Nora Melanie Rynearson was born on June 7, 2011 at 1:43 pm. She weighed 8 lbs 2 oz and was 21 1/4 inches. She had lots of hair that stuck straight up. We went to the hospital to be induced that morning and everything went so great. We dropped Maddie, Bella, and Nathan at our friends' Todd and Tamara's house. They have kids our kids ages and we were so grateful to them for watching the kids all day for us! It is so nice to have good friends you can call when you live away from family. I've never been induced before so it was kind of strange to just walk in the hospital to go have a baby. It worked out so well though because I didn't have to worry about what to do with the other kids and Scott had some time off. I'd been dilated and effaced for a while and with this being baby #4 we figured it wouldn't take too long. I delivered at Scott's hospital so all the nurses were excited and the other residents had decorated our room. It was really sweet of everyone. Once my doctor broke my water at 12:15 I got my epidural and had Nora at 1:43. She was healthy and cute and immediately started sucking her thumb. Everyone always asks if Scott delivered her, but we decided since he delivers babies everyday anyway that this time he would just be the dad. We were glad that we did it this way and we got to enjoy the moment.
Scott got the other kids that afternoon and they came to the hospital to meet Nora. They were all very excited, especially since we hadn't figured out what to name her until she was born. They had just been calling her baby, but now they could meet their new sister Nora. Nora and I stayed at the hospital that night and Scott and the kids came the next day to pick us up and bring us home. Scott had the week off work and it was so great to have our little family all together as we were adjusting and recovering. Scott and the big kids did lots of fun outings and it was just a treat for us to have him around. He took care of all of us and I'm so grateful.
Nora has been the best little baby we could have asked for. She is so sweet and just basically eats and sleeps. She really has been so fun and we all adore her. It is amazing how tiny she is and that this little person was just living inside me not long ago. She is such a little snuggler and loves to be held. She is so good natured. She looks most like Nathan when he was a baby.
Maddie, Bella, and Nathan have been great with her. I've been especially amazed at how sweet Nathan has been with her. He just loves her and likes to hold her and get right up in her face. :) I had to include this last picture too because here Maddie and Bella were reading Nathan a bedtime story. The girls have stepped up and been great big sisters and helpers. They have been helping me clean up the house, playing with Nathan, getting me diapers and picking out Nora's clothes, etc. They have all done great and we are so blessed with these four wonderful kids.
