A Lot to be Thankful For

We had a great Thanksgiving. Grandma and Grandpa Shipman were here for the week to meet Andrew. Having them here was a huge help. Mom baked some Christmas cookies and helped rake leaves. Dad helped rake, trimmed the bushes, and even mowed the lawn! The week went by too fast!

Andrew is getting bigger and bigger. He is starting to smile but we haven't managed to get that on camera yet.

Thanks giving itself was delicious with both friends and family in attendance. Luke cooked the turkey and everyone else pitched in for the other dishes. It was epic.

You can't swaddle me!

Andrew has been showing the beginnings of some strong will in the last few days. While he is still sleeping like a champ at night (knock on wood.) This picture demonstrates his defiance during the day and early evenings. I will spare you the sound that accompanies the above photo! Here is Luke showing off his calming skills.

Go Buckeyes!

Andrew was treated to an Ohio State win for his first OSU vs. Michigan Game. We cheer for OSU given Luke's Ohio roots and his office Webb vs. Michigan Naval Architecture rivalry. As you can see the whole family was appropriately attired to watch the game at a home that houses 4 Michigan degrees. Now we just need to get him some Blue Devils apparel for basketball season.

First Visit from Grandparents

Andrew got to meet his first set of grandparents over the weekend when Luke's Mom and Dad came to visit. Andrew is the first grandchild for both of our parents, so it is needless to say, he will likely be spoiled rotten! It was great to have two extra sets of hands around. Andrew says sorry that he isn't that entertaining yet. His exciting life consists mostly of eating and sleeping with a diaper change here and there and a few minutes of open eyes in between.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for the baking and cooking and our first "night out" for a belated birthday dinner for Susan.

Big Week for Luke and Andrew

So we joked that it might happen this way, that Luke would become both a father and the Commodore of SSA all in the same week. Well we were off by just one day. A week ago Sunday was closing day at SSA and Luke became Commodore. Andrew was there to witness the big day, and he was properly attired of course.

Andrew was really good and made it through the whole meeting...almost 3 hours with just a change and feeding in the middle. He was quite the center of attention. I wonder how long Andrew will let me dress him up like his Dad?

Welcom Andrew Tyler Shingledecker

So it is time to renew my blogging commitment. I hope you will find this an easy place to keep up with the newest Shingledecker, Andrew Tyler.

After months of waiting and a final month with contractions most evenings, Halloween night didn't seem much out of the ordinary. Check out my costume. Except this time the contractions didn't stop when I went to sleep. By 9am on 11/1 I was pretty sure we were headed to the hospital. After about 12 hours at the hosptial, Andrew "Drew" Tyler Shingledecker was born.

Andrew Tyler Shingledecker

Born November 1, 2008

10:58pm

7 pounds 10 ounzes

19.9 inches long

Everything went well. Luke was a champ, I avoided my fear of the epidural by not having one, and Tyler is healthy and strong. We came home from the hospital on Monday.

We are both learning the ropes of parenthood. From settling him down, to giving him his first sponge bath at home. He is truly adorable.

Here is a special treat for the grandparents to help hold you over until you can visit. This is Andrew waking up... We seem to be having some technical difficulties with the video, but I will post it anyway and see if we can get it to work

Catching up

So it has been a long...long time since we have updated the blog. I could blame the delay on a vacation to Paris....but I still have a few more weeks, I mean months to account for. Well the good news is the kayaks are almost done!!! Stay tuned!