Knight Family Photo Shoot

My First Christmas Eve

My Raindeer outfit from Grandma Olson:)

Thanks Aunt Lindsay for the bib and socks! I love them!

Here is Dave and Tyler before our Christmas Eve service. Doesn't he look cute in his outfit from Grandma Knight?

5 Weeks

A wise person I know likes to use power words to describe their current state. I would like to say that right now my power word is endurance. The part of the word that sticks out to me is "endure". Raising/taking care of a infant takes much endurance physically and emotionally. I look at this tiny little person that we are entrusted with and wonder how can I be so lucky. I think about what he will be like when he is older, whether he is crying because he is hungry, tired, wet, or in pain. I wonder, how did this miracle come out of me and how can I get up one more time tonight because I am so tired? How could a little person like him cause so much pain, but not hurt me at all? We endure a lot. It really makes me appreciate my mom and other moms out there. I don't know how she did it with twins!! Way to go mom! You are awesome. I think of the people that are in chronic pain all the time and how they endure it. You have no choice. I am going to be honest. I have been in quite a bit of pain for the last 6 weeks or so, starting from when I went into labor to breastfeeding. I am not complaining, because it is all worth it. Endure has significance, because part of endurance is gaining strength. Long distance runners endure the long workouts so they can run the race. These weeks, I feel are preparing me to run the race as a parent. Not easy, but giving me the strength I need. Boy have I prayed a lot these last few weeks for strength and God has provided! He has provided in so many ways. I am so thankful for the people that have surrounded Dave and I...parents, my sister, friends, neighbors, teachers, church members. I wish I could name everyone! Thanks to people who brought "Meals on wheels", to the people who have given us gifts for Tyler, for people cleaning, for visits and conversation. We are so blessed! This may just seem like thoughts spewed on a page, and they are. I hope it makes some sense. Enjoy some pictures below of Tyler during his 4th and 5th week!

Here is Ty with his church buddies...Kaitlyn, Timmy and Kylie. They loved holding Tyler. His wearing the hat his Aunt Lindsay made:)

This is Kathy Killebrew our childbirth educator. She was helpful in more than one way.

Tyler and his buddies from our childbirth class.

Our Bradley class reunion on Dec.14th. There were 6 natural births and 2 medicated births.

One Month...Already!

Where have the days gone? Tyler is growing strong. He is one month old. He now weighs 9lbs.1oz. and is 21 inches long. He has moved up a size in diapers and has grown out of some clothes already. I put the outfit we brought him home from the hospital in away already. He is almost out growing his newborn clothes too. He is starting to get on a routine. Aunt Lindsay has been helping with that. She came to visit on Tuesday and is sadly leaving tomorrow. She went with us yesterday to a breastfeeding support group at Glendale Memorial Hospital and is helping Tyler to eat the right way. Thanks Aunt Lindsay. The group has been fun because there are other new moms there.In the last week Tyler has been a lot of places and done a lot. He went to the Rose Bowl with some of his friends from the support group. He rode in the front pouch while I walked around the Rose Bowl. Not such a good idea for me...I was so tired after. It is a 3 mile walk. He went to pick out a Christmas tree. He slept the whole time. He also went to Michael's and Target. He loves to shop:) Again...he slept through that too. Last night he slept 5 hours straight:)

"Dear God please help my mom learn to feed me." -Tyler

My first Christmas:) Mom and Dad's Christmas present came early.

Here's bugaboo wide eyed and taking it all in.

I love my Aunt Lindsay! She helps Mommy with lots of things around the house.

Our son and his family

At 3:00am I find myself thinking about the fact that Tyler is almost 3 weeks old already. 3 weeks that we'll never have again. They were such special weeks, filled with many firsts...first time out, first time meeting grandparents, first bath, first doctor first, first time to church, first photo shoot, etc. I think about the fact that I could be upset about the fact that I am not getting much sleep or I could be thankful for the times I have with him in the early morning hours. I am thankful for the times I wake up to him crying and I can not wait to see him. He is such a blessing to us. He is growing so fast, I can hardly believe it. Thankfully we have pictures to remember so many of these moments. 

This was our first outing with Tyler. We went to the Paseo Colorado to do some shopping. He had his first trip to Quiksilver with Grandpa Olson and Ann taylor Loft with Grandma Olson. I think he prefers Quiksilver. We also had dinner at Islands. 

Bathtime...he is still getting used to the idea. It is not his favorite thing yet. He is liking it more and more each time though.

Tyler will miss Grandma and Grandpa Olson. He loved seeing Grandma at 4:00 in the morning:)

Here is Ty with Godfather Paul and Godmother Anne. He is wearing his Cal Berkley outfit and blanket they gave him. 

Eskimo kisses:)

Our little cuddlebug:)

Week 2

Our little photo shoot with Ty...we tried to get him while he was asleep, but as you can see he woke up. I guess that is what happens when you strip a baby down to his birthday suit in November. He just loves to look around. I don't know how Anne Geddes gets such great looking photos with newborns asleep. It is tricky. She must keep her studio heated to put those babies to sleep.

The First Week

A week has gone by so fast. I feel like we have barely had a free minute to write an update with feeding, changing, sleeping, rocking, and all the other things you do with a newborn. Tyler is such a blessing to our family. So far this week Tyler got to meet both of his Grandma's.  He loves them both and boy do they love him! He also had his first bath. He doesn't like it yet.

He is a strong little thing. He picks his head up and pushes off of us with his legs. He is eating well and sleeping well too. His bodily function work great too:) As a matter of fact he has sprayed mommy a few times:) He had his first visit to the doctor this week and checked out great. It was a nice long visit and he was not too happy about it on the ride home, but did well over all. 

Handsome

Grandma Knight and Tyler

Grandma Olson and Tyler

It's picture time

Finally, we have some new pictures!   Click here to see the pictures of Tyler James Knight.

Tyler James Knight

39 Weeks!!! Any day now...

We wanted to take one last family photo before we have our new addition. Jamie Dulaney, friend and up and coming photographer, took us to Cal Tech yesterday for our family photo shoot. I am hoping she will be my partner in photography when I decide to start a business. We got there at just the right time, as the sun was going down and had a great time. I am sure the baby was smiling inside too:) He better get used to having his picture taken:)

Dave and I both wait in anticipation for our little miracle. We are so happy and excited for our little bundle of joy to enter the world. We had a doctor's appointment this week and the doctor said he is about 6.5 pounds. He thinks that he may have moved down a little bit, in preparation for birth. Everything else checked out fine. He also asked that we watch  the USC game on Saturday and wait until it is over to go into labor because he has ticket for he and his son. We thought it was funny. He was totally kidding of course. We are not due for another week, but he could come earlier or later:)

Belly Shots

Dave is starting a photography career...just kidding!! I did recruit him and a friend of mine, Jamie Dulaney, to take some shots of me before the baby comes. Here are a few. More to come later. 

Hermon: Baby Shower

I tell you what...we have been so blessed by people's generosity!! We had another baby shower thrown for us this weekend at the Hermon Church, where we used to work, when we first moved to California in 2003. We miss everyone there and it was so good to see old friends and family. Our old neighbors and friends Sandra, Alexander and Matthew were there. We miss having neighbors like them. Also, our LA grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Daniels came along with much more of the church family. Susan Luna and Debbie Merikian both hosted and coordinated with everyone. Too many people to name, but it was really great to catch up with everyone. They all could not believe I was finally pregnant (they talked about it a lot when we lived there:)) They also could not believe I am due in three weeks. 

Below is Alexander and Matthew...they are growing up so fast:)

Baby Knight will be well dressed! Here are some of the clothes we got at the shower. This is the softest little winter suit I have ever felt! I wanted to cuddle up with it and go to sleep:)

Memory lane...Aj, Dave and Manny used to work together at the Hermon Church. We miss these guys! They really have hearts of service!

Props to Frank Luna for getting my favorite cake..Albertsons white-on-white with buttercream frosting:) Yummy! I could eat the whole thing, but I saved some for everyone else:) 

Thanks to everyone for being so special to Dave and I! You really have made LA feel like home! 

37 Weeks: Baby Moon

Before the baby comes, Dave and I decided to take a short little trip Wednesday afternoon through Friday morning.  We went to Corona, CA. Corona is not much to look at, but it was a great place for us to go to relax and spend time together. It's in the dessert. We stayed in a hotel that we found on Priceline for a great deal:) It was called the Aryes Hotel Corona West. The front desk hooked us up with a nice room that had a fireplace! Thursday we spent the day hopping from hot tub,to pool, to mud bath, to massage at the Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa. This place was like heaven on earth. We topped it off with a couples massage.

Below is a picture of Dave and I at Glen Ivy at the end of our day there.

This hot tub had a beautiful view of the valley. I, of course, did not get into the hot tubs because of the heat, but Dave enjoyed them for me:) The picture below was another hot tub. Dave swam laps in this one it was so big. You can only see half of it in this picture.

Here I am at Club Mud. You take this red clay mud and put it all over yourself, let it harden and then rub iut off. It makes your skin super smooth. I am almost embarrassed to put this pic on here, but I wanted you to see the mud bath. (I am looking a little large these days:) Especially in this really old, non-maternity swimsuit.)

This was a special trip and we want to thank everyone for letting us get a way, as well as those of you that gave us special little gifts toward it:) It was memorable!

One Voice Church: Baby Shower

We were so blessed on Sunday by our family and friends with an aloha shower for our little guy. Elizabeth Waters, Allyson Way, Anne Kim, Jamie Dulaney, Stephanie Wright and other women from our church, One Voice Church, hosted the shower for us at the Way's house. They got some of our favorite foods; Korean BBQ, Teriyaki Chicken, Hawaiian Pork,  salad, deviled eggs, cake, brownies, and ice cream.  It was delicious!! The baby did not leave hungry:) They planned all sorts of games and activities, as you can see in the pictures everyone had a great time. 

Below is Elizabeth (about 20 weeks pregnant), Jamie, and myself getting ready to eat:) jamie is sporting her new camera. Hopefully we can do Photography together someday. 

Here is a picture of one of the relays that the men played. They had to dress the stuffed animal while blindfolded.
Family picture in front of the beautiful aloha cake and awesome gift table!
Chris and Elizabeth hosting the "Price is Right" game. It just isn't the same without Bob Barker, but they did a great job! Congrats to Anne Kim for winning! Too bad she did not get to take home the prizes, we did:)
All the kids love Dave, here they are tackling him on the trampoline. 

This is where everyone had to try to guess the size of my belly...everyone guessed it was lot bigger than it actually is:) Congrats to Kevin Ivers for being the closest. 

If you could get over the look of this game...then it was entertaining. Stephanie was the poop contesuire. She guessed which candy bar was in every diaper! Gross but entertaining!