Play Time

I couldn't pass on the opportunity to capture some of Emily's facial expressions today while she was playing. It amazes me how bright her eyes are.















Here was Emily's reaction when I told her the Steelers lost on Monday night.

A baby necessity

As we all know food (milk) is another necessity babies need in order to grow. Emily knows this and definitely let's us know when her scheduled feeding is approaching. Daddy has been a huge help by feeding Emily bottles when he can.

One Month Old

Emily turned 1 month old on Saturday the 16th.

First picnic

Emily has experienced many first's already including attending her first church picnic. She spent the majority of the time sleeping and being introduced to everyone as Grandma M walked around with her.

Burrito baby

Emily loves being held and cuddled. If we wrap her up tight and lay her on her stomach it doesn't take long until she is sound asleep.

I'll fit into this sometime soon

I really like the pictures my sister took of her son Jack with the stuffed bear in order to show his growth. Here is Emily's one week old picture in her Daddy's childhood rocking chair.

One Week Old

Sleep

Why is it we find it so mesmerizing to watch others sleep? I couldn't help myself taking this picture of Daddy and Emily catching some zzzzz's in the guest (formerly gun/hunting) room.


Here's Emily in her Pack-n-Play.

One of the many questions I've been wondering since Emily's birth...just what do babies dream of?

Changes

Home life has been quite a change since we arrived. I quickly found out that I am no longer in charge of my house. Emily is!! She tells me and Laura when we can go to bed, when to wake up, when her diapers need changed, when to feed her and a series of other things. It's hard to imagine a 235 pound male being controlled by a 7 pound 8 ounce girl, but I am. And guess what? I love every sleepless minute of it!!!


We are now a growing family. The only time that I have been happier then I'm feeling in this picture was on my wedding day!

Home Sweet Home

Emily in her crib that my dad and his friend Don Rugg made.

Going Home

On Friday the 18th, we where finally able to take Emily home from the hospital. What a rush of excitement as we finally get to start living together in our home.

Proud Grand Parents

Here are some pics of the proud Grandparents,

John and Lenda!



and Chuck and Ginny

God's Miracle

Today August 16th, at 4:48 am Emily Rae Groff came into the world. She was 7lbs, 8 ounces, 19.8 inches long. Both Mother and baby are healthy and doing great.

The Time is Near

Well everyone, today we are exactly 2 weeks away from our babies due date of the 23rd. Laura and I are both eagerly awaiting the entry of our Little Bundle of Joy. Laura had a check up today with her doctor and everything is “getting into place” so to say. Please check back often for the latest updates.

Showers of Blessing

Charlie and I belong to a church with people who are very generous. This past Saturday the women of our Sunday School class hosted a baby shower for us. As with our wedding shower, the generosity was overwhelming.

It was such a special and some would say emotional day. I was blessed not only to have my Mom and Sister attend, but also to have my Mother-in-Law and Sister's-in-Law in town while Charlie, his Dad and Uncle and Tim Schmidjell attended Promise Keepers.









The floodgate of tears opened very early into the shower when I heard my mom ask about the handmade cradle made by my Father-in-Law and friend Don Rugg.










This shower had it all! There were games, cake both edible and diaper form,








food representing all the food groups (yum, yum)


and the 2006 "Pregnant Posse" in delivery date order starting right to left: Marsha and I due in Aug., Shandi due in Sept., Michelle due in Nov. and Patty due in Dec.






After all the festivities, it was time to relax and put my feet up.


THANK YOU ALL WHO PLANNED AND PARTICIPATED IN THIS VERY SPECIAL DAY!

We're getting closer

For those of you counting with me...as of Thurs., July 13th we'll have only 6 weeks left until we get to see this little miracle face to face.

I am so thankful because I feel I've been blessed with a relatively easy pregnancy. Other than these beautiful swollen feet, I really haven't had a lot of problems.

(Randa was playing with this picture in Photoshop)


Here's a different view of Baby Groff.

Cousin Jack's discussion with the baby

"Jack, ask your cousin whether he/she is a boy or a girl."


Jack listens for the baby's response....


"The baby told me, but said I could not tell. You'll just have to wait."

Memorial Day Weekend in PA

Wow, what a great weekend. Laura and I spent our Memorial Day weekend with some friends. Friday night we left our place with Brian, Meredith and Jack Snyder and headed for the Snyder’s camp in the upper Appalachian Mountains in northern Pennsylvania. It was a wonderful weekend. It felt so go the get out into the country again and do some fishing. The trout where biting pretty well. Most of them had some good size to them. Between everyone that was fishing our count was in the 60's.



Our Friend Brian looking happy to be in the streams again. We fished in the South Branch of Tionesta Creek.





We caught a new breed of fish called a tiger trout. They are not only pretty neat looking but excellent fighters. I heard that they are supposed to be a cross between a Brooke and a Brown Trout.






The cabin was nice and cozy. Me and Jack had a great time together. Look at his face as he realizes that my watch is a Penn State watch.





Laura on the bank of one of the rivers with Brian's mom Beth.