We have a new baby!

Okay, WE don't have a new baby....but my sister, Cortni, does!

Avery Laine Henke decided to surprise us all a few days early, and we have enjoyed loving on her all weekend long. Saturday morning, at 8:32 am, she REALLY surprised her mommy and daddy by coming within 40 minutes of their arrival at the hospital. Mark, the girls, and I arrived about 20 minutes before Avery's debut, to help with Braden, and be the photographer of the whole event. :) I think our whole family expected a full day of labor, so it was a surprise to all of us to spend the entire day loving on this baby girl instead!

(And, we even got to love on this little guy too! :) Cousin Caleb who is older than Avery by only six weeks! But, boy, does he look BIG next to his baby cousin!)

I'll let Cortni share her actual story (check out her blog at http://henkehappenings.blogspot.com/ for more!), but I just have to say how amazed I was by her strength through it all. Because labor went so quickly, she did not get to have her blessed epidural, and delivered her 9 pound, 1 ounce ball of cuteness "au naturel". She did AWESOME. I was a pretty helpless "labor coach", since I've never done that!! But, it was an honor to get to be a part of Avery's birth by at least clicking some pictures. She may kill me for this, but this is one of my favorites. This was right after the doctor handed Cortni the baby. Her breath of relief combined with Adam's tears is precious to me. :)

The girls are, of course, in love with their new cousin as well. We have no pictures of Abby Kate with Avery, because she was literally wanting to grab the poor girl's face with both hands. So, needless to say, we kept her away!

We are all so thankful that Avery and Cortni are doing so well and feeling so good. Praise God for healthy babies! We love you, Baby Avery! And, we look forward to our next visit to hold you VERY soon! Like, maybe tomorrow?!