At home...

Here we are at home adjusting to being a family of 4 (humans) and 3 confused and/or jealous furry creatures. Things are going great so far. Audrey is an excellent big sister and a great helper. She helps with diapers, picks out clothes, reads books to Ben and is very gentle when she holds him. Here are a few pics to document the last 2 days at home.

Bailey is so on edge awaiting our arrival home.
Ok, so this is still the hospital...first time Audrey saw me after delivery.

Thrilled to be a big sister!Self portrait with Grandma's camera.

Sooo exctied to have a birthday party for Ben.
Happy birthday Ben.Snoozing comfortably.
Such a sweet face.
Story time with Audrey.

Family of Four

First family photo of the 4 of us.

Pop and Yaya admiring their first grandson.

Grandma and Papa doing the same.

Big Sister taking a good look and baby brother Ben.

She approves.

Checking out the strawberry blonde locks.

Welcome Baby Ben!!!!

7lbs 8 oz. ! He arrived @ 5pm on the button and he is doing great. Everyone seems to think he may be a red head! Big sister Audrey is on her way down with Grandma and Papa now to meet her new baby brother. Ginger has Ben nursing now, 35 min after being born!!!!

Getting close

After a little work and another shot at the epidural, Ginger is @ 10cm, baby coming up next. Note - photos were not allowed at this point under penalty of death.
**First epidural lasted all of 30 mins and it was about an hour before the 2nd one could be administered. **

Dr. Dad has been getting a little punchy and getting into the medical supplies!!!

Ginger is doing great, she has been on pitocin for a couple of hours now and they have just broken her water (that may be TMI for some out there!) The doctor has told her to expect Baby Ben around mid to late afternoon.

We have arrived @ the hospital and Ginger is getting all the paperwork filled out and IV's put in.

The Final Countdown

39 weeks and 5 days. I'd say Ben has done some serious growing since the last picture. Assuming he does not make a break for it today, Ben will be arriving tomorrow.

Nurses Ridley and Murphy also took the sibling class at the hosptial and are ready to assist should their services be needed.

Green Thumbs

Spring was here for a few days, but now it's cold and rainy again for the next 4 days. While the weather was nice Audrey showed off her green thumbs and did a lot of gardening. Some of it was on her own personal projects, but she did help Daddy plant a lot of trees. She really enjoys it, especially wearing the new gardening gloves!

Yes, she did dress herself.

BABY NEWS!

There is nothing to report. I am still pregnant...

My Little Mermaid

Audrey started swimming lessons last weekend and is VERY excited about it!! She wakes us (at the crack of dawn per usual) and puts on her swimsuit and packs her backpack and immediately starts harassing Daddy about swimming lessons (this is his gig). Today she showed me some of the things she learned today (with great enthusiasm). Notice the Ariel bathing suit and Ariel gibbits (or whatever they are called) she is Ariel's #1 fan.

Holding her nose under water and blowing bubbles

Floating on her back
I'm not so sure, but I think this is the backstroke
Freestyle arms

Quotes of the Week

"Mommy, if you go to jail I'll miss you. If I go to jail I will miss the puppies."
-Audrey

"Mommy, I'm about to have a baby. We need to get married."
-Audrey

"Why do people keep saying Obama?"
-Audrey

38 Weeks

Here we are at 38 weeks. Tick, tick, tick....it's getting very close. I am definitely starting to feel "very" pregnant and would not mind getting on with this sooner than later. Guess I'll just hurry up and wait though.

Left: 37.5 Weeks with Audrey Right: 38 Weeks with Ben

Here's Murphy being his curious and cautions self.

And Audrey hamming it up for the camera.

Daddy

Last week was Donuts with Daddy Day at preschool and all the kids were asked questions about their Daddy's and asked to draw a picture of their Daddy. I think Audrey did pretty good. Here's a look at what she said:

Audrey was the only one in her class who got her Daddy's name correct and the only one who said an age other than a single digit. She got pretty close (he's 32). I'd say she did pretty well on Daddy's favorite things to drink too....

Since we're talking about Daddy, here are a few pictures of Daddy's little helper hard at work. She loves to mow the grass every time he does. Audrey is also an excellent weed puller. Looks like she's got a lot of work to do this spring!!

Career change

I am proud to announce that Audrey is setting her sights higher these days! She no longer wants to be a french fry maker at CFA. The new gig is "Pet Store Hair Cutter." She has also added the possibility of "Kitty Cat Doctor" too, which I am rooting for. I love CFA just as much as the next person, but I'm glad she is considering other options.

Fluffernutter

I would like to dedicate this post to my husband....for introducing our daughter to Fluff. She now will only eat fluffernutter sandwiches and no other kind of sandwiches. She even tried to convince me that Daddy let her have Fluff only sandwiches with no peanut butter on them. Oh well, at least I put it on whole grain bread.
(For you non-fluff eaters out there, Fluff is marshmallow cream in a jar)

Snow Day!

Today was a beautiful sunny day in the low 70's.....Monday we had 4 inches of snow. Go figure. At least it wasn't a day I was paying for preschool to be canceled. Audrey was so excited as it had just started snowing before she went to bed the night before. I managed to keep her inside until 8:00 in the morning and then we were in full fledged snow mode.

Rockin' out to pass the time until 8:00 (the time Mommy needed to get motivated to gear up for the snow).

My favorite snow angel
Keeping warm with a hug

The view form the back yard
Post snow activities

Quote of the day

"Daddy, water turns into boogers when it goes up your nose."
-Audrey

Our first born...

February 27, 2003....the day Ridley was born. Happy 6th birthday to Ridley. I have called you many names throughout the years, but you are a good boy!!! Enjoy your day.

Fear the Cow.

Tonight was pajama night at Chick-fil-A. Audrey wore her jammies and got to do story time, watch a puppet show, eat chicken nuggets (of course) and see lots of her friends. In times past, she has been a little skeptical of "the" cow. This time however, Audrey was high fiving him, following him around and seemed to enjoy his presence. I mean, he was wearing jammies too, so he's cool. Until....picture time. She was clinging to me and would not look at him at all once she sat down for the picture. Her explanation for why she was scared......"Mommy, those were really big pajamas."

Quote of the day

"Mommy, sharing is really hard sometimes."
-Audrey