A new grandson!

William James VC came into the world in the first hour of Saturday November 16^th. He weighed 8 lbs and 11 oz and was 20 1/2 inches long. We were in Cheyenne getting text message updates throughout the day into the late night hours from our son. The worst part of waiting was the last hour when the texts stopped for a time because too much was going on. William’s maternal great grandmother, grandmother and two of his maternal Aunts were present at his birth. Everything went well and both mom and baby are healthy.

He was born in Wichita but came home to Salina on Monday the 18^th. Grandmother U stayed all week to help out and we arrived on Sunday the 24nd (Thanksgiving week) for our visit to see him and our turn to help keep the house going while the family gets used to new routines. I was amazed to see their house all decorated for Christmas inside and on the front porch. Kristin said she wanted to get things done early because she was afraid it wouldn’t happen otherwise. Phil has been very tied up at work as his right hand guy left for a new job in Texas. 

Miss Callie my “best girl” was full of energy and seems to be accepting her new “baby broder” giving him lots of kisses and hugs. He doesn’t do much yet though, but when he cries she asks “Why baby broder crying? Grammie and Callie got to hang out in her playroom and play cars and paint and play dress-up. At times her two year molars were causing her pain when she bites into food, but she was liking her popcicles and ice cream!

On the 28^th we cooked up a traditional turkey dinner and both children slept through the dinner so we had a nice quiet adult meal! Steve kept himself busy with various carpentry and installation projects during his time there when he wasn’t helping me find things at the grocery store.The guys hung the train art in the baby’s room which took laser levels etc. He also helped string Christmas lights around the garage and the front door and back deck. I mostly just cooked meals and changed some diapers and held the baby and played with Callie.

On Saturday the 30^th the Urso family came to visit from Wichita. Auntie Daniel had not yet seen the baby as she lives in Texas and was home for Thanksgiving. Baby William got a half bath in a plastic basin while everyone watched.  We had pizza and lots of conversation.

On Sunday the family posed in their Christmas outfits for a Christmas card photo shoot with grandpa behind the camera. William snoozed through the whole thing. 

On Monday the baby had his second week appointment at the pediatrician so we helped get everyone dressed and into the car seats for that. He passed his check up with flying colors now weighing over 10 lbs! He won’t be wearing the newborn size clothes much longer.

Will is a very mellow baby so far. He only seems to get upset when he gets undressed to get his diaper changed. Once he is dressed and wrapped up again he is fine. He does make noises after some feedings like grunting every so often maybe that is his version of fussiness or gas. Otherwise he is looking around or blissfully asleep. None of my babies were as mellow as he is.

It was hard to leave because he will change a lot before we see him again. A snowstorm and arctic weather were heading our way so we had to get going. It was a very precious time.