Blake Allan Newman

Introducing Blake Allan Newman!  Born Sunday, June 23rd at 2:10 PM.  Weighed 8 lbs, 8 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long! 

 

Short story:  Started feeling contractions around 7-7:30.  Tyler informed us he needed to speak to the doctor on the phone because today the baby needed to come out, and that it was 8:00 and time to go to the doctor because he had already went to the bathroom.  Mind you - we have said NOTHING to him.  :)  Timing of contractions not too consistent (15 minutes to 5 minutes).  After John & Julie arrived for their visit and realized they were not only visiting Tyler for the day, we left for the hospital around 10:30 AM, and after that it's history! 

 

We were blessed that all four grandparents, Kyle, and Tyler were able to visit right after we got to our room Sunday afternoon.  Thanks all for visiting, and for everyone who has called, emailed, etc. 

 

Mom and Blake right after he was born.

Mom, Blake, & Dad

Papa Knute & Blake

Grandma Julie & Blake

Papa John & Blake

Grandma Denise & Blake

Uncle Kyle (aka - best babysitter!) and Blake

Most important - Big Brother Tyler and Blake

Blake posing for some pictures at the hospital.

Family Visit

May also marks the month my sister Val and her family move to San Jose, CA!  Since we couldn't leave the DM area to visit them, Val, Emma, Chase, Carrie, Josh, and Mom visited us!  We had a great time despite all the rain that kept us cooped up in the house.  We celebrated Grandma's birthday and just enjoyed time together that we may not get for awhile.  :(

 

The kids making mini-pizza's.  Great idea Andrew!

Kids helping Grandma celebrate with an ice cream cake (good idea Carrie!!!).  As for the 'Nice Buns' caption - ask Josh!

The boys racing cars through the tunnel!

Breakfast...not sure about the reason for the sunglasses though.

Cousins chilling watching cartoons...with Spidey!

Mother's Day & Big Bro time

May turned out to be an interesting month.  First was Mother's Day, and Tyler and Dad took me out for breakfast, planted some plants in our porch barrel, and then brought me flowers!  Two days later, I was put on a semi-bed rest at 34 weeks.  Dad and Tyler were troopers taking care of me and luckily I was able to work from home and not take PTO.  Thankfully, they let me up and going after only 2 weeks.  We found some time throughout the month to do some fun things with Tyler before he is no longer an only child!  This included tickets to see Sesame Street Live - Elmo at the arena, a visit to a fire station, and lots of baseball playing outside!     

 

Dad & Ty planting the barrel.

Looks like a true farmer, doesn't he?

Flowers from my little boy!

Hanging with Uncle Kyle at Elmo!

This was his face the entire 1st half - just stared in a trance, singing just a bit!

 

Sitting in an ambulance, taking it all in!

We missed getting to see inside the fire truck due to a fire call, but even better, we got a free (fitted!) bike helmet and got to play on the outside of another one. 

Finally got to get out the new baseball tee we got from the Hensley's for Christmas (thank you!).  Here Dad is showing Tyler (decked out in both Yankees & Cardinals, we know!) how to hit off the tee. 

He figured it out quickly!

Tyler got to take a "Big Brother" class where he learned about safe toys for babies, the importance of washing hands, and got a tour of the hospital.  Oddly enough, they showed an empty delivery room (I think the family rooms were all full!) and it was actually the very room Tyler had been born in!  Above, he was chosen in the class to try on the full operating garb!

April Fun...

Here are just a few pictures of what was going on here in April...

 

This is my attempt at being a creative 'Pinterest' mom!  I built Ty a race track out of masking tap, complete with pit stop and a place for Mack and the pit crew.  It did entertain him and spark his imagination for a few days!

Tyler and Andrew have done a great job with the garden this year!

Cousin Johnathan & him playing games.

Batman & Spiderman resting after a long day of being super hero's!

Baby room almost ready (and no, those are not the baby initials on the wall, we forgot to take Tyler's down!)

Me at 31 weeks.

Tyler and his friend Pete!

Swim Lessons!

Tyler took his first swimming lessons this winter in a Daddy & Me class at the Urbandale pool.  He had lots of fun with dad as they learned some fundamentals, sang songs, and mostly how to not be afraid in the water!  Mom enjoyed watching the two of them have a great time!