Photos and Quick Update

All is well w/ Team Hatfield! 

Thomas is healthy, happy and our biggest blessing! We love watching him change, grow, and discover something new everyday.  This is a busy season of our lives as we are in the midst of a move and staying w/ Tommy's parents.  Even though we are living out of boxes and suit cases right now, I am learning to slow down and love right where we are in life. I am loving this special time w/ Hatty & Coco. I already have so many treasured memories from 1 1/2 weeks of staying here.

Tommy & Swede are working hard on our "new" house. THANK YOU!!!  Swede has been such a great friend and hard worker. So generous with his time and skills.  And Tommy is working so hard to prepare this home for his family. I just love him more and more everyday as I see how he serves us and provides for us. Thank you, honey for stepping out of your comfort zone of sporty to handy. We are excited and anxious to get moved in and work on the house and make a home for our family.  Our home is a blessing  and we look forward to opening it and seeing how God will give us opportunities to serve him there. 

Thomas is still sleeping through the night, although he did have a tough time adjusting the first few nights at Coco & Hatty's, but he is a trooper and doing great now. He had a great 4 month check up: 17lbs & a little over 25 inches. He started rice cereal this past weekend. The kid LOVES to eat. I will be sure to post photos & a video.

We had a wonderful Easter, celebrating our Risen Lord and Savior. I am looking forward to the upcoming years as Thomas will begin to understand the true meaning of this amazing celebration.

We pray that this finds you all healthy and happy. Please do not take one day for granted. Love on your family and friends. Don't get caught up on the small stuff that really does not matter in the end. Today I am so grateful for what Christ has done in my life and the sweet family and friends he has blessed me with. I am grateful for my health and the health of my family... I don't take it for granted. God is doing tremendous work in my life and I am more in love with Him today than ever before. I am hungry for His word and to embark on a path that he leads me. My prayer is that you too know God in an intimate way and know his love for you. 

Here are a few photos of precious Thomas:

With Handsome Dad at 4 month check up. 

Easter Sunday & 4 month Birthday 4-12-09

How can you not smile 24-7 when you have this bundle of joy in your life. 

1st time he rolled over from back to tummy. I think it was in March

3 month birthday 3-12-09
Thomas,

We love you very much and are so thankful that God placed you in our lives. You bring more joy and excitement to us than we ever could have imagined.  Love, Mom & Dad

Still Kickin'

Hey Family & Friends,
Sorry it has been a month since a post and more importantly updated photos of sweet Thomas. Team Hatfield has been mighty busy. We are on the move..YEAHHHH!!!!!! We close on a house tomorrow and the movers are due next Friday. We have a lot of work to do in the next week. Packing, painting, repairs, bathroom remodel, make decisions for tile, granite, and then bargin shop for it all. I am so excited I can't stand it! Excited to finally have my stuff unpacked and decorate a home. Most of my things have been packed for the past 3 years since Tommy and I got engaged. I am ready to create a home for Team Hatfield!! A home with traditions, laughter, family & friends. A home to serve the Lord!!! God has blessed our family w/ health, home, and happiness...this makes us wealthy! We can ask for no more. I will post photos soon! Over the next year I am sure my blog will contain lots of before and after photos of projects as Tommy and I attempt to paint every room, remodel bathrooms, kitchen, and more. Stay tuned because this could be comical... we are NOT HANDY, BUT WE ARE THRIFTY!!!

Thomas is great! He is still sleeping through the night. Growing way too fast. Teething, lots of drool, and chewing on anything he can pull into his gummy mouth. He is a beauty and I love everyday ... let me be clear.... I love every moment w/him.

I love Spring. Easter is my most favorite Holiday/Celebration. The resurrection of my Lord and Savior. The Cross! Forgiveness of my sins. For God loved me this much! Grace, Compassion, Sacrifice. He has risen, He lives!! I celebrate!!!

It is late and this momma is TIRED! I promise to update w/ photos soon!
P.S. Please continue to pray for my sister and her newborn son, Ian. They are healthy, but I know have a tough road ahead of them as K adjust to parenthood and all the responsibilities.

A Few Photos

Celebrating Tommy's Birthday. Happy Bday HH!!! I know it was extra special this year to celebrate with the best gift God could give us, a healthy baby. I love you more every day. Thank you for being a man of God, a great husband and father, & my best friend. I am excited to see how God blesses your life this year and uses you to make an impact for eternity. I love our new and improve Team Hatfield.

Our first day at church as a family of 3. Thomas did great and loves the swing in the nursery.

My handsome boys. I am one lucky lady!!!

Thomas loves his thumb & so do we! Oh, he is so dang cute!!!!

The Hatfields. Hatty(III), Gana, Uncle Kenny, Thomas(V), and Tommy(IV) .....What a special photo.

Sleeping Baby=Happy Baby & Parents

THANK YOU, BLOGGER FRIENDS!!!!!!!

For all the sleeping advice, it worked!!! Praise the Lord!!!!!!

Thomas has been sleeping through the night for the last 2 weeks. Tommy and I feel like new people, well at least we recognize the old us.

Each and every day w Thomas gets sweeter and sweeter.  Slowly we are discovering a schedule, at least the best you can w/ a newborn. I now understand Thomas' language, which eases some of my fear. Before i was so fearful that I would not know what he needed when he cried. Now i understand most of his language and body language.

Thomas is such a good baby & happy. I love coming in his room to get him in the mornings because he greets be with a super big, gummy smile... oh, it melts my heart!!!

Fog and Sunshine

A few photos of Thomas and Team Hatfield. All from day 9...yes, he is now 8 weeks old and I will post updated photos tonight when I am on the upstairs computer..these are all I have on my laptop for now.

The last 8 weeks are foggy, but all I can remember is sunshine. The prettiest sunshine I have ever seen in my life. This sunshine warms my heart and soul like no other. Even on the cloudiest, most gloomy of days, this sunshine will brighten my day. My sunshine is Thomas E. Hatfield, V. Oh, what joy this precious child has brought to me. The days are long and the nights are longer, but some how God provides me the strength and just enough energy to enjoy the love of this sunshine. The last 8 weeks have gone by so fast! Faster than I could ever have imagined and it breaks my heart. Our little guy is already so big and changing every day. I try to savor every moment and burn the image of his chunky cheeks, double chin, long fingers, & chubby toes into my memory.

Now, I would change something if I could...getting him on a schedule that includes sleeping through the night. Thomas is a great sleeper and even takes good naps. Problem is that he has night ans day totally backwards. He would sleep ALL day if I let him and is bright eyed about 10pm/11pm. Uhhhh, problem....mom is headed back to work in a few weeks, so we need to work on a schedule and good sleep at night. ANY SUGGESTIONS ARE WELCOME!!! Plus, Tommy and I need some husband-wife time. I am missing my husband. It is tough to spend quality time w/ my #1 guy when I am exhausted..I mean REALLY EXHAUSTED!

Please keep us in your prayers.

• Our townhouse in under contract to close on March 2 (yes, in just a few weeks) and we are still unsure of where we are going. I am not interested in movin twice (rental until we find the right home at the right time), but I want to follow God's will and go where ever he leads us. So we are praying for direction, peace, and clarity.
• Praying to be a Proverbs 31 Woman. I pray for God to mold me in to a woman who loves him even more than I do now, follows him and models him in my home, marriage, motherhood, work, family, and friendship. Please pray that I will become selfless and expereince all God has planned for me to be.
• Pray for our sweet son to sleep through the night, play during the days, remain healthy and happy. Please pray for his future and for him to fall in love with Christ.
• Pray for our marriage, it is a GREAT marriage! But, I know that we are tired and embarking on a new journey. Pray that we keep Christ in the center and never allow satan to take advantage of our tired bodies and spirits. Pray that we become stronger as a team as we raise this child and become a family of three.

AND DON'T FORGET TO GIVE ME ANY TIPS OR SCHEDULE SUGGESTIONS TO GET THOMAS ON A SCHEDULE THAT INCLUDES SLEEPING LONGER AT NIGHT.

Love & Laughter,

Rhonda

Thank You Coco

Thank you for being such a special Coco and spending the first few nights in my room w/ me when I came home. You made life so much easier for mom and dad! Plus, we got to spend quality time together at 2 in the morning...just the two of us. Thank you for rocking me, singing to me, praying for me, changing me, and looking after me. Mommy tells me all the time how blessed we are to have such a special Coco and Hatty. I know that I am going to have lots of fun w/ my cousins when we all get together to play at Coco's. There is just something magical about Coco's house for us grandkids....and it is the one of a kind love of Coco.

Little T Meeting Family & Friends @ Hospital

Just a few of the sweet faces that came to the hospital to love on Thomas... we didn't get photos of everyone, but we love you all! Thank you for the visits,gifts, cards, & prayers. I promise I am still working on my thank you cards.


"auntie" Kelley, one of the first to come by the house to visit and love on me. She has twin boys Matthew and Jackson. ..my special buddies who pray for me and send me handmade cards in the mail. Kel gives mom all kinds of great parenting advice, she is a pro!

Uncle Scott and Dad. Scotty will teach me how to hunt, love for books, video games, and all about being a good man.

Our Sweet "Honey" Singing and Rocking Thomas to sleep. We love Honey, she is extra special to us. Alison & Robert stop by for a visit too, but we forgot to get a photo. The Stueve & Davenport families are SPECIAL to us, they love us like family!

Below Photo: Our Fun and Precious friends TK & Lauren loving on Thomas. TK, Thomas can't wait for you to teach him your dance moves & Lauren, Thomas and I need a baby yoga instructor....Mom needs to get back in shape. We love your hearts, smiles, and friendships. Now bring a Baby S into this world soon so we can plan some rockin' "family friendly" vacations.

"Uncle"Rob. We can't wait to meet the rest of the Rickman family. We know the Hatfields and Rickmans will have some fun play dates in the future..Maybe pool parties, hanging w/ Crawford, Haley, & Margaret, Cheering our Dad's on at the Triathlon transitions and finish line.

Wells Family. Thomas, Mom is not so sure you can ever ride in a car w/ Corey..he likes to drive tooo fast : ) We love the Wells Family! We are looking forward to sweet "auntie" Melinda coming to love on us soon.

Thomas, This is mommy's wonderful Great Aunt Bev and Uncle Charles. They have a special place in my heart. I know you will love your GREAT GREAT Aunt & Uncle as much as I do. Watch out for that Uncle Charles... he loves to tease and have a good 'ol time.

Another Precious "auntie"... Stacy! Her laugh & smile are perfect and you will love being around her as much as mom does. I know you'll feel like a party when she is here loving on you.

Larry, Peggy & Christi. Larry will teach me to dress cool (him and TK) and the trade of acting for my first school play. Peggy will teach me how to be smart, study hard, and have fun...she is super smart & beautiful!!! I can't wait for them to come see me again.

MY Hatty! I am so proud to have the same name as this wonderful, God fearing man. I hope to grow up and be a great man like My Hatty & Dad! I am counting down the days till I am big enough to talk sports w/ Dad and Hatty & of course for them to teach me to throw a football and shoot hoops!

"auntie" Liz... What a special friend to our family. So generous, so loving, sweet spirit. Thomas LOVES Liz. I think he already has a little crush on his hip, talented, and well traveled "auntie".

Uncle Todd and Chloe Checking in on Baby Thomas.

Meeting Aunt Joy and Cousin Chloe... So excited to FINALLY meet her baby cousin!

Aunt Joy & Cousin Colton.. Just as excited as Chloe to meet his baby cousin. Can't wait to teach him how to build, explore, and climb!

Proud Dad introducing Thomas to Aunt Joy. Really, both Dad and Aunt Joy's face say it all!!

I can't wait to be big enough for sleep overs w/ my cousins and get lots of hugs and kisses from my Aunt Joy & have a fun time w/ Uncle Todd.

Beautiful "Aunt" Leslie, Thank you for all the Sonic lunches, nightly walks, shopping trips, and prayers. I already LOVE my Aunt Leslie soooo much! I love that you come by to see me almost daily and you help mom so much... you really are a beautiful "aunt" inside and out!

My VERY SPECIAL "Aunt" Christi! Thank you for being a special "sister" to my mommy and loving me like only a special aunt can. One of the first few people to hold me on day one!! Can't wait to discover all the fun things you will teach me growing up. Mom says you love me sooo much and will make me laugh a lot.