Little Big Man

I can't believe it's been 2 months! The time has just flown by, and little Ben is growing by leaps and bounds and doing one amazing thing after the other - but I may be biased. We had our 2-month appointment today and all is well. He's a big baby boy, weighing in at 15 pounds and 6 ounces - or "off the charts" as the nurse practitioner told us. What can I say, we made a big baby!

We had our first round of shots today, and he did such a good job! I know I was more upset than he was, but it was scary for mommy. I mean, they just come in there and jab him without much of a warning or anything. Bam, bam, bam - 3 shots in a minute. He screamed, but then I picked him up and he calmed right down. Of course the rest of the day he's been a bit more irritable and achy, so we've had our first experience with baby Tylenol. So far, he likes the grape flavor the best.

Well, I have so much more to share - like the birth story, the first weeks home, how much I miss adult interaction, etc...but I need to go to bed and get a few hours of shut-eye before the little man wakes up for his middle of the night feeding.

I will return to posting...once I figure out how to hold the baby and type. Until then...

Benny! Benny! Benny and his chins!

So, Stacy has been a bit busy....and I can't stand it! :)

I just had to put some pictures up here for you all to see! Ben is growing bunches and doing so much!

He makes a cute little snorty sound (similar to Stacy's laugh), looks like he's smiling, is already practicing standing, has grown man sounding poots, and has developed the cutest rolls! Also, he seems to enjoy watching TV (hmmmm...where did he get that from?), stretches his arms out and wiggles his wrists, and no longer likes to sleep in his pack-n-play!

This is Love

While, exhausted, we are all still alive and well! Mommy, Daddy and baby are still trying to figure out how this whole "parenthood" thing works - but we're slowly, but surely, figuring things out. We're taking things day by day, and sometimes hour by hour.

It's amazing how much you can be in love with someone you've only known for seconds, but it's true. As soon as they hand you that baby, it's love at first sight. What they don't tell you about is the worry and anxiety - how you just want to make sure he's happy and healthy at all times. How it breaks your heart to hear him cry for just a second - even when you know he's fine. And how it's hard to sleep at all because you won't be able to watch him if you're sleeping.

James and I are just so amazed that we made this little precious boy. He is so wonderful - healthy, happy, sweet, good-natured and adorable. Every minute with him is just so worth it all. The horrible labor and delivery, the slow and painful recovery, the sleepless nights and the anxiety - it's all worth it just to look at his face.

Aunt Amanda's Two Cents....

Ok, well-I first must say that I am so thrilled that little Ben waited until I was in the vicinity to make his appearance! Having been at the hospital with Stacy from the beginning-I cannot put into words how amazing she was. She was in pain, having contractions, sleep deprived, and famished-but managed to (bitch!) look beautiful, be polite to each nurse and person who entered her room, and be so brave!!

After many, many, many hours of contractions and waiting, she was given the "ok" to start pushing! I won't spill the beans about how long it took or what she went through, but I will tell you that it was so worth it! Ben is the cutest kid I've ever seen-and so sweet! He makes the cutest faces (even the little "elvis face" that Stacy made when she was a baby)! He is the perfect combination of James and Stacy--and I cannot wait to see him grow up! (Although....I don't really want him to ever get any bigger)! :)

Big Ben

Story of the delivery and all to come on another post....until then, here he is:

BENJAMIN EVERETT HAWKEN
8 pounds, 11 ounces and 21 3/4 inches

Everyone is happy and healthy - just overly tired from our "birth" story.

Stupid Voting

So, I went to vote today. The polls opened at 10:00 a.m., so I got in line at 9:15 a.m. After standing in line for 2.5 hours, I couldn't take it anymore but was also not willing to miss my chance to vote for my man Obama. So the really nice people standing around me were very adamant that I should talk to an elections board member and get to go to the front of the line, or at least get to sit inside until my turn. In fact, a sweet man went with me to find an official. You would not believe how common decency is just dead in America. No one cared that I was over 40 weeks pregnant, swollen, and having Braxton Hicks contractions. Below is my blackberry conversation with my friend, Brooke, after the debacle. I'm still so pissed!

Stacy: You will not believe how f*ng rude people are in voting!
Stacy: I have been standing here 2.5 hours and the nice folks around me are like "they need to let you vote and not stand in line!"
Stacy: And the election board people are like - you're not disabled, so you can't go to the front of line
Stacy: I'm like "can I sit inside and then just vote when my space comes up"
Stacy: And they're like "is someone standing in your place?"
Brooke: Omg - I'm so sorry!!
Brooke: what?! Seriously? That is ridiculous!!
Stacy: Uh, no - but the people I was with are cool with me sitting until they come up
Stacy: And they are "letting" me do that...but they're not happy about it.
Stacy: And people in line in front of me wouldn't let me pass
Stacy: They were like "she's just using that as an excuse!" and "It ain't my problem."
Stacy: I am so pissed, its all I can do not to cry and leave...but I have to vote!
Brooke: Aw honey I'm sooo sorry. I can't believe how rude people are either. Do u want me to come up there?
Stacy: No. I'm gonna stick it out. But I am calling the elections board to complain when I get home.
Brooke: I can stand w/ u or cause a scene
Stacy: No, its fine
Brooke: U absolutely should!
Stacy: I am sitting now. Waiting till my part of line comes up, and then I can get back in line to vote.
Brooke: Any idea how much longer its suppose to take?
Stacy: Like 45 minutes
Brooke: R u sure u don't need anything - a snack, some thing to drink?I can get there in ab 15 min.
Stacy: No. I'm fine. Serves them right if I pass out
Brooke: Yeah but that shouldn't even be an issue bc they should let u go to the front! Its just ridiculous and in inexcusable.
Stacy: Yeah, well they are doing the same thing to the elderly
Brooke: Well I'm calling the board of elections too!
Stacy: Thanks!

I finally cast my vote at 1:30 p.m.