Good morning! This picture was taken this morning...Vivian is 2 days old.
First family photos:
pictures with Daddy:
pictures with family:
and one more Vivian close-up!:
At 6:30am today, June 18th 2008, we welcomed Vivian Gray into the world. The early arrival was unexpected but a blessing when Lisa's water broke last night around 11:00pm. Aaron was able to rush her to the hospital, speeding down the road and running red lights just as he always dreamed.
We know you are all waiting for pictures so here is the first official blog post of our beautiful Vivian Gray Fernandez. 
Today mom and I met at Foodies to make some meals together. At Foodies you can prepare meals with their ingredients (they give instructions on how to make each meal) and then put them in freezer bags for cooking and eating later! Thanks, Kristen, for giving me this idea to do before the baby comes, so that in a couple of weeks when I'm trying to figure out how to be a mom, the hubby still has something good to eat for dinner!
An idea of what meals I made (I made 8, but split-packed them, so I have 16 nights worth of meals): chicken and black bean quesadillas, lime marinated grilled chicken, Focaccia Pizzas, and tex-mex casserole...yum!
Here's mom helping me put together the shrimp and andouille kabobs. It was so organized, easy to follow, and clean...I think she may go back to make her own meals!
Our freezer downstairs is packed and ready for when Baby Fernandez is stealing all the attention!
Thanks to Granddaddy and Grandma C.- I used part of your birthday gift to do this!
On Father's Day today I want to remind Aaron of the day he found out he was going to be a dad. I set this up, took a picture, and left to go to church on a Wednesday night before he got home from work. He came home to shower before meeting me there and saw this on the bathroom mirror. What an awesome memory! You're going to be a great dad, Aaron. I can't wait to see how Christ is displayed as most valuable in the way that you raise our soon-coming child in the training and instruction of the Lord.
This weekend the Interstate Batteries convention has been going on in Washington, DC. Aaron left on Thursday morning and I missed him so much that I went to join him on Friday night! Mom and Dad were driving up Friday night so I hitched a ride with them. Don't tell my doctor! :) I took my insurance card just in case, but I'm so glad I went to be with him and hang out in DC instead of sitting around here waiting for nothing to happen.
We rode the Metro to get to The Mall (where the museum is). Stephen lives in DC now so he was our guide. Whatever he's telling dad must be pretty engaging!
This is a picture from the Air and Space Museum party. We couldn't find a free table so we sat under the rocketship to eat. Stephen's friend Reba also lives in DC and she was able to join us. We were missing Michael...he was gone this weekend to see concerts in Tennessee.
Here's the 39 week belly at the Smithsonian! Living life on the edge!We have 9 days to go and I had another doctor's appt. today that revealed no change...so we aren't expecting action anytime soon! Heartrate was about the same (120-130), and baby hasn't changed positions.
I love organization! If you can't tell, this is the top drawer of the changing table.
Aaron left this morning for Washington, D.C. for an Interstate Batteries Convention. He'll be back on Saturday night...
After our luncheon the P.E. teacher created a slip-n-slide and this is how the teachers celebrated the last day of school :)
Not the preggo lady, though! 
Where can you find my Aaron? Playing ball with the boys, of course :)Then this evening Joey, Michael, and Dad came over for burgers, we went to Bruster's for ice cream, and now the men have gone to see Indiana Jones together. It's been a busy Saturday!
Doesn't it look relaxing?! It was the perfect day for staying near cool water...the temperatures were in the mid-upper 90's.As I contemplate my own early (very early) retirement...to start after this coming Wednesday!!...it was fun to see my principal celebrate hers at a dinner last night. You can tell she's feeling good about it:
She's leading the conga line! hehe
It was a sweet occasion- she really has been a great leader. After the dinner and speeches were done, they had a dance party :)
The paper sash says, "Mommy-to-be"
We love books! Mom says I had this one when I was a baby.
I was glad mom could come. Honestly, sometimes opening gifts in front of a lot of people can be awkward, so having her sit with me made it much better.
What a gorgeous cake! As for a baby update, the doctor's appt. on Monday revealed no change. Heartrate is the same, baby has not moved (from being in head down position), and there is no dilation. So to quote the doctor, "in my heart of hearts I don't think the baby will come this week" hehe
Last night we had Jeremie and Tabitha Shelor come eat with us at the house. Aaron grilled chicken wings and it was a fun time to get to know this sweet family better (we know them from church). They have two children and their youngest, Jude, needed a place to sit at our table. I was so pleased that we actually had a high chair to offer (thanks to you, Kari)! So Baby Fernandez's chair has been officially broken in. It worked great. And look at that bottle Jude is drinking from! Also Baby Fernandez's :) So we had the pleasure of fast-forwarding a little to see what our house will look like in a few months!
Unfortunately, I didn't get a picture of the whole family...next time!
I think the woman in front of us got tired of that horn after a while!
Luis had his first encounter with dippin' dots.
Franco tried out Aaron's sunglasses. Aaron gave him that dollar in his hand because he correctly guessed which team was winning.
After the 7th inning stretch, they all came to the house for an ice cream sundae. We had chocolate and vanilla and all the toppings! 
Mr. Montuori and Mr. Escalante waited for the ladies and kids to get their ice cream first.
Then the kids watched Nacho Libre while the adults sat in the living room and talked.
Poor Franco was out of commission...he broke his ankle on Thursday last week! So he wasn't his usual self, and Aaron and others carried him wherever we went. 
