BABY LOVE

All of the recent births had me going way back in time and remembering the wonder and excitement a new baby brings to your life. After expecting her around April 30th, on May 11, 1983, shortly before midnight (11:53PM), Ashlee Grace Baskins made her way into the world on her Grandma Grace's birthday after only 45 minutes. She was a beautiful 7 lb., 18 1/2 inches long baby girl. First thing I did was make sure she didn't have "Baskins" ears. Hers were nice and flat and she had a perfectly shaped head because my labor was so fast. Here she is - she looks like she's smiling:

This is Ashlee and the nurse that helped us get her ready to go home. Look at those chubby little cheeks! I still haven't seen a newborn as gorgeous as she was. Here she is at home in her little cradle. I think she might have been the best baby in the world.
On July 20, 1989, at 10:26AM, Tyler Cole Baskins came screaming into the world. He was a long, skinny baby. He weighed 6 lbs 12 oz., and 20 inches long. I don't think he was ready for the cold, cruel world. They induced my labor, but I think he could have cooked a few more days. A natural birth with the added benefit of pitocin. Yippee! I had to be at the hospital around 6:00 or 6:30AM, so considering I hadn't had any contractions at all before they hooked me up to the pitocin, Tyler came pretty fast.I guess I never had to wait a long time for my babies. Would you look how far apart Tyler's toes are! Everything about him in this picture looks like he's trying to pretend he isn't there - his eye are squished shut, his fingers are fisted, and the toes. . .Here's Tyler with his big sister (six years old). She wanted a baby sister. She also wanted her sister to be black, so Tyler was kind of a disappointment. She accepted the idea of a white brother pretty fast.This is Tyler's hospital photo. Why can't they take good pics in the hospital? I'm sure they do a better job now that they have digital photography. He is still a cutie. Notice his hairline - he had two cowlicks on either side of that widow's peak - still does. I always told him it's where they had to cut off his devil horns. Don't you just love those sweet little baby lips?Ashlee thinks she never got to hold Tyler, but here she is holding him after we got him home. See the pillow? It's there because I had to sleep on the couch all propped up after I got home. During labor/delivery I pushed so hard I separated some muscles attached to my rib cage. Thought I was having a heart attack afterwards because it hurt to breathe. Look how pretty Ashlee is and Tyler is so tiny and adorable. And no, that's not a dress he has on. It's just a little sleeveless summer shirt and his diaper.Here's Tyler sleeping in the same cradle Ashlee used. Isn't it amazing how beautiful your children are when they are asleep. I know, he's on his tummy, but that's how we were told to let our babies sleep. Honest!I had to throw this photo in. Look what Tyler is wearing! It's OSU jammies! Tyler must have suppressed his cowboyness for a while, but I guess he was always meant to go to OSU. Funny, huh? Enjoy your babies. They grow up so, so fast.

I know the song isn't really about babies, but you've gotta love Diana Ross and the Supremes!