Joy times four

Every time I have another baby, it is a little different.  Not just the baby, the delivery, the pregnancy.  But the whole surroundings.  Because every time I have a baby, there is another little one at home to welcome her.

Andrew came home to two doting parents whose whole universe had not only centered on him throughout the pregnancy (name lists were made before discovering the gender, music was played for his sole enjoyment and enrichment in the womb...), but continued to focus on him after his birth.  Everything was new and exciting.  Everything he did we oohed and aahed and took a picture.

Natalie came home to two doting parents who had considered names before the hospital and who were excited to welcome the first girl, and to an older brother who wasn't too sure about sharing mom's lap and took his spot on that lap everytime I started to feed Natalie.  But he soon was loving her too.  He still took naps in the afternoon, and so there was still some one-on-one time with Natalie and even some alone time for me on occasion.  We were out and about soon after the delivery...why not?  With just one little one to chase and the baby very content in her car seat/stroller we could go and do anything with occasional breaks for feeding. And we took plenty of pictures, but maybe not of everything.

James came home to two doting parents.  But mom admits she didn't really have time to think much about him before he got here.  Of course there were moments when I would think of his arrival and feel so grateful and excited to meet him.  But most of mom's time was spent entertaining, chasing, cleaning up after two little children.  He got as much attention as his parents could give him amidst the busyness.  And some one-on-one attention during night feedings.  But he got non-stop attention from his older brother and sister who were now old enough to appreciate and immediately adore their new baby brother.  Kisses, loves, laughs, dress-ups.  We tried to get out right away with some semi-disasterous results.  And there were not as many pictures. 

And now Amelia.  Name, what name?  Baby, what baby?  Things were pretty crazy around here before she arrived.  And things are still pretty crazy after her arrival.  Granted, I got plenty of just me and baby time in the hospital.  And even this week with John home, I have found that I have some precious moments with her.  But that will change next week.  She has come home to a full house.  A home full of laughing, playing, make-believe, and yes, crying, fighting and some screaming (mostly done by the kids, not the mom...mostly).

But amazingly, I feel like the excitement and joy surrounding each child just gets greater each time.  Not that we are more excited over one child vs. another.  But the amount of total joy increases each time.  

With the first child, all the joy surrounding the birth is centered on only that child.  With each additional child, I feel that the joy is magnified.  Because now it's not just about the one child, but about each child and his interaction with the new baby.  

I was thrilled to hold Amelia for the first time, love looking into her beautiful eyes with my face next to hers, love rubbing my cheek on her soft head, feeling her body breathe as she lays curled up on my chest.  Every noise she makes, every face she makes I am admiring and loving.  

But I can't explain the joy I felt when these kids came to see the baby for the first time. 

Look at their faces.

And look at all those "aminals."  Natalie has some pretty lipstick on.

They were so excited. 

And just loving her.

Andrew was so excited he could hardly stand it.  He held Amelia, kissed her head with a little kiss and whispered, "I love you" into her little ear.  I get teary just thinking about it.

Natalie must have exclaimed "She's SOOO cute" 100 times.  At least.  She held her and held her and held her.  She rubbed her head with her little hand.  She covered her with blankets and made sure she had her bunny that had been given to her.  And everything Amelia did, Natalie made sure we all knew about it as she let out an exclamation of delight and announced, "She just did _____!"

James showed off his language skills and exclaimed "baby" over and over as he destroyed the room.  But he did get in a few "soft" pats on her head.  As they were all gathered around John holding her in a very tender moment, James leaned in, smiled, said "baby" and spit on her head.  Since we have been home, he has been constantly gifting Amelia with different stuffed animals and kisses "mmm--aaa" to her head.

And this warm feeling of joy continues to fill my heart every time one of the kids wants to hold Amelia, or wants to show her to her friends, or gets excited over something she is doing, or just stops by to give her a little kiss to her head or whisper something in her ear.

Joy now times four.

I feel so blessed.

Even when the nurse came in to see why there were loud banging noises coming from my room during each family visit.  Weren't those rolling stools put in the rooms for children to push each other around on?