Packing and Loading

After lots of packing and sorting and organizing, it was time to load the truck

 

Joe had a crew of helpers ready to help.

Or at least ready to run up and down the cool ramp on the moving truck.

Piles of boxes that took me weeks to pack,

got loaded on the truck in just a few short hours.

Joe even helped pack a few bins and boxes when I wasn't looking.

We usually have an agreement about these things.  I pack, he loads.  And this is why:

he has this tendency to pack up things I've no intention of packing up, yet.

The first truck of boxes and furniture were loaded, with the help of two friends, about one week before our final move, and then taken to storage.  As a consequence, we spent a lot of time our final week in Bismarck like this:

eating, playing, and even sleeping (on a mattress) on the floor.  

Our last day and a half in Bismarck, Grandma Mary and Grandpa Tim came to our rescue by helping to load the final items on a second truck, helping us clean, and then taking the kids to their place so we could finish up the final details and sign paperwork.

A Gift

Summertime.  Three little girls.  A field full of dandelions.

"These are for you momma."

Groovin'

We will now revert to posting about life pre-Isaiah, our final days and weeks as a family of seven.

When she's really happy, it's easy to tell.  She starts bobbing her head back and forth.



Her dancing most often coincides with bananas and music.

Welcome

On our way home from the hospital, we made a stop for Little Ceasar's pizza.  When we arrived home, we found this lovely sign Xandra had created to welcome us.

 

I especially liked the picture of all the kids on the welcome sign.

We made quick work of enjoying another Pull family, new baby tradition:  a welcome home pizza party.

Xandra and Theia had ventured off with Grandpa and cousins Cora and Evie for the morning.  They enjoyed the pizza when they got home and Cousin Lucy enjoyed the pizza with us in their stead.

 

Welcome home, Isaiah, and welcome to the famiy.

Pick Up Duty

After two days in the hospital, it was time to go home.  The pick up crew (Joey, Aliyah and Daddy) arrived, greeted us,

gave out hugs,

 and held the baby.  

Joey was very proud that he and Isaiah matched.  They were both wearing red and blue.

 

 

He wanted to make sure I took a picture of them matching.

The discharge nurse snapped a (dark and blurry) picture of the five of us

and we headed for home to greet the others and become a family of eight for the first time.

Handsome Mans

Just before leaving the hospital, we snapped a few pictures of Isaiah.

Joey informed me this morning when I called Isaiah a handsome man, that we had three handsome mans in our family. 

One named Joey, one named Isaiah, one named Daddy.

I agree.

Welcoming Committee

For the first day of Isaiah's life it was just daddy,

 

the computer, mommy and one little baby's noise.

Then the welcoming crew arrived.

They were SO excited to meet him

and hold him.

They were very proud

to have a new brother.

Joey held him for about 3 seconds and then climbed down, without waiting for someone to take the baby.  No babies were harmed in the process.

Even Tikvah got a turn to hold the baby, or rather, lovingly poke the baby.

After introductions were made, we moved on to our traditional "welcome to the world, new baby" popcorn party.

It's kind of like the celebration dinner, everyone toasts the baby, eats the food and leaves the baby out.

Grandma Mary was a part of the welcoming crew, too.

 

 

The kids generously agreed to let her hold the baby for a few moments, but they kept a careful watch on her.

After climbing on the bed, pushing all the buttons they could find in the room, exploring the bathroom, taking in the fantastic view, and using the restroom at least once each,

Grandma Mary snapped a few photos of the whole crew together,

we said goodbye,

 

and they left, a trail of popcorn and quiet in their wake. 

Happy

I love celebrating life.  It's a big part of why birthdays are a big deal in our house.

It's also one of the many reasons I value the hospital where I gave birth to Tikvah and Isaiah.

 In celebration of the miracle of life, they play a lullaby on the speakers throughout the hospital at the birth of every child.  In the same vein, they also provide a delicious celebratory feast for parents of the newborn.

 

The spread is impressive and delicious.  We enjoyed salad, steak and side dishes, sparkling cider and chocolate cake.

Isaiah enjoyed a few minutes in his bassinet.

He had no idea what he was missing.

Happy Birthday, Isaiah!  

Happy, indeed.  And delicious, too.

Twenty-Four Hours

Isaiah Timothy, 

Day one:

 

the first few minutes

and hours

and the last few minutes

of the first 24 hours.