We are all smiles!

Well it was a long journey but our sweet baby is finally here!  We have been so busy just loving him and getting into our little groove.  He has already had tons of visitors!  He can't wait to meet more family soon!  We are all doing well, I am exhausted (yes I know..."welcome to motherhood" haha mom and dad) and it all still seems like a dream to me.  I am totally in love with him and can't believe he is finally here.  I won't say much because I know we all just want pictures of his adorable little self right? So here is A LOT of pictures over the past 3 weeks of his little life. We sure love him.

Mandy helping me look pretty for Colton's arrival!

2 hours of pushing, a vacuum delivery and after 4 hours in the NICU mommy finally gets to hold her baby!  I am so tired (and not as pretty anymore haha, imagine if I didn't do my hair or make-up before eeek!!)

Ready to go home from the hospital!  He is so tiny!  5lbs 12oz! 18.5 inches.  Grandma Pace and Aunt Mandy had to go buy preemie clothes because he wouldn't fit in anything we had for him!  Ready to meet all my visitors!

Grandma and Grandpa Richards came the day he was born from their new home in St. George!  We are so excited to have them so close!

Aunt Mandy--Silly girl.  I promised to call her (even in the middle of the night, which it was 3am) when I was officially in the hospital and in labor.  So I did and she got up and drove straight here in the middle of the night! haha

Aunt Tiffany--How sweet!  She got to bring her boys and come meet her new nephew and we just loved having them here.  I got to celebrate my first mother's day with her too. 

Cousin David--he is sooo cute with babies! He said "aww he's cute" and "haha he's funny"

Cousin Nathan--he would NOT let him go!  He LOVED him and wanted to hold him and carry him around with him everywhere!

Grandma and Grandpa Pace!!  How cute are they! Colton is grandchild number 9! 

Grandpa Pace --loving his cuddles from his boy!  He and my mom also drove here in the middle of the night when I went into labor.  Thanks so much for being here with us! 

Colton's 1st bath!  He LOVED it!  He is a water baby!  He didn't even cry!   Not even when mom accidentally tried to teach him how to swim... (my bad!....the kid is soooo squirmy!  then add the slippery-ness and oops! )  He is a water kid for sure! 

Hanging out with daddy!  Cuddles, sleeping, kisses, and don't forget studying!  His daddy doesn't really like to share him (which surprised him) haha.  He loves holding him and playing with him. 

still tiny in his bouncer

One of our favorite outfits to spit up on! Never fails!

little smirks!

A few of our different faces.  He loves to do E.T. (he stretches his neck SOOO far and wrinkles his forehead, makes him look like E.T. so funny! and a possibilty for halloween costume).  He also makes a monkey "o's" (like Beckham's O's) face.  A Master Yoda.  And of course plenty of smiles!  It's been slightly difficult to capture all these faces as he is a squirmer. 

A little more about Colton....

He already rolls from side to side, we can't leave him alone anywhere unless he is on the ground or strapped in!  I didn't think they were suppposed to roll around so much already.  He and the cat seem to get along well so far, the cat doesn't seem to upset and tries to sleep on my lap while I feed Colton.  His head is EXTREMELY strong from day one.  He likes to sleep with his hands up by his face, when we don't swaddle him, and he loves to play with his hair (like his Uncle Jason).  He likes to suck on his fingers and is very good at getting them to his mouth, he doesn't have a finger preference like his cousin Katie.  Sometimes when I look at him I think I'm looking at his cousin Finn.  His smiles sometimes make him look like his cousin Mia (giant grins!)  He doesn't fuss much, but he sure does grunt a lot (colonel John Cassey anyone?)  He truly is a good baby and we are confused as to how we got so lucky! 

  

Thank you so much Grandma Pace for speding a whole 3 weeks with us!  Mom I am so thankful that you were able to come stay with me and help me figure out how to be a mom.  You're cooking is wonderful as always and it was nice to have you on hand for support and advice.  Colton will miss you dearly as he already knows his grandma's voice.  Also thanks to dad for lending her to us for so long. 

We sure do love our sweet baby boy!