Friday, December 14, 2007
Cap and Stockings
David's Aunt Donna knit Trey a cap, and I love it so much. It is the colors I love and fits his head perfectly. But more importantly, she made it for him and that means so much to me. It is definitely one of my favorite gifts he has been given. I love homemade gifts. I am seriously thinking about learning to knit. I have a lot of friends that do it, and I think I would enjoy it.
I took a picture of Trey in a stocking I found. I felt bad for him because the inside was itchy. But he was a good little sport and cooperated long enough for me to get a couple pictures.
More Than Enough
A friend from work asked me if I wanted some baby clothes. She and her family are moving, and she needed to get rid of her boys' clothes from 0 to 12 months. When I agreed to her coming over, I had no idea how many clothes she had. She brought four 60 gallon plastic tubs full of clothes plus 2 garbage bags full as well. I was a little overwhelmed with all the clothes to say the least but was able to find some nice clothes for Trey for now and for later. This is a picture of the pile I started with.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Lessons and Carols
Trey's shoes from Aunt Faith
My sister Faith gave Trey these shoes when she came down when he was born. He wore them to church tonight.
We had the best service tonight at church - it helped me to really focus on Jesus and Him being the reason we celebrate this time of year. The service was Scripture Lessons and Carols that taught about Jesus' first coming as a baby in order to bring hope to the world - to you and me. The focus then turned to His second coming that we look forward to with much anticipation. I hope that as the Christmas season is in full swing, I will not get lost in the busyness of this time, but that I will reflect and spend time celebrating the amazing gift God gave me in sending Jesus. I am in awe this year having my own son that God was willing to send His Son to a broken world that didn't even want Him. And how often I neglect Him in the rush or the monotony of my day. I hope this year - this Christmas - is more than just another holiday. I know God is working in my heart to make it much more. We want to instill within Trey the true meaning of Christmas which will be challenging when our society screams so much that is false. But in order for us to be able to teach him truth, God must first teach it to us. I think that is exactly what is happening - teaching us things we have known since childhood but making them so much more real and penetrating much deeper.
Friday, November 30, 2007
Trey - One Month Old
His sweet profile
Trey's first month has been full of so many wonderful moments that we have shared with you since he has been born. It is hard to believe that he is already one month old. It has gone so fast in so many ways, but there have been times that the hours have creeped by. Like when he was having a hard time learning to latch on properly with breastfeeding. I was so discouraged because I help new moms breastfeed in the hospital but it was so much different to have my own baby because I was seeing things from such a different angle. I only have 2 hands when I felt like I needed at least 4. Thankfully, I have a lot of great people that I work with who took time to help me tweak things a bit. Things are going very smoothly now. He is feeding so well - no more pain for me! He is gaining well - at his pediatrician appointment on Wednesday, he weighed 9 lb. 4 oz. and was 20 1/2 inches long. That is a great gain since he was 6 lb. 14 oz. at birth. He is starting to get a double chin and chubby little thighs. I am so tired at times, but I wouldn't trade getting up with him for anything in the world.
Just yesterday for the first time, he made eye contact with me while he was nursing, and it was so amazing. I don't know how to explain it but if you have nursed your babies, you will understand. It took my breath away.
He is now sleeping in his crib in his room. I miss him being in the room with us.
He wakes up every 2 1/2 to 4 hours to feed in the night and goes back to sleep. We usually put him down in his crib awake so that he learns how to put himself to sleep.
He is staying awake for longer periods of time and loves to study our faces. He looks cross-eyed at times when he focuses really hard. He loves the sound of his daddy's voice.
When we pray with him at night and read to him, he sleeps through almost the entire time. We love him more every day.
He makes me laugh - I don't know what he is doing with his fingers here
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Jenn and Parker's Visit
David holding Parker
It was fun to have my friend Jenn here for a couple days with her baby boy Parker visiting from Kennesaw, GA. Trey and Parker are 10 weeks apart, and Jenn and I have been best friends since college when we lived in the same dorm together. We never dreamed we would have our firstborns so close together. It is so fun to see all the things that Parker can do and to look forward to all that Trey will be able to do soon. We were able to do some shopping while they were here - it was pretty eventful with 2 babies. It almost seemed surreal that we were pushing strollers - at one point both of us had to stop while shopping in Target to nurse our boys. Jenn was a great support to have around, and we loved having her and Parker here.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Thanksgiving
We have so much to be thankful for - I just don't think I take the time to truly and intentionally BE thankful. When I was in college, a friend of mine would end each day specifically thinking through 5 things she could thank God for. It's easy for me to come up with 5 things to be thankful for - I just don't practice that enough. I'm convicted about this and want to be purposeful about voicing my gratitude to my Father. My 5 that instantly come to mind are :
I made an apple pie
Sunday, November 18, 2007
His cord fell off...next he'll be going to college
Trey's umbilical cord fell off tonight - believe it or not, it was a little sad for me to see it go because that is what connected him to me and to life when he was inside me. I know, I know, crazy but it was still a little hard. He does have a cute little belly button.
In celebration of his cord falling off, we gave him his first tub bath - he liked it okay and seemed to be thinking back to the days when he spent all his time floating around in warm fluid. He didn't cry until we took him out to dry him off and lotion him.
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Thank you
Lunch together before Mom left
My mom went home on Thursday - I was so sad to see her go. I'm not sure why I felt so overwhelmed to be at home alone with Trey, but it was a hard to be here without her. David and I wandered around that night feeling like there was someone missing. I know that we are capable of taking care of Trey but it was so comforting to have Mom here. She gave Trey his sponge bath every day - his cord still has not fallen off so we haven't had any tub baths yet. I am so thankful for the 2 and 1/2 weeks she spent with us, and we look forward to being home with my family at Christmas. David has saved a lot of his paternity and vacation time so that we can be home in PA for an extra long time. Thank you, Mom, for your love and support - you were wonderful to have here and we miss you! Trey sends big kisses!
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Happy Birthday, Mom!
My brother Mark and our babies - Mark is holding Victoria (7 months)
Today is my mom's birthday, and it has been a couple years since I have been able to be with her on her birthday (the last time was back in 2005 when she, my dad, Grammy, and Aunt Sharon came to Arizona and we spent her birthday at the Grand Canyon). My brother Mark hasn't been with mom on her birthday in probably 17 years when he was in high school. We decided to go see Mark and his family in North Carolina which is about 4 hours away. We left at about 8:45 am - I fed Trey right before we left and he did so great travelling. We stopped about 3 1/2 hours later for about 20 minutes while I fed him. We had a fun time celebrating our Mom - she has been such a faithful example of God's love and mercy. She is one of the most positive and the most giving people that I know. She loves her family and her church family so much, and she serves our Father faithfully and never grudgingly. We have much to celebrate when we celebrate her life! And of course, this year it was special because she has been here with us the past week and a half helping us in this transition of having a baby.
Aaron holding Trey- he was so proud and so gentle!
David and Trey having a Sunday afternoon nap before heading back to TN
Friday, November 9, 2007
10 days old
I took some pictures of Trey I wanted to share - he is such a sweet baby. He is eating very well and wakes up to feed every 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 hours. When we went to the pediatrician on this past Monday, he had alreaady gained past his birth weight and weighed 6 lb. 15 oz (he had lost down to 6 lb. 6 oz. 2 days after birth). My mom is still with us through some time this week, and we have been so blessed to have her here with us.
Big yawn
This is what he does with his hands a lot when he is sleeping
Sunday, November 4, 2007
A tough couple days
Look at this sweet face - we love this boy
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Trey
Our first family photo with Trey
Just a few minutes old but looking great - his Apgars were 9 and 9
Thomas David Ashworth III (we are calling him Trey) arrived yesterday on October 30 at 4:26am. He was 2 weeks and 1 day early, but we are glad he is here safe and sound. He weighed 6 lb. 14 oz. and is 19 inches long. I started having some contractions Monday night - I had worked that day for 8 hours, so I was trying to relax a little after work. by 9pm the contractions got stronger - we went to the hospital at 10:30pm and I labored for a little under 6 hours before Trey was born. David was such a great support through the whole process. We just arrived home tonight and are going to get some sleep now for a little bit before it is time for him to feed again. We are so thrilled to have Trey in our lives - he is such an incredible blessing from God!
Girls I work with who were a part of our delivery - Ashley L., Ashley W., Kelly, Leigh, & Carmen