Elijah Cole Valdez is finally here!

Ok, technicallly as of today he has been here for 1 week!  My sister was induced on Wed, 7/6 at 10am and baby Eli was born on Thurs, 7/7 at 4:26pm.  My sister was a total rock star, seriously.  Even the doctor (who I happen to work with) said something to me this week about it.  It felt like it took forever for him to get here and that is just from someone standing on the sidelines. I am sure for Kim and Michael it felt like an eternity but as soon as he was born it was like he had been here forever.

I was lucky enough to be in the room when Elijah Cole was born and it is something I will always remember – his precious cry when he was born, my mom crying happy tears, Kim and Michael crying happy tears when they finally got to meet their son.  There is something amazing about being a witness to your nephew being born – everyone was so excited and anxious to meet him. I mean this little boy is loved, that is something he will never ever doubt.  It was so special for me to be in the room with my sister - my baby sister - to support her and love her as she became a momma.  After having Colin and knowing the ‘irrational joy’ he brings and the never-ending, always-growing love I have for him, it was the best thing in the world to see my sister experience this for herself.  Elijah is so lucky to have the parents he does and we are all super lucky to have him too.  He is the sweetest, most precious little baby.  I could really love on him all day long.  I cannot wait for him and Colin to grow up together - they will be crazy boys for sure.  Hopefully Colin doesn't get him into too much trouble, ha!  Enough with the chatter, here are some pictures – my sister put all of them up on Facebook so check it out if you want to see more. 

perfection.

family photo - how does she look so amazing after 30 hours of labor?!?!?

grammie & elijah

me & elijah!

uncle doug & eli

pappy & elijah

eli with both his grandmas and his cousin.  colin was so excited to meet baby 'oli'! 

this picture is so precious.

sweet boy.

look at those wrinkly hands - my favorite!!!