Welcome to the world baby girl!

Today was supposed to be Hayes' due date, but she made her debut 11 days early on Thursday, July 2nd at 3:52 AM. After a long couple of days with contractions, Adam and I finally went to the hospital late Wednesday night and were in the operating room within two hours, meeting our baby girl. She was 6 lbs, 5 oz and 20" long. She looks a lot like Gray but with a smaller head, longer body, and a little different nose. Plus, she has tons of hair and it's a bit lighter than his was. I'm still hoping she'll look like Adam but only time will tell.


We have been home with her now for a little over a week and are starting to get the hang of this two kid thing. We definitely are keeping busy, always changing, feeding, or putting one of them down for a nap, but are realizing that it will only get easier over time. We're sending Gray to school during the day so that his routine stays as consistent and familiar as possible, which gives us a little more time to focus on Hayes during these early days. My mom and Dad came in town for Hayes' arrival and my mom stayed for the next week to help out with errands, bathtime, meals, and Gray. Adam is staying home from work this week to help out and hopefully we'll have a routine down by the next week because he's going on his first overnight trip since Hayes was born and I'm a little nervous. Linda and Billy have offered to keep Gray and I just might have to take them up on that offer since I still can't drive or pick him up.

I still can't believe Hayes is here and finally feel like our little family is complete. Gray is so cute with her....when he comes home from school, he immediately runs to her and "pets" her head or asks to hold her. But, for the most part, he pretty much ignores her and is into his own world.

I don't know if it was being away from him for those days while we were in the hospital or if it was holding a new baby, but he seems absolutely ginormous to me now. He's not even a toddler anymore....he's a little boy! And he's ALL BOY in every way. I just can't take how quickly he's growing up and am trying to remember that with Hayes...especially when I get frustrated at how much she's feeding or how little she's sleeping. These days pass us by in the blink of an eye and I want to remember and relish them all. Until next time, we are sleeplessly and hopelessly in love with our little family...the Pattersons.