Why is she not nursing that baby?? He deserves the very best!!

And he's SO adorable!! :) I miss my boys being that age!!

Congrats on the son, Steve...but is that GRAY HAIR I see in those locks of yours? Ha, and the kid ain't even a week old yet...wait until he decides he needs to run with a knife; or see what it is like to jump off a roof; or drop trou at a family gathering. Me thinks those gray hairs will MULTIPLY quicker than you can say William Jefferson Clinton is a self-involved, petulant, horned-up teenager.

No, that's not grey hairs - he's just looking more distinguished ...

And kids don't turn hairs grey - they turn 'em solid white, all-at-once !

(father of 4 daughters)

What a fantastic pair of photos.

Stephen, any heterosexual female readers who were not previously crushing on you, are now -- I guarantee it. There's nothing that will melt a woman faster than the sight of a man with an infant, especially if both are gorgeous.

Melissa, if anyone deserves a glass of champagne, it's you!

For the record, our family photo album has shots quite similar to both of these... it's the combination of disarranged hair, slightly goofy glazed-eyed expression and stubble that really makes 'em. And there's nothing like the wicked grin a new mom wears when she finally gets to have a drink!

Nice pictures, but you're very brave to show off that you're not breast feeding. It's a highly charged political issue these days.

Absolutely the biggest congratulations on the little one! An adorable child and mother. Be proud.

Dang ya'll are good lookin,' especially the short guy, what a cutie! And I recognize the beatific look on Melissa's face; it's the "Oh God I'm so freakin' happy I'm not pregnant anymore" look.

And I see you guys figured out the Urp Towel thing pretty quick ;^)

Rock on with your bad selves!

:peter

CutiePie Geek never looked better!

Lovely wife, adorable kid: Who said nice guys always finish last?

Congratulations to all!

I bought my wife the complete Thin Man series for Christmas... You guys don't have a little dog named Asta, do you?

Congrats on the baby, and happy New Year!

Aw, Angie, don't just assume that she's not nursing. Anyway, that's their business, not ours.

Stephen & Melissa, you guys look awesome! Little Preston is doing a great Elvis impersonation on your shoulder, especially with his baby sideburns. heehee. :) And he has a halo, too. *cue angelic music*

Happy New Year!

What a gorgeous baby (his parents aren't too shabby, either)!

Are you sure Preston only a week old? He looks so alert and tuned- in to his surroundings.

Congrats to the both of you. The little guy looks adorable. Dig the sideburns on the kid. Barely born and lookin hip already.

Wow! I'm envious. You're a luck man indeed. It's an indescribable kind of joy.

That's it. I want another one. I'm going home and knocking up my wife right now! Wish me luck! LOL

Nice photos.

And as the breast feeding "issue" goes; it's your baby, your life. Do what you will and forget anybody who is "taking sides". It's really none of their business.

You're both looking far more fabulous than new parents should be allowed to! Congratulations and a lifetime of health, love, and happiness for your son.

Absolutely adorable baby there! My congrats to the new parents! And if I were you, I would be getting the heavy duty appointment book for Preston, he looks like his dance card is going to be full as soon as the young ladies notuce him!

Don't suppose you managed to fit time in to work on that major geek present Melissa got you in between writing, feeding and the last minute assembly of baby items, hmm?

Much happiness to the whole family!
(Preston, with sideburns, what a guy, just like his daddy)

Oh fer' goodness sakes, it ain't anybody's business how this child is fed, and one celebratory glass of a sparkler isn't going to damage a healthy baby who drinks mother's milk. I betcha there are plenty of very high I.Q. kids in cultures where wine is a daily ritual whose mothers did not completely abstain when breastfeeding. This topic is about as politicized, as opposed to empirically examined, as drinking and driving has been politicized by the MADD contingent.

Anyways, Stephen, nice photos, and also, what sparkler do you favor for celebratory occasions? There is something about the soil of Champagne which is completely unique, but there are some American sparklers, like Iron Horse, which are really tremendous. For an everyday bubbly, Gruet (from New Mexico, of all places) is a terrific value. Sparkling wines are too often overlooked among those of us who treasure the brewed, fermented, and distilled nectars, and I do my best to rectify that situation!

Congratulations and wonderful photos. I have to second Will's recommendation of Gruet - excellent sparkler and it's fun to tweek the wine geeks when they learn it's from New Mexico.

Congratulations.

Bottle vs. breast: Could the bottle not be a chaser? The best of both worlds. Next time we meet at the watering hole, we'll drink to that.

And on the subject of drink and classification: Will "Bottle of Milk" be added to the drink classified links listed on the right side of your site? Or would that be on your left side as you look at it, or am I thinking of something way entirely different?

Oh! I don't usually geek out about baby pics but y'all are SO cute!! Congrats again on your new little one and cheers to Mrs VPundit for looking so fabulous after having a baby!! You're right. She is definitely a catch. Best wishes to all of you!

He's beautiful..........and so are you both; congratulations!

Disheveled? Nobody's noticing, Steve. The baby becomes you. That look on your face is exactly the way a man SHOULD look with his son.

Congrats again.

Those two pix should go in the baby book, 'How we spent your first NYE.'

Enjoy, the baby and the champers!

Eh, I'm more interested in the fact that the bottle is one of those Playtex drop-in varieties. Those things are gold. You'll learn that as you clumsily assemble a bottle one-handed at 3:30 am with a screaming child on your shoulder. (The clumsy bit comes from sleep deprivation; being able to assemble it with one hand comes from the bottle.)

Hearty congratulations, and here's the secret I've learned from my two-year-old: you love that little person more and more every day. Indeed, you'll pour so much love into that baby before he can even do anything in response (like that first smile) that it'll amaze you. Who knew you had so much love to give?

(And then the child begins to smile, then laugh, then stumble into your arms, then call you "daddy", and each time you'll wonder how your heart could get any fuller. And then it does.)

I think it should be a general rule of thumb that if you feel the need to make comments on the way others are raising their child, you should think once, twice, three times. And then still don't say anything. That includes the area of "helpful advice" too.

That's an astonishing head of hair on that baby, Stephen.

I think I see your cowlick on that baby's head! And he is definitely a smart one, always has his eyes open checking it out! Congratulations, and remember a glass of champagne or a bottle of beer always relaxes Mother and baby whether baby is bottle or breast fed. Relaxed mom, relaxed baby. They are beautiful.

I'm taking the marriage plunge soon, May 27 to be exact. Howerver, I'm hoping to postpone a bit the reproduction of a Nick Jr. I want some attention and loving for myself first.

Congratulations! Great photos and a great website.

Hell,

Momma always said a glass of beer before nursing made happy babbies.

Congratulations Steve & Mel.

*goes back to lurking*

All three of you are gorgeous. Happy New Year and best wishes for many, many, many more.

Steve, the lady is a Goddess! I'm barely able to restrain myself from further descriptions on specifics (that would be vulgar). You're a lucky man - I hope you know it.

Sheesh! Cut the lady (and the gentleman, and the young master) some slack! I wish I looked that good three days after giving birth--hell, wish I looked that good a YEAR after giving birth. It's been 12 years now, and I'm still waiting for that last-minute burst of nesting energy to hit.

Congratulations on the absolutely fabulous younglet you've got there.

NR

Long-time reader/lurker... but had to comment on this one. The similarities (see my trackback) were just too striking. One of my most memorable New Year's Eves ever; few things in this world make me happier than to hold that precious little girl.

Congratulations!