Photos from the Hospital

I just got the CD from the photos they took at the hospital and I can't wait to post them.  Yes, the were way overpriced, but when you get suckered you get suckered.  Besides, I have to think about it this way: in 5 years I'll be awfully glad I got those pictures.  Okay, enough talk - here are the pics:

This one is my favorite.  I can't help it, it just makes my heart melt to see the love of my life hold this precious little girl so gently.  And I love that she is holding on to him so trustingly.  Total safety.

Love that little diaper bum! ;)

This is where she's saying - okay, I'll take one more, but I do so under protest! 

This is the one we decided to get enlarged.  I don't love the bow, but I do love the eyes, face, hand and mouth. 

Overall, we've pretty much fallen under this girls spell.  Even Asher loves his new shiny toy - at least for now.  It's a bit weird to think that we are now a four person family, and it's a lot of fun for Durrant to have his playmate and I can have my... whatever she will end up being.  And when we are all caught up on our sleep we might even be able to carry on a decent conversation! :)

Introducing Vanna Vilate Pettey

Our little girl made her appearance in this world at 5:27 am this morning, weighing 7 pounds, 6 ounces and is 20 inches long.  She was 11 days early (one day before Asher) and actually weighs more than he did, I guess all that fattening food does make a difference. :)  She is very healthy, and has lots of straight black hair.  Mom is also doing well, and she and Dad are trying to recover from a brutal lack of night's sleep.  We are thrilled to have her, and can't wait for your all to meet her.  So far (after less than 24 hours) her personality is similar to Asher in that she is pretty mellow.  However, I still think she's got to have some mischief in here somewhere or she wouldn't be our kid. :)

Here are some photos with Mom and Dad:

We are pretty excited and the surreal feeling is still very much present.  Heaven help us! :)

Easter, Sticker Sunday Morning, and Prego Update

We decided to take it pretty easy this Easter, mainly because I didn't have the energy to make a big deal about it.  But we did have the family party and here is the beginning of the hunt:

On with the hunt!!!  Asher did a pretty good job of finding the eggs, and then proceeded to open them and eat the contents rather than search for more eggs.  Seriously - why leave the goods for the possibility of more goods in the future???  The boy is wise beyond his years.

It was tough going for a while, we gathered very few eggs.  However, we got plenty to keep him hyper for at least a week.

And here are the kiddos with their hauls.  I think it only took about 25 pictures to get them all smiling and looking in the same general direction.  And, yes, this is what you get. :)

And, just for funsies, here is a picture of our little family before we add baby Vanna to the group. 

That was our low-key Easter.  No special outfits.  No major gifts.  Nothing really that amazing, just a small lesson about what Easter is all about, a fabulous family dinner and memories that will hopefully last a lifetime. 

On a side note, we had a fun family Sunday morning that involved stickers and I couldn't resist sharing the evidence: 

Dad played too, but his evidence makes him look high so I decided to hide that for future blackmail. :)

And finally, I don't have any pictures on the pregnancy issue, obviously, because it just isn't pretty.  However, I can say that we are nearly to the "safe" period of 37 weeks.  It has been a rough go, and the end isn't any easier than the rest of the 8 1/2 months.  I've been having contractions for a few weeks now, and we had a couple near runs to the hospital.  Yet, with it all, still no baby (whew!)

I keep going back and forth on when I think she will finally be joining us.  Asher was 10 days early, and judging by the increased level of contractions I'd guess she will also be early.  However, I think this girl already has a mind of her own, and will likely come when she feels good and ready.  Which translates to: 2 weeks late... :)