the two week old

Our great friend Amelia started her own photography business (we think she's awesome). She was with us at the delivery (sorry - those picts are not being posted) and she came over this week and took some "2 week old picts".

Directions: goto http://www.amelianreasons.com/
on the bottom right click: client proofing and ordering
a password will box will appear in the middle of the screen enter: ourlink

ENJOY (and hire Amelia)

One Day at a Time

What an interesting process this is! Learning this little baby is quite an adventure. Between all the feedings and naps, there are these cool times when Link is actually awake. Sometimes his eyes are open so wide and he is just alert and staring. (Totally love those eyes!) Other times he is in and out of sleep or fussiness and we try different things to calm him down. Thank God that he likes to be swaddled and responds to the shhhshhing thing! It's such a strange feeling to want so much to help him be calm and happy and sometimes not know how to do it. As our friend Joy has said, so the journey of living with your heart outside your body begins!

Right now I am super grateful that B's parents are here to help us around the housenand to hold Link. After 45 minute feedings eight times a day, I am okay with other people snuggling with him for awhile. And, knowing that soon enough it will be just B and me here at the house, I am glad that he is getting loved on by people other than us!

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Erica writes a million more words than Benj probably ever has on this blog!

Hi - It's Erica... Benj said it was my turn to let everyone know how we're doing - so here I am!

Must say that this little guy is totally amazing! Every single time I see him with those huge eyes open, I am overwhelmed by this new love I feel...and maybe some of it's emotion b/c of these hormone changes (and there is DEFINITELY a lot of emotion -- read "emotion" as crying & tears!) but it's also just me really experiencing God's love for me and this new little one. Anyway, crazy awesome!

Link and I are working on the breastfeeding thing, which obviously neither of us had a clue about before now. We are getting A LOT of practice as our little man can eat! Benj is such a great teammate in all of this and supporting me with whatever I need like taking two full two hours shifts in the night last night so I could sleep. As for sleep, I have had over 5 hours combined today, which is a record! My mom has been another HUGE support in this. She is cooking, cleaning, holding and rocking Link, going to the store, encouraging me to rest, just listening and talking with me. I cannot express how thankful and glad I am that she has been here all week. It will be hard for me to see her leave on Saturday but this has been such a gift. Finally, our little Luli...may sound silly but I am so proud of her. She is adjusting very well; actually, I think she is afraid of this new thing that is her size and makes all that noise. She keeps her distance from him but will sniff his head now and then...without licking him! And for those of you familiar with Luli, for her not to lick someone is HUGE! :-)

Well, thank you all for your interest in us and our new life with Linkin Urijah. Thank for you the many emails and texts and phone messages. Thanks for understanding when I don't reply or answer the phone...literally, my hands are pretty full and when I am not with the little guy, I am eating or resting. But, please know that I am so blessed by all of your kindness and prayers and encouragement. Please continue to pray that Link keeps figuring out how to eat well (and when to stop eating!), to sleep well (maybe even in for a few good hours straight in his crib), to calm down when fussing (and for us to know how to help him with that). Pray that Benj and I continue to connect to one another and God as beautifully as we have these past 5 days...how I ADORE my husband! (Crying again!) And that we are receiving and fullness of who God is and how huge He is to turn 45 minutes of sleep into enough energy to last many hours when it needs to...

Okay, so here are some pics, which I know is what you all really want!

Thanks! So much love -- Erica