Raymond school choir

 This year Madeleine and Justin have both participated in the school choir. This meant that two days a week during lunch they would go to the music room to sing.  Their choir participated in a choral competition in Cardston that Grandma and Grandpa Cornilles and Eric and I were able to attend. Their choir was one of the biggest and sounded fantastic. So glad we got to be there. Their choir teacher puts in a lot of effort and the quality is superb.

More Luke

 What a special time it was with Grandma Baker here. What a help to me to not worry about the younger two kids and to get some rest when Luke decided to sleep. Grandma and Austin spent time doing Sudoku together.

Madeleine is such a HUGE
help when I need an extra set of hands. 

Our little Olivia is not so little anymore.
She is so soft and kind to her new brother. 

 This day was kind of comical. I couldn't wake him up no matter what I tried.
The day before he didn't sleep a wink in the day and then this day he wouldn't wake up.  He was in and out of the car seat several times, at a park, in the wind etc and nothing could get him awake.
  Lets just say his night time sleep was non existent that night.

Our big boy still seems quite lean and small to me.

Luke Wallace Baker...our leap year baby

 You need to have at least one or two pregnancy pictures. I realized I didn't really have one....so took this a few days before he came.
  As the due date approached, Feb 29th, I was feeling like he might stay inside me for a long time as there did not seem to be much going on with my body. That would not be out of character since 3 of the 4 kids were born after their due dates.
  Eric's mom arrived Monday night and we spent Tuesday cleaning the house and her becoming reacquainted with the kids. That evening (the 28th) I started having contractions around 6:30pm but they were about 10 to 15 min. apart. By 7:30 they were still 10 min. apart but quite strong. Eric was on-call so I didn't want to bother him if I wasn't sure it would progress.
  8:30pm I called Eric.
We arrived at the hospital at 9:30.
Checked in and was dilated to a 5.  Spent the next hour and a half in hope that an epidural would be coming. By 11pm I was told I would not be getting anything as the anesthesiologist was attending a c-section.  I was so disappointed. I held back the tears and said a good prayer and re-entered the shower. The warm water on my back seemed to help distract me and keep me calmer during the contractions. I tried thinking of whales at the beach (looking out from Mom's window) but it didn't quite do the trick.
  By 11:30 I was in transition and a lot of pain.  Dr. Stewart had arrived and I said I wanted to push. He said I was at an 8 and to wait a bit longer.  Wait?  I wasn't sure I could. I made it through a few more contractions and then said I was going to push. I wasn't fully dilated by that little guy (or should I say big guy) came out just after midnight...12:05. He was the first baby in Lethbridge to be born on Leap Year. Eric was so excited. He had wanted him to come on the 29th but what control do you have....so I couldn't believe he got his wish. 

His grand entrance into the world at 9lbs 5 ounces. Our biggest.

Dr. Stewart. He has delivered 3 out of the 5 now.

Luke has long fingers and toes.
Long legs and arms. 
Chubby cheeks.
Fair skin and light hair. 

 The kids were so excited to see their new brother...he remained nameless until today, Saturday. We had two names we were deciding between, it is not always easy to agree :)

Our neighbor and friend Natalie went overboard and brought us a wonderful meal for when we came home Wednesday night. She also arranged for meals for a week and spoiled Luke with some wonderful gifts. She is so sweet!

Madeleine spends most of her extra time holding Luke. 
She doesn't even mind he is a he...so that is great (she had wanted a girl). 

 Little Olivia seems to be less interested than I thought she would be. 
She'll give him a hug and kiss but seems more interested in making sure I'm going to still give her attention.

Luke is calm, 
likes to sleep,
makes cute noises when he sleeps, and is so cute it is hard to stop kissing him.
We are so glad he is here!