our lives have changed

Thank God for giving us the honor of being parents to baby Andrew.

he´s sleepy

It seems like we just bought a package of 56 diapers, and they are almost gone. We will change his diaper, and sometimes within 5 minutes he is already dirtying the next one. But it is usually atleast 2 hours between diapers changes. We pay extra for better diapers, and he seems to do well in those. He will usually really fill his diapers with urine, but the diapers almost never leak.
Tomorrow Andrew is 2 weeks old. He is getting bigger and bigger. I am surprised at how much he likes me, because I imagined he would always want Eliana, but that is not true, he also likes being with me. I have learned to change diapers, and have become quite good at it. One of the first diapers I changed I put on backwards, but Andrew didn´t seem to mind.
Andrew is a strong baby. Today he gripped my finger, and he squeezed so hard that his fingernail dug into my finger, and it hurt.
With Andrew has come a lot of joy for Eliana and I. We love being parents, and taking care of him. Soon he will be wanting to play, and he will laugh instead of just smiling. I don´t want him to grow up because these days are so special, but at the same time I look forward to when he is bigger, and all the things we will do together.

a good little guy

Andrew is such a precious baby. I told Eliana today that he is so patient. And it is true. When daddy changes his diapers, and I am slower at it than Eliana, I know that toilette is cold, but he just lays there, and usually does not cry. I can´t believe how well he does.

Relaxing with Mama

Kisses from the Family

here is some photos

(above) ¨I finished my bath and am ready to eat¨

(above) he loves to smile

(above) what is going through that mind of his?

(above) ¨daddy, this is all just so exciting!¨

(above) he is a happy baby.

(above) relaxing with mama.

(above) such a cutie.

thanks

We really appreciate all the nice comments from everyone. We really enjoyed reading those.
Eliana, Andrew, and myself are doing well. This has been quite a week, but we are so glad to be at the house, and to be together.
Andrew has been eating and eating. I forgot what it is called when a baby has some yellow skin… my mom can comment and say what the name of that is. But Andrew has had that. His skin was a little yellow, and even the whites in his eyes were a little yellow. From what I understand, babies are born with something in them that they have to poop and pee out, and so especially babies with this condition (its not usually serious) need to be drinking lots of milk. And Andrew has been doing that, and now his skin has more a nice pink color, and it seems that the yellow in his eyes is pretty much gone.
He is such a good baby. He loves to smile. I heard that most babies don´t smile the first week after they are born, because birth is also very hard on the baby, and the baby just doesn´t feel like smiling for a while. But Andrew has been different, and has been smiling and smiling. He knows his mamas and papas voice, and I think that is one thing that gets him to smile. I think he smiles most when he is able half a sleep.
I can now change diapers without anyones help, although Eliana does most of the diaper changing. The doctors said to feed Andrew every 2 hours, so he has been eating a lot. The doctor said that he can breast feed, and also drink formula. So he has been breast feeding, and when he is done with that, he will take some formula. Sometimes he will breast feed, and then drink 2 ounces of formula, which I think is amazing that such a little baby can drink so much. With all the milk he has been drinking, he is growing, and seems to be getting a bit of a double chin. I guess that is just when he has his head down that he gets a little roll under his chin, but he has definitely put on some weight.
Thanks again for the encouragement and everyones prayers.
If you would, please join us in prayer that we can soon come to the United States and visit everyone. Its not easy to do that, because there is visas, and all that stuff, but nothing is hard for God. We would like to come visit in February, and if that is in Gods will, then it will certainly happen. Can´t wait for everyone to meet Eliana and Andrew.
God has allowed us to go through some difficulties recently, and it has been hard, but we have been able to know God like never before. A light certainly shines brighter during the night, and it is the same with God… it is during the hard times when people turn to him and are able to see him like never before. The same God who allowed us to go through a hard time is who comforted us. And now I can say more than ever that God is good. He is full of grace and mercy, and his love is so great. It amazes me how good God is, and I have only caught a glimpse of his goodness. When the difficulties are gone, it is easy to forget about all that God has done, and so I want to remember how he helped us, and took care of us. Our God is very good.

P.S. Don´t miss the videos I put on the last posts. I hope to put more on real soon.

andrew sleeping

a smile