Happy New Year!

Every year instead of resolutions, we do family goals! Some years we do better than others on keeping the goals but we have crossed a few big ones off of our list in the past. For example, two years ago at this time we made a goal to run the Hawaii half marathon, a year before that it was to sell our Gilbert house and buy a new one...I am a firm believer that anything can happen if you write it down and put your mind to it.

This year we have a long list, from spiritual to financial, of things that we want to accomplish in 2011. Included in the list is my personal goal to blog more and, even though he is just four weeks, Jack has a few goals of his own:

• Double his college savings account in 2011 
• Read at least 4x week
• Play hard, sleep hard (preferably a span of 6-8 during the evening hours)

Wishing all a safe and Happy New Year filled with hopes, dreams and goals for 2011!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

We had a great first Christmas introducing Jack to family and friends. Such joy we felt having him with us to celebrate the season and all that it stands for. This year I didn't quite get the Christmas cards out but we did a photo shoot for birth announcements and a Happy New Year card so hopefully those will hit the mail soon.

A few of my favorites:

First Week Photos

Introducing Jack Lloyd

I can hardly believe over a month has gone by since my last post! I am happy to announce the arrival of BD Baby, Jack Lloyd, born on December 1st at 2:22 p.m. Jack was 7lbs and 19.5 inches long. Here is what I will remember to tell Jack about his birthday:

• On Monday, Nov. 29th, the Dr. wanted us to head to the hospital to deliver you! You were not in a good position but my blood pressure was creeping up...Your Dad and I actually told the Dr. that we "weren't ready" and asked to wait until Dec. 1st. This was the first night we slept in weeks, knowing that we would meet our boy on the 1st! We were told that we would have a C-section.
• Before we went to the hospital on the 1st, we went on a long walk and I went and got your Dad a big breakfast (I wasn't allowed to eat) so he would have strength during the day.
• Your Oma & Opa beat us to the hospital...and we later found out that Opa had already been to another hospital with a kidney stone. He didn't say a word because he didn't want to ruin your birthday!
• Grandma & Grandpa S. dressed up for the occasion! I am told that Grandpa took his tie off sometime during the surgery.
• You were delivered by the best Dr. in Phoenix (according to your Momma) who was the Chief of OB Staff at the hospital. This Dr. asked us if he could pray with us prior to delivery so we joined hands and prayed for your safe arrival. I was told later by the nurse of 20 years that she had never seen him do this with anyone in all of her years. It was a very special moment for us.
• Your Dad wasn't allowed in the operating room for the first 15 minutes. When he came in, I thought that he was a Dr. because he had scrubs on and a mask. He held my hand and had the Dr.s on his stopwatch counting down the minutes.
• The Dr.s had on Christmas music during the delivery. It looked like Santa's workshop...everyone was whistling and singing while prepping and cutting me open. You were born to "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer" but I didn't see you until "All I Want For Christmas is You" because they were cutting the cord.
• You hardly made a sound when you were born, it made me nervous but I kept hearing your Dad say "he's perfect"...I found out later that you were busy lifting your head off of the scale and the nurses were amazed.
• You were so alert! You made instant eye contact with your Dad and I. It was love at first sight.
• We had 8 people waiting for us to come out of recovery, they had to wait 3 hours after your birth!
• The first night you slept on my chest and then your Dad's. Neither one of us wanted to let you go.
• Your birthday was the best day of our lives!