Ethan Robert Westervelt has Arrived!

Ethan Robert was born at 9:49 AM on Saturday, October 10th. At birth he weighed 8 lb and 14 oz (that's 4.03 kg or 0.634 stone for our international audience) and was 21 inches long. He is cute as a button!

Ethan Robert

Ethan was born by cesarean section after a lengthy labor process. Although labor took a different path than we had hoped and prepared for, it ended just as we hoped with a healthy baby and healthy mom.

The support from the hospital staff before, during, and after delivery has been wonderful as has been the care of our midwives, Caren and Rebecca, and our OBGYN, Dr. Sattar. They have all been attentive, patient, and kind. We've appreciated, in particular, Caren's and Rebecca's unselfish giving of their time and Dr. Sattar's grandfatherly care and demeanor. We couldn't be more pleased with the care we have received.

On the spiritual and emotion sides, it's hard for us to believe Ethan is here. It didn't really seem like we were going to be parents until his first cry in the delivery room. Thinking about holding him for the first time still causes me to cry. We are both overwhelmed at this gift from God who created and designed him (for how awesome God is on this matter, check out Psalm 139). Ethan is already bringing us more closely together as husband and wife. I've enjoyed supporting her, doing whatever I can to help. Betsy tells me that I've become an excellent diaper changer and swaddler.

Some of our favorite things about parenting so far:

• His clingy, droopy, limp posture when he's against one of our chests
• Betsy seeing Eric cuddle with him
• Discovering the features that make him unique: his wrinkly feet with a few webbed toes, perfect hands, chubby thighs, a full head of hair, and squeals and coos (one of the noises he makes sounds like "mama")

We've appreciated the care, support, prayers, and concern. We're grateful for our families and friends and look forward to raising Ethan surrounded by their love.