First Week at Home

Life is pretty simple for a one-week old baby, however, for the rest of us, I think we're getting a glimpse of how life is changed forever (and we wouldn't have it any other way)!  We've loved settling in as a family of 5 and have enjoyed many visitors, including Grandpa Bob &  Granny who had yet to meet any of their great-grandchildren at this newborn stage!  It was a wonderful day for everyone and we're loving the transition.  Alice seems to be doing well, although, let's be honest...she's like every newborn baby before her and loves snuggling and sleeping.  Jane and Luke are VERY proud of her and are excited to tell everyone they talk to about her.  They like to sit right next to her and just watch her...especially Luke, forever the tender-hearted.

Halloween was a bit overlooked this year with having such a small baby around, but we did our best to still celebrate for the older kids; Evan was off work and enjoyed taking them to the library for the festivities there and just a few rounds of trick-or-treating; the weather was so crummy here, it wasn't even worth any of the hassle!

Heading home, luckily not in the dead of winter like the other 2

The welcoming committee

Great picture of Aunt Lana and Uncle Kyle

Getting ready for a bunch of visitors

Grammy, Bob, and the kids in their special Mickey/Minne jammies from Aunt Connie

Enjoying cupcakes (courtesy of Nana) for the "birthday party" celebration for Baby Alice

Already got him wrapped around her finger

A very happy crew

A very proud great-grandma

An unusually warm and beautiful day for a short walk/bike ride

I really like this picture, even with Alice in hysterics.  We were putting lotion on her after her bath and she wasn't a big fan of that

Dash (with a mask that's just a teensy bit too tight) and Cinderella

Our little pumpkin; Luke's pet name for her

Alice Eleanor

She's here....and a week early at that!  We are so excited to announce the birth of our 2nd daughter, Alice Eleanor, born on October 24th at 9:10am, weighing 7lbs 13oz and 21.5" long!

Wow, as usual, we are completely smitten with our 3rd blessing from God!  Alice had been letting me know for over a week that she was really getting ready to make her grand entrance, as I had been having Braxton Hicks contractions since my 38 week appointment.  Every time I would actually stop and remember to pay attention to them (vs ignoring and telling myself there is no way she would come early), they would be sporadic and nothing I felt was worthy of heading to the hospital.  Right after my 39-week appointment, I just knew that there was no way she was waiting any longer.  I went to bed on Wednesday night and woke at 3am with contractions.  I finally thought to myself that I should get up and pay attention, and I'm sure glad that I did; after an hour of very strong, consistent contractions, I woke Evan up and quickly got our things around.  We arrived at the hospital a little before 6am and this little lady was here in no time!

She was rather feisty right after she was born, as she was crying and crying nonstop.  Evan and I just looked at each other and wondered what life now had in store for us!  As per usual, we didn't decide on a name until well after she was born, but both felt in the end that Alice was the name chosen for her.  

More to come on this sweet little lady!

Long fingers just like her older sister!

So little, and so precious

Another one of daddy's little girls

Love those eyes!

Meeting her older siblings for the 1st time!