Hello Again,
It was Jenn and Luke's first week alone without daddy to assist in any way other than moral support via cell phone. It was not easy leaving them Sunday morning. Daddy was out WORKING in Las Vegas all week long, yet he returned Thursday night and we feel complete again.

Being gone a mere 5 days, yet it is amazing to see how Luke has changed. It is obvious he has grown, but he is much more alert and his eyes are continuously moving from object to object trying to figure out what everything is. He seems to focus on our faces alot now and really is alert to our voices. Jenn is having a good time making Luke smile with some sweet kisses.

Friday night we attempted to take a few photos for Luke's birth announcement at Le' Studio de Raulie'. They will go out in the mail very soon. We can't reveal them all, but here are a few. He did very well on the black rug, but he did manage to pee....just a little. Poor Mr. Bear rug.






















Jenn and Luke continue their rigorous schedule of chores, visiting Walmart and daily strolls through our neighborhood. Luke is doing very well on their walks and still continues to enjoy being outside very much. Luke continues to sleep through the night and is eating well.

We are very excited that Grandma/pa Raulie will be visiting us this next week. They are arriving Wednesday and staying through the early part of the next week. They are anxious to get to Florida and we cannot wait to see them. We are all looking forward to visiting with them and maybe eating some good seafood as well.

We are also looking forward to the Baptism which will be held at CrossRoad Lutheran Church this next Sunday, May 25th. Angie & Ben will be joining us with baby Baron for the 'dual' baptism. We are having a small get-together afterwards at our house to celebrate with all our friends and family in the area.

We hope all is well,
zach, jenn & luke!

A WEEK OF FIRSTS.

I presume, as with most new babies, there are the continuous "week of firsts" and many many more to come that we look forward to sharing and enjoying. Luke and Jenn have been very busy actually, with their first week home from the hospital though they should both be resting. They have visited Grandma and Grandpa Schlief's many times already to help finish Grandpa's new fence. My cousin Andrea, who is attending college in St. Augustine, FL visited us Tuesday afternoon and just couldn't resist adorable Luke. Angie and cousin Baron visited us last Wednesday. They stayed for dinner, some naps and just a nice visit. They also went and saw Grandma Jeanne at work and got to visit their favorite shopping venue, Walmart. *yeah!

Luke has been doing very well. I think we both were expecting the worst(taking after his father), but hoping for the best and we have landed somewhere in between, to the better, so far. He is sleeping throughout the night and is awakening more and more throughout the day time. As you can see mommy gave him his first bath, which he didn't care for very much, but was happy & shiney as a new penny afterwards. He is enjoying his morning time with daddy as we get up early and watch the news, have some breakfast, watch turkey hunting and fishing shows and drift back into some rest time. I taught him about the internet today;0 He thinks its just a fad.

Over this past weekend Uncle Robbie and his friend Janeece came to visit from Orlando area. They enjoyed a very slow day garage saling at Grandma Schleifs. Saturday night we visited our friends Mark/Max & Pam/Kraig at Max's house for a wedding shower/party for Kraig&Pam. This was a 'mock' redneck event and we enjoyed it very much as did Luke. Max makes some mean fried chicken. Luke enjoyed his first visit to church on Sunday and did very well in mommy and daddy's arms throughout the entire service. He got to go to "The Loop" for lunch which is a handy 'after-church' hot spot.

Luke has an overwhelming calmness about him when we take him outside. We have enjoyed many walks in his new stroller throughout our community. We watched a squirrel being chased by a mockingbird the other morning. He has been fairly cranky the last couple days, but as I walk him through the back yard and trees he turns very calm and relaxed. According to Grandma Raulie this was the only way to get Zach to quiet down when he was younger, imagine that!a

Talking about church, we going to have a Dual-Baptism for Luke Morgan and Baron Reid on May 25th, 2008 at our church, Crossroads Church, in Fleming Island. It will be the 10:30a.m. service. I'm sure we are to have a little party afterwards, but i'll let Jenn tell you all about that business.

More to come, enjoy....

Zach

First Dr. Visit

Today was Luke's first Dr. visit. He has a slight case of jaundice so he went to the pediatrician and back to the hospital lab for some blood work. He weighed 7.2lbs today, 7.4 @ birth. We will find out soon the results. The Dr. recommended we take him outside be it that the weather is perfect out to give him a little sunlight. Here he is braving the elements with mommy!!!

As our first night was pretty sleepless, the 2nd night was great. He slept well through the night except for his snack times. Both Jenn and Luke got in a good nap today on the couch. Luke took advantage of Jenn's "jelly belly" and made a pillow of it. So resourceful at only 4days old!

We purchased a small CD player for his room and when that music starts he is just all ears and very attentive. Grandma Raulie said he must enjoy music like his father. Guess that means he'll be dancing with a glow stick soon at all the Rave parties in Jax with Mr. Boock someday, if he can make it.

Here are a few more pictures from the last couple of days. We are also looking forward to having a dual baptism with Angie/Ben/Baron around the end of May, likely the weekend of the 31st. Some of the Raulie's and Schleif's will be here visiting that week and it will be a perfect time for it.

Tomorrow is a big day for Luke. Circumcism time, and since mommy Jenny didn't handle Luke's cry's after his blood work today I'm assuming that tomorrow will be tough for them both.

Enjoy all the pics.

zach

Our First Night Home

We are home now!!! We have introduced Luke to Zoi, our older black lab, and she already has taken on the "protective mommy" duty guarding us while we sit on the couch. Holly, our younger yellow lab, is a bit more reckless, so we are waiting a little longer until she starts to inquire about the new 'lil addition some more. It is unreal to see the difference in the dogs already and how quiet they are even when visitors are knocking, yet the dogs don't bark like usual.



As expected, we did see much of the back of our eyelids last night. Jenn needed her sleep so I took duty until Luke really dozed off around 3a.m. after a snack;) He continues eating strong.

We are starting to see what items we have that work and some that well, are just in the way and some others that are "we need that" items. Jenn is gaining more strength with every hour it seems. Jenn is a trooper and a more amazing person than I have ever known.

Luke got to meet his older cousin Baron last night who ages him by 5 1/2 weeks. Angie and Ben and Mark and Jeanne stopped by as well to check on us newbys.

zach

Luke Morgan Raulie is here!

Luke Morgan Raulie was born April 25, 2008 at 5:18p.m. EST. 7lbs 4oz, 20" long. This was after about 15hrs of labor Jenn went through. Both mom and baby are progressing well the last couple days here at the hospital. We are being discharged this morning around 10:00a.m. EST and look forward to heading home soon. Jenn said Luke is excited to ride in his new BIG truck.

The hospital we are at has been very good to us though I have already gotten in trouble once for breaching security and another time for trying to leave the delivery room after Luke was born. Next time I need a better listing or rules!

Last night(Saturday night) Luke finally stretched out his lungs and for a little bit just to let us know that we should also be awake at 2a.m. He is eating great and seems to be very healthy as the peditrician reflected this as well. Obviously, he is sleeping a lot and eating every 2-3hrs, but it is inspiring to see him open his eyes to wonder what is around him.

Most of the Haney family visited us Friday night(Mike, Brooklyn, Leigh, Brad & Debbie). Jeanne and Mark have helped us out tremendously with the house as well as here at the hospital. They also gave Luke his first ball and glove and teddy bear. Angie and new nephew Baron visited us as well on Friday toting chocolate cigars and treats! We look forward to seeing them and Daddy Ben today.

Our friends Kraig & Pam and Mark & Max visited us with gorgeous flowers yesterday and Shelly(Jenn's mom for the family she nanny's for) also stopped by for a few moments.

Jenn is getting around very well also. Slow at first, but getting up and down pretty good now.

Zach