The Zeke Man.

We wondered if we could fall just as in love with a second baby as we did with Luke.

Is that even possible?

Yep.

Meet Zeke.


The day Zeke was born: a first photo of Luke meeting his new little buddy, bragging with his shirt from Timothy, of course: "I'M THE BIG BROTHER!"


Zeke was only in his cozy plastic abode for diaper changes and walks around the birthing center. It is against the rules to hold them while you walk around! (Huh?!?) The rest of the time, he got to sleep on a parent. We couldn't resist.


"Hey, Baby, I've got eyes for YOU!" (Says Bethany to Baby, not Richie to you. :)


One of our favorite features of our new little boy is his tangled toes! He has very long arms, very long fingers, very long fingernails, very long feet, and yes. Very long toes. So long that they tangle together. The nurses had quite the time trying to get his footprints! One attempt looks like he only has three toes. The other two went hiding.


Saturday the 10th, Zeke turned Two Days Old, the same day big brother turned Two Years! Daddy took Luke (and Sarah) out for the morning to celebrate. Mommy celebrated by staying in the hospital and giving Zeke milk.


The birthday adventure commenced at Putah Creek.


A happy two-year-old got to ride in the Volvo! Every time he sees that car, he gets delighted and shouts out with perfect (and proud) pronunciation: VOLVO! He can actually identify every brand of car on the market. (Kidding. Just Volvo. Just old red Volvo.)


Sarah promised Luke two sips of Coke for his second birthday, since she sneaked him one sip of Coke for his first birthday. Richie took them to In N Out for those sips. Clearly, Luke feels quite comfortable there. Just loungin'.


And let us not forget the importance of Luke's FRIESH!


Later in the day Saturday we were delighted by a visit from Kristen, Dan, and Alexander. Alexander was happy but unable to keep his eyes open; Dan was a good, attentive daddy; and Kristen was wondering, "How in the world do you hold these things again?" (She did great. :)


Daddy adoring his new son.


Let the parties never cease. Saturday night the Sorbello crew came to Sutter Davis Room 112 to celebrate Luke's second birthday one more time. Here Luke eyes his new wooden crate full of wooden food from his Canadian aunties--food that is pieced together with velcro, which he cuts open with his wooden knife. Heaven on earth: a knife he can actually play with.


Waiting to be discharged on Sunday. They offered for us to go home on Saturday; but being just two days after a c-section, we opted for one more day.


Zeke didn't mind.


He is such a cuddler!


Needless to say, he is too cute ever to put down.


...except to be changed into his Coming Home outfit! We have made it our tradition to buy a little boy outfit and a little girl outfit to bring to the hospital with us, and to return whichever one we end up not needing. We decided not to dress Zeke in a flowered purple dress with pink striped leggings.


Instead he donned a Baby GAP "Ocean Patrol" sweatshirt, featuring the numbers 8 and 9--fitting, as he was born on the 8th of January, 09...


Hee hee.


Before loading him into the car and taking him home!


Drowning in his car seat, drowning in his sweatshirt, drowning in his hat... We love our little Zeke.


Arrived home: so, so grateful for our little man. Ezekiel means "God is strong," "God is my strength," or "God will strengthen," depending on which name book you look at. We looked at a lot. We had no idea what to name him until he popped out a complete answer to prayer: God truly strengthened him (he peed on the doctor as she pulled him out! Then he peed two more times on nurses by the time he got a blanket around him! Someone in the O.R. said, "Clearly no kidney issues here!"), and he is the most wiggly, strong little thing. He deliberately lifts his head up to look at us and props it up with his hands! He also gave us a scare when we checked in Thursday morning with a very, very erratic heartbeat. The doctor, his pediatrician, and a respiratory therapist were all notified and braced for drama after delivery. Well, out he popped, screaming a hearty wail and turning bright red; and listening to his heartbeat, doctors could hear nothing but a good, strong, consistent beat. So how could we not name him Ezekiel? "God is my strength. God will strengthen!" Ezekiel is also a family name on Bethany's mom's side, the furthest back she has traced her father's line. That Ezekiel provides a good story for another day. Remind us to tell you. Then Zeke's middle name is Luther, the name of Bethany's maternal granddaddy.


Sunday evening we celebrated our return home with a blurry mama, blurry nursing baby, and blurry overalled boy. All of us so happy!!!


Especially happy because it was also the day of Richie's 30th birthday. Bethany: "Well, Sweetie, your present this year took 9 months to make!" Richie: "What more could a man want?"


30-year-old daddy with his two boys!


Luke probably thought it was another party for him.


And now back to little Zeke, our new little love!


5 days old, performing serious investigation of this strange, strange world!


Arg!


Luke is enamored with his little brother, and is constantly begging to hold him, poke him, pet him, kiss him...


And of course, we are totally enamored, too.