Here are some great pictures of our family swimming back on July 21. Our neighbor “Mr. Josh” (as Bo calls him) took these for us.

Levi’s first doctor visit was this morning and he is doing very well. The doctor was very shocked that he has gained a whole pound since being released from the hospital on Sunday - so shocked they re-weighed him twice to make sure! On Sunday he weighed 7 lbs 6 oz and today he is 8 lbs 6 oz. Needless to say breastfeeding and Levi agree He is also jaundice-free and in great health. We don’t have to visit the doctor again until he is a month old.

Big Brother Bo and Little Brother Levi meet and become fast friends. On the first day Bo didn’t care much for the squirmy little Levi but we previously arranged for the boy’s to exchange gifts. Bo gave Levi a stuffed doggy and Levi gave Bo a train for his Thomas train table (James seen in pictures below). The train gift quickly won over his big brother and the next day when they visited Bo asked to hold Levi.

On Sunday as we were getting ready to leave a nurse told us about a fun thing called “Hand Hugs”. Bo wanted to lay with Levi and give him hand hugs. Levi turned it into hand kisses which Bo loved!

Here’s a funny picture of Bo playing in the nightstand while we waited to be discharged from the hospital.

Well we are home and somewhat settled in so I thought I might go back and tell the whole birth story of how Levi came into the world I had a doctor’s appointment Thursday morning so Aunt Erin was nice enough to keep Bo for me since Chip had overtime for the day. The doctor was very concerned with Levi’s amniotic fluid levels and wanted me to a) be induced or b) stay at the hospital for constant monitoring over the weekend.  He explained it as the lower his fluids the weaker he would be and might not be able to withstand the birth if he was dehydrated, etc.  Knowing it would be a L-O-N-G weekend sitting at the hospital waiting for something to happen we decided to go ahead and have my water broken. We did decided however that this is where the medical intervention would stop (no drugs, etc. to speed the labor).

So I headed home to pack my bag, and Bo’s so he could stay at Aunt Erin’s house that night.  Chip met me at home and we headed back to the hospital.  We checked in and were given the same delivery room that Bo was born in (the hospital has been remodeled but the delivery rooms are the same rooms, just nicer) so that was kind of neat.  I had a group-b strep test two weeks prior and the results were positive so they had to administer 2 doses of penicillin (4 hours apart) before they could break my water (so Levi wouldn’t be in danger of getting it).

Around 6 pm they gave me my 2nd dose and the doctor broke my water at 6:05 pm.  Labor progressed very well and without any drug interferences I started pushing at 2:34 am and he was born at 2:39 am (five minutes of pushing YAY!). As you can see from the pictures below Levi was born with a full head of dark brown hair, the Brooks nose and looks very much like Bo did upon arrival.  He is perfectly healthy (praise God) and I’m feeling pretty good too (tired but good).  We came home yesterday (Sunday) morning and today we’re taking it easy.

Thanks to everyone for their prayers and well wishes and congratulations!

So we’re at the hospital, they’ve broken my water and I’m having mild contractions…while we wait I thought I would post some very adorable pictures of Bo, my niece (aka Blondie) and my nephew (aka Bear) riding horses yesterday.