She's Here!!!

Laurence Sophia was born on Mother's Day, May 14 at 10:35 a.m. Melinda had been feeling false labor pains off and on for two days when she suddenly awoke at 2:30 a.m. to the real thing, WHAM!!! She woke me up and off we went to the hospital, hitting every red light along the way. Melinda's plan was to have the baby naturally but after a couple of hours of white-hot pain she opted for the epidural. We waited another 5 hours for the baby to get into position then, 3 contractions and 3 pushes later our little girl made her entrance.

Welcome to the world Laurence!

First meeting of Mom and Daughter

Awww...she's got her momma's feet!

Nellie is trying to flatten my Don King hairdo.

I think we're all still in shock in this photo.

Great-Grandma Clara takes a peek at the newest member of our family.

Laurence says hello to her Meemaw and Grandmas Nellie and Clara.

That's one proud Papa.

All this excitement makes a girl sleepy.

All wrapped up in the bassinette.

My tailbone hurts!!!

We're pooped.

I'm too cute.

Our little sweet pea.

Grandma loves her new girl.

Grandpa Jerry and baby Elvis

Grandma Nellie and Laurence

Grandma Monica came all the way from Texas to see her baby

First bath!

This sucks!

Our family

Can you stand how sweet this baby is???

Our gorgeous girl

Rooooaaaaaaarrrrr!

Wake up Laurence!

So tired

Can you tell we love our girl?

The Evolution of Laurence Sophia

It's been a fun and crazy ride for our little one and her time is almost up. Looking back now, the whole thing went by so fast it seems we hardly had a chance to enjoy the pregnancy. But that 's life, enjoy it while you can because it goes by in a hurry. Melinda has started to feel the first signs of labor and it shouldn't be long before our little girl is here. I can hardly wait so I know Melinda must be even more excited. We feel like two kids laying in bed on Christmas Eve waiting for Santa to come. Is it time to open presents yet?

Lil' Larry's big screen debut, October 10, 2005.

Our little Jumbo Shrimp, October 24, 2005.

Larry in a space capsule November 8, 2005.

Lil' Larry's profile January 5, 2006

Melinda at 32 weeks. My bump...my bump, my bump, my bump, my bump...my lovely lady lump...check it out.

Melinda at 34 weeks. That's one hot momma!!

Double Eye Power!!

Melinda at 37 weeks...won't be long now!!

Dad's Wedding - Salt Lake City, March 24 - 26

Robert L. went and got himself re-hitched so all us King kids went up to Salt Lake City for the big soiree. The wedding was Friday night at a reception center in Sandy. Dad looked like a deer in headlights and seemed really nervous before it got underway but then took everything in stride. The wedding ceremony was short and sweet. Everybody looked fantastic and the flower girls were especially cute. It was wonderful to have all us kids under the same roof and I hadn't seen my father's siblings in years and years. Afterwards I hung out with Phil, Carl, Brian and the rest of the SLC gang. Too bad Ms. Melinda-Bean couldn't join us:(

Mackenzie, Heidi, Natalee, and Morgan pose pre-wedding.

The last known photo of ALL the King kids. Natalee and Kurt not paying attention, as usual.

Mackenzie, Amy and Sam. There's exactly one smile missing in this photo.

Alexis and the other angels doing their best flower girl impersonation.

Say 'man and wife'!!

Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. & Mrs. Robert L. King.

Dylan just couldn't resist hugging Sam, who could?

Natalee and Kyle showing off their beautiful baby boys.

Baby Sam and yours truly. That kid is so DAMN cute!!

Dylan enjoying the dancing from a unique viewing angle. Seems like the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree.

Phil and I just love the table under the crazy monkey shrine at the Red Door.

Hanging outside the Red Door with the boys.

Christmas in Salt Lake City, December 23 - 30

The holidays have come and gone, but we sure made the most of them. Britt and I drove to Salt Lake City on a very clear day (thank goodness) and were able to spend the week with Britt's family and friends. Christmas Eve was spent at Grandma Lois' house with a bunch of the Johnson bunch, having dinner and blabbing everyone's ear off. The next morning Britt and I went to Aunt Connie and Uncle Bill's house for Christmas breakfast. I haven't seen Britt put away that many pancakes in a long time, it was incredible! FINALLY, I was able to open my presents. I didn't even get one to tide me over on Christmas Eve! I know! It's shocking! The rest of our week was spent hanging out with friends and taking trip up into the mountains. I even got to try snow-shoeing, which is harder than you'd think. We also got to make a quick trip to Park City, which is a rather sentimental spot for us. We returned home on Friday the 30th because my brother, Jerry, and his fiance, Hiromi, were visiting from Japan. We rang in the New Year's at my dad's house, with Tony and Natalee joining in the fun.We hope you all had a wonderful holiday season.

The Vermillian Cliffs and two of the prettiest road trippers ever! Utah here we come!

"There's a lake of stew, and whiskey too, you can paddle all around it in a big canoe, in the Big Rock Candy Mountain!"

While at Ruth's we discovered some family photos, namely ones of Britt as a scion of 70's fashion (here is Britt with his sister Heidi).