Our Christmas Gift

G'ma Joan's Visit

G'ma Joan came in to save the day (week?) when Jeff had to go back to work.  She stayed Sunday-Tuesday--going home for a choir concert and Papa LeRoy's carpal tunnel surgery--and then came back Wed-Friday with Papa Greg.  She got good at taxi-ing the kids to kindergarten/preschool, she helped clean and organize the house, and we even got a few shopping excursions in.  Of course the most important were the snuggles she gave to grandkids--and Micah's first bath at home!

And then she had to leave…and Micah is expressing how we all felt about that!  :)  What a sweet week!

Two Weeks of Togetherness

We were so blessed to have Jeff home from work for Micah's first two weeks of life.  We soaked in every new minute of being a family of five.

 Oh, those CHEEKS!!!

Book reading with three sets of little ears and eyes.

 At 48 hours of age, Micah helped us celebrate Aunt Annie and Papa Scott's birthdays!

 And G'ma snagged a grandkid pic for her Christmas card.

 Grace and Josh loved checking Micah out…kissing him and holding him whenever they could.  Don't let this picture fool you--Micah didn't sleep in his bassinet for the first 6 weeks of his life.  He slept soundly--for 2-3 hour increments at night!--cuddled right next to Mom in bed!

 Matt came over to help Jeff install the new microwave that Jeff had taken out the week before.

For Thanksgiving we were at Drew and Annie's--no pics! boo!--but that evening Aunt Debbie and Uncle Randy came into town to spend a few days with us!!!

Our three days with them consisted of playing in the snow, playing Catan, eating Jeff's crockpot tenderloin dinner, catching up on months spent in different states...

 …having Cassie and Carson visit--as well as Brock and Colleen who were in town for thanksgiving…

 …and we even put up the Christmas tree and outdoor lights one night!

Jeff went to Pearl Jam with Cousin Angela the Saturday after Thanksgiving--and having forgot his ticket at home, Randy met him half-way back for the hand-off.

And after Debbie and Randy left, we consoled ourselves by putting up more Christmas decor...

…and then making quick overnight to the farm to show off Baby Micah to all of the Mosers and a few Webers.

 …and got a whole lot of baby snuggling in!

The last Thursday that Jeff was off, we went on a day-date while the kids were in kindergarten and preschool.  La Petit Chat was a great choice!

 And after we picked up the kids that day, we went to see Frozen at the movie theater.

 Love this crazy pic!

Jeff was sad to leave us to go back to work, but the sweet consolation was that two weeks later he'd be home for Christmas break.  He could do anything for two weeks!  (And so could we!)

Micah's First 24-Hours…

…were so very precious.  We were only in the hospital 24 hours after his evening birth, 

and what a sweet time that was.

But after a bath…

…a couple of record-breaking, nurse-startling, loudly-filled, messy diapers…

…some football watching...

…some loving visitors...

Julie and Trina--Kaitlyn, Christina, and Linnea

Granny and Pappy (on their way home after surgery)--Ben, Kelly & Millie--Sarabeth and Joel

Aunt Cassie--Drew, Annie, and Oden--Melissa and her four girls (soon to be five!)

Matt and Heidi and Kalei, Alea, and Kai--Kevin and Jen and Janie and Henry

All four grandparents: Scott & Colleen, Greg and Joan--Patricia--Johnny and Rachel

…and very little sleep…

…we were ready to go home.

It was a little hard to leave the hospital.  The cold dark night seemed to be symbolic of the big world that was waiting for this precious little guy--but I tried to wave the feeling off to whacked-out hormones and little sleep for two nights in a row.  (Little did I know that this would be the THIRD night of little sleep…)  But our own bed was much more comfortable than the hospital's and that in itself was worth the late night check-out.