Baby Daniel is born~

My very first nephew came early on February 18th.  The entire week Derek had been struggling with a sinus infection.  The day before Justin had started to spike a fever.  At 3am I was giving a hot little boy more Motrin and some cold water.  I pass my cell phone by the fridge and notice all sorts of things going on from text messages.  Of course, Elise was in labor.

Derek was so sick on Friday, the 18th, that he stayed home from work.  Justin and I went to the doctor to realize he had a certain fever virus that was going on. 

I was so bummed!  My first chance at being an aunt and I'm not there!

 Thankfully on Saturday morning Derek felt good enough for me to take off for a quick 48 hours to see Daniel and leave the sickness behind.   God bless the sweet husband that stayed home recovering himself while taking care of a sickie child.

Wendi brought me a cookie cake when Justin was born, so I thought I would carry the tradition with the next Smith grandbaby.

In case you didn't know, Great American Cookie Company now has a smaller, or junior, sized cake.  The trick is they charge you the same amount as the original larger size!  They still have the larger circle, but be warned if you end up with a junior.  A bit of a disappointment for this cookie lover.  Same thing happened to Derek when he picked up a cake for my birthday a couple weeks ago.

Ahhhhh, sweet baby smell

Papa with his newest grandson

He has changed so much from these pictures, but alas, I stay on track of my way behind-ness.

I know the Lord is Sovereign in His timing. Maybe I would have been an emotional mess just right off the heels of my fertility shots not being successful if I had been there for the day of his birth.  And with arriving solo I was able to be in work mode and help out in whatever would bless my brother and Elise the most.  The Lord is good.

Finally...I can officially become Aunt Shani.

Daniel is not lacking in the aunt department.

He has changed so much since these photos were taken.  Not sure if he would even want to be swaddled at this point.

The proud but tired parents getting released from the hospital.

So tiny in his first carseat ride

Elise's sisters made a welcome home sign with scriptures for him.  I love that he has a book of the Bible to be prayed over him.

Elise used some of the decor from the shower in her nursery.

Nurseries - they seem so far away to me at this stage where we are at.

Birdie with her buddy.  My mom is on week two of keeping Daniel until the end of the school year in order for Elise to finish the school semester.  The Lord has been faithful in that everything has gone smoothly.  These guys are becoming best friends.

Taking a photo of mom's new golf shoes she was sporting.
































Thank you, Lord, for expanding our family with another son to raise in Your Name.  I cannot wait to get my hands on this sweet boy again in a few weeks!