The Naylors

Here are some pictures from our very first family outing. We went to Costa Coffee to pick up some drinks (creme brulee lattes) and bring them back to the flat. It isn’t too far from the flat, just a few blocks, but in the cold it was far enough!

First Trip Out

From Week 41

What with the pregnancy pics and all my Mom had the great idea of posting week 41 with the actual baby that had been forming inside of me all of those months. This is the finished product at week 41 when Henry was 1 week old!

We can’t believe that Henry is 6 weeks old already! Time has absolutely flown by!

We were fortunate to have my mum with us until the end of November and then have the Naylor’s come and visit for about a week and a half after that. We just put them on their plane home yesterday and we’re guessing that this will be the end of family visiting until we get stateside prayerfully sometime in July. It was incredibly wonderful to have family here and we can’t wait to introduce him to the rest of the clan!

I’m having trouble finding time to update the blog these days, but appreciate the few of you who are interested in seeing and hearing about Henry! I’m a somewhat sequential person, so I’m having trouble going out of sequence with this picture when I haven’t filled you in on all of the rest of his wonderful life. But, I thought I’d give a pic to show you what he’s looking like now and just get myself in order one of these days and start documenting as much as possible.

The picture I’m including is his passport picture, believe it or not. He will not have dual citizenship as we will not be here living in the UK long enough for him to gain that. In order for that to happen he must live here for 3 years….we’ve already done that and aren’t planning to continue our stay. We all 3 needed to be present at the American consulate for him to get his passport information turned in. It was quite a trick getting the picture sorted for him. As you probably know, there are very specific stipulations for passport pictures and the rules do not change for infants! He had to have a white background with certain spacing around the edges. He had to be looking at the camera with his eyes open (which is difficult in and of itself)! He could not have his hands (or anyone else’s hands holding his hands down or his head straight ) in the picture….and the list goes on and on. Alas, we came up with this photo and are pleased.

He will not need a renewed passport for 5 years….can you imagine what he’ll look like when he’s 5?! He already looks so different from one day to the next!

Anyway, our appointment at the consulate went great. We should be getting his passport in the mail any day now! Did you know that even infants have to have a background check done?! Their computers were down the morning we went into the consulate and so she said she’d have to run his background check later to see if he was involved in any criminal activity. So funny!

Okay, here’s his little picture…..I’ll hopefully be blogging more soon! Love to all and to all a Christ-full Christmas.

Passport Photo

Hi everyone! We’re finally to the place where we feel like we have a little bit of time to sort through the pictures of this baby adventure! So here are the pictures of us waiting at home and preparing to go to the hospital. Again, my water broke on Sunday the 2nd of November at 5 in the evening and then we waited and timed contractions at home until 12.30 and went into the hospital after that. So, this is us waiting it out and Daddy making calls to the hospitals to see if we could come in yet.

Preparing for hospital

Welcome to week 38, friends! (Although, while I’m typing this, I’m actually at week 39….baby’s due a week from today!). At 38 weeks baby is 3.2kg or 7.5 pounds and 51 cm, 20 inches. This week the baby is shedding his protective layer of “stuff” (I won’t bore you or gross you out with details) and getting ready to meet the world!

From Week 38!!

We are blessed beyond words, people. Last week we were THRILLED and so SURPRISED to get a shower in a box from our dear friends at Harvard Avenue Evangelical Free Church in Villa Park, Illinois! What a massively fun time we had! They thought of it all! They included a tablecloth, balloons, banners, after dinner mints and chocolate covered pretzels….all of the things you’d have at a baby shower! We laid it all out on the table and let ourselves have a party! So many people were so thoughtful and giving! We cannot believe that after being gone for over 2 years now that we still feel like a part of this family and still feel so incredibly loved and supported by them! You guys were unbelievable in this! Thank you SO SO much for all of the gifts, the debit cards, the cards with thoughtful words and prayers….and just for being you! We love you and miss you like you wouldn’t believe. Here is the album of pictures that we took. We wish we could be with you all in person to give hugs (you know, I’m a hugger!) but please just accept our heartfelt thanks and gratitude. We cannot WAIT to introduce the little man to you!

Shower in a box!!