'dis your new family!

Miles' first day... 

While Mum takes a shower, Daddy + Son take a long snuggle/nap together!
Ahhh, bonding time!

My wonderful step-dad David, who had looked after the kids the night before, brought them in late morning to meet their new sibling. When we spoke on the phone I could hear them shrieking with excitement in the background. Oh  yes, they were crazy-ready to meet the new baby at loooooooooong last - nine months is quite a wait for a 4 and 2 year old!

When it was time for the kids to arrive, I was all ready as 'recommended'. I put Miles in the bassinette so I could greet them on my own for cuddles first- no trauma induced by them seeing me captured by this new intruder to the family and all that. Um yeah - an unnecessary precaution! The kids galloped into the room and pretty much straight by me, eagerly crying 'Where's the new baby?!'. Jealous - not so much. They love this little baby and have been beyond eager to welcome him to the family.

So they rushed over to greet him, cooing and gasping over his cuteness, his smallness, his tiny face, and so on. 'Baby born vewy tired' Eli proclaimed, seeing him in the bassinette (he usually likes to call him 'Baby Born' to signify that he is indeed here at last). They were both just so happy and so instantly in love - showing as such by completely smothering their little brother with kisses, cuddles and near-crushings. Eli in particular is very passionate in his affections - it has been a challenge to encourage the sweetness whilst also tempering the enthusiastic physical demonstrations a little bit! We really had to draw the line when he was trying to pry open the eyes of his sleeping little brother - eek!

The first look at little brother

Beautiful little sentiments burst forth from their hearts and mouths all through their visit and I'm so glad David was filming so we can go back and soak up all the cuteness. Lily kept exclaiming things like 'I like this new baby! I love him! I love you, little brother! I'm so happy!' and pretty much just gushing non-stop, cooing into his sleeping ears. I just about melted into a puddle when in the midst of the visit Eli was proudly cuddling Miles on the big bed and I heard him sweetly whisper 'Baby, 'dis your new family!'. What an introduction, huh? *tear* 

Glee.
Barely able to contain their excitement at the first cuddle... they have waited nine LONG months for this!

Love it, just so typical.!
Eli - I'll just swing my legs in the air while I wait for my hold. WHAT A BOY!

The visit was delightful chaos - excitement, cuddles, kisses, taking turns holding and getting to know Miles. Lily was also excited to point out that now the baby was born, I wouldn't be sick any more - good point, kiddo and yes, I'm happy about that too! The kids presented a stuffed toy (a rabbit and a teddy) to Miles that they had chosen out for him as gifts. Miles, the very organised newborn that he is, had somehow arranged ahead of time (via Google perhaps?) to have gifts ready to present to his new siblings too - a game of Hungry Hungry Hippos (a classic and very well recieved) as well as a real stethoscope! After all the midwife visitors the kids were so pleased to get their very own real stethoscope to monitor the heartbeat of baby, each other and any other passers by they can coerce into a check up!

'Dis your new family, baby!'. 

She is a natural. So gentle and affectionate, always cooing 'sweet nothings'
to her little love!

Three kids - wow. I can't even do the numbers on the various relationships and dynamics between a trio that will now emerge. No doubt there will be ups, downs and every-shade-of-in-between ahead, but I am grateful today for a joyful, loving start to this trio's sibling relationship!

First family portrait...
Miles looks like he has some serious concerns about joining this crazy family! Sorry buddy, you got us for LIFE!!

Is that a button nose or what?!

Preparing to head home with our new family member...