Update!

So, after the many requests, threats, etc. it's time we guess to update everyone on how Rorey is doing. Rorey came home on Monday, and she has kept us busy. She had her first appointment with the pediatrician on Thursday. He said she looked great, was healthy, we would have difficulty buying her shoes (she seems to have long/narrow feet), and that she had lost 7 ounces since birth (which he said was nothing to be concerned with).

Chaco and Emma (Chaco more than Emma) have begun to recognize that Rorey is living, and something important to us. Chaco becomes very concerned when Rorey is crying, at times to the point of  not eating his food. Emma is getting there, but she's still young and too busy chasing her tail sometimes to notice anything else.

Rorey seems to find it entertaining to trick us in the night. We have her on a schedule feeding her at midnight, 3:00am, 6:00am, and 9:00am, then repeat in the pm hours. Her tricks come when she wakes up crying, we bring her downstairs, and in the process falls back asleep. She usually stays this way for a couple of hours until she wakes up a couple hours later and is ready to eat. Andrew has mastered this by DVRing the Tour of California bike race and watches it early in the morning while Rorey "waits" to eat.

Today was a fun day, we had a lot of friends and family come by to see Rorey, including Papa Ricky (Andrew's dad) flew in from a business trip in Houston for the day to see her. We are so blessed to be close to friends and family.

Well, once again... we know what you want to see... PICTURES:

Chaco meets Rorey. 

Just to give you an idea of how big (or small) she is, this is Rorey laying on the futon we sleep on.

Rorey LOVES her pacifier. 

Papa Ricky and Rorey... The debate is still up as to who has more hair!

Rorey being sniffed/investigated by Emma and Chaco.

Leigh, Papa Ricky, and Rorey during Papa Ricky's visit.

Rorey sleeping in her "Superman" pose. Ironically, this is the way Andrew came into the world when he was born.... something his mom still gives him a hard time about.

Coming Home...

This morning at 10:00am, the birth mother relinquished her rights to Rorey, meaning that we could now take her home. Around 12:30pm we were discharged from the hospital and brought Rorey Taylor home. It's been a bit surreal for all of us, actually having her in the house. It's been an eventful day for Rorey... eat (occasionally), sleep, get a diaper change, get held, repeat.

We are so happy to have her home. Chaco and Emma have had an interesting experience learning what the "thing" that screams from on top of the table and crib. They see her, but I think they're a little scared since they have never been this close to a baby before, especially one that we continually are with. We're working to make sure we balance time between all of our kids, but it's hard right now, Rorey is just that cute.

Here are a few pictures of her last moments in the hospital, and then finally coming home... well home for the next month and a half:

Rorey's first public viewing without a hat. This is how we usually find her now... sleeping.

This is what happens when Andrew isn't in the room and Leigh decides to have a photo shoot with Rorey.

Andrew had the honor of dressing Rorey in her outfit to leave the hospital in... maybe because he forgot all of her blankets (no worries, Kelsey brought them up).

Our little Aggie Lobster. This is Rorey in her car seat, ready to head home.

Andrew giving Rorey a pep talk before he changes her diaper. We're not sure if that is curiosity in her eyes or fear... we're thinking curiosity. They seem to get along just fine, Andrew still does most the talking.

FREEDOM!!!

Day 2... A little late but you know you don't care... She's Adorable!

So really this should have been posted last night, but the days already seem to be longer and the nights shorter... don't worry, we know, that is the next 30 years of our lives! Today was family day and a lot of Leigh's family came to visit. It was great for Rorey to meet so many aunts, uncles, grandparents, great aunts and uncles, and even great grandmothers. We are so blessed to have so many people that care about us here in Dallas... don't worry Carruths, we know you'll be around soon!

Rorey is doing great the pediatrician told us, she is healthy, and passed her hearing test on the first try (usually C-Section Babies don't pass the first time because of the fluid still in their ears... that's just how awesome our daughter is, we know, we're biased). She is still not so big on eating, more sleeping and then staring at everyone around her. As the night went on though, she started to eat a little more, which the nurses said is just fine.

Well we know you're not too worried about what we're writing, but want to see pictures so here are some from today:

Probably one of our favorite pictures of Rorey still... this was just after she was brought in in the morning from the nursery.

Leigh's Oma (grandmother), Leigh, and Rorey... Oma's first great grandkid!

Leigh's dad, now to be referred to as G-Bob (or as we pronounce it Ga-Bob), reading Rorey her first story, The Runaway Bunny. We're currently working on a contract for him to record stories for her...

Rorey preaching to the choir... she's almost ready for the Speaker's Corner in Hyde Park!

Daddy-Daughter bonding time, Andrew waited all day for this moment, it was worth it he says...

Anne Geddes... eat your heart out! Rorey's first naked nap... just after she had her first projectile burp!

Have to start them young right... our children will be brand loyal, even if it means we buy toddler glasses and paint an Oakley O on the side!

Closing Out Day 1

So... we survived the first day and Rorey is still in one piece. So far, it's been like everybody has told us... she sleeps a lot. There was a time where she was awake this evening for about 45 minutes. She kept looking around, probably wondering why Andrew looked so funny, or maybe why his voice was so deep. She has become our bundle of joy, and we have been blessed so much in just one day.

Tonight we decided to have her spend the night in the nursery at the hospital so that we could try and get some rest and a full night of sleep. They will bring her back tomorrow morning, we already miss her a little, just a little... We thought we would post so me more pictures closing out our first day:

Our friends K.C. and Sterling came by and brought Rorey this new hat. Leigh was ecstatic to get the bow off her head, Andrew was a little more reluctant. Say hello to Rorey Taylor Carruth, Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 2032!

Leigh and Rorey, don't worry all you non-Aggies, she'll be able to choose where she goes to college... just not what school she supports growing up! :)

Sleeping in what Andrew calls her cocoon.

It was a long day for everyone. Leigh and Rorey just before they came to take her to the nursery.

The Little Peanut Has Arrived

As many of you have known, we have been trying to adopt for just over a year now. Well, our little peanut arrived today, a few weeks early, but we are more than excited to welcome her to the world. It has been an exciting, yet tiring day... Andrew even showed some inflection. It really is almost surreal that this is all happening, and that it was start to today... just over 3 weeks!

Rorey Taylor Carruth was born today, May 15, 2010 at 9:20am (exactly one month after Leigh's birthday, and a minute apart... Leigh was born at 9:21am). She weighed 6lbs even and measured in at 17.75". She is small, but adorable and the nurses in the hospital told us she was very cute (and they see all sorts of babies, and they'll tell you they're not all cute).

If you are interested, Rorey is named after one of Andrew's closest friends at Texas A&M University, and Taylor comes from Leigh's aunt, who was the OB-GYN that introduced the birth mother to us and delivered her this morning. It was up in the air if we would name her Rorey Taylor or Anne (Annie) Marie, the two names we had pre-selected. Andrew made the decision as he sat there and watched her in the nursery just after she was born this morning.

There is a good deal of back story to this whole experience, and if you are interested we'll be happy to tell you it all (we've gotten pretty good after all the phone calls today). Really, we know what you want and it's not the story... but the pictures! So here you go:

We were a little unsure of how Andrew would handle the blood, so he deferred his spot to Leigh's mom.

Leigh with Rorey just after she came into the world.

Andrew's first time meeting Rorey Taylor... he did his best to sound emotional but we all know he was!

Our little 6lber!

Rorey's first feeding.

We were told she has good suction by the nurse... we're just happy she's here.

Leigh's brother Zach called her a bumble bee in this... they wrap them tight. Leigh isn't too fond of the bow, but Andrew loves it!

Andrew with Rorey.

Leigh's mom (l) Jan, and her Aunt Kim (r) who delivered Rorey.

Mom, Dad, and baby!

Of course Leigh and her Aunt Kim gave her a mohawk as soon as they could!