One week old

Here's his first highlight reel. Editor's Note: little Abraham really did try to latch to Andrew after his bath, it was not his idea of a mean-spirited prank.

Many Firsts

From his head...


Down to his toes, Abraham is about as new as they come. Everything is a first for him. However, with his arrival, he has given many other people the opportunity to have some firsts as well!


New Mom


New Dad on his first walk!


The new Grandmama


Three generations of new- New Grandfather, new Dad, new baby


First time grandparents- Nona and Papa


The new Great-Grumpy


The new Great-Gma

Grandma Galli is also a Great-Grandma for the first time, but unfortunately we'll have to wait a little while before we see her in Georgia. The same for Grandpa Galli in Nevada.
Gigi is also a great-great grandma for the first time. Unfortunately, she died in September of 2006, but we are sure she gave him some great advise as they passed on the way. We think that he might also have her to thank for his kiss-able lips.
And sorry to the 9 new aunts and 4 new uncles- there wasn't room on this blog to include a picture with each of you :) Put them up on your facebook pages.
Of course, I'm sure it's wonderful to be a great-grandma for the 2nd time, as Gma Marshall is, and a great-grandma/great-grandpa for the 16th time as the Sorensen Grandparents are.
It's been a beautiful four days with our little boy. As wonderful as it is to be his mother, I realize that this baby is coming to our whole family. He has wonderful family lines on all sides. He is a special boy, with a special life to live, and it has been humbling to receive him into our family.

Update and Addendum

We came back from the hospital yesterday afternoon. Ariel and Abraham passed their tests with flying colors. Abraham didn't even cry with all of his pokes and shots, just whimpered bravely. I told him he could cry.

I'm also posting to make a clarification or two from the last post. It may have appeared, because of the scriptures at the beginning, that Ariel's labor was easy and light. It wasn't. Those were our theme scriptures throughout the pregnancy so I felt it appropriate to post them. It was certainly the hardest thing she had ever done. It took all that she had physically, spiritually, emotionally, and mentally. But the Lord did strengthen her. And she was patient and cheerful. She may not have been smiling and laughing through it all, but she didn't ever snap or yell or anything of the kind. It was a difficult, long labor buoyed by angels and the strength of the Lord.
So, yes, the labor was extremely arduous, and Ariel did extremely well (as did baby).

And I also wanted to clarify the origins and motives for the decision to birth naturally. The original reason Ariel wanted to have the baby naturally was because she hates and fears needles. It took me some time before warming up to the idea of her laboring and delivering without medicine. After more reading, taking classes and talking we decided there were other good reasons, beyond the fear of needles (the word is Aichmophobia, in case anyone was wondering), to have the baby naturally, and so we left our doctor to go to a midwife.
Thanks for reading! This is one beautiful baby!