Sweet Susannah

Susannah Virginia Byrd is Here!

Susannah Virginia Byrd was born on January 17, 2012 at 10:36pm at a whopping 10 lbs. 7 oz. and 20.5 inches long. She has already stolen our hearts and brings us so much joy! 

Right after she was born - she just stared at ross and i back and forth for a while and was so peaceful.

Getting cleaned up in the nursery

Captures how peaceful this little dumpling is!

Her first morning - so alert!

The moment she's been waiting for! Ila is SO proud to be a big sister.

 

Grammie

She LOVES her daddy and lights up everytime he holds her or talks to her

Woofie and Grandaddy - We had the most amazing view from our recovery room and could watch the sunset over the mountains. I'm pretty sure Beyonce didn't have it this good.

Grandmom

Leaving the hospital!

Soaking up the glory

Mema and Papa

Pappy

Mimi

Auntie Caca

Ila asks to hold her baby sister alllll the time and is so gentle and sweet with her.

Can't believe we have TWO amazing girls!

This One Goes Out To All The Expecting Grandparents Out There...

Susannah's Baby Shower

(This is another catch up post)
I have been meaning to post these pics from my baby shower back in November. Some dear friends in C'ville gave me a luncheon to celebrate Susannah and I just felt so loved by all the thought that went into it. My amazingly talented friend Cate held it at her house and did an awesome job decorating. Thanks guys!

Will This Be Our Last Day?

   Though I know this new baby girl will bring so much joy into our family and I am beyond excited to meet her, it's hard not to feel a little sad sometimes as this chapter of our lives comes to a close. My heart is already so full of love for Ila it's hard to imagine having room for one more. Will Ila not feel as loved by me? How will she respond when I can't always pick her up or hold her the way I had? Will she understand? These are the questions I already know the answers to, but still ask myself and get a little sad. Especially at Sweet Frog the other night as I was relishing our family time and then a sappy acoustic version of "Freshmen" started playing. I'll blame pregnancy hormones on that one, but it just about put me over the edge into some real public sobbing. Thanks a lot Verve Pipe.
   I know the initial weeks and months will be an adjustment for all of us, but what I need to remind myself now is that children are a gift, God designed Susannah to be Ila's sister, and that it will be so so so GOOD. I also know that the instant she is born it will all make sense, but for now I can't help but stare at Ila all day and tell her how loved she is. I am already so proud of her for the way she has handled the anticipation of her baby sister's birth too. She will tell random people that she is going to help change diapers and do the dishes after her baby sister is born. If she finds something small on the ground, she will say "Susannah can't have this because it's too little and she might choke." Though i expect frequent meltdowns and tantrums when she fully realizes how much she is going to have to share, I am still so proud of Ila for what her three-year-old mind can already understand.
   So if this was our last day, or if tomorrow is, or the day after that (hopefully not 2 weeks from now), I know that it will be the end of something good but the beginning of something even better.  We will have the privilege of welcoming a precious new life into the world that we get to have in our family.

(But for now, pardon me if crappy 90's rock music makes me burst into tears in the local Sweet Frog).

Can't wait to meet you Susannah Byrd!

Susannah's Nursery

Susannah is due tomorrow! I have been wanting to post some pics of her nursery for quite some time, so here it is! I hope she likes it ;)

We kept the paint, curtains, and guest bedding the same, but still tried to make it work as nursery as well.

Some of Ila's dresses and Auntie Caca's from when she was a wee one.

It's a bit crowded with the queen bed still in here, but we are going to need some help when the baby comes! I was happy to find some crib bedding that coordinated with the guest room bedding we already had.

Ross' parents had this antique furniture beautifully painted by a woman in virginia beach. we love it!

The framed picture was in Ila's room when she was first born.

(still need a lamp shade or a new lamp) and we're going to paint the changing top from Ila's furniture, but you get the idea.

I wanted to remember being pregnant with Susannah and what it was like to anticipate her birth, so this is more for me.

Some friends who are ready to meet her!