Twas the Day Before the 15th of December

 It was COLD! The kids were finally well enough that we could get out and do a bit of exploring on the frozen lake.

The kids trying to learn to run and slide on the ice.

Little did Miss Aubrey know it would be her last day to be my baby!

The last time we would have our quiet daily routine still intact... at least for a good long while.

Because, on December 15th at 3:30AM we headed in to our small-town hospital to see who
 we'd been waiting to meet for the last 9 months. He'd finally decided to get serious after all his games of "maybe I'll come tonight...ohhh maybe not". And after the last 4 weeks of wondering on many a night if this would be THE night it was good to be sure upon waking up that this WOULD be the night. :) Though I wasn't having as many contractions I knew they meant business.  They stayed more spaced out throughout the entire labor so it seemed more relaxed than my last 2 slam-bang labors. (if labor can be called relaxing)   After what the nurses called a very calm and controlled labor, and Mr. Wise Guy labeled as EASY, Mr Jackson Henry made his appearance at 5:14 am, ON his due date! and immediately tested out his lungs with superb results! :D


He rocked the scales at 9lbs 4oz and stretched out to 20inches.  He needed to be able to hold his own against all the lovin' from three older siblings. :D

Elliott was the first to stop in for a peek at his much anticipated new brother. He couldn't get enough of his little Jackson!

And he loved how Jackson would hold his finger!

The girls came a bit later, as they had stayed home from meeting since they weren't fully over their colds.

They ooohed and cooed over their brother also, although Aubrey did remember that she wanted a girl and this was a boy.  Having the baby "here", at last, made up for it though. :)

We didn't get to go home until Tuesday morning, which seemed like a LONG time in the hospital.  Finding a small mouse on my dinner plate was something to break up the monotony. :D I also skyped the kiddos at home a few times.

And this guy kept me company during the day. :0)

So glad to be headed for home sweet home!

Jackson Henry was blissfully unaware of what awaited him at home. :D

The kiddos welcomed him with great joy and much lovin'.

He handled it fairly well. :)

And that was the beginning of life as a family of six. :)

Hanging out in the highchair at 3 days old, watching Mommy and Aubrey make cookies.

Okay, so maybe we were a bit boring.

Looking like a big boy at 4 days old.

Long toes...

...and long fingers. Just like his big brother.

And this little piggy cried wee, wee, wee, all the way home.

Totally unamused by it.

And now I shall go get some sleep...I hope. Jackson has been sleeping all day today, and now he's wide awake. :)

Half way!

In our family it used to be that these 2 were the big kids...

 And this one was the little kid. 

 The Baby. :)

But Guess what?!?!

Now these 3 are the big kids...

Because our family is expanding!

 Half-way day landed on my birthday!

That means #4 is starting to make its presence known to the world in the form of a large bump stickin out in front.

Kate informed me the other day that the baby must be growing because I was getting fat! Elliott promptly responded with an inspection of my tummy and the declaration that, "it WASN'T fat  it was FLAT!" :D The boy already knows what not to say to a woman. :) 

 

 May they always love each other this much! :)

She's here!!!!

Fri. the 9th I had an appt. with the dr. The plan was to induce in the morning if I felt so inclined...otherwise more monitoring on Sun. and inducing Mon. or Tues. at the latest.

By Fri. night when I went to bed I was pretty sure I would be waking up in labor or at least have a decent start at it if inducing was actually necessary. We went to bed...only to get up and go to the hospital at 1:30am...

Miss Aubrey Jean arrived at 4:30am after a mild labor and quick delivery. The dr. was 20min. away and barely made it in time to give my delivery a wonderful ending.

Our 9lb 20 1/4in little girl has a very loud voice when she wants to be heard! :)

So happy there was no inducing ...and that my baby's finally in my arms! After waiting an extra 11 days she came on just the day her Daddy suggested. :)

The rest of the hospital stay was a blur...

and we brought miss Aubrey home on Sun. afternoon...

to lounge around in her slippers...

and snuggle down in her own cozy bed.

Miss Kate was SOO pleased to finally have Aubrey home!

Here's some pictures for comparison of all my babies in the hospital

Aubrey

Elliott

Katelynn

And some of each of them at 3-5 days old.

Aubrey

Elliott

Katelynn (above and below)

So I've been told that the non-facebook people in my life would like to see some pictures so I thought I better take the time to post some for ya. Sorry it took so long, but here's all the ones that have been posted so you're not missing out. Prepare yourself for a load of pictures.

checking out their new sister

Tay-O did NOT want to hold her and flattened himself back into the corner, but did at least inspect her closely. :)

Kate lovin' having the girl she wanted so much!

4 days old

her cute little slippers

Elliott "hodin' baby's fingas"

Smile!

On a side note...These shoes came in the mail with some clearance stuff I ordered for next summer and are way to big still, but the kids love to clomp about the house in them, tripping clumsily along. It has been a great source of entertainment for all of us. :)

They enjoy leaping off the hearth in them and Tay-Os knees come up and his feet fly out with toes pointed outward and heels together, landing with a splat like a kangaroo or a giant bunny rabbit. It is quite comical to watch. :D

So ends our mile long post. Good night all. I'm off to catch a few winks before miss Aubrey makes herself known. We just picked 620 lbs of apples this afternoon so I'm needing my rest tonight. :) (hey they were free and this year we have a truck...last year I was limited as I only had the trunk of the car to fill)