Snips and Snails and Puppy Dog Tails....

Our son Jacob was born May 26th at 2:30 pm. The delivery was quick and easy (thanks to the epidural). We arrived at the hospital at 9 am, started pitocin around 10. My midwife came about 11:30 to break my water. We listened to the baby's heartbeat and I watched my contractions on the monitor. When I'd see real big peaks I'd think, wow that one would've hurt! :)  I tried going natural with 3 of them and that's a pain that I never want to experience again. With Olivia and Jocelyn I was actually at a 9 1/2 when I got the epidural. So I know what it feels like. No thanks! It's worth every penny! I actually got a spinal headache with this epidural that lasted a week but it was still worth it.

Anyway, it was a great epidural because I could still move my legs and feel everything, just dulled the pain. I pushed a few times and 'wallah' the newest member of our family came to join us. The peace and joy and love that you feel at that moment is beyond description. I love having babies!!! If I didn't have to be pregnant, or raise them all, I'd have a million babies just to experience that feeling over and over. It overwhelms me, it is pure love. I'm sure that that is what our Heavenly Father must feel for us all the time. 

After Aaron cut the cord he came and sat with us. We kissed and held each other for a long time. There's nothing to explain the feeling between a husband and wife when you have a brand new baby. I'm so lucky to have Aaron. He's such an amazing man and such a great dad. 

We're so happy to have our son here. I love all my kids so, so much. I've got wonderful children. We are so blessed!

I saw a bunch of different midwives during this pregnancy. Roberta, on the right was one of them. Erica in green on the left was new. I had seen her once but this was her very first delivery. It was emotional for her and she did such a terrific job! She gave me a sweet little white hat for Jacob afterwards. Only the first baby delivered receives this tiny hat. Thanks Erica! The nurse in yellow on the left is named Brittany. She's one of the best I've ever had. She was right there helping and comforting. She was awesome!!! 

Here we are, proud parents...for the 5th time! 

I swear the IV added 10 lbs to my cheeks! 
Here are the boys! I love that Aaron's aunt pointed out that it looks like Jacob has a big smile under that blanket. His eyes are smiling. I wouldn't be surprised at all. I'm sure they're very happy to finally be together! 
Blue eyes and brown hair, I love it! I'd be surprised if it stayed that way though, most likely his hair will go blonder and his eyes will go brown. He'll follow in the footsteps of his sisters. 

My parents had the girls for us that day, they all came to see the new addition. It was love at first sight.
Macey loved touching his toes. I don't think she realized he was real and not a doll.
Olivia was so excited to see her baby brother. She's such a great helper. She's really the only one I trust to hold him by herself for a long period of time. 
Makell kept saying, "It's ALIVE!" It was so funny. Like he was Frankenstein or something. 
Jocelyn was so excited to finally get to hold him. She said, "Your tummy was big mom, but now it's small".  (If it were only true! ha)
Macey couldn't get enough of him. I think she thought he was a new toy. She keeps trying to poke him in the eyes. "Eye" she says. 
My mom was so cute with him. She kept saying, "I just love him so much!"
This was the first time my dad held him. I love how he just looks at him for a long, long time. The next picture is when he looked over at me in the bed. He had tears in his eyes! 
When I first saw Jacob I thought he looked like my family. His eyes and eyebrows especially remind me of my dads. 
Olivia said she wanted to get a bed like this one that can move up and down. 
The Girls.
The Boys.

Just a few hours old.

Jacob was 2 days old here. Getting a little jaundiced but nothing to worry about. Nothing that milk and sun can't cure. I was supposed to go get it checked to make sure he wasn't getting worse. I didn't. He's my fifth kid people, I know what to do. Why should I let them prick his heel again just to tell me he's jaundiced? I'm not blind, I can see it and I know how to take care of it too. I know that some babies can get it really bad but I know my own kids and they get over it in a few days. 
Just over a week old. He lost the belly button, and he's not jaundiced anymore. 
No he's not crying here, just a big yawn. 
My little sweetheart. 
I got a few pictures of him "smiling". It's when he's asleep so I know he's not really doing it on purpose but it's still dang cute.
Love that toothless grin! What a sweet boy!

My little sister had her baby exactly one week after Jacob was born. We thought they might look a little bit alike but here's the  picture to prove they don't. At all. This is at the pool in AF. Our husbands took the girls swimming while we watched. Ryan is a little jaundiced here I think. He is 4 days old and Jacob is 11 days old. How cute is that!?!