Say Hello to My Little Friend

This birthday weekend has been a big winner! Starting on Thursday (which was my actual birthday), I got lots of love from my students and coworkers, with a cookie cake at lunch and brownies at the end of the day. The kids also decided to turn off the lights, hide, and yell surprise every time I left the room. They were very sweet and it never did get old or less funny.

Next up was birthday dinner with Anthony, not at Chick-Fil-A as I had been repeatedly promised, but at an Italian bistro named Cipollina. Unfortunately for Anthony, I was a little distracted because I was waiting on a call from my brother-in-law...

My little baby sister Amy told me early Thursday morning that she was having stronger and more frequent contractions, but she didn't seem too convinced until about 7 p.m., when they suddenly started coming about two minutes apart. She told me to wait till the doctor checked her, and sure enough, Cody called me just after we left Cipollina to tell me that she had dilated to a 5 and it was "definitely going to be now".

So I left Austin at 10 p.m. and arrived in Beaumont just after 2 a.m. He tried his best to make it on my birthday, but because he takes after Auntie Amber, he was a little bit late. I totally understood! Anyway, he did wait for me to arrive, and was born at 2:42 a.m., weighing 7 pounds, 2 ounces, and measuring 19.5" long. Amy and Mason Brooks are both doing great, and will be discharged from the hospital any minute now!

Click to enlarge. (Then right click to make it your desktop wallpaper...you know you want to!)