Sweet Ivey Kate's Arrival

Ivey Kathryn Hope

7.7lbs 20 inches

December 6, 2011

Minutes after arrival.

Getting acquainted with this sweet baby.

Mattilee meeting Ivey Kate! Such a special moment.

First picture of our family of four.

Kisses for new baby sister.:)

Daddy loving on his new baby girl!

Coming home from the hospital in the same outfit that Mommy and big sister Mattilee wore home from the hospital.

Although I started dilating at around 33 weeks and I was told to do as little as possible to stop labor, Ivey Kate decided she would take her time coming. We decided to induce on December 6. They broke my water at about 7:30 or 8:00 that morning and we had our new daughter Ivey Kathryn in our arms at 10:42 am. It was such a smooth, easy delivery. Thank you Lord! I have been so blessed in both pregnancies and deliveries. Ivey Kate weighed 7.7lbs and was 20 inches. She was so beautiful and healthy. Again, thank you Lord!!! She immediately stole our hearts! That precious, perfect face staring back into ours is the sweetest thing. I had the same wonderful feelings as I did after the birth of our first daughter; that my heart might burst from the love welling up inside. It's amazing the unconditional love God immediately gives us for our children. It just makes me all the more in awe of His love for us since I know my love for my children doesn't even compare! Every little intimate detail of my precious baby, not to mention the miraculous pregnancy/birth process, causes me to praise our creative, beautiful Heavenly Father.

We spent our first few hours and days with Ivey Kate admiring every precious detail about her and sharing her with lots of sweet visitors. We were one of the first to deliver in the new Brookwood Hospital and the facility was so nice! Every doctor that checked her in the hospital told us she was perfect, but we already knew that.:)

Ivey Kate is a perfect addition to our family. From the beginning she has been an easy baby. She loves to sleep, which is perfect because so does everyone else in our family and when she is awake she is generally happy. I had forgotten how incredibly sweet and cuddly newborns are! We love to cuddle with her and she LOVES to be held. Her daddy and I can't kiss that sweet soft skin enough and she tolerates it for us most of the time. :) She has been drawn to Mattilee's voice from the beginning. She lights up when she hears her big sister. Mattilee adjusted perfectly to her new baby sister. She is so sweet to Ivey Kate and she wants to kiss and love on her all the time. However, being gentle while we are loving on baby sister is something that might take us a while to master... :)

More details of our new life as a family of four will come soon!