Sean Kershaw's Weblog
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July 26, 2006
Grace's picture, and announcement -- thanks for asking
Here's a recent picture of grace resting in my lap -- with the month-old text of our on-line "announcement" below.
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June 21, 2006
Greetings! For some of you this is a much-delayed surprise-announcement, for others pictures (finally), and for others confirmation of a rumor.
Tim and I are now the parents of a newborn baby girl: Grace Kershaw Hawkins.
- She was born on Thursday the 15th.
- We found out about her late Thursday afternoon -- with no previous notice.
- We brought her home on Saturday.
- She's Aidan's half-sister!
Aidan's birth-mom gave birth Thursday morning in Mankato and told the hospital she wanted us to adopt the baby girl if we were interested. She had made a plan, but hadn't contacted anyone before going into labor. Children's Home Society called Tim late Thursday afternoon. We haven't had any contact with the birth-mother, and had no idea she was even pregnant. In two years of looking for another child, we've had one phone call. Tim said "yes" before even calling me. His message to me at work simply said "callmeitsanemergency". I haven't forgiven him for making me go white with that message.
Grace is healthy and really cute and sweet. She's also bi-racial, which is for lack of a better word "cool" as far as we are concerned. (The cute old women that coo over her when we go out can't assume Tim is just my friend.)
We were as prepared for this as we were with Aidan, but have not accepted that this is how we "have babies" in the Kershaw-Hawkins household. "Over-Sean", the part of my psyche that likes to be planful and in-control and on-schedule and efficient was temporarily replaced by "over-whelmed-Sean". The double-dope-slap from Tim and my Mom worked wonders, and now I just can't believe it's really true.
She sleeps constantly. Aidan is adjusting as well as could be expected, given that he had no notice either. He's spending a couple of days with Ama and Grandpa while we adjust here.
The grandparents and aunts have gone nuts. There hasn't been a girl in the Kershaw family for 22 years, and for 12 years in the Hawkins family. This is NOT an appeal for gifts -- family members and a few recent newborn-girl-parents have generously overwhelmed us. We're good. And as any of you with kids know, we are horrible gift-givers and owe all of you already.
We are speechless and humbled by our good fortune. We still feel like we're dreaming. It was a fun Fathers' Day. (Aidan also arrived the week before Fathers Day six years ago.) I'll now get nervous whenever the phone rings the week before Fathers Day.
We thought you might get a kick out of the story and want to see the pictures.
Sean and Tim
Posted by Sean Kershaw at July 26, 2006 1:43 PM
Comments
Sean,
I did the same thing you did - misspelled your name.
But, I was so touched my your new family member that I had to write again and congratulate you and your family on this lovely new family member. It's such a miracle!
Sanddra
Posted by: Sandra Meicher | July 26, 2006 5:31 PM
awwww. very cute. Congratulations.
Posted by: Susan Herridge | July 26, 2006 9:56 PM
Hi Sean and Tim....
Congratulations on your new arrival. Our youngest arrived in our family in much the same way. A telephone call and then two days later, our son at 9 months. He began life as our grandson, but his birth mother just couldn't handle her life and his and asked us to adopt him.
He is a handsome, bi-racial young man of 14. Despite being raised by two white parents, he definitely defines himself as African-American and is very proud of his heritage.
Enjoy the diapers.
Rob Fulton
Posted by: Rob Fulton | August 10, 2006 1:07 PM