Big Boys Don't Cry

Ok...so we'll eat these words later. Ryan Holland Cieszko joined us after a very SIMPLE and quick "actual" delivery (we had several fake-outs the past few weeks) at 8:34pm on November 24, 2009. He tipped the scales at 9 pounds 14.1 ounces and is 21.75 inches long. Alison was, in a word or two, speechless and dazed, at the ease and speed of it all (compared to Davis's debut), and Chris was grinning ear to ear and did a great job helping Alison AND helping photograph since we chose NOT to have an audience this time. Our neighbor Amy Young, an L&D nurse here at Pitt Memorial, who is WONDERFUL, stayed an extra few hours after her shift was over so that she could help deliver Ryan. She did the same thing for Davis. Amy--thank you for everything. Freida Tucker, our nurse midwife for the evening, was, as always, WONDERFUL and COMFORTING as well. She truly is doing God's work here on Earth...delivering babies and looking after mommies couldn't be done any better in my opinion. God bless her.

Here are just a few early pictures. We'll post more later. Ryan is feeding about every 2-3 hours and sleeping solidly in between. (This, too, we know changes as they become more and more aware). He has been looking all around and checking things out, and seems very interested in Mommy and Daddy's faces. We may very well be in the hospital again tonight (Wednesday) just because of the later delivery last night and with us breastfeeding, but we are so, so, so excited to see Davis and hold him and love on him, and to introduce him to Ryan. Some yummy NON-HOSPITAL Thanksgiving dinner is also enticing...we'd be going home again on a holiday with our new bundle of joy (we took Davis home on Easter Sunday).

We'll keep you updated as things go...there are a few things to share that we'll know more about later on.