The Grandkids

Our Sunday party allowed us the opportunity to take a picture of all 5 grandkids together. Charlotte did a great job of holding Cara. Dillon is in the orange shirt holding Oscar, and Vincent is in the back proudly wearing his superman jacket. Aren't they all so cute?!

Cara is 4 weeks old

What a fun and busy weekend! On Friday night we went to my parent's house for dinner and Cara got to spend time with her cousins Vince and Charlotte. You can see pictures on grandma's blog!

Then Saturday Cara went to Daddy's school and walked in her first parade. The above picture is from the end of the parade route. Cara slept through the whole thing, that is after the fire trucks and ambulances went by, she wasn't a fan of their horns. She was a big hit with all the students and parents who have been anxious to see her in person.

Sunday we went to my brother and sister-in-laws house for a pool party and a birthday celebration for Amy. Cara was a big hit with her cousins again! Vince and Charlotte just love her and can't wait until she is big enough to play with them.

Priceless

I finally caught a smile on camera yesterday. Cara was being especially smiley and I finally got the camera ready in time. So cute! Really makes my heart melt!

Visitors from afar

We have two special visitors this week. Great Aunt Christine is visiting from California and Great Grandma A is visiting from Florida. This is her first great grandchild and she couldn't be happier to meet her in person. After spending a few days with us they will be traveling up north to visit other family and then returning here next week before they fly to CA. We have enjoyed their company!

Cara's 1st social outing

Cara attended her first wedding today. Lacey from Mommy's work got married to Derek today. Cara was quite a hit with all of Mommy's coworkers who were dying to see her in person. The group picture is all nurses that from Emily's work. Cara behaved very well, slept through most of the festivities. Congratulations to Lacey and Derek. It was a beautiful wedding and a lovely reception!

Cara in her bouncy seat

Cara is having more awake time these days. We read books and People magazine, I sing to her, she swings and now she also likes her bouncy seat. It plays music and their are fish and bubbles in the aquarium. She has been sleeping better at night, wakes to eat every few hours but goes right back to sleep.

2 weeks old

Today was Daddy's first day back to work after being off 12 weeks this summer. Not that he wasn't working this summer because we had a list of home improvements projects to do and the past two weeks he has been "super daddy" helping out with Cara.

I took this picture of Cara this afternoon relaxing in her bassinette. We had to go to the doctor's for a weight check and also stopped at Target real quick. The great news is that Cara weighed 7 lbs 12 oz at the doctors today. They were very pleased as their goal was that she be back up to her birth weight. Cara slept through her first shopping adventure at Target. By the time we got home she just wanted to stretch out and relax after sitting in her car seat.

Bath Time

Cara lost the stump of her umbilical cord on Friday which meant for her bath on Saturday she could finally use her tub and get "wet" instead of a sponge bath. She was obviously not a fan. She hates to be cold/undressed! Hopefully she will warm up to the idea and bath time will become fun!

"I really want my legs uncovered"

Cara was sleeping in her bassinette and every time we walked by to check on her she was uncovered. We took the first picture, covered her up and looked back about a minute later and she was uncovering her leg again. Finally she got both legs uncovered and her nightgown up around her waist. Her daddy always sleeps with at least one leg out of the covers, hmm...wonder where she gets this from!

Pretty in Pink

New picture of Cara, dressed head to toe in pink!

Going Home

In Italy is is tradition to place a bow on your door to announce the arrival of your baby. In our care package received prior to Cara's birth we received a beautiful pink bow to place on the door. While we were in the hospital the bow was placed on the door, it was neat to see it there when we pulled up to the house last Wednesday. We wanted to share the picture of what it looked like, especially with a very special Aunt and Uncle in Italy who thought to send it!!

We also took a picture of Cara in her car seat as we were preparing to leave the hospital. The nurse asked if I would like a wheelchair and I refused because I was feeling great. Not only was I feeling fine physically but emotionally I couldn't have been happier to be leaving the hospital with OUR baby. She offered to carry Cara for me and I said I waited a long time to carry a baby out of the hosital. She said "oh yeah, that 9 month wait" to which my husband replied 8 years and 9 months!

Cara is one week old

Cara had her follow-up weight check today and despite a rough night of eating last night she has gained and today weighed 7 lbs 3 oz. Good job baby girl!

Cara had a couple of notable visitors the past couple of days. In the one picture is Cara's great-grandmother on her mother's side. Cara is her 35th great grandchild (17 girls and 18 boys).

Oscar got to know his newest cousin this evening. When we first put Cara down he kissed the top of her head, may have been an accident but it was so cute.

Cara's Room

With help from her grandma's yesterday we were able to finally put Cara's name on her wall. I always knew I wanted to do these block letters but we couldn't buy them before she was born since we weren't 100% sure of her name until we saw her. Grandma A painted them yellow for us and Grandma F helped attach the ribbon and then helped me to hang them up. They make a cute touch above her bed.

Cara had a good weekend. Watched the Nascar race with Mommy and Daddy today. Took a good nap and taught Mommy a lesson to put a clean diaper on immediately after her bath because the towel is not that absorbent.

Mommy and Cara

Had to share this picture of Cara and I since I posted one of Cara and her daddy. I don't even know how to put my thoughts into words regarding our precious miracle, but I thought this card that her daddy gave to me the day Cara was born summed it up the best.

The front says: A New Little Love

The inside says: Now we know without a doubt, we would have waited forever for someone this special

That is exactly how I feel......only I am glad I did not have to wait any longer!!

Daddy and Cara

I love this picture that I took last night. Scott was not really sleeping with her, just enjoying some snuggle time and "resting his eyes".

Cara went to her first doctor appointment today. While still in the hospital her weight dropped to 7 lbs 2 oz, so they wanted a weight check today. Today she weighed 6 lbs 15 oz. So we will go back on Monday for a weight check and have to concentrate very hard on eating this weekend.

Cara 3 days old

I finally had the chance to go through some of our pictures. Wanted to share a few favorites so far. We tried out her swing for the first time at 3am. She liked it but wanted held again within about 15 minutes. She loves to sleep, of course this sleep only occurs if she is being held. Not a fan of her bassinette, pack-n-play etc. Of course right now no one can put her down. Grandma A is staying with us for a couple of days so Cara has not really been put down for more than a few minutes. Cara is loving all the attention she is receiving from both sets of grandparents and Mommy and Daddy.

We're Home!!

We came home from the hospital Wednesday evening. Cara got to meet Panther for the 1st time, she could have cared less, he is scared of her. Cara wore the cutest little dress home with a matching bonnet. She was picture perfect for the many photo-op's on the way out of the hospital.

Will post more pictures very soon. We have about a thousand to go through!

Thank you for all the emails, comments, and messages congratulating us on the arrival of our daughter. We can't wait for everyone to get to meet her in person!

Introducing Cara Suzanne