Here is our litte bundle of joy showing us just some of her many faces.

We had lots of visitors in the hospital and we appreciate and love every one of them. Below are a few of the people who came to hold Faith. She was passed around most of the day. But she seemed to enjoy every bit of it. Sleeping through most of it.

Mamaw Erwin and Faith

Granny Light and Faith. She seemed to recognize Granny's voice.

Nikki and Faith. Nikki is like the Super Nanny of friends, giving great advice and encouragement to Helenea and I. She is also pretty quick on changing diapers. We love you Nikki.

My big brother Mike. He got a little emotional holding Faith causing me and everyone else in the room to shed a tear. This is his first niece on his little bro's side of the fam. I still get a little cracked up over this pic. Love you Bro.

Tiffany made this cute litte diaper cake. Plenty of goodies in it.

Mommy and Faith

The Erwin Family Welcomes Faith Riley

On Wednesday March 18th at 9:30 p.m. Faith Riley was introduced to us. What an awesome experience, no words could describe our feelings at this time. We are so blessed.

Mommy and Riley in the delivery room.

The Erwin family.

Daddy giving the first bath. I was so nervous.

All went well in the delivery room. We went in at 6 a.m. where they administered Pitocin to induce labor. She started contractions at around 6 p.m.. The doctor was going to let me deliver Faith but Helenea ended up pushing for two hours and things changed. He had to use forceps to help out with the delivery. She pushed hard through about 4 contractions and out popped our little bundle of joy. We had a little scare afterwards. Helenea's blood pressure dropped and she almost passed out, but the doctor and nurses got her calmed down and stabilized. Daddy was a little scared, scratch that, He was praying for Mommy in the corner of the room scared as heck.

Proud Pa-Paw. I think He would shout it to the world if he could.

We come home and Helenea's cousins Tiffany and Britt were here to help out around the house. They were so appreciated. The first day at home was kinda hectic and obviously life changing.

Brittany

Tiffany

There will be plenty of other photos to follow.

Stay tuned.....

We love baby showers!!!

The title says it all. Helenea's work threw a shower for her and we acquired even more great gifts and supplies for Baby Erwin. Lots of diapers and clothes and this awesome diaper cake. We liked it so much we put it on a table in the nursery. We will use the diapers eventually. But for now we glorify it by leaving it for decoration. It's almost too neat to take apart.

We also received these neat little musical snowglobes.

My niece Amanda sent us this bouncy chair. We hope to see her, Hannah (her daughter) and my sister Rhonda when Amanda goes on spring break.

One of the ladies bought the bedding set for the crib.
And there is the little mobile also.

Helenea hasn't been feeling well lately. Her allergies have her sinuses really acting up. All the trees and flowers starting to bloom indicates the beginning of spring and of the allergy season. I have never had allergies like she has them. I feel sorry for her. We both haven't been sleeping well. I am nervous and she is pregnant. I guess we will be ready for baby when those sleepless nights come around. Yee-Haw!!
As you can see on our baby ticker. Only a few more days to go before we are introduced to Baby Erwin. There are no words to explain the feelings we have. We continue to pray for Helenea and the baby's health during the delivery and for God's hand to guide and direct our doctor, who, if I might add, is a wonderful doctor and a devout Christian. We couldn't ask for a better one. Please pray with us and for us.

We have heard that walking, as well as other things I won't mention, help induce labor so we took a little nature hike yesterday looking for deer sheds. We walked around the 80 acres and all we saw were the remnants of the ice storm. We counted at least 14 big red oak trees uprooted and many others with limbs broken and still hanging. Lots of cleaning up to do and fence to mend.

We will keep you posted on Baby. Could be anytime now, but no later than the 18th for sure.

To our family
Hope to see soon.

Our wonderful family is like a candle that reflects its joys within our hearts.
And its like a fire that keeps us close and warm no matter how long we're apart.
I'd give anything to be with you more often. But at least we'll be together in ways that will always shine in our lives and that will never stop brightening up our days.
Each time I think of you, I promise to send you a kiss on the wind.
And I promise I'll be counting the days until I can see you again.
-Marin McKay

It's Been Awhile

Hey all, please excuse the delay on posting. We have been pretty busy around here getting ready for Baby Erwin. We have great news, Helenea is dilated 1-2 centimeters and if she doesn't have it by the 20th the doctor is going to induce labor then. She is praying for the baby to come sooner because she is uncomfortable, you can tell by the look on her face that she is wore out. But even still, she says it is worth it all to be carrying our child. That's why I love her!! It will be good for her when baby comes because she will get to take a break for at least 6 weeks to stay home with baby. I am going to try to take off work as much as possible to be with her and baby.

We acquired so many gifts from the first baby shower I don't know where we'll put the rest of the stuff we are going to get from the others. There are two more to come. Friends from her work are having a shower and then after baby comes her Granny's church is going to have one. I say we have one every year for at least the whole the time the baby's in diapers. Probably wouldn't ever have to buy diapers. What a concept. Think that will work? I said that about our wedding shower and that didn't work, so probably not.

Here are a few of the handmade quilts the ladies from church made.

Mom made these (above and below).

Sister Sue Wagoner made this one.

Pat Hall (a member of our church) made this one.

There were several blankets, onesies, toys, a tub and various other gifts given. We have been blessed by our church family and our friends. They have given so much. There will be a day when they are in need and we will be there for them. GOD IS AWESOME!!

Bob Foreaker made this rocking horse for baby.

I have also added some paintings to the walls of the nursery.


Starfish

Dolphins

And the sun.

We are looking forward to finding out what the name of our new baby will be. We have picked out both a boy and a girl name. We know what the names are. For the rest of you, that will be a surprise!!

Kind of off the subject, but.... We are facing some hard times in our nation right now and I have recently come across a prayer that one of our founding fathers prayed for our nation on April 30th 1789.

Almighty GOD; we make our earnest prayer that Thou wilt keep the United States in Thy holy protection, that thou wilt incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government; and entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another and for their fellow citizens of the United States of America at large. And finally that Thou wilt most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy and to demean ourselves with that charity, humility and pacific temper of mind which were the characteristics of The Divine Author of our blessed religion, and without whose example in these things we can never hope to be a happy nation. Grant our supplication, we beseech thee, through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen
- George Washington -
April 30th, 1789
George Washington's prayer was adapted from his Circular Letter to the Governors of the United States

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall opened unto you.
--Matthew 7:7