Tuesday July 1 - Welcome Larkyn Emery!

After my parents arrived at 5:30 am to stay with sleeping Summer and Colton (because my water had broken two hours earlier) we headed out the door to the hospital.  We got to the hospital about 6am.

Ready to meet our little girl!

After checking in, they hooked me up to the machines and started me on Pitocin to get the contractions going a bit faster since my water had broken.  In the meantime, Paul and I chatted about meeting baby, wondered if she would come before the 3pm United States vs Belgium World Cup Soccer game would be on ;), looked at how tiny the first diaper was that our little girl would wear, and watched some Full House DVD's we had brought along to help pass the time between contractions.

TINY DIAPER!

My doctor was on vacation in Iowa, but wanted to come back to deliver our 3rd child (she is so great and delivered both Summer and Colton).  By about 1:30pm I knew baby was going to be coming soon.  As Paul and I watched the clock to see how much longer before Dr. Young arrived, the nurse turned off the Pitocin, to try and slow things down.  I honestly wondered if my doctor was going to make it before our little girl made her entrance into the world!  Amidst the toughest contractions I remember mouthing the word, "Hurry!" to Paul...and thankfully a few minutes later Dr. Young came running through the door!  With literally the next set of contractions out came Larkyn Emery!!

Video: Larkyn Getting Measured:

Video: Larkyn sucking her finger

Seriously, LOVE at first sight.  I was and still am in absolute awe of God's creation in Larkyn Emery.  I am so in love.

Not long after Larkyn was born, we were visited by a very excited big sister, and very rambunctious big brother ;), four amazing grandparents, two uncles and an aunt :).

Grandma and Grandpa K helped Summer and Colton pick out presents for Larkyn before they came to the hospital.  Summer chose a Minnie Mouse blanket and Colton chose a pink hippo rattle and some little socks.

Both Grandma and Grandpa's tag teamed at taking care of our kids for two days while we stayed at the hospital and loved on Larkyn :).

My good friend Jessi had her son less than 24 hours after Larkyn, and had the room across the hall from us!  (Jessi's older two girls are close in age to Summer and Colton!)

On Wednesday the kids came for a second visit, and I just love how these pictures capture the total excitement of Summer to have a little sister, Colton showing Larkyn his Lightning McQueen car, and the special moments of looking at Larkyn's tiny feet and hands.