Special Delivery to Miami - Winston Wanless

Dave and I are happy to share the news that we welcomed Winston S. Wanless into the world on Saturday, June 26th, 2010. He was born here in Miami a few weeks early, weighing in at 6 lbs, 1 oz and 19.5 inches long. He's healthy and adorable if a bit underweight - he is swimming in even the newborn clothing!

Here's a photo album from his first few days:http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=222435&id=520878553&l=69bc35f21f

Grandma "Tutu" Kathy from CA swooped in on June 27th and we have been profoundly grateful for her presence. She has helped us come to terms that the next few months will be a blur of feedings-diaper changes-cat naps-cooing and cuddling and crying sessions. We're adjusting and laughing a ton.

Dave is reading foodie books to Winston (yesterday was a passage on - what else? - gourmet cheddar cheese), and we already think he is brilliant based on the way he flips himself over to his side when he sleeps (it doesn't take much to please this crowd). Auntie Barb reminds us we must read to him every day, so we're making it happen by hook or by crook. I am catching up on my alcohol consumption since being told it was "totally fine" to drink during breast feeding. All you need to know is there were at least 2 bottles of champagne consumed at the hospital, and a bottle of champagne at lunch at home on the third day. 'Nuff said.

Grandma Mary from WI visits us on July 7th and again at the end of the month with Grandpa Richard and I hope they bring a few baby pictures of Dave - we are trying to figure out where Winston gets his ruby red lips. He was born with a respectable head of hair (this coming from two parents who were totally bald babies, so you will see that respectable is a relative term) that is blond and fine and straight.

Winston is wiry with incredibly long arms and legs and the hands and feet of a much larger baby. If you must know, he looks like a spider monkey - and clings to whomever is holding him with the iron grip of a primate. Right now he actually looks built since he has so little baby fat, but we're expecting that to change as we fatten him up over the next few months. Til then, if Dave talks to you about his weight lifting baby, you'll get the inside joke.



If there is one family member a bit disgruntled by the newest among us, it is Flurry (aka "kitty"). She has been wandering the house, trying to figure out what all the hubbub is about, and becomes totally agitated when Winston is screeching or feeding. At this point, our 8 lbs. kitty looks like a giant next to 6 lbs. baby, but how the tables will turn in a few short months.

We want to send a big thank you to all of you for your love and support. It is absolutely joyous to share in the experience of bringing a new little person into the world, and we can't wait to introduce him to each of you.

Love, Dave, Shannon and Winston (aka Baby Win, aka Spider Monkey)

PS - thank you to the entire Miami crew for making South Florida feel like home with family so far away. Michelle, Andy, Lili, Cecilia, Mo, Wendy, Joy and Kirk - you all provide a wonderful support network for us in this wild city, and we can't wait for the Lofgren family to return from the west coast so we can introduce you to the little guy!!