Leaves are falling

I absolutely love taking fall pictures.  It's even better when Maci loves to help rake and play in the leaves. 

Little Brother

My due date was May 21st.  But that day had come and gone and left us wondering when the little guy would show up.  Saturday morning, we decided to make plans for Memorial Day weekend.  Eden's baptism was Sunday and we planned on a BBQ out at the farm for Monday.  Then Saturday afternoon around 3, my water broke, in the bathroom (SO grateful for a non-embarrassing experience). Excitedly, we got everything together (I think I was the most calm of everyone) and headed to Miles City.  Mom and Dad Held had walkie talkies (sp?) so that we could communicate how my contractions were doing.  We got into a room just after 5 pm and the nurse checked me to see how dilated I was.  She said I was at a 7 and wondered how I wasn't feeling any of the big contractions.  So she excused herself and called desperately for more help and wheeled us into a delivery room.  She decided to check again and said she was mistaken, I was at a 4.  So we all breathed a sigh of relief, sort of, and got settled in.  I was ready for my epidural not too long after and got it around 9.  Then I encouraged everyone to get a bite to eat and convinced Terry to take Maci to the hotel.  Mom and I tried to get some sleep, we sent Dad and David to another room to have beds to sleep on.  Around 3 am the nurse said I could start pushing and a little after 4 we got David and Dad up.  The Dr. came sometime after 4:30 and saw that I needed help and suggested the vacuum but could only use it 3 times and then if he wasn't moving, we would move to a C-section.  We decided on it, tried 3 times but all he would do is move back inside.  So, they quickly got the surgery team together and moved us all to the operating room.  With David by my side and my mother further back, at 5:07 am I heard the most angelic of sounds, that first cry of a newborn.  They cleaned him up , weighing 10 lbs 1.6oz and was 21 3/4" long, and put a cap and blanket on him and brought him around for me to look at him.  What a sweet site he was! He and David and my mom left the room so I could be sewn up and taken to recovery.  I woke up at 7 and finally and most eagerly got to join the party. 

 Here he is: Aleck David Steffen.

David napping on the floor and Maci on the Ipad.



 The official hospital picture

Maci and grandpa watching a movie



All ready to go home.

This is as close as Maci would ever get to Aleck.  She loved the idea of having a brother but definitely would not touch him or get close enough to get a picture.



Before there were 4

It seemed that we always needed a Wal-Mart stop after every OB appointment so Maci got to enjoy a few rides.  Plus, she loved to put stickers on her face.  Except one time, they stayed on for a while and she didn't like it when they came off due to the pain of taking them off the cheek :(

Two of the things that she loves; her hat and braids.

The family came over for Mother's Day and the kids enjoyed the waterfall.

Maci didn't want to get out.

We were lucky enough to see Chelsea before Aleck came.  She had a break between semesters and was able to come up and stay in Miles City.  She and Maci had such a fun time playing at the park.