1 month

Ezra has hit the one month milestone!

Here are the stepping stones this month:

1 week old:
Ezra had his newborn photo's taken at the photographers studio.  Overall a long day, but we are sooo happy with the pictures she was able to get.  We were all (Mommy, Daddy, Ezra, and Grandma Jolliff) tired after this all day outing...and to be completely honest, I wasn't sure I was ever going to leave the house again afterwards ;)

2 weeks old:
Ezra attended his baby shower hosted by the church family.  He was pretty fussy leading up to the event and crying at the beginning, but after feeding him again, he dozed off for the rest of the event and was passed around for snuggly time by a number of the women of the church.  He is well loved already!  Grandma Jolliff left for home this week, and I especially had some adjustment issues without all the wonderful help and extra set of hands for soothing, burping, laundry, cleaning etc.

3 weeks old:

Moms at feeding time.

The boys, Ezra is sad our friends are leaving.

Our friends the Remple's visited today with their 6 month old son!  Ezra slept through most of the visit as he does most things, including 3 weeks worth of church services.  Hooray!  Although, we still look forward to the day Ezra might sleep though the night, Nate and I have fallen into a evening partnership of Nate getting Ezra up when he is crying and ready to eat, changes his diaper, and then hands him off to me to nurse and then put back down.  I'm especially grateful for Nate's involvement in the evenings.  And Ezra really is (generally) a good baby at night, going down easily after each feeding.   A normal evening has Ezra waking every 3-4 hours to eat.  We have on one or two occasions had a 5 hour stretch.  We have also had some stretches where he struggles through gas bubbles and is hard to calm, but really it's not that often.



4 weeks old:

Our "family vehicle"

Daddy and Ezra getting ready to go out.

Ezra is growing stronger!  He is now 9 pounds 11 oz, a whole 2 pounds heavier than when he was born!  His face is growing fuller and changing before our very eyes.  In the last number of days he has started having longer stretches of wakefulness, and has contentedly sat for 45minutes to an hour in a swing or chair taking in his surroundings or object nearby.  We both love seeing him awake, and happy.  Ezra is also starting to adjust to daily routines without completely losing it every time we strap him into the car seat, take a bath, or change a diaper.  It is so nice.  He does still cry during these transitions, but not every time.  And he has been building a good reputation with his fan base ;)  We have left him a few times now with friends while we went out for some car shopping, and he has done wonderfully.  He stayed with our neighbor for 1.5 hours one day and with some other friends for just over 3 hours another day and did great both times.  He also continues to have a perfect streak in church where he sleeps through service or this past week was awake and quiet for about 1/2 the service before falling asleep the rest of the time.  He has also begun to spit up pretty regularly in the last week.  Not so great for laundry, but it is what it is.  Oh yeah, and we bought a new family car.  We shouldn't get stuck in our crescent this winter!

We are now entering a pretty busy holiday season, and most evenings find ourselves out or hosting at home, but it has been wonderful to connect with so many people who are eager to meet Ezra and spend time with him.  Grandma and Grandpa Wiebe will be arriving in about 2 weeks and will be sure to enjoy the chance to hold and get to know their new grandson.  And Nate and I will look forward to planning a Christmas date night to take advantage of the in-house support again!

Meet Ezra

Ezra Douglass Wiebe is 2 weeks old today.

He arrived in our lives on October 29th weighing in at 7lbs 11oz,  to which I was grateful because I knew I could actually remember that 7-11 number pairing.  He measured 20.5 inches long and Nate had the honor of cutting Ezra's cord.

Nate and I were both relieved he was able to make it through the delivery and stay by my side, as he knows he can get faint from various medical scenarios.  He had no issues through Ezra's birth and was a great supportive partner.

My contractions began at 5pm on Wednesday the 28th and after about 8 hours and various coping techniques and pain management attempts I asked for the epidural to be brought on after finding I was just barely past the halfway mark of dialation.  So thankful for the relief it brought and ability to get some rest as Ezra still didn't arrive for another 11hours.  I honestly can't imagine what I would have done without the help.

24hours after he was born, we were packing up bags to check out from the hospital.  I was expecting I would want to stay longer but I was the one asking when was the soonest we could leave.  The downfall of the epidural was the inability to move around, and the need to be hooked up to monitors etc.  I really did feel like a patient when all I wanted to do was figure out this Mommy thing without so many nurses walking in and out of my room,  being hooked up to IV, and having my blood pressure taken all night.

Recovery has been smooth from what I can tell, and what others tell me.  I keep saying, I don't have any experience to compare it to, so I don't know what I should or shouldn't be feeling or doing!  We have had several outings small and large.  A couple of walks in the neighborhood, and day out for newborn photographs, IKEA shopping, and a short trip to Pigeon Lake to have a coffee and slice of pie.  The short trips have been good experiences.  The long ones make me want to never leave the house again!

Having my Mom arrive within an hour of our return home from the hospital has been amazing with another set of hands to hold, burp, and change the baby, not to mention the hours of laundry, cleaning, and miscellaneous projects she has helped with around the new house.

The church has also been absolutely astounding in their care and going far above and beyond anything we ever imagined.  When we left for the hospital our belongings were still half in boxes and randomly strewn about as we needed to clear areas as the painters were still working in the house.  The roof was still being put on,  and life was a bit chaotic!

While we were in the hospital, people from the church were called and rallied together to come in and  prepare a home for us to return to.  Painters and roofers were lovingly but firmly encouraged to do what it took to get their work done before we came home with baby, and miraculously enough, they did!

We walked in the door to balloons, flowers, and a house that had been put together in our absence.  Overwhelmed, would be an understatement.  Through the following week meals were delivered nightly, and were of holiday celebration quality.  Each night we would sit down at the table with the most amazing meals.

I can't help but to continue to think about the passage where Jesus is telling his disciples about the Father preparing a place for them.  I feel we really have experienced His kingdom here on Earth lived out by our brothers and sisters in Christ, through their love and care...preparing this place for us, providing food and nourishment.  It really is so humbling.

Sweet baby Ezra is entering into a large and loving church family we are privileged to be a part of.

October

October 2015.  The month that always seemed pretty far a way as we looked ahead is now here.  My last day of work is planned for the 16th... Meaning next week is my last week.  The same day we take possession of our house.  We have a painter coming in immediately after to begin the work of getting a fresh coat of paint on everything, and I am excited to see the finished product, and hoping they will be able to finish that week they are in before we move furniture in the following weekend the 24th.  We are also getting the roof redone hopefully starting sometime that same week or next.   And let's not forget baby...still due Oct 30th.  We are hoping Baby Wiebe doesn't decide to arrive much earlier than that date, but if so, we will roll with it.

I'm 36 weeks and 4 days today.  And in an unknown amount of time will enter "Mommy hood", which still seems like a fantasy rather than reality at this point.

Keep us in your thoughts and prayers this October!

So Much Happening!

September has arrived bringing fall weather in this part of Alberta.  The leaves are changing to yellow, and the temperatures have cooled to single digits during the evening and the low teens in the daytime the last week or two.  The equivalent for US friends is high 30's at night and mid 50's during the day.  :)  Last year we did have warmer stretches after the first cool down so I'm hopeful for that to happen again.  I was also reminded by a friend recently that we had our first snowfall on Sept 8th last year, and we haven't yet had snow, so we can be thankful for that!

Baby Wiebe continues to grow bigger and stronger.  My prenatal visits are happening every other week now and in a month switch to weekly.  I'm 32 weeks along, with 5 more weeks of work before I have my scheduled last day as Oct. 16th unless baby decides to arrive early and changes the date.  Here is the baby bump 2 weeks ago:

30 weeks

The doctor is still working off an Oct 30th due date.  October 16th is also the day we take possession the house we bought!  You heard me right, we bought a house.  It's a little crazy to us too.  But an unexpected shift in our financial situation allowed us to look at buying earlier than we had expected.  And we are excited to move into a more permanent home.  We found a house we look forward to making in a home.  It is a large bungalow/ranch with a full basement.  The main floor has a living room, family room (with fireplace), dining room, 3 bedrooms including a master bedroom with a 3 piece on suite, and another full bathroom on the main floor.  And a 2 car garage!!  This is not super common around here.  Here are some pictures of the main areas:

Front of the house

Dining room with a 2 step down into living room

Family room with patio doors to deck

Master bedroom

3 piece ensuite to master bedroom

This weekend we have some photos being taken as part of a newborn photography package which includes maternity session before baby comes and the newborn in the first week or two.  So I will hopefully be able to share some more photos soon of the bump.  And we have a work weekend planned the first weekend after we get possession of the house to get a fresh coat of paint on everything and winterize the outside of the house, before moving all the furniture in the weekend of Oct. 24.  You can pray it won't be snowing yet, and we are able to get a new roof installed before snow starts to fly as well!

These are just a few little updates on what's happening in our lives!  Our cup runneth over!

Snapshots of Spain

We have returned from our baby moon!  We had a wonderful adventure through the cities of Madrid and Barcelona, Spain.  In each city we took a day trip to an area attraction.  From Madrid we set out to explore the ancient city of Toledo and from Barcelona, we traveled up to the mountains to see a monastery set in the rocks.  It was 12 wonderful days and we have many memories and pictures to remember our travels.  Here is a small sampling.

Walk along Barcelona's beach

Barcelona Cathedral

Barcelona's Port

Barcelona's Packed Soccer Stadium

Door Columbus came knocking of for funding for exploration- turned down!
He moved onto to other more successful doors!

Outside of the Barcelona soccer stadium

Beautiful work of architect A. Gaudi at Park Guell, Barcelona

Breakfast in Madrid

The symbol of Madrid

The multicolored lizard in Park Guell, Barcelona

One side of the magnificent Sagrada Familia,
pictures do not do any justice to this amazing cathedral.

Doorway in Toledo, Spain

Rooftops in Toledo, Spain.

Summer Sprint

Life continues to be rich this summer with good times with friends and family.

Nathan and I returned early this week from a long weekend in BC which included the wedding of a wonderful childhood friend of Nathan's.  It was at a mountain top resort in Vernon and was a beautiful and meaningful ceremony and reception.

From Vernon, we traveled to Kelowna where many of Nate's relatives from his mother's side live, and  had a bit of family reunion there with his parents who had taken vacation and did a road trip west.  Nate's sister and her family also came out for the weekend.  One evening was also the "cousins party" where I was able to meet a number more relatives from that side of the family.

Immediately following our return home, Nate turned around and headed to the Church of God campground to participate in the week of family camp.  I headed down for an evening service with a friend from church midweek and then returned Friday evening after work, for the rest of the weekend.  

Now it's Sunday evening, and Nate's parents are staying a few evenings before beginning the road trip home to Ontario.  

We are excited as a week from tomorrow, we leave for Spain!  So the week ahead will be full of planning, packing, and anticipation for the journey ahead.  

As for baby, all is well.  Tomorrow marks week 25 of the pregnancy, and I am showing more and more.  Still (happily) not to the point of discomfort or reduced mobility, so we are both pleased and praying this continues through the next few weeks until we return home and settle in for the last few months before baby comes.

24 weeks

I'm happy to report that Nate has also been able to feel the baby moving, in the last few days.  I have tried to move his hand to my belly in time to catch some movement in the last number of weeks, as the kicks have become a bit stronger.  However, each time I would tell him to feel, baby would stop moving.  However, on the drive home from Kelowna, baby was on the move at one point and I was able to move Nate hand over and he could feel it!  Baby was also moving during one of the evening services at family camp and since Nate was sitting next to me I was able to nonchalantly move his arm over to hold his hand leaving it resting against the side of my stomach where he then felt 3 kicks within a minute or so.  Its great to be able to finally share those moments.

It's hard to believe we are about 2/3rd of the way through the pregnancy.  I have no doubt the next few months will go just as fast!

We appreciate your continued support and prayers, and will work to continue to update you on how things are progressing.

Halfway

I'm 20 weeks along in my pregnancy now.

Tonight it hit me that this is the halfway point.  Crazy!  It's gone by quickly.  Perhaps it's because I've had a very smooth journey up to now.  When everyone is asking how I am, I almost sheepishly respond with "just fine"!  I really haven't felt much different from when I wasn't pregnant.  I was very fortunate to pass on the common 1st trimester sickness woes.

Only in the last few weeks, have I begun to feel pregnant with the appearance of the baby bump and the unfortunate increase in trips to the washroom.

I have also been so supported by the women around me who are done with, currently not using, or gifted (thanks Mom) maternity clothes that I haven't needed to purchase a single thing with the exception of picking up a belly band so I can continue to wear my pants in comfort for a while longer.

Word has made its way around at work, that I am pregnant and I am now experiencing the odd phenomenon of coworkers and clients looking more at my stomach then my face when passing by.  Understandable. I'm sure I've done it plenty of times myself, but its strange to experience it first hand.

In just over a week we have our anatomy ultrasound in which we will also plan to find out the sex of the baby.  I think that will also make it feel real in a whole new way as well.  We've found we are quite the anomaly as we plan to find out the sex, from what seems to be the norm here: waiting until the birth to find out.

It's pretty amazing to think that baby is listening now and can hear my/our voices and what's happening around us.  I think that might be one of the most exciting milestones so far.  In the last week I feel different sensations/movements, and assume that is the baby making itself known.

I joke around with Nate that we are fortunate to have divided up mealtime duties as we have, me cooking and him washing the dishes, otherwise we might run out of plates to eat on.  I seem to have developed a major case of butterfingers.  When the broccoli hits the floor in meal prep it's not as big of deal as if it was a drinking glass or plate!

We will continue to learn together as we walk this journey, and now with the knowledge that the next half of the pregnancy ends with meeting baby Wiebe.

Can't have too much of a good thing!

Well we have not updated the blog in almost a year, but we definitely have something worth announcing.  This gives us a forum to share with those we care about, yet not have it on Facebook.

We are expecting an additional member to be added to our family as of early November!
Yay, more Wiebes!

There's lots to do in order to prepare for this life-altering experience.  The church is very supportive and expresses well-wishes and joy over our news just about every week.  We have received a few gifts of maternity clothes passed along and the first few baby items.

It still strikes me as surreal and a bit weird to see a baby bottle or sip cup around the house.  "Who left the .... oh wait, that's ours."  And to think, soon there will be baby stuff everywhere.  Leslie's reading up on the whole process and I have a few reading assignments that I'll need to engage in soon.

Together we are tracking growth on an iPad app that shows us what parts our baby will be developing each week.  It's quite fascinating, especially early on, just how intricately humans are put together... and how fast the growth really is.  We continue to be grateful for good reports from the Dr. and pray for a safe, healthy mom and baby as the pregnancy comes to fulfillment.