Visitors and Appointments

More visitors for Maira over the holidays--she was born at a good time, right in the heart of the Christmas season--and people were out and about, making special trips to come meet her. Pastor Nielsen and his wife Deb came by soon after we got home from the hospital (Pastor Nielsen also came TO the hospital to pray with us while Amanda entered the insane segment of her labor. We'll be having Maira baptized soon. Pastor and Deb brought us a wonderful dinner of chili (which was awesome) and some salad.....

And the Fitzpatricks (minus Brad, who was sick) came by the next day so the kids could meet the little lady. Here is our Siena, their oldest, holding Maira....
and here is Callum's little friend Mia holding her, guided by Sasha. At one point, very shortly ago, the Callums and the Mias and the Emmys were the "babies" of the church; now, there is Maira, Lucy, Amy's baby (who will be born in February) and Betsey's baby (who will be born at the end of January). Our church continues to grow, and we are blessed with lots of new little people!
Maira's first doctor's appointment with the man everyone is my family loves to tease us about: Dr. Murray James. Maira had a GREAT first appointment--her birth weight was 8.12 and she left the hospital at 8.05...most babies, Dr. MJ said, take the first month to reach their birth weight again (and that is the norm, he explained). Maira is already weighing in at 8 pounds 14 ounces. A big girl. She will, very soon, start beating up her older brother....

Also, is Maira getting ready to flip off the camera?

I wish we had pictures from Nannie and Upbob's visit--it was fun! They came up on the day before Christmas Eve, took Callum to Governor's for shrimp and rice, and then came back to our house where we just had a good visit! Nannie got plenty of time holding Maira in the rocking chair by the wood stove, Upbob and I shared a glass of wine and toyed with the notion of possibly imbibing some Allyn's Coffee Brandy, and Callum got to open one of his favorite gifts of the entire holiday season: A Charlie Brown Christmas sound book where you read the story and press certain buttons that "mimic" the TV special. Actually, he has already worn out the batteries.

All in all a great Christmas season--waiting for our little girl during the season of Advent was so appropriate and beautiful. And we enjoyed our time with family. The only downside, for me, was the limited time I got to spend with my family down in Mass. We didnt travel at all this season, for obvious reasons. But we missed "Nana's Christmas Party" which is a yearly tradition in my family. It would be great to have my mom or dad up here one Christmas to see the kids in all their resplendent craziness and joy! Perhaps one day. My dad and sister are headed up in a week or so to meet Maira, so we will look forward to that!