Saturday, November 24, 2012

11/24/2012
4

Yesterday afternoon we welcomed beautiful Susannah Ruth into the family. Our quiver is growing full of little arrows.


After a week filled with multiple false starts, Susannah finally decided to make Black Friday her official arrival day. While everyone else was out shopping for good deals we stayed home and got the best deal of all.

Hers was a very unique labor, quite different from the previous three. I did get my wish and started the whole process first thing in the morning when I was fully rested. In the end, at 2:57 p.m., and aided by the wonderful support of my amazing husband and a great midwife team, I was rewarded with another gorgeous and healthy baby girl. With a shocking amount of reddish-brown hair.
Our smallest baby yet at 7 lbs 13 oz. She was weighed in my bird scarf, a very chic newborn scale.


The older three were so excited to come back over from Grandma & Papa's house to meet their new little sister.

Margaret fell into her serious and quiet mode that comes upon her when she is really excited. She was very eager to hold her new sister and in all ways modeled the wonderful big sister that she already has become. Here Susannah shows off the pretty crown that Margaret made for her before she was born.


William was an admiring big brother making doting comments like: "what a good girl" and "she's so cute". He was also insistent on examining my stomach to see how small it was. He is a lucky boy to have three such beautiful sisters.

Amelia gave her "kisses" (by laying her head against her) and exclaimed "baby!".


We are all extremely in love with her. The name Susannah is a family name from my mother's side - our Susannah's great-great-great-grandmother, Amanda Susanna Andersson from Sweden. The famed McBride family swedish rye bread recipe is attributed to her. It is also the middle name of my little sister (who is, coincidentally, a wonderful auntie). Susannah means "lily" and Ruth, from that great Moabitess in the book of Ruth, means "companion". 

 

Her first day of life has been full - full of meeting family, full of good health, and full of thanksgiving to God for all of the many blessings He has given us. Despite a couple potential complications everything has gone smoothly so far and Susannah has seemed to thrive. She has been a wonderful eater and even a wonderful sleeper on her first night, allowing us to rest after so much hard work during her arrival.

We are indeed blessed.



4 comments:

  1. What a beautiful family you have! Congratulations :)

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  2. Congratulations, dear Elissa & Clay! Each of your little ones is so unique & so beautiful!

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  3. Awesome!!! that's all I can say :) so happy for you all, and that we have another little Dodson to meet!

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  4. Congratulations! It's amazing that you have four now! God Bless!

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