SMILES!!!

Our sweet boy has been full of smiles this week! I have been able to capture several on camera. This sweet thang actually keeps me out of bed on those early mornings, because I am far from a morning person, but when I see that beautiful face light up...it keeps me from getting back in bed for 30 more minutes! As I sit there talking to him and in awe of him each time he smiles at me. He has been growing so fast and we keep trying to relish every moment as I hear it goes by faster than we will be able to imagine.

Here are some pics of his happy faces this week that I caught on camera.

Our family's first Christmas...

So much has been going on lately in our McNeil household. I have been busy with the little guy, trying to Christmas shop and most of all getting my house ready for our first Christmas as a family, and for me and Ryan to have together as a married couple! Who would've thought we would've been spending our first Christmas with a new little baby this year!!?!??! Definitely been a BIG 2012 for us.

We just got our tree up this past Wednesday while playing Christmas music and decorating it with the new ornaments that I got for Christmas, which I love! The tree is gorgeous and the mantel is too! It makes this house feel like Christmas already. Our stockings are up for all of us including the dogs. I love it!!!! I become such a Christmas nerd I don't know how Ryan deals with me.

Last night we headed to the Governor's mansion for Christmas with Santa. The fun part is, Santa is my dad! Colleen and Stephen Waguespack convinced dad 5 years ago to play Santa for their kids, and then when Gov. Jindal started doing Christmas at the Mansion for their staff and our troop's children - they convinced dad to do it for them too since he was doing such a great job at it. This tradition is now going on 5 years and this year was extra special for him with his lil Caden visiting!

We showed up and had several laughs seeing my dad for the first time as Santa. Hearting him talking to the kids about what they want and answering the many questions they had was so entertaining. He gets some great stories to share from the kids! Watching made me and Ryan so anxious for little Caden when he gets to sit on Santa's lap and start doing the same. I wonder if he will recognize dad when his visits for Santa come up each year!

A few stories dad shared and we even had the pleasure to witness too:

"Santa! Santa! How many reindeer do you have?" (dad forgot and said 12 so now the parents have to explain the extra 4 on duty LOL!)

"Santa do you know where I live?" to the Teepell and Waguespack kids, 'well yes you live in Woodstone!' Their jaws dropped and they were giggling and running to their parents saying 'oh my gosh he knows we live in Woodstone!'

One kid ran up to him with beaming eyes going 'SANTA OH MY GOSH IT'S REALLY YOU!!!'

To the Gov. oldest daughter Selia who is starting to figure it all out now but not quite, had been asking for years to a visit to the North Pole - it was the only gift she wanted. So instead of telling her they aren't allowed to visit, Dad told her she was in line but she has to wait her turn and said she was #2,178. He went up to her and her friends right when she had almost given up hope and said "Selia I haven't forgotten about your visit, we are getting close...reaching number 1,789!" She giggled with her girl friends thinking hmmmm maybe it will actually happen! I think by next year she may know the truth right before she thinks her visit to the North Pole is about to happen. :-)

Brady Waguespack came up about 4 different times we were there while Santa was doing his job and would tug on him and ask a different question every time. 'Excuse me Santa, I have another question...' Seeing the curiosity made me relish those memories I had as a kid when I watched the radar on TV, looked in the sky endlessly to see the sleigh, made cookies and reindeer snacks for Santa's visit, and sat up in bed as late as I could with Elizabeth trying so hard to hear him on the roof so we could peek out to see what he looked like. The fun part is we now get to live it all over again with Caden but on the other side. I can't wait to make it a fun experience for him year to year!!!

To all of you...MERRY MERRY CHRISTMAS AND MUCH LOVE FROM US!

Here are some pics!

Our Christmas tree at home

Dad playing Santa at the Gov. mansion holding Caden

Our Christmas picture with Gov. Jindal and First Lady Supriya

Caden and his buddy Dixon in the Christmas spirit

My favorite picture of the lil man....

Our sweet little family and our first Christmas!

Lots of love & VISITORS!

THIS SWEET LITTLE BOY HAS A LOT OF LOVE!!!!!!

As most know....when you have a baby your world of time shifts upside down as everything becomes about their schedule. I have had this on my agenda since day 1 and now I am finally getting to it 3 weeks later! I promise to be better about it from now on.

Our sweet little boy came October 25th around 9pm. After 18 hours of labor and a total of 20 all together, Caden made it safely. I had a c-section and despite my exhaustion, I will never forget hearing his sweet little cry and seeing Liz and Ryan's faces as they saw him! Caden didn't cry long and soon enough he was looking all around the room being the alert baby he is. It was amazing and we fell in love with him. We still can't figure out who he looks like as opinions are split on whether it's me, him or both of us. We will continue to see. 

Caden is such an amazing angel baby, literally doesn't cry to much except if he is hungry and he sleeps for about 3 hours at a time, which has been great. He wakes up and is so alert and loves to look around and observe everything, just like his daddy!

Here are some pictures!!!

Prayer Request!!! Baby C will be here Thursday!

So we are going in tonight/tomorrow 3am Thursday to begin an induction that will bring our lil man here a little sooner than October 27th. Ryan feared he would never come out bc I feel him so many desserts right now! LOL....

Please pray for Baby Caden's safe arrival and all to go smoothly. It's our first experience with all of this so we are entangled with excitement, nerves and most of all eagerness to hold our first lil one!

We will post pics soon!!!!!!

Love all of you.

Jeanne and Ryan (and Caden!)

Our prayer for Caden:

1 Centimeter Dilated...The process has begun....

As our due date draws near next week, the process has begun with dilation. I must say I am extremely ready. I have been blessed with a smooth pregnancy and an easy one and I also made it through a very busy 2 BIG events back to back and feel that was a miracle in itself haha. But these last weeks are hard and as one of my best friend's stated...'God almost allows the misery of the last two weeks wipes away any fear you have toward labor because you are just anxious to be relieved at that point!' WELL PUT ENGLISH!!! I agree 100%. 

I am really excited though because everything is done. I have wrapped up at work and so I feel good there too! Yesterday our glider and ottoman came and that was the last of the nursery bit! Just sitting in it last night was so comfortable (thanks Holly!) and listening to his little music machine made me so at peace.

So my doctor said I am at 1 cm. and that I will be back in on Monday to see the status of where we are. My prayers are things naturally progress before my due date of next Saturday's, October 27th so I can avoid the induction, though that will be the plan next.

Will keep yall posted!!!