Pursuing the "perfect" picture.

Today we decided that the time had arrived to shoot a photo of all three of the kids to use on the birth announcement. After an hour of clicking and adjusting and moving bodies and trying to direct two young brothers with a vigor that would send the most experienced model packing, we had over 200 shots to sift through in hopes of finding "the one." This isn't that elusive "one," but it's a fun picture and you can even see Gabriella's eyes!

Update 3/27/2008 - I uploaded a small album of pictures from this "shoot" today: Shooting Three outta Five

Bathtime... March 12

 

I can't quite figure it out. I'm certain that I was amazed at both Ben and Josiah when they were babies, yet I don't remember them being this tiny, or this mesmerizing. Perhaps it's maturity, or some sense of regret that fuels my intense desire to relish Gabriella's infancy -- because I now know for certain that time and childhood fly too, too rapidly by.

 

She's a sweet, sweet baby. Not so happy with the bath itself -- once she's clean and rinsed and bundled up tight, Gabriella seems to enjoy having her hair washed.

She's got - Personality :)

Gabriella is a VERY good sleeper. She makes us sleepy too.

 

Mommy loves 'Ella.

Bunny for Bunny

You might have noticed this picture of 'Ella enjoying (?) being dressed up in a very sweet and cuddly bunny-themed outfit.

This bunny cuddly (sweet gift from DKAM) works a little better -- and probably won't engender cries of, "What were you thinking?!" from G when she's older :)

Home sweet home

I've been home for awhile now and they tell me that I'm almost SIX days old! ("gulp!" interjects daddy).

Nothing too humiliating has happened (other than the fuzzy bunny suit and an ongoing fascination with my poops). I did get a shot in while daddy's guard was down; he'll think twice about leaving my bottom uncovered! My days are full of sleeping, eating (I'm very good at this), asking to eat (WHAAAA!), filling my diapers ("NOISILY," adds daddy) and even spending a few minutes looking around at my big new world. The big people in the house are enjoying ME (of course) and the tasty supper-time vittles people have been bringing by for the past few days.

My Auntie S came to see me in the hospital on Saturday, but I had already left. I guess she caught an operation while she was there, but she's OK now (thank you God!).

Rumor has it there are some anxious folks out there who want to see how much I've changed in the past few days. Fortunately, mom and dad haven't ceased with the infernal clicking and flashing in their effort to document my every mood, expression, and outfit (costume?), so daddy just added more pictures to my online album.

YAWN! Click below to visit a new album with pictures from the past few days.

Gabriella Homecoming and Fuzzy Bunny

Time for sleepies. Love,
Gabriella
(Ella for short)

Photos Galore!

We've taken more than just a couple photos in the past two days. Here's a slideshow, linked to the Picasa online photo album:

Events to expound on:

* Josiah, "How did the baby get out?" and exploding tummy concernes
* Lisa - amazingly rapid recovery.
* Ben - beaming at school
* G - a sweet, determined little bundle o' love
* FLASH! Mommy's heart stolen by newborn daughter.

Smilin' for Daddy

Gabriella has been so alert today. Lots of open-eyes time. Smiles too, so I'd like to think :)

And then there were five

Visiting Gabriella

Gabriella received her first family visitors this morning.

Introducing: Gabriella Grace

Gabriella - "Devoted to God"
Grace - to honor Grandma Charis
Note: "Charis" is a word from the Greek New Testament meaning "grace."

Vitals
* Born: 2:59am on March 6, 2008.
* Weight: 8 lbs 6 oz
* Length: 20.5"
* Head: 14"

Very alert and wakeful and ready to eat right away after birth. Eyes were wide open and searching. She's very aware of her hands (which had a tendency to interrupt her eating) and has a strong grip. In the photo, she's saying hello and grabbing onto Lisa's finger.

Baby and mom are doing great. Dad did his best to support them through the process.

(added 5/7/09 - some relevant links: Anticipation, Gabriella - the early days)

Dr. Josiah

Around lunchtime today, Josiah told Lisa that he thought she was going to have a baby because she was looking a little bit ill -- and mommies get a little bit ill before they have a baby.

Cute -- and on-the-mark, as we're at the hospital working our way through a very a-typical (for Lisa) labor: watching a movie, taking walks in the hallway, and, um, waiting for things to progress far enough to deliver a baby (hopefully after 8pm tonight).

Cheers all.

-kevin & lisa & babyt-3-2-b

Efficient Reponse

It seems that the wait for the baby is taking it's toll on Benjamin. Given that Lisa teaches at the school and the community is so family-like, he is questioned daily about the status of the baby.

Yesterday (Monday) he responded to the "thousands and millions" of queries by writing

[no baby]

on a sheet of paper and taping it to his shirt :)

Lisa is holding up wonderfully. Her energy is humbling!

-k

Puddles 'n Ice - Traipsin' through the 'hood

We took a walk today and found lots of ice and puddles (a 60 degree day followed by rain-turned-to-ice-turned-to-snow). A refreshing walk, even as the brief springy respite was coming to an end...



Getting Ready
Tonight, before bed, Si got very excited about the bib Lisa dug out -- the bib that matches his favorite "doggie" blanket. For a bib, a buddy was needed and Lisa helped Si pick out a bear. The bear needed Jammies. Tomorrow, Josiah informed Lisa, he would need to feed the bear. Lots of details were addressed in the minutes before bedtime, down to wrapping Josiah's li'l baby bear in said favorite blanket. Then Josiah told Lisa that his baby wasn't the same as her baby... His baby will sleep through the night, and Lisa's baby (when she's born) will wake up at night and Lisa will have to take care of her!

Too much love ;)
-k

In God's Time

We're learning to be patient! Not sure why we put so much faith in a due date, given that maybe 10% of babies are born on the estimated due date, and the window is 2 weeks +/-. Human foibles and excitement un-fettered create unfounded expectations.

Here's an interesting article on due dates, along with links to information about the various methods used to calculate (estimate) due dates. It's worth a read, as the writer strives to paint a clear (or, at the least, detailed) picture of this muddy art/science.

http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=233200

One of the resources linked from the above page contains the following chart of percentages based on LMP-calculated gestation/due dates:

Before 37 weeks: 4%
37 weeks: 5%
38-39 weeks: 10%
39-40 weeks: 20%
40-41 weeks: 35%
41-42 weeks: 20%
Over 42 weeks: 10%

( graph taken from:
http://www.transitiontoparenthood.com/ttp/birthed/duedatespaper.htm )

-k

2 days past and still waiting...

So.....

It's March 1st, 2008. Looks like this li'l T is gonna be o-ver-due. Let's just call her, well done :)

Looking forward to posting pictures and an announcement soon, soon, soon.

God bless.
-k