Our new Niece

** Congratulations to Clay and Stephanie**

Baby Abigail Kate was born on my mom's birthday. In the shower...

... at the hospital. Without the doctor there.

Way to go Steph!

We're Aunt and Uncle Again!

***Congratulations!***

to Gena & Troy

"Baby boy" Mattson was born today!

(no name decided yet)

Welcome to the world...Max!

Hi everyone! I just got home from the hospital and man am I tired. I am going on 36 straight hours with no sleep so I am going to keep this brief and post some photos of Max and then go crash since I have to be at work tomorrow. Melissa, when she feels up to it, will embellish the blog with better stuff for you since she loves blogging now...even more than scrapbooking (if you can believe it.) Anyways, Melissa and baby Max are doing well. The surgery lasted about an hour. We had to be at the hospital at 5:00 AM this morning and Max was born at 8:30 AM. He was 21 inches long and 9lbs. 7oz.! Jake was the largest up till now with a weight of 9lbs. 3oz. Anyways, I want to thank everyone for your encouraging words...it really helped get Melissa through the heat. Talk to you later, Jim.

Happy 4th of July!

Here is what we will probably be doing as part of the festivities today,
along with a Bar-B-Q at Grandma and Grandpa Goodman's house and some fireworks courtesy of Uncle Joe. Then we will leave the kids at Grandma's and come home and pack for the hospital. Less than 24 hrs to go! I'll try to blog from the hospital, but may be a little busy :) Send your name ideas through the air waves since we still haven't decided ~ but getting closer :)
I think it is narrowing down to Max, Gage, Will, Gabe, Teague, Ty or Jag. We'll let you know! Happy 4th!

Keeping you up to date on the baby!

So Jim is at Scout Camp and he took the camera so new pics to post, but I went to the Dr yesterday and this baby is probably going to be HUGE! The Dr was measuring the belly and he is all "when is this baby due?" and I was like, um, July 11 allegedly, and he is all, "how did we come to that date?" and I am like, uh you are the Dr, you tell me :) So, anyway, long story short, we figured out that the day of the c-section (July 5th) is probably the actual due date. So! Everyone keep their fingers crossed that this baby won't get any ideas about coming out on his own. I'm pretty sure he is too big to get out on his own anyway and they would still do the C if I did go into labor, but let's not imagine that. I am trying not to leave the house so I don't have to ignore all the people staring and making comments ;) Just knew you would like to know!

36 Weeks = 9 Months

Why does anyone pretend pregnancy only lasts 9 months? I have 2 and a 1/2 weeks to go before delivery day and that will be 39 weeks, nearly 10 months. It's close to 100 degrees again today and I feel like I have a fever all the time. Why does anyone have a baby in the summer? In honor of Father's Day, for JIM, my sweetie, who did this to me :) here is a run down of the big bellies that are the Russell children. (these pics don't really do justice to how big I really was or am this time)

20 days before Jake's birthday.

NICE hair Melis!

Going to the hospital to have Sam.

Same shirt as above. :)

In the hospital parking lot to have Brooke.

I was trying not to look too thrilled. :)

Today after church, 19 days before the scheduled

arrival of baby X. This one sticks out farther than the rest.

I have to wear 2 shirts to keep it all covered. The Dr. I saw 2

weeks ago thinks it will be over 9 1/2 lbs. Here's hoping!

Our New Baby Girl Has Arrived!

Here are some photos of the birth of our new baby girl...Brooke Marie Russell, born on 1-17-06 at 10:44 in the morning by c-section at Sutter Memorial Hospital in Sacramento , CA.

Here is Melissa right before we went into the hospital for her C-section. She was very ready for the baby to be out!

Here is Melissa after all the poking and prodding...waiting to be taken to the Operating Room.

Here I am doing my doctor pose wearing my special disposable OR garb. Now where did I put that stethoscope?

Baby Brooke's first few seconds of life in the outside world! She wasn't happy that her napping was disturbed.

Mommy and baby Brooke in the recovery room. We were all taking a sigh of relief that all went well.

Baby Brooke thought she would take a look around...

Baby Brooke has on her first pink item of clothing...now everyone will know she's a girl!

What a looker! Brookie shows off her baby blues.

Jake and Sam spending time sitting on the window sill of mommy's hospital room. I'm sure they have alot of things they would love to teach Baby Brooke:-)