First shots at home & meeting McKinly

Once I got home, I got to just veg out...it was so great. My Mommy also got to take a few pictures of me. I am sure I will have many, many more taken :)

Then, while Mommy was taking pictures, she caught one of me having a little "gaseous" smile...isn't that too cute?
It's so exhausting getting settled in at home, so I was fast asleep...right in Mommy's arms. I love that...well, we both do!!
Then, after a good feeding, I got to meet my only Karaffa cousin, McKinly. He & I are 6 weeks apart, and I can't wait to play with him as we get older.
What a fun first few hours at home!

Coming Home...

Look at me...all ready to go home. I got to go home with Mommy on Saturday, July 5. We were all (including Daddy, who stayed with us at the hospital!) ready to get settled at home.

All ready now...with my hat and my blanket. Don't I look thrilled? :)
One last final picture at the nurses' front desk. This is where Daddy & Mommy signed saying I was their child and we could all go home. See how excited we are?
It's great to be home!!

Fun pictures

Here is my first bath at the hospital. It felt so good to be all clean, and I loved it!

One of Daddy & Mommy's favorite pics of me at the hospital...gotta love those chubby cheeks!
When my big sister, Averie, was visiting, she thought she'd put on some rubber gloves and check out our Mommy...see if she was ready to come home from the hospital. It was really cute! Averie checked Mommy out and said that she could come home in a few days!

My Family

Here is our first family picture...Daddy, Mommy, Averie, and me!

Daddy & Mommy giving me a kiss
Mommy & me time...I am SO loved!
Daddy & me time...
Daddy, Mommy, & me...the night before we came home from the hospital!

The Big Meeting...

Well, I got to meet my big sister, Averie, today. I have heard that she has been pretty excited about meeting me, even if my name ended up not being "Bob," which she thought it would be (boy or girl) since that's what Mommy told her so no one would know my real name! And, she's been calling me all sorts of names, like McKinly (which is our new cousin's name) & Brayton (not sure where that's from), but she is getting the hang of calling me Brady.

Here she is looking at me in my bassinet at the hospital. The first thing she said was, "Happy Birthday, Brady." I loved that! Daddy & Mommy were also very happy to see Averie, and I loved meeting her.

Then, she got to hold me (with Oma's help, of course!) She did great...when I would whimper, she would compassionately say, "Aw, it's alright," like I hear she does with her baby dolls.
Averie also gave me lots of kisses...I hope this same love shows when we are both at home!! :)
She also came to visit again the next day...she was pretty excited to see me! I sure love my big sister already!

Meeting my Family...

I got to meet my grandparents, uncles, & aunts (& a few cousins) at the hospital. I also got to meet a lot of friends as well, but I'll show you the ones with my family...

Here I am with both my Grandmothers...Nana & Oma!

Poppy & me
Oma & Opa & me...Opa came all dressed up in a tie just to meet me!

Here I am with Uncle Blair & Aunt Brittany...
My Uncle Art & Aunt Kelly
My Uncle Abe
My Aunt CindiMy Uncle Todd with Cousins Carter & Kaitlyn

My Aunt Helen
My Uncle Michael & Cousin Brayden (Aunt Courtney also came to visit me, but we didn't get a picture because Mommy was really sick during the visit...sorry Aunt Courtney!)
My Uncle Thomas
Miss Lindsey (Uncle Thomas' girlfriend)

Introducing...

My big sister, Averie, said that I could share my story with you since we are going to be sharing this blog together...isn't she so sweet already to be sharing with me? :) :) So, here is my story...

Here is my Daddy all prepped and ready to meet my Mommy in the operating room. The time is 12:47 p.m. (Daddy & Mommy got to the hospital at 10:30 to get Mommy all prepped for the C-section. They wheeled her back at 12:20, and then had Daddy meet her when they were ready for the C-section to begin. Of course, before they started, the doctors, nurses, and my Daddy & Mommy were all making bets on how much I would weigh and what gender I would be. And, between the 10 or so people in the room, all but 2 said I would be a boy and they guessed my weight somewhere between 9.5-10.2 pounds...how funny is that!!)

And, 10 minutes after the first incision, at 12:57 on Wednesday, July 2, I came into this world. Daddy watched me come out and couldn't more happily say, "It's a boy" to my Mommy. They say it's a moment they will both never forget. And, here I am...Brady Joseph, right after being born.
And, just in case you couldn't believe it, here is the picture of the scale while I am on it...yep, 11 pounds, 5 ounces!! I am a healthy baby :)
Daddy helped calm me down while the doctors were tending to Mommy. Daddy had the happiest look in his eyes...even Mommy said the same thing.
Then, Daddy brought me over to see Mommy. What a very sweet moment...all 3 of us there! We were all so happy that everything went so smoothly and that I am finally here!
And, me & my Mommy. This is taken before we left the operating room, so that is why Mommy looks upside down. Look, we're already holding fingers!!
And, one last picture of me in the operating room before I go back to recovery with Daddy & Mommy and get ready to meet my family and friends.

Only One More Week...

Hi Everyone ~

Just wanted to give you the latest update on my getting to meet my sibling. I am SO excited. Daddy & Mommy went to the doctor on Friday, and they had another ultrasound of the baby. And, the baby is very big! The baby estimated at weighing 9 pounds, 3 ounces on Friday, which means that in the next week and a half, the baby potentially could gain another pound (or 2!!). So, Daddy & Mommy talked to the doctor, and they are going to have a C-section on Wednesday, July 2. So, in one week from today, I get to finally meet my baby sibling. Please be praying for them and for the doctors. Daddy & Mommy are ready, but they are also a little anxious. I am looking forward to spending time my Opa & Oma, Nana & Poppy, and maybe a few friends while Daddy & Mommy are in the hospital, but I am really excited about being able to be home and help Mommy out with the new baby.

We'll keep you posted on my becoming a big sister and meeting my baby sibling.

Until then, have a wonderful week!

Me, My Daddy, & My Mommy

Here I am... 2 1/2 years old. Just wanted you to see how much I've grown while Mommy has been growing too! :)

Happy Father's Day to "my Daddy" as I call him. He is the best Daddy in the whole world!!

I love you, my Daddy!!

And, here is Mommy...36 weeks along with my baby sibling. We're only 3 weeks away from due date (the picture was taken last week) and 2 weeks away from a C-section. The baby is measuring really big (predicted to be over 10 pounds), so the doctor may have to do a C-section to help Mommy and the baby. We'll find out about how big the baby is and if Mommy has to have a C-section on Friday when Daddy & Mommy go in for another ultrasound. But, don't worry...they won't peek and find out what we're having. They've waited too long to look now. We're all SO very excited. I can't wait to meet the baby. I am going to be a great big sister (& a little mother in case Mommy needs me! :))

Ray's with my friend, Tommy

I got to go to Ray's Splash Planet (an indoor water park) one last time before the baby is born. I went with my good friend, Tommy. We had the best time together...I love Ray's!

We played and jumped in the water together...we laughed a lot! It was so fun!
My buddy, Tommy, and his Daddy & Mommy had to move back to Michigan this past week, and I am sure going to miss him. We spent a lot of time together in the last year and a half. But, we each have a blog, so I'll be able to keep in touch with him that way...and when we visit each other. I am so glad that his Mommy and my Mommy got to be good friends...Tommy and I had so much fun playing together at Ray's, the park, the pool, each other's houses and eating many lunches at Chic-Fil-A & McDonald's!! :)