And the winner is...

Thanks for all the votes! The winner from the passport photo vote is:

Picture 3!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is the finished product made for free thanks to http://www.epassportphoto.com/

passport

So one of the fun things that we get to do with Everett right off the bat is get him as passport because we can't take him to Korea without one. This requires us to fill out all the necessary paperwork (check), get his birth certificate (check), get his social security number (soon), and of course take a picture (check). Most of the things on that list are relatively straightforward. Taking a picture, however, proved to be somewhat difficult. The Department of State outlines their qualifications for passport pictures here. The two that are challenging for us the most are that pictures must be:

• Taken in full-face view directly facing the camera
• With a neutral facial expression and both eyes open

It took 3 photo shoots, 3 outfits, and 42 pictures but we think we have a winner. Here are some of our attempts followed by the 3 finalists. We'd love you to vote for the official pic.

Oh no

Chris Farley

Hand jerk

Constipated

Lost in space

You talkin' to me?

Wha'd you think you're doin'?

Do. Not. Mess. With. Me.

Blue Steel

Umm...

Mid-sneeze

Sleepy head

We need your help picking an official passport photo. Here are the three finalists.

1.

2.

3.

Mom vs. Dad

A common point of discussion around our home is, "who does Everett look like?"

Bonnie:
8 lbs 13 oz
21 inches long

Tom:

9 lbs 11 oz

21.5 inches long

Everett: 
9 lbs 12 oz
22.5 inches long

So what do you think?  Who does our little man favor?

Life at home

Life at home with Everett has been awesome! There's been a sharp learning curve at times, but everyday gets a bit easier and more fun! He's more awake (we finally got some good pictures with his eyes open!) and we're starting to find a rhythm to life together. Everyday he seems to be changing and we're having such a great time learning how to be this little man's parents. Here are some new pictures and videos...

You can never start too early...

Everett with little mittens on. He's gotten some wicked scratches on his face because those little hands can get moving when he's fussy!

Granny and Everett. Granny has been a HUGE help since we've been home!

Everett all wrapped up in his swaddler--he already fills up the whole swaddle sack! What a long boy!

Everett in his swaddler again, but notice his little hand escaping out the bottom. He has such long arms.

This was Everett his first night home from the hospital. He's laying in a little bassinet that I slept in when I was a baby.

He used to hiccup a lot when he was in the womb. It's pretty funny to see him still do it now that he's outside of me!

Yesterday we took Everett out for the first time to see the pediatrician. Everything went well. We're so thankful for our healthy little boy.

Everett's first moments of life

becoming a mom

Tom has done a great job of taking the social media reigns and letting folks know about our new addition, so I thought it was about time for me to come back to the blogosphere and share a bit more about our journey in becoming parents.

Here I am about a week before Everett was born. I look at these pictures and I'm like, how did an almost 10 lbs baby live inside of me?!?!

I was fairly blessed in my third trimester to not be too uncomfortable, but once I neared the 39 week mark I was starting to feel like it was time to get this little guy out! Then on Wednesday night, July 20th, I started to feel like I was getting contractions. I couldn't sleep from about 2am to 5am because the contractions were coming at regular intervals of 6-8 minutes a part (they need to be at least 3-5min a part to go into the hospital). The next day I went in for my weekly doctor's appointment. I was really hoping that the doctor would check me out and then tell me to stay. Despite the contractions still coming, that was not the case; the doctor said I was dilated 1cm and "ripe" for labor but it wasn't time yet. We left being told the baby could come in a matter of hours or a week. YIKES!

Thursday night we had a great dinner with family and I did my best to grin and bear the contractions. We went to bed and once again around 2am I woke up with regular contractions. This time they were more painful and coming on quicker. I was walking laps in my basement to try to handle them. Finally I decided I needed to wake up Tom because I thought this may be the real deal and needed help timing my contractions. Sure enough...my contractions were coming on about every five minutes. We waffled for a while about going to the hospital because our hospital is 45 minutes away and I really didn't want to drive that far for a false alarm. Around 4:30am we decided we should go for it. We checked into the hospital around 5:30am. They checked me out and I was dilated 2-3cm, so they said they were going to keep me and that our little man would be coming that day.

For the first few hours at the hospital I battled through the contractions fairly well. I even told Tom that this wasn't as bad as I thought it would be and that maybe I could do this without an epidural.
Man, did I eat those words! The doctor broke my water and then the contractions really started to come on strong. It was rough!!! And I confessed that I was too cocky before. :-)

I got an epidural around 9am and for the next few hours I was able to relax, see some family, and mentally prepare to meet our little guy. I started pushing sometime after 1pm and things progressed really quickly. He almost came out before the doctor had time to put her gloves on! After pushing for about 35 minutes our baby was born at 1:51pm on Friday, July 22nd.

I can't describe the feeling of seeing Everett for the first time. There is truly nothing like it. I remember seeing the doctor pull him out and up for me to see and he started crying right away. It was such a beautiful, life giving cry. I instantly noticed he had a full head of dark hair (just like I did). I also remember the exclamations from around the room:

"Oh my goodness, this is a big baby!"
"Look at how big those feet are!" (This was also said about me when I was born.)
"This is one of the biggest babies I've seen delivered."

Then they put him on my chest and I got to hold him for the first time. It was such an overwhelming feeling of joy, love, and awe. I instantly fell in love and became a weepy mess.

Then they told me how big he was: 9 lbs 12 oz and 22.5 inches long. WHAT?!!!! I was shocked! My doctor had told me on two different occasions that he was confident I'd have an average size baby that would not be 10 lbs. We were guessing he'd be around 8 lbs! Boy were we all way off! I still can't believe a baby this big came out of me!!!

We are so thankful for Everett. He's such a healthy, happy baby boy. Becoming a mom is truly a miracle. I'm thankful to the Lord for giving us this little man. I'm so proud to be his mom.

from hospital to home

So to put it bluntly Everett is awesome.  Now I say that knowing that it is a little ridiculous to think that a kid's parents wouldn't think they are awesome.  The staff at the hospital were great and we got some quality time with our little man while there. 

Dude has BIG feet. 

I had to do a decent amount of washing dishes and pump pieces at this sink that was not well suited for someone of my stature.  So I pulled up a chair.

We thought about bringing E home in this polo because it would be fitting considering I wear polos to work pretty much every day but it is a little too big still.

Right before taking off for Platte City.

Ready to roll!

The trip was great.  Everett slept the whole way home.  Our first home visitors were Chris and Jan Patterson.

And an open eyes picture for good measure.

The hospital was great but man it is good to be home.  2 days are in the books and our hearts are stolen.

Introducing: Everett Thomas Meyer

Everett Thomas Meyer

9 lbs. 12 oz.

22.5 inches

July, 22nd 2011

born at 1:51 PM

The Meyer Family

Grandpa and Grandma Robertson

Grandma Jean

Grandpa Meyer

Mom and baby are doing great.