NOLAN OLIVER is Born!!

Last Friday morning, December 5, 2008, Shelley went to Beaumont in Grosse Pointe to be induced. She was now four or five days late because she was due to have the baby on Dec. 1. I was at their house at 6:00 in the morning to stay with Matthew. I was so excited!  - both to spend time with Matthew and for the new baby to be born. 

Matthew got up that morning early and we played together the whole morning. We learned to play a game on the computer with two cars that race. He loved it and wanted to "practice" by himself for a long time before we actually "raced." He would have played that game all day if I had let him!

We also went downstairs where Matthew has quite an extensive wooden train layout. Some of it is on a train table, and some of it is on the floor. He loves to lay out track by himself and is very creative. One thing that he always loves to do is play "air show" with me. He actually has an older cousin who was part of the Thunderbirds for many years. He got to see a couple of air shows then and still remembers them. 

So we lined up his many airplanes and put wooden people in the audience and carried on an airshow for almost an hour! He loves to pretend and really gets into flying all of the planes and helicopters. I had a great time with him this weekend while the baby was being born.

Later Friday afternoon Shelley called with the news that the baby had been born and that it was a boy! I didn't tell Matthew anything. He was taking a nap for almost three hours that day and Shelley and Bob wanted to surprise him when we took him to the hospital. So we told him that we had a surprise for him and when Terry got done with work, we headed for the hospital.

On the way there, Matthew asked where we were going. We told him it was a surprise, but he asked if we were going to the hospital. Terry and I just looked at each other and laughed. He is so smart! Then he asked if Mommy had the baby. We said to just wait and see. He got to walk into Shelley's room first and see his new brother, Nolan Oliver. Nolan weighed 6 lbs. and 12 oz. and was 21 " long. He has lots of dark hair, long fingers and feet and a very clear complexion. I think he looks a lot like Matthew, but different, too.

This is me holding Nolan. It is not the best picture of me - but I had been playing with Matthew all day and I guess I have an excuse! Shelley actually looks better and she was the one who had just gone through labor and delivery! Isn't the baby sweet? We are so thankful that Shelley had a relatively quick delivery and that the baby is healthy and so perfect.

Here is the four of them. Don't they look happy?

Shelley and Bob got to bring Nolan home on Sunday morning. They picked up Matthew at Cornerstone because he was still with us until then. We can't wait to actually spend some time with the new little one! More pictures will be coming this week.

Thanksgiving - Part 2

The real Thanksgiving Day was spent at our house with Shari and Mark and Esme; my sister, Carol and her husband, Don, and son Dylan; and my mom and her husband Roy. Shari and Esme had spent about ten days with us by then, and our son-in-law, Mark had come from Tennessee the day before. My sister, Don, Mom and Roy, and Dylan came late morning. Shelley and Bob and Matthew were also here until it was time to eat. Then they left to go to Bob's parents house.

This is a picture of Terry and me holding Esme. 

Below is a nice picture of Mom and Roy in our family room.

We started out with all kinds of appetizers in the family room. Thanksgiving is always kind of a crazy day for me. I enjoy the company, but the meal is so much work - especially actually getting all that food on the table and getting everyone around it! I loved having part of my family here. I always enjoy being with my sister. Don loves babies, so he just took over holding Esme that day. I am so thankful that everyone could be here with us!  Shari and Mark and Esme had to leave late afternoon to go to Mark's family's house. We are very blessed to have had them this year for Thanksgiving! 

This shows Dylan and Shelley (cousins). Shelley is about nine months along at this time and we were eagerly awaiting a new baby!

Here is our daughter, Shari, holding her nephew Matthew and daughter Esme. We miss them both so much. We found out that they are coming home again for Christmas! It was a wonderful Thanksgiving - we have so much to thank the Lord for!  Having our family for Thanksgiving was a great blessing!

Thanksgiving - Part I - Thanksgiving at Dad's

I have a lot of blogging to catch up on! I'll begin with Thanksgiving at Dad's house the Sunday before the actual Thanksgiving Day. We got to have dinner with Dad; Ken and Sandy; Barb, Ron, and Kristin; Rob, Melissa, and Kate; Shelley, Bob, and Matthew; and Shari and Esme. Ron and Barb made a couple of great kinds of lasagne and then we all pitched in with other food.

Here is Kristin with Rob and Kate (four months). Dad is sitting in his chair. He was at home for the day. He now lives at a nursing home in St. Clair Shores. 

The younger generation sat at this table and the "older generation" which includes Terry and me  :(  sat with Dad at another table. We had not been together in quite awhile and had a good time visiting and playing with Matthew, Kate, and Esme.

Below is a picture of "Grandpa Ken" with his granddaughter, Kate. Isn't she beautiful?

We were missing lots of people at this gathering and we did miss them, but it was a fun time and we were thankful to spend time with this side of the family for a special day. We were so blessed to have Shari and Esme with us. Shari hadn't been home for Thanksgiving for about six years! I think that I failed to get any pictures of Esme on this day. The poor girl was probably sick of pictures by then anyway!!