Oh Anderson!  One month ago, our lives were forever changed when you came into this world.  Your daddy and I didn't realize that the teamwork we needed that night would be just a small reflection of the teamwork required to take care of you each day.  You have changed us for the better and we are so in love with you!  You are so perfect, and sometimes we still can't believe you are ours!  The Lord has blessed our family, and one day you too will know Him and His amazing love.

You are such a big boy already.  You weigh 11 pounds 7 ounces, and you slept through the night for the first time just two days ago!  You slept from 10:30 until 5:00.  Even though it worried me, I enjoyed the extra sleep, and your daddy and I decided to put you in your crib in your big boy room last night.  We turned the monitor on, and I think your daddy woke up every hour to look at you and make sure you were still there.  You should be very impressed because your daddy is a very sound sleeper!

Here is a recap of your first month, Anderson:

You had your newborn pictures taken and did so well!  Kristin couldn't believe how alert you were!  We couldn't even get any pictures of you sleeping.  But you were exhausted when we got home.  This is what you looked like.

You had your first bath! The Tummy Tub is great!  You calm down and just look around while you're in it!  Your daddy and I have been getting you in a routine of taking a bath every night before bedtime.

You are still cross eyed sometimes, and I think it is the cutest thing ever!!

Yes, I let you sleep on your stomach during the day.  You see, I am an occupational therapist (you'll learn more about what that is later), so I know what happens to babies who are on their backs all day every day.  They don't develop all their muscles and their view of the world isn't quite right.  Besides, you sleep so good on your tummy!

You gave your daddy a pep talk before his 50 mile bike race, Tour de Rock.

Great Aunt NeNe came to see you.

So did your grandfather!  He is still trying to decide what he wants you to call him!

Great Grandma Reed

Everyone who came to see you that weekend!

Some other things you have done:

Daddy gave you your first bottle! We were worried because you don't even like the pacifier.

This is what you gave Daddy for his first Father's Day.  Don't worry; I told him the title of the book has no hidden meaning, that we just knew he loved The Lost Series by Ted Dekker!  Your daddy can't wait to show you the size of this book when you are older, because it is a small book.  It just looks huge next to you!  You are a big boy, but still very small in relation to many things!!

Worn out after tummy time!

Four generations

Us with your Mammaw and Pappaw Acklin and Great Mammaw Ruth and Great Pappaw Travis at your first family reunion!  Or for you would it be just "union?"

Uncle Jim got to see you for the first time.

And finally, here are some pictures of you and your great Pappaw Travis:

He was a very important person and role model to your daddy when he was a little boy, and he is so glad you get to know his Pappaw Travis as well!

You are loved already by so many, Anderson!

Here is a link to the newborn pictures:

http://www.kristinhollensworth.com/blog/anderson-little-rock-arkansas-newborn-photographer/

After lots of this:

But not so much of this:

The whirlwind continued!  I don't think I slept at all in the 24 hours after he was born.  I was so excited and happy!

Nana's first glimpse of Anderson

Pappaw's first

Dr. Sellers!

My Nanny Gulledge (great grandmother) always said a baby is healthy if he sleeps with his hands above his head!

Anderson's very first visitor besides grandparents!!  Maria came in at 6:15 that morning.  We all know she struggles to make it on time to work at 7:00 (as do I), but for some reason, she was able to get to Baptist a little quicker on Tuesday morning!

Family visits

Friends from work walked over!!!

Going home!

He had so many visitors during his 1 1/2 day stay at the hospital.  I think we counted about 70 people that had signed his baby book!  He is so loved!  Here are some pictures since he's been home:

On his way to his first pool party at Adam's Mammaw Ruth's in Conway!

Cousin Madi taking care of Anderson

Rachel Kate holding "her" baby

Anderson has since had his first doctor's appointment.  When he left the hospital, he was down to 9 pounds 7 ounces.  They are supposed to be back up to their birth weight by two weeks.  He weighed in at 9 pounds, 14.5 ounces at his one week check up!

Although Adam and I aren't getting as much sleep as we'd like, he really is a good baby!  He looks around a lot and everyone always comments on how alert he is.  Adam is really good to take care of the diaper changes so all I have to do is feed him!  He says he feels like all he does is change him, and I say all I feel like I do is feed him!  I am really trying to enjoy every moment of this because he will never be this little (I know, relative term!) and cuddly ever again!

We have also been so blessed by a wonderful church family who have been bringing us dinners so it's one less thing for us to worry about!  Plus it's always nice to have a break in the day and talk to more adults!!  Adam, Anderson, Bubba, and I also went on our first walk on Thursday.  Adam pushed the stroller and I held Bubba's leash.  It felt so good to get out and about, although Bubba thought he was going to pass out!  Then on Saturday, Adam told me to go get a pedicure, and it felt SO GOOD!!!  It's also nice to see bones and veins in my feet and ankles again!  I forgot how skinny they were!

Everyone feel free to post comments on here to Anderson because I am going to print this blog off into a book for him!