We've gone pink!

Welcome Mary Margaret Swayne!  

Mary arrived on October 6, 2011 at 8:46 p.m.  Her arrival has turned our house into the land of pink so I thought the blog should match.  Mary weighed 7 lbs., 4 oz. and was 20 inches long.

Now that you know the stats., here's the rest of the story.  I went to Target the morning of the 6th while Andy was at preschool and just felt weird.  I couldn't put my finger on it but I thought something might be going on.  I hurried to finish my shopping so I could get everything home and put away, just in case. At 3:30 p.m. I was having contractions but nothing regular.  By 4:30 p.m., the contractions were regular.  I called Joe and told him to come home, this might be it.  By 5:00, it was time to go to the hospital!  I was literally on the phone with my neighbor asking her if she could take the boys when I felt my water break.  Another friend was already on the way to our house to pick up Zack for me.  So Zack went to his Cub Scout meeting, George and Andy went to the neighbor's house, Joe picked me up and we were in triage at the hospital by 5:45.  Now if you look back to the time she was born, you'll notice it was only 3 hours from when we arrived in triage to when she was born.  Way to go Mary!  Everything went smoothly and there was much excitement in the delivery room when we all found out it was a girl.  Wow!  It took me about two days for it to really sink in.

Mommy and Mary just after delivery

Mary's first professional photo shoot.  She wasn't even 24 hours old yet.

Love those tiny feet

Sleeping like a baby

The boys (and friend Grant) at Mike and Susan's house at 6 a.m. calling to find out whether they have a brother or sister.  Sorry for the early wake up call Susan!
George, Grant, Andy, Zack

The reaction:  George is happy, still processing.  Grant, happy!  Andy said, "I wanted a boy."  Zack telling Susan, "it's a girl".  It was so cute to hear them all on the phone.  Zack's voice was so excited.  At first Andy lobbied to change the baby's name to Joseph.  Now he tells me, I like my sister.  I like my Mary Margaret.

Andy was our first visitor.  Since the big boys were at school, he got to see Mary first!  Our friend Susan was watching him for the day.  A HUGE thank you to Susan and Mike Mace for taking the boys for us the night Mary arrived.  And thanks to many friends who helped us along the way...and continue to!  We are blessed to have such wonderful friends here in our new hometown.  We appreciate you.   

Mary meeting all her brothers.  At first she was crying and then she laid back and just listened to their noise.  She was already used to hearing it all those months.  

"Mommy, I want to hold Mary Margaret!"  PROUD big brother Andy and his little sister.  He always calls her Mary Margaret.

George says, "she is so tiny!"

Papaw Hested and Mary.  Mom and Dad arrived Friday afternoon and stayed with us for a week.  They are amazing helpers with the boys, Mary and the house.  Dad even drives carpool.  Thank you for everything!

Mary has her boxing gloves on and is ready to take on her big brothers.  She was getting a little sun at the hospital (to help avoid jaundice) and I put on the mittens so she wouldn't scratch her face.

Mary in her coming home outfit.  It says, "My 1st Halloween."  Andy helped me pick it out.  He really likes the pumpkin hat.  Personally, I like the feet.

Mary's welcoming committee 

Big brothers awaiting their little sister's arrival home

Look at the cool sign the kids and Papaw and Grandma made!  It says, "Welcome Home Mary". 

Grandma with her baby girl.  She now has 6 grandsons and 2 granddaughters.