The past week has been quite something. First and foremost, of course, there was the birth of our son, Henry.

We had already agreed on his name as soon as we found out we were having a boy. His name is Henry Michael, simply to honor his father. After the births of our two girls, I already knew what kind of man my husband was. Once again, he was my rock and gave me all the strength and reassurance I needed to bring our little boy safely into the world.

He wasn’t actually due for another three weeks. The plan was a lovely clinic with a beautiful view of the sunset… Well. That was the plan. Instead, after a relaxed morning with my family, my water broke around noon on Sunday, just as I was about to take the last load of baby clothes out of the washing machine.

The laundry simply had to wait. By then the contractions were already getting pretty intense, and for once I decided to focus on myself instead. Luckily, the girls were spending the rest of the day out with Lottie (and they had to stay a little longer with her, the excitement was real), so I didn’t have to worry about any potential sibling-related trauma. By a little after 10:30 that evening, it was all over.

Henry was, quite literally, born through teamwork, in the peaceful surroundings of his own room. We had already moved our family bed in there the week before, just to be prepared. For the first few weeks, all five of us will be sleeping here together, so nobody has to feel alone. For the girls it’s one big adventure. For me, it’s pure survival strategy. Short distances are always a good idea. Henry was completely exhausted after the birth and wasn’t exactly thrilled when I suggested giving him his first bath.

And now, after our first week as a family of five, we’ve all settled into a comfortable rhythm. It’s remarkable how quickly everyday life returns, even after something as life-changing as welcoming a new baby. Other than that, we’re taking things slowly.
I even managed to take Villie and Liv on a little playground tour through town, where we ran into Ava. I think she was just as happy as we were to finally meet her new nephew in person.

The weather has been beautiful, the pool is warm enough, and all five of us fit comfortably beneath one sun umbrella. So these first precious days with Henry are passing in a quiet, peaceful routine. Resting, relaxing, eating, sleeping…and then doing it all over again.

…the daiquiri, for the record, was alcohol-free.