Vacation!

We made it. We actually made it like 5 weeks ago...but better late than never huh? 

So we took our 5 week old baby and boarded a plane to Panama City Beach. We spent the first three days in Destin with our dear friends Jacqueline and Derek Garcia, then a week in Panama City (Inlet Beach to be exact). It really was a blast...but completely different taking a beach vaca with a baby. But, when I say "we made it", I mean, "Foster did awesome on the flights!".

Fosters first time seeing the ocean, clearly he loves it. 

Andrew and Foster walking out to the water! 

Derek and Jacqueline cuddling Foster at Starbucks.

A few words on Derek and Jacqueline: I love this couple! They are our twin couple. We go months without talking and only see each other once a year and we pick up right where we left off and dig into the deep things in life; our Faith, work, marriage, love, hopes, dreams, family, kids.... We are always so blessed and refreshed by their company. We pray that the Lord calls us to serve in the same place someday! Two things. 1. Jacqueline is pregnant with twins. A boy and a girl. YEEEEEE!!!! 2. Derek is one of the funniest people I have ever met. We laugh a lot when we are with them.

When we were there Foster was in a growth spurt, eating all the time...like at the breakfast table. Derek was such a good friend that he didn't want me to feel alone.

This is Derek with an apron, pretending to multitask.

The time with my family is always a trip, especially now that there are 3 little boys! Here are a few snapshots of the rest of the trip! 

Charlie doesn't speak yet, but he is a funny, sweet, and charming little boy! I could squeeze the heck out of him! Couldn't you just eat him up?!?!

Charlie! I can't handle the cuteness!

Charlie playing in the sand.

We spent an afternoon at Seaside with the fam. 

My view for most of the week.

The weather was not ideal beach weather...for most people...but, for me it was amazing. It never got into the 90's, it rained at least a little every day, and the cloud coverage was pretty much constant. For me, it meant that I got to sit outside on the covered porch for hours each day. It was awesome! My mom also chooses to sit on the porch as opposed to the beach so we got to spend lots of time talking.

We had an amazing time with my brother and sister-in-law. As I told my brother, it was so good to be a parent so I could actually understand what that is like and allowed us a chance to commiserate. I have always loved being around Josh and Michelle, but being in a new similar life stage as them made it extra special. Plus, I just LOVE those boys...and the one on the way. 

Fred, Michelle and baby on the way.

Fred holding Foster. I love Fred's face in this pic...hilarious. 

Fred has a special place in my heart - he stole my heart the second I laid eyes on him! He is turning 5 this week!!! HOLY COW! He is as rambunctious as ever and is so smart and funny. And seriously, sooo handsome. It was strange always having Foster and not being able to play with the Welker boys, but Fred and I got to play in the ocean a bit, in the waves...he said it felt like a giant bounce house...Loved it!

Fred eating a piece of bred with nutella on it...we laughed so hard in these few minutes!

Love this mug!

Josh and Charlie heading out!

I am behind the camera, and this pretty much sums up the mood of the Welker vacation! hahaha!

My mom and Michelle spent some time with Foster and Andrew and I got to take a nice long walk!

It was so good to watch people love my baby and get to meet him...
and it was also good to rest and be loved on!

How was your summer?

Visitors Galore!

 Since Foster was born we have had a constant stream of visitors. This is NOT a complaint. We have LOVED it. We took a 10 day vacation (I will post photos soon) and other than that, I am sure that we have not gone more than 5 days without having house guests. This has been great for many reasons.
1. We love watching people love our son.
2. If there are people around to hold the boy, I get to get some work done and do not feel like I am neglecting him.
3. We got to go on a date!

My parents were here from June 14-July 12th
Thomas (Andrew's little brother) came into town June 30th-July 1st.
Andrews Parents (Scott and Anne) were here June 25th-29th then July 16th-20th
Matt and Jodi were here July 18th-23rd
We left for Vacation on August 1st...got home on August 10th.

My Mom and dad at the hospital when Foster was announced. Photo by Kari Crowe.

Scott and Anne

Uncle Thomas

Matt and Jodi

We had so much fun with All of our family and friends! Matt and Jodi were so sweet with Foster! It was such a blessing to have them in town to just hang out and love on us and our baby! 

 August hit us with a steady stream of visitors made up of former students of ours from Liberty - followed by friends and family.

August 12th - Jenna Wiles came over
August 13-17 - Bailey and Katja into town, Maria came over from Ft. Worth
August 21st-24th - Anne Beard in town.
August 29th-31st - Christine in town.
Sept 1st - now - Brian and Jenn Beard.


First was Jenna Wiles...She spent the day hanging out with out us and getting to love on Foster!

Jenna Wiles

The next day, These two crazy kids (Bailey Bollinger and Katja Jones)  came into town...Maria Cox came over too, but I am horrible, and didn't take a pic of all 3 of them. 

This is how they want you to think the visit was...

This is what the week was really like.  

I have to say, I learned a lot about babies from Bailey. She knows a lot!

Thanks Bai!

Katja, Foster, Bailey, and Hayley

Hayley White met up with us at the Burger's house in Ft. Worth one day. 

Mikey 

 This is Michael - I call him Mikey, He was on his way down to San Antonio (where he goes to school), and stopped by to meet Foster. When he showed up at our house, Bailey, Katja, and Maria were there...So in our living room we had 4 of our former students from the same graduating class...we loved that moment so much!

Granny Annie has been here a few times and is headed back down this month. 

We have been so thankful for the time that Anne has been here.  She was here for 3 days and didn't leave the house once...but we were able to go see Batman and shop a little...the longest we had been gone without him!


Then one of my best friends, Christine Biondo had a few days of break from work and decided to come into town to meet Foster.

She left on Friday and then on Saturday Andrews Brother, Brian, and his wife, Jenn, came in to meet foster!

Aunt Jenn and Uncle Brian...and Foster!

It has been NUTS but has been so much fun!

Who do I look like?

We have not been able to decide who Foster looks like, so we snapped this pic. 

I have decided...

Eyes-Andrews

Nose - Mine

Upper lip - Me (the Welker boys and I all have this same shape)

Mouth - Andrew

Coloring...so far - Andrew 

What do you think.

My sweet boy is two months old. We sure do love him!

every tree

This is Caleb! Caleb is a miracle baby born to my sweet friends Karen and Brian. 

Karen, Caleb's momma, is one of my sweet friends/roommates from college. She waited for years to have a baby, and the Lord has blessed her with this sweet little man. 

 Earlier this week Caleb had his blood taken for Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Karen and Brian were told that it would only take one week to get the results back, but have now been told that it will take 6 weeks.  That is a long time to wait to hear this sort of news.
I am asking you to join me in praying for Caleb.

Please pray, not only that he doesn't have SMA, but that God would strengthen and heal Caleb.  We also pray that God will give his pediatrician, pediatric neurologist, physical therapists, occupational therapist, and nurses wisdom in caring for him.  

Also pray that God would give his Mom and Dad strength and courage.

Karen and Brian have had this verse brought to mind. 

Cypress trees will grow where now there are briers; 

      myrtle trees will come up in place of thorns. 

   This will be a sign that will last forever, 

      a reminder of what I, the Lord, have done.

                 Isaiah 55:13

Please feel free to re-post this and share with people so they can join us in praying BIG prayers to a BIG God.

Click here to visit Karen's blog and leave her a message letting her know you are praying. The family could use all the encouragement this world can muster!

To read more about SMA, click here.

The Best Gift

I have received many amazing gifts in my life. The "greatest" gifts are intangible (aside from the people the Lord has blessed my life with). Yesterday I was given what may be the actual best gift I have ever gotten. The thing is, it is a tangible gift - but the memories and emotions that come with it are not.

You may remember; I had an awful delivery experience. I don't remember much of anything sweet, aside from Foster being born and Andrew, family, and friends being there to support us.

Andrew and I had made a decision to hire a photographer, our dear friend, Kari Crowe, to photograph at the birth. She took the place of our 3rd person in the delivery room.  She not only went above and beyond, by creating what is the most amazing video I've ever seen, (she recorded audio to add to it), but she and her husband worked hard on it and gifted it to us.

this is Kari and me...and Foster. Don't worry, I'm aware of how awesome I look.

Kari is an unbelievable photographer and friend. I will never be able to thank her enough for this gift or tell her what it means to me to have a memory of this day that is so amazingly beautiful.
So, if you need any photography work done, do NOT hesitate to check Kari out...She is AWESOME!

Check out her website here. Check out her blog here.  She is also a foodie, and a food photographer, check out her foodie blog here - It's also listed on the right hand side of your screen. (forkmeatspoon)

Before I let you watch it, I have to say that it took me a minute to decide if I would link it or not. This video has NO shots that are "birthy" (I made that word up!). But it is literally one of the most intimate moments of my life. At the end of the day, it is too beautiful for me not to share it.

A little set up/info. The opening sound is of the heartbeat monitor, the messages are me and Andrew, then my mom, followed by my dad, Andrew's mom, and Andrews dad. The Photos of Andrew with the HUGE smile followed by me covering my face is when he told me it was boy. The pics of us on the phone are him with his grandparents and then siblings...and the one of me with a tear is me telling my grandma, the one of me laughing is me on the phone with my brother and his family.

I seriously can't watch it with out weeping...So, get out the tissues if you are a crier! And turn your volume up.

http://karicrowe.myshowit.com/fosterbeard

Time-share

This is not a post about a vacation home.

As of two days ago Foster is a month old. Holy cow, where in the world does the time go? Two weeks ago Andrew started back to work and this week I started working again. Although I don't leave the house for work, it is very difficult to create balance among marriage, work, baby, house-duties, and church. I am doing my best, but my little boy does not like to sleep out of someones arms (which I really do love, it just makes simple tasks like eating a bit more difficult!). I have gotten a good bit of wear out of the Moby Wrap. It has made it easier for me to do simple tasks.

Since my blog (most of the time) is about marriage, I want to just say that it is a difficult balance to divvy up the responsibilities of mom, wife, house duties and job. (Especially when you are breast feeding a baby that eats all the time!) Andrew has been awesome - he does a ton of diaper changing, getting me water, and letting me get up and do work around the house while he holds, plays with, and bounces Foster. Andrew is more than willing to do work around the house, but I want, no, DESIRE, to get up, move around and be productive. I would rather him get home from work, hold his baby and let me move, stretch, fold, wash, dust...whatever..just to feel like I have done something other than sit on my booty and feed a baby. (Now, I know that feeding a baby is a ton of work...but if you have kids, I feel like you will totally get this.) We have a friend who told me this week that when he got home from work his wife would offer to "cut down trees and mow the lawn" (there was a note of sarcasm here) to get a chance to get up, get out, and get moving.

I feel like I am working extra hard to make sure that our marriage is number one. I am constantly speaking words to Foster about how great his dad is and how much I love Andrew.

The reality is that we spend most of our time holding Foster.

UNTIL LAST NIGHT!
He laid down at 8:00 and STAYED ASLEEP on his own. This was truly the first evening that Andrew and I were able to sit cuddled up on the couch. We whispered, watch the Olympics, talked about vacation. It was soooo good that we took a pic to commemorate!

Thanks little Foster for giving us the gift of you laying down and staying down...here's to hoping this was not a one time thing!

Anniversary!

Andrew and I celebrated 7 years of marriage yesterday. On the heels of having a new little boy, we weren't sure if there would be any "Celebrating" going on, but just our own little family enjoying each other.
HOWEVER. We were blessed with Andrew's parents coming to town and Granny Annie's baby whispering...I felt great leaving Foster at home for the first time while Andrew and I went out on a date and got that sushi that I have been waiting for!

My husband is truly a gem. I am aware that I am a mom now and that means that my time has to be shared, but I am also very aware that my little boy will learn MUCH about love by watching Andrew and me. I know that he will learn how to love and treat women by watching his dad love me (and me loving Andrew). I know that if Andrew and I don't take time to date and to put our marriage first that  our child will miss out on learning about God's love for him and for us!
So...Date night it was. And it was awesome!

7 Years of Marriage. July 16th

Thanks for the baby sitting Grandma and Grandpa!

home

Welp, it turns out that giving birth is really hard.

Today is my birthday and I have received countless texts and calls and Facebook posts and I am so grateful for each one of them. Thanks for your love!

Foster is doing an amazing job eating and sleeping...but mostly sleeping in the daytime...which I hear is normal. Today for my birthday, he got me the gift of actually sleeping in his pack and play on two different occasions. Now to hope that he will do it during the night. 

For those of you who are wondering about the name Foster Isaac we chose Foster because it is Andrew's Granny's maiden name and Isaac we chose because of Sarah and Abraham waiting on their precious boy, Isaac...and it means laughter, which we love! 

So, I have been horrible about responding to messages (which I know that no one really expects me to) because I am having a harder time recovering. My blood pressure spiked during labor and they had to put me on magnesium sulfate, which kept me from having seizures, but stops the labor and causes you to feel like you have the flu. So, they had to increase the pitosin so that labor would not stop. 

So there I was 12 hours into labor and feeling like I have the flu, my skin aching, throwing up ice chips, and feeling the pain of the contractions. (little did I know I would have a few more hours of this).

So skip ahead to having the baby...which I did. Welcome the sweetest moment of my life when Andrew looked at me and said "I love you so much" followed by a push and him telling me, "Its a boy"!...bring on the tears. and then they put Foster in my arms! dang. 

So, because my blood pressure was so high, I had to stay on the magnesium sulfate for 24 hours after delivery...So for the next day I still had all the symptoms of the flu.

from there, the process of healing has been hard and I have had to take it extra easy so as not to upset the blood pressure issue. 

This afternoon, I feel a bit more normal. Thank you God! 

It is super helpful that I have great family who have given us a ton of time to recoup (talk about 3 hour naps and lots of refills on my water) and a sweet little boy who makes me giddy. We have also had a ton of wonderful friends who are making sure we are eating and have all we need to manage. 

Andrew has been my hero! Best husband ever, as usual. He is so supportive and encouraging and tending to my every need. He is amazing. Tired, but amazing! haha! 

So, what you all really want to see...here are a few more pics of the sweet boy. 

in the hospital

Foster ready to come home! 

Andrew as a baby, I think Foster looks like him. 

Baby and Daddy!

Uncle Thomas came to visit! I think they like each other.

me and my baby! 

Thanks for all the prayers and the birthday wishes! Love you all!