happy one week Maggie

MAGGIE'S SONG

You were born on a winter's [morning]
In [March] into this life
Here is your mama, here is your daddy
See the happiness in their eyes
In their eyes

We have been waiting such a long time
For this precious angel girl
We bid you welcome Maggie [Jane]
Welcome to this world

Sweet as wild honey, tiny as a rose
We love your eyes and your ears and your nose
Your will is strong your beauty is complete
We love your long fingered hands and feet
Hands and feet

We have been waiting such a long time

For this precious angel girl

We bid you welcome Maggie [Jane]

Welcome to this world

I wish you endless joy in your heart

I wish you the moon and I wish you the stars

Abundant love in your family

Clean flowing water and fresh air to breathe

Oh to breathe

We have been waiting such a long time

For this precious angel girl

We bid you welcome sweet newborn spirit

Welcome to this world

Welcome to this world

Welcome to the world

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Maggie's a star!

Yesterday morning the PR person at St. Joe's asked if we minded if Maggie appeared in a news story WSBT was doing for their morning show about a couple who volunteers to rock babies in the nursery. We didn't see the story on TV this morning, but it's online now, Maggie is the one in the yellow cap and dark black hair:

Here's a link to the news story if the video doesn't work: http://www.wsbt.com/news/wsbt-hospital-nursery-grandparents-volunteer-to-cuddle-newborns-20110309,0,7067025.story

Maggie is 48 hours old and she's had her picture taken by iPhones and digital cameras; she's been on twitter, facebook, picasa and the local news; blogged about, texted about, emailed about and called about; she's been seen on TV, iPads, laptops, and cell phones. A little different than a generation or two ago. Pam and I (this is Gabe blogging by the way) look forward to seeing a hologram of our grandchildren for the first time and then teleporting there to visit.

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Margaret Jane

Margaret Jane Brown

6 lbs, 3 oz

19.25 inches

Born March 7, 2011

10:04 am

Welcome to the world, sweet baby girl. You are so loved.

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A newborn's conversation with God

A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow,
but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

The child further inquired, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have
to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."

God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you.
And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."

Again the small child asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand
when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"

God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words
you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will
teach you how to speak."

"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"

God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach
you how to pray."

"Who will protect me?"

God said, "Your angel will defend you even if it means risking its life."

"But I will always be sad because I will not see you anymore."

God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach
you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth
could be heard and the child hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave
now, please tell me my angel's name."

God said, You will simply call her, "Mom."

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a few days of fun

I've been able to have a little time off of bed rest this weekend and before going in, so we've managed to sneak in a little fun, low key activities that don't take much energy.

We celebrated our last night as a family of three with ------ ice cream!

please excuse my puffy face - it happened with Henry the last week - and it's only going to get puffier with the fluids :(

Our anniversary is in 10 days, and I don't think going out is going to be high on my priority list in 10 days, so we went for an early dinner date :) - Happy 4 years, love!

And daddy took Henry for a special treat (I opted out of this one!) to the bounce house! He hadn''t been there since last winter, and really loved it. Uncle Andrew also had a fun crazy time with Henry there this week and I think Grandad might be taking Henry later after the baby is born!

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Letters to my babies

*So excited to be able to write babies!

Dear Henry,

You're going to be a big brother so soon! I love you to pieces and am so proud of you - of your silliness, your determination, your love of trucks and trains and all things that travel, your smiles and hugs and cuddles, your sensitivity, the way you love to read books. And I can't wait to see you become a big brother. I know it won't always be easy, but I know you'll do a fantastic job and can't wait to see you with your sibling. I've loved watching you grow for the past two and a half years, and watching how far you've come in such a short time. I'm excited to be able to spend this summer with you and new baby. I can't believe my little man will be going to preschool in the fall. You've taught us what it means to be parents. Your baby brother or sister is coming soon!

Love, Mommy

Dear New Baby,

I can't wait to meet you soon! I love you to pieces already and are so excited to actually have you here in my arms. I love having you in my tummy and a part of me is sad to see that come to an end because even though this pregnancy has been hard for many reasons, I do love being pregnant and I know there will be times that I will miss this. Just as your babyhood will go by in the blink of an eye, being pregnant with you really has gone by quickly too. I can't wait to see you meet all of your milestones, to watch you grow up into the person you will become, to help you learn, to discover what you like to do, to watch you with your big brother, to kiss and hold you. There are so many people who love you so come on out (quickly and safely, please) and meet them!

Love, Mommy

I'll be able to see these two side by side soon, but for now, this will have to do:

How is it that their little bottoms are tiny enough to fit in these little diapers????

And this picture was from the day I thought we might be going into the hospital last week - 38 weeks

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GROWTH!

Whoohoo - the baby weighs 6-2!

6 lbs 2 oz is significant growth in less than two weeks, since at the beginning of all these troubles the baby was weighing in at 4 lbs 7 oz. Growth from less than 10th percentile up into the 25th percentile, which is so much better. I thought we weren't even going to be having a five pound baby, so that was really great news to receive yesterday. We're so thankful and so glad that bed rest is working, it makes it so much easier to do. All my tests came back positive and fluid levels are up and we are all set for March 7 induction. Can't wait to meet this little bundle!

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