The morning Kristin and Lee were scheduled to be discharged with Hughes, my mom and I got busy with the preparations of welcoming them home.  Millie Janalee and I got balloons for the mailbox and for the stork we used for Millie Janalee, and Mama got the ribbons ready for the bassinet.  By lunch, we had everything ready.  We ate lunch with my parents and spent some time at the playground while we waited.  They were held up several hours later than we expected.

Eventually, we got word that they were near.  By this time, half my balloons had deflated by the sun I guess.  We told them to drive slowly while I ran to get balloon reinforcements.  Ha!  Pretty soon they were pulling into their driveway with their new family of three.  Millie Janalee couldn't wait to welcome Baby Hughes home.

Ummm...then there was a small problem.  She didn't want anyone to touch the "bebbies."  Ha! You can see in the picture below.  Lee was rocking the carrier, and Millie Janalee pulled his hand away and said, "Noooo!"  Uh oh.   We had some adjusting to work through.

She is so sweet with Hughes.  Very gentle.  And she loves to kiss and hug him.  Maw Maw joined us to meet Hughes for the first time as well.

In case you are wondering what it's like with all the attention that used to be on Millie Janalee shifting to a new baby...

At some point, one of the guys said "Uhhh...is she supposed to be on top of the table?"  Ha!

Millie Janalee has her own "bebbies" to take care of while the adults are loving on Hughes.  She likes to put her "woof" in all of Hughes's baby gear.  I'm seriously waiting on the day when she plops her big self in one of these things.  Hopefully, Hughes won't be sitting in there when she does.

So, we have some adjusting to do.  And we are working on it.  I haven't had a huge amount of time to hold and love on Hughes without Millie Janalee wanting to be held or needing her Mama.  I sneak some time in here and there while she's distracted in another room.  As you can see, Pawpaw's lap has plenty room for everyone.

At least Millie Janalee is gonna make sure he does!

Welcome home Hughes!  We are so happy to have you here.

Happy Birthday Hughes!

Hughes was due on April 24, however Kristin's doctor decided it was time to put her in a day early.  April 23, we all loaded up with excitement that Wednesday morning to begin what would turn into quite a long day.  Kristin and Lee arrived at the hospital before 6 am to induce labor.  I let Millie Janalee sleep in since I knew she had a big day ahead of her.  Plus I had an idea that it would take awhile before we heard talk of a baby.

Aunt KayKay ("Kah Kaayyyy") had give Millie Janalee a sweet Big Cousin dress for Easter, so she was ready to meet her baby nephew.  She spent the day running around the waiting room making new friends in the "kids corner" and putting on a show for everyone.  The gift shop worker got to know her quite well as she snuck in there to talk to the stuffed animals too many times to count!  You can see her excitement...

Once again, we missed Russ.  He is such a hard worker for our family, and I hate that he misses so many family events.  However...it's easy to do with this family.  We have LOTS of big events at all times.  Ha!  He was missed, and he called to give Kristin a pre-labor pep talk...

Kristin talking to Russ

Our cousin, Clancy, drove the 3 hours from Jackson with her baby girl to join in the excitement of the day.  We were so sad that she had to leave before meeting Hughes, but she was on call the next day in labor and delivery herself.  Selah Grace was such a trooper all day!

Cousins

Twelve hours later (around 6 pm), the doctor decided it was time for Kristin to start pushing.  Mama and I were invited to stay in the delivery room with Kristin and Lee.  You know the expression "three's a crowd"?  Yeah, it was a crowd.  But a FUN crowd for sure!  Now, y'all know I know nothing about birthing babies!  The nurse asked me at some point if I had children.  Of course I said, "Yes, but I've never birthed any!"  I provided my services as photographer.  Mama provided her services as experienced moral support.  And Lee pretty much just did what he was told...which mostly involved holding her hand and passing and holding the cup of water when Kristin needed a sip.

The Mama Dream Team

Since I had absolutely NO IDEA what to expect (besides the information Roan texted me right before we kicked off this party), when the doctor said "Let's start pushing", I grabbed the camera and hung it around my neck and had the video camera ready.  About an hour later, I realized I looked like some ridiculous tourist...and I discretely took off the camera and placed it nicely in a chair in the corner.

This would obviously take a while. 

At 8:18 pm, Hughes Lee made his grand debut into this crazy world!  He joined us with a little bit of drama and a small scare, but he eventually belted out his little cry and pinked up before the nurses brought him to rest on his Mama's chest.

Hughes getting some loving from his Mama

Brand new family of three!

The labor and delivery floor was very busy that night, so the nurses gave us a little extra time with Hughes before taking him back to the nursery.  The family was finally able to come in to meet him around 9:30.  I think it's safe to say he's pretty loved! 

I wasn't quite sure how I would feel watching the birth of my nephew.  I struggled with not being there for Millie Janalee's first moments.  How would I explain this to her one day?  Would she even care?  Taking on the role of 'photographer' made it easier to swallow.  I'm always good at hiding behind the camera. 

I'm thankful to experience Hughes's birth though.  I was there when he took his first breath, when he opened his eyes for the first time, when he made his first sound.  I wasn't there for Millie Janalee's firsts.  I am thankful for the experience, because now I can say with absolute certainty...both are uniquely special and priceless ways to enter a family.  Neither better or more special than the other.  Please know that mean this sincerely with all my heart.  It is true.  I am glad I was there because I could see with my own eyes what Millie Janalee's birthmother went through (although her labor was significantly shorter)...and after bringing this sweet baby into the world, she still had the strength to place her in my arms.  Forever.

Millie Janalee seeing Hughes for the first time

I am thankful for this experience as a mother.  And I am thankful for this experience as a sister.  To support her through a difficult labor with my "calm voice" and wet cloths.  I held my breath in hopes it would help her push.  Ha!  I think we all did.  I was there when she transitioned into motherhood. 

And it was beautiful.

Aunt KayKay has always been one of Millie Janalee's biggest fans.  And now I can try to return the favor.  Millie Janalee will have to learn to share...and we are working on it.  But I'm pretty sure there's enough love to go around!

Millie Janalee seeing Aunt Kay Kay for the first time that day...nearly midnight

They love each other!

We all left before they brought Hughes back into the room that night.  It was after midnight before Kristin and Lee saw him again.  We all drove our separate ways to get some rest.  We arrived at my parents' house near 2 am.  I put Millie Janalee to bed, and my mom crawled in bed with me to scratch my back.  Ummm...she was snoozing after her hand went up and down my back one time.  Ha!  It was a long day!

The next afternoon, Millie Janalee and I joined my mom for another trip to the hospital to visit my sister, Lee, and Hughes.  And for Millie Janalee to meet Hughes for the first time.  She was very curious about this moving "bebbies".  She kept a close eye on him when the nurses took him to his little bed.

"Why is he crying, ma'am?"

And they meet!

"Can we keep him!?"

Later that afternoon, Dustin was able to stop by the hospital to meet his first nephew.  I'm pretty sure Dustin still hasn't held him.  He's not a big fan of fragile babies.  Ha!  He said he'd hold him when he's not so breakable.

Kristin, Hughes, and Dustin

As with everything we do in big groups...we had a baby!  Happy Birthday 'Lil Baby Hughes!

Sprinkling with Friends

A week after Kristin's shower given by the ladies at our hometown church, Kristin's best friends and their moms sprinkled Hughes with another little shower.  It was a fun get-together with yummy food and great company.  We enjoyed visiting over an early lunch menu.

We were excited to have more out of town family join us for this day.  My cousin and her mom drove in from Jackson with Selah Grace.  It was fun to see Selah Grace growing so fast and looking so completely adorable!  Selah Grace and Millie Janalee weren't the only little ones around.  Sweet Rayne joined us too, and Millie Janalee enjoyed talking to "the baby".  I think it was the first time we saw Rayne smile all day.  She liked watching Millie Janalee flit around dancing and singing her heart out for the big captive audience.

Millie Janalee was so excited to get down and run around the big room filled with gifts and people and open space.  She literally danced in circles, ran around, talked and sang, played "peek a boo", and helped Auntie Kristin open gifts the entire time.

We did manage to slow her down long enough to sit with MawMaw for a little while.  I'm pretty sure it made MawMaw's day.  She loves it when Millie Janalee can slow down long enough for quality time.

It's happening.  Hughes will be here very soon.  This month is what we expect.  His due date is April 24th, so we are all on countdown mode.  These three cousins will soon have their own little baby cousins.  And things are about to get rowdy!  Our beach trips will never be the same.  And, yes, this year's beach trip is planned for all three babies to be in tow! 

Bring on the full-time beach baby duty!

After the shower, Clancy, Aunt Patsy, Uncle Howard, and Selah Grace joined us at Kristin and Lee's to just hang out and enjoy the afterglow.  We let the girls play on the floor.  Millie Janalee loved talking to the baby.  She kissed her and loved her and tried to squish her and all the other things a 20 month old would do to a little helpless person.  Ha!

These little girls are ready for a protective little boy to join ranks! 

Showering Hughes

Well...I'm not sure if anyone is even hanging around here anymore.  I've been missing blogland lately.  I've got good excuses.  Lots of traveling, playing, hanging around family, and the most recent project - SEWING!  And when I say sewing I mean serious business...like 5 or 6 outfits made.  It's my newest obsession and favorite hobby these days.  More to come on that later.

In the meantime, I've fallen short of blogging about the sweet showers my newest nephew has had to celebrate his little life!  My sister is due the end of April, so all these Spring showers just make me happy!

Her first shower was at our hometown church.  You may remember my shower back when Millie Janalee was born and how I talked about our church family.  Yes, I still call them my church family even though I'm living away right now.  We were raised in this church, and as the preacher's family, this church served as an extension of our family.  Thankful for that life!

I attempted to bring Millie Janalee to the shower.  She's such a social butterfly, so I knew she would have a ball.  And I knew the other ladies would love seeing her.  However, I was on picture duty and there was a staircase that she found.  In case you haven't heard she would love to run straight off the top of steps and fly.  Therefore, when my dad came in to bring my grandmother...I sent her with him.  She spent the day with Pawpaw and my Uncle Donald.

But not before saying, "Hello!" to the mother-to-be...

I was delighted to see my Aunt Gail in attendance.  We are all so busy, so we rarely get to see this side of our family.  She has a grandbaby due in about a week or so.  Fun times in our family!

We all enjoyed delicious punch, a yummy cake made by Russ's sister, and some of Kristin's favorite cravings while we watched her open gifts.  Hughes was blessed with many, many sweet gifts!  Outfits, blankets, toys, accessories, and more!

Millie Janalee brought Hughes a gift form Disney World!

The hostesses gave Kristin the car seat she registered for.

It was a wonderful afternoon visiting with those we love and to feel loved!  I managed to gather all the hostesses together for a group shot.  I hope I got everyone.  As I look at these faces, I am reminded of the special individual relationships I have with each one of them.  I could go down the list...but I'll spare you the details.  I seriously thank God when I look at this picture for these women and what they mean to our family.

Of course, we gathered for a family picture too!  And can we take a moment to acknowledge the pregnant woman here.  I mean, seriously?!  I'm pretty sure if I were pregnant I would just roll around like a big blow up beach ball.  Hughes is nicely packed in that little basketball-looking tummy.  And that's it.  Which makes for a very cute mommy-to-be.

Okay, I just wanted to point that out. 

We are on major countdown mode around here.  Hopefully, I can blog about his second shower before his actual appearance.