Ready… Aim…

It's been a little while since we've had time to write much on the blog (though the twitter posts have been pretty consistent these days) but an event happened today that simply can't go untold. After a bit of a fussy afternoon Elijah went to stay with his Grammy and PaPa for a few hours. Apparently (so the tale goes) PaPa was holding him as they were preparing to bring him home. The ever adoring Grammy reached out to take Eli and was, of course, all smiles.

Then, time stopped. Not all of time, mind you, just most of it. The part that didn't stop allowed Eli's belly to rumble and tumble as his last meal quickly traveled up his little throat, out from between his little lips, and across a majestic arc spanning the void between his mouth and Grammy's unprepared (and apparently wide open) smile. Now things might have been okay except that time chose that precise moment to resume making Grammy fully aware of everything that had just transpired and, quite understandably, she was... displeased. PaPa on the other hand was quite amused. Apparently as bad as the stuff smells when it comes back up it tastes even worse. Good thing it was just formula!

The Story So Far

Just one day shy of three weeks as a family of three, I guess it's time to take a look back and record a bit of what's been happening lately. Thomas Elijah Pruitt was born on February 18, 2009 at 10:00 PM. Initially we had some concerns because of the lack of "liquid output" over the first 24 hours. We might have had to stay an extra day at the hospital if not for just a little bit of pee about 32 hours in. (Blogging about pee... how mature)

We took him home on February 20th, Danielles birthday, and began the process of getting used to living as a family of three (Sample 1 | Sample 2). The 21st & 22nd both brought doctors visits over the "output" issue. A little supplemental fluids and everything was back on track.

I spent the first week at home with Danielle and it was a valuable, but trying time. Sleep wasn't exactly something in large supply, despite Eli's generally quiet / calm behavior. Learning to feed was a difficult thing. Eli would (and still does) fall asleep many times almost as soon as he would begin eating. We were blessed to have about 2 weeks of dinner dropped of by family & friends. It's amazing what a difference something as simple as not having to cook dinner can make. Grandma & Grandaddy came by several times and Grammie and Papa did as well. Those brief times of having someone watch Eli while we got to sleep meant more than I think they knew.

And now, today is our second wedding anniversary. As we look around the house, we suddenly look like those "people with kids". Car seat parts sit on the floor beside a rocking swing. Breastfeeding pullows sit on the floor under a coffee table littered with everything from pacifiers and booklets from the pediatrician, to comfort foods like Slim Jims and a chocolate orange. (Yes, Slim Jims are comfort food. Don't argue.) The other couch is perpetually decorated with a towel for Eli because... well... it's not microfiber and pee soaks in. Two years into this thing and suddenly we're a family. Sometimes I look at Danielle and see a mom. Sometimes, like now, I look and make it a point to see my wife.

The past three weeks have been a blur on one hand and the longest three weeks ever on the other, but I can't imagine anything being more amazing for our family than having the Lord give us Elijah to care for. In some ways these are some of the hardest times Danielle and I have ever known, but I know we'll eventually look back on them with grateful hearts toward the God who walked through them with us. Even now, I wouldn't trade her or Eli for all the ease in the world.

Happy anniversary Danielle. I took you for better or worse, but I kind of cheated. I knew going into it that with you, there was no chance of "worse".

2009

And now... 2009. It's good to start out the new year with friends. We miss you Dad, Mom & Matt. Wish you were with us.

First Trip

This weekend is the first time our child has been out of the state or on vacation. We're in Sevannah, GA for a family reunion. True he / she won't be seeing much this time around, but I think it's pretty cool to have the first trip be to the place the Pruitts are from (at least in recent history) and the place my Dad grew up.