Introducing Sarah Grace (picture edition)

I'm still writing up her birthstory, and the adventures we had along the way.  I hope to post that soon, but because it was such a big adventure, it's taking a bit of time to write.

Sarah Grace is here. Since this post is a little late, due to, well, having a baby, here is an abundant collection of photos to make up for it.

She smiles more than the other babies did, fleeting grins, usually in her sleep, but sometimes when awake.

She also wears this expression a lot.

She is skeptical of photo shoots, I think.

Here she is in this composition which I entitle “Angry Baby with a Rose”

Here is the full set, in the order that I took them. My camera's shutter speed is pretty fast, I think this sequence took place in under 60 seconds

Now we see she exhausted herself and fell asleep, and forgot herself and smiled.

Really smiled!

And then, woke up, suspicious of being Anne Geddes-ified....

Mariam gives her a lot of kisses. A LOT. Mariam shouts “Tkiss Baby!!” And fights her way across Mom's restraining arm to plant a peanut-buttered kiss on the baby. There are still some mixed emotions. but over all, she kisses Sarah a lot more than she tries to smack her.

"BABY TOES!!" she yells.

Keziah loves her too. She likes to ask "May I tupport baby's HEAD!" which translated, means she wants to hold the baby under supervision. "Hold the baby" became synonymous with "support baby's head."

They keep being fascinated by her toes.

 Jenny likes holding the baby. I think she is happy about Sarah's entrance into our family, given that she recently announced to me "Mom, I am praying that God gives you ANOTHER BABY!"

Jenny smiles for the camera. Sarah contemplates this family she's been born into.

Isaiah loves her. He calls her “Sarah Grace” and can't fall asleep if she's not in her crib in his room. Nce I found him still awake near midnight, outside the door of our room, saying “now can I have sarah race?” After she was deposited in her crib, he was out in 5 minutes. Then we retrieved her for her all night feedings....

He spends probably at least an hour total a day, staring into her cradle playing with her hands or feet, reinserting her pacifier when it falls out.

He also tries to get her to pull his nose, as that is what happens to little Critter when he meets his sister (New Baby by Mercer Myers). So far Sarah has no interest in pulling his nose, so he has to help her do it.

She only cries when she's hungry. She's been hungry a lot. Born at a tiny 5 lb 12 oz, she has quickly chunked out.

Here she is, soon after her birth, in the “Baby Burrito” stage.

Another attempted sibling photoshoot...

"Isaiah, smile!"

"Ok, you can look at the baby"

Mariam attempting another kiss...

I had promised skittles for sitting still. After 2 minutes Mariam requests that Mommy makes good on her promise....

That living room worthy Walmart canvas print is still going to have to wait...

Here she is with some more flowers...

Mariam kissing her again...

My intrepid sister-in-law stayed with us for the first 3 weeks, wrangling the kids and the house so I got to focus on nursing the little pumpkin and take glorious naps.

Aunt Cathy entertaining the kids with the thrilling action of Jelle's Marble Runs

Then we had some out of town Aunts & Grandma come to see little Sarah.

Here she is with my clone.

Mariam kissing her again.

The Two Sarahs

The Two Sarahs, Easter Edition...

I think Mariam attempting another lunge and kiss...

My mom visiting.

I had to include this one because it brought back so many memories of my childhood. Mom collapsed on the couch with the baby, while a toddler comes with requests. (I only really appreciate what she did now that I am the mom collapsed on the couch....)

Here Keziah is trying to reinsert the reading glasses on Grandmommy, I think in a tacit request for more stories.

Here is the perfect blogger mom, glamorous and put-together, while she escorts her 4 kids across the church parking lot.

Only that the perfect blogger mom with four kids isn't 16....

My little sister Mali handles the little mob of kids like a pro. Basically, I hope to be like her when I grow up :)

Thank you so much for all your love, all your encouragement, all your prayers for this little one, along these past months. Thank you, so, incredibly, much.

She is our miracle.  

Her birth psalm, that I said to her when she was first born.

God is our refuge and strength,
    an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    he lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and see what the Lord has done,
    the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    he burns the shields with fire.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress