Snuzzling with the grandparents

Grandma and Grandpa T came for a visit on Saturday. They just can't get enough of their first granddaughter/grandchild. Kyah even smiled for them while they were here and Grandpa got it on camera. What a shining moment.



It was nice having them here for many reasons - one of them being I got a break from diaper patrol. Grandma did a number of things around the house that I haven't had time to get to like sweep and mop the floors. And Grandpa helped me assemble my trailer for the Subaru, which took most of the day.

Grandma snuzzling with Kyah.


Abby and Grandma couldn't resist putting this hat on Kyah and taking her outside to enjoy the sunshine.


Worn out from a day full of snuzzling.

Many people have asked how Abby and I are doing. Seeing as how this is our first baby and we don't have another reference point, I think things are going quite well. It was a little rough at first because of the csection; Abby was extremely limited in what she could do. I was running around providing for both of my ladies... I didn't mind it during the day, but I will say it was pretty difficult at night. Now that Abby is moving around more and can help with a few more things, it seems to be getting easier. It also helps that Kyah has been eating and sleeping like a champ. Nine times out of 10, she goes right to sleep for a three-hour nap following feedings. That makes sleeping at night pretty easy. If I had to guess, I'd say we're amassing anywhere from six to eight hours of sleep a night. Mind you, that's amassing and not consecutive. I think we've been in bed for 11 hours the last couple nights. : ) All in all, we're truly enjoying being parents. God has blessed us immensely.

We sure made some memories together

It's sad but it's true; I sold my truck. It took me a few years to warm up to the idea of selling it, but I finally got there and sealed the deal two weeks ago. I sure loved that truck.



I know, it's just a truck... It was much more than just a truck to me, though. It was my first vehicle; it was my independence. I poured a lot of sweat and blood into it.

There are a lot of lessons to be learned in high school, and I learned many of them with the truck by my side. It's hard to recall all of them, but some of the great memories that come immediately to mind (and in no particular order) include:

- Day trips to the coast with my girlfriend and future wife. I proposed to her on one of those day trips - the rest is history.

- Night trips to the the Auburn drive-in movie theater with Abby.

- Sanding it down and getting it repainted.

- Skipping school on Abby's 18th birthday and taking her for a ride to Seattle via the ferry system.

- Driving with the sunroof and sliding rear windows open.

- Driving with Abby next to me on the bench seat.

- Our claim to fame: My truck and I were extras in the movie Ten Things I Hate About You.

- Driving away from our wedding and reception in the truck!

It wasn't the newest or the nicest vehicle out there, but I sure thought it was great. Together, we made a lot of memories. I'll miss you, my truck. May you go on to make more memories for others. Thank you!

Daddy's girl

Initially, there was some debate about who Kyah looked more like, me or Abby. It was clear to us who she looked more like when we opened my baby album. There are a lot of similarities between me and her when I was her age.

(I'm on the left and Kyah is on the right.)

Granted, I am a few weeks older in my photo than she is in her's, but I think it's still pretty clear that we look a lot a like. Would you agree?

Oh, and my hair was slightly tinted red when I was born. It turned blonde pretty quickly. Hers seems to be more red though. We'll see what color it ends up as.

Milk coma

This is what it looks like to be in a "milk coma."

I have to say that Kyah is a feeding and sleeping champion.

Videos - Sleeping and awake

I thought you might enjoy a change of pace from the pictures, so I've uploaded two short videos of Kyah.

Here she's awake...


And here she's making the cutest sleeping noise ever.


Instead of going back to sleep while Abby was feeding this morning at 4 a.m., I decided I'd stay up and post these videos. Enjoy.

The feeding is all done, and I've got both Abby and Kyah put down. It's my turn to shut my eyes! Nighty-night ya'll. (It's 5 a.m.)

More photos - I couldn't resist

Here are a few more photos of Kyah; she's just so cute that I couldn't resist sharing them. Thanks for indulging me.

One side note: We want to give a HUGE thank you to everyone who has e-mailed, texted, called and/or visited us while we've been in the hospital. We really appreciate all the love and support we've received. As our neighbor Jenn said, "It takes a village." It's true.

She loves to pull one hand out of her wrap and put it either above her head or in her mouth. She's got her thumb in her mouth in this shot.




Meet the Terps.


This is our last night in the hospital and then we're headed home tomorrow morning.Yah!

And voila, a baby is born

After nine months of hard work on Abby's part, our bundle of joy arrives. Watch the magic happen in this "flip book."

7 weeks


11 weeks


15 weeks


19 weeks


23 weeks


27 weeks


31 weeks


35 weeks


38 weeks


And after 39 full weeks, a miracle is born unto us. Wow - so precious!