If you don't laugh...

You'll cry, right? I think I'll just eat ice cream...and cry later. :)
No really, I'm doing great. I haven't cried in weeks. Life is crazy, but it's fun. Having Nana's hands here REALLY helps. I'll probably cry when she leaves just like I did when mom left.

We went to the zoo for a friend's birthday and had a great time. G money and Heavy D loved the animals we saw (I think we only made it about a quarter of the way around the place) and Baby Caroline slept the whole time. We picnicked under a covered area because it looked like a storm was coming, and it did, right as we finished our lunch. SO...everyone else who was at the zoo that day joined us for our picnic. Fortunately, we had the seats. :)

Here are some shots from our day:


See the light in his eyes? The boy loves ice cream even when he is exhausted. Don't even try to take it away to help him wipe it off...it's better in the long run to have the stuff running down his fat arms. Pick your battles, right?


Don't let the look on his face throw you. This boy loves ice cream too, he just can't hide it when he's exhausted.

I think this is at the giraffe exhibit. The boys weren't crazy about feeding them, but they both tried. The long black tongues freaked them out. :)

Heavy D and his friend Natalie riding the zoo train. This was the highlight of the day for all children involved.

No, I'm not eating TWO ice cream cones. (But I wanted to.) Caroline is in this picture...fyi. I gotta say, I'm getting good at multi-tasking. :)

Olice loves balls of all sizes!

especially the kind you can pick and eat in Oma's garden!!

Georgia's already growing cuter!

Introducing: Georgia Louise Fisher

Baby Girl Fisher has arrived...

She may have been "Scheduled" to arrive tomorrow, but Little Miss Fisher has a bit of a pistol streak already, and she decided that her birthday was going to be June 13th. Last night (the 12th), much to Nancy & Reid's surprise, baby girl decided it was time to make her debut. Fortunately they made it to the hospital in time for the doctors to help her along and she arrived shortly after midnight.



sleeping soundly...



after lunch...



with her mom and dad

Scheduled to come into the world

Well, I rescheduled my C Section date. I think most of you know, but mom told me to blog the information. Now we are scheduled to have our baby girl on June 14th in an effort to have a few more days to unpack seeing as how we are not yet in our house:) Won't be long!!
Nancy

It's About Time I Had a Say - Caroline

As you can tell, Mommy and I got to come home the other day. My brothers were delighted, to say the least, and Garrison in particular wanted to know all about our matching hospital bracelets and to see Mommy's tummy where I hung out for SO long!!


Garrison is so much happier than when his little brother came home from the hospital. But Daniel isn't sure he cares if I'm here or not; he's happy as long as he gets fed and watered regularly. Come to think of it - that's one of my top priorities, too. But every once in a while he gives my strawberry blond curls a tender whop or he investigates the holes in my ears or nose. You wait, Brother!

On the same day that I came home, my Pops arrived from the airport to see me (from South Carolina!) My brothers showed him my room - with the painting that Garrison did for me - and their own new room as well. They have this cool fake fish tank thing that I'm sure I'll enjoy a lot one day. Right now I'm all about sleeping - that was a hard delivery, you know. It's not easy coming out face up - and then having to have your tongue clipped so that you can eat properly. Quite stressful really. But my mom handles everything so well!
Like having Traveler come to spend the night. Todd and Schelyn were both going to be away so my Mom said it'd be OK. She knows that our Dixie likes to have her friend over - especially when Oma plays ball in the backyard with both of them. Did I tell you that G & D gave me this cute little pink pig? (Of course we all got presents from Pops, too). It may look like I'm about the same size as this soft critter but I've got it outweighed, let me tell you!



Anyway, it wasn't long before Todd and Jack Greer came by to see me and to pick up their dog. And then late the next day Auntie Schelyn stopped by on her way home from the airport. Can you believe she'd come to see me before picking up her own little boy from the baby sitter's (Todd had to go back to work - it's a complicated story - I'll tell you one day)! Anyway, I feel really loved.

That's all I have to say for now! But I'm sure my mom will keep everyone updated either here or on her spot: erikacounts.blogspot.com. Check it out. And I can't wait to see what my Aunt Nancy and Uncle Reid's little girl is going to look like. She and I will be having tea parties with Oma one day, I know!

I'll get to meet little Miss Fisher and all the others from South Carolina in early October at the 'Baker Laker' week. Think of the pictures we'll get then!!
Thanks for listening - I think I'll go back to sleep now. After a little more milk and maybe a new diaper. I feel like such a princess already.

Well, sort of:

A Very Important Visit to the Hospital for Two Big Brothers

This brand new hospital has a great view of Pike's Peak but I didn't want to move the kids for a better angle!

Caroline looks so very little and helpless next to G & D.

I bet these boys will do a great job of protecting their little sister in future but for the moment they were more interested in what was under her wrappings. Of course G & D got to unwrap a couple of gifts and Garrison immediately started writing his letters - in particular: Caroline's initials. (Keep in mind that this boy just turned three years old four months ago; spoken like a typically proud Oma, eh?)


Caroline's mommy is a little worried that she'll grow up to be a tomboy so she's going to put her in a lot of pink 'til then.


And Daddy doesn't mind what his little princess wants to wear!

A Very Special 'Birth'day! -a note from Oma

I promised some details and here they are: Caroline Ashleigh Counts was born on May 31st, 2007 at 12:49 PM - six pounds/10 ounces and 20 inches long. Now for a little story on her first day of life!

Big brothers, Garrison and Daniel have had quite a bit of practice with babies (since cousin Jack Greer is only 8 months old right now and they have Peter and Spencer on the other side of the family). But we all know that it'll be a different story when a baby actually moves into their house with them! (They've already had to give up one of their rooms for her! But that'll be OK since they have bunk beds to look forward to!)



Thankfully, a lot of fun and exciting things happen when a new baby comes into the world. On this particular morning (before Little Sister's arrival), I presented the big brothers with some really cool toys (at least I hoped they'd think so): a kaleidoscope with Thomas the train decorations on the outside, and a car that pops when you roll it.
Naturally, smart little copy-cat Daniel thought that he should use his toy the same way that his big brother did his.
Fortunately for me, these toys proved to be a bigger hit than even I'd guessed - and helped to fill quite a few blocks of time in the day (in between watching Elmo, playing in the sandbox, napping, playing with rocks, eating a few meals and enduring bathtime!)
Anyway, after naptime, since we knew that 'Baby Sister' was finally here, G & D celebrated with pink popsicles that Garrison had helped make the day before.
We weren't even finished our treats when Mommy and Daddy called from the hospital and told us her name: Caroline Ashleigh!!


Then it was time to put the pink ribbon on the mailbox and greet a few well-wishing neighbors. The boys were euphoric about her arrival, or just about life in general, and as they spun around the lamp post in the front yard, we made up a new song (Uncle Will will appreciate this):

Ring around the rosies,
Caroline likes posies
Ashleigh, Ashleigh,
we all fall down!

At last Bryan returned home from the hospital (very sweet of him to take over bedtime duties) in order that I could go the hospital all by myself! Spending time with our own first daughter, and holding our first little grand daughter was a pleasure 'beyond all praising', to quote the words from my favorite hymn.
Caroline, you are so beautiful (of course) and your little face really reminds me of Erika's 30 years ago. We'll have to pull out her baby pictures today - I bet Garrison will really like that.

But this is only the beginning of the story, of course. Caroline, your little brothers are coming for a visit today - you're going to meet the rest of the most important people in your life!

Pops, when you fly out here on Saturday, would you please bring an infant-sized hard-hat or football helmet please?

With love to all the Baker's (and Counts')
from Oma Marijke
(in sunny, dry Colorado)