Picture Day

The hospital will come and take pictures of your baby at the bedside before they are released from the hospital. I was really interested to see how this would work in the middle of the NICU. I was skeptical initially. However, they do a really nice job. Of course I had my camera with me and snapped a couple shots of my own so you could enjoy as well. These are all from my camera and honestly they turned out almost as nice as the ones they took. However, the lighting is not quite as good in mine.

Enjoy...

Great Nurses at Central Baptist NICU

There has been so much happening since I last posted. Eli came home, we have been to his first doctor's appointment, he doesn't like to sleep at all the right times for dad and mom, and we are loving every second. I will blog about all of it in due time. Currently Eli is sleeping on my chest while I type away in our dark living room. He is so sweet. I love just hearing his little breathes and feeling his little chest rise and fall.

Before I get to his coming home, I want to tell you all about our amazing nurses. Ronda Byrd was our all time favorite, followed Bernice and by Lisa (who we didn't see much towards the end of Eli's stay). Each of them took such good care of not only Eli, but of Aaron and I. I wouldn't have survived the 67 days he was in NICU or bringing him home without them. They all took such perfect care in teaching us how to care for our precious little one. They didn't jump in and just do things themselves, but taught us both so now that he is home it is not nearly as overwelming.

I had them take a picture with signs saying "We love Eli" and I plan on framing the picture and putting it in his nursery. I think it will just be a special momento to the ladies who cared for him so well while he wasn't able to be home with mom and dad.

Ronda showing me how to give Eli his first bath.

Lisa giving Eli to me the first time I held him.

Some of the nurses...Bobby, Martha, Mary(I think), Ronda, Char, and Christy.

My signs...hoping to use them with a couple of other group shots in the future.

That is all for now. Happy Wednesday. Enjoy the light snow and cold weather. It is supposed to be pretty warm next week. I am looking forward to this because I plan on taking Eli for his first walk.

2 months old!

Eli hit the big 2 month mark today! He is so precious and growing like a weed. I cannot wait to get him home and put him in his own bed so you can all see the comparison month to month. He truly is more amazing to me everyday.

4 lbs. 12 oz.

16.5 inches long

Who wouldn't love this face?

Big stretch!

Love these little hands.

Sleeping in mom's arms.

He will never touch the ground when he is home. Aaron and I will hold him constantly.

The Generosity of Strangers

Today Aaron went to work and a student in the MSW program brought in two boxes of little boys clothes. A friend of hers was getting rid of them and knew our story. We have never met, but she wanted to see if we were interested in her son's belongings. He has grown out of them and they aren't planning on having anymore children so she wanted to pass them along.

What a sweet blessing. God has provided for us in so many ways. Big and small. Thank you to our friend, that we have never met and may never, for your generosity towards a total stranger.

I sorted all the clothes in to size order. I will be washing them tonight and hanging them in Eli's little closet. Can't wait to watch Eli grow into a little man that eventually fits these precious clothes.

Our first bath time!

Just a few images of our first time giving Eli a bath. He loves getting a bath and having his hair brushed (just like his mom). We are looking forward to many many many baths to come.

He is here!

Eli Xavier Delane Wilkinson

Born on December 2, 2011

at 3:41 p.m.

1 pound and 15 ounces

13 inches long

I am still very swollen, but if you can imagine I look far better than I did.

Getting to see my little boy for the first time.

He is just so tiny!

I promise that I will post a long blog about what happened on the day Eli was born and I was hospitalized. It just takes me a long time to process it all and organize my thoughts.

Creative Juices

The creative juices have certainly been flowing. I am not an overly creative person, but every once in awhile I become inspired. Last Christmas my 10 small group girls bought me a sewing machine. I didn't use it because I was too intimidated to put it together and get it all set-up. However, I tackled the task with my friend Julia and that got the ball rolling. Below is a picture of just a few of the burp cloths I made for my beautiful boy, Eli, on my wonderful sewing machine. There are lots more, but these are some of my favorites.

I also took my childhood dresser from my grandmother's house and stripped off four layers of paint. Once down to the wood, I painted it brown and bought new hardware at Lowe's to make it the perfect changing table for my little boy's room.

Hard at work...it took what seemed like forever.

In the room! The room is still in progress. I will post pictures soon.

The hard work was totally worth it. Our own custom changing table and dresser.

It will be great to have our boy home and watch him enjoy the things we have prepared out of love for him. I found myself dreaming about what would fill these drawers as I painted. Eli has his whole life ahead of him. My prayer for him is that he seeks after his heavenly father and that he never questions the overwhelming love his parents have for one another as well as for him.