Very Loved Indeed

We have spent the past 40 hours beginning to get acquainted with baby Leo, trying to sneak some sleep in whenever we can, and figuring out what this new life--with four kids--is going to look like. It still feels completely unreal to me that we have a new baby in our house. I think I haven't fully integrated everything yet. Leo is absolutely dreamy. He's so peaceful and calm, and I love opening up his burrito-wrap blanket and examining every little part of him. I just can't stare at him enough.

teeny tiny wrinkly feet

Leo's fingers and Lena's fingers

perfect little mouth,
resting his smooth head in my hand

the start of a smile!

He is still naked, and has spent the vast majority of his life snuggling skin-to-skin or nursing with Lena--if only all new babies and new mamas could be so lucky! We probably won't bother to get him dressed until Lena leaves the bed in another week or so. We know how fast this time will go, and we are trying our best to just love every minute of it while it lasts and are in no hurry to move things along.

blissed out Mama,
my most amazing wife

The Big Brothers Three are all very enamored with the newest member of their pack, and patiently wait in line for their turn to hold him when he's not sleeping or nursing. Leo is so cooperative and happily goes along with being passed from one small lap to another, while the boys exclaim over his cuteness, talk about who he looks like, and declare their love for him.

big brother Zeb,
holding his "bruddah Leelo"

big brother Jaz,
always very careful to support Leo's head

big brother Luke,
perhaps the most smitten of the bunch

Lest you get the idea that all is calm and peaceful in our postpartum nest, I think I ought to post this photo as well:

Don't worry, Leo wasn't in any danger,
Zeb was just doing a bit of a happy dance,
not actually trying to kick the baby

Leo takes his big brothers' crazy, rambunctious energy in stride. After all, he's been listening in on their chaos for months now, so he's used to it. But sometimes it is a little much for Lena and me. Luckily we are surrounded by many caring and supportive friends and family members, who are all working together to keep us well fed and to help us out with the big kids. We feel so grateful. It is such a luxury to get to just lie back in bed and fall in love with our new baby, without having to worry about what's for dinner or what Luke, Jaz and Zeb are doing. Thank you, everyone! We feel very loved indeed.

Lena and I are BOTH planning to write up the birth story sometime very soon and share it with you all (minus pictures since there sadly aren't any . . . things happened rather fast!).