I have a nephew!

Kate and Andy became parents Thursday morning. We did not know the gender ahead of time, so it was a very exciting and anticipated phone call. It is a boy, and I strongly felt it would be all along. He was 7 1/2 pounds and is named Ely Jacob.

Mom, Jim, and I took off from their house at 5:00 a.m. Friday morning so that Grandma Nan could meet her newest grandson right after visiting hours started.

Baby Ely is just perfect. I'm horrified to confess that I accidentally and unexpectedly started crying a little when I first laid eyes on him. I was just a little overwhelmed with his perfectness and how wonderful it is to see Andy and Kate as parents. We stayed for quite awhile Friday morning and admired Ely while catching up with Andy and Kate.

Then we went and found some lunch. We ate at Buffalo Wild Wings, where Mom and Jim discovered how good they are at trivia. I was the only one with a board, but I won two games, thanks to all of their correct answers. Mom had one beer, and I had two. Jim claimed he was going to have to pour us into the car when we left. Puh-lease.

We went to Target and had all of the pictures I had taken that morning developed, and I put them into little brag books for Andy & Kate and for Mom. The proud parents and proud gram had photos to show off just one day after Ely was born. I love technology.

Finally we drove to Slater and got to Andy and Kate's (and Ely's!) house. After a short rest, Mom and I took Buck and Buster (doggies/Ely's big brothers) for a long walk. We freshened up, then headed back to the hospital for another Ely fix.

I can hardly remember that night. I was exhausted, and I am guessing Andy and Kate were, too. We had a brief visit, then Mom, Jim, and I went and ate at a joint called Chips. It was delish from what I hear, but I was too tired to enjoy myself at that point. Shortly after eating, I crashed on Andy and Kate's couch and actually got a pretty good sleep.

Saturday morning, we visited the happy family one more time before hitting the road. I felt better about my little display of emotion on Friday when I saw Mom tear up about saying goodbye to Ely. He was wide awake for this visit, and just as sweet as he could possibly be. It sure sucked to leave them and not know when we would see them or the baby again, but they were going to check out of the hospital and take that precious new thing home. They needed some time alone to bond with him.

Of course, we sort of tore home in anticipation of the blizzard that was coming. I will not complain about that forecast being wrong; I'm glad we dodged that bullet. I stopped in Holstein and visited Grandma and Grandpa Juelfs and shared my pictures of Ely with them. We also picked up Peyton and Sadie. Then I tore home to see my own babies (Noah, my first baby, and Sophie, my BABY baby). Man, as much as I was sad to leave Ely, I was sure glad to be welcomed home by that dufus grin and open arms from Sophie!

Now I've been thinking about little Ely ever since that visit. I know his mommy and daddy are taking excellent care of him. They are wonderful parents. I sure am glad I get to be his Aunt Jeni. I am only posting one picture of me holding him, because as much as I'd like to gloat and post a bunch of pictures, he's not really mine to be showing off. So I'm going to try to control myself and let his proud parents do the bragging.