Grand-parents

Tavish and Keva are fortunate to have such wonderful Grandparents in their life. Grandpa Mike lives next door and gets to partake in their lives on a regular basis. Grandpa Mel and Grandma live further, but immerse themselves fully whenever we are together. Grandparents are good stuff...

MOMENT: Grounded

My Mom made a blanket for Keva to stretch out on. It worked. Not only for Keva, but for her adoring fans as well. Their visit was short (Mom was here for 16 days, Dad for 4, and as a bonus, Auntie Colleen came for 8 days) but sweet, welcomed, and now missed. Both kids were drawn to them with lots of snuggles, cuddles, giggles, and good times. Keva enjoyed sucking on their pinky fingers (enabling Mommy and Daddy to get out for a bit) and Tavish loved all of the play time. Grandparents do keep families grounded - thank you all.

FLASHBACK: Grandparent Beginnings

When Tavish was born, Grandpa Mike was spending time in Toronto, so saw a fair bit of him in the early days. Grandpa Mel and Grandma came for his 'due' date and stayed for 2 full weeks. Unfortunately, Tavish was born 16 days after his due date ... so they came back 3 1/2 weeks later to meet him. All Grandparents have been influential in his life since then. Here's a look back at the beginning of those relationships...

Grandpa Mike and Tavish

Grandma and Tavish

Grandpa Mel and Tavish

Excited first meeting

Father's Day

Every day should be father's day ... but, since it's not - we honoured Daddy on two separate days. The first celebration was motivated by the creation of perishables that were in need of consumption. The second was celebrated on "Father's Day" with a creation that now decorates Daddy's cubicle at work. We also enjoyed a picnic with Grandma and Auntie Colleen after some soccer fun on Parliament Hill.

Daddy and his adoring fans.

Father's Day fun on Parliament Hill.

Family of Four.

MOMENT: Daddy Rocks

My children are being influenced by a man who is an excellent role model - fair, loving, supportive, involved, and wonderful all around. They call him "Daddy".

 

Week One-derful

Our first week at home with Keva had mostly ups with one notable down. She was a great sleeper, Tavish was a great helper, and Mommy was recovering quickly - these are the ups. The down is that we seem to have a pattern for day 4, 5, and 6 with a newborn in this family - medical craziness! When Tavish was a newborn - Mommy got a tooth infection and needed a root canal. With Keva - Tavish had a high fever with some unpleasant side effects. Enter: Doctor Daddy. In spite of it all, we had a good time getting to know Keva.

MOMENTS:

Getting to Know You ...

Getting to know a new baby is so much fun. We all took to her quickly. She has found a fan in each member of this family already. Here's a glimpse in the life of Keva - week one style!

First Photo Shoot

Our good friend, Brooke, captured some great newborn shots of Keva when she was 6 days old. Here are some highlights...

Homecoming

"A sibling is a friend given by Nature." - Jean Baptiste Legouve

Tavish has a gentle soul and a huge heart that was ready to embrace his sister. Welcome to the family, Keva. We are so happy you're here.

First Photo of our Family of Four

Tavish holding Keva for the first time.

My children.

MOMENT: Sibling Love

Few things in life can warm a parent's heart like seeing their children enjoy one another. We were very excited for Tavish to come home and meet Keva ... but probably not as excited as he was ...

A Birth Story

"A baby is something you carry inside you for 9 months, in your arms for 5 years, and in your heart until the day you die."

- Mary Mason

Proud Parents

The weigh-in: 8 pounds 1.6 ounces

Working Women: Our amazing midwives

Keva's Welcomers: Khadija, Mommy, Daddy & Tess

Snuggle Time with Daddy

Welcome, Keva.

Dressed and Ready

Keva Jean

A Moment with Mommy

Terrific Tess

Let's Hit the Road!

Home Snuggles at 4 Hours Old

We welcomed our daughter, Keva Jean on Monday, May 28, 2012 at 7:29am weighing  8 pounds, 1.6 ounces and was 51 cm long.


"Active" labour started about 2:45am. Our midwife, Tess, was paged at 3:15am. When she arrived about an hour later, I was already dilated to 7cm and eager to get to the hospital. We were off to the hospital when Grandpa Mike arrived to hold down the house and get Tavish off to school in the morning. I was on the bed in the hospital by 4:55am and emphatically requesting the epidural. Once I had the epidural and was willing to push, Keva arrived less than 20 pushes later in the company of Tom, Tess and Khadija. Tom, Keva and I were at home napping together by noon. What an early, speedy and wonderful birth it was ... even though I'm now teased that she probably could have been here before 5:30 had I not been such an unwilling  participant in the event without medical assistance! ha.

MOMENT: Early Arrival

Keva arrived 10 days before her 'due' late and early in the morning. She was born strong and healthy. We are so excited that you're here to join our family, little one.

That's a Wrap

Tavish made a 'welcome' present for his baby sister that was a labour of loveand an authentic masterpiece that will, no doubt, be cherished by his sister. Eleven days before she was 'due', I had an inexplicable urge to get the gift wrapped before Tavish went to bed. Never underestimate a mother's instinct - she was born 13 hours after this video was taken! So, this footage captures some of Tavish's final awake moments as an only child and my final day sporting a baby belly...

Tavish - excited to soon be a big brother

MOMENT: Welcome Wrapping

On Sunday, May 27th, our family of three watched the participants of the Ottawa Marathon up the street, did some 'nesting', wrapped the welcome gift for Tavish's new sister, and I enjoyed dinner out with some of my closest girlfriends as a 'shower' to welcome our second child. This day was accompanied by some mild contractions and the baby's present was wrapped 13 hours before her arrival. This timing was probably a good thing, I'm not sure Tavish could have contained his excitement for much longer anyway!