A Post of Pictures

My sweet, talented friend, Katie, offered to do Mary Ellen's birth announcements as a gift. What a wonderful gift to a mother who doesn't have much time on her hands these days! Those are almost done, but I wanted to share with you some of the pictures that Katie took on Saturday of not just Mary Ellen but of the whole family. I love so many of them!















Katie, you were so kind to give up your Saturday morning to come photograph us FOR FREE, and I just love all the pictures. How will I ever repay your kindness, sweet friend!?!?

1 week

My Little Monkey, a.k.a my Little Melon, a.k.a Mary El, is one week old today. After only a week, she has accrued quite a few nicknames, don't you think? And that's not even all of them, just the least embarrassing ones to share with the internet. We're big into nicknames over here.

Needless to say, we are in love with Mary Ellen, completely in love with her. She fits into our family so perfectly. I feel like she has always been here.

So far her temperment is mild. She sleeps a lot, eats a lot, grunts a lot, poops a lot, stretches so cutely while scrunching up her little face. I love all of the newborn faces and sounds. I love how she curls up to fit my body so perfectly when I pick her up. I love how she hears my voice and immediately starts rooting around. She definitely knows the sound and smell of the food source :).

I think she's either telling us she's "not of this world" or she's a big fan of Star Trek in the above picture with her alien hand signal :).

She decided to give her mama a gift on her one week birthday: two 4 hour stretches between feedings last night, so I was able to get a whopping 8 hours of sleep in all. I feel like a million bucks today!

Happy one week birthday, sweet Mary Ellen. Your mama loves you so!

First Day of School

Hattie had her first day at Mother's Day Out at our church this morning.

My big girl's all ready for her first day of school with her lunchbox that she picked out in hand!

Tears were shed by both Mama and daughter, but we're brave girls and handled it well overall.

Both girls are napping now, and my bed beckons. It's been an eventful day for us. One that started very early because someone decided it was play-time from about 12:30 a.m. until 3:00 a.m.

Sisters

(Caption)
Mary Ellen: So give me the down-low on the parentals.
Hattie: They're trainable. You just gotta work it, sis.

I think they're already scheming against us ;0).

I'm so in love.

We're so glad to be home, and I just wanted to take a minute to say thank you for all of your kind words and prayers. My heart is full. ~Love, Stephanie

For you make me glad by your deeds, O LORD; I sing for joy at the works of your hands. Psalm 92:4