Beautiful

My favorite picture of Ciara so far.

I think because she is still so new.

Look at those wrinkly little hands 

and her furrowed brow.

Brand new.

Beautiful.

The Waiting is Over!

Wednesday morning.

I texted Rob and asked him what time might be good for us to come meet Ciara.

He said 10:00.

As we were all getting ourselves out the door...at 10:00...Rob called and asked if we could wait until 10:30.  I said, "Sure!"

Then he said, "Maybe 11:00?"

I said, "Sure..."

He said, "Even better would be 12:30 or 1:00."

"Hey!  You're mean!"

He laughed and admitted that he thought it would be fun to torment me a bit.

Off we raced to the hospital 

so that Rob couldn't torment anymore.

Introducing Sweet Baby Ciara Carolyn!

I think this is the picture that Rob had shared from his phone the night before.

Thank you, Facebook.

These are my first pictures.

I hope that you don't mind that I used this picture, Brandy.

You looked so good after such a long labor...and I was so relieved to see your smile.

Brandy's mom arrived at the same time that we did.

Here she is looking into the eyes of her granddaughter.

Papa B's first chance to hold Ciara.

I love this picture because it shows 

the glistening of tears on his cheeks.

Finally!

I just wanted to soak this moment in and memorize her little newborn face!

Cousin Carrie's turn!

The little boys weren't allowed to come back to the room because of age rules, so we decided that Carrie should come back first since she had waited longest for a cousin...16 years!

Carolyn Jane holding her new baby cousin, Ciara Carolyn.

I am totally positive that Mom is bursting with joy.

And pride.

Much pride.

Papa B with his oldest and youngest grandchildren.

Trade!

Time for Cousin William to come back!

I love the expression on his face in this picture.

It reminds me of the look of pure enjoyment he had when he first held Josh and Matthew.

Brandy told us that we might be able to bring the boys around to her window to take a sneak peak at 

their little cousin.

I love this picture.

I don't think they will ever forget this moment.

Matthew kept trying to ask Uncle Robbie through the window, "How big is her ear?!"

Brandy's mom took this picture when the doctor came in to check on Ciara.

Angel face.

Later that night, Dad and I came back in with Uncle Rick.

Great Uncle Rick he is.

Check out that little shoulder!

I have always known that aunts and uncles really love their nieces and nephews...I just never knew how much until I became an aunt.  I am really looking forward to watching my kids play with Ciara and to be able to spoil her and love on her.  Something special happened to our family when Brandy married Rob.  

I got a sister. 

 I saw Rob truly, truly happy.  

New traditions began.  

Family bloomed.

Much love,

A Little More Waiting...

The phone by the side of my bed, volume turned up.

Crazy dreams.

Matthew's arms and legs flopped over my neck and back.

That's how I spent Monday night.

Monday morning, Rob called to let us know that Brandy was dilated to 7 and holding.

If it had been just me waiting, I would probably have driven myself crazy just sitting around Dad's house waiting for more news.

But I knew it would be more fun for the kids to get out and do something.

Make the time pass more quickly.

One thing that we did while we were waiting was to go visit my Uncle Roland.

The kids were pretty excited about this. 

They love Uncle Roland...he's always been a big kid.

When we got to his house, he was getting ready to 

feed the cows.

 Josh could hardly wait for him to open the doors and let the dogs run free!

And it's no wonder why!

Just look at them!

This is Snowball.

She's a rescue dog.

Attack!

And run!

 This is probably one of my favorite pictures ever.

Josh's face...the puppy's tongue.

Josh loved every minute of it.

Everyone did.

I think that this is Tzeitel.

(Shee was named after a character in 

"Fiddler on the Roof.")

Tzeit would hop up on the bench, 

inviting Uncle Roland to sit.

I love it!

Uncle Roland said that he can do nothing else but watch the dogs when he lets them out.

They would run in all directions!

"Sleigh!  You get back here!"

 Time to go to bed.

Next, Uncle Roland showed us his walnut forest...

and his walnut picker-upper!

Who knew that picking up walnuts could be so much fun?

See the barn in the distance, through the trees?

That's Dad's barn...the farm where I grew up.

Isn't it neat that Mom's brother moved down the lane from us when I was a kid?

Another place the little boys had never been...Rentown.

It's a great little country store run by an Amish family.

My grandpa used to buy cheese wheels there and bring them down to our house when he came to visit.

Dad and Gilda still buy candy there 

and bring it down as a special treat.

"What kind of toilet are those used for?!"

No, Carrie!

It's a feather duster!

Eventually, we got the text that read, 

"TIME!"

Off to the hospital we rushed!

I think we were there around 7:00...

Dad and Brandy's Grandma 

 Then the news that we've been waiting 

so many months to hear!

It's a girl!

Ciara Carolyn was born on September 11 at 9:22 PM...

7 pounds, 6 ounces

21 inches long

Mommy and Baby Girl are doing safe and well!

Thank you, Lord!

So many prayers were answered.

Proud Papa showing pictures of his brand new daughter.

After so many hours of labor, we decided to send our love to Brandy and Ciara, give Rob a great big hug, and head home so that everyone could settle in a bit.

But early next morning...

Much love,

     AUNT