Our Lil' Dray is 7 Weeks Old Today...

Hard to believe Andray is seven weeks old already and that I have to go back to work in less than a week. I'm still having a hard time dealing with the fact that I'll have to leave him during the day, but I know it'll get easier as time passes. I'm just savoring every waking moment with the Little Man this week. I met with our daycare lady Angie today though and went on a walk with her and the daycare kids, so that made me feel better. She's a great lady and Jake and I both know that Andray will be well taken care of there...just a few houses down in our neighborhood, very convenient!

Other than that, Andray is 11 pounds already and he's smiling more every day. He's doing more tummy time, and not a big fan of it, but he's getting the hang of it and is very strong. Jake and I just can't believe how he changes in looks daily. Enjoy the photos, we love you all, and Happy 2nd Anniversary to Brent and Jody today! What a great time we had celebrating at your wedding two years ago already! Wow, the time flies.

Love n prayers,

Jake, Celest and Andray Paul

Andray smiling today (at 7 weeks old) for the camera...he just lights up a room for me and Jake!

Andray sure does love his daddy.....

...and his mommy too! He wore his favorite sweats on Sunday just to chill out in!

Andray got this Minnesota Gopher outfit from Jolene and Josh...it's so cute, but he's still a die-hard and loyal SCSU Husky fan!

What Andray Paul really thinks about wearing a Gopher outfit! Good stuff...keep crying son!

This past Saturday, yes, the day it snowed really bad in Minnesota, my wonderful sister-in-laws and mother-in-law threw Andray and I a baby shower for the Stang's and Rausch family members. It was so great to see Jake's side of the family again and for them to all meet Andray.

Andray's cake was bigger than him! It was sooooooooooooooo beautiful, and might I add, really good too! As Jake would say..."I like-a-da cake!" ( I like cake... that's for you Ann and Chad! ha!)

Grandma Rausch (right) always makes her great grandchildren blankets when they're born, and the kids have ended up calling those blankets their "buddies." Andray's buddy is so beautiful, thanks Grandma Rausch! Andray is hanging out with Great Grandma Stang to the left here.

Andray was so handsome in his khakis and polo shirt from Grandma Frank...his Auntie Rachel gave him the sweater vest, he looked so old, even at 6 weeks old! He was adorable!

Grandma Carol just can't get enough of her first grandson!

Grandma Sandy was showing off Andray's big feet and hands to his great grandma's and great auntie Marlene...so funny!

Thank you so much Stang girls for hosting the shower for us! Andray and I had so much fun! Included in the photo is Auntie Rachel, Cousin Mya, Celest, Cousin Skyler, Auntie Rhonda, Andray, Grandma Stang, Auntie Sarah and Cousin Ella.

Andray was such a good little boy at his shower...here he's sleeping on Great Grandma Stang's lap.

Andray loves is Godmother Sarah sooooooooooooooo much!

Andray loves his Godfather Jacob too soooooooooooo much!

"Houdini" in fine form again...ha!

Andray got these pajamas from Auntie Megan and Uncle Aaron...they are the softest pajamas ever...if I could wear them I would! And Jake and I love putting him in these pajamas because it's just one zipper to use instead of snapping 20 snaps in the middle of the night after having to change him! Good stuff!

We're also working on "tummy time" every day. Usually Andray likes it and holds his head up high, but today he was not a fan as you can see!

Little Man is 6 Weeks Old!

Hello family and friends - Hard to believe our "Little Man" is 6 weeks old today...time is just flying by. Andray Paul is doing great and growing like a weed still. He doesn't go back to the doctor until 8 weeks along, so we're curious as to how much he weighs now. I have to go back to work on Monday, May 5th...yes Cinco de Mayo...I'm dreading it, just because I love being home with Andray! But like Jake said, "every mom goes through the process of returning to work," so I just will have to deal with it.

Hope all is well with all of you. Andray continues to have visitors (which is great), and he even took a visit to Willmar to see cousins Kristen and Cassie, to Olivia to see Great Grandma Lingl, and to Redwood Falls to meet a ton more people. He's excited for his baby shower this coming Saturday here at his Grandma Sandy's, he's excited to meet all the Stang's and Rausch's.

Andray's biggest change is that he smiles now sometimes...some say it may be gas, but he can follow Jake and I and smile at us, which melts our hearts.

Love to you all,

Jake, Celest and Andray Paul

Andray hanging out with his Blue Bear from Great Gma Rausch today before he ate...can you tell he's hungry?

Yep, he was really hungry, we stopped taking photos after this and got down to business, breakfast time! Ha!

Andray took his first bath at Gpa and Gma Frank's this past Saturday...his hair gets so curly when it's wet!

He loves warm baths once he gets in the water...the initial feel of the
water he doesn't like so much!

His eyes are bright blue...love it!

Stylin' in his first pair of jeans from Auntie Rhonda and Uncle Brian...Happy 2nd Anniversary to them as well today! Lots has happened in the past two years!

Andray's feet are little clones of Jake's feet...it's hilarious!

Jake calls Andray "Little Houdini" because no matter how tight we swaddle him for naps or bedtime, he always seems to find a way to wiggle his arms and hands up by his face...we always laugh!

Just can't get enough of him!

Papa Larry wouldn't even give Andray up when he had to take a phone call at the Law Office! Papa Larry was pretty proud...gotta love it.

Papa Larry reading to Andray...just precious.

Gma Carol combing Andray's hair after his first bath at the Frank's. So handsome!

Andray loves his great Grandma Lingl so much!

Andray and my hands...I actually have nails now! Prenatal vitamins actually do work!

Andray finally got to meet the third and final "Madsen Sister" last Friday afternoon in Redwood Falls where Jody works. It was so great to see Jody again and we're looking forward to seeing her alot this summer as we celebrate and prepare for Jolene's bridal showers/bachelorette party/and of course the most important day, her wedding!

It was so great to see cousin Kristen Frank last Sunday...thanks for coming to visit Kris, we love and miss you! Thanks for the awesome outfit and bootie rattles too!

Andray Paul is a Month Old!

Hello again family and friends...our little Andray Paul is a month old today, hard to believe. And there's never a dull moment with Minnesota weather as we got dumped on with more than 6 inches of snow last night and this morning...only in Minnesota we swear...will spring ever get here? Anyway, Andray is doing awesome and is still growing right before our eyes. He's starting to coo now and he lost is ambilical cord last Sunday, he's just getting so big so fast! Hope all is well and all of you that live in Minnesota are enjoying the white covering again. Love you all and enjoy the photos of our "Little Man."


Love the Stang's,

Jake, Celest and Andray

Andray at one month old with his Joe Mauer Teddy Bear...his first best friend! Hilarious with his arm around his Teddy and his left hand swinging in the air, saying...Go TWINS!

Andray got this onezie from my cousin Kristen for Easter. No lie, as I was changing him and putting this shirt on him, he "baptised" me on the changing table! It was unbelievable timing on Andray's part...what a smart "Little Man" already! ha!

Andray already saying...GO DUKE!

Andray all dressed up in his polo...good stuff.

Andray with the special bear that my Grandma Catherine made for me for Christmas out of Grandpa Shorty's clothes that he once used to wear. Very special, and the bear is actually bigger than Andray! Gpa Shorty loved the Twins as well, so it's fitting that Andray has his Twins apparel on! We miss and love you sooooooooooooo much Gpa Shorty, think about you every day and Andray is so lucky to have your name as part of his...God Bless you always.

Andray chilling out on Dad's chest.

So handsome...even when he's sleeping.

The wonderful snow on April 11th, just yesterday we could see the grass in our entire back yard and now it's full with snow again...oh well...gotta love Minnesota weather!

The view from our front porch...what a Winter Wonder Land in April! Ah!

The "Little Future Star MVP" is enjoying an afternoon nap on his One Month Birthday, and enjoys his Nebraska Huskers blanket from his Great Uncle Jamie and Aunt Lori...thanks so much!

Andray's Family and Friends

Hello everyone - Andray Paul is growing literally right before our eyes. We swear he changes in his looks every day...he is SUCH A JOY to have around, we just love him to pieces. Enjoy the photos and have a great rest of your week!

Love the Stang's,

Jake, Celest and Andray Paul

The Stang's at the SCSU women's hockey banquet on Sunday...little Andray was sporting his SCSU Athletics shirt and his khakis at 3 1/2 weeks old. If you noticed, I cut my hair a week ago and donated almost 8 inches to Locks of Love...it's been itching at me to donate my hair for some time now since we know so many people affected by cancer. Hopefully someone can enjoy my hair, I miss it A LOT, but know it will grow back!

Heather was holding Andray in this photo...he was 24 days old in this shot! Heather and I just stared at him all week, we couldn't get enough!

Two co-workers of mine gave Andray this bib, had and book. We love it! Chicks do dig Andray!

Like father like son...catching some zzzzzzzzzzzzzz's after a long day at work.

Daddy and Andray on Sunday afternoon just "chilling out" in their sweats...what a nice and relaxing day!

Proud Papa and Grandma Frank with Andray and Isa...oh they are so happy to be grandparents.

Proud Papa and Grandma Stang with Andray...we love his shirt that says "Tax Deduction" we love it, but not until next year, ha!

Proud Godfather Jacob...just precious.

Andray with his Godmother Sarah on Easter Sunday...oh, he loves her so much!

Uncle Aaron and Andray when Andray was just four days old...oh Andray misses his Uncle Aaron!

Auntie Megan and Andray when Andray was four days old...Andray can't wait to see Auntie Megan in May!

Andray the day he was born with his Aunties Rachel and Rhonda! He loves them so much!

Andray with his three Stang girl cousins...Mya (11 months), Ella (3 1/2 yrs) and Skyler (5 yrs).

Andray with his Twins #7 Joe Mauer teddy bear that Dave and Terri Hansen gave him...they're the same size! Crazy stuff, and GO TWINS!

Four generations of Lingl's...Gma Carol, Andray, Great Gma Catherine and Mom.

Andray and his Great Grandma Catherine's hands...so precious.

Andray just one day old with Great Grandma Rausch in the hospital...she was such and great help and "assisted" Jake in changing Andray's diaper for the first time that day! Thanks Grandma!

Great Grandpa and Grandma Stang seeing Andray for the first time on Easter Sunday in their home in Richmond, Minn. Very proud great grandparents...the Stang name lives on!!!!

Four generations of Stangs...Daddy Jake, Papa Steve, Great Gpa Andrew and Andray.

Chad, Ann and Andrew Willemssen came out to visit Andray on Easter weekend in Redwood Falls...Andrew is our Godson and was so good with Andray. Ann and Chad also lent us all of Andrew's 0-3 month clothes, and we are so grateful! Thank You!!!!

Our best friends Adam and Heather Kay came to visit from Florida last week...it was so amazing to have them here and we miss them already! On Friday night, almost 30 of our college friends got together and went out down town St. Cloud! My first night out as a mom, and I only called home once to Gpa and Gma Frank who were babysitting to check on Lil' Dray...Jeff Ringsred is also in this photo, another best friend from college who gave Andray the coolest baseball step stool ever! Thanks so much Heather, Adam and Jeff for all you do!

Easter weekend, one of our ring bearers Matthew and one of our flowergirls Ashtin came over to Mom and Dad's to meet Andray for the first time! Ashtin is a natural with babies!

Jolene and Jenny "Madsen" came out to visit Andray on Easter weekend as well in Redwood and brought their boys...it was so good to see them all! Jolene is getting married in August and I'm so honored and excited to be a part of her wedding! Now we just can't wait for the third "Madsen sister" Jody to meet him, hopefully soon! Love you all!