I want to thank everybody for their kind comments on the blog, and also there’s a lot of people to thank for other forms of generosity during what has been a trying time.

Here’s how the rest of December looked, in pictures… the first a bonus picture that really belongs in an earlier entry.

This is it. This is the definitive picture of Ian meeting Nina. Melissa was in bed, my arms were full and so were Marcia’s… Grampa Dave pulled off this picture and so this is it! (Earlier pictures that I posted were either of their second meeting, or minutes after this one was taken. See this image larger.

December 27th was our Christmas Eve, as everything had been postponed due to a little surprise visitor! Here she’s prepped and ready to head home… her first trip in a car seat! See this image larger.

My sleeping beauties! See this image larger.

When Ian looks this bored watching “Tad’s Christmas” for the 40th time, you know we’ve all pretty much got it memorized! See this image larger.

Grampa Dave happily inspects the first female Chapman (that didn’t marry into the name) in 4 generations. (I think.) See this image larger.

I know that someday she’ll emerge as a beautiful butterfly! See this image larger.

Something scared the mittens right off of her! See this image larger.

At this point, we were all blissful and tired… more in Part II!

I want to thank you all for your prayers and thoughts regarding Nina… The short of the story at this point is that her chromosome test came back “normal” and we can focus on praying for her heart, which is a major issue to contend with still — we’re not out of the woods yet, but some of the scariest trees are already behind us. More about this in the entries to follow, I promise. For now I’ve got a lot of catching up to do, so we need to turn the clock back to the beginning of December! (I know, you’re not happy with that, sorry!)

NOTE: This entry will be moved shortly to its appropriate place chronologically.

December 4th, and Ian wakes up to a rude surprise! See this image larger.

“Wha?” See this image larger.

Snow! And like six inches of it, all at once! See this image larger.

Am I the only person that thinks there are miniature Marge Simpsons outside the window? See this image larger.

December 6th. Those breakdancing lessons are really paying off. See this image larger.

December 7th. That hat doesn’t fit anymore, silly! See this image larger.

December 17th. Ian’s daycare’s Christmas program… someday I’ll have video. I’m afraid you may not find it all that interesting, as Ian decided on the way to the concert that “I’m not gunna sing.” See this image larger.

December 18th. *Daddy, this present is flat. It can’t be any good.* See this image larger.

With the wily grace of an elephant, Ian attempts to pilfer somebody else’s cookie. Not yet, kiddo. See this image larger.

Story time! See this image larger.

During the book exchange, Ian managed to pick a Curious George book, which was great because he has been on a George kick lately. (He loves the books, not the TV show, believe it or not.) See this image larger.

*Nuthin’ up my sleeve…* See this image larger.

“CANDY!” See this image larger.

*More?* See this image larger.

Finally, Ian gets his cookie! See this image larger.

If you’re just arriving, please scroll way down and start at the first part of this story, we have plenty of photos. In fact, you might want to consider getting yourself a beverage and a package of chips while the pictures load.

We moved from the delivery room over to the recovery room, exhausted; especially Melissa, who was a complete champ. Another delivery with no drugs! See this image larger.

Not too long after Melissa’s water broke (3am) we called Grampa Dave and Grandma Marcia (5am) and asked them to come to Rockford a little sooner than they had planned, for Christmas. I’ll tell it all in the long version of the story, but wow, do we owe them a great many thanks! This picture is still later on delivery day, the 25th… See this image larger.

We’re all smiles that our little girl is safe and sound. Ian’s initial reaction was one of excitement, curiosity, and maybe a little fear. Marcia was happy as a clam, and you should have seen her keep up with Ian! See this image larger.

Somebody loves her Mommy, already. See this image larger.

One of the outfits that Aunt Leslie sent to us happened to be a “baby’s first Christmas” one-piece… so we HAD to try it on her for this photo opportunity later on Christmas day. You can start to see her head changing shape a little here. You might even see a slight resemblance to Ian if you squint and pretend she’s bald. See this image larger.

I came home for dinner (Marcia saved me from hospital food!) on the 25th, so that Ian wouldn’t feel abandoned by his parents, and then turned around and went back to the hospital to sleep in the cot next to Melissa’s. On the 26th I came home for a little bit, and we drove as two cars over to the hospital again. Here Ian tries on Grampa Dave’s boots — turns out they’re a little large. See this image larger.

Finally our little family is more or less complete. Collect us all! See this image larger.

*So uh, she doesn’t like… make this noise all the time or anything, right?* (Thanks Gpa Dave for that caption.) See this image larger.

Grandma Marcia enjoys her new grand-daughter, who demands a high-five! See this image larger.

Quite possibly the bravest woman on Earth holds tight to a Christmas present that surprised us all. See this image larger.

Ian was very alert within about a week of coming home, or maybe a few days. This little girl seems to be tracking things right out of the gate. Here she gives Grampa Dave a peep. See this image larger.

This little girl is not going to suffer from a lack of love! See this image larger.

It is hard enough to keep a child entertained and happy at a hospital… Ian did pretty good under the circumstances! Here Ian finds Grampa Dave in a hallway. See this image larger.

Grandma Marcia has been a brilliant help with Ian — here she gives us another much-needed five minutes. See this image larger.

Ian has this look on his face – “Level with me here… I’m in trouble, right?” See this image larger.

It is shocking the number of changes her face has gone through in the handful of days that she’s been alive. Her facial features are rounding and softening. At the beginning of all of this, she didn’t look like Ian much at all, but I’m really starting to see a resemblance now. Here I’m studying those changes. See this image larger.

Ok, now THAT is a cute baby. Do I need to draw a halo above that head, or can you see it in your imagination too? See this image larger.

All of us spent some serious time making sure Ian understood what was going on with his new sister, and Ian was an incredible trooper. See this image larger.

Here Melissa explains that there is no love lost with our little man. See this image larger.

Home again, Ian and Grampa Dave play the “pillow squash” game. See this image larger.

Coming home in the evening yet again helped Ian not feel as abandoned by his parents, and gave Melissa time to bond with little Nina back at the hospital… I also got a chance to sleep, which could come in handy in the days to follow. See this image larger.

And obviously some quality time with Grampa Dave and Grandma Marcia is its own reward! See this image larger.