She's HERE!!!

Well our beautiful little daughter has finally arrived! Ty's mom was due to visit on the 27th and this new little one was kind enough to wait til she got here and spent some time with Emma, Austyn & Dagan. Right as we were getting the kids ready to get to bed my water broke. I didn't want to tell the kids because I wanted them to be able to get some sleep. They had been so excited all day with Gram here and had gotten up early to go with Ty to the airport. Well, Emma must have sensed something because she 'couldn't sleep'. We found out later that she was up as soon as we left! About an hour after the waters broke we headed to the hospital, thankfully because she was in our arms less than 30 minutes later! We got there a few minutes past 9 and she was born at 9:35 on 27 December 2008. We named her Meara Joy Russell. Meara (meer-a) in this spelling has Irish origin and means Jolly or Jovial and Joy came from two of her grandma's, Joyce and Betty Jo. Also conveniently enough, she shares a birthday with Grandma Joyce! She is, like her name, truly a joy! She is our biggest baby weighing in at 8 lbs 9 ozs (Dagan was 8lbs even), she has a full head of black silky hair, just like Austyn did and she shares her daddy's nose, just like Emma, Austyn and Dagan do. I'm not exactly sure who she looks like yet.....I'll give her a few days first. Her big sisters and big brother are only the tiniest bit proud of her.....they've been so funny today, doting over every little noise and movement she makes! The dog and cat aren't quite sure what to make of this new addition to the family! Here are a few pictures we took....only a few though! I think at one point today Ty had 4 different cameras he was taking pictures with.....again only a little bit proud! :)