This is an English burpless cucumber and it grows to 3 feet long. He picked this one early because he couldn't wait to try it.
They were all pretty impressed with that cuke.
97 cukes, green beans and squash.
He made pickles with most of the cucumbers, which everyone- except me-was thrilled about.
Sam loves to help with Emma.
Look at those dirty feet!
Emma's first real bath. She didn't really love it, but she didn't really seem to hate it either.
But she was glad when it was over and she could finish her bottle.
Baths just wipe her out!
What a sweet face.
Her hair gets really wavy when it's wet.
Good night sweet Emma. Sleep tight (and long!!) 
A welcoming sign
Lots of balloons
More balloons
Welcome home, Emma Grace!
The sleeper Emma is wearing in these next pictures is over 20 years old and is very sentimental to me. When I was pregnant with Paul, Jr., I did not find out if he was a boy or a girl. Our church threw us a shower, and one of the sweet older women in the church gave me both a boy outfit and a girl outfit. This is the girl outfit, and I obviously did not need it for Paul nor for Zack, but put it away.
When I found out we were having a girl with Anna, I immediately thought of this outfit and planned for her to wear it home. And then, the same with Ellie. Both girls wore it home from the hospital. When I found out Emma was a girl, I planned for her to wear it home also. But, it was tucked away somewhere in the attic, not having been seen in years and I wasn't sure we could find it.
The day before Emma's birth, Ellie excitedly brought a box down from the attic and said, MOM! I think I found it! I was so excited. We ran it to the laundry room to be washed, and sadly, that was the last we saw of it. For days. The girls searched and searched while I was in the hospital to find that outfit, but to no avail. Sigh. Emma wore something else home. I was very sad about that, but at least she had the quilt I had made her to wear home.
Until we realize in all the excitement and hubbub of the day, it got left at home. It was very sad and I had to keep reminding myself that it really didn't matter. I was taking home a very healthy baby, and I was extremely blessed. That helped, but didn't take away all the sadness. So tonight, after her bath, I put this outfit on her and laid her on her quilt. So just pretend that these last few pictures were taken a week ago, when she came home.
Here she is wearing a cap and gown that was Ellie's. I saved very little baby clothes, but I remember thinking this was so cute and not wanting to get rid of it. I'm so glad I didn't.
Paul went home and left Ellie to stay with me for the night. We had fun dressing Emma up and taking some more pictures.
She looks so pretty in pink, but part of the reason was because her skin was so dark because she had some jaundice.
I love this picture too.
Ellie and Emma. Hard to believe that the last time this little gown was worn, Ellie was the one wearing it.
This was our last night in the hospital. On one hand, I was glad, ready to be back home. On the other, while I was here, I was taken care of, had my meals brought to me, had my room cleaned, and had basically anything I asked for. Hmmmm. Just kidding. I was ready to be home.
She's doing very well, eating between 3 and 4 ounces every 2 1/2 to 3 hours. She enjoys her bottles!
The past two nights she has slept 5 and 4.5 hours, and then right back to sleep for 4 more hours. I am thrilled about that!
She seems to be a very content baby, at least so far. She only cries when she's hungry and she loves to just look around.
Anna and I dressed her up last night to take some pictures. I'm still very limited in my movements, plus it was so hot, so this was the only pose we got.
She makes alot of faces!
This is what she does- just lays and looks around.
The quilt looks much better to me with Emma laying on it!
More faces!
I love this picture!
Sweet, sweet Emma Grace!
What a sweet face.
Anna and I dressed her up and put a bow in her hair and took a few pictures. Emma didn't mind at all posing for us.
In fact, it looks like she rather enjoyed it in this picture.
She looks so big here to me!
What a big girl!
Taking it easy
The big brothers
The littlest big brother who couldn't wait to get his hands on Emma Grapes.
Sam loves her too, but was very concerned about me during this whole ordeal. He was not happy when I wasn't around when she was first in the nursery. He came right in my room and came right to the bed and laid his head on my arm. So sweet.
Big Sister
Another big sister.
Tired, sore, relieved mom.
I still couldn't believe how big that baby was!
And I was a little surprised with her hair.
Ben's big brother gift
A big stuffed alligator. Or as he says, adigador.
The girls could not wait to get bows in her hair.
He couldn't hold her enough. Look at his cute badge!
Sam loves holding her too.
