More Anna Jo

Tomorrow, Anna will be one week old. This week has been such a fabulous week. It has been so fun to see how much one small baby can change a house. We are changing a lot of diapers, I can once again bend over to pick up toys, and Jill is completely enamored with her little sister, who she calls, "Anna Jo, Baby Anna, Baby Jo, or even Baby China." Jill gives kiss after kiss to the top of her head and is the best diaper retriever of all of the kids. Casey likes to hold her and rock her in the red chair, Maggie and Zach will hold her for a long time and then pass her off to the other one, and Sam likes to take her in shorter more frequent visits, kind of like a frequent flyer.
Anna is sleeping well and, for now, is the sweetest baby who just seems content to be a . . . baby. I don't know if that makes sense, but I don't take it for granted. A few of my babies have seemed to be itching to grow out of their baby bodies as soon as they are born - like their little spirits can't stand being cooped up in a tiny body. But, as I watch Anna, she just seems so happy to be here among the rest of the crazies. For once, I feel like I am the same way. Just happy to have her as a baby. It seems that it has taken me 6 to learn the lesson to stop, relax, and just enjoy. I'm not anxious for the next stage, just happy to be. Just happy to have a new special spirit in our home, to teach me and for me to love.