"Aunt Kristen" arrived from Italy!!... and a couple dear friends came into to town to greet her...

The girls and Noah went to The Flying Biscuit -- Noah's first trip to our favorite restaurant. ("Aunt Paula" and Noah)

Kristen and Janice

Paula & Mindy

"Aunt Janice" with Noah... and some rapid arm movement.

Here are some pictures from the weekend spent celebrating Adam's 30th!

Taryn, Carlton, & Josiah came into town for the weekend.

"Aunt Taryn" and Josiah meet Noah... Taryn and Carlton had been talking to Josiah about going to meet "Baby Noah" -- so it was reeally cute when Josiah would talk to him, calling him "Baby No-No."

Josiah was really excited to see Baby No-No and to introduce Baby No-No to his bunny. Josiah also invited Baby No-No to play "trucks" with him... alas, to no avail.

Dinner out for Dad's 30th birthday... Noah was very well behaved. =)

Noah's new football pj's -- size: 6 months.

Brunch and Bocci at Piedmont Park... except I don't think we ever made it to the "bocci" part of the event. Several friends (from Asbury College) came and we just ate, talked, played with the kids, and tossed the frisbee.

Carlton and Josiah

"Uncle Paul" (surprised Adam by flying into town for the weekend) and Noah

"Aunt Taryn" and Noah

(left to right) Dave, Aden, Jax, Josiah & Carlton having guy time. I'm not positive, but pretty sure Star Wars was involved at some point during the discussion.

(counter-clockwise, around the table) Adam, Paul, Taryn & Noah, Meghan, Cathy, & Kristen

Josiah, checking out the action at the picnic table with the binoculars.

Paul, with a feigned birthday kiss for Adam.

"Uncle Paul" and Noah... ready to go eat some fine barbecue.

Walking into "Daddy D's Barbecue Joynt" -- some of us might or might not have been a little skeptical at this point. Despite the fact that our feet stuck to the floor and our hands/arms stuck to the table -- the barbecue was phenomenal. A ++

"Aunt Kristen" goes for a kiss on the forehead, but Noah's looking for some lip action. Atta boy, Son!

Look, I'm holding my head up!

Just a quick note to thank y'all for praying for us and for Noah. We went to the GI specialist on Wednesday, and were very impressed with the Emory Children's Hospital and the attention and help we received for Noah. After waiting a total of 10 minutes in the waiting room, the doctor(s) spent an hour (AN HOUR!) with us, examining Noah, asking questions, answering questions, and providing valuable feedback. There's great news, and then, well, not-as-great news:

The GREAT news is that we have a "beautiful and VERY healthy boy" who is growing very well and shows all the signs of being developmentally on target. At 8 weeks and 1 day, he weighed 14 pounds and was 24 inches long -- in the 95% range for his age. (The way we understand it, out of a hundred 8-week old babies, Noah would be bigger than 95 of them.) The doctors saw no markers or cause for concern related to GI stuff. The doctors also recommended that we take Noah off the medications previously prescribed by the pediatrician.

The NOT-as-great news is that we have a very healthy boy with no medical concerns... and therefore... no solution to the crying. So, he is, in fact, "colicky" -- crying is his current hobby -- and he will just continue crying until he outgrows it. =)

(Sweet.)

The GOOD news is that there are UPS, as well as the downs. He IS smiling and engaging more, and is learning how to communicate in other "tones" besides the enraged "wall-eyed screaming tantrum" tone. =) We have had a number of good days and nights, in addition to the rough ones -- and we feel like maybe the good days/nights are beginning to increase and the screaming tantrums are decreasing in intensity and frequency.

Thanks for your continued prayers. We are very thankful for the positive report and are encouraged by the host of people who have said, "So-and-so was colicky..." and the parents and child survived it and are no worse for the wear. The really cool thing is how the Lord has brought friends and family to visit us, and so the longest we've been without "Noah help" is a week. We had no idea we'd so desperately need help, didn't know to plan for it; He totally choreographed it for us, and it's the only way we've survived.

Super thankful!