Merry Christmas 2009

Photo done by Amelia Strauss

Merry Christmas to all!

Santa Baby!

Well, it has been quite a different holiday season this year! Having James has made this season into a whole new world for us. We went to Jackson last Wednesday and hung out with most of the family until Saturday.



Saturday we went to Driftwood at Lake Enid which is where we do our big family Christmas celebration. Driftwood has been around for almost 50 years and has lasted, so far, for three Shelton generations. People who were there included:

Aunt Elsie Gillis
Grandmother Sarah Shelton
Aunt Jeanne and Uncle Shelton Gillis
Aunt Ree, Uncle Greg, Ann Claire and Hays Burton
Aunt Barbara and Uncle Joe Shelton
Doc and B Shelton (Walter and Beverly)
Aunt Marlyn, Uncle John and Camille Shelton
Kristen Shelton and Galen Collins
Ellen and Richard Thomas
Drew, Emmy, Shelton and Carline Carter Burton
Allison, Blake, and Aiden Jones
Melissa, Jim, and James Galbraith

I believe that is everyone! That's almost 30 people! May the family continue to grow!



We are back in Birmingham now for a home Christmas while Jim works at night. B and Doc are here and Kristen is coming today and then we will wake up to Santa's gifts under the tree. It's about to storm here.



To Aunt Ellen and Uncle Richard - we wish you were here in Bham for the actual day but I know the Thomas family will be home sweet home in Macon and loving the family time. James needs to see Macon this spring for sure! We loved spending time with you over this past week.

To my friends, it was fun seeing many of you this past Friday at Jennifer's house. I love spending time with you even if it is only for an hour or two! We will continue to do this forever, right? Hope so!



Notes to those with babys.. things to think about in case there is a sibling one day:
9 weeks - James rolled over for about 4 days straight at the end of the 6th week but he decided that that was enough for now. Sleep is okay. He wakes up about every 3-4 hours SOMETIMES 5 hours. I try to "dream feed" him at about 11pm so he'll last longer and it seems to work. I am trying to keep him on an Eat, Activity, Sleep pattern as the baby whisperer suggested and it seems to fit well with life :) (E.A.S.Y. as she calls it). He is smiling all of the time and starting to be more active in the day. We are looking forward to hearing giggling soon.. I can tell he wants to. I am still working on getting those last few pregnancy pounds off which isn't necessarily fun but it's okay. I've also learned that everyone has an opinion or comments on how one mothers but it is very important to filter what is right for you and healthy for your baby and family and what isn't.



Well, that is all for now I believe. I'm sad I am not in Memphis to spend some time with the study group girls but we will see each other soon, I hope!

Much love to everyone!

Melissa

For those of you who can't view the videos off of this page, I am going to download them to youtube and link them with the next couple of posts.. or maybe today if I have time...

Rolling Rolling Rolling

Hello everyone!

I was watching The Office where Scott was promising his "tots" college tuition and I had to turn it off. That was a little too awkward, even for me :) I thought it would be a better use of my time to update the blog and talk about how we have been doing.

James is now seven weeks old! He is a growing boy and so strong. He shocked me when he rolled over this past Monday as a 6 week old baby and he is able to hold his head at a 90 degree angle. He LOVES his mobile still and his daddy's silly songs and faces. As I look at him right now, he reminds me of such a little angel. Thirty more minutes until feeding time.


As of Monday, he was 11lb and 14oz. He is probably a little over 12lb now, then, which means he has gained 4 whopping pounds since he was born! I can't believe it. I thought we had moved into a better night schedule, but he had different plans. I am fine, though. I am not working right now and kind of see taking care of him as my full time job.

Some of the things I am looking forward to are: hearing him laugh, watching him grasp things and understand that he is grasping them, sleeping through the night (that may be months away...), and adapting to a eat, play, sleep schedule. We have so much to look forward to.

I graduate tomorrow. I will officially have my Masters of Nursing. I will start to study for the exam one the new year settles in and I sign up for taking the boards. Who knows what I will do with this degree as of now, but I hope to use it one day.

I hope you all are having a great December thus far and are getting ready for Christmas. God bless you all!


Melissa

"I am your Creator. You were in my care even before you were born" Isaiah 44:2

Had to post this!

This happened yesterday three times but he wouldn't ever do it for the camera (or daddy for that matter). I got it on film this morning and was so excited :) He is 6 weeks and 5 days!



Look how long and big he is already!! If you scroll down and compare this to the picture of him scrunched up in the cars outfit, it's unbelievable!

Enjoy!
Melissa

Baby's gonna sleep

Hello!

I've been needing to post. I missed a week on posting (the 5 week pics) but am hopefully going to catch up! James has been doing great. We had our first long road trip and he was a champ. We would stop and feed him and then he was ready to go back in the car seat. He loves the car seat and sleeps very well in it. Jackson was wonderful over the holidays and Jim got to go duck and deer hunting.

On Friday, Jim and my dad went out to deer hunt and Jim came back with a 12 point deer. This was probably Jim's third time on the deer stand. The deer was over 230 pound and scored a 157.5 (whatever that means). Jim is a huge animal lover but, after being told that deer this age usually starve to death or pass on diseases, the kill wasn't so hard. He gives his XBox credit for his great shot.



Kim and Kate were able to come over on Friday night to my parent's house and we had pizza and bathed James. It was really fun to hang out with the girls. Sadly, Claire had to miss because Richard Lewis had come down with a fever. Poor little fellow. He had fifths disease (which is a scary name for a virus that just passes with time.. but it's still no fun).

I am very happy about a major step: James has been sleeping through the night! For the third night straight, he slept from about 11pm to about 5am. No complaints from mama!!





Jim has started back on mixed days and night shifts and has had 7a-3p shifts the past two days. I LOVE it because there is a sense of normalcy to it. Again, no complaints from mama :)

James and I ate lunch with Charlene and Aidan today at CPK. It was nice to feel good about getting out. I kept James covered, of course, and we sat in a corner with very little people, but it was awesome.




James also discovered his reflection today. I haven't seen him smile for so long before. I think it went on for at least 15 minutes. He is, after all, a handsome little fellow! He also was able to lift his chest and move his head from one side to the other. I'm pretty sure that that is a milestone.




More to come~

Melissa

One month and one day old today! What a big day!

I have to say that today has been great! James was eating every two hours for the past four to five days and it was exhausting but today has been a turn around! At least for now!




I hope you all are doing well and have a happy Thanksgiving!

This months is a month for remembering for me. I keep thinking today is the 22nd and not the 23rd, so I'm off a little, but I wanted to post a hymn that reminds me of my sister, Sarah. Not a day goes by still where I don't think about her and her impact on so many people. Sarah is my sister who passed away eight years ago from failing lungs. Sarah had cystic fibrosis. She had had a double lung transplant at the age of 16 and lived 9 years with transplanted lungs. That, however, didn't define her at all. What defined Sarah was her faith in Jesus and her sweet spirit.

Sarah and I didn't share a bedroom growing up until she was off to college (ironic), but we may as well have shared one growing up because I always ended up in her bed late at night to play Rook, Spades, Hearts, or Gin (thank you, Grandmother Sarah). I know we talked the whole time and laughed at each other (probably more of her laughing at her clumsy, goofy sister). I miss her with all of my heart and look forward to seeing her again...

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father;
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions, they fail not;
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Refrain

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

4 weeks old and growing up big

Hello!

This post took forever because our internet has such problems! I told you all I would post today so I am staying up a little later to put this up. I hope James sleeps good tonight :)

Things have been good this week. I have had wonderful friends bring us dinner and come by for visits. Multiple thanks to the girls in my bible study, Jim's residency friends, and my 728 girls! I wouldn't be well fed without you. Also, Amelia Strauss, you are an awesome photographer! I'm so thankful for your photography this past Wednesday! James will never remember how cold the cake platter was :)

On Monday, James had gained 9 ounces in a week! What a hungry little man! Sometimes it takes more than an hour to feed him (very tiring and trying, by the way).

Jim has his written board exam in the morning, so say a prayer for him! It starts at 8am and takes anywhere from 5 hrs to 8 hrs! Gooo Jim! Daddy Jim is so smart :0)

Well, enjoy these videos and photos!

Melissa, Jim, and James
Galbraith

Week Three

We made it to three weeks! Sleeping is slowly getting better as far as adapting is going. I've really appreciated all of the support from all of you. I have a huge thank you to Charlene and Allie for their encouragement. James slept five hours last night! That is monumental!




Aunt Ellen comes in town for the weekend and we are very very excited! We all love our family love it when they come visit! When it comes to important things in life, family and faith are at the top!

Cute Pictures

I'm 9lb 6oz today! I also still live with my parents!!

What is it with my parents and cameras?

I peed all over this outfit by 6am after a bath.
I was all ready for meeting more family!

We love making faces!

Just thought this was so cute!

Cinco Galbraith

Aunt Lindsey, Jim, James, and Granddad Jim Galbraith

James Walter x 3

So sweet

We love Aunt Lindsey!

James got to meet his granddaddy Galbraith and Aunt Lindsey this weekend! It was a great weekend. We learned that James Walter is a fifth generation name which started with James Walter Wise (1868-1925) a Georgia Representative who lived in McDonough, GA which, interestingly, is in between Atlanta and Macon. Jim and I are going to see if we can't plan a trip to find his grave at some point.

James also experienced a big step in growing up yesterday! He lost the last of his umbilical cord and now has a handsome little belly button. We also think he is going through a growth spurt because he is eating lot! I am going to a class in the morning where I can weigh him so I'm excited about that. Well, duty calls!

Will post more later,

Melissa

Two weeks old and looking forward to meeting James Walter Galbraith, Sr. and Aunt Lindsey!!

Well, here we are at two weeks. I don't know exactly why, but there is a huge emphasis from the pediatrician and all of the books out there that I'm reading that you MUST feed every three hours until they are two weeks. I remember them saying this and thinking "okay, I expected that". About a day or two ago I started to think.. wait, no one told me what to do when two weeks is up! (not good for the emotional new mother..). So, I started to look into it and frantically call my mom friends to find out what happens at two weeks? Does he start feeding less? Am I suppose to wake him less? Thank you Kim and Claire for your words of wisdom and sanity reinforcement.

I decided that I need to read less books and rely on Jim and the pediatricians reassuring attitude that: 1. James is well nourished and happy and 2. you can actually let them go up to five hours at night without feeding if he will. Now I calm down and remember that I am NOT the first person to do this and a lot of it is instinct too. Okay.. calm now..

for now.. :)


I am just excited to be at two weeks because it's a milestone (at least in my mind). Dr. Dad went back to work last night and Grandma "B" (so we are going with now.. that name may change) leaves tomorrow morning. Saturday is the arrival of Grand-dad James Sr. and Aunt Lindsey. We are very excited. Baby James can't wait to meet them!



Til more postings,

Melissa

James is 12 days old today!

Another update! I just wanted to post pictures. I'm still very new at this blog thing so these pictures look a little funny.

So far, Jim and I are doing well. I've been able to recover from the C-Section and I'm not in pain anymore. With being able to move around a little more, Jim and I got our bob stroller yesterday which was awesome to say the least! We went strolling around Homewood and I was able to get out of the house. I'm a little stir crazy but it's totally worth it :)

My mom is here and will be here until Friday. She has been such a help by doing laundry, helping with cooking, cleaning up behind me, and giving me a chance to rest when James is awake and I'm exhausted.

Things James is doing: sleeping, pooping, burping, eating, following with his eyes, cooing (very little), crying, and working on that head control.

Well, that's it for now. I'll keep updates coming!

Melissa

Blogging Journey, Let's Begin!

Hello!

Well, I've kind of wanted to start a blog for quite sometime but my history of consecutive and loyal journaling has been dismal at best. I hope to post on this blog, however, because it is a great way to keep family and friends abreast of the growth of our newborn son and our lives. I officially have bought into all things glorious in techy world including facebook, twitter, iphone apps, and now I'm a blogger?