Happy One Month, Baby Graham

Our sweet boy, Graham Drake, was born one month ago tonight on February 23rd at 9:53pm. It feels like yesterday. We are making up for the lost time we spent in the hospital. Today we had a great celebration with cousins, aunts and great aunts on the Alexander side of the family. Little Graham has certainly already been very spoiled. He is growing and eating well. Sometimes I think he looks like me. Sometimes Corey. Sometimes my little brother, Jeff. Sometimes I'm not sure who he looks like. He's a sweet boy and we love him so much. At three weeks old he surprised me and himself when he flipped over from his stomach to his back. He's clearly an overachiever :). He's our little noise maker as you can hear in the video below.

Photo credit: Cousin Darla Beam

Four Generations of Drake's (me with my mom and maternal grandfather, Avery Drake)

Thanks  to Aunt Daisy, Cousins Michele & Darla for a lovely shower today!

Graham had to wear his bow tie for his big party today :).

Photo credit: Cousin Darla Beam

Introducing our SON: Graham Drake Sylvestre

Our BOY was born on his due date, February 23rd at 9:53pm. He weighed 8 pounds 5 ounces and was 20 inches long. He's just such a sweet boy and we love him so much. We named him Graham Drake. We chose his name Graham because we both like it and of course because of the amazing legacy of Billy Graham. I read somewhere that Graham means homestead or coming from a farm. With Corey & I both growing up on big farms, that is quite fitting for our little guy. Drake is my mom's maiden name and my mom & grandfather cried when we told him his name the night he was born. 

It has been an overwhelming time as we have been in the hospital since Feb. 23rd recovering. I ended up having to have a C Section after a day of labor because Graham could not turn properly and he was not positioned for a regular birth. Graham also needed extra time here in the hospital's NICU to get better after an infection and needing oxygen support. 

He's a strong, handsome boy with a big appetite. I think he wears my round cheeks pretty well :). He's already been spoiled by aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. Please continue to pray for us during this big transition into parenthood. Pray that Graham would get stronger and stronger everyday and that he would love Jesus with all his heart.

We've already observed that Graham likes to hold hands. We've caught him holding his own hand pretty often and he loves to hold someone's finger while he eats.

Corey & I are finally home with Graham and are planning on taking a few quiet days to adjust to our new normal as a new little family.

We can't thank you enough for loving us and praying for us over the last week & half.

I won't be able to help myself from posting more pics soon :).

Love you all!

My Favorite Australian

New York is one of the best places in the world to live..... EXCEPT for one major thing...you have to get really good at good byes and then reinvesting yourself in new community.

Today is the end of an era. My favorite Australian is moving back to Perth from NYC. I met Ashley online :). Well, the Redeemer classifieds anyway. I wasn't searching for a deep friendship as much as I was looking for someone to live on our loft. God gave me both. She moved in wearing a white skirt and pearls and bought shelves to install on the loft for all of her high heels. She had a table up there for her tea set. You can't stand in the space but she had her tea set arranged :). She painted one wall pale pink. She was an amazing roommate to me during the time I was getting to know and date Corey and squealed with me like a little girl when we got engaged! Our 4A parties were spectacular because she brings beauty and thoughtfulness wherever she goes.

I've learned so much from her and she makes me so much fancier than I am naturally :). She helped me plan my wedding and implemented dreams of that weekend that I've had since I was a little girl. She says things like darling, oh suga', toMAto, dear, would you like some tea? She startles easily which Corey loves to take advantage of. NYC will forever have an Ashley shaped hole in it and our community there in NYC is better off for her glamorous presence. We all see that she loves Jesus and spreads His joy easily.

With tears in my eyes we send you off...bride to be....love you so much!! Christian, take good care of our girl! Have a wonderfully special wedding day and send us lots of pictures!

Pregnancy and more!

So I thought I should probably make a few notes to remember my pregnancy. I am normally a person who journals regularly but let's face it. Not this year. That makes me a little sad since this has been such a significant year but the reality is I either simply have not had time or the emotional energy to put down on paper the things I normally like to record and process. So I find myself exactly two weeks before our baby is due and I've not written about the experience of being pregnant. Anyone who knows me for more than five minutes will tell you lots of things about me but one of them is that I'm not great at dealing with pain or discomfort or being hot, etc. I try not to be a brat but I do try to change my circumstance :).

Overall I've had a great pregnancy with little incident. All of my doctor's appointments have gone smoothly. I know I can't take these things for granted. I have dear friends who know what a miracle that is! I was quite sick most of July and part of August. Morning sickness is a not truthful euphemism for yucky, gross sick all day most days.  It is where you need to eat to feel better but hate to eat because you feel so gross. I am also thankful that subsided and I know that is also not the case for many friends of mine.

Friends have asked about cravings. I've had a few....I think. Mainly it is just that something will sound really good to me over other things. I guess that is a craving. I have also wanted things I've not thought about for years like chocolate milk. The main thing I've had concerning food is food aversions. I normally dislike onions. I loathe them right now. I normally eat salad daily. Hate it. I normally eat chicken and eggs regularly. Hate those too. Can't even handle the smell of eggs being cooked. Oh smell. That is just a cruel thing that happens to pregnant women. I am already sensitive to getting migraines. I don't get them often. Maybe 4 times a year but when I do get them...yikes! And, over time I've figured out that certain smells can push me from normal headache to severe migraine. So, having the bionic prego nose is no fun! While I'm ranting...when something says fragrance free...they are normally lying.

I've done 3 loads of baby clothes laundry now. Feels completely surreal, I'll be honest. You see I know how to be single. Single the city. Single and loving Jesus. Single and traveling the world. I still haven't really figured out being married (to the best hubby ever!) and within the next few weeks, a little one will be here. One that fits into these things. 

Blows my mind! 

My sweet husband got the car seat and stroller out of the box and ready to go. Seeing it in our house feels out of place to me. I know I can't be in denial for too much longer. I can feel & see this baby moving like crazy and I know he or she is running out of room because I sure can't breathe! 

Friends, definitely pray for me as I approach time for labor & delivery. I'm a big chicken but I know I can do this and I'm excited to meet this little person. I hope he or she looks like daddy because I sure love looking at him :).

Here are some pics of the baby shower my mom's cousin hosted. They spoiled this little one! Such a lovely time with church friends who have known me my whole life! Thanks to Renee, Crystal and my mama for pulling this together! I can't get over that cake!