Welcome to our family, Eve!!!

The kids could hardly contain their excitement in the final days

as we anticipated our baby's birth!

And the actual event was just as thrilling as they'd imagined

(well... Amelia doesn't look too thrilled, but I can assure you she was!)

This was their first peek at their forever sister!

While most babies are welcomed into the world with softly sung lullaby's,

Eve was welcomed with a heart felt, albeit off-key, rendition of Happy Birth-day!

They even brought an Oreo birthday cake!

(The chocolate cake crumbs in the hospital bed that night reminded me that

I am blessed

and

motherhood is never boring!)

..... but motherhood certainly is rewarding!!!

Proud Daddy is in love...

... and for good reasons.

Jacob meets Eve.

(Our oldest and youngest.)

Aubree gives Eskimo Kisses.

Hayden is so tender with his Sister....

... and Seth is a gentle giant.

And Amelia is just happy, happy, happy!!!

Let's take her HOME!

Eve Isabelle Wilcox!

Today I met my baby girl.

It is a reality that doesn't fully hit you until they place her in your arms.

The weekly doctor's visits, growing belly, and uncomfortable contractions

all provide a foreshadowing;

but you never fully comprehend how much and how quickly

you will fall in love and have your life forever changed

until she is there-- in your arms;

until you feel her soft skin, smell her sweet breath, and touch her tiny hands and feet.

And in that moment you forget that there ever was a time when you didn't know her;

a time when your life didn't revolve around her;

a time when you were not complete.

Being reintroduced to my children after a few earthly years

or a few eternal moments apart

is one of my favorite experiences upon this earth.

The veil between heaven and earth is so thin

as these sweet spirits enter their mortal life.

What a time of joy!

What a privilege to be part of that process.

Eve was born at 4:10pm on September 17th, 2009.

She weighed 7 pounds 5 ounces & is 20 inches long.

She is perfect.

Welcome to our hearts Eve!

"Elk"

Here is "Elk," my deer. Got it last week. Seth said we should call it "Elk," and after going to Rocky Mtn. NP on Memorial Day weekend and seeing thousands of real elk, that's what Mia calls anything in the deer family. So this is Elk. I guess it's a fitting name since it was supposed to be an elk. The mount turned out nice. Elk is a good looking buck - good coloration. He is likely the last deer I'll ever shoot since we don't really care for deer meat.

So there you go. Maybe I'll actually get an elk this year and we can call him Buck or something.

Bryan

Like Father, Like Son

When Seth saw Bryan put on his PJ's he was THRILLED to realize that he had similar PJ's in his own drawer. He ran to his room and came back yelling, "We are matching!!!" And boy are they ever!

Seth is the spittin' image of his dad at age 4 (almost 5). They are even both number 4 in the family line-up (even the exact same boy/girl order!) They have the same temperament and quirks.

And they are both super easy to fall in love with!!!

An Edible Girl....

Amelia is my quintessential girl.

At age 18 months she love to be in the kitchen on a stool

(especially if something sweet is in the works!).

Couldn't you just eat her?!

Jake & Aubree at Cotillion Graduation

If you click "view all images" you can see the pics better.

Excited for our sixth!!

Jame, based on my vasectomy comment mentioned in the other post, and others similar to it, I expect that you must feel that I reluctantly await this birth. I just want you to know that I am excited to have our sixth baby! Our life together with our kids is tremendous, and I love going on this journey of life together with you. It's fun to go down the road of life and encounter the unexpected turns and views that we are blessed to experience. I was looking at some of our family pictures on my screensaver today in between patients and saw this one with Amelia and I realize that these moments are all too fleeting, and I'm looking forward to savoring it a little more this time.

I love you!!!!!!!!

Bryan