Finn Man

 Finn has a few new passions which include tractors, and camping. The photo below was taken after we took down a huge maple tree out back. Finn can literally spot a tractor from any obscure distance, it's very impressive. 

As for the camping, Finn has been starting to correlate our campouts with s'mores, and continues to ask for them. I guess it also doesn't help that we have a nice fire put out back that we fire up every once in a while. Finn calls it "Camping, marshmallows, chocolate, graham crackers." If he is anticipating a camping trip, he will literally talk about it all day. And at random times, he will bring it up. He also asks for marshmallows for breakfast every morning, despite our consistent and clear response, "No". He is persistent. 

Mike Gillis taking Finn for a ride in the backyard

Interesting perception of how Finn probably thinks all Dads go to work. He puts on his backpack, and helmet, and walks out to his bike and says, "Bye! I'm going to work!" It's funny what kids pick up from their parents.

She's here!

On October 10th, at 11:44 am, Petranella Jean Watkins was born to our lucky family. She weighed 7 lbs 13 oz, was 22 inches long, and head circumference was 35 cm. A few of you may be scratching your heads about the name we chose. Let us explain. Mal is 1/4 Lithuanian, and has an ancestor that was named Petranella. Mal felt particularly impressed with this name for nearly the entire pregnancy. As far as nicknames, we have quite a few. Petya, Bella Nella or just Nella. Jean, the middle name, was a name negotiated with Madie who originally had come up with a slough of names that were actually very good. A few of these included Elizabeth or Olivia. Like I said, very good names! Just didn't flow with the other two names, unfortunately. She also suggested Eenie Jeanie. We counter-offered with Jean, and the promise of being able to call her Eenie Jeanie, if she wished. Sold! So there we have it, a short explanation of the name.

The week leading up to her birth, we finished prepping everything we needed to for her arrival. Most of it was minor. And I've discovered that once you get to number three, you just don't worry about all those little details that you did with one and two. But there were a few basic things that needed to get done. For myself, on Thursday, I had multiple sentiments that she would be coming soon, and that I needed to make certain assignments at work so that my work team would be set for a week without me. I'm glad I listened to those, because she came within 12 hours of that. Mal woke up at about 3:00 am with contractions, and started pacing around the house, measuring the frequency of each one. She woke me up at about 4:00 am, and we got everything together and dropped the kids off at Trevor and Trish Casey.

Mallory did a great job during labor (as usual). This was probably the smoothest labor of all the kids. The only snag was Petranella's umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck, so right after her head was out Mal was told to 'not push' until they could safely remove the cord. My first impression of Petranella when she was born was her cry was so quiet compared to our other two kids! She didn't come out screaming at all really. She was immediately calm. She has maintained that same trait even now.

The night after Petranella was born, I took the kids camping in the backyard to keep my promise to them earlier that week. The kids absolutely love camping back there. Mal and Petranella came home on Sunday afternoon, and we were happy to have them return happy and healthy. 

She's got dark hair, and a dimple in her cheek (so far, only one cheek dimple) & chin.

Did we mention the MDI Hospital serves lobster rolls?

I love this photo, and I've gotten many compliments and comments on it. Madie absolutely loves holding Petranella, and Finn loves petting her. But hey, it works!

Happy at home.

"If You're Going to Have A Baby..."

I called Gram last night to let her know we were going to play it safe and stay here for the weekend--we had planned to go up to Dover and watch the LDS General Conference with her at least Sunday, possibly Saturday too. She was disappointed, but understood; I've been having contractions since Monday, and last night's and todays have actually been a little painful. (Unfortunately, they have not been regular.)

The conversation naturally turned to some of Gram's labors. Here's a classic line pertaining to the labor she had with my dad I just had to share because it is just so Grammy:

"I woke up needing to use the bathroom, so I went in, but came right back out since it passed. A few minutes later though I went back in with the same feeling, but it passed again. Then it occurred to me I should time them. Sure enough they were 10 minutes apart and I realized I was having contractions, so I went in and took a bath, 'cause you know, if you're going to have a baby, you want to be clean."

I chuckled when she said that, but every time I've thought of it since it has struck me as even funnier than before.