3 weeks later

Have 3 weeks really passed since Theo was born? It's SCARY how life has become such a blur! I know I am going to wake up any day now and Theo will be a teenager. It's amazing to watch him grow and change every day, but I wish I could capture each moment and remember it forever. Here are some pictures from little Theo's first 3 weeks of life:

All dressed and ready to leave the hospital. We had very limited clothing options since Theo was/is just a little guy (6 lb 2 oz when we left the hospital). None of his newborn clothes fit him or even looked halfway decent! When we got home, we got him a few preemie outfits. Now the preemie clothes are finally a little too tight around his belly, but he's still too small for most of his newborn clothes. So we rotate like 5 outfits that actually fit him!

Leaving the hospital! Yes, I rode in the backseat and stared at him the whole way home!

First doctor's appointment. Really it was just a weight check when we was 4 days old. Now he's had his first real appointment since then! He grew 1/2 inch and gained 1 lb 11 oz since he left the hospital - making him 20 in and 7 lb 13 oz now. The doctor was really surprised at how much weight he gained in just 2 weeks! So was I :) I had been worried about if he was eating enough.. I guess he is!!!

Our first family photo at home. Theo was 1 week old!

I looooove Theo's beautiful hair!! While I was pregnant I never could picture what I thought Theo would look like, but the one thing I hoped is that he would have hair when he was born. It was such a silly thing that I hoped for, but God gave it to me :) This picture was after I washed and combed his hair for the first time at home.

Trent's first Father's Day with Theo :)

Theo with his one and only cousin, Ashton. Ashton is almost 4 mo old and pretty big for his age. Put him up against little Theo who was several weeks premature, and it's quite a contrast!

Theo's first real bath, once his umbilical cord stump fell off. I will admit, he didn't seem to enjoy it. But he's had several baths since then, and now he seems to like the water! As soon as he realizes he's naked and hears the running water, he gets really quiet and still and opens his eyes really big. He especially loves it when I swaddle him in a towel and wash just his hair in the sink. (I don't like washing his beautiful hair in the same water that I wash his body, so I wash it afterwards.)

One of my favorite faces that Theo makes.. I swear he just wants to be kissed! And I gladly kiss him anytime!

I don't have a picture of Theo's #1 favorite activity (eating), but this would be his #2 -- sleeping! He's awake more and more these days, but still spends a lot of time sleeping. I wish he would sleep more at night and less in the afternoon, but that will come with time, I'm told. Speaking of time, do you see how much he's grown in just 3 weeks??? I can't believe my little boy is growing up so fast!

Maybe I am crazy to think anyone cares enough to read all of my thoughts here, but at least I will be able to look back and remember these first precious weeks when Theo stole my heart :)

announcing....

Theodore Thomas Roberts was born at 12:27 am on Saturday, June 13, 2009. He weighed 6 pounds 9 oz and was 19 1/2 inches long.

bedrest

We said we would keep up our blog, and we do plan to. There's just not much to blog about these days. Lindsey has been on bedrest since we got home, trying to encourage Theodore to stay put for as long as possible. That has impeded our ability to visit all of the people and places we had hoped to visit, but it's worth it! She had one exciting night in the hospital last weekend, but everything turned out okay. We would appreciate your prayers for little Theodore in these final weeks. Thanks!!!!

by the way

Today is our 4th anniversary! The past 4 years have been a blessing in every way. We've had great joy and great challenges - God has used it all for our good. He is so faithful.

And I couldn't ask for a more wonderful husband. I love you, Trent!!

saying goodbye

Our last few weeks were filled with goodbyes.

To co-workers:

To Japanese friends:

To our precious Monday night Bible study group (Ro, Jun, Chi, and Saya):

To the sweet kids I taught:

And to our home and pet mint plant:

Of course, it wasn't easy. It's never easy to watch a chapter of your life end. But we know God has great things in store for us in the next chapter, and so we're looking forward to all of the huge changes to come in the next 6 months. Besides readjusting to life in the US, we will be welcoming a new baby this summer, moving to Chicago, and Trent will begin law school at the University of Chicago this fall. So it's going to be busy, and crazy, and probably overwhelming at times. But God faithfully sustained us through 2 busy, crazy, overwhelming years in Tokyo - He made them wonderful. We know He'll do the same in the years to come.