Ok, let me just preface this by saying that I'm not a baby person. My coworkers go on and on about their kids and in my head I'm usually thinking "please stop talking so I can eat this sandwich in peace". But I must say I had an amazing baby experience last night. My brother's girlfriend went into labor yesterday morning, and my mom called me around 10:30am to let me know that things were coming right along. I was so distracted and unproductive at work that I took a half day of vacation and left to wait at the hospital with my mom and stepdad. We grabbed some lunch with my brother and then spent about 6 hours killing time...talking, reading, eating, and walking around Children's Hospital. That hospital is amazing - every staff member had a smile and a hello. Carolyn's family came later and we were a massive bundle of nerves when we got word that she had begun pushing. At 6:15pm my brother and Carolyn's mom came into the waiting area looking very happy, and my brother said "I have a daughter"....Ava Amanda. We all screamed and hugged and celebrated (like we wouldn't have if it was a boy). We all relaxed while they cleaned up baby and mom, and Russ and I bought the biggest pink "It's A Girl" teddy bear and balloon that I could find. A bit later we all migrated to the "baby and mom" floor and waited for the the family to come back. Finally, they wheeled her in and we descended upon her like a pack of picture-taking vultures. It was overwhelming. I told Eric that I would have loved his baby if it was ugly as hell, but she was beautiful. I just couldn't believe it. This is a big thing - I have like 10 cousins between the ages of 17 and 35, and this is our first great-grandchild of the family. Plus I love the aunt/niece relationship and can't wait to pass that on. Afterward we went out for a celebratory big burger and big drink. And now I still can't get completely back to work because I can't stop thinking about this little one:

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3518/3231033726_138b897c05.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3435/3230240075_3ba223d7d2.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3400/3230217351_a6bbe46b21.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3130/3230208555_24e487d0eb.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3520/3231060850_61cecea6cd.jpg