Baby Brewer is here!!

I woke up this morning, annoyed with my alarm clock as usual...until I realized that today was the DAY! My nephew was coming! It's amazing how quickly I will jump out of bed for that!

As we were getting ready, my sister and I were debating what time we should aim to arrive at the hospital. Avery came really fast {as in, no-time-for-an-epidural-here-in-30-minutes fast}, so we knew this could happen again. But, then again, it could take a while since she was being induced.

I got ready and hoped that Mr. Brewer would take a little bit of time while I drop my kids off at my sweet, amazing friend, Krista's house, and get a little Chick-fil-a...you know I've got to have my big tea for a whole day of waiting!

As I exit to get to Chick-fil-a, Cassie calls to tell me that Cortni is already at a NINE and is going to be pushing soon. This was at 8:55 am.

She started pitocin at 7:00 am. Got her epidural at 8:30 am. And, now she is pushing??

I do what no reponsible mini-van driving mom should do. I hop the curb back up onto the freeway and skip the tea. I literally throw my kids out of the van at Krista's, and honk my way to the hospital, through a shut-down freeway {for useless construction, of course}. As I'm sitting in the traffic, hoping and praying that Brewer waited just a FEW minutes for me to get there, I text Cassie to say that I'm just going to come straight back when I get there, even though she'll be in the middle of pushing.

Cassie's response: She just had him.

Ahhhhh!!!! How did that boy come SO FAST??

I parked the car and ran inside, as if there was something I was going to miss if I didn't hurry. It was pretty funny. He was already here. There wasn't anything I could miss. Except extra time to cuddle the cutest little butterball ever!

I found out after I came in that Cortni pushed twice. And, out popped a NINE POUND ELEVEN OUNCE cutie. My sister is literally amazing. She was meant to have babies. And, she does it so gracefully. It kind of makes me sick. :)

{Disclaimer: The flash on my camera is broken, so better pictures of this cutie will be available on my sister's blog soon.}

So, needless to say, we were all SO happy to meet yet another happy, healthy, precious baby. And, we enjoyed a whole day of loving on him, and ooo-ing and aww-ing over all his smushy parts. The cheeks are literally irresistible. Pictures don't even do them justice. :)

Throughout the day, I kept thinking how richly and lavishly God pours out His blessings on our family. Sure, we've had our times of loss and grief and we miss our little Chase who isn't here to hang with his boy cousins. But, what I kept being struck by was how much MORE God has given than He has taken away. He gives, and gives, and gives. And, blesses and blesses and blesses. I think our family even more gratefully notices each and every amazing miracle in a little body like this one:

Oh, I love him so much! And, I'm so happy for this family of five.

Avery and Braden were so precious meeting their little brother, and asking all their questions about what the nurses were doing to their "baby brudder". My favorite quote from Braden was "I wuv my baby brother". And, Avery's quote was: "Baby Brewer....is awesome!"

I loved watching the two of them take this all in and get to know their baby brother {and play with the hospital remote and watch cartoons and sit with their momma}. As they said goodbye, they hugged and kissed on him. I just said a little silent prayer over their little sibling friendships, knowing what a powerful thing it will be in their lives.

I know this, firsthand. Because I love these three girls---my friends, my sisters---SO much.

And, we really love celebrating every time we are given the "Aunt" title again:

I also, of course, love watching some cousin lovin' from my girls as well. They got to come up this afternoon and love on Brewer. The pictures speak for themselves. I love my girls. And, they love their cousin.

We love you, Cortni and Adam, and you make some CUTIE PATOOTIE kids. :)

Don't worry. I'll be back tomorrow for more lovin'. Until then, don't let Brewer forget who his favorite aunt is. :)