3 months and counting

It's like he's been here forever, but it has only been three months. I feel like everyday is different and has new joys and challenges. There are definitely more joys. He is so much fun now... he laughs when we laugh and smiles when he sees us. He knows our voices and I know that everyone knows that your kids knows your voice, but when you are first experiencing it, it is the neatest thing. I love that I know he knows my voice. My favorite thing to do is pick him up from the Kerrie or Mrs. Harvill's house and see him get the biggest grin on his face when he hears my voice. Like I said last time, it shows me so much about what God feels about us. We know his voice. Sometimes we try to ignore it, but everyone who knows Him recognizes his voice when he is speaking. I love to think about how it makes his heart so excited when we respond to him, just like mine (and many of yours does with your kids) when Eli responds so excitedly to me. I know I have said it before, but it is just really blowing my mind the way that God has set up this life to be such a reflection of how he intended our relationship to be with him.

I just thought this was funny. He looks like this a lot:)
Ok, this bear warm thing is the cutest thing ever. It is way too big on him, but I love seeing those little eyes pop out of the head opening.

Revelation

Wow, time does fly by! I can't believe Eli has been around for two months... It seems so long ago, but at the same time, not so long ago. I feel like he has helped solidfy in my mind so many things about my relationship with Jesus. It was major revelation to me a few weeks ago. Like how Jesus talks about how his sheep will hear his voice and know that it is him. It is amazing how from the moment he came into this world he knew my voice. Another thing that is crazy is how much I love him and am willing to sacrifice things for him without hesitation. I love him even though he is not mature enough to love me the way I love him. Wow. That is just a tiny comparison to the way the Father loves us - crazy mad love despite our immature ability to love him back. He is CRAZY about us. I don't think we really understand the love of Jesus... it is not the "have to" love. He does not think to himself, "Oh, those pitiful people. Why do I have to love them?" Someone does not say, "Those the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, my love for you will not be shaken, nor my covenant of peace be removed from you..." and love out of obligation. That is passionate.

Jesus,

I ask that you bestow upon us a revelation of your love. I pray that we would know how precious we are to you and how passionately you love us and want us to intimately walk with you. Fascinate our hearts - whoo us with your Spirit. Thank you that you love us despite our immaturity. Speak to our hearts and touch us with your love. I pray that you would take away the things in our hearts that steal our affections for you.

Eli's first date

Our sweet friend, Lila Kate, came over today to say hello and Eli put the moves on her! You know, I am starting to believe more and more in prearranged marriages... :)Not quite sure what he's supposed to do when he sees a pretty girl...What a cutie! Good choice, Eli!

Hey, baby! How 'bout a little snuggling on the couch?

Trip to Washington

Caleb, Mia, and Eli

Uncle Beau's football team... He's the center, #72

Eli and I went to Washington to visit my family this weekend. I would be lying if I said that I wasn't nervous about bringing a newborn on a plane by myself, but he did great. It would have been nice to have an extra set of hands though. We got to see Beau play football and see him off to Homecoming (which was informal... weird) and also spend some time with Aunt BB, Mimi, and Pawpaw. We also got to see our friends Marlana and Shayna, along with their kids, Caleb and Mia. It was a short, but GREAT weekend. We love you guys and can't wait to see you again soon!

Eli and BB

Uncle Beau's going to Homecoming

Mimi loves me!

A weekend of family and friends

This weekend we celebrated some Perry birthdays: Nana, Papa Joe, and Uncle Ryan. This was the first time Aunt Mimi, Uncle Ryan, Taylor and Anna Kate met Eli and we had so much fun!

Mike, Kailee, Emmerson and Finley also came to visit. Man, the betrothal list gets longer and longer! :)

Eli's a month old!

On September 19th, Eli turned one month old! It is crazy how fast it goes...

Future Razorback...

Funny how people automatically assume that because Caleb and I were Razorbacks, one of our kids will be also... I like that idea but am not counting on it... fun to think about though!

Hello, Sam and Blue... first bath, too!

We finally let Sam and Blue meet their new family member, and surprisingly, they did great. They love to just sniff him... it's like they don't quite know why he looks the way he does. He's a human, yet he's their size. Weird. They like them a lot and always go to his swing to look for hime when they come inside.

We also gave him his first bath today. He LOVED it! I don't think I have ever seen him this calm except when he is sleeping or eathing! It's probably because I took baths every night when I was carrying him... :)

Pawpaw is here!

Dad finally got to Arkansas and just LOVES Eli... thanks for reminding me to do this, Aunt Jill... :)

Eli's home!

ELI'S FIRST DAY OUT OF THE NURSERY AND HOSPITAL

After a few days of oxygen and IV fluids, Eli is now home with us! On Thursday night, Caleb and I walked down to the nursery to say goodnight to the little guy and noticed that his oxygen tube was not up his nose. That was crazy because his nurse that day told us that she had to turn up his oxygen because he was struggling breathing that day and then we walk down there that night and he's completely off the oxygen. The doctors told us it was going to be another 2-4 days before he would come off the oxygen that day also. The next morning we woke up and they had taken him completely off EVERYTHING. It sort of freaked us out because we had no idea where he was when we went to say good morning to us the next morning! The nurse then came up and told us he would get to spend the day in our room and maybe go home that evening. We were so thankful and excited to finally get to hold and love on him when we wanted to! We didn't get to go home that evening, but we did get to come home this morning and it has been great to have him here. Here are some pictures of what he looks like now... much better!