more pics before the first road trip

Zoe and mom are getting ready to take a 2-week trip to see both sets of grandparents while Kyle is out of the country on a business trip. Just look at the two of them, they're gonna have fun!

But before we all left home, we had a WONDERFUL visit with some dear friends / cousins (who actually just moved back from the country Kyle is going to visit! Here is Carly with her cousin Jessica.

Jessica is expecting her own little bundle of joy in December.

Here's Jessica holding Zoe again. Just what should Zoe call Jessica? Aunt? Cousin? Second-cousin? First-cousin-once-removed?
We're glad these dear friends, who are also family, are just a few hours up the road from us now.

If you see Zoe in the next couple of weeks, you may see her like this: strapped in and wide-eyed!

first bottle

Zoe took her first bottle like an old pro. At first she didn't quite know what to think of it, but once she realized food was coming out, she latched on tight! It was fun for dad to get to feed her. She makes all kinds of funny noises when she eats. I guess she's enjoying it - her way of saying yummmm...

3-weeks

Three weeks old and looking good! Things are going pretty well so far. Zoe is eating and sleeping on a pretty good schedule. Carly is doing an AMAZING job as a new mom. We're having so much fun with Zoe. Takes a little longer to get out of the house, and we don't get out as often, but we'll adjust.

A little wake-time with mom.

Is that a smile?

Nap time with dad.

Zoe's newly famous stretch position.

photo session

Is it possible to resist taking pictures of your baby, especially if you like taking pictures? I submit that it is not. So enjoy these pictures of 10-day-old Zoe. We sure are!

Chillin' on the boppie.

Tiny feet.

Tiny hands.

We didn't post nearly enough pictures of Carly's mom. Her grandma name is Marmie. She was with Carly and me during the whole labor and delivery time, and stayed with us for a week after Zoe was born. Well, she's back in Tulsa now. The training wheels are off, and we'll see if we can keep this bike upright on our own.

Four generations: Nana, Marmie, Carly and Zoe.

Wake-time on daddy's lap.

Zoe Update

We had our first visit with the pediatrician yesterday. He said that most babies do well to regain their birth weight within 2 weeks. Zoe was born at 6 pounds, 12 ounces, but she left the hospital at 6 pounds 5 ounces (which I guess is a pretty normal weight loss). Yesterday she tipped the scales at 7 pounds 2 ounces. She's still small, but is nursing well and growing! I think Carly isn't producing milk, but pure cream!

The clone

It's a little creepy, but check out how much Zoe and I look alike in these baby Kyle pictures. Carly has been saying all along that Zoe looks a lot like me (poor girl). My dad sent these to us last night.

Brand spankin' new.

Me with my stuffed cocker spaniel that I later named "neighbor".

I think Zoe and I look most alike in this pic. Crazy!

The Eagle Has Landed

She's here! Zoe June Walters made her grand entrance at 7:09pm on Wednesday September 12, 2007. And man is she beautiful! She came out at 6lbs. 12oz. and 18 1/2 in. long. Carly was AMAZING throughout the whole process. We needed to stay at the hospital for 48 hours (until Friday night) so thus, the couple day late entry. So we're at home now with Zoe and our families are visiting as well. Just one big party. Cynthia & Emily (Carly's sisters) decorated the house with streamers and a big "Welcome Home Zoe June" sign. Carly's taking a nap right now, Zoe is asleep on Kelsey's chest (my sister), and the dogs are in the kitchen...they can smell something different in the house, but we're not letting them run free quite yet! So without further adieu, meet Zoe.

After 17 hours of solid labor, Zoe spent the first hour of her life on mom's chest. This is the first picture we took of her; she's getting ready for her first bath.

The bathtub was more like a dish bucket, but hey, it worked!

This nurse, Kristy, started her shift just as Zoe was born. She was great.

All clean! And man do they get dirty in that breathing water to breathing air transition.

The two stars of the show, darn tired.


Carly lost a lot of blood during the birth, so was pretty light-headed the first night. But the next morning, as you can see here, she was doing GREAT!

Zoe's just about to try for her 3rd meal. She's been eating great. Gets that from her dad.

Our little god-daughter taking a turn holding Zoe (man, it seems like last month that I was visiting HER at the hospital the morning she and her twin brother were born). She was one of several visitors.

Nana June and Zoe June.

Nurse Cinnamon checking some vital signs.

I like to think she's trying to look for me :).

Ah, hospital gourmet. This is the room where it all happened. You can see Zoe's little bed just behind Carly's. I can tell you for sure that there was definitely NOT food there just 36 hours before.

The milk mustache.

Carly on the phone to her cousin in South Asia who is expecting a little one in December.

I know it's hard to believe, but there will definitely be more pictures to come! We can't wait for you to meet Zoe June. She's so wonderful, and we are honored to be her parents.

I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date...

September 4; came and went. Now we're here at September 10 and still waiting for our precious Zoe. Any day now! So until then, we'll make the most of these last days we have as just "the two of us." Check out these way cute pictures of the patient mama:

Due Date

Well, today (September 4) is Zoe June's due date. As we all know, babies come whenever they darn well feel like it. But the arrival of this date is a little surreal. It's kind of like when our wedding date (July 1) finally showed up on the calendar (at least we could count on the firmness of that one!). We are excited to meet our little girl. Please pray with us for a healthy, energy-full, safe delivery for Carly and for Zoe. We'll update with pics and news here when she comes!

Strutting her stuff

Talk about CUTE! Another picture from Brady & Melissa's wedding.

Family at the wedding

Some family pics from Brady & Melissa's wedding. It was beautiful!

Uncle Cliff, Aunt Joan, Uncle Neil, Aunt Debbie, Mom, Dad

Brady & Melissa Loyd's wedding

If you know our cousin Brady Loyd, you can check out some pics from his wedding on PhotoBucket at the following link:

http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa203/focuskyle/