John D Willbanks IV (JACK!!)

Our sweet baby boy was born at 4:57 pm on Monday, January 23 after a mere 9 hours of labor. We went in a little before 8:00 that morning and I was between a 1 and a 2 when they started the pitocin. I was only dilated to a 3 until about 3:00pm when I was at a 4. (Got the epidural at 1:30 and it was GREAT.) Then at 4:30ish I was like, "I'm feeling a TON of pressure!" The nurse checked me and I was a 9. She said she'd be back at 5:00 to check me again, but I had to call her back in at 4:35 because I really thought he was going to come out right then. She came back and I was a 10 and READY to push. My doctor got there right after I started pushing and in 15 minutes he was here!

He was so cute and looked just like his sister. He had a head full of hair---not quite as thick as Hayley's but still a good amount. He was having a hard time breathing, so they had to take him to the NICU for about 3 hours. It made us very sad that he had to be taken away from us for that time, but at the same time I couldn't feel THAT sad because I knew he was going to be okay and I thought of all the parents that have to send their children to the NICU for much more serious complications and THAT made me even more sad than seeing him go for the short 3 hours.

He is such a good little baby. He is nursing like a champ and sleeping really well so far. Hayley is adjusting really well overall. My mom has been here since last Sunday and staying through the end of this week. I want to cry when I think about her leaving. Tra does too. : ) We were talking about how Hayley is going to have a harder time adjusting to Nana not being here than she is to her new brother. : ( Austin is not very far away though, thankfully. Here are a couple of pictures of our new addition. It's amazing how we are already SO in love with our little Jack!

Jack's Birthday. . .

Well, the big day is quickly approaching. I am scheduled to be induced this Monday the 23rd at 8:00 am---a week before his actual due date. My doctor decided to induce to make sure Jack is not as big as Hayley was---9 lbs. My prediction is that he will be somewhere in the 8 lb. range. It's hard to believe that this time next week I will know what he looks like and be able to hold him and hug him and kiss him! I will also be home from the hospital and working on the adjustment from one to two kiddos and from sleeping all night to not sleeping much at all. My mom is going to be here for the week at least. I'm so so so so so thankful that she is able to come and stay with us. She is the greatest. She'll play with Hayley and help with cooking and do all kinds of stuff around here without me ever having to say a word. Moms are the best.

I'm excited about getting this show on the road. I'm not even all that anxious about the birth itself this time around. I guess because I pretty much know what to expect and I know I can not only handle the pain, but live through it. : ) I am hoping that this time around my epidural will work a little higher up than my legs. With Hayley my legs were totally out, but I could feel all of my contractions. Whoops! My anesthesiologist's name was Dr. Needleman---kind of ironic. : )

The next time I write, hopefully I'll be holding little Jack OUTSIDE of my stomach and at least 20 pounds lighter! Ahhhh, to be able to roll over onto my stomach at night again and see all of my legs when I look down and no more heartburn as I'm drifting off to sleep. I can't wait!!!

3 Little Monkeys

Hayley, Emma Russell (Muh-Muh) and Ava Walters (Baba) enjoying an afternoon playing in Emma's backyard before Ava moved to Abilene. This was the closest we got to getting all 3 of them to peek through at the same time. Very tricky.




Learning to share is always an adventure!











Hayley loves Baba. She is going to miss her when she is gone, but we look forward to lots of visits!

Enjoying a snack of goldfish. Little did we know that Ava stuffed the majority in her mouth somehow when we weren't looking! Silly girl!


We love you Chad, Summer and Ava and miss you a ton already! Looking forward to your next blog entry so that we can see how you guys are doing in Abilene!

Happy New Year everybody! May we all be aware of the many blessings God provides for us EACH day of 2006!