Brinner with the Bates Family

We aren't new to the friends with babies game. We're seasoned veterans of dinner with children present and can prepare accordingly. Being that it was a Friday night during Lent, Mr. Matthew Bates could not eat meat. No problem, we'll make french toast. Jackson baked the bread, mixed the egg coating, sliced the bread, chopped and pre-cooked the potatoes and packed all of the pans we needed to make this dinner at their place. We've found that children like to be in their own environment so we do whatever it takes to make that happen. :) I think it is still really important to give our parent friends a break, though, so we like to prepare dinner for them whenever possible. And by "we" I mean Jackson and I clean up! 

Shaya and Matt are amazing parents already and we are so proud of them. Poor things have a dishwasher that was fully loaded when it decided to quit working. They'd been so busy with being back to work (Matt) and working with Josslyn on breastfeeding (it should be obvious who does this) that they had not unloaded and washed those dishes. After we ate Jackson's yummy french toast and breakfast potatoes I started in on the dishes. I started out with just the dishes from dinner and then snuck and cleaned out the dishwasher because I didn't give birth recently, I get to sleep through the night and cleaning is one of my love languages. Jackson came over and started drying dishes and putting them away. He's a champ. We got the whole kitchen cleaned before the tired parents even knew what we were doing. Win! We then served dessert (warm homemade brownies-that I made!!- with ice cream on top...Heidi would be so proud!), did those dishes and then retired to the couch to snuggle with baby J. It was lovely! 

Tall Ms. Josslyn taking a snooze

Getting cozy...

Jackson was so nervous to hold Josslyn because she's still supposed to be in the womb! Shaya had to convince him that he couldn't hurt her baby. He's a mess.

She was too sleepy to be nervous

I'm usually nervous with babies but since I've known Josslyn since conception I felt good about it.

I am a proud "Aunt" 

Balancing baby and puppy...whew! 

I'm happy to report that Fiona, the Bates' dog, is warming up nicely to baby Josslyn. That's always a big adjustment for pets so I was relieved that she is doing just fine.

He warmed up to holding her!

Thanks for sharing your baby girl, Bates family. We just love her!