CROCKETT CHRISTOPHER STONE

WOW! I finally have a few minutes to update this blog! SOOOO much has happened in the last week and a half... Crockett Christopher Stone FINALLY arrived! He kind of caught us off guard on the night of March 21. I started having contractions at about 5 p.m. and by 10:30 p.m. we were at the hospital, dilated to 5 cm! Not 15 minutes after we arrived, my water broke... and by 1:34 a.m. on March 22, we had our sweet baby boy! The experience was AMAZING! Chris and I both were smitten at once and just in awe that this little miracle had been growing in my belly.

When we returned home on Monday, my mom was there to greet us with lunch, a clean house and an extra pair of hands :) She stayed with us for the first week and was such a great help. I was scared to death that I couldn't handle things when she was there, how in the world would I be able to handle everything when she left?!?! The three of us took turns at night (he would stay up from 12 a.m. to about 6 a.m.) which allowed all of us to get a little bit of sleep. I figured mom would be really excited to get home and sleep all night long, but really it was so difficult for both of us to say goodbye. Chris even wondered if we could hide her keys! She definately saved us the first week. Since she has been gone, Chris' grandmother, Elwanda, has been taking such great care of us. She has brought us dinner every night. She even offered to come stay at our house at night! I told her to be careful what she offered, I might just take her up on that :) I don't know what we would do without his family (and our friends that are like family).

Even though the first week was very trying, it was absolutely wonderful at the same time. I love sitting in the chair holding Crockett, watching Chris hold him, listening to the tiny, wonderful sounds he makes, listening to Chris talk to him in his big, low voice (I usually hear him through the monitors and he doesn't know I am listening), seeing the pride and love in Chris' eyes, feeding him and hearing that sweet little "gulp", looking into his eyes, Crockett holding onto my finger, the unconditional love I feel for this little bitty human being every time I look at him.... There is nothing better.

Crockett had his first Dr. appointment this past Monday. He weighed 6 lbs 15 oz, which is up 2 oz from his birth weight! We were so proud of him, especially since he had some difficulty breastfeeding at first. He got his newborn pictures made. This was quite a comedy of errors :) He usually sleeps ALL DAY LONG, but the day I chose for his pictures, he was wide-eyed the whole time. He peed on his dad twice and pooped on me and the burp cloth. The second we left, he was sound asleep and did not wake up until 12:45 a.m. At least we got a bit of sleep that night! He has met both of his great-grandfathers (Chris' - Hotshot and mine - T-Pa) and his great-grandmother (Chris' - Elwanda) and we are waiting for a good day to take him to meet his great-great grandmother, Elwanda's mother, Grandma Welch. We are so lucky to have had so many friends and family members come and meet him. We are very blessed.

He will be going back to the Dr. next Wednesday for another weight check and some lab work. I hope daddy will be going with us, because I think I might cry. He is such a wonderful addition to our lives and I can't wait to watch him grow. I know it will go by so quickly, but we have so much to look forward to! He also had another little friend who was born four days after him! Arrah Addison Locknane was born March 26! Grady and Celeste Locknane are good friends of ours and the Luigs. How funny is it that all of our babies were born four days apart :) Cade and Crockett may have to fight over Addison... We will have so much fun next time we are all able to get together. Things will never be the same :)

Also, by the way Aunt Monica, that song always makes me cry.... even when I was just reading the words on your blog. I cried at it before he was born, and now that he is here, it makes me cry just a little bit harder. But I love it!