October 22nd: Play-time!

The big kids have been really great about including Baby O.  They'll sit beside him and tell him stories, read books with him, and try to entertain him.  Here they are playing, (E with dolls, and L with legos), as O watches:

October 21st: More Brotherly Love

L and O

L is such a great big brother!!

October 20th: Baby O and a Great-grandfather

O and His Papa John

October 19th: Brothers

L loves his little brother.  He got a Lego Starwars book at the Library and told Baby O about every characters.  He tries to include Baby O in his play whenever O is awake.  So sweet!

October 18th: Baby O Comes Home!

The big kids started getting a little restless at the hospital on the 2nd day, so my husband took them over to his office.  They sat in his chair, looked at his pictures, and checked out his work area.

E, Checking Out Pictures of Herself

My Two Sweet Kiddos

 After a little more silliness at the hospital, Baby O was discharged, and we headed for home.

E, Being Silly on the Hospital Bed

"Sleeping Like Mama"

Home Sweet Home: All THREE Asleep

October 17th: Big Kids Meet Their Little Brother

Baby O

The big kids came to the hospital in the morning to meet their baby brother for the very first time.  L was super excited.  He immediately sat down in a chair with his legs out and wanted to hold him.  His face was beaming as he held him for the first time.

My Boys

Showing E Her New Brother

E, on the other hand, was a little more timid.  She kept asking, "Baby O, pop out?" and wanted to see my tummy.  We explained to her several times that the baby in my arms was the same baby we had talked about being in my tummy, but I'm not sure she really understood.  After several hours she asked to hold him, but the second he started to fuss she put him down and started crying.

The Proud Big Sister

E and O

My THREE kids:

October 16th: Walking, hockey, and Baby O!

Six days past my due date I was miserable and dedicated the entire day to inducing labor.  I got up in the morning and immediately started walking around the house.  The kids thought it was hilarious to see me walking around in circles and they'd jump out and scare me, or run around behind me.  When the temperature got warm enough, we packed up the kids and headed to Edwin Warner Park to walk some more.  The kids rode in the stroller, while eating lunch, and my husband and I walked 2.5 miles.  The weather was beautiful!

When we got home it was time for L's first hockey practice of the season so we picked up my mom (who wanted to go watch him too) and headed to the ice hockey rink.  I had just enough time to snap two pictures and my water broke.  My husband grabbed L off the ice and we headed to the hospital to meet baby O.

E looking for L

L

Baby O was born at 10:55pm that evening weighing 9lbs 1oz and was 22 inches long.  I'll post the entire birth story in a separate post, when I get a chance.

Baby O

October 15th: Neighborhood Picnic

We went to our annual neighborhood meeting and picnic for lunch.  In the past, they've had an inflatable jumping house, but this year they had hired a clown.  E was a little frightened by him, but both kids got balloons and enjoyed playing in the common area across the street from our house with some of the neighborhood children.

Here they are showing off their balloon hat and flower from the picnic a little later in the day:

October 14th: Walking... and still waiting...

My mom had the day off work so she spent most of the day with the kids and I.  We went for a walk, played outside a little bit, read books, and played around the house.  I felt for sure baby O would want to join us at any moment, but no... 

L wanted to wear his helmet, so he did

E

He's so funny

Ready to ride!

October 13th: Hockey Game!

Despite being 40+ weeks pregnant we went to the Nashville Predator home opener.  My hope was that all the excitement and noise would induce labor but Baby O was content to listen to the game from inside of me.  The Preds lost, but I think we would all agree that we had a good time anyway... and I got a free Predator shirt that actually fit me AND my giant belly!!

E, Yelling "Go Predators!"

L

Me, Baby O, and L

Predator Face

Silly Kids Waiting for the Game to Start

During the Game

E and I (in my FREE XL shirt)

October 12th: Library and Story Time

Still waiting for Baby O...  We went to story time at the Library, read books, and went for a 2 mile walk.  Thankfully the weather has been beautiful the last few days!

Reading Books with the Kids

Yes, I look like I have a beach ball under my shirt, but that's Baby O!

Walking in the Park

October 11th: Another Day Waiting for Baby O

Still waiting for Baby O... Here are the kiddos playing outside in the afternoon on an upside-down water table.  They told me it was their boat.

L and E in their "Boat"

L, Reading Lego Instructions to E

October 10th: Baby O's Due Date

After walking around the house for 45 minutes in the morning without any signs of a baby, I decided to go to the Y and just take a nice long hot shower while the kids were in the Y-play.  I think I spent nearly 20 minutes just standing in the water thinking and praying about Baby O.  It was so nice.  Then one of my biggest fears happened... I waddled back over to my unlocked locker and found a lock on it.  I checked every single unlocked locker (thinking maybe someone had just moved my clothes) and then sat down on the bench and waited in my too-small towel.  Thankfully, an elderly lady emerged from the showers after about 10-15 minutes and unlocked my locker.  Apparently when she came in from swimming she got her shower things out of her locker, but then put her lock on my locker instead of her own locker.  Thank the Lord she was only taking a shower b/c I'm not sure what I would have done if I'd had to wait too much longer.  Sorry, no picture of me sitting in the Y locker room wrapped in my bright red, too-small, towel waiting for someone to return with my clothes.

October 9th: Lunch at Pop & Grandma's

We went to Pop's house and ate lunch with the kid's grandma after church.  She had just returned from a trip to Australia so she had stories and pictures to share.  Here are pictures of the kids playing at Pop and Grandma's house with some of my husband's old toys.

L Loves Legos!

E

October 8th: Cleaning/Nesting Day

My family came over for dinner and so I spent most of the day cleaning the house and cooking.  I literally vacuumed every room in the house, washed the kitchen floor, did about 5 loads of laundry, washed all the sheets, made beds, and dusted places that I'd never dusted before.  I was really hoping all of my activity would induce labor, but Baby O stayed content inside of me.

L

E

October 7th: Lipscomb University

I had a doctor's appointment in the morning and then took the kids over to Lipscomb University to walk the campus and visit their Gran.  They love to pet the big Bison and it was such a beautiful day.

Gran with her Grandkids

Petting the Bison

E

L

L, E, Baby O, and I

The Kids and I