Wednesday, February 22, 2012

first-ever nephew.


His name is Calvin Sterling. Calvin, for my handsome grandpa, and Sterling, for my other brother's middle name, and because it means genuine, pure, real, true. 


He's my oldest brother and his wife's third baby, and their firstborn son. Not only is he their first boy, he's the first manchild of the whole clan.


Before my siblings started having babies right and left, I never saw aunthood has that fantastic. I thought of nieces/nephews as a fun and vaguely related person that adults (aunts and uncles) see sometimes. But trust me, I was antsy (very antsy) to get nieces and nephews of my own. I just really didn't know what it'd be like.



So I wasn't really prepared for it all. Watching my sister falling in love with the beautiful, perfect baby on her knees as they saw each other for the first time.

"Oh my gosh. this kid is my brother's kid. my brother has a baby." 

Seeing him carrying the curly-headed blonde in her big poofy dress and realizing "and now she's not even a baby anymore. he has a DAUGHTER."



Watching way-too-fast-growing toddlers and seeing the miraculous blending of two people--quirky ears and long fingers and huge blue eyes.

This will never cease to amaze me. This tiny person--this tiny person is half him, half her. Is this not crazy-amazing? Like I've said before, I'm pretty sure I'm going to just burst when I have my own babies.

picture by Daniel, the daddy. first time I got to hold him.

And now there's this new amazing-ness--my brother has a SON. He'll turn into a grubby, trouble-maker little boy, who'll eventually grow up into a young man who could fall in love and have his own sons and carry the family name.


Just a whole 'nother level of gah.



Adding to this is the fact that he is just ridiculously cute. I mean, all babies are cute in some way, but let's face it--some of them really are not that attractive. Calvin is genuinely cute, and I don't think I'm just biased in a rabid aunt-ish way. :) He was only about seven hours old when I took these pictures.


Plus, he totally looks like a boy. I didn't expect him to look so different than the girl-babies. I mean, this baby is a MAN baby!

Katie and her first boy-cousin. :)


So, so grateful to God for this perfect, healthy baby boy.


And just for babies in general. Big eyes and tiny noses and soft fuzzy heads. Breathtaking, labor-intensive, astounding babies.

his nana and his mama

my mama and her first grandson

he already has an attitude. ;)


Katie gazing adoringly at him.



Baby boys: I am a fan.

54 comments:

  1. He totally is a cutie! I've seen a lot of babies (I used to be a midwife) and agree that some just aren't that good-looking. Even though they are all cute in their own way.
    Your nephew is a looker =)
    Much Love,
    L

    (allglorious-within.blogspot.com)

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  2. You're right--not all babies are attractive. But he definitely is a cutie!

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  3. SO adorable. I can't wait to be an aunt myself one day. :)

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  4. LOL I know what you mean when you say not all babies are "attractive"... but this little guy is adorable! I love how round his face is. :)

    Great post!
    ~Kaylee
    www.whateverrblog.blogspot.com

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  5. He is absolutely PRECIOUS. Just so adorable, and alert, and soooo cute! :)

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  6. He looks like a real cutie! I'm sure you are enjoying him very much.

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  7. Awww! How sweet - CONGRATS to your bro and his wife. =)

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  8. whole new level of gah? i think yes! the last photo is the best. i love it. yesyesyes. he's adorable. :))
    -jocee <3

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  9. This post cracked me up with your reflections on being an aunt. :) I'm not one yet and don't know when I'll be, but I'm sure it will be an amazing experience.

    And he is super adorable. :)

    ~Kristin

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  10. Congratualtions.... My eldest sister had a baby soon after she got married (which her gettign married was weird to me to have her married),and she had a boy. He's going to be 6 soon. Its so strange yet awesoms isn't it. It was very exciting for our family especially since my mom and her were expecting together.

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  11. Congratulations, girl! He is absolutely breathtaking...this so made my day to see :) And you are very right about not all babies being attractive..he is however :D Baby boys are very different from little girls but so much fun.

    Hugs,
    -N.

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  12. Ooh, congrats!! I hope I can be an auntie someday. :) Although, it does seem like it would be really weird for my brother to be a daddy ... hmm. Weird but awesome?

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  13. he is totally ADORABLE! wow oh wow. congrats!!

    love,
    manda
    http://meandjesus-amanda.blogspot.com

    p.s. follow me? i'm following youuu.... :)

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  14. Aw, you are so lucky! I can't wait when I will become an aunt someday too. :)

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  15. He's so adorable!! That's so exciting... congrats! =D

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  16. Congrats! He's adorable! I agree that being an aunt is one of the best things ever.

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  17. CONGRATSS! to the mum and dad and to you! welcome to aunt hood. ;)

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  18. ps i forgot to mention that he's really (REALLY) cute.

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  19. Congrats on your nephew! I love being an aunt!I have a niece and nephew and they are my world! It's one of the biggest blessings ever!

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  20. LOVE this post, Susannah! I'm sure we're not at all biased. :-)

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  21. He. Is. GORGEOUS! But not as gorgeous as my baby brother (lol!) but doesn't everyone think their siblings/nephews/nieces look the best? Great photos, I am so happy for you. ;)
    Tane♥

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  22. This post was beautifully adorable. And he is absolutely precious. As the oldest in my family I doubt I'll be able to experience aunt-hood before I'm a momma myself, so basically I'll just burst right off the bat. :)
    so happy for y'all - enjoy it!
    xo

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  23. He's precious! My best friend's sister just had a baby, and I just coo and love all over him! I can't wait until I'm finally an aunt! <3

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  24. How adorable!! Sweetest little thing!
    I love baby's. He is such a cutie!

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  25. Pwecious. :-) I kinda like babies, too.

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  26. Oh my, he is a stud. ;) Those pictures are all beautiful! Congrats on having your first nephew!

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  27. Nieces are fun but nephews are the bomb! I have had so many hysterical adventures being an aunt. It really is such a fun thing!! :-) Your nephew is beautiful you should be super proud!!

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  28. Oo, I'm so happy for you! Nephews are so fun. I actually have three nephews and one niece.
    I can really relate to what you said. It is strange to realize that your brother is a father. And it is really strange when the child is five. And you remember when you were five, and you remember how you thought of your dad at that age, and realize how this child thinks of his dad. And yet, his dad is your brother! It is strange and awesome.
    Your nephew is really cute too! Such a cutie pie! He looks very alert.

    Laurel

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  29. Welcome to the world, Calvin! It looks like you have a great family who are already totally in your corner!

    Beautiful photographs, by the way.

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  30. What a beautiful baby! Brings me back to when my first baby boy cousin was born. Amazing day! Congrats on becoming the aunt to this little guy! Very manly baby, by the way. ;D

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  31. :) He's so sweet! I have a nephew named Calvin, too! :D

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  32. This is such a great post!

    www.modernworld4.blogspot.com

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  33. So, I have this habit of reading posts, and then putting them aside thinking I'll get around to commenting later. Unfortunately it usually ends up much later than I'd wish. Well, here I am--better late than never!
    I totally agree with you...everyone has to smile and nod and say the baby is adorable, when some babies are certainly not adorable. Calvin is adorable. Seriously. And I like the name Calvin a lot--not to name a kid that, I don't think, but I've considered naming my camera Calvin definitely.
    "This baby is a MAN baby!" Ahaha, that seriously made me smile. ;) And that last photo is perfection. All of these are so, so cute.
    Gah, I want to be an aunt now.
    ps--I totes think "nother" should be a word. ;)

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  34. "The first Man child of the whole clan" HAHAH
    nice choice words! :) I just found your blog!

    I am your NEWEST FOLLOWER! I would love if you could stop by my blog and follow me back now too :)

    God bless always
    christine
    beyoutifulhope.blogspot.com

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  35. Aw, congratulations!! He is cute, especially for a newborn....considering a lot of them look like prunes. ;D
    Yah, I have four nieces, two nephews, and one something on the way, and whenever a new one comes it takes me a while to adjust to there being new little person in the family. They're so much fun, though. :)

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  36. Oh my goodness!!!! Cuteness overload!! Ahhhh soooo cute!! Great pictures! I love being an Aunt...it's so amazing! =)

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  37. I just got a new little second-cousin who is more of a niece, and I am in love. Aren't babies the best thing created?

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  38. adorable nephew! awesome blog by the way!

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  39. I became an aunt on Saturday.. my parents first grandchild/my brother's first child, and he is the cutest thing on earth! Calvin is adorable, but my nephew Caleb totally takes the cake. Don't you love that they both have C names?

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  40. Ah! He is so adorable. That picture with his sister (?) looking over him melts his heart!

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  41. Cool blog, keep up the good work!! You are invited to follow my blog anytime!! Have a great day!!

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  42. He is a beautiful baby boy! The black and white photographs are gorgeous. Nice work!

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  43. Hey, I tagged you in a tag! :) http://littlemebigcreator.blogspot.com/2012/03/elevensies-well-sort-of.html

    ~Anna

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  44. awh he is soo stinkin cute! these are beautiful photos :)

    www.thedailyeverythings.blogspot.com

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  45. I just have to say that my heart was racing right along with yours as I read. I just got MY first nephew in January, and I know so well the feelings you were describing! For me, this was the FIRST truly; my sister's first child. It IS such a strange feeling to think "my sister has a son!" I tried to blog about my feelings, but I think you've done it better. Congratulations on your adorable nephew! Enjoy him well! Praise the Lord for babies!

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