Baby Max is Here!

Max was born on June 20, 2011 at 9:59 pm. We arrived at the hospital at around 8pm. The labor and delivery were so fast (but not painless) that Ben decided to hurry home and roust the kids so they could bask in the new baby glow with Mom and Dad. (The hospital is only 5 minutes away.) This turned out to be easier said than done. Emma refused to move and Rachel's voice sounded like the girl on the Exorcist. Eventually they all got up and were ecstatic that they were awake when the "whole world" was asleep.

When the kids saw baby Max for the first time, Rachel hopped around the hospital room and clapped her hands for joy. Emma smothered him with kisses and hugs and refused to respect his personal space as she does with Luke. (We fear for the sanity of future boyfriends but I digress.) Even Luke, the supposedly displaced child, could not get enough of baby Max. Max was serene and blinked his eyes approvingly through all of the chaos and euphoria. He seemed to recognize and delight in the sounds of his brother and sisters from when he was in the womb. It was a sweet moment for all.