Welcoming Katelyn!

So, we have a beautiful baby.... :)

Katelyn Joy Miles, born September 5th at 5:03 AM. 6 pounds, 8 ounces, and 19 inches of perfection!

This was the day after she was born, when Katelyn and I came home from the hospital. The girls have pretty much sat around gazing admiringly at her ever since. :) Their first request in the morning is, "Can I hold Katelyn now?", and even when I'm nursing her, there's always someone stealing up to us to drop a gentle kiss on her babysoft cheek.

As I said -- lots of kisses. :) Katelyn seems to just adore Ashley, and settles into a contented sleep whenever she in on her biggest sister's lap.

Hannah has surprised me by being the most attentive of all the girls, such a little mother! She is not disturbed by Katelyn crying in her arms, but just talks gently to her and never, ever wants me to take Katelyn away. :) 

I thought I was prepared for how big and grown up Bethany would seem after Katelyn arrived. But I really, really wasn't. She is so poised and mature, so careful with her baby sister and so eager to help. I am amazed by this little girl who grew up overnight! It's incredibly bittersweet to know that she will never be my baby again.

And now there are six of us! SIX! Um...excuse me while I stare at this picture in disbelief for a few minutes....

Our sweet baby girl will be two weeks old tomorrow. It's amazing, but at least this time around I know...I know how quickly it all flies past. I know that in the blink of an eye her precious newborn stage will be over, gone forever, and I already ache with knowing how much I will miss her tiny body curled up against me in that helpless and entirely contented way that brand new babies have. So I am cherishing every moment with this beautiful, tiny girl, building the memories of her in my arms forever into my heart.

That's why I haven't even gotten around to putting her birth here on my blog until she's almost two weeks old. :) And I'm not much of a "birth story" writer, but there are a few things about her birth I'd like to have written down, so maybe I'll do that next. Another day. Right now it's time to go make breakfast and start another school day with my three favorite big sisters in the whole world, and snuggle our precious baby!