Summer Vacation Pt.3--The Kentucky Reunion

This past week we have been in Tennessee for the 30th meeting of the Kentucky Reunion, a very special group of people who used to work and live with my parents in eastern Kentucky and have remained a "family" to us ever since.  We meet each year somewhere in the U.S., and this year we visited Townsend, Tennessee: "The peaceful side of the Smokies"!

Awesome view from the deck of our lodge

On the first day, we drove to Cades Cove, where we sighted several black bear and took a 5-mile hike to Abrams Falls.  Benji rode along the whole way!

Taking a Break

Abrams Falls

That evening, the group put on a surprise baby book shower for us and Benjamin.  It was so much fun!  Everyone played a game where they cut apart pictures of Jonathan and I to imagine what Benji could look like in the future.  Hopefully the reality will be a bit nicer than their creations...   :-)

A surprise baby shower!

Benjamin's Future?!?

Other highlights of the week included: time at the pool; a trip through the Tuckaleechee Caverns; games such as life-size fast Scrabble and throw-cheese-balls-at-the-grandpas; singing together; an exciting adventure race; and lots of great conversations.

Ready for the pool

Benji was a hit with the kids

New t-shirts! (photobombed by Alan)

Marvin won the cheese ball game...

Solving an adventure race riddle

The hot tub was a hot spot!

Happy Benji, happy Nonnie

At the lodge

Life-size Scrabble

It's always hard to say good-bye to our KY Reunion friends...We are looking forward to next year already!

Summer Vacation Pt.2--North Carolina

Benjamin has been such a good traveler!  After our week in West Virginia, we drove down to North Carolina for some time in Greensboro with Jonathan's parents, the beach for the Fourth of July, and a quick visit to Winston-Salem as well.  We were thankful to get the chance to introduce Benjamin to lots of friends and relatives, including:

Great-Grandmother Mann...

Uncle Tim...

Aunt Meghan...

...and many others!  Mrs. Newman hosted a lovely "Sip and See" for her friends to meet Benji.  The adorable lamb cake and cookies added a great touch to this special event!

We headed to Figure Eight Island with the extended Newman family at about the same time that Hurricane Arthur brushed the coast!  This made our 4th anniversary a very windy, wet, and memorable day, but we managed to go out to dinner at The Melting Pot for an excellent fondue dinner.  Benji came along but was a good sleeper through our meal!

Hurricane Arthur!

A Happy Anniversary

The Fourth of July itself was a beautiful, sunny day.  We had a picnic dinner at the yacht club and enjoyed dancing to the live band music.  Benjamin experienced fireworks for the first time, but they were not his favorite...

Dancing with Aunt Hannah

After the beach, we spent one day in Winston-Salem and were able to attend Hope Church.  We also spent time with our good friends Larry and Susan Jones and the Trollinger family.  Benjamin took his first walk on the Wake Forest campus (we are trying to brainwash him into a Demon Deacon fan from an early age!)

From Winston we drove west to Townsend, Tennessee for the KY Reunion--but I'll save that for another post!

All this traveling is hard work!

Summer Vacation Pt.1--Capon Springs

We have been enjoying some great times on the East Coast with our families these past two weeks!  This is Benjamin's first vacation, and he has been a wonderful traveler so far. We were nervous for the flight from Albuquerque to Baltimore, but Benji slept most of the way, was happy in the times between naps, and became a great favorite with his fellow passengers!

Getting ready for his first airplane ride!

All that travel made everyone tired...

After one night on the farm with Nonnie and Papa, we traveled with them to the Nicodemus family reunion at beautiful Capon Springs, WV.  Highlights of the week included amazing meals; fun games of ping-pong, shuffleboard, and cards; walks and hikes; and, best of all, good time with our family.

Nana and Pop-Pop with the "fourth generation"...

...and with their granddaughters.

It was fun to see cousins Caroline and Andrew meet Benjamin for the first time.  Andrew just kept saying, "Baby! Baby!" and wanting to touch him.  Caroline liked to hold Benji on her lap and kiss him.

Now we are in Greensboro, NC, with Benjamin's "Captain" and "Grandmommy".  I will post again soon!

Baby Benjamin!

Since my last blog post, our lives have changed in a big and wonderful way!  Benjamin Harold Newman arrived at 12:54 AM on May 21 (two weeks before his due date)!

That Monday we found out that he was in breech position and scheduled a procedure at the end of the week to try to turn him around.  Benji had other plans...  On Tuesday night my water broke and we hurried to the hospital.  At that point, it was too late to try to turn him so I went straight in for a C-section.  After hoping for and working towards a natural delivery for nine months, it was disappointing to be getting a C-section.  However, we were so thankful when we heard his first cries and the doctor said, "It's a boy!"

Jonathan helped cut his cord and get his measurements taken while I was in the recovery room.  Benji was 7 lbs. 8.6 oz. and 19 inches long.  Soon I got to hold him and feed him for the first time.  He quickly got the hang of eating and it is still his favorite activity (he takes after his mother there)  :)  We had an awesome nurse both days at the hospital: our good friend and Benji's New Mexico "grandmother" Mary Ippel!  We also appreciated all of the visitors that came to see Benjamin at the hospital.

The doctor did an awesome job with my C-section and I healed quickly.  On Thursday evening we took Benji home and began the adventure of caring for a newborn!

First bath at home!

Our parents arrived the next week which has been a big help.  Benji is usually a very happy little boy and is growing fast!  At his two week appointment, he was already a pound over his birth weight!  He enjoys getting a bath, riding in his stroller, and staying awake at night.  :)  He also seems to enjoy hiking, as he rode with his Daddy all the way to the top of Rehoboth Peak before he was two weeks old!

On his first hike

 Welcome, Baby Benjamin!  We are so thankful for you!