Grayson David Branch

We are VERY happy to announce (extremely late I know) the birth of our precious son, Grayson David Branch! He was born October 20th at 5:43pm. Our little chunker came into the world at 10 pounds 9 ounces and 21 3/4 inches long! We have been SO blessed by this little man for a month now...a month! I still can't believe he is already a month old. I feel a little a lot overwhelmed by how much blogging I have missed out on in this month time period and know I have a lot of catching up to do--did I mention I have a newborn son these days?! I had no idea how little I would be getting around to once he came into our lives! I'm lucky if I can get a load of laundry done or even take a shower for that matter!! So, I promise to tell his birth story as well as some other major events we have been up to as a family in the past month such as my sister-in-law Kellye and Josh's wedding, my cousin Chase and Jessica's wedding, sweet milestones Grayson has already achieved, etc., but it may be that those stories will come here and there as I can get to them. For now, I will leave you with a few birth pictures as well as my letter to Grayson on his one-month-birthday, Nov. 20th (Drew will be writing next month's letter- I'm so excited already!).

Sweet Grayson,

Happy 1 month birthday today! I can’t believe it has been a month since we were blessed beyond our wildest dreams in getting to meet you for the first time and getting to call you our son. You were such a surprise on that day, heavy boy! You weighed 10 pounds 9 ounces!! I was so proud to have birthed such a beautiful and healthy baby. Your Daddy has been wild about you from the start as well. I could tell when he looked at you during those first moments after you were born that he loved you so much and would do anything for you. 

Grayson, we want you to know that we give all credit to our Lord for bringing you safely into this world on that day and we have not stopped giving thanks to Him for you ever since then. From that moment when I got to gaze into your beautiful eyes and kiss on those sweet cheeks of yours to now, you have been doing a lot of growing! We think you now weigh 12 pounds, but will find out your new weight at your one month appointment in about a week. 

You go through more diapers in a day than we ever imagined was possible! You used to cry when we changed your diaper, but after that first week you are a lot more relaxed. We think you have realized that we are doing something that will make you feel better when we change your diaper and have stopped crying because of that. You are a hungry boy too! You nurse about every 3 hours during the day and every 4-5 hours during the night. Those are some of my favorite moments when it is just you and me. I get to be selfish with you during that time and it’s somehow acceptable and even encouraged! J  I love looking at your precious face, touching your soft skin, and sometimes kissing you when I am feeding you. 

We put you in your crib to sleep for the first time last night and you slept like a champ! Before that you had been sleeping in our room in a bassinet. You sleep best when we swaddle you in a blanket so your spastic arm movements don’t wake you up from your sleep. You used to hate those first few baths where we had to sponge bathe you due to your cord stump still being present. But, your first bath where we were able to let you lay in the warm water was a different story! You loved it! One thing you don’t love, sadly, is when I put that wonderful baby-smelling lotion on you after your bath. You always let out a mad cry when I rub it on you. You are still wearing 0-3 month clothes (the size you were wearing the day we brought you home from the hospital) and have been getting lots of compliments on all of the tie onesies I sewed for you. 

You have been a busy boy this first month, Grayson! You have already been to two weddings!! The first one was your aunt Kellye and uncle Josh’s wedding on November 5^th. You were such a good baby during that busy weekend! Your great-grandmother, Granny, loved holding you while Mommy and Daddy were busy as we were both in the wedding. The next wedding you attended was your Mommy’s cousin’s wedding (Chase and Jessica Carver) in College Station. Your Mimi set up a newborn photo shoot that weekend and you posed like a natural! 

Everyone compliments you on what a good baby you are. Your Daddy and I are so thankful for that! You really never cry. There have only been a few times when you let out what we call your pterodactyl cry and it’s always because you are either hungry or working on a dirty diaper. Speaking of those dirty diapers, you toot and burp like a grown man! It is sometimes alarming to your Mommy! J  

You are precious in every way and we know God has great things in store for you. We are praying that God blesses us with wisdom in our parenting and that He will continue to allow you to grow and stay healthy. You have blessed our lives in immeasurable ways, Grayson. We love you very much!

Love,

Mommy and Daddy