Where's baby?

I wanted to write and say that life is finally getting "back to normal" but that's all wrong, isn't it? We're never going back to the same normal that we had before because before we were a family of three and now we're a family of four. We now have a toddler and a baby and life couldn't be MORE different than it was just two weeks and one day ago. We have had a couple of crazy weeks with the birth of Michaela and then treating Ava's RSV (and croup and ear infections). But it seems that everyone is well now and maybe life will settle into our new "normal" now with both girls at home. Everyone is adjusting to Ava and baby being together in the same house but mostly it seems it is Ava who needs to do the most adjusting. I'm trying to give her lots of hugs and affection but she's like a little tornado (my parents' very appropriate description of Ava) whipping through the house (and every room and every closet and every drawer)... Hopefully she'll settle down the tiniest bit before too long but after 10 days away at the other Grandparents' house I am sure she's just in adjustment mode. Or making me pay for her being away so long... :)

Anyway, I wanted to let everyone know that Ava is LOVING having a baby and wants to shower her in hugs and kisses CONSTANTLY. On Monday, our first day home with just me and Ava and Michaela, I effectively hid the baby from Ava for a whole five minutes. She was sleeping in her carseat on the kitchen table but Ava couldn't see or hear her. So Ava started running through the house yelling, "Baby, baby! Baby!" trying to seek her out. Through the laundry room, by the bathroom, into the kitchen and then looping through the living room where she turned back and started back through the house again. I think she did three or four circuits before she realized where baby was hiding and then it took her less than five seconds to climb onto the table with Michaela. Oh, well, at least I had five minutes...

Welcome to the World, Michaela Rose Kingma!

Here she is at last, Michaela Rose Kingma!
Born on February 25th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
She weighed 6 pounds 8 ounces and is 19 inches long

Her big sister Ava gave her a big hug and kiss right away.
And then she wanted to cuddle with her mommy. :)

Our very happy family. The delivery went very well and was much faster than when I had Ava two years ago. (Their birthdays are one week apart.) The speed that she came probably had a little to do with the fact that she was the second child AND a full pound and a half lighter than Ava Reese. (Thank you, Lord!) We made it to the hospital around 4:00 pm and she was born at 7:03 pm with my mom and my sister Ellen in attendance as part of my labor support team. Of course, Jeff was there and was an awesome support during it all. Michaela came out looking healthy and perfect with a head full of hair. She actually looks just like Ava did when she was born but her hair is a little lighter in color with a reddish tint. And she looks tinier. :)