Four days before the big day we decided to do one of those things that we knew would quickly become infinitely harder, eating out.  Pretty Penny, of course, and the Hillsboro playground gave us another opportunity to spend some time with just Abe.

One day before the big day Huntersville Traditions Day gave Abe another shot at the pony ride.  Last year he didn’t quite get on the horse, but this year he saddled up like a true caballero.

Then she appeared.

Josephine Zuzu Hankens was born at 4:40am on Sunday, October 2nd at Pocahontas Memorial Hospital, ten minutes after Sarah arrived by ambulance.  She was the first delivery at PMH in eight years, but working with the staff there, you’d never know it.  They did an incredible job.  Another ambulance ride to Lewisburg and mommy and baby were where they were supposed to have been for delivery.

Jeralyn and Bill, champions of the marathon drive from Connecticut to West Virginia, hopped in the car at about 4:00am, as soon as they knew Sarah was in labor, and were in Lewisburg by late afternoon.  After a short stop to meet Josie, they were back in the car to spell Abe’s baby sitter.  Having them at the house made Josie’s first week much easier than it probably should have been.  The same goes for Kathy and Anne, who tag-teamed Abe while we were busy elsewhere.

We’re slowly getting reaccustomed to having a baby around, and to all of the the things that come with it.

With Sarah on leave now, we have plenty of time to just hang out and get used to having another member in the family.

We still need to keep Abe occupied, of course, and we’re doing our best.

We have a few weeks to get used to being a bigger family, and I suppose it’s Abe who has the most adjusting to do, but so far so good.

Josie has been taking it all in stride, sleeping when she needs to, eating when she needs to, and charming us all the while.  We didn’t know who was coming last Sunday morning, but we’re happy it was her.