D, E, S, R

We are smoothly adjusting as a family of four.  Thank you to all our friends and family for their love, support, and congratulations!  Here are some highlights of the first 4 days:

My three favorite people!  Look at those adorable and silly faces! 

We have ALL been reaping the benefits of Grandma's love.  

Thank you, Grandma, for doing all of the big and little things to help us.

Sophie was so excited for Whitney, her nanny, to meet Baby Brother.  

On our second day of being home from the hospital, Sophie woke up in the morning and asked me, "Mommy, is baby brother still here?" I immediately replied that yes, he was still here and he would be with us forever.  She said, "Oh, yeah!!! But, why is your tummy still big?"  She holds nothing back....

And as many people have noted, Sophie and Ries look so much alike.  Here are baby photos of my children:

Ries

Sophie

Sophie

Sophie

Ries

Sophie

Ries

Ries Cameron Whitfield

Our family is complete.

We are pleased to introduce Ries Cameron Whitfield to the world! 

The name Ries (pronounced "Reese") has significant meaning to us.  Not only is it Doug's middle name and his grandfather's middle name, but it is the surname of Doug's great-great-great grandfather who emigrated from Denmark to New Zealand to start the Lutheran Church.

Big Sister Sophie is in heaven.  She is sweet, nurturing, loving... Baby Brother Ries was worth the wait!

We are overwhelmed with gratitude.

Love for Motherhood

Family of 3....eagerly waiting to become 4!

Happy Mother's Day!  

Mature

At last week's doctor's appointment, my doctor shook her head in dismay, remarking, "Elizabeth, this baby sounds and looks sooo mature.  I just don't understand why he hasn't made his appearance yet."  Sure enough, his movements, his heart beat, his position...everything that matters...supports the idea that he is mature.  I am going to give birth to a son whose voice is already deep, who shaves, and who has a surly, teenage attitude.

Sophie's maturity continues to baffle us.  She is perceptive and articulate.  She makes really sophisticated and mature connections and observations.  Her conversations relate stories she's read to personal experiences.  I swell with pride for who she already has become at 2.5 years old.

Blame it on my exhaustion from growing this mature baby, but I have done a poor job of documenting Sophie's particularly sweet, particularly smart, and particularly hysterical sentences.  Here are a couple that I can remember:

Exhibit A.

S: Mommy, do you know who made you?
E: Yes, I do..
S: God made you mommy.  Do you know God's book?

Exhibit B.

(in the car after a Saturday brunch as a family of 3)

E:  Sophie, I don't want you to ever grow up.  I just love you so much and want you to be my little girl forever.
D: Sophie, I do want you to grow up.  You just get better and better.
S:  Why did Daddy tell me to grow up?  That's rude.

Exhibit C.

(S has been very inconsistent with her naps in the afternoons.  We've tried everything from bribery to empty threats...!!)

E: (entering Soph's room after 60 minutes of her playing and singing in her crib rather than sleeping): Sophie, I'm not happy right now.  You need to take a nap to rest and to grow big and strong.....(blah blah). I'm really not happy right now that you chose to be naughty.
S:  You. Are. Happy.  You. Are. Happy.
E: No, I'm not happy, Sophie.  You didn't act like a big girl today.
S:  You. Are. Happy.  You. Are. Happy.

She repeated those three words in a little tune with a certain facial expression that just cracked me up.  I tried SOOOO hard not to laugh.  But, I burst out laughing and tickled her.  She knew she won and she loved it!

I'm not sure how mature I've been this week.  I've complained.  I have been impatient.  I have whined.  I have pouted....but I've also loved playing with this little one:

Keeping my fingers crossed that my next blog entry introduces you to our mature son.