My mom's cousin Sean, his wife Mindy and kids Anthony and Lauren stopped by on their way from Charlotte to Richmond. Dad and I were at church so we missed them but Madeline enjoyed meeting them! We all share the same great-grandmother, Madeline Connor.
Grandpa and I were waiting to greet her. Grandpa brought Madeline a rose bush b/c he wanted to be the first man to give her roses! Isn't that sweet?
Mom is doing well- still healing and taking it easy. Daddy is taking really good care of all of us! Madeline is a really good eater, just like I was. Mimi got here yesterday and we are so glad to have her with us for the week.
Aunt Shannon asked to see my eyes and I happily obliged- a girl always has to be ready for a photo shoot!
Hi! It's Jennie! We finally got on-line here at the hospital and are excited to share these sweet pictures with you! Madeline is a precious little one and we are so blessed to have her in our family now! I will be honest and say I was SHOCKED when Clay said "It's a girl!" I thought I would never have a little girl but I really wanted one! I immediately started crying and just thanking God for her and for her health and loud screams! The c-section went well and we have loved everyone at the hospital. Madeline is two inches shorter than Jack was and a few ounces less with a much smaller head! Her head is perfect b/c she didn't have to go through labor and she has great coloring and the sweetest little lips. She is named after my grandmother (Madeline) and my mom (Kathleen). We are so proud to give her these names and pray she will have the characteristics of these great women!
CLay's mom is staying with Jack this week and we are so thankful for her! He seems to be having a great time and has been to visit us every day. Yesterday when he came in, I had sent Madeline to the nursery so I could just hang out with him for a minute. He walked in the room and said "Baby? Baby? Uh-oh baby? " and started looking for her under the couch, next to my bed, etc. It was so cute. He and Clay went to get Madeline from the nursery and Jack pushed the basinett into my room exclaiming, "Momma! Baby!!" like he had just found her! It was so cute. Here are some pics of the new big brother!
Hugs
Kisses
Daddy and Madeline snuggled up on the "oh so comfortable" husband couch!
Needless to say we are all enamored with this sweet little girl God has blessed us with. We know what a miracle she is and are honored to be entrusted with her! Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers! We feel very loved!
GIRL!
It's a girl!
Madeline Kathleen Councill
8.2lbs 19 inches
10.36am
Jennie and Madeline are doing great. (This is Shannon writing this) They will post more with pics later today! Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers! We are so excited she is here and everyone is healthy!
SO tomorrow we will welcome my new brother or sister. Mom is scheduled for a c-section at 10:30am. Please keep her, the baby and the doctors in your prayers. Here is one last preggo shot of mom from today before church. People couldn't believe she went to church but she was gonna go stir crazy at home, sitting around thinking about tomorrow. We are so excited!
Daddy and I gave Mommy these roses for Valentine's Day. She told us she is so lucky to have such great men in her life! Hope you all have a happy heart day!
After breakfast we headed to Marble's Children's Museum downtown. Daddy took me last week and we joined so we decided to take Mom back today. There is so much to do there and it is perfect for me!
Here we are ice fishing with poles.
I decided it would be much easier to get the fish this way. I am so smart!
Next I got to splash around in a water exhibit and pick up turtles- don't worry they weren't real!
Then we went to Rio- or watched a video about Carnival and we danced alot!
After Rio, we headed to the hockey exhibit where Daddy showed me how to play.
Next, Daddy helped me build a car that I could race. This was one of my favorites!
There was also a pirate ship that you could climb and throw the anchor over.
After the museum we went to this great playground where I played alot and got to feed the ducks. It was beautiful day!
We had a great day and enjoyed our last adventure as a family of three! We are excited for Grandma and Grandpa to come on Sunday and then welcome Baby Councill on Monday!
Here I am with my friend Ben. Look at how his arm is around my shoulder. Like he is saying" Jack, let me tell you how to eat this cupcake..."
My friend Amaryllis turned one and she invited me to ride the carousel and have cupcakes with her. I LOVE the carousel and the "neighs." It was so much fun. Her mom took these shots of us on the carousel. Although the front and center angle isn't her favorite, here is my mom at 38 weeks!It is 1am and I am awake. Jack has been crying for an hour now. He has not woken up in the middle of the night for months but he has done this for the last 3 nights in a row. I think he knows something big is about to happen. He just stands at his door screaming “momma, momma.” It is heartbreaking but I cannot give into it. I wish I could explain to him that everything is going to be okay. But on this eve of him becoming a big brother, I do not know how to do that for a two year old.
I feel like I should be able to, as I am 29 months older than my sister. I do not remember what it was like to become a big sister though. I am told I would push her and her bouncy seat off the counter. I apparently threw apples at her head. I do not remember this but I can only imagine what life was like going from the “one and only” to having to share Mom and Dad. I think Jack senses this. I wish I could tell him what it will be like to be a big brother and all the things I do remember.
I remember being six and four and Shannon and I got to take Cokes to the umpires during the seventh inning stretch in Greensboro. We thought we were so cool.
I remember living in 5 different cities in 6 years and having only my sister as my real friend.
I remember being eight and six and my mom having a baby. We knew for sure it would be girl and then they brought Ryan home. We wouldn’t have it and dressed him for months in our doll clothes and put bows in his hair.
I remember being 13- the magic age when you could get your ears pierced in my family- and going to the mall to have it done. I chickened out so my mom let Shannon do it to show me it wasn’t so bad. I remember thinking “well, if she can do it, so can I.” And we both walked away with shiny silver studs in our ears.
I remember being so excited to go to college and then missing my sister when I got there.
I remember when she went to college and I would visit. I feared for her safety as she was much wilder than I would ever be. I was also a little jealous because she was much wilder than I could ever be.
I remember when she called to tell me she was sure her Finance TA liked her but he wouldn’t ask her out. I remember telling her “maybe he is a good guy and just following the rules.”
I remember when she called on the night of her Finance exam to tell me I was right.
I remember her visits to Atlanta and mine to Nashville.
I remember when she called to tell me she was going to marry that Finance TA.
I remember feeling a twinge of jealousy but also a lot of relief that she would do this marriage thing “first” as I had always been the “first.”
I remember watching she and my future husband shake their booties at her wedding and know he would fit in just fine with our family.
I remember running our first half-marathons together
I remember when she called to tell me she was pregnant and I called her four weeks later to tell her so was I!
I remember that experiencing those nine months together was wonderful and magical!
I remember being in the room when they wheeled her and her precious little girl in after a scary labor and c-section. I remember thinking if my little sister can do this, so can I. And four weeks later I did.
I remember the last two years of phone calls three, four, five times a day to discuss feedings, sleeping, toys, preschool and all the stuff in between.
My little sister turned 30 yesterday and although I do not remember the week before she was born or the few years following, I have so many memories of the last 30 years. I wish I could explain to Jack the joy of being a big brother and what he is about to gain. I know these next few weeks, months, maybe even years will be tough but I know he is about to get one of the greatest gifts a parent can give a child- a sibling. And hopefully 30 years from now he will treasure his sibling as much I do mine and not ever remember the nights he kept me up because he knew life was about to change forever.
Gosh this is alot harder than I thought!
A screwdriver, a hammer, they are all the same, right?
