Baby Nathan is here safe and sound! This first picture of him sitting in my lap on Sunday when the rest of the family was at church. What a handsome little fella. Time is flying by way too fast already!!! I have been having a hard time posting pictures (much to my family's frustration) because I just don't want to put down this huggable, kissable, lovable, adorable boy! But, Jesi wanted some one-on-one time with her brother and is enjoying reading to him, holding him, and surrounding him with all kinds of books and stuffed animals that she thinks will make him happy. I think he is just happy to hear his sister's voice just like he heard in the womb!
We were at the hospital at 5:30 AM to get ready for the c-section at 7:30. Nathan was kicking like crazy during those two hours before he was born, but then again when wasn't he kicking like crazy? I think he was letting us know he was ready! They put a strap around my belly to monitor the baby's heart rate and my contractions and it seemed like he was trying really hard to kick that strap off!
This picture is slightly awkward! The anesthesiologist offered to take a picture for us. That guy is Andy, if anyone is wondering who the guy is behind the mask :)! 
He had a good set of lungs and screamed loud enough for me to hear him in the other room. This picture was taken during his first bath! Somehow we ended up with another red head!
Little Nathan had the sweetest little moan that we thought was SO cute. I left messages for some of our family the first day with his little moan. Soon afterwards we found out that that could be a sign of respiratory or other problems. So, he had all kinds of tests done that first day. Everything seemed fine. The x-ray of his lungs looked good. The only problem was that his white blood cell count was slightly elevated. So, they put him on antibiotics just to be safe. Two days later when the blood tests came back looking good, they took him off the antibiotics. He never seemed like he was in pain, so I think he was just singing to us! My dad always had a song for everything (which I seem to have inherited), so maybe he takes after his grandpa McConkie?!?
Finally back in my room after all the testing was done for the day. They did continue to monitor Nathan closely, but he seemed to be as healthy as could be. He did have low blood sugar a couple times, so they supplemented him twice, but he has been eating like a champ ever since and has gone through LOTS of diapers already!!! The first night home he wanted to eat every half hour, but last night he did much better! The spinal went great. I was up and walking just a few hours after the surgery to go visit Nathan in the ICU.
Drew's turn. The kids were SO excited to finally have a baby brother they could hold. My poor belly will miss the kisses, but I'm sure Nathan will be clobbered with them now! We called Drew from the hospital the morning Nathan was born, just minutes before he left for school and Drew said, "I CAN'T BELIEVE I HAVE A BABY BROTHER!!!"
Jesi's turn! She has had so much fun "wrapping" up her little brother in blankets like they do in the hospital. 
Daddy and son. My mom spoiled Nathan with beautiful blankets. Andy likes the BYU blue ones the best! This one has cars on the other side, which Drew loves! Andy was a trooper like usual, staying at the hospital the first night and the 3rd night as well. It was fun to watch him try to diaper a newborn again!
Taking a little nap with Mom. I love how his arms are wrapped under his head in this picture. He is so cuddley! It is amazing how you can burp a baby when you are mostly asleep!
Kassi's turn! This picture was taken the next day before Jesi's soccer game. Andy is coaching her team and she LOVES it. I need to post pictures of Drew and Jesi playing soccer this season. It is almost over! Kassi did try to sit on Nathan's head the other day, but other than that, we haven't had too many close calls!
My mom has been staying at our home, watching the kids and taking care of things since the night before Nathan's birth. She has been wonderful. Thank you, Mom!!! The kids have had so much fun with Grandma, I'm afraid they'll be bored when she is gone. Luckily Andy's Mom is coming tomorrow and will be here for a week! 
Nathan has been spoiled with flowers, gifts, and visitors. We are so appreciative of all the phone calls, meals and love and support we have received from family, friends, and neighbors!!! 
Little Nathan Paul! We have had Nathan's full name picked out since we found out he was a boy at the 20 week ultrasound (and really we had the name chosen before than, just in case he was a boy). Andy's best friend growing up was Nate Strong up in Idaho, so he has always loved the name. So, it wasn't hard to convince him to name our little boy after one of my ancestors, Nathaniel Ashby, a shoemaker who lived just a few blocks from the home of the prophet Joseph Smith in Nauvoo, Illinois. My parents were blessed with another baby when my Mom was 43 years old. If it had been a boy, they were going to name him Nathaniel after this ancestor who was visited by the prophet for the year that they lived near him before his martyrdom. Since they had my sister Nicole instead, my whole family has always thought we needed to have a little Nathan in the family! Paul is my dad's name, who passed away 4 1/2 years ago.
Some of these pictures are taken at a weird angle. I probably should have flipped a couple on their side. This is the last day in the hospital, so we are just letting Nathan take one last little nap before dressing him for the ride home!
My sister Nicole picked out a stuffed Monkey, monkey fabric for this blanket my Mom made, and a monkey outfit. So cute!
Jesi saw this picture and said, "Look Mom, it looks like Nathan is saying "Oh me, oh my!""I think she was right!
Checking out those precious little fingers!
Our sweet little guy enjoying his last few minutes of freedom from clothing! We just watched home videos of the other kids' births and Kassi actually had a lot more hair than Nathan. But, he has quite a bit! It seems weird not to need to put a little bow in his hair! But, boy is he a handsome little fella!?!
In his first little outfit from my Mom and Kim and Nicole. It say's "Daddy's little Rookie" Andy likes it because it is Timpview colors!
It looks like he has inherited his Grandma Sanderson's toes, which means he will be very talented at picking things up with his feet :)!
Responding to Daddy's funny faces!
I love Nathan's face and hand position in this picture. It's like he is saying, "Oh, garsh, another picture of cute little me?!?"
Ready to go home!!! And, he wasn't the only one ready to go home! We've been loving every minute with this cute little guy!!! Welcome home sweet baby boy! We love you so much already and we are so happy that we can be together forever!!! Don't ever doubt how much you are loved by your family, friends, neighbors, your Heavenly Father and older brother, Jesus Christ, and that many angels are watching over you! Thank you for being our little angel on earth!
Wow, I didn't realize how far behind I was until I started doing these catch up posts! This is my 3rd post today and I have a few more to come! We had a lot of fun at the McConkie reunion this summer (my dad's side of the family). My dad's sister was in charge and she did a great job planning this reunion up at the Girl's camp up in Heber (which by the way you have to reserve a year and a half in advance)! They had great little cabins with wooden bunkbeds and nearby bathrooms (always a plus for the pregnant lady in the middle of the night) and a big pavilion with an attached kitchen. It was perfect. And, I think the highlight was the fun obstacle courses that families were able to sign up for. We signed up for the swing, which was the easiest of the 3 courses - for the kids of course :). Drew didn't want anything to do with it, but the girls at least got on the swing! For being afraid of heights, Andy did awesome - going all the way to the top! I wasn't able to do it because the rope would have been a little dangerous with a protruding belly (or at least with a baby inside). But, it was very fun to watch!
