Happy Birthday to Emily!!

Emily turned 5 years old yesterday! It has been such a joy this year to watch her mature into a sweet young lady!

She is a great helper around the house. She loves putting on her little apron to help me with dinner each night. (The kitchen ends up being a bit messier and it takes a little longer to get dinner to the table, but I just love seeing her enjoy something so much.)

She has learned to ride her bike without training wheels, jump rope, hula hoop, and she has finally taken up the art of coloring...the only thing that gets her to sit still for longer than 2 minutes!!

And last of all, she really loves taking care of her baby Max!! She likes to be the one holding Max, while I am the helper that goes to get the things she needs! I got her a new doll for her birthday in hopes of giving poor Max a break, but it hasn't seemed to work. Max doesn't get much peace and quiet as long as Emily's around!

I love you, Emily! Happy Birthday!!

Merry Christmas, Everyone!!

Maxwell James Garvin is here!!

About 70 % of you all that voted on the boy/girl poll predicted that our baby was going to be a girl. I'm sorry to tell you that you were wrong! Congratulations to the 30 % of you that guessed boy!!

Maxwell James Garvin entered the world on Saturday, December 13 at 8:30 PM. He was one day past his due date. He weighed in at 6 pounds 12 ounces and was 20 inches long.

At about 5:00 in the morning, I started having some regular contractions. They didn't hurt at all, but that is the most labor I've ever gone into on my own, so of course I got exciting thinking this might be the day. Bob immediately called his parents to come out to watch the kids so we could go into the hospital. A few hours later all contracting stopped. Bob still insisted that we go into the hospital, especially since his parents were ready to watch the kids. So reluctantly we went.

I felt pretty silly telling the nurses that I really wasn't having any contractions and wasn't sure myself why I was even there. By 4:00 the Braxton Hicks like contractions came back. The dr. checked me and I was 6 cm, so they decided to keep me at the hospital. By 6:00 the contractions still didn't hurt, but they were still there. At 7:00, they broke my water and immediately the contractions were every 2 minutes and becoming increasingly painful!! At 8:00 I asked for an epidural. By the time the epidural was put in it was about 8:20. Little Maxwell popped out with 1 push at 8:27!!

He is a tiny, precious miracle!!

Samuel just kept saying, "Awww."

Thank you for your prayers!!

The Hills are Alive With the Sound of Music...

If this doesn't get you in the mood to watch The Sound of Music, then nothing will!!

Baby Update

I just got back from my OB appointment this morning and thought I would give you all a quick update. I am dilated to 5 cm and the doctor stripped my membranes (that did not seem to get things going for my other pregnancies, but you never know). If I don't go into labor on my own, I will be induced on Dec. 17th.

"I'm So Excited That I Just Can't Hide It..."

Well I'm due in 8 days!! This is the part of pregnancy that I love best...the excitement of being able to meet, hold, and snuggle with my new baby (the fact that I'm almost done being pregnant is pretty thrilling also). But, the anticipation is killing me! I just can't wait!! Will it be tomorrow or not for another 2 weeks? Is it a boy or a girl? Will my water break (let's hope not while I'm at WalMart), will I go into labor myself, or will I need to be induced? I just can't wait!!!