THE BEST PART OF MAY & JUNE - New babies!

     We became grandparents to two wonderful new little people born just three weeks apart!

BABY #1
     On May 23rd while I was in the middle of my Early Voting stint we got word that at last Gideon Varin Austin had made his appearance ....late just like his father had been!  Gideon is our son Nathan's first "man child" to come join three excited sisters.  It will be fun to see who he develops to look like.  His hair was very blond at birth, but in just a few short weeks his appearance has changed from that little old man look that some newborns come with, to grinning boy, sometimes with an expression that makes you sure he has some hilarious secret!  

Does this look like a happy papa?

Nathan, Noelle and Gideon

Gideon with their beautiful Grandma Sandra  (Colleen's mother)  Amaya on the right is starting school this fall, Noelle will start pre-school and Tara and Gideon will be home

Gideon's middle name, Varin, is Colleen's maiden name.  Through that name they honor the French heritage that Colleen brings to the family

Gideon just a few days old

Gideon making eye contact....

and laughing his head off!

Victor and I didn't get to see him until we left for Idaho to go to my 50th year class reunion in early June.  Spent one night with them to make his acquaintance, went home to Boise, and then came back for 5 days so we could be in Twin Falls when Nathan gave him his formal name and blessing at Church on July 1st.  I spent LOTS of time holding him!

Noelle and Gideon were the first to be ready to go that day.  Gideon is wearing the same blessing suit that I made for Nathan 31 years ago when he was blessed on July 5th in Las Vegas.

Fills it out quite nicely I'd say

The photo below is Nathan in the same outfit.

We love this little guy! 

Baby #2

     June 15th was the date Becky scheduled to be induced for delivery of her new daughter.   As it turned out her water broke just moments before they were ready to leave for the hospital anyway so I guess little Aria Olivia Graf was more than ready to come!   And come she did!  In two short hours!  When we got to the  hospital later that day with the kids Becky didn't even appear to have broken a sweat!!   Of course NO childbirth experience is a breeze so she got to do it totally naturally.  No time for the blessed epidural!      Aria is beautiful.  Her little body is just as perfect in every way as her sister Emily's was imperfect when she came to grace us with her presence for that short time last year.   We hope that Emily got to communicate with Aria before she came down to earth and tell her that she has an amazing mommy and daddy and a great big sister and brother!

I wish everyone could have witnessed the moment that Audrey and Ethan entered their mother's hospital room and saw their baby sister.   They got it on video I think.  This photo is a few moments into it...but the wonder is still there!

About 6 hours old.

Once home Becky has taken some beautiful photos with her "professional" camera.  The ones below I have downloaded from her blog.   Aria has been an easy baby - something that is always a great gift for a mother when her family starts to be greater than the number of her hands!   (Colleen reports that Gideon is doing well in that mode too).

A tired Daddy and eager-to-help big sister Audrey

I was SO excited when I saw that Aria has two dimples!!  I have always loved dimples.

I think that Aria is going to have Charles' coloring, but I know it is too early to tell for sure.  Won't that be fun if Becky gets to have one blond daughter and one darker one!

It is hard to know who spends more time kissing her head and patting her cheeks, Ethan or Audrey.  They are both pretty happy with her.  And so far she is pretty patient with all the attention.

Victor and I watched Audrey and Ethan at their house for the two days Becky was in the hospital.  I was amazed at Audrey's capable help and the maturity she has come to have. She plays really well with her brother and knows the "routine's" so well!     I had to really laugh, though,  when for about the 5th time she had to find something in the kitchen for me when I was trying to cook their meals.    She remarked, "Grandma, you don't know how to use our house very well, do you?"  UNDERSTATEMENT!

This last weekend  (July 8-9) we had the unique experience of having all 8 grandchildren at the house when Colleen (BRAVELY!!) drove down alone with her four en route to her family reunion in Oceanside!    Becky and kids came over, and, of course, Peter's daughter lives in our home - so there was lots of fun cousin time together.      

Alyssa - Peter and Jill's daughter

Noelle, Gideon, Amaya & Tara - Nathan's kids.

Audrey & Aria - Becky and Charles' girls (unfortunately when we took this photo Ethan was napping)

We spent a lot of discussion time as a group wondering about genes and characteristics that get passed on.  My daughter has my eyes....but fortunately NOT my inherited Scandinavian girth!!  Maybe if I had photoshopped my wrinkles out we'd look more alike!

One of our air conditioning units was out (the one where everyone gathers, of course,) so the kids were happy to escape the hot house into the pool!   Look closely at Tara's fun umbrella hat!   That was a gift to Nathan for one Christmas (in  honor of BYU colors).  Tara is wearing it to protect a new little scar from the sun.   She managed to be in the way of one of her Dad's frisby throws so caught it right between the eyes.  Six stitches but it is healing nicely.  She just needs to guard against sunburn for a whole year!

I am so grateful for all these wonderful people who are our friends as well as our family!   We had a nice time together and are glad that both new babies are here safely  (and their momma's lives and bodies can return to normal)!