Landry Claus says Merry Christmas!!

Where has the year gone? Especially since Landry was born, it seems that time marches on faster than ever. Any other parents out there feel the same way? May you and yours have a wonderful Holiday! Love - Greg, Angie & Landry

Let's do brunch!

Angie and Landry were fashionably late to Mom's Christmas brunch. Daddy came too - so he could eat some food and lay on the couch. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday! Today has been a pajama day with Landry. We watched the Cows come back to stun the Lions. GO COWS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Giving Thanks - Twice!

We were able to visit both sides of the family for Turkey Day yesterday. Uncle Jesse, Victor, Elena, Jason M, Isabelle, Emma, Jason D, Katie, Carissa, Anika and Lucas all got to meet Landry for the first time! We all have so much to be thankful for this year. And after two turkey dinners, I was especially thankful for some Rolaids and a good night's sleep.

1 Month & Almost 2 Pounds Later

Landry Looking at Mommy (and wearing his pants like Grandpa!)

We still haven't figured out where Landry got his ears?

Angie's nose and Greg's lips! Wow!!

Landry turned ONE MONTH old today! He's 6 pounds, 3 ounces and he has brought immeasurable joy to our lives. It is so exciting to see him grow - he literally changes daily. The Cowboys won today. They are 3-0 with Landry cheering them on! GO COWS!!!!

Mr. Sleepy, Mr. Stretchy, Mr. Yawny & Mr. Fussy

It is SO FUN to hear and watch Landry wake up! It's not so fun at 2:00 a.m., which Angie can attest to more than I can. But he cracks us up! It's amazing how instinctual little babies are, and how they communicate with us. Landry will be four weeks old tomorrow!! "T" minus zero days...tomorrow is the day Landry was scheduled to arrive. :)

Landry's Visitors - First Three Weeks

Thank you all for visiting Landry! Unfortunately, we don't have pictures of everyone that has stopped by - but we have most of you! Thank you all for your love and for your blessings. We appreciate you! Landry is 3 weeks, 2 days old today. He's doing very well and is steadily gaining weight. Landry is now 5 pounds, 7 ounces! WAY TO GO LANDRY!!!

Rookie Parents Take Landry for a Walk

Landry (half asleep) was excited about his first walk!

I haven't seen Angie light up like this since...we were married?

Fortunately (or unfortunately) the Fashion Police didn't confiscate Angie's sunglasses :)

G-Rod and L-Rod in front of Casa Rodriguez

Finishing it all up with a little nap and a big laugh :)

It was such a beautiful day today, that we decided to break open the stroller that NaNaw gave us. What a wonderful gift - thank you NaNaw! It took Daddy less than an hour to put it together (because he's a "Handy Man") and we proceeded to look the part of "Rookie Parents" by gingerly negotiating the smallest of curbs - and by taking approximately 1,164 pictures during the 20-minute walk. We took so many pictures, that Angie and I laughed - harder than perhaps we have in weeks. We were just imagining what others might be saying to themselves if they saw us - "Rookie Parents" so in love with their newborn that they were compelled to snap multiple pictures at every corner. But it was so much fun! More fun for Landry's parents than anything. Our son slept through the entire walk! Hmmm...perhaps he pretended to sleep out of embarrasment for his "Picture Happy Rookie Parents." How dare I be seen with them! Oh wait - that's fifteen years from now. :)

Landry's First Two Weeks

Soon after coming home, Landry slept through his first bath!

Well, he pouted through some of it :)

I love these moments - looking at Daddy with extreme curiosity

For a little guy, Landry has a strong appetite

Most of the time after feeding, he sleeps like this :)

Wow, these first two weeks have been something special. I've been under the weather, but thankfully, Angie and Landry have avoided any "Daddy germs" that might be floating around. Angie has been amazing - handling night duty while I've been trying to get over this lingering cold. I've been helping in the morning and during the day to provide much needed breaks. Overall, Landry has adapted very well to life outside the womb and inside our home. We have fallen in love with Landry more than we could have ever imagined we would. We know that he won't always be this innocent, and we know that he won't always be this cute! It's sometimes scary to think about the inevitable challenges ahead. But we're just enjoying the moment and loving him the best that we know how. It's wonderful. Tiring, but wonderful - and 100% worth it.

Coming Home

Looking handsome for the drive home!

A Kodak moment before loading the car

Forgive me for the slideshow - I love candid shots

Daddy gets to do the honors

It took awhile, but I got the seat to "click twice!"

Lovely Angie who thought she'd be here for an hour on Wednesday!

We actually had to turn around and come back, and so we did this all over again (except for loading Landry) because we forgot Angie's prescription papers! Can't forget the pain meds! YIKES! What an incredible moment. I've never driven so carefully in my life! We have the "Arriving Home" moment on video. I'll try adding that footage later. Now, we're just resting at home as a very happy family. Landry is feeding, sleeping and pooping well. The doctors and nurses called Landry a "remarkable baby." They were impressed at how well he reacted to his premature birth. Most babies of this age and size stay longer than the standard two-day stay. I've come down with a little something and so Angie is doing the bulk of the baby work right now. Landry will be around to watch his first Dallas Cowboy game this afternoon! Go Cows!!!

All in the Family

I love this picture! Aunt Guero loving on Landry.

Aunt Laura's family stopped by to meet Landry!

Proud Mills Grandparents (NaNaw & PaPaw)

Proud Rodriguez Grandparents (Gran & Pop)

My beautiful wife and our son

As unexpected as the timing was, we had several visitors - mostly family that were able to come by to meet Baby Landry. The last few days have been like a dream. I know that it won't always be this way. But happy moments like these are what we live for. This is why we love. And this is why we give thanks in every circumstance. For the hope of experiencing the highest of highs in this world with each other. May God bless Landry and may He strengthen us to be the best parents we can be for him! We love you, Landry!

The Story Behind the Name

Tom Landry coached the Dallas Cowboys during their first 29 seasons

Christopher Rodriguez was my Great Grandfather - with Dad and me!

Landry Christopher resting on my Cowboys blanket!

We had so much fun thinking about names for Landry! I'm Gregory III, and so it was tempting to have a Gregory IV. But we fell in love with "Landry" while driving home from my parents' home one day several months ago. I'm the one that ALWAYS initiated the "name game" with Angie. :) But as we talked in the car this time, Angie noticed that we were driving on "Tom Landry Highway," and then said, "What about 'Landry'?" I initially liked it very much, but it still took some time for me to fall in love with it. But I did. And of course now, I love it more than ever. Incidentally, the friend that married us has a daughter named "Landri." She was a junior bridesmaid in our wedding 2 1/2 years ago! They are a neat family and they are very special to us. It will be fun to tell them Landry's name - we haven't called them yet! :)

Introducing Landry Christopher

Landry sleeping after a hectic first 10 hours

Proud Daddy

Proud Mommy

Well, he arrived much sooner than we ever anticipated. Landry entered the world today about four weeks ahead of schedule. With his growth slowing and Angie's amniotic fluid borderline low, the doctors felt that the best and safest course of action was to induce labor within 12 hours of yesterday's regular check-up appointment. The news initially shocked and scared both of us. We were not prepared to stay at the hospital - and we were of course concerned about Baby Cinnamon's health! But the nurses and doctors were great, Angie was courageous and Baby Cinnamon was strong. Despite his size, he's breathing normally and is doing phenomenally well. More to come...

***

Landry Christopher Rodriguez
October 18, 2007
12:47 p.m.
4 pounds, 6 ounces
17 3/4 inches

The Cinnamon Chapel

Michelangelo at work

Magnifique!

So it wasn't the Sistine Chapel, but it will be "Cinnamon's Chapel" - and so Dad was kind enough to drive to Plano after a long day at work. We asked Dad to help out with Cinnamon's accent wall for three reasons: 1) An excuse for him to come over, 2) A chance to watch the Cowboy game together and 3) I was too lazy to paint the room myself. And so it worked out just like I had hoped...with Dad painting and me watching and taking pictures. :) THANK YOU POP! Angie and I are glad that you came over today. There will be many more visits like these once Cinnamon arrives on the scene!!

Showered with Love, Part II

"The Cantu Sisters" are always a happy bunch!

Angie, her sisters & Mom with little Carissa & Jadon

Elizabeth & Angie

Nina, Aunt Guero & Elena - a classic photo!

Adorable Jadon

The Cantu / Rodriguez family loved on Angie and Baby Cinnamon last weekend. Thank you to Aunt Helen for hosting and the many others who helped host the event. You overwhelm us with you love - and we can't wait to share this little life with each of you. It's always fun for our familes to come together. All of Angie's sisters were able to attend, as well as two of our beautiful little neices! As you can see above, Jadon had the right idea and quickly grabbed a plate of food. That's exactly what I would have done! :)

Happy Birthday Mom!!!

Mom, circa 1972

Mom, 2007

The Rodriguez clan (minus Ben & with Mom in Big Hat)

From "Big Hair" to a "Big Hat," it was Mom's birthday last week! The big 62! The first picture above was taken about 35 years ago, just after Mom married Dad. The amazing thing is - and I think you'll agree - she's more beautiful today than ever. We had a great time at Pappasitos celebrating Mom's special day! Elizabeth was in town for the event and Angie's "Rodriguez Shower," and so we got to take a few family photographs. WE LOVE YOU MOM!!!!!!!!

Cinnamon Roll Update

Angie's little nose is visible! :)

This picture is a little "spooky," but an even better "nose" picture! WOW!

Angie and Baby Cinnamon went in for a measurement check-up yesterday - and so we brought home a few pictures. Up to this point, the only recent pictures we had of Baby Cinnamon was of his little privates - so it was a relief to see that his face and other body parts were also developing normally! :) From personal experience (just being honest) I know that these pictures only mean something to parents and family. To everyone else, they are just a flashback to those silly Rorschach inkblot tests you read about in introductory psychology. But I have to point out that Baby Cinnamon's nose looks JUST like Angie's! Which is frankly a big relief to me. My nose is (again, just being honest) on the LARGE side. It's beautiful (I like my nose and the extra ventilation is a plus, especially with my allergies) but it is LARGE. And so I'm happy that Cinnamon will likely have Angie's perfect little nose. That provides me with some comfort.