Mighty Max

Max is 8 days old today! He is so cute. I love it when he's awake and alert and craning his neck around to see everything around him. The kids still love him to pieces and aside from a few more tantrums/meltdowns, they have adjusted pretty well. They literally surround him with love--constantly--and they live for the times when Max is awake and able to look at them. It is adorable.
I know it's hard to really see what Max looks like from the hospital pictures, so I thought I'd post some more of him.
And, by the way, isn't Ben's post about Max's birth just beautiful??? I love how he writes.

Here's a few more cute pictures from the hospital.

We're getting ready to take Max home in this picture. He had to stay an extra day to complete a 48-hour round of antibiotics. (I tested positive for Group B strep and they were only able to get one dose of antibiotics in me before Max was delivered.) It was very hard for me and the kids to go home without the baby. It just didn't feel right. My heart aches for the other mothers I saw in the Level II nursery who have to leave their babies there for several days/weeks. I can't imagine.




And here are some from a few days ago, when Max was 6 days old. I'm crossing my fingers that we'll have a blue-eyed baby this time!!!







Isn't he just perfect???

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.

The Cantaloupe Incident

Someone in our household got a hold of a sharp knife and proceeded to deface a cantaloupe. The culprit is known but shall remain nameless.

Wildflowers and Deer Bones

Dad took Emma and Rachel on a couple of nature hikes in and around Battle Creek Canyon in the mountains above Pleasant Grove. They both loved collecting things along the trail. Wildflowers and deer bones were their favorites. Hmmm... "Wildflowers and Deer Bones." That sounds like the name of my next rock band. It's a better name than Mouse Rat anyway (obscure Parks and Recreation reference).

Waiting for Baby

Go Rachel!

Rachel's preschool program was last night and it was adorable. Rachel's class is crazy--loud, wild kids (mostly boys) were all messing around and being naughty before the show and sweet Rachel is just sitting there in the midst of the chaos, waiting quietly for the show to start. It was so funny.
Rachel did such a wonderful job! She sang all the words and did all the actions and it was just plain cute. We were so proud of her.

Air guitar!



With Miss Melva

Oh, Rachel--we love you so much! You are a sweetheart!

So sweet...

A few weeks ago Rachel got a small cut on her toe. As Ben was looking at it and bandaging it, Luke came right over, sat down next to Rachel, put his hand on her leg and announced, "I'm going to help Rachel be brave." It was the most tender, sweet thing! Love these kids.