Garden Portrait Fun!

Since Hunt's parents are only going to be here a few more days (and Grace will only be a newborn for a few more weeks), I have this incredible and near-constant urge to take pictures. Everyone has been a good sport by donning the proper, color-coordinated clothes around my photo frenzied whims. These pictures were made in the hospital roof garden on the same floor Grace and I stayed after she was released from the NICU. Making pics here has become a Thailand tradition as my friend made Archie's 3 week portraits here and we took some family photos here last time the DeJs were visiting.

She really is Daddy's little princess:

She's so beautiful I can't take my eyes off her!

We had fun doing the balancing act to take this one.

All eyes on Baby Grace!

Just the ladies:

We love our grandparents!

Here's a closeup with her big beautiful brown eyes open!

Family Portraits Thai Style

We finally found a photo studio in Thailand, and everyone but Archie had fun snapping some family pictures. We are so happy for the chance for pictures with the Grandparents DeJ's and can't wait to get some with Grandparents Startup's next time we're together.

The night before our portrait session, Hunter took me on a date to the night market while his parents watched the kids. I wanted to buy some Thai outfits for Archie and Grace, and Hunt surprised me when he suggested buying himself a matching shirt. What a great Daddy! Grace's outfit is kind of cool because she is actually just wearing the top of a shirt and skirt set. (They didn't have anything in a newborn size.) The shirt makes a dress on her now, but I can take her picture again in the whole outfit when she's about 3!

Favorite Grace Pictures

Tonight after Archie went to bed, I grabbed the camera and got the whole family involved in Grace's first at-home photo shoot. (We actually went to a small studio today to make some family pictures that I will hopefully be able to post soon.) Here are some of my favorites from tonight.

Relaxed in Mama's hands:
Listening:

Beautiful feet:

Princess face:

Resting:
Happy on Grandma's shoulder:

Getting ready for the next pose:

Life as a family of four (or six)

We are absolutely loving life with Grace! I told Hunter yesterday even though she's only 8 days old, I already can hardly remember life without her. We love making her pretty picture:



Actually, we've spent the past few days looking for a studio that makes family portraits in Bangkok. We can't find one. We're running down more leads tomorrow, but if anyone knows of one, let me know.

Archie is making adjustments. He's had his share of temper tantrums. I didn't help that while Grace and I were in the hospital, he came down with an ear/throat infection and high fever and ended up looking like this:
He's doing better now. We're trying to make extra efforts to show him he's still a special part of our family, and he hasn't been replaced. He's curious about Grace. The other day, I put her in the infant sling when I took them both out, but he didn't realize I had her with me. He went to her infant seat and lifted up the blanket to look for her.


We are also loving having Hunter's parents here. They make our lives so much easier. They are great at taking care of Archie. (His pack-n-play even stays in their room at night.) Tonight I told them I wanted to go upstairs and rest for about 15 minutes. I ended up sleeping 2 hours but they didn't care :)

The journey home!

Yesterday we brought Grace home from the hospital and made the first few pics of our new family.

Leaving the hospital:
Arriving by taxi: (Our taxi was pink, how cool is that for bringing home a baby girl?)

First picture of our family of four:

First time to be held by Grandma:

Reaching for Grace: Archie's going to be a good big brother. He hasn't quite figured out the whole baby thing, though. While he likes to point and say "Baby, Baby!" I don't think he's figured out Grace is here - in his house - to stay. He can also say "Grace" now. It's really cute!

Unbundled:

Grace's hospital pictures!

We were so happy to bring Grace home this morning after four days in the hospital! (We stayed so long since they were a little concerned about infection because first she was breathing too quickly and then she was running a mild fever. However, 72 hour blood cultures came back negative today for infection.)

Our camera has gotten a nonstop workout, but here are a few of my favorite pictures!


Minutes after birth! First picture:

Waking shots: I love getting her with her eyes open!



Sleeping shots: How precious!


Burping Baby: These are always funny pics!

While we were in the hospital, we didn't forget about Archie. He had a wonderful time at home with his grandparents, but we loved it when he came for visits. When we would hold him up to the nursery window, he would point and say "Baby, Baby!"

Last pregnant with Grace shot taken immediately before departure to hospital:

Running to meet Daddy:

Fun in Mama's hospital bed!