Leanne Esther

After eight days of wondering and months praying for this moment - she came! 

Another little girl! 

We were surprised and thrilled. I had just told James a few days earlier - "if it's a boy I'd be surprised, and if it's a girl, I'll be shocked." So either way, it was to be exciting!

Contractions had started late Wednesday evening - and by midnight a few hours later, I started to have to breathe through them. Hooray, labor was finally underway. We called our midwife at 2 a.m. - and she got there an hour and a half before this babe was born! So it went pretty fast - and by the end, I felt like it was going beyond what I was able to handle - but then...it was over, and I got to hold this darling new life!

"I can't believe it's over, I can't believe it's over..." I kept saying to James. So happy, and so thankful!!

Her first weigh in - at 9 lbs. 8 oz. and 20.75" long. Cute and abit chunky. :) 

Always love how the baby's foot is hanging out. 

In love with this precious little gift. 

The two great midwives! Heather - on the left has delivered three of our five - and the other gal is a student midwife. :) 

After these gals left - we got a tiny bit of sleep, before I heard the kids get up... yeah - they had slept through the whole thing. :) We did have Diane "on call" to take the kids, but it happened fast, as well as it was during an ice storm so we thought we'd ride it out and see how it went. :) And it went!

So, we just rested while we heard the kids get up and get themselves cereal and play around - and then James went to them and told them he had a surprise for them... Katy got it right away, but the others were wondering what... and then he brought them in to meet their new sister!

They were so excited - although when Erik found out it was a girl, he was almost in tears-  he really wanted a little brother. My heart went out to him in his disappointment. But he got to hold his sister first - he's the big brother and has to protect all these girls. That helped build him up, and he's being encouraged by the uncles and aunts to be the big guy of the family. :) 

Katy getting to hold this little pink rosebud. 

Love this one of these two. 

Laura is so motherly and such a natural in looking after a baby - so sweet. 

And Amy was super excited to "hold it". Whatever Laura does, Amy has to do too. 

So happy. 

And this handsome guy with his five kids. 

James was so amazing to me during labor - as always. :) 

Without his hand to hold, I wouldn't want to do it. :) 

The ice storm that morning. It was so pretty. (pictures by James :) 'cause I wasn't going out that morning!)

Oma and Opa came to meet Leanne as they were off to the states for a couple weeks - so they just got to meet her. Diane came by that morning and picked up the kids, and put a roast in the slow cooker for us - that girl is always blessing others. Then it was all quiet and we just rested and texted and called people to let them know that this babe was finally here! 

  

 Auntie Diane loving on another niece. :) 

 Ben and Deanna came at noon - bringing hot chocolate and croissants to feast on - so thoughtful. :) They took Erik for a couple days, which was great. And William and Amanda took the little girls for a few days, while Diane kept Katy. So well looked after. 

Her first bath - in the brown herbal bath that looks so yucky but is good for us both. :) 

That evening a bunch more family came to meet the latest Heikoop. 

James was showing the guys the video we took of Erik learning it was another girl. :) (and the others meeting their sister)

Henry and Heather were such rascals, and came up to meet this little girl, and  to see Mark's new house too - so special to share this joy with them.

And Auntie Nelly. :) So glad she is home around for this time!

Around 18 hours old. 

Uncle Mark -  after taking a picture of Leanne to send to his girl Jennelle. :) 

This was a few days later when she got her next weight checkup. :) 

Aunt Lannette and Uncle Tim came up to see her two days later - as they were around for Easter weekend. 

The timing that I had been so worried about - when she would come - was so good. God's timing is always perfect - though that doesn't mean it's always perfect in our minds. 

She came on a Thursday - and James took that day off, and then he had off Good Friday to Sunday. So in between his planning that he had to do for the upcoming Easter service, we got to soak in this little life in a quiet house. I was able to just rest and hold this little gift. 

And these two showed up on Saturday- after Mark picked up Jennelle from the airport that morning. Now it's wedding planning time for these two!! Three more weeks.

I can't believe that God has given us these five little lives. It's such an incredible gift. Overwhelming, to think of how to train, raise and guide them all in the ways of the Lord - but may we be teachable and patient with them - just like my parents were to us all.