AND HE'S OFF!!

Edwin Makes the News

NEW ORLEANS: I knew it would happen, just not this soon. Edwin is a local celebrity in the New Orleans area, helping Daddy-o cover a story on Newman students planting trees in a nearby park.

Get the full story here.

Plain Ketchup -- New York in December

December was hectic; as it always is. Gearing up for Christmas and making plans to send things out, see people you have to see, and do all the things you want to do is always just beyond your ability. But we did our best. So we are playing catch-up with December's events. Thanks to my job and Sutton's leave, we had a lot of time to travel, so it was the perfect time to head up to New York and introduce Edwin to my family. He got to meet everyone in the immediate family except for Paul and Sally. We wish we could have got them too, but we'll have to do it next time.

We flew into Syracuse, and then drove out to Buffalo for a night. Flying was not so bad. We traveled light. No stroller and no car seat (we rented that with the car), so we were lean and quick in the airport. EG went in a snuggli/bjorn. Security was a breeze - no bottles of suspicious liquid to explain. Edwin did not like the pressure changes, and cried on the landing of the first flight, but Sut nursed him so the swallowing eased the pressure. Plus his cry-hole was otherwise occupied. We brought earplugs to hand out to other passengers, but we did not hand them out... yet.

We arrived in NY at 11:30pm or so, so no one was up at the big house when we got there. They were after I accidentally hit the rental's panic button, though. Oopsie daisy. Liverpool had just seen 70 inches of snow, delivered over 95 straight hours. It was compacted a bit by the time we got there, but we got to show Edwin a VERY snowy New York, which made for good pics.

In Liverpool we got to visit with Guy & Cindy, Alan & Patti, Martha & Marty, Pat, Eric, Dan, Julia, Tommy, Leo, and the cats! Special props go to Cindy who basically held Edwin the whole time, even when he projectile puked over her shoulder while we were hangin' around the fire in the back yard (Sutton's favorite NY pastime). Before we left we even had some of my famous cheesesteaks which Sut said was the best batch yet.

In L'pool we also made a side trip to American Legion Post 188 (where Mom and Dad were fixtures for many years) to see Santa Claus. This was Edwin's first Santa visit, embettered by the fact that it was the same Santa I sat on when I was his age. Santa said EG wanted a rattle. Sure enough, he got one. Sutton said she wanted Black Star to sell out the roof. We explained to Santa that BS is a session beer. He said that he and my dad had many sessions together. Who knew that Santa and my Dad were drinking buddies!

Then it was off to the city of good neighbors -- Buffalo. We stayed with Seth & Colleen (and Matthew & Meghan), but we also visited with Keith & Anne and Bill & Jesse, who had Landon and Benjamin in tow. We all milled around the kitchen dining room and living room, catching up and sharing stories. The next day, we went over to Keith's and visited with Andrea, before heading off to Duff's for wings and Duff's Beer. D'oh!

It was great to see everyone, and we appreciate the hospitality. it was great to see all the Hibberts and other kin, and the snow was a big plus. We hope to go again soon, maybe in warmer weather. The album below has some of the best and worst pictures of the trip! Some highlights are Cindy and Guy (what?) holding Edwin, many snow pics, Seth and Col's kids, Bill and Jesse's kids, cats, old pictures of Mom and Dad, and more!

	New York Trip Album

Next up, the Trip to the Sip!

Two Months Old

I don't believe it myself.

I am a bad father. No... I am a good father but a bad friend and reporter. I have not posted in a MONTH and a half.

Let me make up for it now. We have taken 550 pictures since Edwin was born, and here are 30 or so that seem to capture his essence. Sleeping, eating, getting held by people, happy, sad, angry, content, and emoting in an uncertain way. (See at the bottom of this post)

We took him to the baby doctor today. He measured 14.85 pounds and 25 inches. That exceeds the 95th percentile for pups his age. I am not saying that he's gonna be tall or fat or whatever, but that's where he stands now. You will be happy to hear that he is in generally good health. He has his issues, but he is trying to keep our anxiety levels down, which we appreciate. He took his shot like a man, and did not even cry. Sutton did not even cry either, which surprised her. I like shots, so I am not surprised that EG is a fan too.

Aside from Sutton's sore wrists (carpal tunnel, blackberry-thumb, or something) and my lard, we are in good health as well. While the house is a mess, we will clean up if we are expecting visitors (hint hint).

I hereby swear that I will update this more often, like 50 times a day, forever.

Latest Pics 12/01/10

What's the hold up?

Edwin With People

Hi everyone!

I'm posting more pix of little Edgar and feeling my way around Picasa at the same time. Check out this smallish album of various people holding the baby. More pictures coming soon, including The Many Faces of E.G. Hibbert, Edwin Goes a-Travelin', and other exciting titles.

Barely 5 Days Old!

Hi everyone! What a night last night. We got oodles of sleep -- maybe from 1am to 6 am! Edwin is very happy right now. This is hard to say without being indiscreet, so I will just lay it out in scientific terms: his tee tee feels better, so it's not ouchie even when he wee wees. He is hungry sleepy, and happy all at the same time. I understand this may not last, but it is really nice right now.

But he is acting a bit cliche, being all cute and stuff. I mean look at that picture above. Classic baby. Overdoing it a bit perhaps.

Anyway, that's it for now. Come visit.

Birth Procedure Complete!

Edwin Grey Hibbert was born at 1230 p.m. on Binary Day: 100110! we will be hearing about that later when he understands the C001N355 of it. For the rest of you,that's October 1, 2010. He was messing around with his umbilical cord in the womb, so his BP kept dropping dramatically every time Sutton had a contraction, so it was determined that he should be delivered via C section.

His vital Stats: 8 pounds, 15 ounces (big); 21.75 inches (big) 14.5 inch head (big). Bluish brown eyes, reddish brown hair. Rather gothic fingernails, long fingers. He has not peed yet (except right when he was born, he peed on a nurse) but he has pooped quite a bit. I performed all changings thank you very much. I am uploading a bunch of pictures, here they are.

First Impressions: A Poll

Time Keeps on ticking ticking ticking... I am very much looking forward to my life never being the same again. With Sutton so close to popping, I am mentally pacing around. We are both pretty ready for something to happen -- ready, not necessarily prepared. We have some nitty gritty to do (and work), but I am just eager to meet the guy.

Several people have said the seeing the child for the first time is indescribable, that something quite unexpected comes over you. I am excited to find out what they are talking about. If you want, please comment and tell me what you felt like when you met your first child for the first time (or, if not your first, your best :)). If you want to express yourself but remain anonymous to the world, email me. I'll post your comment without the name. Thanks!

On Baby Names

The inevitable questions that you get when you’re pregnant:


When are you due?


What are you having?


Do you have a name picked out?


“Can I touch your belly?” is also in there, but not as prominent as the other three, and often it's acted on before being asked. Hands off, Gropey McFeelerson!


The first two questions are pretty easily answered with no trouble. Spit out the date. Tell them a bit about what you’re having: We don’t know. Twins. A boy. Puppies. One of those alien deals that pops right out the belly – no need to induce; that’s a plus.


It’s that third question that’s the problem. There is an infinite number or names for a baby, and when you think about it, only one is right. And what’s right is subjective. What’s right to mother is not right with the grandma. Gershwin? Feldspar? I will be cold and dead in the ground before I have a grandson named Wilbur!


That, by the way, was for illustration purposes only. My sincerest apologies to the Gershwins, Feldspars, and Wilburs of the world that just spit up their old fashioneds in indignation.


If you say a potential name to a friend or stranger alike, if they are polite they will say, “Oh. That’s nice” but with an expression usually associated with a cat hair in the throat. If they are impolite, it’s worse, or they may even helpfully posit that the name is stupid.


Thanks.


We will tell you the name when we figure it out. Which might be tomorrow, seeing as someone we know had her baby a month early (nice name, Hanna Mabel, by the way).


In the mean time, we do have names that we call the boy for easy reference; feel free to use one of them:


Rico, RJ,little RJ, Arj, Hugo, Herbert, Lumpy, kicky, Squarebaby, Elbows, Cletus (the fetus), Bugger, and Little Brat.

The Susie Smith Makeover show

This is long, long overdue, but THANK YOU SUSIE SMITH!!! While we could have spent the weekend of August 29th thinking about Katrina's effects (or more likely watching a marathon of Little People, Big Dessert of New Jersey), we instead hosted Ms. Smith at Rancho Rogelio for our own makeover show: a remodel of the baby's room. Rather than traipsing around the Quarter with a daiquiri in hand, Susie spent sunup to sundown (or longer) planning, purchasing, painting, pinning, sewing, straightening, assembling and rearranging the baby room. With a daiquiri in hand. Loyal helpers Annie and Sutton helped make things happen (thanks for the sewing, Annie!), and I put some furniture together and bought a laser level. At least that's how I remember it.

So why remodel the baby's room? I mean, its just a baby; what does he care what color it is, or what's on the walls, or what the dresser looks like? Because before Susie came, it looked like this:

Before she came, susie told us to get the room painted white for a blank slate type of effect. We did the walls in flat winter white and the trim in gloss swiss coffee, which sounds brown, but it's not. Looks white to me anyway. We already had the crib, changer/dresser, and rug, but Sut and suse went out and got the bedding, window fabric, picture frames, and all of that sort of stuff. Annie, Susie, and Sutton sewed the stuff together, but Susie painted and put on the wall stickers that you'll see in a second. As I said before I put the furniture together and bought a level. I also got really tired and took a nap.

So here's what it all wound up looking like. This is the peek in through the door.

If you look closely at this second picture, you can see Sutton in the corner with her hand over her mouth. Maybe it is making her sick.

The third picture has her with this 'wow' kind of look, where people look around and say "wow." Behind her is the picture wall or the Wall of Ancestors. I am not up there yet. Trying to tell me something?

THANKS AGAIN SUSE!

Co-ed baby shower part II

I did not write up the other (first) baby shower; maybe I will sometime. In brief, it was at Peter's in SF it was attended by lots of people that I sent thankyous to, so I will not (and cannot) list here. We appreciate their coming and showering us with giftiepoohs.

This Mississippi shower was also jam packed with tons of people, so I can't really list them either. The hosts alone totaled 14 souls! It was put on at Alston and Ashley's Cherry Hill Estate. And it was a blast, with good food, great cheer, cases of wine, and coolers of beer. I devoted considerable time to making sure that I was not overdoing it. Thanks to everyone for coming!


Sutton has better pictures, but here are some fuzzy iPhone ones that I took:


Here's Sutton and Shelley. Look at how cute Sutton is with that round belly! Shelley is intent on something.
















Alston shakes peoples' nerves and rattles their brains with a little Chuck Berry -- Walker has to be in the right mood, and a piano has to be nearby for this to happen. It's Christmas in August.









We know a guy who works at a hospital, we got him to bust out the old sonogram, so we could see what baby Hibbert was up to. Looks like he's up to being handsome, though he didn't have to plump up his lips just for us. we got to check out his pudgy cheeks, Sutton-like nose, umbilical cord and the rest. And he is definitely a dude, if you catch my drift. Sonograms don't lie.

On other parents...

OK, so I'm new at this; naturally, I am curious. No, I was not checking out your wife, pal.

I was wondering what kind of Bjorn she was using, if it even was a Bjorn or maybe some off-brand that doesn't cost as much. I was looking at the stitching, seeing how it held the baby, whether it looked like it pinched or if it was comfortable. Do they all come in that color, or is there maybe a manlier one? But then again, if it is too dark, will the baby get too hot in it on sunny days? Hey, I wonder what kind of liner is in there, you know you don't want to chafe the baby. And is it interchangeable? Machine-washable?

That's what I was doing. How was I supposed to know she was breastfeeding?

Susie is coming soon!

It is always great to have visitors down here! So far we have had Rainer and Alex all the time, Alston, Annie, and Sha come to stay, but that's just a 15-minute to 3-hour drive to get here.

From San Fran we've had Susie and Shawn, Jeff Nichols and Edita, Chet, and then Peter about 4 times. (did I forget anyone?) More people should come!

But aside from her visit, Suse is also going to help us design the baby room. She is designing for free, too -- refreshing in this world of new-parent predator-profiteers.

I mean WHAT a racket! From the second that retailers hear you are having a baby their salivary glands go into overdrive and they want to sell you just about anything at about 3X the price. Well, I got a deal on the paint anyway.

The room is a funny shape, so it should be interesting to see how all of the furniture fits in there and where we put it and so on.

I needed to get something written. Coming soon:

• Names or lack thereof
  
• Fetal development and behavior
  
• Joy vs Fear -- the final showdown

Well, I did it...

This, obviously:



















But what I really mean is that I started the blog. We don't have a name yet, but have determined the sex, and the little guy is really growing on us.

Before I get too far along, I will have to start redesigning this place to match what I want it to be. But at least I have my first post.

Talk to you soon.