Meeting Baby Brother

This was Elsie's first introduction to her little brother. She was amazingly sweet and gentle with him. Hopefully this will continue.

Yeah, We've Got Fireworks

Happy 4th of July!

With a Bang

We decided to have a bunch of friends over for the 4th. It seemed like a good idea. As it turns out, it was a great idea.

Here's the scene - I'm out on the back deck manning the grill with a houseful of people. I look over towards the front door and see Dana come in. She's just returning from a trip to the Ballard Locks with our neighbors.

Dana does a little come here motion. I make my way to the door with spatula in hand.

Dana: "I think my water broke."
Fred: Blank stare.

It was actually pretty funny.. even if it was "go time," we were both hoping that it could be delayed by a few hours so we could enjoy the BBQ with our friends, but that wasn't happening.

We spent the next few minutes throwing together the essentials and going over the bedtime routine for Elsie knowing that someone else would be putting her to bed on this particular night. Having a houseful of friends that sprung into action like a F-1 pit-crew was sweet. Everything was taken care of.

One of the benefits of arriving to triage on a holiday - we had the joint to ourselves. It was awesome. We also had a pretty nice view of a fireworks display.

After 10 hours or so, little Elias came into the world or air-breathers.

Lucky for him he made it to July 5th, or we would have been forced to name him something like "Freedom," or "William Wallace."

A Boy Makes 2

Wow... if I ever wondered whether I'm a slacker, this blog is proof-positive. It has only been..... over TWO YEARS since I've posted anything in this. To say that much has happened is an understatement, but some of the biggest news is that Elsie is going to have a baby brother in 3 short months.

Are we ready?

Ha. No.

Elsie's Dedication Verses

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience a with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.

- Colossians 1: 9-12

I'm a Slacker

Well - I'm a little behind on posting. There is MUCH to report, but I'm just going to take it one step at a time.

We have a beautiful baby girl. Simply saying that I'm happy is a gross understatement. There are few words that could adequately convey how happy I really am.

For my first little installments as a new parent, I would like to share a recent discovery.

***A New Biological Species***

Name: Friendandfamilius Photographius

Primary Diet: Images of newborn infants

I have become acutely familiar with the distinct sound it makes......

"MORE PICTURES!! SEND MORE PICTURES!!!!!"

The Secret Club?

It hasn’t been a lack of material that has kept me from posting for the last 2 months. To the contrary - my mind has been spinning at 400mph with no slow-down in sight.

I am very anxious about having our baby. I am SOOO excited to meet our new little one that I can barely contain myself. I go from task-mode (get this done, get that done) to just pondering the ways in which life is going to change.

The typical reaction I get from people who don’t know we’re expecting is so consistent that it’s frightening. Let me preface this by saying that the reaction is shared by 100% of people I’ve talked to with kids.

“Yeah, we’re having a baby in x months.”

“Really? Congratulations! (The next few sentences differ on an individual basis, but wind their way to the same place). Yeah… life is going to change.”

This last statement is ALWAYS followed by a period of laughter ranging from a slight devious chuckle to an outright fit of gut-wrenching laughter.

I feel like I’m being indoctrinated into some secret society filled with special handshakes and secret meeting places.

So now the waiting period continues and grows in intensity. We are within 3 weeks of the delivery date and I couldn’t be happier. Well, I could be, but I don’t want to get ahead of things.

I can’t wait to meet my little girl.