My beautiful nephew

Samuel Bryant McDaniel

Born May 21, 2009 at 7:30 p.m.

He weighed 7 lbs, 13 oz and was 19 3/4 in. long

Last Thursday me and the kids headed up to Macon to be at the hospital when our new baby was born. We hung out for about 6 hours, causing complete chaos in the waiting room and hospital halls, stuffing our kids with all the junk food we could find to keep them happy! (It totally back fired on me though, Audrey was up ALL night that night with a tummy ache. She literally would take my hand and put it on her tummy to rub it!)
Like I said we hung out for 6 hours until I had finally had enough because it looked like the baby would NEVER come. So I loaded up my hooligans and hit the road for my sister's house. My mom was a few minutes behind me with Hannah and Matthew. Everyone got baths and just as we were getting their pj's on, Buddy called to tell us the baby had been born. I put the phone on speaker and Buddy told us what the baby was. He told Hannah and Matthew that they had a new baby brother and Hannah started giggling with delight! Matthew on the other hand said "NO!!! I wanted a baby sister"!! He's happy now though, with his little Samuel!

Mama and baby are doing GREAT!!! They got to come home on Saturday and for the most part he's been sleeping well at night. Samuel Bryant is the most alert newborn I have ever seen. The day after he was born he was awake for a long time, just checking everything and everyone out. He can hold his head up extremely well and he hardly cries, even when he's hungry. He has the most precious little features, including the Bryant ears(well they aren't so little!!!). He's just perfect and so beautiful. He never even looked like a new born, no wrinkly or red skin. It's those good genes showing off!!! The few times I got to just sit and hold him I soaked up his wonderful little baby smells and sounds. When he stretches he makes the cutest little squeaks, just like my babies did. Seeing him and holding him brought it all home, my babies aren't babies any more. James and Audrey looked like giants compared to Samuel. Where does it all go???James and Audrey were very shy around the baby. They weren't exactly sure what to think about him. Audrey brought him a baby bottle a couple of times and when he was in his bouncy seat on the floor they would wander over and check him out. James would take his chubby little hand and very gently touch Sam's face (oops, I mean Samuel!) and say "baby, baby" while Audrey would just stare at him with this silly grin on her face. When I'd tell her to kiss the baby she would poke her bottom lip out like this but never would kiss him. But she talked about him a lot and still is this morning. Last night when they were in the tub I asked them to tell daddy what they saw at Aunt Betsy's and she quickly replied "It's a baby". She's too smart I tell ya, to smart!!!

Before we left yesterday we were able to get a picture of all 5 cousins actually sitting calmly and smiling at us. We had to scream "Say cheese" a million times and take 50 pictures but we got a some good ones and this is my favorite because of James' smile!!!
Our time there went way to fast, even if it was crazy loud and hectic most of the time. Bed time took on a much sweeter meaning around there!! We are so blessed to have this new little life to love and watch grow. I can't wait to see what kind of personality he's gonna have and who he will look like when he gets older. I'm just sad that I wont be around to hold him while he's still little and likes to be held!!