Sweet Caroline...Ba, Ba, Ba...Good Times Never Seemed So Good...Or Tiring!

 Waiting for Caroline to arrive! 

Hahaha- Chris says, "I already have a headache!"

 Nana and Papa

Aunt Jen and Uncle Scott

 Avery, Mimi, and Caroline

Getting ready to leave the hospital

 

Mimi and Caroline

Grandpa Tommy and Caroline

 First bath- finally!! :) She LOVED it- not a peep! Avery used to scream through hers, so we would wrap her in a towel and then get her wet, so she wouldn't be cold...looks like this little chicky may not need us to do that! 

Well, our family is complete with the arrival of Caroline on April 19th, 2013.  She arrived in a very calm fashion, waking me up around 3:00 with contractions that weren't too crazy...by the time I woke Chris up at 4:00 though, those suckers were coming every 2-3 minutes...poor guy was a little flustered driving to Christ hospital in a thunderstorm and missed the exit, by that time I was having visions of giving birth in our Honda CR-V.  But, we made it to the hospital just in time for me to get an epidural (almost too late!) and little girl calmed down. She was born at 10:04- she gave one little "waaaa" when she arrived, then quieted right down and smiled when they laid her on my chest (seriously!).

Caroline Claudia (her middle name is for Chris's mother, by the way -both of our girls are named after their strong grandmothers! :) is very calm in general, although she has her moments at night...we had totally blocked the new parent experience from our memories, so those sleepless nights are proving to be a killer! But she's healthy and we are so blessed, so we will take those sleepless nights for sure! :)

Big sister Avery is adjusting, although I know I will never be able to let my guard down- Ave thinks Caroline is one of her dolls, and tries vigorously to tickle her, pick her up, or get THIS CLOSE to her face at every opportunity.  She's such a smart cookie though, so I know in time our constant reminders will sink in (here's hoping).

Our families have been such a help- Mimi and Grandpa Tommy taking care of Ave while we were in the hospital, Nana and Papa taking Ave at night when we came home- just amazing- we are so, so lucky in so many ways.  Love our new little girl so much!