Ridiculously Good Looking!

So cute it just isn't funny!

Thanks 'Grandma Marg'!

Grandma Marg went home on Wednesday (but not without one last cuddle from her lil' grandson!).

We were so happy to have her here for the birth and to help like she did. You cannot fathom how important and helpful family can be until you really need them. Grandma was so supportive and ready to jump in (or step away) whenever needed. Thanks Mom/Grandma and see you soon!

Surprise (part deux)...

On Wednesday morning I (Ian) had to pop out and pick up prescription for Lucy. Little did she realize I was also picking up a few extra "things"! Unbeknownst to her, her parents and sister had flown in from the Bahamas late Tuesday night!

We came in the house from the back door and I handed Lucy my cell phone - telling her that her mother was on the phone for her. She took it and said "hello"....her mother, now standing all of six feet away from her said "Hi Lucy"! It took a moment to register (Lucy said afterward that she just couldn't believe how clear the reception was) but when it did - the tears and smiles were overflowing on all sides!

Needless to say we were happy to have them back to share in this special time. Little Liam looks pretty darn little indeed in the arms of "Big D" (Derek) but never more comfortable! Something tells me that he is going spend lots of time with Gramps in the coming years...

Granny Ev and Caylin were equally pleased to see the lil' guy and he was passed between them for 'cuddles' for hours on end!

Home at last! This afternoon (Tuesday) we were discharged from Victoria General and little Liam went home (w/ Mommy and Daddy in tow). He is feeding regularly and quite healthy and Lucy is feeling much stronger and confident. We were so happy to get home and have some quiet time in a place we feel so comfortable. Liam spent the afternoon napping on Daddy's chest and then he got a visit from his Auntie Jolene (down from Whistler) and his Grandma Marg. Lucy doesn't know it yet - but she is going to have some surprise visitors tonight as well!

36 hours later...

Well...last night Liam celebrated his "24hour's old birthday". Lucy had a reasonable sleep the first night (the baby rooms-in next to Mommy's bed). Liam is clearing his lungs of some mucus and is starting to breastfeed more continuously (every 2-3 hours now). He opens his eys a little longer now and looks into your face - what a moment to see him looking at me as I held him!

His tests have all come back perfect - he is in great health and even has really good skin for a newborn. We had certainly prepared for a baby covered in rashes or dry patches etc (pretty common) but he's been pretty darn cute right from the get go.

Had a few visitors yesterday, Grandma Marg, Great Grandma Joyce Ward, a couple of the labour and delivery nurses (some of the most professional and caring people out there!), Lucy's boss Barb, my boss Sandra, and a couple from our pre-natal class who's little fella is in the special care ward for a while (he was preemie at 32 weeks and is still readying himself for the world).

Mommy is doing well and has been very strong through a tough ordeal! She is very patient with the breastfeeding although was a little stressed when daddy's magic touch failed to put the little guy asleep before 1:00am last night! The nurse helped cuddle him after that so Mommy could get some shut-eye and Daddy could go home and feed the cat, wash the floor, and do some laundry.

Anyway, photo is of Mommy and Liam on day 1 (roughly 4-5 hours old). We'll get some new ones up soon.

Surprise!!!!

So much for the scheduled induction on April 30th!

LIAM DEREK THOMAS WARD decided to prempt that plan and come into the world on Saturday, April 21st, 2007 at 9:56pm (after about 17 hours of labour). Weighing in at 8lbs even, he was certainly big and healthy and ready to face this world!

Mommy is recovering and Daddy is frantically organizing the last minute things around the house. Both Mommy and baby should be home on Monday.

Wow. What a ride. I'm sure we'll have more to say once we find a moment.

Cheers,

Ian

T Minus 13 days (or thereabouts)

Had my obstetrician appointment this afternoon - everything looks great. Was told that I would be put on the list for being induced on Monday April 30th so we are looking at a May baby (sorry to all those who have birthdays in late April and were hoping we'd have him by then). Basically I'll phone the hospital at 6:30am starting the 30th and if they have space for me I'll be admitted. This is an incredibly busy time for deliveries so the inductions and c-sections are often bumped. We could be looking at a day or a week - who knows? For a planned person such as myself this is the frustrating part as I have absolutely no control! I guess it's a prelude to how life is going to be so I may as well suck it up and take each day as it comes. I must say I am definitely enjoying being on maternity leave as each day I seem to be getting more uncomfortable & it's nice to be able to relax when I need to. Unfortunately my brain needs a vacation from my body - it's still hyperactive. I am down to one list though (I confess this is because I have nothing else to put on it) which is an improvement from the six other lists a had a couple of weeks ago. Lack of energy is also a contributing factor to the "one list" wonder. Size of the bean is now at about 7 pounds with an expected delivery weight of over 8 pounds - ouch! This coupled with the fact that the bean has a large head (thanks Ian) and I'm looking at a fun ride. And people wonder why my birth plan involves only 2 key items - champagne & drugs!

You're my boy..and you're blue?

On Friday Lucy received a Graco Car Seat from Cooper Pacific as her "pseudo-retirement" gift. So...Saturday morning it was time for Daddy to peruse the instructions and get 'er installed in the car. First up was getting the straps in the right slots for a newborn. Using some "average" measurements, this is pretty straightforward; however I figured I could do one better and find a reasonable substitute for the future occupant. Hence, the call went out for something about 15-19 inches long from top to tail. The cat was ruled out as he hates car rides (and is pretty adept at wreaking havoc with his claws). That left a stuffed animal as the only viable option, and as the picture shows - the Cookie Monster made his 2007 debut as a car seat test dummy.

The rest of this "2nd to last child-less weekend" was fairly busy. Friday night my ball hockey team (The Whalers, http://www.victoriaballhockeyleague.ca/) lost a 4-0 game in our first game of the '07 season. This obviously sucked and cost me a broken stick to boot. The Canucks also added salt to the hockey wounds with a 2-0 home loss in game 2 of their Western Quarterfinal vs. Dallas.

Thanks in large part to Lucy's "nesting" instincts - we also managed to mow the lawn, weed eat, wash the car (inside and out), turn over the flower beds, clean the driveway and walks, vacuum, 'deep-clean' the kitchen, fire off 3 loads of laundry, and do the taxes. Oh, and I managed to fit in a game of hockey at Carnovan Park and just now settle down to catch game 3 of the aforementioned Canucks playoff series. And they said I'd be busy AFTER the baby came!

Fortunately, the cookie monster left me some chocolate covered cookies to go with my Sunday night sugar-free vanilla ice cream :)

Last Day of Work

Well my final day of work has finally come & gone - can't believe that I now have a whole year off! Don't think it has hit me yet, but I don't think I'll have too much of a problem adjusting to my "new" job. Arrived this morning to a big bouquet of flowers & card from my boss Barb and a bottle of champagne from my replacement Vanessa (definitely holding onto the bubbly for a little post childbirth celebration). After a relaxing morning of a little of this & that was treated to Japanese for lunch washed down with a beautiful chocolate "we'll miss you" cake, card & Graco car seat from the rest of the gang. Will definitely miss everyone, but am very excited to be a mom - kind of surreal actually (until I get kicked in the ribs and wish the little bugger would just hurry up and get out). Have developed a nice set of "cankles" - my ankles are about as big as my calf muscles! Very attractive. Oh well, the next couple of weeks are being dedicated to putting my feet up and catching up on all those soaps while being waited on hand and foot (ok - maybe the last part is wishful thinking!). Only 2 more weeks to go!!!

T Minus 20 days (or thereabouts)

Talked to my parents this morning which was really nice. After being stuck on a deserted island for 13 days following a bad storm they finally managed to get to Emerald Bay and civilization so they are able to contact us again via email and skype. I do miss them a lot and talked to them for almost an hour. Unfortunately the hospital does not have internet access so we are not going to be able to set up the laptop & webcam so they can see their grandchild, but we will at least be able to contact them via email. Sounds like my dad has cracked one of his ribs falling against the pulpit of the boat during one of the fierce storm - not sure how much that would hurt but it seems like the bean's absolute favourite hangout spot. He kicks me in the right rib constantly and it really hurts! Not only that but his head sits on my bladder - there is no happy medium anymore. We are already experiencing sleep interuptions with my constant tossing and turning to deal with the nightly leg spasms. Ouch! This is why women go through labour - you get so uncomfortable and fed up you welcome the pain of childbirth just so you can get it over with. Up until yesterday I was still feeling apprehensive about labour - today my attitude is "bring it on". My hospital bag is packed!

Baby Shower #2

Just got back tonight after dinner at Japanese Village & a hockey game with about 20 of Ian's co-workers. It also turned out to be (unbeknownst to either of us) Ian's surprise baby shower! When we arrived at the restaurant the president of the company got up to say thank you to everyone for their recent hard work, followed by Ian's boss standing up to thank him for organizing the event, to congratulate us on our upcoming big day and to announce that it was also his surprise baby shower. Everyone suddenly reached under the table and pulled out gifts - don't know how either of us missed that one since we were one of the first to arrive - think everyone was hiding their gifts under their jackets. Either that or we are really becoming a "pregnant brain" couple. So once again we were thoroughly spoiled with toys, books & baby outfits. Was so sweet of everyone to think of us ~ not to mention cool that Ian had his own shower! Pregnancy may be uncomfortable but it starts to become worth it when it gets to this stage and everyone starts spoiling you!

Baby Shower #1

Had a fabulous day today - thought I was going to a wedding planning brunch for my friend Laura at a restaurant called the Fireside Grill and when I arrived Ian gave me a kiss and ran out the door! Needless to say I was a bit confused until I turned the corner and saw all my friends and co-workers who yelled surprise - turned out to be my baby shower! Laura with my boss Barb had done a wonderful job of decorating a quaint little room in turquoise and chocolate ~ complete with balloons, napkins, a chocolate cake & shower sprinkles on the table. After a delicious brunch I got thoroughly spoiled with beautifully wrapped gifts (everyone went to a huge amount of effort) - we got so many lovely outfits we're going to have to go shopping so we can look as good as our kid! My favourite had to be the time capsule that Laura put together which the bean is to open on his 18th birthday. Inside the capsule (which was a turquoise box with chocolate ribbon) was an item contributed from each person from the present day so the bean can see what life was like when he was inside me. In addition there was a birthday card for him to open signed by everyone. Just the coolest idea! I will keep it in a safe place for the next 18 years - just think - he probably won't even know what a CD is! All in all I had a fabulous time and felt really special ~ was nice to be pampered! After the shower Ian and I headed off to Babies R Us armed with gift certificates we had received and bought out the rest of our registry - took me over 2 hours to put everything away. Definitely ready for the bean now!

'Nucks clinch...Bean's support the difference?

As a Vancouver Canucks hockey fan I couldn't resist picking up the "Bean" a set of little Canucks booties (it's still a little early for skates - although Mommy feels like he's working on his bodychecks with some good blows to the ribs!). That same evening...what do you know, the Canucks clinch a playoff berth. Coincidence? I don't know, but with his birth likely occuring during the 1st round of the playoffs, his first receiving blanket ought to be a Canucks playoff towel!

Canucks clinch playoff spot with win over Avalanche

Brad Ziemer
Vancouver Sun
Tuesday, March 27, 2007

DENVER — The Vancouver Canucks are officially in the NHL playoffs.
Defenceman Sami Salo broke a scoreless tie early in the third period as the Canucks beat the Colorado Avalanche 3-0 Tuesday night to clinch a post-season berth.