Warning: Crying Ahead

Sleep??

I vaguely remember what real sleep is. It has been exchanged for power naps taken whenever possible. Garrett was doing great in the sleep department until the last couple nights when he has been wide awake from 7pm until 2am and HUNGRY! He wants to eat nonstop. Thus the power naps. It's a good thing he's cute or those 1am feedings would be much much more frustrating. :-) Anyway, here are some of the latest pictures. I went a bit snap-happy yesterday. He's now 3 weeks old and I love the crazy faces he makes!

We Love the Swing

Wide Eyed Sunday

Happy Valentine's Day

In this picture Garrett and I display our Valentine's Day surprise for Deanna. Deanna said that she just wanted Papa Johns pizza. So I had a heart-shaped pizza delivered. When the pizza arrived I brought out the flowers, balloons, present, and candy hearts and decorated the table (previously safely hidden in the man cave bathroom). Garrett did help with the big secret plan. He timed his fussiness and diaper bombs at the perfect time to keep Deanna sufficiently occupied as I set everything up -- we're a good team.


Garrett also had a special Valentine's Day present for Dad. He gave me the largest diaper deposit that I had ever changed -- it was a doozy.

On Our Own

Well, I don't have any cute pictures to add--there are probably some on the camera but that's what Russ does, not me--but wanted to give an update on our life with Garrett. He's still not really sleeping in his crib/bassinet. He can be content there for about 45 minutes max, then he realizes that he's not being held. Tears galore. But we're working on it. Tomorrow is Russ's first day back to work since Garrett's arrival. We're going to miss having him at home!!! But it had to happen eventually I guess. But showers will be a bit more difficult I'm thinking. Anyway, this is kind of a rambling blog about random things. I blame the baby fog that constantly surrounds my brain. Hope all is well with everyone reading this. Maybe next time I blog it will make a bit more sense and have a point. No promises, though. :-)

One Year Later

Many of you remember 12 February of 2008 as well as Deanna and I do. This was the day that I was shot while on a combat patrol with the Iraqi Army. I have always been aware of God's presence in my life, but never as miraculously as that day. The miracle extended far beyond how the path of the pullet went clear through my face without hitting anything of importance. It was also in the way that people were in place to lift up and comfort both Deanna and I instantly from my peers in Iraq, to our church family in Virginia, to friends and strangers all around the world. It was also in the way that my quick recovery enabled me to return to the Soldiers I served with -- American and Iraqi -- and give them encouragement.

February 12th, 2008 Deanna and I were a millimeter away from our dreams of a future together having a change of course. One year later I am holding my one week old son -- the beginning of our family together. People ask me if I think God saved me that day for a reason. Maybe I'll put that at the top of the list of questions I ask Him when I eventually get to Heaven. But for now, I know that I am blessed beyond measure and I have experienced His love and protection in a way so great that I need to share it with people around me. And I'm excited to tell Garrett about it over and over again as he grows up.

Happy One Week Birthday Garrett!

Yes, Garrett turned one week old today. We didn't do much to celebrate (other than our eating / sleeping routine . . . ok, not much sleeping). We did decide to follow the advice of my cousins Jason and Corrie who recommended taking a periodic picture of Garrett with the same item so that we can watch him grow. We decided that Garrett's brand new Paratrooper Bear was the perfect item! The bear is a present from his Grandma and Grandpa Koch. It is dressed in the same Paratrooper outfit that Dad wore with the 82nd Airborne Division not too long ago -- even has a parachute and maroon beret! Clearly, Garrett is still working on this whole smiling for the camera thing. He was a happy baby right before we sat him down and right after . . . but not so much when we set him down for a few seconds in the chair.

Watching the Cowboys with Dad

Well, Garrett came a little too late to experience Dallas Cowboys football with Dad this season (that is probably a good thing). But the Pro Bowl gave us one opportunity to bond in this special way before kick-off next August (the offseason is much much too long). We dressed in our Cowboys gear (as did Deanna) and we rooted for Jason Whitten, Demarcus Ware, and Jay Ratliff. Garrett already has a few Cowboys outfits, to include his Romo jersey, but this particular one was worn by his Dad back in 1978!

Garrett's First Walk

The last two weeks have been FREEZING -- it even snowed twice. But when I took Lucy outside today, I realized that it warmed up. It warmed up alot. So we chose not to miss out on this opportunity and we took Garrett out for his first walk. Of course, it took about ten to fifteen minutes for Dad to figure out the darn stroller. But before long we were on our way. Lucy led the way. Deanna pushed Garrett. And we enjoyed a relaxing stroll as a family!

The Dog Whisperer

So Deanna's sister Krista comes to visit for the weekend to meet her nephew Garrett. In these few short days she manages to train our crazy dog Lucy more tricks than we ever managed in the nine months we have had with her. Go figure. Lucy can now sit, shake, and almost roll-over!

Garrett meets Lucy

Over the last two days, we sent various blankets and items of clothes back home with Bob and Julie for Lucy to sniff and figure out this new scent that would be invading her territory shortly.
When we got Garrett home, Deanna held him and I held Lucy. We let Lucy smell the baby, being careful not to let her lick the face (no easy task -- this dog loves to lick).

So far, Lucy is doing great with baby Garrett! She evens seems territorial of her little brother and almost looks like she is looking after her when we sit on the couch. We'll see how things go as she is no longer the sole center of this houses universe.