She's HERE!!!!

Sorry for the delay, folks--we've been having much too much fun around here! And please excuse the waaaaaay-too-close-up. Just focus on the smaller of the two faces :o)

We wanted to announce that our sweet baby girl,

Caroline Anne,

was born on Saturday at 3:25am, weighing 7 lbs. 8 oz, and measuring 21 1/2 inches long. Her first name, Caroline, means "song of joy", and Anne is my sweet sister and biggest cheerleader.

We could not be more excited that she's here. I feel like I've had more "need-to-wake-myself-up-from-this-too-good-to-be-true-dream" moments in the last few days than I have in my whole life, and that's saying something. But this one probably tops it:

It was like Christmas morning when our two boys finally walked into the hospital room on Saturday. I was so completely giddy, I could hardly stand it. The hours I spent waiting for them to come seemed longer than the ones I spent in labor... But it was so worth it, and they have been so involved and curious and helpful ever since.

We are so blessed to have them in our family, and that they're an age where they will remember all of this. Another tender mercy for waiting so long for this precious girl...

This guy is the man of the hour--and the day, and the week!

I cannot say enough about what it's meant to have him with me through all of this. Jer gets a week of paternity leave--the first time he's ever even gotten any time off when we've had a new baby. I don't think it's been much of a break for him, but I have SO enjoyed being able to sit back and watch him take over. He's a better mom than I am! We've been treated to the smells of fresh chocolate chip cookies, grilled marinated tilapia, and freshly washed floors--not together, though :o) And I have to say I've never been better hydrated in all my life! I am beyond blessed to have Jeremy by my side...

So now we're home, getting adjusted to having three kids, and I'm sure it won't be without its rough days--but for now I am just soaking in this precious time.

Our Bennett turned 9 years old yesterday (yes, it's a miracle to me that he's THAT BIG, too), and celebrated with pineapple-upside-down cake and raspberry sorbet--his choice, not ours :o) This picture isn't the greatest, but it just shows his personality so well--he cannot (and never has been able to) conceal his excitement for everything--and that's why we love him!

Ethan has been absolutely incredible during all of this. I worry a little bit that he will feel lost in the shuffle of it all, but he just in love with Caroline and wants to be part of everything that has to do with her. He is currently devouring Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone, and wanted to make sure Caroline gets in on the action, too. We love our Eenie Bear so much!

At Bennett's party last night, we were finally able to meet my baby

brother's fiancee, Annabelle, for the first time!

For just getting off a long flight from Paris, being super jet-lagged and trying to understand our wacky American family, she jumped right in to the action of things, and we're SO glad she is going to be part of our family. Freddy (obviously) couldn't be happier, and we couldn't be happier with his choice.

And last but definitely not least, I need to give a HUGE shout-out to my parents, who have traveled more of the Capital Beltway in the last few days than I'm sure they care to. But they have been SO great--entertaining the boys, making meals, preparing for birthdays--I can't believe how blessed we've been to have them close these last few years.

We love you, Mom and Dad!

Well, you all know my track record of keeping this blog updated, so I'm not making any immediate promises. But I've got some really cute faces who need pictures taken, as well as a sister who's very concerned about the daily "cuteness" status of her namesake, so I should be back soon :o)