OMG, 114 comments!

Anyway, congrats on your darlin' boy. These pictures are so peaceful and beautiful. In the first one I can clearly see how sweet his dreams must be! :) So cute. It must be worth all the exhausting bits of being a mom, just to see that angelic look!

Congratulations! Your baby-Ben is wonderful!! I wish you all a Merry Christmas!!

Congratulations! Your baby-Ben is wonderful!! I wish you all a Merry Christmas!!

I LOVE the popped collar picture! He looks like a little Abercrombie model in the making - totally adorable!

Merry Christmas!!!

This is the cutest baby....ever.

20, 15 and 12.....believe me sista - you will
survive! and you will always wake up from time
to time in the years to come and have occassional
thoughts of how will i get through this.

ben has to be one of the most beautiful cherubs
i have ever seen....seriously! i don't know
to laugh or cry when i view this pictures. he
is precious. enjoy as many moments as humanly possible

Wow, Ben is such a doll.. and he's got the most adorable little smile. What a happy baby.. I'm thrilled you to bits for you.

He is already such a little person. Fully formed. Already there. Wow.

I remember when my nephew was born, thinking he was impossibly small. Now, he's three, and I can't really even remember him at this age. From what my friends say, you won't remember it much either. Be as grateful as you can.

Thank you for sharing.

I am so happy for all of you.....a child is an amazing miracle!
and yes, Andrea, it will get easier. (But remember these moments when he starts walking....)
:)
Kim

I've been watching your blog since two years now and I feel embarrassed not to have commented all this time - congratualations!!! Ben is really beautiful. I am also a new mother, my son will be 8 months old in two days. again congrats I'm really happy for you and your husband.

Just wanted to send a little "Merry Christmas" note to you and Matt and Ben.
And the lyrics to Barbara Strisand's "The Best Gift" ...

The best gift
That I ever got
Didn't really weigh a lot
It didn't have a ribbon 'round
And it sometimes made a terrible sound
And best of all it seems to me
It wasn't neath the Christmas tree
And yet, I guess I'd have to say
That it made all the other presents twice as gay
The best gift that I've ever known
I'd always wanted most to own
Yet in my dreams of sugar and spice
I never thought it could be so nice
The best gift that I ever get
Was sometimes dry and sometimes wet
Was usually pink but oftentimes red
As it lay so innocently in its bed
The best gift of the year to me
The one I hold most dear to me
A gift that simply drove me wild
Was a tiny new born child...

Such a beautiful baby! I'm so happy for you guys!

Congratulations on the birth of Ben - he is absolutely gorgeous!! Wishing you much love and happiness this Christmas with your new arrival. I was due the same time as you (Oxford, UK - not sure if you remember), but RubyRose came early on 26th November. I'll think of you at 4am when I'm feeding RubyRose - it'll be a lovely feeling to know that you're doing the same thing way over there (different time zone of course, but you know what I mean!!). Hope you're recovering well. Take care and enjoy this special time.

Soooooo beautiful.....My heart sings for you and your family!!! Happy Holiday--
Strenght and love from New Orleans
Kiersten & Kirsten

Congratulations SuperMom and SuperDad!
SuperBen is beautiful. So, so beautiful.

Have a lovely holiday season. Cheers.

he is gorgeous! I'm rooting for you, we all are. I'm glad we can be your cheerleaders now since you've been one to us for so long. Cheers and Merry Christmas.

my goodness...that is one seriously gorgeous baby!!! i am so happy for you guys. sending much love this holiday season, celisa

Seriously, he has to be the most gorgeous baby boy I've ever seen! Just adorable!

OMG.. I COULD EAT HIM UP
soooooo beautiful
congratulations on the beauty
WOOHOOOOO
xo xo xo xox

He is absolutely beautiful. I'm all teared up just seeing his photos. I don't know you, but I've been reading your blog long enough to know how long you and your husband waited for him and I'm just so, so, so happy for you both. :-)

Oh, he is so handsome... and really I have seen a lot of babys lately, but he is so good looking... ;-). And he looks so peacefully, too. All the best and lot's of energy...
Katrin

OOH, so beautiful. You are a very lucky girl. And Ben is one very lucky baby. xxxxx

Look at that hair! He is just precious! He was born the day after my birthday, so as a Sag, he's a pretty special guy! Congratulations!

he's already dreaming sweet dreams!!! just too precious!

He's absolutely beautiful! Perfection!
Congratulations!

Simply perfection. Not much else to say. It's your most beautiful creation!!! And you've made many-a-beautious thing.

(ya know, as someone who does not know you at all and only admires your creations from a far.)

Sending wishes of rest... and joy in every dirty diaper.

Whoops, that should read: "Bliss was it in the dawn of that day to be alive, but to be YOUNG was very heaven!" Sheesh, you would think I'm the one not getting any sleep! :-)

But of course he is just beautiful, he looks exceedingly healthy and soft and serene!
There is something so sublime about seeing the culmination of much love, and anguish, and perseverence. He makes me think of that Wordsworth quote, "Bliss was it in that dawn to be alive, but to be alive was very heaven!"

Congratulations on meeting each other!

Absolutely adorable!

((((Hugs))))!

I'm so happy for you! Your baby boy is gorgeous...

These will feel like some of the longest days of your life. But when they're gone, you'll think they were the fastest. It's kind of the rule of parenthood. When you have small children, the days are long but the years are short. Freakishly short.

Yes, welcome to the oh-wow-will-I-make-it???!!! club of early motherhood (and I suspect that feeling surfaces again from time to time as our children get older, too!). Ah, but so worth it!

The learning curve is steep and ongoing, but I am confident that you will be a blessing to your son even in your weakest moments - just your presence alone matters so much. First, just taking a shower will feel like an accomplishment, but it gets easier and easier, it really does.

He is darling! Such a serious sleeper. Don't worry about posting for us blog stalkers, take care of yourself. Thanks for the photos!

"Good things" come to those who wait... and girl, did you wait. Patiently, knowingly and faithfully. What an inspiration!

Not to mention, the cutest baby on the internet I've seen!!

What a doll! He's just so beautiful.

Hang in there -- you will make it. It's ridiculous how exhausting the first few weeks (or so) are, but little by little it gets more manageable. Really. :0)

Awwwwww.....! so cute!

I think this is my first ever comment on your blog (after reading for years) ... Because I can't pass up the chance to comment on your beautiful baby boy. SO cute. Congratulations!

Wow. He is an angel. I don't know that I've seen a more beautiful baby. And that smile? Precious! Congratulations.

Andrea! He is the cutest baby I've ever seen! Really! I'm happy to see him enjoying the blanky too :) ~ Lots of love ~

seriously, that is one adorable baby!

Merry, Merry Christmas to you all. Those of us who follow your blog can only begin to appreciate how happy a Christmas this will be for you. The first weeks are intense, but you'll get through.

Oh my god -- I can't get over how gorgeous that baby is. Congratulations!!

you'll survive, and thrive! :) I totally agree that you should post some crying pictures... he always looks so peacful in the sleeping pictures. Of course, I'm sure you'd feel a little badly taking his photo when he was upset. I happened upon some other picutures you posted on flicker, and you're holding out on us here ;)
Sending you tons of warm snuggly happy holiday wishes. I wish I could hug the little guy. He looks so wise!

i have no doubt you will survive and THRIVE and ENJOY this time, mom. he's freaking gorgeous. love the collar.

Oma gawd!! He is the MOST beautiful baby I've EVER seen! Am I crazy (don't really answer that) or is he more "There" as a whole person than most? Do you find that with him?

OMG he is just a living doll !
Congrats again

AAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!
made me cry

OoOoOo.... love the smile, and love love love all the pictures! soft tiny hugs to baby ben, and big hug for superhero! :)

When was the last time I cooed this much over my computer monitor? Thank you for sharing these pics.

I am sure you are doing fine, new mama.

Precious beyond words. I can't wait to hear about everything. Take it easy - you can do this!!!

Ben is so precious. What a beautiful boy and such lovely dark hair.

Ben is absolutely beautiful!! And he is smiling in the first photo!

Wishing you and your family a Happy Christmas and a Wonderful 2007!
Desejo a você e a sua família um Feliz Natal e Maravilhoso 2007!
Love, Peace and Health!
Amor, Paz e Saúde!
Sonia.

He is just so fresh and new and CUTE as a button!

I think you know, I hope you know, how much love and good thoughts there are out here in the world being sent to your sweet newly grown family. LOTS!

Please kiss his soft cheek for me... for all of us. I wish I could reach through the monitor and do so myself.

you will survive!!! whoot! Oh my gosh, that first picture made my heart melt...look at that little grin!!! He is such a cutie patootie. Thanks for sharing him with us :->

I think you have a future model on your hands! Fortunately he will likely be such a briliantly creative soul he won't actually want to be a model but at least he knows he has something to fall back on! Simply beautiful and hope you are able to catch some zzz's here and there. That would be the most grueling part for me I am sure!

oh how precious!!!

Andrea, he really is a good looking baby! I have nieces and nephews coming out my ears and none - *none* of them - have looked so good at this stage. Good looking kid!

a~

who knew a 12 day old boy could ooze such coolness...she's precious. I still want to jump up and down in excitement for Matt and you with each new picture you show us. I can't imagine the joy, love and of course sleepless hours you two are experiencing right now. Something tells me this will be your best Christmas yet!

xoxox

jenn

What a beautiful boy, and such wonderful pictures. As always, thanks for this glimpse into your life during this special time!

What a beautiful little boy. Andrea, you will survive!

all of the photos are beautiful but the third is my favorite. so yummy.

Precious Ben...that 3rd picture is so intense.
Is there anything good on T.V. at 4 a.m.? :)
Sending you positive energy and love,
Jessica

We are pregnant and seeing these pictures makes me even more excited. I'm still first trimester and feeling so sick; this reminds me it's all worth it. Congratulations! He is beautiful.

OH darling little Ben is absolutly beautiful! I love these photos! When times are rough and you are so sleep deprived you can barely think...just remember you have a whole cheering squad out here clapping there hands for you, Ben and Matt. A wonderful superhero family!!

Oh, he is such a doll-baby!!! Thank you for these recent pics.. I am waiting now for one with his eyes open :-) and one of the proud mama too!!!

I remember those 4 a.m. days... Wishing you the best...

Lucille

hang in there mama...the sleep deprivation is no joke and we totally get it! somehow we do get through. beautiful expressions on your beautiful boy!
love love love,
w

That last photo...wow...Ben's a heavy dude...I can tell already. ;)

He is the cutest thing! And way cool with the turned up collar. :)

Andrea! He is gorgeous! And so are you...I have no worries that you will turn your superhero powers on this situation and not only survive, but make this into a magical, lovely experience. Love, love, love and SLEEP to you.

He's just so cute!!!

Wish you the best of luck these weeks. I know you'll survive :)

Sending much love, Sophie

He looks like his daddy in that third pic :)

Congratulations again! He's sublime.

what delicious photos, especially the last one. thank you for sharing this adventure. i hope you and your lovely family have a wonderful time over the holidays.
amy

I love Ben in his surfer tee. He is just beautiful :)

oh Andrea! He is so beautiful! Congratulations to you and Matt - thank you so much for sharing the pictures!

aww, what a sweet lil' man!

awwwww! he is so beautiful! and he looks like a very calm and peaceful baby. in that last pic, he looks so wise and grown up! at LEAST a month!

He is so dear. The third one made me tear up a little bit. He looks like a wise old man.

Tessa is almost 18 months now and I feel nostalgic about those first months. Although they were brutal, there was never such a beautiful time in my life.

All of the intense giving of yourself and the emotional highs (and lows!) will run you right down. Be sure to ask for what you need! xo

i think you should take some screaming, crying pictures for validation, and some sleepy self-portraits. :) hang in there.

my heart is melted.
he is perfect.

you'll be okay -
just take it an hour at a time.

He just gets cuter and cuter with each new picture posted!
The sleepless nights will pass, and both of you will soon get the sleeping thing in sync.
It's hard I know...I never thought I'd get through it with my daughter. (but it did)
You are an amazing mother and superhero and you will come through this with flying colors.
Enjoy your precious little angel and the wonderful gift that he is.
What a blessing, especially at this time of holidays and celebration.
Love and blessings to the three of you.
xoxo, Julia
P.S. I'm so digging the cool turned up collar...very preppie! :)

Is it weird that I'm almost drooling over here? So sweet. What a handsome little guy.

You'll make it through, promise. :)

Love the sleep smiles! Still makes me sigh when my son gives them.

I promise you'll survive- and in a few months time, you'll see picture of a beautiful little newborn and start thinking of when you can do it all over again! :)

So happy for you!

Just found you via Mighty Girl.... WOW. That is a beautiful baby boy. His lovely, content, totally peaceful little face makes me sigh, and I'm now quite curious about the two humans who came together to create that little being. Look - what wonders you have wrought through the union of love. He's a beautiful little arrival. And it's such a perfect season to come into this world. Happy snuggeling to you three.

Andrea, too cute!

Oh, that sweet, pensive face makes me want another one...

Warmly,
Andrea

Oh yes, you'll survive and eventually both sleep through the night! I always marked off three months on the calendar, once I got past that point, I knew I'd be fine.

He is so adorable! Enjoy every moment!

I stumbled upon your blog care of Maggie over at Mighty Girl, and I just have to say that this may very possibly be the most gorgeous newborn I have ever seen... and I've seen a lot of beautiful babies, believe me-- I'm a baby connoisseur; I know from pretty babies.

He's a real keeper. Congratulations!

You will survive, I promise. My son didn't sleep through the night until he was SIX YEARS OLD. (Hence, one child.)

At that point, we got a puppy (perhaps brought on by delirious insanity), and on night one when my son came in and woke up the puppy, who then wanted to venture outside at 3 a.m. and wouldn't return to sleep, I came up with a bargaining tool: "Either you stay in your room all night or we don't keep the dog!"

My son has never disturbed me during the night since (unless vomit was involved). If only I'd thought of the puppy solution earlier.

Enough about me...your little lad is ADORABLE!

Hi Andrea!
Thanks for the pics!!! What a cutie pie!! 4am feedings? Oh yes...I remember those...boy, that was a tough stage....especially for me cause I'm a big sleeper. I don't remember when he started doing this but at one point, when he would wake up for his nighttime feedings, my son would giggle and laugh as I picked him up. I know it sounds corny but that would take all my sleepiness away immediately. It would put the biggest smile on my face having that little face smile at me!

Survive? You'll survive. And eventually you will even forget the horrible, exhausted feeling a little. Just enough for you to think "It wasn't THAT bad. Perhaps we will have another." :)

He's beautiful. What a perfect Christmas present.

I just love Benny and can't wait to meet him. He looks like he's having a grand 'ol time with that precious smirk on his face. Oh and that hair -so amazing. I don't think he'll ever be a member of the Hair Club for Men.

Since I have no business giving you mothering advice or how to survive these first months, I won't even try, but I would have to take a gander that dancing helps.

You're doing great and so is your little one!

Sending lots of love and hugs your way. xoxoe
:) eileen

oh he's just so very beautiful ~~~

welcome to true motherhood...

blessed be your journey

xoxo

Amazing how they change day to day. Keep taking tons of pictures!!

You'll make it! Yay little guy! Yay Andrea! Yay Matt! Superheros all. Well, this is true more so for the grownups at the moment, whose superpowers penetrate the lack of sleep they are inevitably experiencing . . .

thank you for sharing these, what a day brightener.

he is beautiful! Is that a smile in the first shot?! :)

He is so so cute!!, just remember that you will eventually get sleep. I know how hard it is those first few weeks, heck I'm still in them myself. Take care, rest when you can, enjoy.

Know that you will survive and get over this hump ~ you'll even sometimes wish for this time back :) crazy but true!!

love the little guy and the cool turned up collar :)

xoxox

It's better than the 12 days of Christmas!!!!

The First 12 days of BEN!!!!

What a lovely soul!!

I have said it before, but congrats again!!!!
And YOU will SURVIVE!!! Sometimes it feels like you don't know how...but you will...xxxoooKathleen

Wow, he is a beautiful baby! He really is very pretty. What a cutie! He makes my heart feel all toasty.

He is just beautiful!

so happy for you. congratulations and welcome Ben! I posted once when you announced the pregnancy and have been excitedly waiting Ben's arrival. Today, the series of pictures brought one thought immediately to mind. "you are the one they've been loving and wanting." lucky boy!

Ohh sweet baby. Sweet you. I am in awe.

Andrea, my 13 year-old daughter and I have read your blog and prayed ceaselessly for you all during your pregnancy. Ben is beautiful. You are beautiful. You are already a fabulous mother - and you have been since the moment you conceived him. I echo the sentiment of Zoi (above) who said you will ask yourself whether you will survive motherhood all life long. You will survive. You will thrive. You will sleep all night again. You will laugh. Soon you will not remember life before you were a mother - and I mean that in the best possible way. You won't remember what it all meant before you had Ben to love and cherish and photograph. You will love that boy and all the other children you and Matt have for the rest of eternity. Grace and peace and all of life's richest blessings to you - especially in the middle of the night when you and your little one are awake. Merry, merry Christmas to you and your family. Loving you all the way from Charlotte, NC - Gail and Kristiana

You WILL survive - we all do, it's quite remarkable, really. Nurse, hold, sing, sleep together, drink your water, nurse, burp, get someone to rub your back, nurse, rest, rest, drink your water, eat something....
Gradually, sloowwlly, everything changes, again and again.
Sending you the biggest love. You are the perfect mother for this little one. Don't forget it.

Hang in there, superhero.
He is so perfect and worth it all!

He is so lovely!

The only way to survive is to go into robot mode. I am robot mama. I feed, I hold, I sleep when I can. I used to rent dumb movies and watch them throughout the night for those every two hour nursings. House Party, Shanghai Knights, anything. Congrats on your beautiful boy!

Love that smiley first picture. He's great!

Such a beautiful baby! Congratulations to you!

What a cutie pie!! Merry Christmas to you & your family & a very Happy New Year too!.
Aloha,
Leanne

Oh, yes...that oh too familiar "will I survive this" thought, lol. Welcome to motherhood, ha,ha. You'll have that cross your mind MANY,MANY,MANY times :). Hang in there...it gets better by ten fold in about four weeks!! And believe me it will be here before you know it. He's so CUTE!

Could he possibly be any CUTER.
I dont think so.
Ahhhh.... I remember 4am.
Lucky you!
Enjoy every second.
Bx

I read your blog every day (it inspires me!) but have never written a comment. It brings tears to my eyes to see your beautiful baby after your struggles. It makes me so happy for you and your husband. He is truly your gift. God Bless You!

Zoi

Andrea -
He is gorgeous!
Many congratulations.
:~) emily.

He's so cute! Even a smile in the first picture :) Congratulations!