Penelope Grace

Audrey: "Hey Momma, I knowed how you got a baby:  You dranked a lot of water a'then you went, ahhh! [scream] and it turned you fat, a'then you needed to get the baby out so you got the baby out, a'then you loved her so much!  Do you want some water, Mom?"

Introducing Penelope Grace who arrived exactly one week late on July 26, after three months of some serious... well I was going to say elephantiasis until I looked it up to verify spelling and saw exactly what it is.  Uh, that is not what I had.  ...Who arrived after three months of some seriously swollen ankles.  Audrey is right, we love her very much and our lives are forever changed.

 

One Monday night shortly after Penelope's birth, we had a family home evening about happiness.  During the lesson I recommended that if ever one of us is sad and can't shake ourselves out of it, simply look at Pippi's feet and we'll be magically cured of the blues.  A week or so later James burst into my room, tears streaming.  He had been injured and needed some comfort.  I reached out to hug him, but he ignored me and went straight to Pip.  He rummaged around in the blankets for a second then fished out a chubby pink foot.  He watched it intently for a few moments as the tiny toes fluttered and curled.  Slowly a smile broke across his face. He wiped his eyes and laughed.  Then he covered her foot again, kissed her head and softly said, "Thank you, Baby."  Then he walked out of the room and closed the door.  

Thus is the magic and blessing of a baby.