Announcing...(Finally) John Hiram Wilkerson!!!

After inducing labor at around 7 a.m. I got my epidural and then took a good nap until around 11:30 a.m. when I could feel some pressure. I had the best labor of all 3 children with him because it was the first time the epidural worked to its full extent (both left and right sides). It was great! I did break my tailbone again just as I had when Garrison and Lorelei were born but I can't complain given the fact that I have been blessed with 3 beautiful babies. Anyway, we sure love our newest addition, and he is the best Christmas present I've ever received. He was born at 12:38 p.m. on December 22, 2009, was 21 inches long, and weighed 7 pounds 3 ounces.

Christmas 2009

(Late) Merry Christmas! I hope you all had a great one! Here are a few photos:

First Real Snow

Marcus and Garrison sledding.
Garrison's snow angel.

Lorelei's meltdown.

Our first real snow of this winter came I think on January 7th, and Garrison was sure ready to go sledding. We didn't (still don't) know a good place to go, but Marcus improvised and sledding down our driveway toward the street (not usually a good idea) turned out pretty well. Thankfully, Garrison stopped short of the street each time and also we live on a street that is far from busy. It was a BITTER day and so I only took a couple pictures . Garrison loved it outside, Marcus was out there only because he wanted to be a good daddy, and Lorelei made it about 30 seconds before the bitter cold got to her and she wanted back inside. After making sure she really didn't want to be outside, I took off her boots, gloves, hat, coat, and snowsuit. When I decided to go outside to take a few pictures she wanted to go outside with me again but it was too late. I wasn't about to put all of that clothing on her again and she had a meltdown.

Lorelei's new words

So Lorelei, after picking out and putting on clothes one morning, said, "I'm so darling". I didn't realize that I said "darling", but now I've realized that I do! A few days after getting this video, I caught her saying "cutie pie" (the next video). Hope you enjoy these videos as much as I do!!!

Countdown 'til Baby John's arrival

The front side, up close. Yes, the edges are raw. The whole front side...not quite finished as you can see.

Back side, up close. All of back.

Well, as I've said in the past, I'm due on December 28th. However, my doctor leaves town on the 26th for over a week and doesn't really want to come in on Christmas eve or Christmas to deliver a baby, so we are inducing early on December 22nd if I nothing happens before then. Marcus and I are busy trying to make our home ready, and although Marcus doesn't understand my love for quilting (I don't understand it myself), he has put up with it. I really want to make 3 toddler quilts (one for each) before the 22nd, but I'm pretty sure that I'm not going to make it based on my progress so far. Rach, the crazy mom quilting blog linked to your blog inspired me!!! I LOVE her "ticker tape" quilts she made and have tried to copy them. Also, I took her tutorial on binding and used it to make my own binding and miter the corners. I'm about 6 inches away from having the binding completely finished. I wanted to post pics of my last two quilts (twin size) that I made for Garrison and Lorelei last fall (with mom's help, thanks mom), but I'll have to do that later because they're both asleep with them at the moment. FYI, this is Baby John's quilt. I have yet to start on Garrison's (a couple different fabrics added in, and different binding and backing) or Lorelei's (which I think will be the cutest because I have a special love for girly fabrics). Hope you like it!

Daddy time

As for this second video, it's for you Marcus! For those times when you think the kids only want me, well that's just not true at all. Garrison practically idolizes you. In fact, tonight he pretended to perform "surgery" on baby John's new monkey from Grandma Kathy and Grandpa Steven. Perhaps you wonder what kind of surgery? He was pulling out a tooth! Also, almost every morning Lorelei wakes up asking/saying "Daddy at work?" (I would say EVERY morning, but she has woken up a few times lately saying "Santa Claus is coming"). Marcus, they love you!!!

Thanksgiving weekend 2009

Nathan, Chrissy, and Garrison. Garrison's favorite ride was the teacups, and Lorelei was pretty devastated that she could not ride them too. She was about an inch too short...

Lorelei didn't like this ride on day 1, but on day 2 with daddy and Garrison she really loved it.

Marcus and Garrison.

We spent our weekend at Silver Dollar City. Friday we were accompanied by Marcus's sister Lori and her husband Matthew, and their children Thomas, Julia, Christina, and Nathan, as well as Marcus's parents, Larry and Joyce. On Saturday we were joined by my brother Ben and his wife Cammie, and their children Jeremiah, Brigham, and Alison. We had a great time with our family!