Paxton Connor, Welcome to the Light

I know it comes as a bit of a disappointment (and I know, think of the stories!), but actually I did not get sold for camels while in Egypt.  In fact, what happened was that I had the literal time of my life, in what is quite possibly the best trip I will ever get to make, ever.  I rode a camel, took photos inside Tutankhamun's tomb, climbed inside Khafre's Pyramid, got scammed into buying non-alcoholic beer, got emergency diarrhea at the Temple of Horus, and cuddled a baby crocodile.  It was utterly and completely fantastic, epic even, and when I finally get around to telling you about it I'm sure you will agree it was well worth the wait.

However.  This post is not about Egypt.  It's about something even cooler, an outright miracle, even.

Allow me to introduce my nephew, Paxton Connor.  He came into the world on June 27, 2013, is adorable and perfect, and frankly makes all of my recent accomplishments seem kind of unimportant.

Taking my leave of Egypt via Dubai (one long-ass trip, let me tell you), I landed in Dulles on the morning of June 29 and almost immediately acquired myself a gigantic plate of take-out Mexican food and one of those pre-mixed margarita pouch thingies that look like Capri Sun for adults.  I was home just long enough to do my laundry, fry and consume a pound of bacon, wrap presents, and read the last Sookie book while swinging on the porch swing (it was effing terrible [the book, not the porch swing]).  And then I packed myself up once again (red wheelie suitcase, sorry Sisyphus), and got on a plane one more time to celebrate Pax's fourth day of life.

Proud Mommy!

When I arrived, I joined up with my Mom and Dad, who had come down the week before and were actually able to be here for the big event!  I so wish I could have been here as well, but... pyramids.  You know.

Needless to say, the past three weeks have gone by in a blur.  It was really fantastic to be able to have all of us under the same roof again, which hadn't happened since the Christmas before Eve and Brad left for Okinawa.  We celebrated the 4th of July together with a lunchtime backyard barbecue and swim, and then went into downtown Pensacola to watch the fireworks over the bay.  Paxton was a real trooper and didn't seem to mind too much. :)

Microbrews downtown

A few days before my parents flew home, the four of us ventured downtown for lunch at one of my favorite Pensacola beach spots, Flounders, and then watched a local airshow on the beach.  And once again, Paxton seemed perfectly happy to let us get our hangout time in.

But mostly what we've been doing is hanging out quietly at home.  I've been cooking a bunch again; I think my biggest new triumph is a from-scratch arrabbiata spaghetti sauce.  Managed to get in a little Girl Time with my sister between nursings, and have enjoyed a few late-night conversations/debates with my brother-in-law which seems to be our standard for entertaining ourselves once everyone else goes to bed.  (Or in my sister's case, lays down for two hours.)

Rosemary garlic chicken, stuffed mushrooms, and avocado crostini.  I rule.

Paxton is a pretty good baby -- he loves to nurse and isn't too fussy as long as his food supply and schedule isn't interrupted. :) He does seem to have inherited my Night Owl genes, which I think Eve rather wishes wasn't so much the case.  But overall he is amazing, and he's made a whole bunch of people I care for very much happier than I've ever seen them.

I feel so privileged to be able to be a part of Pax's first month of life.  So many little developments and changes already!  He's wasting no time getting bigger and stronger every day, and looks to have some of those long tall O'Connor genes floating around in there!

Stretching out with Daddy

I'm so excited to be able to watch him grow, and play, and learn in the months and years to come.  To say the least, life in our family is never going to be the same, and I think that is fantastic.

I also promised him that I'd take him on an African safari if he doesn't poop on me.  So far it looks like I'm going to have to pony up for some vaccinations and cargo shorts in a decade or two.  Fair's fair.

"In Italian, the literal translation of 'to give birth' -- 'dare alla luce' -- is: 'to give to the light'."  Paxton Connor, welcome to the light!