John had been watering the lawn, and the girls had been using the sprinkler as their personal waterpark. However, who wants to play in a water park when you can help dad rake the seed things? Holding the bag "open wide" was a difficult concept to master, but with such happy helpers, who cares?
And it is wonderful sometimes to be the only one not working. I sat on the porch. And this was my view looking down.
Such a good baby.
My brother Mike got married yesterday. We were supposed to be there, with plane tickets reserved and everything, but Annabel showed up a little later than anticipated. So, we scrapped our plans (at first with some bitterness), and are happily enjoying the week's vacation here in South Bend. It's lovely to have John around so much.
These dresses were made more than a month ago for the girls to wear to the reception. We wore them today to church, instead. I love having all my girls match, and I'm sure their willingness to match is not something that will last forever. 
I caught some extra pictures of Bella. This one, with her funny, double-chinned, unintentional smile made me giggle.
And this is the picture that shows how she is most often when awake. Alert and happy. What a blessing to have such a good baby.
This is my little kindergartner. Can you believe it? All of a sudden, and especially in this picture, she looks so grown up. Please, someone else tell me they still picture her as a teeny baby.
She had her backpack packed, her school clothes on, her hair done, and she was ready to walk out the door at 9:45 a.m. Unfortunately, afternoon kindergarten doesn't start until 11:50. We had some waiting to do. And lots of reassuring, in between the periods of frantic waiting.
This is her classroom. John says he drove her to school and helped her to line up with the other kindies, whereupon Mrs. Kobb told all the kids to tell their parents to go home, that they'd be fine. I'm glad it was John and not me because I might have burst into tears at that point. He cheerfully walked away.
This face greeted us when we picked her up. Looks like it was a lovely day, doesn't it? I don't think she missed us at all. She tells us she has two teachers (a student teacher as well as her regular one), she made a new friend at recess (whose name was completely immaterial--will we ever know?), and there is one other Olivia in her class--Olivia M. (this is better than the three or four Olivias that were in her preschool class). All in all, a success.
So here's Emilee at 5:30 AM getting ready to have this baby. She scores a 0 on the Escala de Dolor (pain scale for those of you who don't habla espanol)
This is pre-pitocin (which was originally made from the urine of pregnant mares) and would soon result in contractions though it didn't take much.
Post Epidural.....I don't think I can add more to this picture with words.
Wells Baby Girl and Mom.
Wells Baby Girl. So far in her first 30 minutes of life she's been very calm and a good baby.
Here's a little nanner nanner look at me and my coordinated tongue. Oh, I weigh 7lbs 12oz.
