Harvey

Harvey Locke Rodriguez 
Born May 26, 2015 3:30 p.m. 
7lb 6oz
20inches

Yesterday Joe and Ariel got married - which I wrote about.

Today, Harvey decided to enter the world since his parents got hitched once and for all.  Both events were beautiful, surprising and the stuff that life is made of.

Mother and Baby are doing well - after a marvelous home birth.  Labor was so beautifully done that the midwives said they were spoiled at the end of their shift.

Our team of midwives
(Seantel on the far right)

Mario hugs Joe

 I don't know how, but we made it here to see the birth of our first grandson.  After six granddaughters here came Harvey - the boy.

As soon as I saw his face, I started to cry.  He is healthy and beautiful and perfect - and I'm very biased.

Today, also, I had the realization that Harvey is not the first boy.

There is his older brother, Asher, who came first.

Asher before he killed me...

As if to celebrate the day, the sword we ordered for his birthday came in the mail.  It became "The Big Brother Sword" - a plastic one that lights up and makes funny noises.

Today, he made me play a monster, a stegosaurus, and a Tyrannosaurus Rex so that he could slay me with his new weapon.  I died slowly on the carpet as others attended to the new baby and Mama.

"You're dead!" Asher said triuphantly.  I nodded, and tried to hoist myself up with the help of a chair next to me.  Asher made sure I wasn't going anymore  "Okay, now you have to be something else so I can kill you again!"

"Are you sure?" I asked, smiling.  "You've already killed me three times."

He shrugged.  "Maybe just a couple of more times."

How could I say no?  After all, he was the big brother.  The baby and the sword came on the same day.

:Later, right before dinner, Asher and I chatted about Harvey.  "What do you think about that little brother of yours?" I asked him.

Asher meets Harvey

"He's so cute!" Asher gushed, but then sat up straight.  "And that sword is pretty cool, too!  Thanks."

Harvey is pretty cute.  He looks like a perfect combination of his mother and father.  He was born with incredible reflexes and a good set of lungs.

At home, we are in awe of life.  Here was a child, safe and warm in the womb - and now surrounded by so many cheering him on. He will be here in our family as one of the ones we pray for constantly.  I am grateful beyond belief.