We are a family of four!

I guess I have been out numbered since December of 2006 but now it really feels like it. Now I get to say, "Steven, watch the boys while I grab dinner." We welcomed William Grandison Link into the world and into our family Wednesday, December 22, at 12:26 pm. He weighed 6 pounds, 9 ounces and was 19.25 inches long.
This time it was different walking into Labor and Delivery. Unlike our last visit which took 19 hours to have a baby, we walked in knowing that in two hours we would have a baby. Steven and I arrived at the hospital at 10:00 am. There was no waiting... I was in a gown, in bed, with an IV and an epidural within an hour. Family and friends arrived around 11:00 and my doctor was with me in the OR before noon. Minutes later, there was a William Link. William was 2 pounds heavier and 2 inches longer than his big brother. He was born with hair. It took John Parker like 6 months to have any hair. William and John Parker look identical! The c-section and the hospitalization went well. William passed all neonatologist and pediatrician exams. Lots of friends and family were present during the delivery and/or stopped by the hospital to meet William. Santa and Mrs. Claus visited the nursery so William got his first picture with Santa! We brought William home on Christmas Eve. John Parker loves his baby brother and has already been a big help. Feeding is going well and sleeping....well....feeding is going so well that he would rather feed than sleep :). He is a BIG eater already.
Christmas was a little different this year but we got to do the big traditional activities. My family got to Nashville the day before the C-section and I had Christmas dinner cooked and ready. We exchanged presents and tried to get to bed early (I actually slept the night before the delivery). Since we were able to make it home by Christmas Eve, John Parker baked his gingerbread men cookies for Santa and opened one present which is always a Christmas Tree ornament. John Parker got a train ornament and William got a bird ornament. Christmas morning we woke up to see what Santa brought and ate our traditional sausage cheese biscuits. Later in the afternoon, we made it over to the Link's for Christmas dinner.
I can not image a more perfect Christmas present for our family! Enjoy pictures of William (pictures taken by Steven, Louis, and good friend Tarrah).

Garth Brooks!!!

I do not think you will find it in the what to expect when your expecting books... but, what are you suppose to do 5 days before you deliver your second born? Well obviously, you spontaneously go to the 10:00 Garth Brooks concert. IT WAS AWESOME!!! William danced in my belly the entire concert.

Christmas Fun

Christmas is so fun. I love repeating old traditions and since we have such a young family, we are also making new traditions. John Parker had his school Christmas program and party. All of the three year olds gathered in the church and sang for the parents. I would have never believed John Parker knew SOOOOO many songs! During their party they decorated ornaments with their hand prints and made reindeer snacks. So fun.
This weekend we spent the night at the farm and decorated gingerbread houses with Grammy and Poppy. What a great new tradition.

JPL Turns 4!!!!

I can not believe it either!!!! John Parker is 4 years old...
Of course his birthday was not simply a one day event. On December 4, we went on a real train ride. John Parker LOVES trains and he had such a great time and so did we. It was a Polar Express themed train ride so Santa stopped by and John Parker got to tell Santa exactly what he wanted for Christmas....trains (what else). You will see in the picture with Santa's elf, John Parker was explaining that he had NOT just asked Santa for a stuffed snowman. He had asked for a train. There MUST be some mistake!!!!
After the train ride, we had friends and family over for cake and party.
Then, on December 9 (JPL's actual birthday) Steven, JPL, and I had pancakes and chocolate milk at Cracker Barrel and visited Opryland Hotel to see the Christmas lights.