A little something

I've had this little draft sitting in my posts for a long time. So I'll use it. Here are some pictures of Miriam when she was one or two weeks old. I'd have to look in my files to see and since she came down with her first cold this morning, I'm not taking time to do it.

Miriam has been a perfect joy to all of us. She is loved by everyone and snuggled and overly smothered with kisses and hugs and holds by the two youngers. They are all quite patient with her if she cries. Sammy asks anyone who is holding her, "Can I hold her? Because she is MINE." And Silas repeats over and over again, "Tan I hol' him? Tan I hol' him?"

A little sleep smile that was the precursor of all the real smiles we are getting these days. Miriam is a very social little girl. She seems to have smiled and cooed earlier than any of the other babies. She prefers to be held nearly 24 hours out of each day. Plenty of us here are happy to comply.

Steve took three weeks off work when Miri was born. It was just right to keep me from getting as sick as I have with our first three babies. We also had a lovely Christmas as a family. The addition has reached a relaxing point now that our carpet was placed two days before Christmas. The boys are moved into their rooms. The things that remain aren't on a time deadline other than me wanting to park the van in the garage again.

We're spending this week playing with our family Christmas gift ... ping pong ... and doing cleaning and organizing. It would also be nice to have a few days where chores and breakfast are all completed by 8:30 before next week arrives and school begins again.

Our little arrival

We are so pleased to welcome our precious little girl. The whip cream (not the cherry, because I don't like those) on the ice cream sundae that is four boys.

Miriam Aleda Grace Vossler was born Wednesday afternoon on Veteran's Day (we think she chose that in honor of her uncle, USAF Captain Joel Gietzen) at 4:42pm. She weighed in at 7lbs 10oz.

I get discharged this morning to one proud papa and four excited boys. These boys have only seen their sister through Skype. That was a lot of fun. Silas and Sammy just wanted to see the baby and bring her home right then (hours old). Eli bounced around the room hollering, "We have a baby! This is so exciting! I think I'm going to faint! This is the best day of her LIFE!" And Jake got a sweet smile and said, "I love her already."

This year's flu craziness limited me to all but two visitors total and no children. Steve thanked me for choosing him to be one of my visitors. :)

Before they come, I'll tell you that Miri is our Grandma Girl, named after her wonderful and God-loving grandmothers. Her name goes like this ~

Steve's mother is Mary ~ Miriam
My great grandmother's and my mother's middle names are Aleda ~ Aleda
My mother's name means "grace" ~ Grace

Welcome, sweet Miriam! You are so loved. We never expected a little girl to round out our family. Your brothers are so excited to finally see you and hold you. They are arguing over who gets to hold you first. Eli suggested that they all hold you at once like people lining up to hold a crocodile, but you're not THAT long. They are also discussing who gets to sit by you in the van that is now full to the brim. I have a feeling their devotion will never end.