The Walter Family: 2011

October 20, 2011

Ava Elizabeth is here!

On August 11th 2011, our precious baby girl came into our world. After a very quick delivery (even quicker than her big brother Joshua's delivery), Ava Elizabeth Walter was born at 6:34pm and weighed 7lbs 1oz and was 19 inches long. I waited a very long time for her to come into my life and now she is finally here. She is everything I imagined her to be and more. She is my dream that came true!

Nick, the boys, and I have been adjusting to life with a princess in the house. The boys are very fond of their baby sister and will do anything for her. They are all such big helpers in there own way. Nicholas loves to hold and snuggle her in his arms. I love the way she looks up at him. I have a feeling that she will look up to him for the rest of her life and that alone makes my heart smile. Joshua, when he isn't glued to the televsion or his Nintendo DS, will say "Hey Ava!" or "Mom, Ava's crying." He has his loving moments with her, but doesn't make a big to-do about having a baby sister. Maybe he will be the one that "keeps her grounded". Noah loves his new baby sister, but is still having a tough time with the transition of going from baby to big brother. He will still ask us to carry or hold. As a matter of fact, when he came to visit Ava and I at the hospital the first thing he said was, "Mom, now you can carry me!" Noah is very good at putting (actually it's more like shoving) Ava's pacifier in her mouth when she is crying (which she does lots of thanks to a lil something called colic). I'm not sure why, but she takes it just nicely from him!

So now we are a family of six! Nick and I are very blessed to have healthy and beautiful babies. My life is complete with my three boys and my one, and only, baby girl! I am now looking forward to all the memories we will create and share together.

Ava Elizabeth Walter

Daddy falling in love for the second time in his life!

Daddy's Little Girl

Big Brother Joshua holding Ava for the first time.

Big Brother Nicholas holding Ava for the first time.

Baby Girl!

Grandpa Bob and Grandma Connie meeting Ava for the first time.

Noah seeing his baby sister for the first time.

Noah holding Ava for the first time.

Looks like someone else is going to be wrapped around her little finger!

Princess Ava!

Tia Katy meeting Ava for the first time.

Mommy and her babies!

Going home!

LOVE!

Ava and her big brothers!

August 6, 2011

Homecoming 2011

August 2, 2011

Sibling Class

We have been very busy preparing for our baby sister's arrival. The time is going by faster now and we are becoming more and more anxious to meet her. Nicholas and Joshua are excited to be BIG brothers again. As for little Noah, well.......he will be the rookie at all this BIG brother stuff. I am sure that he will catch on pretty quickly once she comes home! He says he wants her to come out of my belly, but we shall see what he says when she is actually here. I thought that it would be a good/fun idea to take all three boys to a class for siblings-to-be offered at the Hospital. This class taught them about babies and gave them a chance to take a tour of the hospital to see where all the babies are born. They also made a craft for their baby sister! It will be displayed at the nurses station when baby sister makes her big debut. Be sure to check it out on your way in if you come to visit us at the hospital. The boys had a great time! I know they are prepared for another baby in our family. I am just not sure if they are "fully prepared" for a baby SISTER and all the pinkness/girly/frills/drama that will come along with her! We shall see!

Here is Noah learning how to hold a baby.

He even practiced feeding the baby a bottle.

Joshua was a little intimidated by the whole diaper changing process. Maybe, he will just have the duty of throwing them away!

Here is the Biggest, Bigger, and Big brother to-be with the "baby nurse". I think she will be seeing us again REALLY soon!

Nicholas was not afraid to change a diaper.

He was actually very good at it!
He will be the biggest helper of them all.

It's only fitting since he will be the BIGGEST of all the brothers!

July 26, 2011

Our Baby Chain

The other day the boys were asking me, "Mom, how many more days until our baby sister comes?" At the beginning of this pregnancy, I would answer them using months, then it turned into weeks. Now that we are getting closer to baby girl's due date, I decided it was time to make a baby sister chain. I thought this would be a good way to help the boys "see" just how many more days (Yes! I said DAYS!) until SHE arrives. So far, they have been enjoying taking turns tearing off one link a day. Our chain is getting shorter and we are becoming more and more excited to meet her!