Sweet Feet! Sweet Baby!

Fresh bathed baby...he is always sooo relaxed! He slept for 5 hours afterward! If we could just get that turned around to night time. I really believe he gets prettier every day!

He really likes his big bed in the nursery and napping on his belly! That's when he'll sleep the longest.

What bright eyes...he seems to be looking at the world around him. His eyes are deep...

Just 2 more days...I really don't know if I can stand to leave little munchkin man behind...

More Visitors!

Baby Michael had a few more visitors yesterday...

Uncle Ricky came from Corpus and had dinner with us and checked out his new nephew.

Nanny and PaPaw came too and spent the night.

They all thought he was pretty sweet!

Stolen Pics & Stolen Moments...

mamo's first time to really snuggle with her little munchkin...
very emotional...

time with mamo and pa...so relieved your here safe with us...


So handsome...

A Wonderful Weekend!

It was a wonderful weekend. Baby Michael's uncles Landon, Mattie, and aunt Mush came to see him. They swooned and smooched all over him. They were quite smitten as well. Pa came in for just a little while as well, and tia Toni and uncle Bubba and PePaw came to see him. Wow, he had alot of good surprises! The last of the bunch just hit the road and it's back to daddy, mommy, and mamo!

Baby Michael is getting the swing of things a little better, although he has had some colic. Mamo walked and prayed over him this morning. He calmed and slept for quite awhile.

I have to say, one of the hardest emotions I find myself dealing with right now is watching my baby girl feel helpless and sad when she can't help her precious baby not hurt. Although I find myself telling her it's okay and almost all babies have tummy aches and cry like this, I go spiraling back almost 30 years to those hard days of colic babies and how helpless and overwhelmed I felt when I could do nothing to help Landon feel better. I still remember so well how inadequate I felt as a young mother and those feelings are fresh when your child is feeling the same way. I do know how she feels but that doesn't help her right now. This I do know sweet Jo, you are the best mommy for little michael, he loves you so much, and as I watch, he quiets when you take him and whisper in his ear...michael...it's alright...mommy's here...it's okay. Precious moments. Your tears are the love of a mommy.

I got a few shots of Mattie & Mush with baby Michael before they left. And here he is with his great Pepaw! Landon just wasn't here long enough for me to chase him down with my trusty camera. I'll get him soon.

A new week is beginning...the second week of baby Michael's life.

We're settling in...

Michael David Looking so Sweet...

As I post this he is creeping up on 2 days old! He is doing very well, and looking more handsome every day. Still dealing with a bit of respiratory problems, but it's getting better. He has to breath harder than normal and it exhausts him, so he sleeps alot and it doesn't leave him with enough energy to suck much, so he's not real interested in nursing, or the bottle either for that matter. But every feeding time he makes progress.

He is such a sweet cuddler...

Here are a few new pics for today, and as you can see, he is settling in very nicely to bloggerville!

A Few Sweet Moments...

He's Here!

It was a long, quiet, day...

Until the big moment arrived, and then drama began. baby boy tried real hard, mama tried real hard, but it was just too much on baby boy and with mamo standing off to the side, praying with all her might, through massive tears, the decision was abruptly made to whisk my baby girl off to the OR for an emergency c-section so that baby boy would arrive safely into our lives.

As we waited so impatiently, through a flood of tears and emotions, outside the OR doors, jo's nurse, chellee, pushed quickly through the doors, and through tears, told us he had arrived, screaming and crying, safe. mama and baby boy were doing fine. he was a VERY big boy. she was surprised and so were we. dr had estimated 7 1/2 to 8 lb baby. baby boy surprised us all at 9 lb. 1 oz., and 21 1/2 inches long.

I finally got to hold them both and I was much better. I was sad to not be there physically when he was born, although my heart never left her side. It was a time I had looked so forward to experiencing with my baby girl. I was sorry she had to go through all she did and didn't get to experience natural childbirth. I wanted to take her place. But God had it under control. I'm so thankful he is here, safe, and in his mama and daddy's arms. So very thankful.

Michael's face was shining when he came out to tell us and show us pictures. I could definitely tell by his face that he was a different man than a few minutes before. he was a daddy and he was in love. My how a baby changes your life instantly. He is going to be the best daddy ever. Thank you Lord for such a wonderful, perfect mate for my girl.

We don't have an official name...yet. But i'm sure today a decision will be made and I'll post when it's official.

Congratulations Kotze family. Welcome to a brand new world.

Welcome to the greatest adventure you'll ever experience.

Just a little while...

and I'll be a mamo again! We're in San Antonio. We came last night. Today Jo and I made an HEB run and bought a basket load of groceries, came home and made tuna fish sandwiches like we had when they were kids and I had when I was a kid. They were so delicious!

We made some last touches to the nursery, liking hanging the wall hanging up, "Let him sleep for when he wakes he'll...move moutains." Looks so cute. We just hung the canvas hangings that match her bedding and a few other random things, and pa and daddy went and got a glider rocker and put it together. It now sits in the corner of the nursery waiting to do it's job.

We cooked dinner and just finished eating and cleaning that up. Everyone is getting their showers and we'll probably "try" to get a good nights sleep. 7:00 am in the morning we'll be at the hospital, if not before, and this long awaited baby boy we'll soon be in our arms. I still find it hard to imagine my baby girl having a baby. I think she's a wee bit nervous and anxious.

Lord, I pray for this birth to be smooth and quick, for Jo's nerves to be calm, and mamo's too! Bring baby boy into this world safe and healthy. Keep your hand on them both. Bless this new family. Let Your presence be in the room and with Michael too. We are so very thankful and blessed...

Snuggle Time's Comin...

The surburban is full, and loaded with various items, my suitcase and overnight bag have been packed for 4 days, work is caught up through the end of the month, and I am set on GO! So come on little baby boy, mamo is getting impatient to meet you and snuggle and rock my precious new grandbaby boy!

Soon...very, very soon.

Will it be tonight?

Happy 32 years!

We met 34 1/2 years ago. The first time I saw him it was the first day of school, my first day in high school. He was walking across the street in front of the front steps of Odessa high school. His blong hair was blowing and his sweet smile was shining as he said hi to everyone he passed. It seemed like he was walking in slow motion. I was smitten. Totally! I was instantly in love and a couple of months later on another such encounter I felt in my heart I would marry him one day. We didn't begin to date until March of that year. It was our sophomore year and we married 2 months after we graduated high school and a month after my 18th birthday.

32 years ago today I married my sweetheart, my best friend. How that much time has passed I cannot fathom. I love him more today than even then. We have been blessed beyond more than we deserve. Life is precious.

I love you baby.