Welcome baby!

Our family is now 6!  Baby girl arrived Saturday evening.

 

Ava Lindsay Soetaert

August 17, 2013 at 7:02 p.m.

7 lbs. 3 oz.  and 19.5" long

 

  We had been waiting for a number of days for her arrival simply because of the due date, but there were no real signs of labor until she was "overdue."  Even Saturday morning I didn't think I would be having a baby that day.  That was until I drank a labor-inducing smoothie, recipe courtesy of a friend who just had a baby.  I blended up apricots, lemon verbena leaves, almond butter, and castor oil.  Supposedly, if your body is ready for labor then it works.  Well, my body was definitely ready as the concoction kicked in just an hour after finishing it and we were at the hospital 3 hours after taking the first sip.

 

Our first peeks and my first time holding her.

 

The kids came and LOVED her! I can't even describe how cute they were, all 3 of them!  They didn't want to stop kissing or holding her, we finally had to cut them off.  It was so sweet!

 

Lots of celebrating her arrival!  (Including the celebratory mimosas that night, cheers!)

 

She loves being all swaddled up and warm.  How cute is her bow?

It's tiring being born (and being so cute)!

Here she is sunday morning, hanging out with us.  I have had amazing experiences in the hospital and enjoy being taken care of there.  It is nice not feeling like I have to get things done at home and it's a nice time to just rest and cuddle with our sweet little baby!

A proud daddy 4 times over!  FOUR! :)

 

Not sure how regular I'll be posting this first week.  Not to worry, you will get a good dose of the cuteness in the coming weeks and months.  Thanks for all of your well wishes, we are thankful for the love!