No baby, no cry

Because we live in a little house we have to improvise sometimes.  This is #4's current sleeping arrangement: a moses basket on top of the toy chest we moved out of the girl's room.  

She loves her little basket and sleeps like a champion, even at night!

You will notice there are two signs taped to the wall and the bottom of the toy chest.  Here is a better look:

"No crying!"

One morning #1 was having an uncharacteristically emotional time, which involved some crying.  This was upsetting to my very sensitive and compassionate #3.  While I was focusing on #1, #3 went to work drawing and distributing these signs throughout the house.  As mentioned above, #3 placed two around #4's bed, as she is the main culprit of the now illicit crying.

Later in the day after having a small meltdown involving tears #3 said, "I don't like those signs anymore."

She's here!

Ho ho ho! Merry Christmas!

Early in August my doctor scheduled my induction for Monday, August 27th at 5:00 a.m.  At that moment I made a mental assessment of my remaining physical and mental strength and subconsciously rationed it out to last exactly until Monday, August 27th at 5:00 a.m. 

So it wasn't very good for me when the hospital called on Sunday, August 26th at 7:30 p.m. to tell me that they were backed up and I would need to wait an indefinite amount of time before space was made for me.

I was frustrated!  I was mad! I was depressed. I was going to be pregnant FOREVER!!!

Two long days later, I was finally called in.  It felt like I had won the lottery.  On our way to the hospital, I paused in my excitement and told Spouse, "I can't believe I'm this excited to be poked and needled, put in a tremendous amount of pain and to be split in two."

Of course what I was really excited about was this moment at 9:36 a.m. on Wednesday, August 29:

The relief of the pain and the joy of meeting our daughter, all 7 lbs 11ounces and 21 1/2 inches of her.  Her head is only 13 inches around!  So tiny and so precious. I'm not used to small babies; it's a new and pleasant experience.  In contrast, Buster's head was 17 inches. 

Please excuse my immodest shoulder. 

We think she looks like Spouse's mom.  It's her mouth and nose.  I told a friend that I thought she resembled my mother in law and she replied that my mother in law must be very beautiful.

Meeting their sister for the first time

So much about the pregnancy and birth of this baby is a new experience. It's fun for me to share the joy of her birth with my children, who are not toddlers.  They love her!  They are concerned for her, and for me and want to help.

We are so lucky to have my mom here.  She watched and fed our children, got them off to school, did homework with them and put them to bed at night so Spouse and I could spend those first precious days in the hospital enjoying our new babe.

I think about everything Spouse did for me during my pregnancy, how he was by my side supporting and loving me throughout my delivery and how he continues to be gentle and serve me during my recovery.... if that isn't love I don't know what is. 

Plus, he brought me chocolate in the hospital.  Lots and lots of it.  Then he brought me flowers.

This is a little how I felt too when I thought about coming home from our babymoon at the hospital. Not quite ready to face reality.

We have been home three days are are doing just fine.  I'm starting to remember all the little things about newborns, like their funny faces and bowed legs and how to burp them.  I'd forgotten what 3:00 in the morning felt like.  My mom is here for two more days, I plan on sleeping as much as possible.