Day 6 (yeah don't worry...I'll only do the day-by-day thing for one week. I think.)

Day 5

Daddy son moment.

Mommy-son moment.

Gas smile!

Joshua's classic cross-eyed wonderment look.

He stared at that bright spot on the wall for a loooong time.

I can't believe how big my little girl is!!

She just plays....

and plays.... (yeah, those are Mr. Potato head pieces stuck in her face)

...and plays! (Joshua's sleeper didn't quite fit.)

My cutie pie.

Joshua: Day 4 (first hair wash and TV watch)

Joshua: Day 3

My hands are both free!

Since this is a bit rare, I thought I'd make the most of it and actually type something. Things around here are going really really good, considering the tremendous life change that took place this week. We have thus far been blessed with a baby who sleeps the most at NIGHT! Huh! (Didn't expect that one). This of course can change, but in the meantime I am loving it. Not that I'm getting all that much sleep anyways. The post-labor contractions from this pregnancy have been somewhat excruciating, often keeping me awake. Even still. I lie there and thank the Lord that at least I have a sleeping baby and soon I will sleep too. Joshua is a sweetie pie. He is melting people's hearts all over Steinbach (well, at church and at my parents' place anyways). He eats like a champion (even keeping up with my psycho milk let-down) and well...pees like one too, I guess! (He's already nailed Rob smack dab in the face with his fountain of pee.) Ellie is taking her new role as a big sister in stride. She mostly ignores Joshua and plays as usual (although has become strangely independent in group settings) but will come and kiss his head if he's crying and asks where he is when he's not around.
There is a lot of peace in our house right now. I can't totally tell if that's because we're too tired to do anything but talk in hushed voices and move slowly, or if it's the grace of God. I think it's the grace of God. Having Joshua makes everything feel very full and wonderful.
It sounds as though Ellie may bust through her crib any second. I better go tell her that she's napping till she's 4 years old so she may as well give in and go to sleep. Talk to you next time I have two empty hands!

Rob's off to get some gripe water :)

Joshua's first day

Robust lungs!

Save me, mama!!

What IS this thing?

Proud daddy

In-love mama
Happy doctor
Curious sister
PUMPED Grandpa
Very sweet baby.
PS I'm typing with one hand. :)

It's a BOY!!!!!!!

Hey All! Just wanted to quickly let you know the super news: Joshua Robert Seth Balfour was born this morning (January 2) at 12:55 am after a looooooong slow labor of 21 hours. He was 7 lbs 1 oz, 20.5 inches long, and has a head full of hair like his sister! We are in IN LOVE and we are TIRED! Here's a couple pictures my sister just emailed me to tide you over until we can post more. Oh, and yes, we are already home from the hospital. My doctor's pretty laid back. :)

Christmas 2007

At last I have mustered up the drive to post some pictures of our Christmas...one of the first Christmases we've had where we haven't traveled somewhere. It has been awesome. Connecting with tons of amazing family and friends, Rob having a whole week and a half off, and having a little girl who could jump into the festivities made for a really special and restful holiday. I couldn't have asked for more!

It was a very white Christmas. We have about twice that amount on our deck now.

Ellie in her Christmas dress at church. Oh. And my belly, of course.

Opening presents Christmas Eve. Ellie's smile about getting a Raffi CD looks half-hearted, but she is now a Raffi-addict. We listen to him approximately seven times a day. :)

Ellie decided that the toque that Tom and Farzad sent for the baby was just right for her.

Toy pots and food...Ellie's dream come true!

Another dream come true: Ellie bonded with this doll at Superstore as soon as it came out. She couldn't care less about any other doll on the shelf. Her reaction when she opened it was priceless...her face got all flushed and she said, "Hi baby." in the softest voice.

Yeah, unfortunately it's one of those dolls that makes noise.

But it sure makes the child smile!

Especially when the baby burps!
Once Ellie was in bed Rob and I decided to do a chocolate fondue together as well as exchange our five dollar gifts. :) Yeah, we were trying to stay in budget. He loved the fancy cheese I got him, and I'm making great use of my ice cream scoop!!

Christmas morning Rob made us a delicious breakfast.
And then we headed over to my mom and dad's. This is Regan, my mom and Ellie 'listening' to my dad read the Christmas story.
Auntie 'Weewa' (Leila) was here from Regina and brought with her some of the morning's most exciting gifts. Like that tent. She also brought Ellie a doctor's kit which is pretty much the only thing we've been playing ever since!
Auntie Dana got the girls an astonishing amount of dress up clothes...but they weren't the only ones who loved them. (Uncle Jon had his fun, too)
(So did Daddy.)
Ellie takes pouring tea very seriously. (Thanks Regan!)
Since this was the first Christmas my family has celebrated in the morning (usually we do Christmas eve) we decided to really throw tradition out the window and we had a lunch made of all appetizers. Each of us brought something we wanted to try. It was finger-lickin' good!
In the afternoon we played games while the girls napped. Rob and I hung out longer while everyone else went to their other gatherings for the day. Here's Ellie watching her new 'Elmo goes to the Doctor' movie with her great-uncle Dennis.

So there you have it! And now it's New Years Eve...hope you all have a really great night! This prego lady is going to bed early.

"A poo poo!"

So the other day we put Ellie down for her nap as usual. 20 minutes later she was still chatting to herself, counting the bars in her crib and naming all her animals. 40 minutes...we hear her bouncing in her crib. 60 minutes...we hear her start to say "A poo poo. A poo poo!". So I go in there expecting a poopy diaper. And you know, a kid that's wearing clothes.

Nope!

Instead I walk in to a buck naked child and a sheet that's full of pee (at least it wasn't poop!) and Ellie repeating over and over, "All wet! It's all wet! A poo poo!"

I called for reinforcements over the baby monitor and Rob came down and we had a really good belly laugh! So it's official: Ellie can make her way out of almost any piece of clothing. And her diaper. Now I just have to invest in some really good duct tape.

p.s. today is Due Date day and still no action (aside from Junior pummeling my insides). I get very uncomfortable contractions almost every night at bedtime, but no real deal. My doctor is pretty willing to induce any time I say the word, but I'd rather wait until I'm actually, you know, OVERdue. I sort of remember how much fun labor is and I'm not in a huge hurry to go through it again. :)