Case of the missing stump

Walden's belly button stump fell off which is great except that we can't find it.  We've looked everywhere.  It is nowhere to be found.  We figure it is hiding out in one of three places:

• Somewhere in the sofa cushions                   
• Somewhere tangled up in James's chest hair
• Somewhere inside one of the dogs               

 I love my baby girl past Heaven, but I have to admit that the whole belly button thing grosses me out a little bit.  And now to think that it's just floating around randomly in the house...

See, even Walden thinks it's kind of nasty.

One week old

On Tuesday, Walden will be a week old.  Hard to believe seven whole days have passed since she came into the world.  Even though I love watching her change and see new things every day, I'm a little bit sad that we're moving further and further from the wonderful day she was born.  It would be nice to have a replay button (with the option to fast forward through a few of the more harrowing moments of that day, like the pot-hole filled ride to the hospital or when the reception lady made me sign about 100 papers all while having some serious contractions...good times).

Little Walden has had a busy first week.  Here are a few things she's accomplished so far:

• First time being licked by a dog.  When we introduced Walden to Jake and Lucy, the pups were a little hesitant to approach her and sort of kept their distance for the first few hours she was home.  All that has changed and now all they want to do is sit as close to her as possible and stare.  They sneak in a few kisses here and there and Walden doesn't seem to mind.  

• First trip to Cracker Barrel.  I didn't think we'd be taking her out to eat so soon after her birth, but the pull of the Barrel became too much for me to handle, so off we went.  She was a little angel, but I think she had her eye on my turnip greens.

• First time projectile pooping on someone.  Newborns are small, but they are mighty.  James had to learn the hard way that you have to get the new diaper on the scene immediately or bad things can happen.  Rookie mistake. 

•  First camping trip.  Ok, not a real camping trip.  But we have been camped out downstairs for the last couple of days since we lost all power on the second floor.  Walden's been a real trooper.  (As of a few of hours ago, we have power again and can move back into our bedrooms. Yay! Except why is our house choosing NOW to fall apart?)

So it's been an eventful week for all of us and we look forward to many more firsts for Walden. Some pictures from the past week...

Tuning out the world.

This is the face I make when I have to wake up, too.

Walden spends a lot of time sleeping on chests. And just sleeping in general.

She's here!

Walden Nicole arrived three days early on Tuesday, July 20 at 11:21 p.m.  She weighed in at 7 lbs, 6 oz and measured 20 inches long.  We are so in love!  We just keep staring at her and can't believe she's really ours.

Walden with her Daddy. Just a few minutes old.

With Aunt Jennifer, Labor Coach Extraordinaire

excited grandparents

Grammie and Boompa come to visit

with Grammie

with her yet-to-be-officially-named Grandad

being adored by Daddy

Professional Diaper Changer

Cone hat

Going Home

Sleepy Girl

There's a new baby in town.

Sweetness

One wish...

The other day I was thinking that if I could have just one wish in these final days before bringing home a brand new baby, it would be for the bathroom upstairs to spring a leak and to soak through the downstairs ceiling.  

And what do you know, my wish has been granted!

lovely.

We've Come A Long Way Baby...

From 13 weeks                     To 21 weeks

    To 28 weeks                         To 34 weeks

And here is Big Mama at 38 weeks....

39 weeks is coming up on Friday...we might have to get out the wide angle lens. This "pretty good sized baby" (doc's words) better get here soon!  There's no more room at the inn.

Nursery is done!

Now all we need is a baby.