Getting ready to blow out the candles...wait! There's no candle! 

 So Aaron rolled up a paper towel and lit it up for her to blow out. Like I said, the girl is very concerned about this part of the birthday celebration...

The funny thing to me was that she was completely satisfied with his substitute.

 We all think that Kate is changing recently in the way she looks in her face...growing up, I guess!

 Hank slept through his first birthday party. Sweet boy to let his sister have all the attention for her special day.

 She opened some fabulous presents! The M&Ms were a huge hit, as well as a singing Dora doll.

 Here's the best picture...everyone was there! Stephen and Michael came in from Richmond and brought our friend Ashley with them. Mom, Dad, Joey, and Tasha were with us, too. It was a nice little family reunion of sorts.

And I couldn't let you leave this blog post without sharing this beautifully pink-tongued big sister :)

She concentrated on eating just the icing on about 3 cupcakes before it was all said and done.

 Shannon took these awesome pictures for us...this first one cracks me up. There's a little ice cream diva in the front there, and her huge 9 months pregnant mom in the background taking a likewise huge bite out of her cone...that's just about right. She gets it from me, what can I say?!

It's so sweet to see the kids gather around the present-opener, excited to find out what she got! Imagine if we did this as adults when we give each other gifts. HA!

Ashely was kind to take over my camera and get these pictures. 

She got some bubble gum in one of her presents, and Aaron started passing it out to the kids. They got wayyyy too much for their little mouths.

This crying picture shows how the gum thing ended badly...Kate had too much in her mouth and gagged on it, and threw up all over her shoes. She was a sad mess. Poor birthday girl! She got over it quickly, though, when Aaron took the kids outside to play.

I am so thankful that our girls have these friends to grow up with. They are so good to us!

Speaking of birthdays, our littlest one has been in the world for one whole month! We've had an eventful first month and everyone is still getting adjusted.

I had lots of help the first week, and didn't do much at all except recover and cuddle with him. I had all three babes by myself for the first part of the first week, and then my parents graciously took V and K to the beach with them Thursday-Monday! We missed them a lot, but it was helpful for me to rest. I sat on the couch for 2 days straight and watched every episode of Downton Abbey, and fed and held Hank. It was very indulgent, but I don't regret it. Since we were sort of alone that weekend, Aaron and I had a chance to catch our breath and spend some time regrouping together...we went on a nice lunch date (have you all been to the Blue Apron restaurant in Salem? It's awesome) and to the movies. So Hank went on his first big outing and was sweet to sleep the whole time so that we could enjoy it! We also had a chance to go out to a nice lunch with great friends on that Sunday after church. Then reality set back in when the girls returned- with doctor appointments, preschool starting, packing for the beach, cleaning up after everyone. That week of Hank's life is a blur for me, but thankfully I was physically feeling stronger by that point :) Then we left for the beach...as Joy perfectly put it, Hank has spent 1/4 of his life at the beach! How lucky!

Now we are back home, getting settled with a routine (more or less). Hank is a cute, sweet little man. I am definitely sleep deprived, but it's not awful. I've recovered really well from the delivery, and have had no problems with feeding him...these are two huge blessings. The Lord has given grace...I am content.

A few things about Hank:
We just went to his well check yesterday and found out that he is 8 lb, 10 oz. (that's a gain of exactly 2 lbs. in a month because he had dropped down to 6 lb. 10 oz. after we came home from the hospital) and is 21.5 inches long. His head is 14.5 inches around. I didn't get the percentages, but Dr. B said he is a small to medium sized baby but growing excellently.

He eats really well and around the clock, usually about every 2.5 to 3 hours.

He is pretty alert and calm when awake. Stares at lights and fans, and makes funny O shapes with his mouth.

He isn't a fan of getting his diaper changes. This is the only time I can count on some crying (and when he's getting buckled and unbuckled in the car seat). It's getting better, though...for the first two weeks I was the absolute worst diaper changer in the history of boy moms...I had no idea what I was doing and it took me forever and we heard lots of screaming. It took me a good two weeks to be more comfortable changing his diaper.

It is very difficult to burp him after he eats. I don't know why...it takes him forever and sometimes I just give up and move on.

He is starting to spit up a lot.

He is oblivious to his crazy, smothering sisters. I can't wait until he can respond to them with smiles. I will post separately about how they've reacted to his arrival (definitely deserves its own post).

He loves a pacifier!

He slept with me for the first 3 weeks and I've just started putting him in his crib at night this week. It's working okay so far...a little trial and error to find out how he's most comfortable.

He is a perfect addition to our family! We love him!

Praying 

Lauren is one of her teachers

And here's the other Lauren! She is also one of their teachers.

I've learned that blowing out the candles is the biggest deal to a little one...if there's no candle, then it's not your birthday.

She had a fun morning! 

If you're curious about the precious birthday dress she wore, all credit goes to a longtime friend Sherrie! Her husband works at the battery shop with my dad and Aaron, and she sews and embroiders all kinds of cute things. Check out her website here. She has made several things for us in the past two years and I love it.

 Hanging out with big sisters while they color

 I cooked dinner for the first time since Hank was born. Wow! 

We were so grateful for all the meals our friends brought to us...such a blessing. It was two weeks of meals (brought every other night), then one week at the beach where Joy did most everything in the kitchen, and then the other nights I just wasn't up for it. 

Are things back to normal now? Not quite, but at least it's headed that way.

Yes, Lauren, for my first meal back on the job, I chose your chicken roll-ups! Love them.

 Hank tried out his swing for the first time. He looked a little concerned :) But he loved it...fell asleep right after I took these pictures and took a long nap there!

 Hank drank from a bottle for the first time on Sunday afternoon...Daddy had the honors. He had no trouble at all pounding down 2.5 ounces.

Yesterday he had his first visit to Papa and Gramme's house!