Karyn's tired old web site photo...

Hey! Who turned off the heartbeat?!

Alexander Robert Huntting Chervenell arrived on February 18, 1998, at 7:08 pm PST. He was born at St. Vincent's Hospital in Portland, Oregon, USA. He checked in at 6 pounds, 15 ounces, and was 19.5 inches tall. This was the first photo taken of him after he was born (one of the OB/GYN surgeons took photos during the C-Section, but I don't know if that counts--besides, you don't want to see those here... trust me on this one).

Gitcher finger outa my mouth, Mom!

Less than two weeks old, Alexander tries to relax at home, but is continually badgered by his mother. Still looking quite ragged and still unable to walk at a pace exceeding 0.047 MPH, I fondly remember the days when days had nights.

Ouch. Now that hurt.

Just an hour or so after my "surprise" caesarian section surgery and Alexander's birth, the morphine and epidural begin to wear off. Still in a fog, I can't help but look over at my new son. He was so precious and so tiny! And I couldn't wait for the time to come when I could get that "fashion reject" hat off his little head. Hospitals have so little culture!

These blankets look like dishrags...

and these clothes! Where on earth did they get these clothes? A plain old white shirt, with no front pocket or collar, mind you, and a diaper? Gads.

"You want how much for this portrait package?" Or, alternately, "Just call me Mr. Clooney."

This is Alexander at 4 days old. I kid you not: he was known as "The George Clooney Baby" at the hospital. Watch out when he gets that MD degree!

Hey, this guy wears a diaper, too!

Alexander and his buddy, Baby Sylvester, nap together. Sylvester, a gift from my sister and her family, was one of my favorite toys of Alexander's before he was born. He managed to glom onto it quite quickly.

I am just a travelling fool, I am.

Alexander, obviously ecstatic to be pinned into his first infant seat. At two weeks' age, he hadn't yet mastered the "surfboard technique" that toddlers are so famous for. That didn't happen until Alexander was six months old...

I am way cute when I sleep, huh?

A rather tactile little bugger, Alexander likes to sleep with at least one hand on his chin or face.

These glasses are just too cool.

Alexander, exactly one month old, on his first trip. He and I went to the Oregon Coast to visit his uncle for a few days. During our stay, we took time out for a trip up the coast to an outlet mall to buy some "stylin' duds" for the kid. It was then, lugging around shopping bags, a purse the size of a small country, a diaper bag, and a baby in a carseat, that I realized that I could not function any longer without a stroller.

Papa, Karyn, and Alexander

Now settled in, Alexander entertains his grandparents in Mama's now somewhat unkempt (read: a baby lives here) house.