7.13.2005

Great News! Our baby has arrived.

True Jackson Gray was born
July 7th, 2005
He weighs 6lbs exactly and is 19.5 inches

Mama and baby are both happy and healthy at home now. Just as with all new babies he's feeding often and keeping me up at night but he's such a joy. When there's a spare minute from baby I'm giving Josephine as much love and security as I can to help her adjust to two big changes in her world - - daddy being gone and a new baby in the house. So far she's not too jealous of the attention he gets but we've been blessed to have Quinn helping us. Quinn has been helping us with Josephine since January and is truly a gift from God. She has been another stable consistant presence in Josephines life and that's just what she needs.

True means "a faithful and loyal man". These are two character traits that I admired most about True's dad. His middle name, Jackson, is a name that Scott chose but it doesn't have any significant meaning. Scott just really liked that name.

For me, the name True is also a reminder of a verse that I'm holding onto more dearly than ever these days.

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever, is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. [Philippians 4:8].

Isn't that beautiful! Our son is reminder of God's excellence and love. I can't wait to discover the person God has created him to be. This verse also reminds me of the pure goodness that so many of you have shown to our family as you have supported us and taken care of us this past year and a half. As I share with our kids the story of their mother and fathers life together, the amazing goodness we received from others will always be a huge part of it. This verse is how I want to continue to live and what I will strive to teach my children.

Thank you to everyone who has already passed on good wishes and blessings for the arrival of True! It means so much to receive your joyful notes and letters. Let me apologize in advance for not returning emails or phone calls. Scott and I were a great team, but as a single mom with a newborn, a toddler, a house to run and adjusting to life without my best teammate, things get done on a very different time schedule. Please keep your expectations very low for returning phone call and checking emails.

Thank You and Bless You!

Michele