Would you like to meet Baby Brother?

I took Dane for his first walk the other day.  I was pleased when Mia invited one of her park friends over to see her baby brother.  It was a very sweet moment until she added... "Here he is.  Baby Brother.  Would you like to pet him?"

Happy Easter

We had a pretty low key Easter this time around.  In future years, I have big aspirations to make Easter an important holiday for our family (focusing more on the religious than cultural significance).  Under the current circumstances however, we gave Mia the Reader's Digest version of what Easter means and the Easter bunny made a surprise visit to the back yard. 

Mia waiting to open the shutters to see what the Easter Bunny left behind.  She's also smiling because she's excited about the strawberry outfit she's wearing.  (Thanks Grambi!)

She's so into silly faces these days, that it's hard to capture a genuine smile on camera.  This is blurry, but genuine.

Writing her name with a chalk egg.

 The hunt (and incidentally, all the gardening that I could muster this year with my third trimester awesomeness)

Daddy and Dane watch on.

 Have I mentioned that I love this boy?

One of my favorite things that my little chickadee does these days is choreograph dances.  She does a silly dance, a happy dance, a sad dance, a potty dance, a prince dance (this one involves daddy), a friend dance, a mad dance... you get the picture. This is her Easter Dance.

Examining the spoils of the day. 

Most of you have seen this already, but I can't resist.

Dane

Dane Anders Knudsen arrived this past Tuesday, April 12th!

Weight: 6 pounds 13 ounces

Length: 19.5 inches.  

Dane because we love it, Anders because it's a family name (on both sides!) and Knudsen for what I hope are obvious reasons.

The delivery had a few hiccups here and there, but we are both happy and healthy now.  My time comes in pretty short snatches these days so I'll have to post the hospital experience later.  While I've got a few minutes, I'll post what everyone cares about anyway: pictures!

Our Doctor let Shelton deliver our son.  I was jealous he got to hold Dane first.

Our first (and only, or I wouldn't post this awesomeness) family picture.  Please keep in mind that I am so swollen I can't even bend my fingers.  Or smile broadly.  Significant blood loss + rapid fluid infusion = lovely.

This little boy has a tendency to melt hearts.

Mia pets him. Like a puppy.  She has been a sweetheart of a big sister.

Mia has been looking forward to changing this boy's diapers since we told her I was pregnant.  I think she was a little disappointed at how anticlimactic it was.

Shelton performs Dane's first osteopathic treatment. He loved it.

I almost started crying today when I realized this boy is going to grow up and leave me someday.

Who's in charge here?

Mia has been potty trained for some time now but still needs a little assistance when a "run" is required in the middle of the night.  Last night, after just such a run, I stumbled back into bed.  Shelton seemed a little restless (he usually sleeps like a rock).  I reached over and slipped my hand into his in what I thought was a very nice gesture.

Imagine my surprise when he very loudly exclaimed, "Who is in charge here?!"

Me:  What?

Shelton:  I want to know who is in charge here.  This is unacceptable!

Me: Ummm...?

Shelton:  That building should NOT be made of wood.  I want to know who is in charge!

He then turned over incommunicado style.  He now denies any such event ever took place. But I know the truth.