Visitors

What's a birth without a whole host of visitors?  We had so many special people stop by to meet Johnathan, it was such a treat.  The early bird fan club consisted of Dad, Ann, and the Bryan Moran family.

I love how sweetly everyone gazed at him.  A new family member!  What could be more awesome?

Mary Claire was especially enthralled with him.  Both girls skipped school to witness the birth of their new cousin.  Mary Claire was jumping up and down with joy and snapping photos like mad. She was so excited.  I love it.

Matthew and William were under the care of Grandma and Grandpa while we were in the hospital, so later that morning Grandma showed up with the boys.

Will wasn't sure what to think when he walked in.  He sheepishly entered staying close to Grandma's side while Matt burst in through the door proudly holding a callalilly plant that was for me.  He was all smiles and definitely excited to be there.

I'm pretty sure he was proud to be a big brother for a second time.  I love this picture.

Will warmed up a little bit and agreed to come near the baby and even have him in his lap.  He wanted nothing to do with me.  I think he was unsure of what to make of his mother laying in a hospital bed hooked to weird stuff and looking puffy and tired.  It was scary, I admit!

Later, the boys watched as the nurse changed Johnathan's diaper.  He was dirty and as the nurse was changing more came out and it seems to have made quite an impression on Will.  Joyce said that that night at supper Will thanked God for baby Johnathan and for baby Johnathan's poo-poo. Awesome.

Alison, Josh and Emily made a special visit that day too.  She brought all kinds of treats for me and for all my little boys.  I can't think of a more thoughtful person.  It was wonderful to see them!

Uncle Tim and Aunt Pam came about lunch time to greet their new nephew.  Pam, in all her awesomeness, brought me a huge box of Tiff's Treats cookies for me (and Steven) to enjoy.  I had really, really been looking forward to those!  And boy did they deliver.  Hit the spot.

That evening, the Rener family stopped by for a visit and it was of course great to see them.  Zach and Steven headed over to Waterloo for the traditional new-baby-has-arrived celebratory beer.

It was a whirlwind of a day.  Wednesday morning I was feeling good and up and moving about well enough that I was ready to go home.  We told the nurse that was our desire and although surprised at our quick exit did everything she could to get us out of there as quickly as possible.  After a scare that they wouldn't let us leave because we couldn't get the carseat tight enough (finally with the help of a hospital staff member it met their requirements), we rolled out of there.  Goodness it was good to be home.

We arrived home just minutes before Matthew came home from school.  I love that Matt is waving to his baby brother.  So cute.  The boys have been great with Johnathan.  Both have been very helpful; in fact, the two of them were racing the other day to bring me the box of wipes.  Matt won.  Will is especially interested in what the baby is doing.  He has observed almost every diaper change and is the first to spring into action when he hears the baby cry..."oh no! Baby Johnathan--he's crying Mommy!!" He always wants to see him when he comes home, and he likes to tuck him in with blankets.  So far, the brothers are taking to their new brother very well.  I think these three are going to have a blast together.