Welcome To The World, Little One

Last Friday, May 20, 2011, Abigail Joy was born! She weighed 7 lbs. 3 oz. and measured 20 1/2 inches. It has been so wonderful getting to know her personality this past week, bonding with her, snuggling with her, talking to her, and just SEEING her. I love her so much! My mom and dad came to help out with Cody, Anna, and Dylan while we were at the hospital. That was such a blessing. Everything went so smoothly that day, and the delivery was extra special in a different sort of way. The epidural I got was different from in the past. They gave me a lower dose of medicine and told me to push the button when I felt I needed more. However, it locks you out for ten minutes, and I never checked the clock when I pushed the button originally, so any time I felt discomfort or anything I began pushing the button. It was kind of comical actually! Anyways, that and the fact that I got some really great nurses in the room, made the experience more real for me. If Abigail is our last baby than it was nice to experience her birth in a more personal way. We have been adjusting to less sleep and strategizing on how to get the sleep we are getting. Abigail prefers to snuggle with us when sleeping, and I love that she likes this. Cody, Anna, and Dylan are doing great with her. Dylan kisses her all the time, and Cody and Anna like showing her off to friends and holding her. We went out the other day, all of us. We felt like such a spectacle as everyone kept coming up to us shocked that we have 4 small children. They gave the kids lots of attention and were so sweet, though. I am trying to balance my time now with the baby and older three. I want them all to know just how special they are and how much I love each of them individually. I am alos trying to get a lot of photographs of Abigail each day to record her growth and small life. She will change so quickly. I don’t want to miss it or forget it. Cody, Anna, adn Dylan were out the other evening catching bugs in their hands. I stood their taking in their giggles as they jumped high to try to catch them. Just then it began raining and we all headed inside. A song came on the CD player when we went in, and it made me bawl as I held Abigail and listened. It didn’t help that the song begins with, “Lying here with you, listening to the rain.” (smile) The song…”I Could Not Ask For More”…

Lying here with you
Listening to the rain

Smiling just to see the smile upon your face

These are the moments I thank God that I’m alive

These are the moments I’ll remember all my life

I found all I’ve waited forAnd I could not ask for more

Looking in your eyes

Seeing all I need

Everything you are is everything to me

These are the momentsI know heaven must exist

These are the moments I know all I need is this

I have all I’ve waited for

And I could not ask for more

I could not ask for more than this time together

I could not ask for more than this time with you

Every prayer has been answered

Every dream I have’s come true

And right here in this moment is right where I’m meant to be

Here with you here with me

These are the moments I thank God that I’m alive

These are the moments I’ll remember all my life

I’ve got all I’ve waited for

And I could not ask for more

I could not ask for more than this time together

I could not ask for more than this time with you

Every prayer has been answered

Every dream I have’s come true

And right here in this moment is right where I’m meant to be

Here with you here with me

I could not ask for more than the love you give me

‘Cause it’s all I’ve waited for

And I could not ask for more

I could not ask for more

Shawn came in the room shortly after and began laughing. He said, “I knew as soon as that song came on you were probably in there crying!” He knows me too well! But it’s true…God has blessed us with these children that I LOVE SO MUCH, and I can’t help but be appreciative. Thank you, God! I can’t possibly say it enough.