Annalisa's Birth

I am stealing a few moments while Annalisa sleeps and Cody starts getting the boys ready for bed.  Tonight is our first night on our own with three--we had a nice family dinner, Cody tackled with the boys and is reading them books now.  A glimpse of what normal might look like in a few weeks--hopefully without the extreme exhaustion of not sleeping for the last 3 nights!  I wanted to get Annalisa's birth story down while it is still fresh in my mind.

As I said before, I have been having regular, intense contractions most of July.  We never dreamed I would be late with Sissy because we thought I was in labor so many times before her due date!  When my mom came and went without any baby being born, I was so dejected and just began to give up on going into labor on my own.  Saturday night Cody and I got a babysitter and went to a movie (the new Batman), which is the only thing we've done outside of the house for weeks, for fear I would be in labor.  Throughout the movie I was having hard contractions about every 20 minutes--I'm sure I was a sight for the two teenage boys sitting next to us.  I enjoyed the movie just fine, but would have to check out and look down and do my breathing exercises every time a contraction came.  True to form, by the time we got home and went to bed around 11 that night, they had subsided. 

Sunday came and we went to church and Starbucks as usual.  I took a long nap and then drove (myself) to pick up my dad from the airport, who was supposed to be coming to help the week after the baby came!  That night we had a normal dinner and put the boys to bed.  Then, we introduced my dad to the downfall of American culture and made him watch the season finale of the Bachelorette.  If you're not familiar, the season finale of those shows are 3 hours long.  Throughout I was having contractions about 10-15 minutes apart.  At one point I actually said, "Don't get excited, this happens every night." 

About 10:30 or 11 I went up to take a shower and work through some of the contractions in the tub, fully expecting them to subside in the next 30 minutes when I went to sleep.  They didn't subside though, but got more and more painful, still probably 8 minutes apart, which I have done several times this month.  At midnight Cody was still reading his book in bed as I putzed around with these contractions.  At that point I said to him, "I'm going downstairs to putz around, if this is still going on when I get back, I'm going to need you to put your book down and pay attention to me."  To his credit, we had done this so many nights before, I think he was trying to stay calm and NOT get my hopes up that I was actually in labor.  At midnight I texted my sister that I was still having irregular contractions, not sure what it meant, update later.  Still didn't really think I was in labor.

I came back upstairs to Cody and asked him to say a rosary while I laid down and worked through some relaxation visualization.  We have done ALL the reading on natural labor, so I went to my peaceful spot in my head, did my yoga breathing, and settled in to listen to Cody say the rosary and a long night of working through contractions in our very own bed.  I had prepared my "Birth" playlist weeks ago, and was ready to go get the iPod, as well as my Lavender essential oil for Cody to rub on my head. My ideal vision of natural labor at home lasted for exactly one decade of a rosary, which is about 6 minutes.  Then Cody said, I think we need to get going. While I wanted to labor at home, the amount of pain I was in led me to not argue.  Let's go. 

We once read in a natural birth book that if it takes you less than ten minutes to get to the car, you're leaving for the hospital too soon.  It took us a while (longer than ten minutes for sure), because by the time we decided to go I was having paralyzing contractions every 2-3 minutes.  I would drop onto the floor, let out a guttural labor sound, unable to move for 1-2 minutes.  By the time I crawled toward the front door I started vomiting, in Jamesie's shoe bucket (shoes thrown out at the last second).  At this point Cody is frantically moving stuff to the car while my dad stays with me.  I am yelling "I can't do this," and "How do people do this?"  over and over.  Cody and I both had the same thought-- vomiting and "I can't do this" are both signs of transition-- which means pushing is coming very soon....and we are no where near getting to the hospital.  At this point it was about 12:45--where did this come from?  We were just watching the Bachelorette a few minutes ago, and now I'm in transition?  At this point some choice words (expletives) started coming out of my mouth.  

In the car, bucket in hand, my normally rule-following husband started running red lights, hazard lights on, breaking any sort of speed limit on the way to the hospital.  I was so proud of him. I was yelling to "step on it...NOW" in between contractions.  We got to the hospital about ten minutes later, found a great parking spot, and went in the entrance we've been in about 100 times before.  But, in my labor disorientation I was walking anywhere but the right way, heading into a utility closet and then freaking out when I saw our normal elevator was closed.  Cody found a wheelchair and was running me through the hospital.

We got to Labor and Delivery and Cody announced the essentials-- she's in labor, 2 minutes apart, vomiting, 3rd baby, etc.  The nurses could not have been more calm.  They see this every day, and she's probably not as far along as she thinks she is.  I am screaming for them to call my doctor, and they try to lead me into a side room (not a delivery room) for "observation."  I have been there before, they put you on a fetal monitor and check to see how far along your labor is.  That is not where you have babies.  I tell them, "I'm not going in there.  I know what happens in that room, and I'm not going in there.  I need a real room, NOW."  Uh huh, sure, they are thinking.  At which point a debilitating contraction hits, and I hit the floor, all fours, moaning my labor sound--in the middle of the hospital hallway.  After this display the nurses found a room for me. 

In the delivery room the resident doctor checked me and announced I was 9 cm.  Another choice word left my mouth out of sheer surprise-- again--when did this happen? We were JUST at home watching TV!  Finally, they agree to call my doctor, and I try to keep cool during a few contractions so she can get there in the next ten minutes.  When Dr. Villers (who has now delivered all three of our babies) arrived, she told me I was 10 cm and could start pushing anytime I wanted. 

I did not want.  I was in so much pain with each contraction I could not imagine moving, much less bearing down to push HARD during one.  Cody told me during one contraction I was trying to climb off the bed, and began pulling at his beard. I had no control of myself during contractions. In between contractions the room was so calm and quiet-- just me, Cody, Dr. Villers and one nurse.  The iPod of "Birth" playlist never got going--there was just silence in between contractions.  So, I explained that I did not want to push because it hurt so much and I didn't think I would.  Dr. Villers let me go on like this for about five minutes.  During another moment of silence I realized everyone was looking at me, so I just said, "what do we do now?"  "Erin, we are waiting for you to push."  Fine.  I'll try it. 

I did one wimpy push, then two excruciating rounds of pushing. I never felt her head naturally progressing through me like I did with Jamesie.  It was not satisfying or refreshing to push as the books say it should be.  I felt like I was pushing against a bowling ball.  But, all of a sudden, just when I thought I would die (and stated that several times), there she was!  out!  And instead of unbelievable pain, I am now laughing and yelling "there she is!  there she is!"  and once "I'm not pregnant anymore!"  And Dr. Villers then explains she came out face-up, or posterior, which is why I did not want to push and it felt so unproductive to push.  AND, its probably what saved us from an in-car or at-home delivery because her positioning bought us a few minutes.  Thank goodness. 

We arrived at the hospital sometime after 1:00 a.m.  She was in my arms at 1:50, even with my attempts at delaying pushing.  No time for any medication-- I had an I.V. port put in me at some point, but nothing ever went in it.  No time to change into a gown-- I delivered in my clothes.  No time to think about what to do-- just react to my body.  And five minutes after I thought I would die I was laughing and smiling and never happier.  30 minutes later, about an hour after we arrived in our room, everyone had cleaned up and gone home.  2:15 a.m. and Cody and I looked at each other, alone with our beautiful baby girl, and said, "what just happened?"  Beautiful Annalisa happened:

Probably 10 minutes after having her.  The calm, happy look on my face is puzzling to me now as I could have sworn I would die just ten minutes prior.  However, after one c-section and one pitocin birth, this is BY FAR the best I have ever felt post-partum. I felt completely normal...just not pregnant anymore!

Depending on how you look at it, I was either in labor for a month, or about 2 hours.  It was a painful, dreadful, depressing month and an excruciating two hours.  Both were worth it, a hundred times over.

Annalisa Rose Groeber

"Sissy" has a name, a beautiful, feminine, old-fashioned-sounding name in honor of her grandmother Lisa, whose birthday it is today!  We are so excited to meet you Annalisa!

Sissy!

She's Here :)

We are so excited that our new Baby Girl Groeber has finally arrived!  Erin has been in labor on and off for weeks, but last night it arrived "fast and furious" in her words.  On the way out of the house, she was on all fours and vomiting with strong contractions very close together.  They arrived at the hospital around one am and Baby was born at 1:50 am.  As Cody said, Erin really knows how to push out a baby!  He also said the timing may have been a little too close for his comfort, and the doctor said if the baby hadn't been in posterior position (face up), she could have arrived in the car!

We are happy that Erin gets some relief from labor and that baby is safe and sound.  She is very tall at 22" and may look like her cousin Jane.  Janie is very excited to meet and bond with her own little cousin in a few weeks.  Erin and Cody are waiting on inspiration for her name.  We are so proud of Erin and Cody, excited for Seannie and Jamesie to have their Sissy with them, and can't wait for pictures!

On the Way to the Hospital!

At this moment (12:58 am, Monday), Erin and Cody are on the way to the hospital!  Erin has been having contractions all day, but they recently (and quickly) became more intense and are now 3 min. apart according to Cody.  Pray for the safe arrival of their new precious baby girl! 

Yes, I'm Still Pregnant.

My mom came down to stay with us for a week right over the baby's due date.  She is leaving to go back to Michigan today, with no baby to speak of.  The ladies at Publix were wrong-- I did make it four more weeks, then I did make it to Tuesday...and beyond.  My days are monotonous-- hoping each irregular contraction will lead to the real thing, nothing planned in case the baby comes, just waiting.  Its really really hard mentally.  Every morning that I wake up still pregnant I feel like crying, and most mornings I do.  I feel hopeless and distressed, then about mid-morning I get things together, get dressed and get my restless self out the door.  Today we went to Costco where I saw a lady from my doctor's office who said "Why are you still pregnant!?"  Good question!

So, if I am STILL pregnant after this weekend, the plan is to go in for an induction Tuesday morning.  I scheduled it at 41 weeks to let myself live with that decision for a few days to see how I felt.  Despite my romantic visions and hopes for an all-natural labor at home in the shower, our bed, alone with my husband, I think the desire to have it over with is winning out, and I actually feel good now that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  I am certainly a little conflicted between my ideal birth vision and actually having the baby at some point, but I am feeling OK with just getting it done with.

Speaking of which, at this point I am 4 cm dilated.  When I was induced with Jamesie, I hit transition at 6 cm--going from 6-10 cm, and pushing, in about 15 minutes.  SO, if the same pattern is true with Sissy, I really might only have 2 more cm of work to do before I get to push-- not bad!  AND, those two centimeters might be accomplished just by breaking my water, rather than actually starting Pitocin.  Cody reminded me today that I basically have been in labor at home -- in the shower, on our exercise ball, in our bed, etc-- for the last month.  Its just not the one day I had in my mind, its been a whole month of labor. 

Finally, one shining upside to being induced Tuesday is doing it simultaneously with our good friends Steph and Preston, who are due with their second baby the same day we are (or, i'm sorry, "were" due)!  No baby for them yet either.  Friday night, 3 days past due, we all went out to mexican food together to try to get things moving (obviously didn't work).  If we are all still here Tuesday, we can go out to breakfast together before the induction, Cody and Preston can bring a few drinks to share together in the hospital (how's that for romantic visions of labor?), and Steph and I can have our babies on the same day-- kind of funny and silly and fun to think about :).

Wish us luck for the rest of the weekend, and please send your prayers our way on Tuesday morning, that all goes well, quickly and safely for both of our little families.  Here's a parting picture of Steph and me at 40 weeks and 3 days.  We will get to see the little people in those bellies so soon!

Happy Due Date....Random Thoughts at 10 months Pregnant

-July 17, 2012.  I never thought this day would come.  Much less did I think I would still be pregnant, given all of the positive labor-signs over the last month.  Here we are....waiting for our little girl to arrive--staring at each other and my belly--waiting and waiting.  Most of my clothes don't really fit any more, and my days are spent trying homeopathic labor-inducers.  Today I was quite the sight walking around the neighborhood in my hot pink ruffle-tank top (my go-to shirt at the end of pregnancy) and my husband's Notre Dame basketball shorts (see second picture below), stopping to lean over through a contraction every few minutes.  I can only hope I entertained some on-lookers. 

Jamesie waiting for (and on) his sister.  His favorite position lately.  Its so cute, but difficult to navigate a contraction like this.

-I woke up Sean this morning and he said "Did you have the baby last night?"  No.  "Well, I thought you did because you are wearing your soccer shorts."  Hmmm.  The soccer shorts I was wearing are my purple Bloomfield Force Adidas shorts from 10th grade-- 1998.  The elastic broke in them a long time ago and they fit when I'm 10 months pregnant.

Due Date.  July 17, 2012.  The look on my face does not express my desperation. Perhaps my outfit does. 

-In my desperate walk around the neighborhood this afternoon I was listening to a long playlist of U2.  I'm not sure if Bono is aware of this, but many of his songs have sustained me through the end of a long and severely uncomfortable/painful pregnancy (Sissy and Jamesie) when hopelessness and depression are starting to set in.  If you ever find yourself in this position, try adding the following to your playlist:

In a Little While  (In a little while, surely you'll be mine...In a little while this hurt will hurt no more, I'll be home, Love! ... If I crawl, if I come crawling home, will you be there? ... That Girl!  That Girl!  She's mine, and I've known you since you were a little girl with spanish eyes...)

Stuck in a Moment (I never thought you were a fool, but darling look at you...you gotta stand up straight, carry your own weight (ironic?) these tears are going nowhere baby... you've got to get yourself together, you got stuck in a moment and you can't get out of it)

Walk On (I know it aches, and your heart it breaks, you can only take so much...Walk On.)

Hallelujah Here She Comes--self explanatory...hopefully.  soon. 

Moment of Surrender (At the moment of surrender, I'm fallen to my knees....) I am hoping for a moment of surrender during a birth experience very soon.

- I texted my friend Steph today, who is due this very day with her own bundle as well, "Might there be a condition in which you never actually go into real labor?  .... Its not in What to Expect, but i'm certain it exists." 

-I actually did wake up with consistent contractions this morning, and was very hopeful.  I downed a few cups of Raspberry-leaf tea and timed contractions through Jamesie's speech therapy session.  I think the therapist was more distracted with my contractions than I was.  They were 7-10 minutes apart, but after a mid-morning nap they pretty much subsided.  TMI warning:  I pulled out the breastpump (really uncomfortable if you're not actually breastfeeding yet), to try to jumpstart the contractions, but it just gave me a few sporadic ones.  I had more raspberry leaf tea, then went on above-mentioned walk around the neighborhood.   And here I sit at 4:30 p.m., the above-mentioned text warranted by the slow in my "labor."

-Today is my Uncle John's birthday.  It was fun to think of him and Sissy having the same birthday (Sean and cousin Pip have the same birthday), but in my head I never actually thought we would get to the 17th. 

-So, Cody just came home from work early, and he, my mom, the boys and I are going to go walk around Barnes and Nobel for a little bit then get something to eat out of the house to distract me a little bit. I might change my shorts. Here's to tomorrow shaping up differently than today!

We Wait and Hope

I'm still officially 5 days from my due date, but hopeful Baby Girl will make her appearance any time now.  This afternoon I visited the chiropractor who did some technique that is supposed to relax my pelvic structure to allow Baby to come, and then went for my 39 week appointment, where [squeamish readers, skip to next paragraph] she stripped my membranes and told me I was 3-4 cm dilated.  Whaaaat!  I've had my raspberry-leaf tea today and felt some good but irregular contractions.  So, we wait and hope.

Accompanying these events today were some ridiculous comments I got as I ventured into public with my huge belly:

1. 3:00 p.m.:  Chiropractor's secretary: "Oh my gosh Erin!  You could not get any bigger!"  Yes, that's exactly how I feel about the situation too. 

2. 4:00 p.m.: Lady getting on the elevator as I'm getting off at the doctor: "Twins?"
Me: [gaping look of shock] What?
Lady: There twins in there? 
Me: [sad, dejected, large]: No.  Just one. 

3. 5:30 p.m. Grocery store check out lady: "Girl, when you due?"
Me: Tuesday. 
Lady: You ain't got till Tuesday (I can't remember if this is the same Lady who told me I ain't got 4 more weeks about 3 weeks ago). You in pain? 
Me: Yes. 
Lady: Girl, you don't need to be doing the grocery shopping. 
Me: I just wanted to get in one last trip and get the things I know we need.  I had a sitter for my doctor's appointment just now and wanted to go to the store without the kids. 
Lady: You had a doctor's appointment?  You dilated at all?
Me: Yes, 3-4 centimeters. 
Lady: Oh LAWD!   You gonna have that baby tonight!  Oh girl!  You making me nervous standing there!  I saw you walk in here today and I thought, she can't even walk, she's gonna have that baby!  
At which point she engages the other check out lady and the elderly woman behind me in line (all while I am trying to hand over my coupons and sign the bill), and all three tell me about their 3rd babies and how quickly their labors went, and how the doctor almost dropped one of the babies on the floor.  Lovely visual to leave with.

But alas, I sit here at 10:00 p.m., and I have not had the baby yet, nor am I in labor.  Although, I guess you could count the last 4 weeks as labor, getting me nearly halfway through the entire process already! In the meantime we wait, and all my preparations and progress today has at least given me hope that it could be any day now.  Right? 

Swim Lessons and Baby (non)-Update

First things first, no news on the Baby front.  She's still in there.  I'm still tired and uncomfortable.  The late-pregnancy insomnia has struck, and the recent heatwave isn't doing anything to help my 39.5 week-pregnant-mood. 

Next-- Sean has been taking swim lessons at our neighborhood pool the last few weeks!  His progress has been AMAZING. The first day he screamed bloody murder and cried the entire 45 minutes.  The teachers were firm and made him go under water, but I thought he was going to drown for the screaming.  When he was on the side of the pool, forced to sit still, he screamed "mommy! mommy!, I want my mommy!"  the whole time.  I was cringing with my head in my hands.  At one point the head teacher took him out in the water and after a few futile cries for his mommy, Sean looked him in the face and said "this is not fun." (Later that day he got on the phone with my dad and said "I'm a really great swimmer."  ???). The second day was 45 minutes of crying, but the screaming subsided.  On the third day he jumped in the water by himself, head under and everything.  I was shocked.  The next day he cheerfully and hopefully asked me if he had a swim lesson that day.  And Monday, when the head teacher asked who wanted to volunteer to jump in the deep end (by themselves) and try to swim the whole pool, my jaw dropped open when I saw Sean jump up to volunteer:

The brave few who volunteered to go to the deep end.

Amazing. 

He didn't actually swim the length of the pool, but the effort was phenomenal.

Seannie the Swimmer!

Fourth of July and False Alarms

The 4th has come and gone, and our boys were exceedingly cute.  In the meantime we wait....and wait for a little girl :).   Given all of my "pre-labor" we have been on standby for a week or so.  All my bags are packed, I'm ready to go....if only our baby were.  Every weekend for the last 3 weeks we clean and tidy the house so its all ready in case we have to go to the hospital the following week.  And then the following week only brings an accumulation of more clutter we have to clean and tidy the next weekend.  As of now, the bassinet is ready (i.e., doesn't have our clean laundry in it), the rocking chair is de-cluttered, the nursery is perfect.  The stage is set, just waiting for the main event.

Saturday night I was up from about 3:00 a.m.- on having regular, good and intense contractions.  I got hopeful.  In the morning I was so tired from not sleeping Cody took the boys to mass by himself (and they all did great!), and I got in a few more hours of sleep, thinking I might have to be ready for a long day of hard labor.  I resolved to call the grandparents in when I woke up.  Nope.  Contractions went away and here I am just as pregnant as ever.  I am still a week away from due date, but so hopeful that she might come early.  Please send me your labor vibes and prayers this week!

In the meantime, enjoy some severe patriotic cuteness from our home last Wednesday.  Our activities included a parade around the neighborhood (led by a real fire truck!), pool games and a cook out with friends to celebrate U.S.A.'s and Sean's birthdays.  It was a great, albeit HOT day here.  Enjoy:

Home-made face painting for the parade.  Given it was 98 degrees, it didn't last long.

Fun fact: I wore this "shirt" as a dress last year on the 4th.  Yep.

With all the excitement, Jamesie is going to his safe-happy place.  Nasal cavity.

But oh how cute he is!  Cody (and Jamie) told me his romper looked girly.  Its my last opportunity to see him in one though, and I'm feeling quite nostalgic about my baby growing up.  I thought it was cute.

Parade!

A parade in blazing heat can make any of us tired.  And lose our clothes. 

After a loop around the neighborhood (I stayed in the shade and let Cody and Jamie walk the parade), this is how he came back to me.

At the pool!  Sean has been taking swim lessons, and this jumping is VERY new and so exciting!  His lessons started off traumatic, screaming and crying the entire time, but have been so good for him.  He loves them now and can swim with his head under all by himself now!

One more shot of the parade-- Sean insisted that Cody be his special effects man and walk behind him blowing bubbles out of the Thomas Bubble Machine the whole way.  It gives him a certain aura to be surrounded by bubbles.

 

38 weeks--just for reference

I am 38 weeks this week! I'm having lots and lots of contractions-- some nights every 5-6 minutes, but invariably they go away when we go to bed.  I went through a lot of this "pre-labor" with James as well, so I'm not really getting my hopes up when it happens, I just figure it will go away. It almost always happens if I am out in the heat or did too much in a particular day, so its pretty predictable and always goes away after several hours. I guess one of these days it won't go away, but at this point I might not actually believe I'm in real labor until I'm halfway done.  Let's hope so! In the meantime Cody has a ton of work he wants to get through before the baby comes, so even though I am COMPLETELY ready, I am trying to be respectful of his workload and holding off on the raspberry-leaf tea, reflexology and other homeopathic labor-inducers until at least the end of next week. 

And just for reference, here is a picture of me at 38 weeks with Sissy, and one at the same time with Sean, 4 years ago!  Sean's due date was changed and changed, so I will say I'm between 35-38 weeks with him in the bottom picture. 

July 5, 2012- 38 weeks with Sissy

June 19, 2008- 36-ish weeks with Seannie

Happy #4 Seannie!

Seannie turned 4 yesterday!  We seriously can't believe our baby is 4.  4 means remembering things, and going to school, and reading and thinking for yourself!  It has been amazing to watch him turn into a big boy this year. 

At 4 years old Sean talks constantly.  He talks about anything that comes into his little head.  He loves Thomas the Train, Mickey Mouse and the Berenstain Bears.  He is sweet to his "brudda" who often tries his patience.  Sean is turning into a master negotiator in all things from bedtimes to swim lessons.  He teaches Jamesie and tries to teach Sissy.  He is a wonderful big brother and an amazing little boy.  We thank God for every day of the last 4 years. 

Overdue Pictures from the Cottage 2012

Given Baby Girl's due date smack in the middle of summer (July 17), we had to make our annual trip to our cottage in Northern New York a little early this year.  Fortunately, a good number of our family made the extra effort to be there at the same time, which made the trip great as usual.  We made the 16-hour drive for Memorial Day week, and while Sackets Harbor is usually pretty desolate and about 50-degrees over Memorial Day, it certainly didn't feel like it this year.  We had so much family come up to visit, and with 75-80 degree temps, it felt like the middle of the summer.  My dad is the oldest of 7, and 5 of the sibs (and cousins) were at the cottage at different times, plus a smattering of 2nd and 3rd cousins. 

My great-grandparents bought their first cottage in 1947, the year my grandfather graduated from Notre Dame.  My great-grandmother's 2 sisters also bought cottages at the same time, so the descendants of all three families still gather with their families every summer.  It is so special to have one gathering place, not just for my aunts and uncles and first cousins, but to see and get to know my 2nd and 3rd cousins as a real part of my family. 

And now, our boys (and girl :)) are coming up in the same tradition and we are so excited to experience it with them.  Baby Jane made her first visit to the cottage this year and did swimmingly, although surrounded by rowdy 2-3 year old boys, I think she was really anxious to have a girl cousin there with her next year.  So, here are just some of the highlights from 2012:

This is an awesome picture showing the kids' personalities.  Sean is in the background concentrating VERY hard on building a Thomas the Train track, James is jumping on a mattress in the front yard by himself (why not?), and the pair of feet you see flying in the left of the frame are Gabriel's--flying off of the mattress in the front yard. 

Jamesie hugging Baby Jane

All three boys gathering around Baby Jane who arrived while they were sleeping the night before!  Doting Dad Michael looking on, ready to intervene.

My cousin Brendan introducing himself to our little girl.  Brendan and Ben spent nearly an hour feeling our girl move around.  My grandmother later commented on how that would never have happened in her day because people didn't talk about being pregnant (or wear clothes that showed the bump), because they didn't like to think about how you got pregnant. 

Cousins.

Sean practicing his sleepy-baby-asleep-on-the-chest-dad-hold.  He's really good at it.

Gabriel and Jamesie doing their morning yoga practice together.

Another picture indicative of typical activities for each person:  Sean has procured someone (Aunt Annabelle) to read to him; Annabelle is reading to a youngster; Denise is breastfeeding; Jane is eating; and Michael is simultaneously reading a book, cuddling with his arm around his wife, and protecting his daughter. 

Martha Jane and Jane Iris-- 4 generations

Gabriel and Jamesie on the top bunk in the bunk room.  They were only allowed to have their "guys" (the lovies they sleep with) and suck their respective paci and thumb in bed.  Therefore, they learned quickly to climb the bunks and chill out with their guys for a few minutes here and there throughout the day. 

Lifeguards on Duty.

You may not know, but Sean has an alter ego as a 90-year-old woman recovering from cataract surgery.  These are his new "sunglasses."  He wears them everywhere--still.  Jamesie learned how to say "cheese" while in New York.  

Ice Cream at our favorite place!

How many pictures of grandparents holding new babies on the porch?  Countless.  Heritage. 

More heritage-- Emmy's middle name is Jane and her maiden name is Peacock.  Lisa found this onesie for Jane and couldn't resist the beautiful peacock painted on it.  Everyone at the cottage LOVED it.  Proudly displaying her heritage.

So long for now....