She's here! And she's mine!

I remember the first time they laid each of my boys in my arms. 

I instantly fell in love all over again. 

From hearing their heartbeats on the ultrasound to smelling their first breath. 

That moment of them looking at me, looking at them will go down as some of the best moments I could ever have. 

And that held true with our sweet precious baby girl who was born completely unlike I had imagined. 

Unlike her brothers, she came incredibly fast. 

So fast in fact that our doctor and nurses missed the whole thing. 

Only Josh and I experienced that first moment of seeing our daughter. 

And it was perfect. 

Anniston Lane was born Feb 5, 2014 at 10:07pm, only 7 minutes after being wheeled into our laboring room. 

She weighed 6lbs 10oz and was 18 3/4" long. 

I wish I could accurately explain how it felt to see her, hold her, kiss her, and love on her for the first time. 

After our 4 sons and 2 miscarriages, I didn't think the time would ever come that I would look into my daughters eyes and whisper "I love you my sweet baby girl". 

I don't love my boys any less, or any more. But I can say that holding something that you never thought you would hold is an amazing feeling. Something I can't put into words. 

Sweet Anniston is perfect. She is such a great baby. 

She rarely cries. 

She is a nursing champ! 

She is content in almost everything she does. (Yes, I realize she is only 12 days old) 

She loves her daddy already. (and has him wrapped around her little pinky) 

Her happy hour is from 3am-6am. Every. Single. Night. 

She hates having her socks off. 

Unless you are massaging her feet. 

She hates wearing a hat. 

But doesn't mind bows so I'm okay with that. 

She expects her poopy diapers to be changed as soon as the poops hits her diaper. 

I hate the color purple but she looks adorable in it, so it's growing on me. 

She has 4 brothers who already choose her over pretty much anything. 

And that includes video games which is a big deal when you are a kid. 

She has the biggest feet I've ever seen on a baby. 

I feel so blessed that I get to experience being a mother to a precious baby girl. 

I feel blessed that Josh gets to experience raising a little girl. 

I feel blessed that Josh and I have been able to give our boys brothers and now a sister to grow up with.

I feel like our entire family has been blessed with the addition of Anniston. 

Everything about her being here just feels perfect. 

And I'll leave my readers with some pictures... 

(And if you are on my facebook or instagram you've seen all of these but if not, enjoy) 

Operation Practice Patience

Okay... maybe I'm not patiently waiting but impatiently waiting. 

I don't know this little girl yet but I know a few things about her already.

I know she is going to be a night owl. 

I know she is going to be very awake and active between 8-10pm.

I know she doesn't like mama to eat meat. 

I know she's stubborn.

As my due date approaches I am left with a lot of emotions. 

I have always gone on my own with my boys between 36-38 weeks. 

Always. 

I'm not used to being over 38 weeks and still not holding my sweet babies.

Yet here I sit. Waiting. 

If you know me you will know I am a very detailed person. I plan everything out. I have sticky notes and schedules. That is how my family runs. 

And as much as I want to "schedule" her arrival, she has other plans. 

I can put on the calendar the most perfect date for her to come and have that day pass by without a single contraction. (Trust me, I tried) 

So instead of "operation get baby out" I'm changing my plan to "operation practice patience". 

Because as much as I want her to come yesterday God has her birthday picked out and it's more perfect of a day than any I have marked on my calendar. 

She didn't come on groundhogs day. 

She didn't get to watch the superbowl.

She may not come it today, or tomorrow... 

But truth be told..

She'll be here for her daddy's birthday.

She'll be here for her cousins birthday party. 

She'll be here for Easter.

She'll be here for her brothers birthdays.

She'll be here soon enough. 

And I am going to enjoy this sweet baby bump because in a very short while I wont have it anymore. I will rejoice in every movement she makes because this may very well be the last few days or weeks I am able to experience what it feels like to have a child kick my ribs and keep the hiccups from the inside. It will be the last little bit I experience of being a mother to all boys. 

So many things are about to change in my life and for the past 2 weeks all I have dreamt about is all THOSE blessings instead of the blessings that are right in front of me. 

So today I will get off the treadmill and play a game of UNO with my 4 year old. 

I will spend more time in the play kitchen with my 21 month old instead of on the birthing ball.

And I will catch any snuggle I can with my husband and just enjoy being with him for this short little bit.