A City Life For Me

We just want to express our thanks and appreciation to all of you who have followed us on this blog, prayed for us during pregnancy & the arrival of Elaine, left comments, sent presents, and let us know that you love us.  We are truly blessed with a healthy, happy family, and lots of family and friends surrounding us.  We thank God for each one of you! Love, Ben, Andrea & Elaine

“Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” Psalm 107:8 We wish you all a wonderful holiday as you take time to enjoy family and the blessings of God upon your lives. Love, Ben, Andrea, & Elaine

…is one pacifier in my hand, and one in my mouth! “Keeping my options open!”

When Elaine was eight days old, we had newborn portraits taken at JC Penney.  Since Ben was home due to the coastal storm, we made it into a family photo shoot.  Here are my favorites… (used by permission). This is not Ben’s favorite shot of the two of them because he dislikes serious pictures, but I think this one is so sweet! How great is that smile?  They captured this picture just before it turned to a cry!   This little red outfit is the same one that I wore home from the hospital as a baby.  Mom found it and brought it to us, and it is the only one small enough to fit Elaine right now!

My friend Kristi Colas is a missionary in Normandy, France.  This morning I received a special prayer request from Kristi, and I wanted to share it with you all so that you can take her to the Throne of Grace with me.  Here is what she wrote: “Hi to each of you who are faithful in praying for the furtherance of the Gospel here in Normandy, France! I wanted to send out a quick note to ask for you to redouble your labor of love over the next ten days especially , as we are in the midst of a major Gospel offensive. We have a team of five young people from a French Bible institute here helping us with several evangelistic outreaches, and the Lord has been giving us some amazing opportunities to share the Gospel and make new contacts. “Tonight (Thursday Nov. 19th) I am hosting a Bible study led by my pastor on the unique message of the Bible, which is my church’s first step towards planting a daughter church in my town on the outskirts of Rouen. Several of my dear unsaved fri...

We have been so blessed with baby gifts – both from the shower, and recently that people have mailed to us.  Today Elaine received her first package in the mail addressed to her – it was from Grandma & Grampa Hamilton.  Here’s what she got: Elaine looks like she’s unsure of what’s going on…it’s mostly that it is hard to prop her up in the boppy, so that’s as close to sitting up as she gets! Look at all the dresses!  There is one newborn dress (with the big flowers on it in the front), and three 0-3 months dresses, a onesie, and some pants.  I have had such a hard time finding pretty dresses in the little sizes!  These, along with the fancy holiday dress & Mommy’s baby dresses that Grandma Godby brought, will definitely get us through the winter! Additionally, one of Ben’s co-workers gave us a bag filled with little newborn outfits and a snowsuit (which will be put to good use when we go to Colorado for Christmas and New England in January).  Mrs...

This was a forward from my mom, and it made me chuckle.  Hope it makes you laugh too! Let me get this straight. We're going to pass a health care plan written by a committee whose head says he doesn't understand it, passed by a Congress that hasn't read it but exempts themselves from it, signed by a president that also hasn't read it, and who smokes, with funding administered by a treasury chief who didn't pay his taxes, overseen by a surgeon general who is obese, and financed by a country that's nearly broke. What possibly could go wrong?

Here is another video…a little late (we had troubles uploading).  This one shows the sea foam that “flooded” the streets.  Unfortunately, the video which gives the best idea of the magnitude of the coastal storm that hung over Virginia for the last three days will not upload, so this will have to do.

Virginia Beach, along with much of the Atlantic Coast, is under assault by a coastal storm.  The water levels rival those of Hurricane Isabel in 2003.  According to the Weather Channel, the difference between a coastal storm and a hurricane is that a hurricane follows a path, while a coastal storm is more unpredictable.    My parents are staying in a beachfront hotel.  The lobby carpet is “squishy” and many rooms have sprung leaks.  Mom & Dad had to try a couple of different routes in an attempt to get back to their hotel last night.  The main drag, Laskin Rd., was closed due to flooding.  The Christmas lights which had been set up along the boardwalk for the holidays have all been knocked down and blown over.  It’s pretty amazing!  Ben & I went with Dad to check into his hotel, and we took these videos of the surf and storm.   This is the view from the 6th floor of the hotel.  The concrete you see is the boardwa...

Here are more pictures of Elaine.  She is one week old today.  Grandpa Godby arrived at 4 a.m. today.  He flew into Raleigh Durham and drove through our coastal storm and flooding in order to get here.  He hasn’t wanted to relinquish Elaine since arrival! Grampa and Grandma Hamilton, Uncle Evan, & Auntie Meredith left at noon today for New England.  They wanted to avoid some of the bad weather and Meredith is getting sick so they opted to leave early.  We had a photo shoot before they left!   It’s so much fun to have a baby girl! Uncle Evan finally finally got to hold Elaine! Auntie Meredith, Daddy, Elaine, and Uncle Evan Look at that beautiful smile! Lucky girl got to sleep in with Mommy.  She was out! Elaine loves to get her hair washed.  This was bath time with Grandma Godby. Look at her little bow.  Purple is Mommy’s favorite color! The Hamilton Family – Jim, Andrea, Ben, Elaine, Sissy, Meredith, and Evan. A nic...

Today is my 27th birthday.  I got a baby for a present!  We are having so much fun together! We went out to dinner at the Outback Steakhouse.  Elaine stole the hearts of the waitresses!  Andrea, Ben, & Elaine Mommy & Elaine.  Girls look so cute in pink!  (This outfit didn’t last very long today…we went through several different ones because of diaper issues)

Grandma & Grandpa Hamilton, Auntie Meredith, & Uncle Evan arrived from Massachusetts on November 8, 2009.  They were excited to meet Elaine for the first time! Grandma Hamilton & Elaine Grandpa Hamilton & Elaine Auntie Meredith & Elaine The tired family awaiting the arrival of the grandparents – Ben, Elaine, & Andrea

Here are some more precious pictures of Elaine’s first days.  I can’t stop looking at her, and enjoy everything about her…except the nights!  We’re still working on figuring out nights and days and feeding and sleeping times.  Hopefully Daddy will get some sleep tonight, because he has to go back to work tomorrow! My bath in the hospital nursery was a hair-raising experience! The Hamilton Family – Daddy, Elaine, & Mommy Precious Elaine Her eyes are so big! Shhhhh sweet Elaine, don’t cry! The Hamilton's arrive home! My first sponge bath at home.  It was miserable until Mommy washed my hair! Then it was miserable again!   Elaine was inducted into a very special club – the purse club!  Mrs. JoAnne Neiner (the wife of Ben’s pastor in Massachusetts), sent Elaine her very first purse.  She already looks happy to have it!

Once I was brought into the recovery room I was allowed to hold Elaine. Grandma Godby gets to hold Elaine for the first time!