The first week at home

Claire and I were discharged from the hospital on Thursday, February 28th.  It felt great to bring her home and start our lives together as a family.  Mom and Dad stayed with us until that next Monday, March 4, so we had a lot of help and full bellies of delicious meals the whole time they were here.  Thanks, Mom and Dad!

Adorable going home from the hospital outfit.

Bringing Claire home

What a peanut in that car seat!

Luke greeting Claire for the first time at home.  We made sure to give him plenty of attention, so Mom held the baby while we greeted Luke and gave him hugs and kisses.  We did the same thing to Spumoni:)

Love those snuggles.  

Checking out Baby Claire in her chair.

He picked out his "Big Brother" shirt himself that day.

Grandma Mary gave him a bath and read him stories every night they were visiting.  

Claire's first time in her crib.  

First doll from G & G Baranko

Pretty girl.  Outfit courtesy of U. Ben and A. Linda.

Mom made a delicious gourmet beef tenderloin meal for all of us, including Donna & Emil, on their last night here.  She also cooked enough other meals to feed us for a month - our fridges and freezers are full with her home cookin'.  Thanks, Mom!

Claire, Luke, Matt & Spumoni are all in this picture:)  Take two at making the yellow school bus in the snow.  Matt spent hours doing it and when he finished Luke said "Where's the fire truck?"  Ha!

Snuggling with Grandpa

Little half smile

Round two of Old Grand Dad shots, this time with Grandpa Emil.  

Nap time for the three of us.

Their hair looks so similar - could be in one of those hair color commercials where they make the parent's hair match the kid's to show how natural it is:)

First sponge bath, she was not a fan.  

Hospital Photo Shoot

Bella Baby Photography took these adorable shots of Claire.  I must admit, trying all those bows on her was very fun!!  Thanks, Katie, for the extensive bow collection from Isabelle:)

 This is the same pose as the one we loved of Luke - I adore seeing the two side by side.

Coincidentally our photographer was the same one who took Luke's photos 2.5 years ago!  She recognized us and showed us a picture of Luke that she uses on the homepage of her photography website.  How funny is that?

Happy 35th Birthday to Matt!

 Matt turned 35 on February 27th, and since Claire arrived on February 26th, her and Matt's birthday will forever be intact as separate special days (which we wanted).  This year Matt's birthday was undoubtedly overshadowed by his daughter's birth, but  he didn't seem to mind:)  Isolene was so sweet to bring Matt his favorite dessert, a Baker's Square French Silk Pie, to the hospital along with a birthday hat, plates and napkins - not to mention a decked out Lukers ready for family pictures.  Donna and Emil also brought Matt a cake, and he had several presents to open too, so he got some celebration at least.

That same day Matt and Grandpa Mackus did their traditional celebratory shot of "Old Grandad" whiskey.  They both forgot how strong it is!

Isolene and Claire getting to know each other.

Hi princess!

Mackus family tradition.  This bottle was left over from Luke's birth!

Hanging out in the hospital room.  We had our special hospital dinner that night that doubled as Matt's birthday dinner. Filet Mignon a la Lake Forest Hospital - not too shabby!

Miss Claire meets her family

Claire made her debut on the day of a huge snowstorm.  Businesses closed early, the roads were a mess, and Grandma & Grandpa Mackus flew in from Tucson just in the nick of time!  We were so glad to have both sets of grandparents at the hospital to welcome her as soon as she arrived.  Her big brother Luke came to the hospital soon after to meet her for the first time, too.  She can't wait to meet the rest of her family in the  coming weeks!  

Luke was a little intimidated by the hospital and all the people in the delivery room that first night.  

Luke felt much more comfortable the next day in the recovery room, giving his baby sister a little kiss!

First family picture of the 4 of us!