Joseph Reuben

Beautiful Joseph Reuben Gilden joined our family on October 12, 2015 super early in the morning at 4:41 a.m. weighing 8 lb 10 oz. Aunt Syssa was an awesome super trooper, kept that baby cooking past his due date, and popped that baby out with no medical intervention! I love love love being an aunt to my nieces and nephews and am selfishly SUPER pumped to have a baby nephew here in Austin. I am excited for Gabi and Ethan to have a new baby cousin just a mile down the road too! 'Joey' will surely be a wonderful addition to our family, and we were so thrilled to welcome him. Alyssa and Craig seemed tired (no clue why) but elated and over the moon with their 'perfect' son.

We got to visit him on Day 1 in the hospital! We brought baked goodies, so they let us in...

Nana with grandchild #7! This is the first baby of Nana's last baby.

Baby Joey with his favorite aunt... He'll figure it out soon enough at least.

That night, we go out for a celebratory dinner with Joey's other grandparents, Papa Jay and Grandy! (They're practically Gabi's other grandparents as well!)

We give the new Team Gilden a couple days to come home and introduce the new baby to their house before we bring all of our germs over and introduce Joey to his first cousins!


Baby Joey's first Shabbat arrives, and lucky him gets to meet Uncle Jon for the first time!


On Saturday, more family arrive and the fun of the weekend/togetherness kicks into full gear!

We were so grateful that Joey's Gigi could come celebrate with us! Joey is Gigi's 9th great-grandchild.

Kitty Abby with Grandy and Gabi

new dad Craig with me and Zayde

Sunday is baby Joey's 7th day of life, which means he's a mere itty bitty 1-week-old, which means his parents are exhausted and still figuring out the whilrwind of parenthood, which means it's the day before his bris and time to invade with MORE FAMILY!!!

Boston has arrived, and Zayde goes outside with 4 grandchildren and plays 'Ring Around the Rosie.'

Gabi LOVED spending time with Gigi.

Gabi shares her shoes with cousin Sammy.

Ethan, Gigi, and I hang out with Craig's Aunt Barbie and Uncle Lenny, in from Houston.

By dinner on Sunday night, Team Cohan was in town and all 7 cousins were together at last!

Oldest cousin Mira meets her youngest cousin Joey.

Sammy and Gabi drum on the bar stools.

Noah with baby cousin Joey

Cue the big AWWWWWWWW- all 7 cuties together!

More family fun from Sunday night:

Aunt Sandi and Team Cohan brought a very entertaining drum for Ethan's birthday present.

men	Jacob reads a story to his younger cousins.

On Monday morning, we all clean up nicely, put on our smiles, and head over to Chez Gilden to welcome Joey into our Jewish family and community (in a physical and painful way).

Fun uncles entertain their niece and nephew while waiting for the ceremony to begin.

Time for Joseph Reuben's brit milah (covenant of circumcision):

Jan and Jay receive the honor of walking baby Joey into the room.

proud parents

Jay places Joey on Elijah's chair.

Craig appoints the mohel to act as an agent on his behalf to perform the circumcision, and the rest of us watch and wait.

It's done! Joey survived and handled it like a champ (as did his parents)!

Time for singing, dancing, celebrating, and FOOD!

Alyssa calls this one, "Team Bris."

We have some more time together before aunts, uncles, and cousins have to head home. It's a gorgeous day so we play outside!

Uncle Mitch entertains again!

Gabi and Noah cook up some delicious ice cream.

Aunt Sandi rocks her baby whisperer skills.

pretty darn excited about her new baby cousin

A few more moments of togetherness and getting alonglylike:


Welcome to the family, baby Joey! (Welcome to the blog.) We are so glad you're here!