Pick Moe Cotton...

I don't know much about Moe Cotton, but he's got my attention now...

Go out and vote!!! (Unless you are this person)

Three's a Company, Four's a Full House...

Today, we had a new edition to our family. We have been anxiously awaiting this little bundle for a while. My hope was for a Halloween baby, but it wasn't in the cards. Instead, Benji decided to be punctual and arrive exactly on his due date, something that I hear is only done about 5% of the time.

We knew the time was at hand about 10pm on Nov 3. All night, Anna had very long, frequent and painful contractions. We slept off and on until about 2am when we gave up and knew it was time to call the birthing center. At the advice of the birthing center, we stopped by a 24 hour grocery market to get some snacks and Gatorade.

Once we were in our room, much to Anna's chagrin, I started setting up my cameras, tripods and computer equipment. But, at Anna's request, I left the 3D camera in the car. 

By 6am, it was time for the real final stretch. Poor Anna hadn't slept well for 2 days, so she was totally exhausted. It was a long haul for the last couple hours. Before long, Anna was pleading for a C-section, not that anyone could blame her. However, by 9:03am, Benjamin Warren Bodine was signed sealed and delivered! 

Benji's first picture... (...out of the womb.)

Mom gets some bonding time seconds after the birth.

As soon as Benji was out, everybody in the room was in awe at his size. Some of the staff guessed he was nearly 9 lbs. And for a small girl like Anna, that's even more amazing. 

Birth is not just exhausting for mommy...

First grooming.

After some cleaning and protocol, we found the final stats.

Weight: 9lb 2oz. Length: 21.5 inches. This is a big kid!

We spent the next 24 hours in the birthing center recovering and bonding. When we came home, our 2 1/2 year old, Maia, was still taking her nap. When she woke up, I came into her room, told her we had a special surprise for her. We walk over to the crib and on first sight Maia giggles. "Baby Benji! Hi!" And she blows him a kiss. Off to a good start. That affection will wain once she realizes how much attention mom gives him.

So, we are now a family of 4. I tease Anna that we need to have another 11 boys, to make it a dozen. This pregnancy was pretty hard on Anna and she's feeling done. Truthfully, I'm content. We have a great full family and couldn't ask for more.

PETA Is Right, Animals Are Smarter Than Humans...

I just hope she's not a registered voter...

You Must Be Confusing Me With My Brother...

I grew a beard in May as part of my "vacation scruff." It seemed to fit my face surprising well, so I've kept it. No one in Guam has questioned it beyond the typical "why did you grow it" question. Mostly, people have been telling me that it looks good, helps me look distinguished and ages me up some. All things I can do with.

I have had some people (all from the mainland U.S.) ask if someone with my church calling, Stake Presidency, is allowed to have a beard. After the first prophet of the restoration, Joseph Smith, every LDS prophet until David O. McKay had facial hair. After that time, there seemed to be an unofficial policy change that Church leaders no longer were to have facial hair. Indeed, many Church leaders have received council in certain circumstances to shave. Employees of the Church and students of Church-owned universities are restricted from facial hair (with the exception of a finely trimmed mustache, oddly). I do not know for certain, but I suspect the General Authorities (a more select group of leaders over larger geographical areas) would be asked to shave when called into those positions.

So, I understand why some people ask, "Are you allowed to have a beard?" There is no official Church policy that I could identify in the current handbooks that say one way or the other. I'm not completely devoted to my beard, but I do plan to keep it for a while. Most members in church have even told me privately that I look better with the beard than without. If my leader tells me it has to go, I won't get offended, I can get rid of it. But, for now, I like it. In fact, it's had a mostly positive effect in church.

A couple of weeks ago, a member of my church came up to me and told me about his son. At the beginning of church, the son looked up at the stand where I was sitting, pointed to me and said to his dad excitedly, "Jesus!"

I like to think that it my countenance and not just the beard that led him to that conclusion...

I don't have a better picture of the beard yet, but you get the idea.

The Littlest Giant...

My favorite band, They Might Be Giants, recently did a revamp of their children's song "The Alphabet of Nations." They called for pictures of kids from these different countries. Naturally, I submitted pictures of Maia. And she made the cut!

Ah, fame. For a signed photo of Maia, please send $1,000 dollars and a pre-paid stamped envelope to us. No refunds...