2 fun videos

First, Emilee and Chandler go to the ball. . .

and next, one of my favorite things of all time.  Baby stretches.

A Few Pictures

We're moving right along getting ready for school to start.  Here are a few more pictures of our new girl!

 This is how Heidi watches TV with daddy.

Two Weeks

I can't believe it's already been two weeks.

This little girl has stolen our hearts!

We sure love her!

We're still here!

Well, it has been a busy week!  But, I didn't want to leave the grandies and the cousins devoid of pictures too long. . .  So, here are a few snapshots of our week. 

My angel

the smile on Em's face in this picture is so genuine I just had to include it.  Ethan can always make Emilee smile.

  my tiny peanut!

 She's learning to love bath time!

 This baby is RELAXED.  She can sleep anywhere.  Without being swaddled.  She just flops down and enjoys herself.

 Mom left on Saturday.  We miss her and are so glad she came.

"So where are the boys?,"  you may be asking yourself.  Well, they are outside playing with their buddies.  Thank heavens for buddies, front yard baseball, bike rally's, and soccer shoot outs.

Homecoming

When Heidi was born, we farmed the kids out to aunts and uncles, and good friends who were willing to take the big boys.  It was so nice to know they were well cared for.  We came home about 24 hours after her delivery, happy to get away from the blood pressure cuffs, thermometers, and middle of the night interruptions.   But, we left the children at their respective play places and had a nice 24 hours at home alone with Heidi before they got back.  I considered it the "other" half of my hospital stay.  It was fantastic!

On Monday morning, the kids all arrived back home within about 10 minutes of each other.  They were all so excited to meet Heidi, and it was giggles and smiles all around the house.  Chandler was particularly smitten with his new sister, and still can't get enough holding and cuddling time.  He is so fun.

Love at first sight!

 Ethan was excited to meet Heidi and after greeting her, immediately went to the piano and played "Baby Mine" from dumbo, my favorite.  It was a sweet little tribute I think he'd been planning for some time.  Be still my heart. . .

 Emilee is of course smitten to the core with her little sis.

 Aidan was a bit nervous at first, but warmed up quickly, and has probably asked to hold her more than anyone since then.

 But of course, I get first dibs.

Heidi Ann

On Friday afternoon I looked like this. . .

 On Saturday morning (1:30 a.m.) I looked like this . . .

 And at 9:46 a.m. on Saturday, I looked like this. . .

 Heidi Ann's hospital admission and delivery is probably my favorite of all.  It went so smoothly.  My contractions started at 3:30a.m. on Friday, and we waited to go until midnight Friday night.  I usually do about 24 hours of false labor before things kick into gear, and this was no different.  When we went to the hospital I was PRAYING that they would believe me that this was the real thing even though I was still only contracting 10 minutes apart.  Lucky for me, I was dilated far enough that they need not turn me away, and I was admitted immediately.  I literally got tears in my eyes I was so happy.  (This has never happened.  I am ALWAYS turned away and told to come back when things pick up, and by that time I am basically in transition)  Incidentally, I NEVER got faster than 10 minutes apart.  It was strange. . .

Heidi arrived at 9:46 a.m. after a restful labor with a lovely epidural.  I even got some sleep.  When she was born, the cord was wrapped twice around her neck, and around her back (see next picture) and we were glad she was able to delivery very quickly as her heart rate rather suddenly dropped.  I was so glad we were at the hospital.  She was 7 lbs 5 oz (our tiniest baby by 5 ounces!) and 20.5 inches long.  She is long and lean.

 Here you can see her back where they think she was compressing on her cord.  Both the doctor and the nurse (who had been doing L&D for 22 years) said that they had never seen anything like this.  We thought it was a bruise but it did disappear after about 2 hours.  I can't help feeling like we had a guardian angel watching out for her and that she was still getting everything she needed from her cord with all the wrappings around and squishing against her back.

 Grammy was with us for the delivery!  It was our first time with anybody besides just the two of us, and it was very special that she was there.

The rest of our hospital stay was peaceful and uneventful.  We slept a lot the next night, and rested and enjoyed our time with our girl.

We are SO happy she is here!  She is beautiful and looks very much like Aidan and Emilee both.  She is a sweetheart and peaceful and a good eater and just a love!  Stay tuned for more pictures of coming home, and meeting her siblings!  I'll try to get around to that soon!

On our way tonight!

I am sitting in a rocking chair, timing contractions, and getting ready to go! Kids are all farmed out, can't wait to meet her! Stay tuned!

No news is. . .

Well, it's no news!  Nothing to report on the baby front.  Due tomorrow and trying to live up the summer time while we wait.  I thought I'd post a few pictures of what we've been up to this week, lest you think we are sitting about moping.  Because we're not.  In fact, I do not feel 9 months pregnant.  It's really weird.  I feel more like I've just gained an enormous amount of weight and my feet hurt.  I've never felt this good right before delivery.  Hopefully that is not a sign that this is going to go on for a LONG time!  Because we're ready!  Here's what we've been doing since mom came last Thursday. . .

We've been to the Hillsboro Pharmacy for some old fashioned soda fountain fun. . .

 and we've spent copious amounts of time at the swim park.  The kids have had lessons every day for the past two weeks and we spend a lot of time here.

 Sometimes we take a picnic and stay all day.

If you are one of those people that keeps telling me how "small" I look, I'd just like you to take a nice look at this picture.  That's a lot of baby.

 

 We've been reading lots of books and watching way too much television.  But we don't care.  We're really pregnant.

 Hopefully we'll have more to report on in the next few days!!!  I want my baby!