He sleeps in the car and the whole time we're out--good sign that he loves to shop :) He has a doctors appt tomorrow so I'll be sure to update you then on all his stats...we're guessing his weight is up quite a bit!
Here's some pictures from this week!

Thanks for the pumpkin shirt Aunt Diane!

Grandpa and Grandma


On another exciting note, our friends Ryan and Sharon Clark had their baby boy this morning--exactly 2 weeks and about 10 minutes after Tucker was born! Bosten Manning Clark was a little 6 lbs, 14 oz and 20 in...and he is precious! It has been so much fun for Sharon and I to be pregnant together and even more fun once we knew we were both having little boys that would grow up together being the best of buddies! We can't wait for the first Tucker-Bosten playdate! Here's a fresh picture of him!


P.S. I know a lot of you have been curious about how Grey has been handling Tucker around the house... Brad put up a post a few days ago but it ended up going about 4 posts down on the blog, so scroll down and make sure to check that out!

Tucker meets Grandma and Grandpa...

We are so thankful to have Grandma and Grandpa (Brad's parents) here this week to love on Tucker and to be a big help to the tired parents! We are so blessed to not be "on our own" for these few first weeks!

he's famous...

Okay, so I know that two photo shoots in the first week of life might seem a little ridiculous, but not when you have an amazing photographer for a best friend, okay? Sharon came over on Monday morning...when Tucker was just 5 days old, to take some more beautiful pictures of him! This series of 4 were my favorite, but go to her blog and see a few more!

pictures of the day...

this pig bath towel is very appropriate since we have nicknamed Tucker "piggie" for his high pitched squeals :)

are his hands not the sweetest?

Gigi (my mom) had to buy Tucker one "big boy" outfit...he looked so big!

Man's Best Friend

Timmy and Lassie

Elroy and Astro

These are just a couple well known duos that come to mind when thinking of little boys and their dogs. This week was the start of what will hopefully be another historical partnership.

Grey came home from the kennel on Monday to find someone smaller and getting more attention than her. After a highly anticipated introduction, and much to our delight, she has adapted very well to Tucker. We feel as though she sees Tucker as someone else that she can try to stay as close as possible to no matter where he is...swing, bouncy seat, or with one of us on the couch. So, for now we are enjoying the calm curiosity that she is displaying while checking out her new best friend

1 week!

This is so hard to believe! 9 months is such a long time to anticipate having a baby...all the preparing, reading, buying all the gear, having conversations about what it will be like to have a baby in our house, wondering if it would be a boy or a girl... After all that time, it feels so surreal to actually be in this place that we anticipated for so long! I wondered so much about what labor would be like and now it's already a week behind me! And even now, it's amazing to think we've already had 7 sweet days as mommy and daddy to Tucker!
Well, we have survived week 1. And for any of you who are parents, you know what I mean when I say survive :) Sleep has been little, poopy diapers have been in abundance, and there has been little time to do anything "for ourselves". But, don't think we've ever experienced more joy, more contentment, and more gratefulness as we have gotten to know little Tucker this week! I am so taken by him and overwhelmed that I have the priviledge of being his mom. It has definitely been so much more than I could have ever asked or imagined for!
So many of you have checked in and asked about the details...so hope this will satisfy your wonderings... When Tucker left the hospital, he weighed 7 lbs (birthweight 7 lbs, 8 oz). We had a weightcheck appt for him on Monday and he was already back up to 7 lbs, 3 oz, which is great! He is eating like a CHAMP and mama is "producing" like a champ, so we are so thankful for that! He's a little jaundice, but it seems to be getting better each day. He's a great sleeper, aside from the occasional hours at night that he's wide eyed and refusing to go back to sleep. He is most content wrapped up in a blanket and in someone's arms. He has a pretty strong head and bobbles it around pretty frequently. His cry is more like a pig's squeal and even gives an occasional snort :) He HATES to be changed and screams at the top of his lungs every time you do it--no fun! We don't think he looks exactly like anyone, but we have decided he looks like Brad around the mouth and seems to favor me with his "small" facial features. My favorite feature are his lips...they are so cute and kissable! We have had such a fun week getting to have my family here--my parents, who will now be Pops and Gigi, Beth and Anthony and his girlfriend, Lindsey. We will be sad to see my parents leave tomorrow but are so excited for Brad's parents to get here on Thursday to meet their grandson for the first time! They will be here for a week or so and we are so thankful for more help!
Thanks again for all the calls, emails, comments on the blog and just for faithfully checking in on us during this exciting time...we feel so loved and it means so much to us how loved Tucker already is by our friends and family! He is so precious...can't wait for you all to meet him!

We're back in business...

That's right...it's back... I'm drinking COFFEE! Most of you who know me know that coffee is a LOVE of mine. I love to drink it, I love to smell it, I love to hang out with friends while having it, I love to start my mornings with it and end my dessert with it...I LOVE IT! So, when I got pregnant and developed a total aversion to it, it was quite the shocker...I haven't had coffee since March and haven't enjoyed the smell or even missed anything about it! I've been wondering if this would return when the pregnancy ended and there was no better way to test this than by having my favorite "seasonal" drink from starbucks... The Pumpkin Spice Latte!!! So, a few days ago, I had my first sips of this yummy fall drink and it was so tasty! I can't explain this whole aversion thing but I am very excited about bringing coffee back into the routine and let's be honest, a cup will probably be needed most mornings right now after the sleepless nights!

On another note, we couldn't go without posting what we were doing one year ago today... It was October 13, last year, that Brad and I boarded a plane to go on our trip to Italy, Paris, and London! We have so many amazing memories when we think back to our 15 day journey through these amazing cities and small villages where we spent some of the best days of our life together. We were not pregnant on the trip, but we knew traveling to Europe was something we really wanted to do before we started our family... We certainly didn't know we'd be pregnant just a few short months later or that we would be snuggling our little 6-day-old baby one year later! Great trip, great memories!

Game Day!

Well, it only took a few days for Tucker to experience his first "game day"! Around our house, that means having a lazy Saturday,watching LOTS of college football, and cheering on our favorite teams...ECU and Tennessee! He's already gotten a little bit of "gear" in his wardrobe, so we got his dressed and ready to cheer his teams on!

This is Tucker crying over the not so great ECU game!


PROUD DADDY!

I love my aunt and uncle!

It has been so much fun getting to introduce Tucker to "Aunt Beth" and "Uncle Anthony" this weekend! Since he's the only baby around, there is quite the excitement over the little guy and I couldn't feel more blessed knowing how much he is loved already!

Tucker's first visitors...

Thanks to everyone for all the excitement for us over little Tucker Bradley! We have had such a fun few days and we have LOVED having some of our friends and family be with us here at the hospital! We will be going later today and look forward to many more of you meeting the little man! He is a cutie, if I must say myself :)

His first few minutes...

New mom here! We have had so much fun these last 36 hours with our new little boy! After a lot of hours, pain, and tears, we finally got to meet Tucker. Our great friend Sharon surprised us, showing up at the hospital just minutes before Tucker entered the world... She was able to capture Tucker's first minutes with Brad and I...meeting grandparents for the first time... these are moments that we will NEVER forget and what a sweet surprise to have them in pictures! Enjoy this slideshow and you can also see the still images on Sharon's blog-- http://smittenphotography.typepad.com/
Thanks Sharon... can't wait for our little boys to be the bestest of friends!