Welcome to our website!

I've spent a good bit of time in the last few days putting these posts and pictures together to look back over the past five weeks. Each new entry appears at the top of the page so that it's the first thing you see when you visit, which is nice in the future if you want to check for an update. This time though, if you want to start at her birth, you'll have to go to the bottom of the page and scroll up to follow in chronological order. With so many friends and family scattered around the country (and the world!) I hope these brief entries and pictures are enjoyable and help us stay connected! Enjoy!

time flies...

We were so lucky that Paul could stay home for a full month after Naomi was born. In the last week or two, we enjoyed getting out of the house a bit for visits, walks, and a few errands. One afternoon we spent about an hour on this greenway that runs outward from Salem...



As you can see from this picture, Naomi is certainly thriving! Her one month pediatric visit was on Monday, and she weighed 8lbs 13oz--that's over two pounds up from her discharge weight of 6lbs 12oz!

Of course, as you can see in this picture taken two days earlier, Naomi still isn't so big overall...

Just a few more pictures to enjoy--naptime bliss...

And a cute pose and smile in her Juniata College Peace onsie...

mommy and me

Naomi's first time in her sling--quite snuggly and comfy. She sometimes protests (as in screams and cries!) for a few seconds when I pop her in, but then she has fallen asleep every single time within minutes. She's happy and feels safe, I'm happy and have my hands free!

First nap together in the hospital

"Talking" with each other at my parents' house in PA

Out for a walk in Salem

Quite content after a nice meal

daddy and me

Proud papa not long after Naomi arrived!

Paul on his sorry little fold out chair "bed" in the hospital room with Naomi on our first night

Another naptime picture! Paul is wonderful at calming Naomi, and she also loves to snuggle with him and sleep on his chest.

Naomi's first stroller ride for our greenway walk

roadtrip(s)!

After two weeks of settling in at home, we were ready (and many people were very anxious!) to get out and introduce Naomi to friends and family. We took a short (1 hour) trip to Lynchburg to visit Paul's grandmother, mother and father...

And then traveled up to PA to visit my family. Naomi did beautifully, and this picture captures what she did for most of the trip. We stopped to nurse twice up and back, and she thankfully slept the remainder of the time!


Lots of people were very excited to meet Naomi, including my sister Rachel (isn't this a lovely picture?). After two kids of her own, Rachel was great at calming Naomi down when fussy and helping with baths, etc.

Rachel's kids--Kyle and Rayna

My mom and Rayna with Naomi. Rayna was quite enamored with Naomi, and is still asking about the baby even though we're gone. She was full of kisses for Naomi, and wanting to play pat-a-cake with her over and over again!

Kyle did a great job with Naomi too, and was a big help in bringing her things, singing songs, and holding her!

My mom's family over to visit--about 25 people! It was so good to visit with everyone, introduce Naomi, and spend time with family and friends. My mom and Aunt Kay with the next generation of kids--Naomi, Kyle, Rayna, Trinity (my cousin Katrina's daughter who was born the same week as Kyle), and Levi (my cousin Adam's son born 3 months earlier than Naomi). Holidays are becoming more and more fun!

beautiful little baby bits

the first weeks

We were so lucky to have family able to visit on Naomi's birth day. Paul's family had plans to travel to Myrle Beach on Labor Day, so they were all in Lynchburg preparing for their trip. This was wonderful timing, as it meant that Paul's sister Keri and our niece Emily (who live in Atlanta, GA) were nearby... Paul's brother Chris and wife Randi were also in town from South Boston, and they all made the trip together with Paul's mom Barbara and her fiance Sammy.


My parents drove down from PA and arrived that evening, and were able to stay through Labor Day.

Paul holding Naomi (and a smile!) that first afternoon.

First nap in her crib, wearing a Winnie the Pooh sleeper that was orginally mine...

Fluffy cotton bum in her cloth diapers!

So relaxed...