Adam Frederick Hough - Love at first sight

ADAM FREDERICK HOUGH - LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT
BY HIS DOTING GRANDPARENTS, PAM AND NORMAN
11th November 2008
We had been looking forward to meeting Adam since his birth on 20th October 2008. The moment we went online in the early morning (UK time) and saw Martin’s e-mail telling us of his birth was magical. Then, to see photos appear online almost immediately capped a perfect morning. He was so gorgeous, even crying and we were smitten.
Now the time had finally come to fly to Boston, we were really excited. Martin met us at Boston and drove us to his beautiful new home where Carey and Adam were waiting. Carey had kept him up so we were able to cuddle him as soon as we arrived. It is certainly a great feeling being grandparents for the first time.
Adam is so beautiful with perfect features, deep blue eyes and lots of dark hair with a lovely “kiss curl”. Sorry, Carey, but he is so like Martin, though he is bound to develop some of his mother’s features as he grows.
He was 3 weeks old when we arrived at Belchertown and certainly looked more mature and big for his age. He was 10 lbs 9 oz when he was born and is long and lean with no surplus fat - contrary to photographic appearance! In spite of his dark hair, he has very fair eyebrows so things may change. He is very content and only cries for food, when he can certainly yell! His expression changes in a second, his lip quivers and only food will calm him. Then he changes back to serenity in a flash. It is amazing to experience this survival instinct.

23rd November 2008
Today is Adam’s Christening Day. The special service was held at St Peter and Paul Church in Three Rivers, where Carey and Martin got married. April and Jack were Godparents and most of Carey’s family were there. It was a lovely, quite informal ceremony and Adam behaved fantastically well. We took lots of photos and movie to help us remember the occasion and to show all those in the UK who could not be there in person. Adam looked handsome in his white satin Christening outfit and enjoyed all the attention.
We toasted his health at an excellent Christening Party at his home. Nancy had made the Christening cake which looked and tasted superb. There was an excellent buffet as well! Adam got lots of lovely Christening presents.

27th November 2008
Another 1st for Adam - his first Thanksgiving (and ours!). Again, he was well behaved when the family came for a Thanksgiving dinner. He is already supporting his own head and his back is getting stronger ready for sitting up.

1st December 2008
Adam went for his clinic Check-up and is now 13 lbs and an inch longer at 23 inches. In the last week, he has started to smile a lot when his whole face lights up and his eyes sparkle. He loves looking at images on the camera screen - does he know it’s him?
He stares unblinkingly at you and follows your every movement. He adores being held - obviously preferable to lying in his Basinet!! He certainly has us wrapped round his little finger but Grandparents are allowed a little spoiling of their gorgeous “little man”. His Grandad is especially good at carrying Adam round the house when he needs to settle down - Adam even appears to like his singing!
Adam is learning to copy actions, good and bad like waving and sticking his tongue out! It is wonderful to watch the thought process as he works out what to do and then slowly manages to co-ordinate his mouth / arm. He is a quick learner. He definitely tries to copy simple words like “hello”. He won’t remain at this dependent stage for long so we must make the most of it.

10th December 2008
Yet another first - meeting Santa Claus at Bright Nights! Again, Adam was very good - asleep at first but then smiling beautifully with Santa.
He is now much more alert and is staying awake for longer - less time for Carey to get things done! However, she would much rather spend time with Adam while he needs her one-to-one attention.

15th December 2008
This is a sad day for us as it is time to fly home to England. We have so enjoyed the past five weeks and thank Martin and Carey for giving us the opportunity to spend quality time with Adam, even trusting us with Adam a few times. We really appreciated this. Even nappy (diaper) changing was a “pleasure”!
In the time we have been in Massachusetts, Adam has advanced noticeably - he is making amazing progress in addition to his growth. He can almost sit up and he is even more handsome than at birth. We take home many memories (and photos) and look forward to following his progress via e-mail and phone.
It was great that Carey and Adam were able to join Martin for the trip to Logan Airport. It gave us another hour and a half with Adam, who obligingly stayed awake for most of the journey. He gave us a great smile at the Airport - we will remember this for ever. We look forward to his first visit to the UK in June.