I can hardly believe it’s Friday! Rich just left with the children (Jacob, Ethan, Grace, and Caleb) to go take care of business involving our new vehicle purchase….now that baby is here Rich is buying me a new Toyota Sequoia. Since they don’t make it in any shade of green (my first choice) I picked red instead. It seats eight, and that’s all that matters to me.
David is in school…..so I’m home with baby Seth, who is sound-sound asleep in his little bed.
Things are going well….amazingly well. For me, the biggest challenges to overcome after a birth are the mental ones….feelings of anxiety and loss of “control” as we adjust to a newborn’s needs. Seth’s first night home was a little uncertain/anxious for me because we couldn’t get him to settle down until 1:00am. He was very “snorty” and it was bothering him not be able to breath out his nose the way he needed to. The dry air, I guess. We all did end up getting some sleep and yesterday (our first full day at home) was a good day. I don’t remember much of it at this time, though.
Last night was much better for Seth, he isn’t snorting anymore and he slept so peacefully. We were in bed by 9, he woke up to eat at 11 and then at 3:45. Then up again at 7 something. And each time he woke up, he was only awake long enough to fill his tank and then back to sleep he went. And he’s sleeping now, too.
He’s so dreamy. So tiny. Rich and I adore him…looking at him, holding him, talking about how sweet he is to each other.
I thought you might like to see pictures of the children holding Seth for the first time.
Grace held him first. My sister Amanda and her husband watched the kids for us while I was in the hospital and I was so happy that she made sure Grace looked pretty when she came for a visit (she even had polished nails!). I felt so happy looking at my little red and brown bird/Grace.
Grace enjoyed holding Seth, and made me laugh when she said, after just a few minutes, that he was heavier than he looked. (I guess her little arm got tired out!)
The nurses LOVED Grace, just loved her.
And then big brother Ethan got a chance to meet Seth.
Here is another picture of Ethan with Seth. David was hovering about, and I love the look on his face in this picture. And Ethan looks so loving. Papa is making sure Seth is safe.
Jacob couldn’t go to the hospital because he was home sick with a cold. So, he held Seth when we got home. Jacob isn’t bashful at all about baby, and talks to him all the time. He wrote a note for Seth, too. This is what it said, “Welcome Seth. Grow up healthy and strong, And may you like Thomas the Tank Engine as your brothers did before you. And may you like guns.”
And here is a picture of Davy-do with Seth. One of my most special memories will be of David, when I was pregnant with Seth, asking me so sweetly, “How’s Seth doing?” At least once a day he needed to know.
And, now that Seth is born he is still asking me……..”How’s Seth doing?”
Caleb said, “I don’t want to hold Seth!” But, once we got Seth in his arms his eyes lit right up so happy.
The first thing Caleb said when he saw Seth was, “I’m BIG NOW!” It was so precious.
Sitting here, remembering and writing about the past few days, I’m realizing again how quickly the time goes by. This is such a sweet, sweet time….I’m starting to cry because I want them to last forever right now……I’m so thankful to God for Seth…… and I want to hold on to every moment with him and his brothers and sister.
The house is quiet, there is a fire going in the living room. I think I’ll scoop my sleeping little one out of bed and go cozy up on the couch for a while.
Love, your ol’ pal, ~Shanda
Good to be Home 
Sounds like you are enjoying every moment of this new little one! So happy for you! I am glad things are going well. The kids look sooo happy to see him! š Very sweet pix. You will have to take a pix of your new car! š I forgot about that! I am sure that is exciting for the kids too! The reality hit me now that now you have had your baby… I am next! Yikes! You will have to tell me how the delivery went when you ever have a chance. Talk to you later friend!
I’m so blessed seeing and reading about your growing family. I just can’t get the smile off my face seeing the love each of your children have for sweet baby Seth. God grant you strenth for the day. That is His promise to you. Love You ~Polly~
This post just touched my heart. Thanks for sharing your “momma thoughts,” the precious photos filled with happy and caring faces, and the sweet memories. Enjoy this special time š
i like the look on seth’s face in that last shot ~ it’s as if he’s saying to Caleb, “hey, let’s go play!” all the shots are great. grace is such a sweetheart and so pretty in red – how could anyone not love her!! :)sweet post. glad to hear things are going well. enjoy your morning alone w/ a sleeping baby!!love & hugs.
What a sweet sweet time!! Brought back memories for me of when a new wee one came home to stay, the first anxious moments of checking on them all the time, the adjustments for the other children, even though they’re tickled pink, it seems like it still took a little time to get into a “normal” again. Blessings to you and your sweet family…..and hold him just a little longer, savor each and every moment!!
It took me 2 months to get Alaina on that sleep schedule,and Seth is already there!(i hope it stays that way!)
What a loving family! You can be proud of all your boys and Grace too. And of course Rich! He is a great dad! Red is my favorite color! All 3 of our vans are red. God’s blessing on you and your family. Albert
Congrats on the car! The children are beautiful.
I love the last picture best – look at Baby Seth’s gaze at his “big brother!”
Keep holding and kissing that baby for me, too!
Loves!
You have a beautiful family.My middle child turned 4 a few days ago. I just cried and cried. I can’t believe how quickly our little ones grow up.
Oh my I’m jealous the Toyota Sequia is one car I have wanted for a long time:) You will have to take pictures of it. Your pictures are so good. They all look wonderful with baby Seth. I like the note that Jacob wrote how sweet!
o my, this made me cry.
and laugh.
Grace looks so lovely ~ and how cute is that little Seth looking up at Caleb?
This is such a sweet, tender post. Your children all look so happy with baby brother Seth in their arms. Enjoy your snuggle time, and congrats on the new vehicle.
Hello (at long last) dear Shanda! I’m going to try to get going again here on xanga, and what better first comment to make than on sweet Seth??! Oooooh, SO PRECIOUS, and it makes me realize how much my Lee has grown. Those early days are pure sweetness.You and Seth both look AMAZING! I am awed that you are up and around and fully dressed within a few days of the birth. Your children are all so precious in these pictures as well, holding their new little brother. Also, Rich’s coat in the hospital pics reminded me that Terry wanted to dress up for his first day in the hospital after our baby was born! I thought that was so cute and sweet!By the way, my dad bought my mom a Toyota Sequoia (white) and she has really enjoyed it (although when gas prices were up my dad complained it was a “gas guzzler” ). You are scaling “up;” my mom was scaling back because enough adult children had moved away from home she could sell the 15-passenger van! LOL
How fun. The first few weeks are so, so sweet. There’s just something about having a new baby in the house that makes that time of life so special. Your kids with him are so cute. And that was nice of your sister to dress Grace up, sisters are good for that sort of thing. Whenever I am in the hospital with a new baby, my mom and sisters do the same thing for me! Have a wonderful weekend!
Congratulations, Shanda. He is beautiful- and I have a very strong suspicious that Baby Seth will like Thomas the Train as much as his brothers before him. š (what a swwwweet note!)
Thanks for the pictures…I wish I was there to snuggle your little one also.
Love you!
Oh hold on to every moment. Thanks for sharing with us! Love the song.
Are these the pics you sent to your mom? I can imagine how happy she was to get them! My favorite descriptions are the last two, David and Eti are clones of each other and Caleb is just so adorable.
What dress is Gee wearing it looks vintage? Okay I am off to google Sequoia to see what you will be driving around in, I am still putting my vote in for a church van or atleast a church van, I am sure you can get that in Green. A family I knew growing up that had six kids had an old limo..the kids would love that!!!
The pictures are so special. Little Seth is such a cutie!! What a beautiful family. Oh, by the way, we have a Toyota Sequoia and we love it. It is very roomy and rides great. Enjoy!
I need to come back over soon to hold him again I just love him….(all of your babies)~A
I cried..maybe it was your song…or because my 4 mos. old is already so big. They days are long & hard sometimes…but OH! So sweet!!!
Yes, your little Caleb is big now. All your children are just accepting Seth and loving him, it’s so sweet. Post a picture of your new vehicle too, I want to see the red!
You brought happy tears to my eyes too. What precious memories to hang onto. I know the feeling of wanting to hang onto every little moment. It’s all going by too fast. My oldest just turned 15 yesterday! 15! You blink and you just might miss life.
You are so wise to hang onto these precious first baby moments AND to write them down so you can reread them later! You will never regret the time you took to stop and smell the “Seth” roses!BTW: We are an eight passenger vehicle, too!
what a precious post! What a lucky baby to have so many that love him!
So very, very precious!!
Those are such precious pictures. Seth has clearly been born into a wonderful loving family!
How precious! I do think you are taking time to savor these moments, and that is so important. I loved the song “Who’s My Pretty Baby!” Glad Seth is getting settled in and finding a schedule. I often encourage new moms that it takes a while to “crack the code” and learn about your baby — what they like, who they are. Of course, you are a pro with all that!
What a wonderful group of pictures! Seth is so loved already — Grace will be a great Mom’s helper, Jacob so adoring, Ethan a best friend, and Caleb a great big brother — and I love the expression on Davy’s face! They all look so curious and so loving, as if they can’t wait for Seth to grow up and go out to play!
I love Jacob’s note to Seth. And Grace’s shoes! Enjoy your sweet, sweet baby.
I love the way you treasure your babies. We just lost our 12 week old by miscarriage on Wed. and that makes this post so very dear to my heart. Give him an extra hug for me.
Shanda, I think you are doing a marvelous job of “cherishing the moments”! I know you work hard at it, and it shows. Seth is beautiful…as are your other little “birds”!Alesha
I love the note Jacob wrote to Seth…so boy and so sweet. A keeper for sure! Your littlest guy is just precious and I’m glad the whole family is enjoying him. I hope that my days with my new little girl are as lovely. -Maria
He’s Perfect!
Oh so happy to see the darling pictures of your children holding Seth…each picture so special. I told Bob the other day that you had Seth, and he totally understood what I was saying about that sweet romantic sleepy week of being together. We were just picturing you all enjoying Seth…so it is great to have that peek. Caleb indeed looks like a big guy now, Davy so joyous, Ethan and Jacob looking like the caring big brothers to watch over everyone, and sweet lil mama Grace…yes, so cute in red and brown! Glad to hear you are snuggling and resting! God bless! Jenny
Congratulations on your adorable and precious little baby boy! Seth is beautiful, just like the rest of your kids! I love all the pictures and all of the sweet things you shared. There’s nothing like introducing the newest member of the family to all of the children. I love those sweet memories, just as you are enjoying all that sweet newness right now. Grace looks absolutely beautiful in the pictures. I love those red shoes, so very pretty. Her hair looks so lovely as well. I’m very happy for you! š ((((hugs))))
This was so precious. My eyes and heart are full. thanks for sharing your beautiful family and new little addition with all of us. š
Very sweeet…I’m glad you’re all settling in well. š
Oh those precious days of having a newborn home.adjusting. anxiety, bursting with love. Makes me cry. My babies are 3. Wea aren’t having any more little ones. Reading this (sigh) makes me realize again how quickly time does go by.
Savor the moment. You will quickly add Seth into the well-oiled routine. You have been so blessed!!!
Sweet pictures — looks like you will have many good helpers!
What a nice post. I have to say I sat here reading with tears in my eyes. The song Three Little Birds just started playing. My 5 year old is dancing around the kitchen. She loves it. Shanda thanks for sharing. Take care.
congrats on your gorgeous addition to your family. (:
Precious post, Shanda…Thanks for sharing these moments with us!xo
Shanda, thank you for sharing your sweet heart and your sweet family with us. I loved getting to see each one of your older children hold their precious little brother. I admire you and Rich so much for welcoming with such love all these gifts our good Father is sending you. What a rare thing in our world today, to welcome a big family. God bless you all tonight.
all the pictures are so sweet! Grace is so cute in her red and brown outfit! Looks like she’s going to make a good mommy someday!
I hadn’t checked your site this week and look what I missed. Congratulations Shanda on the birth of your BEAUTIFUL BLESSING. What a doll baby. I loved looking at the pictures of each sibling holding him, those are always a favorite in my home. Get lots of rest and good food to keep your mind and body strong my dear Xanga friend.
Oh Shanda!!! I just knew you would have him when I couldn’t get online!!! He is so precious. I love him!!! Is that possible? š Keep your eye on the mail over the next week… š Miss you!!!
This post was so sweet and precious Shan! I love seeing the pictures. Time does fly and the people that mean the most grow just as fast and time goes. i know you will soak up all you can. Love you, Lish