In which we discuss the new baby, various explosions and problematic living arrangements

Deise is more awake these days, growing longer hair and eyelashes and slightly less furry on the shoulders and back. She has the same blue-gray eyes Daniel had at birth; his turned brown so hers probably will, too.

She's had lots of visitors, bringing lots of food and making lots of cooing sounds. She got to go to church twice and to the library once, before our pediatrician told us to keep her home from now on until she's at least six weeks old. She's loved it all, especially the part where she gets to be held all the time, to the point where she's now finding it difficult to sleep otherwise. As Daniel put it, "It seems she's enjoying being a baby."

Matching Sisters (in pillow case dresses by Mom)

According to Grandpa Craig, the third child somehow figures out what the family is missing, and moves to fill the niche. And sure enough, Deise has distinguished herself by having the busiest digestive system ever. 10-12 diapers a day on average? That's obviously for amateurs. And we're talking projectile poop: all over Mom's lap, shirt and hair, and even down the inside of her shirt. That takes talent, folks.

Uncle John took a detour last week from a gig with the Fab Faux in Gainesville to visit his new niece. Aunty Tara, who hasn't made it down yet, is very, very jealous.

Fun with mentos, a liter of coke, and an empty lot on our block.

Daniel wants everyone to know that even though you can't see it in this picture, the spray went higher than the trees (his emphasis).

After nearly two weeks, Grandpa Craig finally got to see Deise awake.

Daniel reading 10 Little Ladybugs to Deise, on his own initiative.
(He wouldn't let me publish the picture of him reading on the potty. Very media savvy of him. You never know what might come back to haunt you on a job interview someday.)

On a totally unrelated note, this is a picture I've been meaning to post since I snapped it just outside of Charleston a few months ago. Possibly the worst subdivision name ever.

Isn't that just asking for trouble?

Sweet Sarah Deise

She's here! Sweet Sarah Desise (pronounced "Daisy," after Darcy Caires' mom), was born on Friday, July 8, 2011 at 2:12 in the afternoon at Beaches Baptist Hospital. She's a cute little turkey, isn't she?

Here's how it went: I started having early contractions at around 5:30 am on Thursday. They were sporadic and light enough that I had a fairly normal day, managing a nap, and even going to a prayer meeting with Ryan in the evening. Not until around eleven pm did active labor start. At 3 am on Friday, I woke Ryan up and we bundled the kids off to grandma's. From there, things continued to poke along. Dr. Cam Greene, who has delivered half the babies on our church (and is having quite a busy summer - there's something in the water at Beaches Vineyard), broke my water around 9 am, and things STILL poked along. Finally, at 2:12 pm, after more good pushes than I would have preferred, Sarah Deise came screaming into the world. Dad cut the cord. I was lucid - or loopy - enough - to ask if I could see the placenta when it came out (I was curious). It's not an attractive organ.

Around 1 am Saturday morning, after her first bath.

Bath time for all the newborns in the hospital is around midnight.

In the end, Sarah Deise came at exactly the right time. (Our alternate name for her was "Kaya Rose" a play on "Kairos," for God's time; "Kaya" is Hawaiian and Japanese for "sea." We let the kids vote and they chose Sarah instead.) At 6 lbs, 3 oz -- bigger than Sophie, smaller than Daniel -- she was beautiful and bright-eyed right out of the chute. She's a good eater and sleeper, save for during that 4:30-5:30 am stretch when she likes to be wide awake, and remarkably good-natured. Even being poked and prodded at her first doctor's appointment scarcely bothered her at all. In fact, the only way we've been able to provoke her wrath so far is by bathing her. She takes after her big brother and sister that way. Neither of them have any use for that whole cleanliness next to godliness business at all.

L&D Nurse Jackie

The littlest Vineyard member with the biggest Vineyard Pastor (Byron)

Meeting Great Grandma Ardie

Sunday night, before her first at-home bath. Relaxed and serendipitously posed.

After her bath. Not nearly as happy, or as artfully arranged.
(And yes, for those of you who haven't seen our house: our toilet is up on a dais and the bathroom is large enough to hold court in. Why? We don't know.)

With Grandma Marsha

All bundled up, with her siblings. Sophie especially has been beside herself with excitement.

Sunbathing with Dad on the front porch, to clear up jaundice.

Proving that it's never too early in life to sleep on the potty.

We've been practicing EC (Elimination Communication) since coming home from the hospital. I haven't been brave enough to have her go totally diaperless yet, but we've done pretty well just holding her over the potty as soon as she wakes up. In this photo, she really has just peed and gone back to sleep.

Daniel is impressed.

Ryan put together a short slide show of pictures with more family and visitor shots. We tried to post it here unsuccessfully; if you haven't seen it yet and want to, you can find it on Ryan's facebook page.

We are having a great time as a new family of five. Thanks for all your prayers and good wishes!

Last Post Before Baby

Yes, I know it's been months and months and months since we last updated our blog. Until yesterday, I've been too lazy to even upload pictures from our camera to the computer. But I'm in that pre-baby "nesting" phase now, and find myself with plenty of energy! So, this will be a whirlwind tour through our last 7 or 8 months, in which I kindly do NOT make you stare at all 450 pictures that were languishing on our camera, but only provide the highlights.

Christmas Kiddoes.

Daniel's Really Really Big Birthday Present from Grammy.
Also, the Haircut that Wasn't His Mom's Idea.

Darcy's overnight visit. BBQ at the Daytona Pig Stand. Not sure what the car has to do with anything, except I guess monster cars and bbq are both Southern cultural obsessions?

Our trip to Charleston with Grammy. (Aunty Pat and Uncle Mike also came from Hawaii, but we didn't get any good photos of them). We visited Fort Moultrie on the 150th Anniversary of the first shots fired in the civil war. Fort Sumter is across the harbor.

Volunteers in period dress.

Sophie as Joan of Arc in her history fair in April.
Cousin Cailey is dressed as Dolly Madison. I don't think this is a strictly historical interaction.

The Cousins (plus Baxter) before their Easter Egg Hunt at Grandma and Grandpa's.

At Young Life Family Camp, evidently designed to be a thoroughly humiliating experience.

Enjoying the hammock on our back yard. Ryan's been busy mulching, gardening and cleaning up what was essentially a dirt pit. But the flies are still awful.

Sophie going up the down escalator at the airport. We don't have pictures of the gruesome bruises and tread-shaped scratches that resulted from this little adventure. Again, Not Mom's Idea.

Annie's visit in April

Sophie up a tree at the "Tree Graveyard" Beach

The Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Center in Georgia. This turtle was having balance issues; he has weights attached to his shell to help him stay evenly afloat.

With Aunty Tara and Uncle John at the Treaty Oak in May, in downtown Jacksonville. One of the oldest trees in the city, even if no actual treaty was ever signed here.

At the historic Wormsloe Plantation outside of Savannah in mid-June. This lane is planted with over 400 oaks, all over 100 years old.

That's 2011 so far! For the summer, Sophie is enrolled in art camp, studying the Harlem Renaissance. Meanwhile, Daniel's conversation consists almost entirely of quotes from Garfield, Snoopy, and Donald Duck. Our house is overrun with baby items in anticipation of "Sweet Sweet Petunia" (don't worry, not her real name), who could show up at any minute, but hopefully NOT before Sunday, when Ryan has to preach for three services, 2 in the morning, 1 at night. Most of the other pastors are on vacation, so an arriving Petunia could present a real pickle.

Sweet Sweet Petunia (as a luggage tag?)

I'm sure we will be inundating the internet with more photos once Sweet Petunia makes her way into the world.

We miss and love all of you, and hope you are enjoying your summer and your Fourth of July weekend! Let us know how you are doing, and how we can pray for you!