2 weeks of fun

Yeah! Happy 2 week birthday little man. We went to the doctor today and he weighs 9 lbs 1 oz, that is a 1 lb 1 oz increase in two weeks. Go Mama's milk! He also gained 2 inches putting him at 21 inches long! He is really starting to show some personality, and has had lots of visitors. Just tonight, Bragg and Jessica Vaughn came by to see him and us, "I knew he could do it!" He was a bit disappointed in the Bulldawg baseball teams performance in their last two games, but he has always been more of a football man anyway. He can't wait for the fall!

I would love to say more, but it has really just been a lot of eating, sleeping, and pooping. (Uh-oh, I wonder if I should check the adult content box on my blog settings with that last word.) I do want to thank all the wonderful people from our church who have been bringing us food, Karen LaFlamme, Darlene Linge, Denise Piligian, Natalie and Danielle Snyder, and Tracy Porter. May God pour out blessings on you and your families.

I would like to make a special note about one of those ladies who brought us food. She provides assistance and counseling to families who have had a loved one suffer from traumatic brain injuries. Everyday. As her job. As if that was not enough, she took time out of her schedule of doing this to prepare us an incredible homemade meal and drive it half an hour one way to our house. You may already be touched by her kindness. If not, try this on. The reason she does what she does is because her son suffered one such injury and the need for support became apparent to her. This son apparently resides in a home in another town obviously limiting her time with him. On the day she fixed the meal and brought it to us, he was here visiting for his 21st birthday. He was to return to Clearwater the following day and was staying with a nurse while his mother was blessing us with dinner. If your not teary eyed right now, check your pulse. Tracy Porter, you are a saint, and I will pray for blessings on your life daily. I hope everyone reading this will take a moment to do the same.

Well it looks like I did have a lot to say. Maybe I should get a separate blog for my inner ramblings.

Love to all,

Jason, Lindsey, Grayson, and Abe

Clipped...finally.

Hello readers, (like there is some vast following out there keeping up with our scribbles)

Do we have some news for you! Our little man finally got his little man taken care of. Just wanted to headline with that considering the concern shown by all. So now we can rest easy, but I'd rather not make this post all about that, and the vaseline involved, or the speed of flow rating listed on the side of the bottle nipples, or the length of time breast milk can sit out on the counter. So...

I'll back up a bit and share some of the more special times we have had as a family in the past week. Like when Lindsey and I had quiet time in the hospital with the sound of our soon to be born son's heartbeat coming out of the machine, or the quiet time the next morning with Grayson's nine hour old hand gripping my finger the whole time. Everyone in the world should have a child. I know what you're thinking, not everyone! Yes, everyone. With no exceptions, just a few conditions. I said I wasn't going to talk about circumcision, but the first condition would be that you allow your heart to be circumscised. John Eldridge talks a lot about this in Ransomed Heart. Having a child will change your life and the lives of those close to you if you have allowed your hearts to be skint back exposing the fresh, sensitive parts that for years have been covered with calloused build up preventing true emotion. A second condition would be automatically met during the birthing process given the first condition was fulfilled, and that is that they recognize the source of life can come only from the source of love, our Divine Creator and Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ. The third condition would also build on the first two, and that would be a commitment to raise the child with the truth found in condition two and all the subsequent truths stemming from the first. These would dictate the way this new life was lived, and the pattern would eventually lead to this world being a lot less messy for us all.

Okay, so I didn't share a bunch of memorable stories of the past eight days. Honestly, stories about sleeping and pooping would probably bore you anyway. So as "the pump" drones on in the background, I leave you with this: Circumcise yourself. (your heart that is)

>Jason<

AMAZING!

I haven't been on here in a while, Grayson has been such a blessing that keeps us staring at him instead of the computer screen! I am just in awe of the whole experience, there aren't enough words to describe the increased love for Jason I feel and the newfound love for my SON! The birth experience was really amazing and I have to say that all the prayers really meant a lot to me, I felt so calm and at peace. I never imagined he would be 8 pounds, I lost big time in the pool on that one! However, he is healthy, happy, and loves to eat! We went to his first doctor's appointment on Monday and the pediatrician gave us an excellent report, and that he is actually 19 1/2 inches (not sure if the nurse at the hosptial got it right the first time, hehe). The days have been filled with some crazy poopy (or peepee) diapers, not to mention baby toots (louder than you think!!), eating, sleeping, and then of course the changing of the outfits!!! I will write more soon, but know that I appreciate all of the support and can't wait to show him off to everyone!


Love,
Lindsey

He's Here!!!

Hello Everyone,

I am exhausted so I can't make this a beautiful dissertation on the joys of having a baby and all that; parents know what I mean, but I can get on here real quick to say he was born at 8:16 Thursday evening. The labor was incredible. Looking back, it is easy to see we were extremely covered in prayer. Recovery has been pretty good too, (well you'll have to ask Lindsey about recovery, it's been easy for me but i didn't push out an 8 lb baby). He was 8 lbs even and 19 inches long. He put on quite a show in the hospital nursery, peeing on the viewing window and all. We are home now and doing well with Mimi (Lindsey's mom Melissa) helping out for a while. Thank you all for the emails, text messages, phone calls and visits to the hospital. Especially to our families for the love, support and food. We ate like royalty which, as most of you now, I really value.

Well, Lindsey is nursing and doing well. We look forward to all of you getting to meet him in person!

Latest News!

Hey everyone!

We went to the latest doctor's appointment this morning and what an exciting day! The doctors have set up an induction date to bring Grayson into the world unless he wants to do so before...so there is still time little man to do it on your own! The big day will be this Thursday (6/12/08), sounds like a perfect birthday to us! Of course he could pick any day he wants, we are soooo ready for him to be here. We will be at Flagler Hospital bright (wait, the sun isn't up at 5:30 am!) and early to start the whole process and any prayers for a wonderful delivery are greatly appreciated!

Love you all!
Lindsey and Jason

Patience

How 'bout those new page elements up there, uh. This blogging stuff is incredibly addictive. Anyway, I'll put an update on here.

There is still nothing major to report. Lindsey has had some cramping/contraction type feelings every day this week, but Grayson is still tucked in there. We go back to the doctor tomorrow, and they told us that we would be discussing induction as an option to this nerve racking waiting that we have been doing. Don't get me wrong; we are not complaining. Grayson is just exciting the bejesus out of us. I can't tell you how many times we have checked to make sure our multiple cameras and video recorders are charged up and ready. Our families are all eager to get down here and take part in the birthing (Lindsey hates it when I use that word). Lindsey's mom has already made it down and helped us put the finishing touches on the nursery. So, Grayson, you are running out of excuses!

Hopefully we won't wear you guys out with posts about nothing before the real good posts full of baby pictures and humorous anecdotes get here. As always, your prayers are needed as we approach the big day.... whatever day that is.

-Jason

Hot June in Florida

Well, still no sign of Grayson, I guess he is pretty smart and realizes just how hot it is in Florida in June and has decided to hide a little longer!! We are still enjoying ourselves as a "couple" and anticipating our family status that is just around the corner. As Jason says, "It could be tonight!" Jason always keeps me laughing and I know he is going to be a wonderful father. My mom, or Grayson's Mimi is coming today and we are going to finish the nursery, all we have left is the wall decor, maybe that is what Grayson is waiting on!! Hope everyone is doing well, and if they allowed whale-like people in the pool I would be in there, but I would hate to make all the water come out, the kids in the neighborhood might have it out for me. Have a nice weekend and maybe we will get to have our next post display a picture of the newest Faircloth!

Love,

Lindsey

Update

Well, Jason and I went to the doctor again today after last Friday's visit. They basically said the same thing, Grayson is ready to go but I guess he is pretty content and fine with hanging out a little longer in his current home!! However, we are all ready on this end to welcome him to his cute room and introduce him to all of our friends and his family, including Abe (his doggie brother!). We can't wait to give everyone the update that Grayson is finally here, but until then Jason and I are hanging out!!!!

Love,

Lindsey

Very Grateful!

Well, here goes my debut as a blogger, Jason and I are excited to get this going and keep it up not only with updates but pictures too!

I am so blessed to have family and friends that are supportive not only during this exciting time while we await Grayson's arrival, but that have been so for all of my life and Jason's too.

From the time we found out that we would have our own child, our family and friends have been so attentive and generous. Words cannot describe what it feels like to know that the love and blessings in your life will soon be shared not only by your husband but your son too!!! A good friend of mine has always told me that little boys are the best (Brooke!), and I can't wait to share Grayson with everyone.

While Jason and I wait here for Grayson, we feel so surrounded by God's love and peace, and can't wait to have our family come and visit. We pray that all of you will have safe and wonderful trips here whenever you may come and that we can all just enjoy being together and welcoming another little one (our nephew Hannan will be making his first trip to visit his new cousin) into our growing family!

We love you all!

Lindsey

Slow down- Life construction ahead

Wow, who knew there would be a day when you could just put down your random thoughts on the world wide web and have people all over read them? This is exciting. It is only fitting that I compose my first piece after reading about what could be the most intense miracle I have ever been privy to on a BLOG! If you have time and want to follow the storyline of what was truly the finger of God at work among us, check out http://www.rileyturner.com/. It ranks right up there with my own sister's miraculous healing of her baby within the womb. Hannan James Allen is now 7 weeks old and the picture of health.
As I jot down these ramblings, my wife is laying on the couch, possibly hours, at the most days from delivering our first son. I have been told by everyone that we are embarking on an experience like no other. It can not be described. We feel prepared, at least on the "having stuff" end of things. We have tried to get our act together emotionally as well. God has allowed us to spend the time leading up to now by hanging out as a couple and bolstering our already rock solid marriage relationship. We are surrounded by a church family that is more than wonderful, and our actually family is absolutely ecstatic about the whole thing. I realize the situation we are immersed in is more than idyllic. It is a struggle not to take the overflow of blessings we call our life for granted.
We hope that we can utilize this page to demonstrate the love and mercy God is showering on us to all of our friends and family. We will use this page to post pictures and news about our life and family with emphasis on little Jacob Grayson for the grandparents, aunts, uncles and extended family who can''t be here for every minute of joy and happiness that seems to surround our home. We love you and look forward to sharing with you all.