Thanks so much to everyone who is sending congratulations and best wishes. We've been home from the hospital for a few days now and are enjoying getting settled into the new version of the Lansford family. Drew is adjusting remarkably well. He clearly heard the dogs barking regularly in utero because he doesn't even flinch when they cause a ruckus (fortunately for him, since they're going to do so whether or not he's amenable). They have been very interesting in their attempts to reconcile this new member of the pack into their pecking order. Much like any older sibling, each has taken their own approach to his arrival...

Manu reminds me of the five year old sister who wants to help out in caring for her new baby brother- she stands up with her front paws on the dresser to examine our work when we change him and ensure we're doing it right, and when he starts crying she runs into the room and kisses him on the head to reassure him.

Webster, on the other hand, is acting more like the indignant toddler who cannot BELIEVE his role as the baby of the family has been usurped. He's a bit sulky and refused to look at Drew for the first day and a half. He does seem to be coming around, however, and has even licked Drew's toes a few times when he thinks no one is looking.

Despite the fact that both Andy and I are covered in pee and poop pretty much 24 hours a day, we're loving every minute. I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing that my ability to sleep became so poor by the end of my pregnancy that I actually have not been finding spending half the night up feeding to be difficult, but it's nice that I'm less exhausted by that than I expected thus far. It has been a delight to begin to experience and create lifetime firsts for Drew- today he had his first:

- bath (despite the fact that it was chilly and humiliating he actually tolerated this much better than I expected- he really hates being cold so I was surprised that he wasn't screaming in agony the whole time)

- manicure done by yours truly (he discovered the joys of thumb-sucking on day one but thus far has had trouble figuring out how to get that little thing into his mouth- in his many attempts, he has been doing a number on his face with his nails so I did my best to try to get rid of the jagged edges)

- walk with the entire pack (I won't explicate but I have been sitting on a donut pillow since we returned from the hospital, so we haven't been able to get out and about much... it took us well over an hour to get around one block today thanks to my pacesetting but we all really enjoyed the sunshine and fresh air and the dogs were remarkably patient at the lack of actual movement involved in our outing)

- swing ride (we have a very cute little swinger chair that rocks him back and forward and sings to him that he seems to thoroughly enjoy- the dogs also love this because it puts him down on their level and they can examine him from up close)

- 4 hour nap (now I just have to figure out how to get him to take one of those at night instead of the middle of the day and we'll be set!)

We're doing great and cannot wait to see what tomorrow will bring. Please feel free to call or drop by to visit- Drew's a great snuggler and we're more than happy to share (plus the puppies love the extra attention). Here are a couple of pictures from his first few days at home (click here for others):