2 weeks old. 34 years old.

Today Henry is two weeks old and I happen to be celebrating my 34th birthday.

Birthdays are curious things. Some people hate them. Some love to celebrate them. I haven't hit the age yet where I dread the next one, but I can't say that I am filled with excitement over a coming birthday as I once was in my younger years. This birthday, however, I did do some celebrating. I celebrated the kindness of God to prolong my life, to give me two more children, to bless my mouth with words that can be spoken, to move me close to my family, to place me in a church where I can serve Him. There were days in years past that looked dark and without hope; but God, in His great sovereign plan, chose to give me more years of joy on this earth. And this birthday caused me to think about that and to celebrate that I turned another year older. Only God knows what the next five years will bring, but I can take great happiness in the fact that He gave me these past five when I don't deserve them any more than the next guy down the street. How kind He is to show mercy to me by giving me life and then to bless me greatly, beyond what I could have hoped for.

Easter 2011

This Easter was a bit different than others. Since Henry and I had only left the hospital a little over a week before, we could not come to the church service (even if Henry could, I'm not sure I had a single dress I could squeeze into yet.) But, Jeff was able to take Joost, Grace and Kate. They were all dressed in their Easter best.

I was also disappointed to miss Joost's choir singing in the service.  Here's a video of their song....

After the church service, we all headed over to Aunt Dee's for a dinner with all the family.  It was a nice time.  After dinner, most of the kids hunted eggs.  Kate and Jayden were napping, but the other 5 were able to find eggs....

Take this hidden egg at your own risk...

...just in the nick of time, too. Heavy rain started just as the counting of eggs was finishing.

1 week old

Henry meets more family

Today some of Jeff's family was able to meet Henry.

Henry & Oma (Jeff's mom)

Henry with Aunt Jonelle, Uncle Sean and Julie (the other newest cousin)

Henry Jeffrey van Bastelaar

About a month ago, I started to think about the ideal date for baby boy to be born.  As I thought it through, I decided that the Wednesday before Joost's spring break started would work out perfectly.  It would mean that I would be discharged from the hospital on the afternoon that began his break from school.  It would be so nice to start life with the baby on a schedule that had no 6:30 wake up calls to get him out the door, no running around for other normally scheduled activities and lessons.  But, I realized, just because my other three children came early there was no guarantee that this little man would as well. The hope of him coming on that exact day (9 days early) was pretty slim.

But, here we are.  It's April 13th, the Wednesday I hoped for, and the little man has decided to come.  His listening skills are better than most males I know.

Here's what happened...

Monday night:  6 hours of contractions that ended in nothing. 

Tuesday evening:  Contractions started again.  But, since nothing came of them the night before, I assumed that these would be the same.  But, as I bathed the children, my water broke.  My OB decided it was best that I come to the hospital.  I was only 6 cm dilated at that point (which was a surprise to me since the trend with the other 3 pregnancies was being 9 or 10 cm dilated before going into labor). It was a long night of mild, random contractions.  Finally, around 5 am Wednesday morning, my contractions launched into full gear ending in the birth of our beautiful son at 6:34 am. 

Henry Jeffrey van Bastelaar was born this morning.  He weighs 8 pounds, 11 ounces and is 20 1/4 inches long.  He's almost a full pound heavier than Joost and Kate who weighed in at 7 pounds, 12 ounces.

minutes after birth

A weary, but happy mother

Henry snuggled in and asleep in our hospital room.

Proud Daddy

Our first picture of us as a family of six

Joost and Henry

Grace and Henry

Kate and Henry

Henry had many visitors his first day--family and pastors were excited to meet him.

Henry and his Grandma Bosworth

Henry and his Grandpa Bosworth

Henry with Uncle Andrew & Aunt Rachel
(his cousin is due in just a few weeks)