My Precious Baby

These are photos from Dominic's newborn photo shoot. Misty Kastl, with Loves and Hugs Photography, came to our house and captured these moments. Dominic was 5 days old.

Enjoying the fall weather

We have been blessed with such a beautiful fall so far. I am especially grateful for the nice weather now that I have a newborn. It's so nice not worrying about bundling up, being cooped up indoors or stomach flus...yet. I know it's just around the corner, but for the present moment, I will enjoy the weather and be grateful.

I had some help from Andrew as I cleaned up my garden. He was in heaven!

Sommer and Tad gave Dominic this bear suit. Isn't it adorable! He is going to outgrow it way too soon so I have been putting him in it every chance I get!

My Little Pumpkins

The weekend that Grandma and Grandpa Huppert came to visit, we took our first family trip to the pumpkin patch. Andrew wasn't that crazy about the pumpkins, but he did find a Tonka truck that we couldn't pull him away from. Go figure!

While Grandma held Dominic and cleaned my bathrooms (thanks mom!), Grandpa played with Andrew...he read him stories and even put him to bed!

Grandpa says he doesn't hold babies until they're out of diapers, but he really is a big softy. Here's proof...

Dominic at 2 1/2 weeks. He's growing and changing so much already!

And here's my mess maker. I turned my back for 10 seconds and this is what he does with his yogurt!

Busted!

Homecoming

The day we came home from the hospital, my loving sister Kristi was there to meet us. In the midst of taking care of Andrew, cooking meals, cleaning my house, AND taking care of her youngest two, George and Evie, she was able to capture these precious moments on her camera.

I have been dreaming about these cinnamon rolls since the day she brought them. They are the most sticky...gooey...melt-in-your-mouth...closest thing to heaven that I may have ever eaten. I think every trip back to Lincoln is going to require a stop into Great Grains from now on.

See what I mean! I wasn't lying.

Kristi made some of the most delicious meals for us including bacon wrapped meatloaf and mashed potatoes...

Sour cream banana pancakes for breakfast...

This is me eating a scrumptious breakfast that I did not have to make OR clean up after, sipping coffee with just the right amount of caramel creamer, flipping through my Better Homes and Garden magazine. What a way to start the day!

Caramel apple pie a la mode for dessert...

The last night she was here she made a romantic meal for Jarod and me featuring salmon, sweet potatoes and green beans complete with cloth napkins and wine! While we ate, she stayed with the kids downstairs so we could enjoy some quiet time to ourselves.

Thank you Kristi for these two days of being completly pampered.

But my pampering didn't end there! The next week my mother-in-law came to spend 3 days with us. Now, I have known for a long time that Kathy is a very hard worker. She works long hours as a nurse caring for the elderly. Plus she raised 5 boys on the farm, a task that couldn't have been easy. But I don't think I've ever seen her work harder than the 3 days she was with us. She did everthing for Andrew, bathed him, fed him, put him to bed...and when he slept, she scrubbed my toilets, washed my windows, vacuumed places that haven't been vacuumed in years. And of course she took some time to hold her newest Grandson (number 3 and counting!).

Thank you Grandma Kathy!