Stephfabulous meets Thomas

Stephanie and Adam stopped by our house on the way home from a wedding in North Carolina.  I don't think our house is necessarily "on the way" from North Carolina to their house, but they made a special effort to swing by and meet our newest little guy.

He was thrilled to meet them! :)

But not more thrilled than I was to see them!












Thanks for coming to see us, guys!! :) Can't wait to see you again!!

At the risk of sounding cheesy...

I'd like to quote some Aerosmith :)


I could stay awake just to hear you breathing 
Watch you smile while you are sleeping 
While you're far away and dreaming 
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender 
I could stay lost in this moment forever 
Every moment spent with you 
Is a moment I treasure 



Laying close to you 
Feeling your heart beating 
And I'm wondering what you're dreaming 
Wondering if it's me you're seeing 
Then I kiss your eyes and thank God we're together 
I just wanna stay with you 
In this moment forever, forever and ever 




I don't wanna miss one smile 
I don't wanna miss one kiss 
I just wanna be with you 
Right here with you, just like this 
I just wanna hold you close 
Feel your heart so close to mine 
And just stay here in this moment 
For all the rest of time 




Don't wanna close my eyes 
Don't wanna fall asleep 
'Cause I'd miss you, baby 
And I don't wanna miss a thing 
'Cause even when I dream of you 
The sweetest dream would never do 
'Cause I'd still miss you, baby 
And I don't wanna miss a thing 

Time, please freeze!!

I snapped this moment with the camera on my phone and I just love the sweet little contented look on Thomas' face and the way Benson's holding his little fingers and how big brother is just beaming and how he didn't want me to move Thomas from him.... ever.

There's a lot of "ands" in that sentence.

There's a LOT I love about this time in our lives.

I wish I could FREEZE TIME!!!

Precious, sweet boys.  What a GIFT from the Lord!!!

Benson's Pirate Yacht

A few weeks before Thomas was born, Mrs. Lula called me and asked what I thought about her getting Benson a special surcie to play with for those first few days when we were home from the hospital.

{ Being the mother of five, she's pretty smart about things like how to make the addition of another child to the family go smoothly. :) }

She said she'd found this blow up pirate pool that she thought he would have fun in, but wanted to run it by me first. 
I appreciate that last part.  :)

Even though pirate's aren't my favorite, (I never would have thought I'd feed a love for pirates) they really are fun for pretending!  Benson LOVES making a "pirate ship" out of ANYTHING and running from the "bad" pirates and hunting for treasure, etc.

So the first morning Thomas was at home, Daddy and Grandmama spent ALL MORNING blowing up Benson's new pirate pool (I REALLY wish I had some pictures of that- they did have a foot pump, but they got QUITE the workout blowing up this thing!)

To say that it's been a "hit!" is an understatement!!

It spouts water, shoots "cannon's", has a "roll-up jolly roger" (which is , for some reason, a highlight for Benson?)  A treasure chest, blow-up swords and shields to fight the bad pirates.... 

The thing is like a Pirate YACHT!  

Our pirate family with our newest matey...

A BIG THANKS to "Pirate Grandmama" for playing pirates NON STOP for the days she was here. 

Having his own little "special somethin' " was really helpful in those first few transition days :)

He's been excited to teach Thomas all about pirates...

And what happens after pirates find all the gold and escape all the bad guys?

They snuggle up and watch some "Jake and the Neverland Pirates!"
Well, some of them don't make it all the way through the show... 

It's hard work being a pirate! :)

Sweet Cuddly Brothers

The very first morning that Benson woke up to his new baby brother in his house, 

he wanted to cuddle him any chance he could get.  

He's such a great big brother!!!

I love this sweet, sweet moment...

Welcome Home Baby Thomas

Here's a few snaps of two day old Thomas, the day we brought him home from the hospital. 

Oh these toes... i love these toes...

Look at that HAIR!!!

I still can't get over it!

Coming Home...

After two days in the hospital, we got to take our new little boy home for the first time!  We had fun dressing him in the special little outfit Kelli gave him. 

B, stretching his little hat to fit his head.... Oh that head...

All dressed and ready to go home!

We had some very excited people waiting on us!

Benson is SO PROUD of his baby brother!!

Sweet lil itty bitty doodlebug...

Benjamin, proud papa, on "Pride Rock"...

It's the Ciiiiiircle of Liiiiife...

We're so happy to have you home, Thomas!

Hospital Visitors

We had some very special people visit us in the hospital.  I documented with pictures.  Shocker.

Great Grandmama Hunter came and got to hold the boy for an hour and a half uninterrupted.  

She was proud :)

Pastor Mac and Rachel came to see the lil guy...

The Driggers crew came...

Thomas, meet Grace, one of your future babysitters :)

Mrs. Karen and Hope, loving on the bebe....

Hi, GG!!  :)

Aunt Becca and Lash were there for THE debut.  Like as in, the first breath!  

So special to share that moment with my sisters.  :)

Nana and Papa hugs...

Grandmama and Grandaddy, doting...

And of course KK!  Who was not only THERE for the debut, but also captured those first sweet moments with her camera... 

I can't thank you enough!!!  

And Ruthie, (32 weeks in the oven) I can't wait to meet YOU in just a few short weeks!  

Neither can Thomas! :)

Like his big brother when Lael was in KK's tummy,... 

Thomas is looking forward to another sweet little Ingram girl!!!

He's counting down the days!! :)