Fall is the Season for Family Fun!

The changing of the leaves and the cooler nights usher in some of my most beloved things - playoff baseball, college football, long sleeves, The Missus' taco soup and in general, more time with the fam'. Last week, in preparation for the impending Hallow's Eve we set out to find us a pumpkin over at Glennwood's annual pumpkin patch sale. We actually bought two - one for the whole bunch of us, and another just for Tessa. Here are a few pics from our outing.

Daddy Days 1: A Bittersweet Day

Do you remember that first bite of your favorite dessert – the time you first tasted Key Lime pie, or a piece of homemade chocolate cake? It’s funny, how when we taste something savory and sweet, we take each bite as if we were eating the entire piece in slow motion. We even find ourselves enjoying conversation more, because catching up with a friend over dessert allows us to take our time eating – it forces us not to inhale the entire piece in one fail swoop. Then, there come that moment for each of us, when we reach down for one more bite only to hear our fork slap the empty plate as we slice through the air that was once filled with sweetness. Before realizing it, we have eaten the entire piece, no matter how carefully we tasted each bite.

My summer with The Missus, and our baby girl, Tessa, could be described in much the same way. With Ms. TH on maternity leave for nine weeks, and me working 20-25 hours a week as a research assistant, we have had ample time to enjoy our little miss – together. We’ve savored every minute of it, whether running errands – together, taking pictures of Tessa’s every waking (and sometimes sleeping) moment – together, and, if we so choose, just laying around the house – together. But as with every sweet thing, the moment came when each of us looked up and our summer – but more importantly, our copious amounts of time – together – were gone.

Although the summer was marked by sweetness, these past three weeks have been crowned with the bitter-sweetness of The Missus returning to her site of gainful employment. I can’t tell you how proud I am of her – as a wife, a mother, a best friend, and now more than ever, our breadwinner. She is the epitome of selflessness, sacrifice and dedication.

And so, we turn the page on the best summer of our lives, and begin writing a new chapter of the days that lie ahead. It is a chapter (or two) that I will have the privilege of writing as a gift to my wife – the one who has taken on the reluctant role of breadwinner while I, the “professional student”, learn to wear the two hats of part time stay-at-home dad and part time grad student.

These are the Daddy Days.

The Missus and Tessa's Wardrobe

If you know the Missus, then you know she's usually not given to much flair. She always dresses nice, don't get me wrong, but her look tends toward the simple and casual side. When it comes to our baby girl, however, she has no limits on what Tessa can wear. Just take a look at the past 3-4 days worth of outfits!

Her First Sunday out of the House

Her Day out with Mommy!

Her Trip to the Doc

Tessa and the Missus

Today was Tessa's first Sunday out of our house and into God's. I thought the missus and her cleaned up pretty nicely today, and figured I might ought to show off the two of them. Yes, the bow is indeed bigger than her head!

Look Who's Already Five!

It's hard to believe that our little girl is already 5...weeks, that is. The missus and I are confounded by how fast little TH is growing.

Enjoy the pictures!

Little TH is already holding her head up like a big girl!

I don't know why, but she seems to love it when I hold her like that

A sleeping baby is a happy baby!

Little TH's first "real" bath...should I be concerned that she appears to be posing?


Ahhhh! Much better!

ENOUGH!

A Few Pics of Tessa

Mommy and Tessa enjoying some time together

Tessa in her going home gown

Look at that face! I think she might like bath time!

Meet Baby T

or as we like to call her... Tessa Rhea Hammett. She was born at 7:17 am weighing in at 7 lb, 5 oz with a head full of hair. We're so excited she's here and can't wait to share her life with you. Thank you all for the prayers, emails, and general well wishes on her behalf.