Ava Rene has arrived! What a kid. Looks nothing like her sisters. She came at 9:30 this a.m.

She is the sweetest, softest little girl you could imagine.

She was 7Lbs 6 oz’s and 21 inches long.

Mom and Ava are doing great!

Welcome to the family Ava. Hold on to your bonnet, it’s gonna be a ride!

Love Mom and Dad.

P.S. – Mom is the one who feeds you. I’m the one with the scratchy face.

Alright, we’ve made it through the night. Gotta love a hospital cot and the floor.

Ava has chosen not to show her head yet.

Lexi, Ellens Dad, and Kenna showed up around 2:00 a.m. It was a big hospital slumber party.

The sun has come up and we’re closer to the big moment!

Come on Ava, let’s see that little head of yours.

Looks like little Ava wants to come out. About 3 hours ago, Ellen was feeling some strong contractions, so she called the Dr. The Dr. asked her to come in just to be safe.

Good thing we did. The contractions are 3 1/2 minutes a part. She is dialated 4 cm and her cervix is thinning. We are getting close.

We’ll see if Ava’s entrance into this world is prophetic, because Elle’s birthday party is today at 12:00 noon. Easter is on Sunday. We planned on having her on Monday after all the festivities. But, no such thing!

I guess Ava has a mind of her own already.

Stay tuned, the family is about to grow by one!

You sit quietly in the corner murmuring under your voice. It’s a cute song, a short conversation with the toy your playing with or the reading of a book. To an unfamiliar eye, a quiet, soft-spoken, mild mannered child is happily entertaining herself. Yet, to those of who know better, it’s just one side of the fiercely independent little girl you are. It’s a girl who is doing what she wants on her own terms.

There is a spirit in you Elle. A confidence and security beam from you. There is a sense of self and strength not seen in some adults. You walk your own path in a way that suggests maybe the rest of us are walking the wrong way. Yet, you never look back. You never say follow me. You walk, and the rest of us follow.

I love you Elle

You have a love that is deliberate. There are no superfluous hugs, or cute little smiles with an agenda. Every kiss, hug, smile,squeeze and every “I want you” radiates with authenticity. You’re hugs are weighty with love, as they are never dolled out with disregard.

Elle, Daddy cherishes your hugs, the big squeezes, the “I love you the mostest’s” and your sweet kisses. I cherish everyone, for how deep they come from inside of you. I feel honored to be the recipient. I feel special, because you chose me. I feel happy, because I know you’ll kiss and hug me again.

Elle, you’re diligence amazes me. Your raw, humble confidence teaches me. You have a mature soul. Not an old soul, but a mature soul.

Yes, you are still a child. That reality is never lost on us. You let us know everyday. You are a special child, Elle. You have a fire in you. You have a shriek and they are piercing. Why you shriek is still a mystery. Sometimes, it’s because you are unhappy and want us to know it. Other times you just seem to want to yell. Oh, lucky us!

Your voice is LOUD, it carries through out the house, and your not shy to throw it around. You have presence, it is growing every day.

To call you spunky is trite. But, ya got more gumption than the average kid.

I admire your strength Elle. I admire your sense of self. I admire your confidence.

You sing and dance over and over to “Hard Knock Life” and “The Sun Will Come Out Tomorrow.” You are the first to want to go play in the snow when we wake up in the morning. You get excited to go skiing every time we are in the mountains, even though you’re still on the bunny hill. All the ski instructors know who you are and have all fallen in love with you. You have your own Vail Ski School fan club.

You have a special something deep inside you. It’s a spark, a flicker, a fire, that drives you. It sets you apart. It’s molding you. It’s molding me.

It’s amazing to watch and I’m excited to watch it turn you into an amazing young woman.

I love you Elle and thanks for calling me Daddy.

Happy Birthday!!!!!

Wow, here we are….baby girl is due to arrive on April 5th.  Here what seemed like a pregnancy that would never end is indeed coming to an end and very soon.  I have to say this has been by far the toughest pregnancy I have ever experienced and this is for many reasons.  Abnormally tired for the first 16 weeks, very emotional at times, major hip pain throughout the day-worse at night to the point of keeping me up about every hour or two to change sleeping positions, basically feeling old!

You really  do not know the meaning of sleep deprivation until you experience it for yourself and this is by far the worst symptom I have had to deal with.  Nothing can prepare you for the emotional roller coaster that is coming your way under these circumstances.  Let’s just say having a newborn who has her days and nights mixed up sounds much more appealing to me, I will at least get two straight hours of sleep!  Crazy.

We have a very busy last week ahead of us here in the Keenan house hold.  First and foremost Elle turns 3 on April 2nd, we will celebrate with a party on the 3rd.  Easter then follows the very next day- Hello, the bunny is coming to our house.  Ok then the very next morning at 5 am we check into North Suburban Hospital to be induced.  Hmmm, that’s not too crazy is it?  Mom has a double whammy coming once the baby comes I get to keep my epidural only to look forward to a tuba ligation.  What shines at the very end of all this “ick” stuff is the very fact that I will be holding my sweet, fresh, soft, adorable little baby girl.  Nothing beats that and truly makes it all 100% worth it all.  I even have to admit the finality of not ever being pregnant ever again is an odd concept and a bit sad to me.  I am at the age where it is no longer going to be my choice, but my bodies.  You just think you will be young forever and have all these choices to continuously make about your body when you want to make them.

My time has been an amazing trip and would not change a thing.  I have or will have 5 beautiful children and have been blessed enough to become pregnant right away, then go on to have healthy pregnancies as well as smooth deliveries- no cesareans.   I am officially “done” and feel ok with it.  Now I have the next couple of years to get to know this baby inside of me and I can’t wait!

Kenna spent the entire year in dance class. She went every Wednesday. What can I say? This is the result. I cried through the whole thing.

A star is born.