The First Four Months

Naturally, the first four months are a time of great excitement and great trial for any parents. Learning to master the art of breastfeeding, trying to schedule time for sleep, changing diapers, and somehow maintaining sanity are important parts of the first four months as parents adapt to having a new family member in the house.

Of course, the job is made easier by the joys of getting to hold your new born baby in your arms, getting to watch as they learn to crawl, and feeling your heart melt when they fall asleep in your arms.

Dad holds Baby

Baby Meets Mom

Happy Family

Of course, first James got to meet the parents. I introduced him to his mother and then I got to carry him down to the nursery. He was actually a very good baby. He didn't scream or cry while I was wheeling him down. He didn't even really fuss when they were doing all of the pricks and other tests that they performed on him in the nursery.

Grandpa Meadows Talks to Baby			Grandma Meadows Holds Baby	Great Grandma Meadows Holds Baby
Lori and Great Grandma Pope Hold Baby			Grandma Nelson Holds Baby	Grandma Nelson and Aunt Ashley Hold Baby

Then begins the next phase of the baby's life, meeting the family. James got to meet his father's family shortly after he was born but they had to leave before the nursery released him.

Next, his mother's family came to the hospital to visit him. His aunt Lori and Great Grandmother Pope both came to visit and then later his Grandmother Nelson, cousin Morgan,Uncle Thomas and Aunt Ashley came and said hello. They stayed and visited with him for a couple of days and surprised us by cleaning our apartment so that it would be nice and neat when we arrived home from the hospital.

When we returned from the hospital 3 days after James had been born, James's father's family came and visited at the house. His Aunt Faith, Uncle Joey, cousins, and his great grandparents were all there to say hello!

Baby Sleeps

After 1st Bath

Then begins the hard life of a baby. Adapting to the stresses involved with no longer being safe and snug inside him mother, he must get lots of sleep. In this way, he slowly grows day by day facing new challenges like diapers and baths.