Life with JJ

We can hardly believe JJ's been with us for 3.5 weeks already! So what is this guy like? He likes noise, motion, and light. These seem to be the best environment for him to sleep! When he does sleep (which doesn't happen to be at night, unfortunately) he often snores (just like his daddy). He's definitely a cuddly baby, and will fall asleep in our arms (but not in his crib). He makes tons of funny faces, and often times Big Josh gets blamed for potty noises that Little Josh actually makes! He is fun, healthy, and most times quite a happy baby. On Wednesday he weighed in at 9 lb 4 oz., so the little guy is getting big way too fast.

What have we learned? That being parents is not easy, and it's a wonder to us that any couple ever has more than one child. He is really cute though, and a huge blessing. The whole thing is definitely an adjustment, and Barbie and I are **patiently** working through the struggles of deprived sleep and crazy hormones. We really love each other, and that's what makes family special, right?

Here are a few pictures from the hospital to his first bath. We love this guy so much.

Joshua Joseph Madsen

So he finally has a name. Picking out a name is nowhere as easy as I thought it would be. We've been talking about names since we got engaged, looking through books and debating 'em for the last 9 months, and came to the conclusion that we'd know his name when we saw him. Not true. We've spent the last four days frantically "trying out" names on our little boy and not feeling very confident about any of them. We decided on one, and then spent that night in agony wondering if we'd made the right decision. So the next day we tried another name, and so on. We finally got pinned down when a nurse came to help us fill out our birth certificate and went with our gut on Joshua Joseph Madsen. We really do like his name, but I'm comforted that we can call him whatever we want (JJ, J, Joshua, Josh, Joshy, Joey). We love the guy more than words can tell.

Baby Madsen!!

Introducing baby Madsen! Barbie is my ultimate hero and did such an amazing job today. I was overwhelmed by the experience and so grateful and happy to be a daddy! I feel bad making a post before we give the tyke a name, but that's the way it is. He weighed in at 7 lb 11 0z and 21 1/2 inches long. He's struggling a bit to breathe on his own (they suspect some fluid in the lungs) so he's currently being watching in NICU, but is doing well and hopefully comes home with us on Friday. I am such a lucky man.

Sunday walk with our new camera...

Here in Hyde Park there are so many beautiful places to walk around, so we took advantage of the great weather to go try out our new camera. We are now photographers and models!!

Here's me 39 weeks and 2 days preggers!! I am getting pretty impatient for this little guy to make his appearance. I pray he doesn't come late. We are so excited to meet him and have a new little subject to photgraph!
I thought there were better pics of Josh, but this is the one he picked.

I say this one could be a screen saver!! Dang we're good!

BONFIRE

Josh and I planned a Bonfire last night and it was a success!! We couldn't have asked for better weather or better company. We didn't get pics of everyone who came but it was really nice to chat and roast some dogs and mallows!

Dan and Josh
Jonathan and James

Monica

Hunter and Violet

There were no pictures of me in which I looked hald decent so I opted out of posting them for your benefit!!

Oh.. and these are the AMAZING shoes my wonderful husband surprised me with. Every pregnant woman should own a pair!