After a week of teasing, slow contractions, Adrian arrived with sudden and surprising alacrity. There is a long story about Emily’s induction being pushed back and back and back and the room being unavailable, then available, then unavailable, and finally available for good. The story also introduces Backpacking Dad’s delivery room snack regimen, the Irish nurse from Belfast, the room next door to the one Erin was delivered in, and lots of Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares streaming over the free wifi the hospital offered.
But I won’t tell that story. I keep looking for something funny and all I end up with is something amazing.
My son, Adrian Cashel Burns, was born at 8:44pm on May 16th, 2009. He was over a pound heavier than his sister, but scored lower on his Apgars. His feet and hands were less wrinkled rubber than his sister’s, but so was his head less hairy. And that’s all the comparing I want to do between Adrian and Erin. Erin has been stunning me for two years, and I don’t want to water that down; Adrian has been stunning me for two days, and I don’t want to treat him as Second and only Second.
He sounds like a kitten when he cries.
He slept in the crook of my arm for part of his first night in the world.
His diapers are so small; his pants are so big.
Erin loves him already. She assures us that he’s sleeping, assures him that “It’s okay, Adrian,” and keeps trying to grab his face so she can look at it.
Emily thinks she screamed during labour. She didn’t; not once.
It’s all gone tiny hands and tiny toes.
This is my son, Adrian.
114 comments:
*swoon*
Make me one?
Welcome little one!
I think we need to introduce him to my new baby step-granddaughter. Of course, she's an older woman -- she's 11 days old!!
Congrats again, Shawn! He's very newbabylooking... And Erin, Cashel - Emily has some Irish, does she?
congratulations again. you can tell just how smitten you are with your precious one already. it's in your words, your tone. it's beautiful.
continued well wishes for a good recovery to your wife and continued happiness for your new family.
sweet post. sweet fresh little face. thanks for sharing!
congrats again to all!
leel
So sweet! Congrats to you and Emily. Erin is going to be a GREAT big sister. :)
He's lovely. It'll be a fun challenge for you...the second is a bigger change than any after. Get everyone some rest.
Great post - beautiful family!
Congratulations!! He's adorable! I bet he'll be as smitten with you as you all are with him. Best wishes to everyone and speedy healing to Emily!
Welcome to the World...I'm still waiting to see him in a hockey jersey!
Welcome to the land of documented infancy, Adrian, and congratulations, Emily, Shawn and Erin.
As cliche as it sounds, Shawn, enjoy these initial days... they'll likely fly by faster than they did with Erin, simply because you're splitting your time now.
Again, congratulations.
Welcome to the world, Adrian, and congratulations to the Backpacking Dad family. He is perfection. Good work, Mom & Dad.
Congrats. That's a handsome boy.
I'm so glad he'd finally entered the world. I know he's a dream come true for your family.
Congratulations to the happy family. He's beautiful.
He's perfection, and will no doubt make your lives a brand new adventure! I'm so happy for all of you. Congratulations again.
p.s. - Any chance they sell models like him in the hospital gift stores? Because I really, really want one.
Congrats! What a proud Daddy!
This is just amazing. Congratulations. They are such little miracles.
Good luck,
Kris
Awww he is beautiful! Congrats!
Congratulations! He is beautiful
Wow. Just wow. He is remarkable and perfect.
Healthy AND adorable, you just can't beat that!
I love it when dads write love letters to their kids like this. Dadly love is such a treasure :)
Freakin awesome. Congrats to all of you!
Congratulations - he is adorable - you have an amazing family :-D
He is absolutely stunning!
Many, many congratulations...
Oh my dear, he is GORGEOUS! And seriously, every time I see a pick of your sweet precious girl, I think, "Can she get any more gorgeous?" You two make beautiful children! Congrats to you guys!
He's very, very beautiful. Welcome to the world, Adrian!
He's a stunner! Congrats :)
You're all beautiful! Welcome to this crazy world, Adrian. You've got a few great people to guide you through. Blessings, one and all.
Beautiful post! Beautiful son..daughter..and wife. Beautiful you.
My hugest congratulations to you all.
Oh. He's perfect. Also? Your wife's hair looks unbelievably good for someone who just had a baby.
Congratulations to you and Emily on the birth of your healthy, handsome son! And congratulations to Erin as well for becoming a big sister =)
He is precious and beautiful in every way! Congratulations.
Quit it. Just quit having beautiful babies and then posting about it so people like me, who are supposed to be finished, get baby fever all over again. Sheesh.
He's a doll! You have a gorgeous family. Congratulations. :)
congratulations. he is so gorgeous. I want one now!
Congratulations to your family! He is a doll!e
Good looking kid there!
Great pictures too.
Congratulations.
Another beautiful addition to your perfect little family! Congratulations and thank you for sharing!
Congratulations!
GAWD! I want another baby! He's just perfect, so beautiful and sweet little Erin, how precious.. I'm dying over here, dying.
Congrats!!!
Simply beautiful! What a perfect son. Many, many congratulations. Your family is scrumptious. I'm so happy for you on so many levels.
Oh, he is GORGEOUS. I love your descriptions- so vivid, so filled with adoration for him. Beautiful! Congratulations again!
Congratulations!!!! He is so beautiful! Heck, your whole family is just beautiful!
Congratulations.
He is a fine strapping size of a boy.
Well done to you all, enjoy.
Congrats you two! Looks like you might need a bigger backpack....
Okay I officially have an axe to grind with your wife because NOBODY has any business looking so pretty RIGHT AFTER HAVING A BABY. I think there's a law. Adrian is a cutie :)
What a sweet, sweet post for a sweet, sweet boy. Congratulations!!!
And p.s. You will continue to compare them, it's only natural. so don't be too hard on yourself :-)
He's amazing. Congrats.
Congratulations! He is adorable!
I'm so happy for you! And for Emily for no longer having to wait for him to come out. Sounds like you have a future procrastinator on your hands.
Welcome, little Adrian!
Wonderful, sweet post.
So crazy to think only 7 months later how I can look at your son and think "My wife's right, I kinda DO want another one."
Congrats, Shawn!
Beautifully written!
Fantastic.
Holy smokes. This is the first time that I've seen a baby and thought "oh, I'd like another." I need to find someone to babysit... that usually cures me.
Congrats! Can't wait to read about the new family dynamic.
Congratulations :-D !!!
Congratulations! He's gorgeous!!
Wow you guys found cute newborn clothes. AND A CUTE NEWBORN.
Congrats to all four of you. What a beautiful family.
Oh my God he is beautiful. Congratulations to you all.
The very best and all the rest to you.
Erin and Adrian, Irish names? Knowing where Belfast is? Have you Irish connections?
He's adorable. Absolutely adorable. Congrats.
Congratulations! He's beautiful. You all are. Wishing you lots of wonderful second firsts. :)
Awesome. That's about all I got. Awesome.
So beautiful.
This is also, like the best ever post about a new baby.
Perhaps it comes from the clarity of NOT being the, uh, pusher-outer.
Congratulations! He is adorable.
That is one seriously gorgeous baby. You done good, Daddy-o.
Congratulations to you all!
It sure is. Beautiful - all of you. Congratulations again.
those look like some nice strong feeties he has there.
and absolutely adorable ones, at that!
He's a good lookin' lad.
Huge congrats to you and your family.
Oh he is SO cute! Adorable!
Congratulations to the whole family. He is a handsome little boy.
I just got told about your blog this afternoon. So this perfect and lovely post about the birth of your son was the first post of yours I ever read. And then I went on to scroll back through the last year of this blog, while my kids watched an hour and half of Phinneas and Ferb (clever, clever show).
And what I have to say is this: You are really, really good. And also this: The way you write inspires me to be a better writer. So truly, thanks for sharing.
Jennifer
thesearedaystx@gmail.com
A million congrats to you and your family!!
Ohh congratulations! He's adorable! :) So glad to hear big sister is fitting into her new role nicely. Only good times ahead. :)
Congrats Shawn. Adrian is a handsome little guy.
Congrats to you all :) He's beautiful!!
He's gorgeous. Simply and completely gorgeous.
That's really all I can come up with to say.
he is absolutely adorable. and that does NOT help my current bout of baby lust.
congratulations!!
Congratulations !! He is a beautiful addition to your family !!!!
the first of many wonderful tales!
Congratulations from me, and virtual congratulations from my wife, who is not allowed to see this post of cute tiny baby pictures.
When I decide we should have another one, then maybe I'll dredge these out for her.
Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CONGRATULATIONS! He is absolutely beautiful!
Congrats on a beautiful little boy.
Congrats. Do they make double kid backpacks? You know, one in front, one in back.
Congratulations on a beautiful baby boy!
Hope you and your wife manage to get some sleep! It's a lot harder with a toddler saying "mummy don't sleep!" when you just want to nap on the couch because the baby's been up 5 times in the night.... Sigh
But it's worth every sleep-deprived moment.
: )
He's just gorgeous, Shawn, congratulations to all of you!
Ya! Congratulations!! He's adorable and your family is very beautiful!
I'll never forget his birthday since it's the same as MINE!
Adrian looks so big! Even his fingers and toes look huge to me. :-) We just had a five pounder in my family, so maybe it's that...or maybe you've got a son who's going to be playing some serious hockey.
Congratulations!
He's beautiful!! Congrats Daddy!!! :)
Congratulations, my friend. Here's wishing you sleep.
Best,
J
AWESOMENESS ENSUES.
Many congrats to you and your entire family. A job well done.
Our boys are exactly 4 months apart - Nate goes in for his 4 month shots tomorrow. We'll have to get those guys together for some play dates (I'm in San Jose).
Get some sleep!
-Brian (At Home Father)
http://www.athomefather.com
MAZEL TOV to the Burns' family!
He's beautiful!! and the picture of your wife and daughter with him is precious!!
Congratulations!!! what a cute little bundle
Congrats, BPD. That's some good baby making.
Emily makes beautiful babies.
Congratulations to the Burns family.
I can't wait to corrupt him.
Heh.
congrats, BPD! a son and a daughter... it's difficult to rival the blessed-ness. wow. he is perfect, and i hope you're all enjoying these magical days. my first son, my Levi, was also born on 5/16 (2001). It's a good day to be born. blessings to each of you.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!
Congrats! He's adorable!
OMG! Congrats to you all! I will be following little Adrian and your adventures with my own newborn, born just three days after yours. What a crazy ride!
100th!
seriously though, congratulations to you all. what a precious boy.
i hope you get that mewling on video. my oldest cried like a kitten when she was born ad we were so overwhelmed we missed it.
All kinds of hugs and cigars.
Congratulations! What a beautiful baby.
What a beautiful boy! What a beautiful family! Congratulations. Enjoy the Babymoon!
You're killing me, Smalls. That was gorgeous. Congrats to the whole Burns family.
holy cow you guys make beautiful babies, not that I am surprise that your wife can make beautiful babies, but you? Just a normal ol guy...how ever did you manage that? hehehehe
Congrats!
It was suggested to me that this was a great blog to read so here I am. Congratulation on your son, you have a beautiful family. Take care and God Bless.
Ho-leeeee cow, he is absolutely perfect and adorable. Congratulations!
Oh!!! Welcome Baby Adrian. Mwah mwah (insert baby voice kissy noises here). Congratulations to you, Emily and Erin!
Oh, Shawn, everyone looks so gorgeous and perfect. I'm so happy for you all! I won't soon forget the photos of you holding your Adrian. Talk about precious!!
Again, congratulations and much aloha to everyone.
BIG CONGRATS to you!!! So happy for both of you! Babies are such miracles. Neverending joy, and always so special. Enjoy.
Awwwwwwww!!! Congratulations! The tiny hands and toes slay me.
And good choice on the birthdate, Adrian; May 16th is my birthday, too, just *mumble*mumble* years ago.
He is beautiful!
Totally late on this, but congrats!! He's a handsome little guy - go figure, considering his parents.
wow Shawn, congratulations! didn't even know you guys were preggers...guess i should read your blog!
Post a Comment