Happy Birthday, Daddy!

When we first got married, Tim casually mentioned that it would be nice to reach the milestone of having our first child before he turned 40. We all know that God's timing is perfect, and He was totally in control of planning the conception, pregnancy, and birth date of our beautiful baby boy. But I believe he's a pretty groovy God, having allowed us to birth our first son just 17 days before Tim's 40th birthday - right on time!

So this year, Tim got the best birthday gift ever - a little early - but right on time! Sebastian has filled our lives with tremendous joy. As I watch Tim father him, love him, swaddle him, talk to him, read to him, care for him, change his messy diapers, calm him, hold him, kiss him... I grow more in love with the man I married each second of each new day. Tim has had a heart for caring for the fatherless for many years - a gift that God placed upon his heart and equipped him for...just one of the many reasons I fell in love with him from the start. And now, he also has the opportunity to care for his own son, which is a holy and beautiful thing to witness.

Today we celebrate Daddy Tim's big day and we celebrate Tim! We love you and give thanks for you! Now come home soon, so we can get some partying done! :)

P.S. We got started with the partying a little early last night at Tim's parent's house, where we enjoyed great family time, a delicious meal (many thanks to Sylvia, Jill & Harold), and lots of fun - even with sparklers!

Bath time!

Sebastian had his first bath yesterday - in his little bath tub, that is. His umbilical cord had fallen off a few days prior, and we had a party to go to last night, so we knew the time had come to take the leap into the water! Sebastian seemed to not be bothered at all by the water, and actually might have enjoyed it! It was a fun time for all of us - daddy doing most of the washing and mommy and Aunt Jill shooting photos. We managed to get him out just in time, as he was starting to poop in his bath water! These are certainly monumental events that warrant being captured on camera, don't you think? Take a peak...
Thanks, Deb for the tub and ducky, and Aunt Lillian for the turtle hoodie towel!

Obama's Cairo speech

posted by Tim

On my way to work on Thursday I heard a few snippets of this speech. Knowing that it was focused on a variety of cross-cultural dynamics I was intrigued to hear it in its entirety.

If you are fully aware of all the issues discussed--Islam/America, Israel/Palestine, nuclear weapons, free governments, religious freedom, women's rights--you will be amazed what was covered in less than 1 hour. If some of these global issues are new to you, listen with an open mind and a desire to learn about some of the larger challenges in our world.

Obama tackled many hot topics. It is very likely almost no one will agree 100%, but we must be thankful when leaders are willing to address difficult areas with sensitivity and respect.

While many prefer to see things from only their own perspective, it is important to be challenged to view from all sides while not denying our beliefs. To respectfully be a student of the world while maintaining a solid foundation.

Sebastian's first photo shoot

When Sebastian was six days old, we had a photographer, Regina Martin of Radiant Images, come to the house to do a photo shoot. Check out some of the great pics that she posted on her blog.

He's just so gorgeous and precious and wonderful, isn't he?

Our little guy is growing!

It's hard to believe we haven't posted anything since we left the hospital. Everyday I write a blog entry in my head, but it never seems to actually make it to the computer...
Sebastian is 10 days old now! I'm constantly amazed at how wonderful it is to be a mother, yet how time consuming it is to keep this little guy fed, diapered and content. At least for now, not much else gets done (by me, that is!). I'm recovering well, taking it one day at a time, and off pain meds now. Hooray!
Tim went back to work on Monday, which was a bit traumatic for me - getting easier each day, but we've been hugely blessed with daily help from Grandma J and Grandma M. I am so incredibly thankful for their presence and their willingness to help out in so many ways!
We're all learning together - each day brings new joys and challenges. Just when I think I've figured something out about Sebastian, he changes his routine up on me, and the guessing game starts all over!
Anyways, I wanted to share the sequence of his weight checks... he really is growing well, and that brings much comfort to a new mama's soul!

Here is a shot of his birth weight (7 lbs 15oz):

When we left the hospital, he was 7 lbs 5oz... and then we had a weight check when he was 5 days old - he weighed in at 7 lbs 8 oz:

And here is a shot of his weight yesterday at his first official well child check with Dr. Donna (we were up to 8 lbs 3 oz!):

As you can tell, he totally digs being on the scale!

Here's one last shot I can't resist including - I think it's a beautiful picture of Sebastian and his daddy the day after he was born (thanks to my sister-in-law for snapping this one!). I just can't get over how much I love these two guys!

Sebastian: the early days

Sebastian Roy has arrived!

Sebastian Roy

May 24, 2009 10:19am

7 lbs 15ozs 21 inches

[posted by Tim]

Waiting past the due date was challenging. Each day brought new questions and uncertainties -- surely this must be the day. Then, as the day was ending and our bodies were weary from the day's activities we would wonder, "if our little one decided to be born tonite would we have the energy to go thru the laboring process."

Then, that day arrived. A day we had hoped for, yet not as we had planned.

After much deliberation and under the counsel of our medical providers we began the induction journey at 8am. A path that would lead, eventually, to the OR. Thankfully at 8am we did not know that, for God knew we needed to take this one step at at time. Each of those stages involved some mourning of the things we had lost (to labor without inducing meds, to use alternative methods to cope with the pain instead of an epidural, to avoid a C-section).

As each contraction ended it seemed we'd not have energy to do another. But, then it'd come and somehow we pushed on. Like many things in life, it is good God gives us limited insight into the future. Instead of relying on our own strength and insight we trust our Father to provide for each moment.

There are many sayings out there that speak of the need for community;

it takes a village to raise a child...

no man is an island unto himself...

What a privilege to be blessed with a top notch laboring team.

Dr Donna

Amanda

Rachel

Jennifer (via phone while she was out on the west coast)

Angela

They and the many workers at Women & Babies Hospital treated us like royalty and at the same time friends. To have the wealth of medical knowledge and yet tremendous mutual respect in the unique situation each decision presented was amazing---the fullness of wisdom and humility working in harmony.

On this side of things we are incredibly thankful. As proud parents we already have more pictures than you can imagine. I will only post a few more right now. Check out Kirsten's Facebook page for more in the near future. For those without Facebook (like me) we'll add a slideshow on the blog.

Tim (for all three of us...)

Don't worry... we'll be sure to post!

Just wanted to give an update for those who may be lurking around waiting for news of our baby's arrival... Little baby JM should arrive in the next couple of days, we hope! Today, I'm 41 weeks and 4 days pregnant - that's right, 11 days overdue. But, I still feel really quite good, have a decent amount of energy and still no swelling (hooray for that!). My lower back and left sacro-iliac joint (in the bum area) have been bothering me some the past couple of days, but otherwise I can't complain for being as pregnant as I am.

I had another appointment today for another non-stress test and ultrasound to check the fluid level around the baby. Once again, everything was beautiful - my monitor strip was reactive (and I even think I might have seen a couple of bumps on the tocometer that indicated some contractions) and my fluid level was still a wonderful 13.9. Exciting things for a pregnant doctor in waiting...


I have to take a little pity on my dear friend Rachel, who's been faithfully fighting the fight for me at work this past week. I stopped working as of Monday for many reasons, but one major reason was because it was so overwhelming to go into work everyday and be swamped by questions about when the baby was coming and why I hadn't delivered yet. I'm still getting that badgering, of sorts, on facebook, through phone calls, e-mails, etc. I don't want to sound unappreciative or disgruntled by the questions, because I know everyone cares about us and our baby so much and is very interested in the pending news. I thought by avoiding posts on facebook about being pregnant and overdue and instead writing about chewy chocolate chip cookies, rhubarb strawberry crisp, etc. that I might deter some of those comments, but not so... again, I'm thankful for the interest and investment in our lives, but it's made it more difficult to wake up every morning still pregnant.


But, back to Rachel... yes, poor Rachel has had to field the questions and comments everyday at work in my absence. It got to such extremes that yesterday she had to make a (loud) public announcement in the clinic assuring everyone that I had not yet delivered, I was not yet in labor, and that she would, in fact, make sure they all knew when it happened. I think she even said she'd wave a big flag and make a scene or something! To top it all off, she even posted on her facebook page and her blog that I wasn't in labor, just to ward off the inquisitive parties there too! Thanks, Rachel, for sticking up for me ;) and for taking this one for the team!


I know that there's a plan for this little one's arrival into the world and am trusting God - still would love for one of those gazillion things I've tried to kick in very soon, however! Tim asked me today what I would miss about being pregnant when this is all said and done, and I'm sure that I probably will miss many things. I told him that at 11 days past my due date, it probably wasn't the best time to ask me (again, feeling great for the most part and very thankful for that!). But I definitely have to admit that this has probably been the most wondrous experience of my life. I told him I was sure I'd miss the amazing movement of our little one inside of me, the baby's love for ice cream and how it would make me giggle, the way my body mysteriously and magically has changed to accommodate this new life, and much more. That being said, I am anxious to welcome our baby into the world and experience a whole new wonder and amazement!
One of my mom's biggest fears was that she would find out from our blog (instead of a phone call!) that she had a new grandbaby, but we've assured her that she'll be well aware of any such news long before it makes it to our blog! Although, for the rest of you, don't worry, we'll be sure to post some news and photos as soon as we have some to share.

A post-dates pregger doctor takes the day off

This past weekend, I was really struggling emotionally with the fact that I was almost a week past my due date and my doctor was starting to talk more about the "I"* word, which was making me not healthy and happy...
So yesterday after church, Tim & I spent some time with a friend of ours who is one of our support persons planning to come to the house while I'm in labor. She's been doing this baby stuff for a long time, and just knew exactly what to say to me yesterday to bring a great sense of peace over me, my baby and my body. She gave me some great advice. She said that this will happen, and reminded me that I know down deep that it will; she said that I should stop going to work! and that I should enjoy the next few days doing things I like and emotionally preparing myself for labor and being a new mom, instead of trying to fix others' medical problems and getting really frustrated every morning when I walk into the clinic and everyone says: "You're here again today? We didn't expect to see you here. No baby yet? When are you going to have that baby? Still pregnant, eh?" and on and on and on... Grrr!! I know that they ask because they're interested, excited, concerned, and such, but so not helpful...
Our friend also recommended that I do things like go to the park, read a trashy novel (not a pregnancy book) or a fun book, buy some flowers, have a hot date with my husband, go to market, get a pedicure (did that last week), buy some sexy lingerie, take a long walk in the sun, sit by the river, just enjoy being me and celebrate being pregnant, feeling the baby move and getting ready for his or her arrival.
So, today I heeded her advice... and I didn't go to work! It felt good! And this is how my day has gone so far:

• Kissed my husband goodbye and sent him off to work
• Had a cup of tea and biscotti
• Lounged around and read a bit
• Went to my postdates testing appointment and had a beautiful, reactive non-stress test and an ultrasound that showed my AFI (amniotic fluid index) was 13.9 - that's good, by the way (means the baby has plenty of fluid to swim in still). No peaking during the ultrasound either. ;)
• Had lunch with my mom
• Picked rhubarb in my parent's backyard
• Went to the grocery store
• Bought some flowers
• Came home and baked - super yummy Chewy Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies - found the recipe here
• Also baked one of Timmy's favorites - Rhubarb Strawberry Crisp
• Made my sister-in-law's famous Penne with Vodka Sauce for dinner, which we ate with roasted garlic bread...
• And I'm about to take a walk with the best hubby ever, then come home to relax on the couch with him over some of that Crisp and perhaps a cup of hot tea...
• Then to bed we'll go, not knowing what the night or tomorrow will bring!

Although I was busy doing "stuff," it was stuff that makes me happy, that I enjoy, and that I might not get to do for a long time. Besides, I was really craving chocolate chip cookies!

*"I" stands for induction, in case you didn't know... and I'm really hoping and praying that we won't need to talk much more about it! (Hint: So don't ask ;)!)

Gadget be gone!

I have been noticing that the gadget on the left side of our blog page that counted down the days til our baby was to be born got to zero (on our due date), but then started counting up! Grrrr...! The floating baby count-down was fun to watch til the numbers were going in the opposite direction. Seeing a higher number every day wasn't helping the sentiments of frustration that have set in by being overdue. Not so fun anymore... So, I removed it today - just like that - poof! and gone! Gadget be gone, and baby JM come on into this world!

When we were with Tim's family on Mother's Day, my nieces were playing dress up, and they gave me one of their baby dolls to "practice" with a little. I thought it was fun and cute, but I sure would like to hold one that wiggles and squirms and actually cries when it's hungry - the one they gave me was all too quiet!