Ten Days Ago...

My life was quite different ten days ago.  Back then, I only had three kids.  But now, I have FOUR!

On June 8, we welcomed Jade Xia Koberstein into our family!  She, like our other kids, is perfect in every way :) 

 Labor and delivery went very smoothly.  My water broke at 6:30pm on June 7, we got to the hospital around 8:00pm, and she was born at 2:13am. Our baby girl was pink and healthy and pouting as she came into the world.  I decided to go natural again with this birth, and I think it paid off for recovery.  Epidurals just don't agree with my body.

 I saw the team of midwives at Kaiser through this pregnancy.  I really enjoyed all of them, but we had the most chipper and upbeat of them all for our delivery!  Allison S. is the perfect midwife for a midnight labor!  She kept us laughing and excited through it all! Also, she let me eat whatever I wanted. Yay!

 My primary presidency girls got me a pedicure a couple weeks ago and it lasted really well!  Pretty toe nails are fun to have when you have to wear those "special" hospital clothes... 

 Nana and Papa Severson came as soon as I called them on Friday evening.  The kids spent the night at their house and came to see their new sister, who finally had a name, after lunch on Saturday.

 When I was calling Jon and mom and dad on Friday, when I just realized my water had broken, Xochitl, unprompted, began singing, "Happy Birthday, dear baby!" I don't give her enough credit!  She really internalizes everything going on around her!

 Larry was really excited to show a picture of "his" baby to his preschool class on Monday!

 Mom and Dad saying hi to their 29th grand baby.  Jade is the 14th Koberstein grand baby. Talk about lots of cousins!

 Dawna and Xochitl picked flowers from Nana's yard for baby Jade. They were very fragrant and made the hospital room very cheery!

 Nothing is sweeter than seeing my sweetheart hold our little baby! He is so amazing with all our kids!

 We got home from the hospital on Sunday afternoon.  We decided to stay two days.  It was almost like a vacation for me, with my older kids happily taken care of and food being brought to me on a tray  for every meal!

 Brooke came by to meet baby Jade. She stayed and told funny stories to Larry and gave me a great back massage!

 Xochitl, ever protective big sister!  She is my Number 1 helper with Jade!  She will get diapers, throw away diapers, give her a Binky, rock her in her bassinet... really do anything as long as it's for baby! Cutest thing ever (I have on video, and will try to post it later...): when asked what her name is, Xochitl says, "Jade Zebra." oops...

 Our first family outing with four kids!  We went to the Ohlone college pond.  We thought there might be ducks to feed... we were greeted by turtles and fish ready to eat bread! At one point, Jon and I counted 17 turtles!

 Our second family outing: to Antioch!  The apricot tree was ready to be harvested and Uncle Lynn said he wouldn't eat them all... so we brought home many bags and a bucket full of apricots! Jade got to meet Uncles Lynn and Weston!

 And daddy taking care of Jade: Crosswords on one hand, Binky finger on the other... so cute!