Welcome, Little One!

First of all, a thousand invisible points to Shari for noticing that though I referenced the picture of corn in my post yesterday, I failed to actually ADD the picture of corn to the story. Sigh. Shari, the points are invisible and get you...well...nothing. But you do get credit! I've fixed that now if you really want to see the corn!

Meanwhile, in news MUCH more exciting than any old corn, we have a brand spankin' new baby in our family! (Our family at large. Not our Shafferland household.)

Ryan's sister Bre gave birth to little Camden yesterday, and we had the privilege of meeting him in the very first hours of his life!

We knew Bre was at the hospital, and yesterday, mid-morning, Ryan's mom texted to let me know they were probably going to do a C-section. I tried my best to carry on with my own work while waiting for updates and praying/pacing quite a lot. I always get a bit nervous with these kinds of stories, just remembering my own first nephew, who we lost in moments much like that one. I guess even thirty years later, those memories stir you. I tried to make sure they stirred me to pray and not to panic.

Ryan ended up having a little extra time around his lunch hour, so we hurried to the hospital to wait with the rest of the family. We knew when we got there that she'd been taken into surgery, but we hadn't heard any news on whether or not Camden had safely arrived. I was too nervous to eat (WHAT?) but Ryan is never one to turn down free coffee:

We couldn't find any of the family at first, and then we discovered they were all waiting in Bre's room, so we joined them. More minutes passed and I was starting to feel pretty strong anxiety. Why didn't someone text a report?

And right then, we looked up and there came Bre, wheeled in her bed, holding a baby! WHAT?! She's done? She's back? He's here? So many questions! So many emotions. So much shock and awe and wonder and surprise all in one moment.

The nurse shooed us out of the room, so we all congregated in the hall, around Andrew's phone, trying to get a glimpse of this baby. (Bre's parents were the only ones who really got to even glance at his face for half a second before we had to get out.)

I felt I should at least document the crew who came to welcome him!

Ryan had to leave so he could get some lunch and get back to work, so we didn't get to meet the baby until later in the day. We went back as soon as Ryan got off work, and this time we got to meet and hold him!

He was so alert when we got there - just looking all around, taking in all the sights. I still haven't heard him cry. Guess he was pretty content!

Bre is doing well post-surgery and seems to be quite a natural as a mama. :)

And Ryan is quite a natural as a Ryan. I signed the guest book. He doctored it up.

Congratulations, Andrew and Bre, on this sweet new boy. Thanks for letting us share your special day with you!