4th of July Fireworks

Lots of excitement here at Wilted Acres since my last post.  So let me fill all of you in on what's been happening...

On Thursday, the Hubs and I were preparing to celebrate the 4th and our anniversary.  Yep, we got married on the 4th of July four years ago. (No, it wasn't a red white and blue wedding.)

Anywho, we had made arrangements for Babycakes to go hang out with her Grammy so we could go to dinner that evening.  But before we started our anniversary celebration, we wanted to start with our Independence Day festivities.  We started by having Babycakes "help" Daddy hang the flag outside.

After that, plans changed significantly.  I received "the call"  I had been waiting for.  My "baby" sister (I can call her that since there are 7 years between us!) was in labor and my services as assistant coach were needed.  I was soooooo excited!!!  So I hopped into the car and headed 40 minutes north to the hospital while the hubs took over all parenting duties while I was helping my sister and her husband.

After Babycakes got up from her nap, she and Daddy decided to head on up to the hospital to get some Mommy loves.

I can't even tell you how much I love this picture of her.  Quintessential Babycakes right there.

Let me tell you what a trooper my baby sister is.  She went 16 hours before she asked for any sort of pain relief.  16 hours!!!  As soon as I showed up I was begging for drugs. But I digress.  At around 10:30 she had dilated to 10 centimeters so she  was ready to push.  Unfortunately, the baby's heart rate decreased each time she pushed so she had an emergency Cesarean section to get baby out.  I was sad I couldn't be there when my beautiful niece came into the world but am thrilled that she made it here safely.  And that's what's important!

So without further adieu I present my beautiful niece, Ellie who will be known from this point on as "Firecracker" since she was born on the 4th of July!

Isn't she just the cutest?  Just to make sure she knew me, I went by yesterday afternoon to formally introduce myself as her favorite auntie (from Virginia that is!)  :-)

I'm so glad that she is here so that Babycakes can begin a life of memories with her new cousin, Firecracker.

Hope everyone had a great 4th as well!