just a few (PG rated) birth highlights

So apparently the ward chili-cook off was a hit in getting our baby to decide to come on her own. Or it might have been the bag of pebbled ice I consumed that day. (The cape isn't slimming but imagine me as pregnant Bella from Twilight).

So sure - contractions started at about 10:30 pm. On Sunday morning I made us all go for a walk to see if we could keep it moving forward. And just in time for the upcoming family of four pictures . . . Henry gave himself a shiner - but obviously it wasn't too serious:

The walk had what I thought was the opposite effect - things slowed down - and then we went to church and I wanted to die. So yep, we decided to go to the hospital (but rest assured we left Henry at home). But the 15 minutes we saw of that primary program were pretty dang cute.

So there we were:

Yes, I'm actually going to post this publicly. Why? I don't know. But I'm doing it. The whole time I was thinking, "Remind me why I don't get an epidural?" Because honestly, I wanted drugs the whole time - that hypno-birth business doesn't work for me but ripping Greg's hand out of his socket while experiencing a contraction seemed to help ease my pain. Or at least focus on something else.

And about 2 hours after checking in to the hospital . . .

A perfectly healthy little girl. Once again, we are overwhelmed after this past tough summer, the fact that she was born healthy and perfect at 8 lbs 1 oz and 19.5 inches. The NICU doctors quickly checked her over and were amazed after reviewing the ultrasound history. The next day her health was confirmed with one more lung ultrasound.

And now . . . we are a complete family of four. Henry loves her in his own special 2.9 almost 3 year old way.

And we can't help marveling at the blessing she is in our lives. We are thrilled to be able to get to know Greta Jane better. So far though . . . we love her to pieces.