It's time for some pictures...

Laura and Felix, a few hours after his birth

Proud dad, admiring his minutes-old son

Baby Felix! Fresh and clean after his first bath

Laura with sleepy, two-day old Felix

Daddy time

He's Here!!!

Our precious, little son, Felix Christian Hall, was born on December 21, at 8:19 pm. Four hours before that, we would never have guessed he was coming that day. A day before that we weren't even sure we were going to get a tax break. Sometimes these things happen fast! I will post the birth story in an entry soon.

So far parenthood has been *amazing*. Felix is such a wonderful baby. Even his crying sounds sweet, though I know that will get louder as he gets older. Our favorite sounds are when he squeeks, like as he's waking up, and when he sighs. He does this after he sneezes, and then takes another deep breath to sneeze again, but no sneeze comes so he lets all of the air out with a contented "aaaaah". So precious!!

I can't get enough of him either. An hour or so after he was born, they moved us up to the recovery unit. Since Brian couldn't come close to falling sleep in that 'easy chair' they have in the room--which was specifically designed to discourage dads from staying around, I'm sure--we snuggled together as a family in the hospital bed. And I remember realizing excitedly that I could hold him forever; no one was going to come and take this adorable baby back and return it to its mom, because I am his mom!! Sometimes when he falls asleep after nursing I just stare and stare at him. Everyone tells me to 'sleep while the baby sleeps', but that's just not happening. I can sleep when I'm old. Right now I just want to drink these experiences in. I love everything about him--his little mouth, his button nose; his beautiful, big eyes and long eyelashes (he can thank his dad for those!), his little ears, his soft hair... Oh, wow, listen to me gushing on like an overly proud mother. Well, it would be impossible not to fall in love with this little guy!

OK, now for some pictures!