We arrived at the hospital late Saturday night after Melita’s contractions—which had started Friday—reached the point that the obstetrician on call recommended that we come to the hospital. We made it just in time to avoid this weekend’s nor’easter.

Melita’s labor was long, but she held up well and after the delivery bounced back with a big appetite. I have a lot to be thankful to God for: mom and baby’s health, epidural anesthesia, and friends who were able to watch Sam while we were in the hospital.

Here’s the Bean at nine weeks. We didn’t get as clear a picture as we did for brother Sam, but we did see a speedy heartbeat and some wiggling.

Today about 18 weeks into the pregnancy, we had our second ultrasound exam and saw for ourselves that we’re going to have a boy! He was moving around quite a bit, so it was tough to get good pictures, but here they are. The first is looking straight at the head, and the second two are profiles of the head. In the third, you might be able to see a hand in thumb-sucking position.

Even though my wife’s only eight weeks into the pregnancy and the kid’s just two centimeters long, today we could see fingers, a heartbeat (at 167 beats a minute), and the occasional wiggle.

A hospital has banned visitors from “cooing” over newborn babies to protect their dignity and parents’ right to confidentiality.

People have been told they should resist the temptation to touch or be too familiar with the new arrivals. They are also being warned to respect patient confidentiality by not talking to staff or parents about babies.

. . .

Debbie Lawson, the neo-natal manager at the special care baby unit, said: “We know people have good intentions but we need to respect the child.

“Cooing should be a thing of the past because these are little people with the same rights as you or me.”

HT: relapsed catholic