Rachel Ann

On March 9, 2003 we went to the hospital.

I was having contractions in the very early hours of the day.

Tom and I rushed to the hospital. On our way there we called our friend who was at Noah's birth to see if she wanted to meet us at the hospital. It would be quite a drive for her, but she made it just in time.

I pushed and I thought for certain we were having another boy. But then my friend yelled, "It's a girl!" I could not believe what I had heard! I looked at Tom and we both just smiled with very surprised looks on our faces. Then the nurse handed me our little 7 pound blessing. I was so happy.

A little girl. We had a daughter.

It was a little difficult to tell everyone we were expecting - but it was a lot of fun to now call and tell everyone that we had a little girl.

Three sons and now a daughter too.

My parents were not sure when they would be able to come visit, but once they heard we had a little girl they came right away.

God had blessed us with a daughter for Tommy's birthday.

Tom brought our three boys to meet Rachel Ann. They all loved that they had a sister. Brandon had been waiting for a sister. He loved holding her. Ethan did too. And Noah thought Rachel was here just for him. He always wanted to hold her. Noah didn't talk much. He mostly said Mama and Dada. But now he added Baby to his list of words.

(And he called Rachel "Baby" for the first 2 years of her life.)