Thursday, September 29, 2011

Early Days at Home

This post is a big photo dump of Natalie's first week of life settling in at home.  Todd and Nathan have been on vacation from work and school, and it's been really nice to settle in at home with all four of us together.

First day home


Nathan and Natalie both playing with Cadillacs.







"Look, Mommy, we both have some blue chairs!"


My mom brought a doll for Nathan, and my doll crib from when I was little!

Hanging out with Grandpa John.


So sweet!







Nathan and I had fun doing some collaborative art.

This is a classic Nathan concentration face--I love those lips!

One week old--on her due date!

Nathan hanging out with Baby Pepper during tummy time.


SUCH a sweet big brother!!

Meeting new friends

In our first week home with Natalie, we were lucky enough to get some visits from some of our closest friends.  On Saturday, Annalee, Dan and Miles came over.  Nathan was super excited to see Miles--they are such buddies!  This was really great for everyone, because Nathan was seriously in need of some playtime with another toddler.  

Nathan, Miles and a bunch of cars--a match made in heaven!  They spent a TON of time pushing the cars back and forth from the playroom to our bedroom, making motor noises at the top of their lungs!



Annalee and Dan had fun getting some newborn snuggles, and a little preview of life with a toddler and a brand new baby.


Miles was pretty interested in Natalie, pointing at her and telling everyone that she was a baby.  Both boys were very interested in why she cried so much when I changed her diaper.

On Monday, Jenn had kindly put in a request for Pepper to make her appearance in time for Jenn to meet her when she was in town on Saturday.  Jenn must be some kind of baby whisperer, because sure enough, Natalie arrived on Tuesday so she could make sure to meet Jenn!

On Sunday, Suz and Ellie came over to meet Natalie.  They were really sweet and brought a fun game over for Nathan to play, as well as some of his favorite flavor of goldfish crackers--they know my kid! :)

Ellie played with Nathan for almost the entirety of their visit.  This was awesome for Nathan, as he is pretty sure that she is the coolest person he has ever met, and awesome for me since it meant that I was able to have some great conversation with Suzanne.

Ellie did make sure that she got to hold Natalie before she left though! :)

On Monday, Hillary came to visit!  She had been hoping to come on Friday, but was feeling under the weather, so I was really happy that she was able to kick the germs and come meet my little peanut.  She also brought a big brother gift for Nathan--play dough and fruit snacks--another sure-fire winner in Nathan's book! :)

Meeting her family

In addition to meeting Nathan the day after she was born, Natalie also got to meet the rest of her family who live within easy driving distance.

Grandma Nancy and Papa were able to squeeze in a few introductory snuggles with Natalie when they brought Nathan to visit.  


Look at all that gorgeous hair!

Grandpa John and Grandma Gail arrived in time to see Nathan and have him introduce them to his baby sister (and play with some cars of course!).  Then Nathan headed home with Grandma Nancy and Papa, and my parents stayed for some snuggle time with Natalie and conversation with us.







Filling out the paperwork for Natalie's birth certificate, making Natalie Florence Fowle her official legal name!

Natalie is not a big fan of the diaper change.





A quiet moment with Daddy


Stuart flew back from a work trip to Maine on the 21st, Erin picked him up from the airport and they drove straight to Kalamazoo.  They first stopped at Dan and Nancy's house to see the new big brother, who was thrilled to see both them and the toy monster trucks they brought for him! :)  After some time with Nathan, they headed to the hospital to meet their new niece!  After some baby snuggles they took Todd out for dinner at a restaurant for a break from the edible but not stellar hospital food. :)