Here she is!

Gwendolyn Grace

She was born Wednesday, January 21st at 5:22 p.m.

From the way she felt the last month or two of pregnancy I knew she was a bigger baby than I was used to carrying. Here's the proof: 7 lbs. 13 oz. (almost 2 lbs bigger than Brenna was!!!)

I love the quiet alert time a new baby has in the hour or so after birth. Here she is being held by Daddy.

I loved the hospital that we delivered at. Not only did they let me drink ice water and juice during labor, they didn't take the baby away for anything. She even had her first bath in the delivery room, about an hour or so after she was born. By this time the other kids had arrived to see their new sister. Here's Ava supervising what is being done to Gwen.

Nate was interested too. He checked out baby sister in between daredevil stunts. This stool was perfect for leaping off of.

A first shot of us all together. Did you know that Flavor Blasted Goldfish are so delicious there's no way you can put them down, not even for a momentous occasion such as this?

It was fun seeing all the kids react to their new baby sister. Ava was precious. She wanted to hold Gwen the entire time. She leaned in and whispered to her while she held her, then looked up at me every minute or two to tell me how much she loved her, and me, and Scott, and Brenna, and Nate. She has been such an angel big sister.

Brenna only needed to hold Gwendolyn once, but she spent the rest of the time writing poetry for her in a new notebook she had. My favorite said "I love the baby. The baby loves me. We are a happy family."

All the girls:

Later that night after everyone had gone home, Gwen and I got some quiet time together. This is about 4 in the morning...prime mommy and me time.

Thursday after Brenna got home from school, Scott brought all the kids back up to the hospital and we got to bring our sweet little monkey home. The girls are all ready to go.

It's different bringing our fourth home than it was bringing our first. It's noisier and busier and there are many more little hands to help, but it is no less special.

Welcome to our family, little Gwendolyn!