Father's Day weekend visitors

I can't believe it was only a week ago that we were at the hospital waiting for Garrett's arrival. So much as happened in the past week. The busy-ness has not slowed down much. Jess and Joylynn went home with all of their kids on Wednesday and Wyatt had his last day of school on Thursday.

Alyssa brought our boys back on Friday. Jess, Joylynn and their kids came that day too. Everyone spent the night.

We took photos as soon as the kids got here. Isn't this great! Their family started with a boy and ends with a boy with two sweethearts in the middle.

These two are so fun! Rowan is such a chatterbox and Katie is a giggle factory.

Katie thinks her new cousin is "yummy".

I think so too.

How many guys does it take to change a diaper and get pjs on?

Krystle got to hold the little guy.

Hayden got to meet him for the first time.

He is a top notch uncle!

Jess's parents arrived!

Wyatt was one of the first to run out to greet Granny and Pa. He met them with sidewalk chalk and requests to write everyone's names on the sidewalk. He spent quite a bit of time making several masterpieces on the sidewalk out front and on the way up to the porch.

It was a long drive to come to see this little guy and turn around and head back but it made for some excited kids and was worth it.

Garrett gets the first of his two middle names from his Pa Rich (Richard) and the second from Har. (Lloyd)

Granny has a great digital camera and Wyatt and she got to preview many of the pictures she had taken.

Aunt Janette

Joylynn has 3 godmothers. Harlan's cousin Helene and our nieces Janette and Maila.

Maila was represented last week by her daughter, Claire in getting to hold the new little guy. Janette was in Portland for the weekend so she stopped in to see him as well. I'm glad we had him here so we could get to see her too.

Father's Day

We had 6 of our eight kids at church with us this morning for Father's Day. Cherise and Joylynn were missing.

After church we took Har to his favorite burger joint. Burgerville! After bringing a few of the kids home and getting Rowan down for a nap we had to run to Fred Meyer. Lots of times we end our shopping trips there by sitting amongst the furniture displays and chatting. Fun times.

Courtney had gotten my camera out of my bag at church so Rowan wanted me to take a picture of him and Grampa. So here are Grampa Har and Rowie on Father's Day 2010.

I think it was a good one. I am very thankful for Harlan's fathering of our kids and also for the fathers that our grandchildren have. You each are doing a great job. We are blessed by the faithfulness you have to your calling as Dads.

Grandniece, FCOR or SC Claire was here!

We just wrapped up a lovely 5 night, 6 day visit with our grandniece Claire. She came here on her spring break last year and this year waited until she was done for the summer.

She is such a delightful young lady.

(Dean and Maila you've done a great job parenting this one!)

She enjoys crafts and sewing

Last year she came and we made a rag quilt together for her. She has since made at least one on her own at home. She wanted to make another one this year for a friend.

We had to make a pilgrimage to Joann's for fabric.

She ended up making 3! The one above is for a special somebody who will be having a birthday.

This one is for her baby brother.

This is the one she planned to make all along.

I had some projects in the works too.

Harlan has finished refurbishing a cradle for Garrett. I bought a mattress for it and made bumpers and a few blankets. I couldn't find an exact fit for the mattress so I made a bolster for then foot end out of fleece. It turned out really well.

I made a little lap blanket today that I am going to surprise someone with.

Lloyd Center roses

One last trip to the mall before we had to head out to the airport.

Thanks for coming, Claire.

Perhaps if you come next year we will try not to have a baby born the week that you are here. It made for an interesting time though.

Garrett meets some of the Fam

The day after Garrett's "Birth" day we loaded the van to capacity and then some and went up to see the little guy.

We stopped at the gift shop and picked up a few things.

Rylan, Krystle, Courtney and Claire were excited to go up to Joylynn's room but not nearly as excited as the 3 siblings were.

Complete Family

J & J and their little posse of dudes and dudettes.

Dad and the boys.

Mom and the girls.

The reason for all of the festivities!

He was very content to just chill as each of us took turns holding him. I hope his mellowness is part of his personality. They could use a break from the busy busy world of the older 3.

Garrett gave each of his sisters and his brother a snuggle-y bear from him.

Footprints

" You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it."

Psalm 139:13,14

Garrett is already making footprints on our hearts. He is such a blessing to all of us and we are thankful for his safe arrival.

False start and finally.... He's here!

Freaky Friday

Joylynn had her doctor's appointment early on Friday morning. She grabbed the kids and headed out the door. After checking her and the baby out at the office the doctor sent her over to the hospital saying that he wanted to watch her and see if the baby would start responding to stimulation. He was not moving much and his heartbeat was lower than it had been. After getting admitted and having a couple of bags of IV fluids and a picnic in a labor and deliver room, she was sent home.

Sunny Sunday

Joylynn and her friend Liz went with their kids down to the Waterfront Village in down town Portland. They parked and took the Max train, they walked and walked.

All the walking had an effect on Joylynn. By 6:30 that evening she was on her way to the hospital, this time she wasn't going to be sent home without a baby. Her water broke.

Har and I headed up to wait for the baby since, in our experience, when a woman's water breaks the birth is practically imminent. Apparently not!

Yes her water had broken, but she was still not 37 weeks along, she was having spontaneous contractions, but they weren't progressing toward birth.

As the sun went down we were looking at a long night of "wait and see".

Her good friend, Carinne, was there for our allnighter but had to leave about 6 a.m. So sad that she couldn't stay until the baby came.

With a little help from our pharmaceutical friends

After getting some pitocin in her IV a regular pattern of contractions was established and things started moving.

She was a trooper when it became almost time to push. I'm glad Jess's hand took the punishment and not mine!

Joylynn with the new man in her life.

Garrett Richard Lloyd is 18 inches long and as you can see from the display, weighs 6lbs 10oz.

He loved the warming bed but didn't appreciate the bath until it came time to shampoo that full head of hair.

He seems to be quite a mellow little guys so far. Joylynn says he is a good eater already.

The big brother and big sisters are going to get to see him in the morning.

Grampa's little man!

My little love!

Hanging out at the Hospital

Joylynn had a check-up

Joylynn was told to go in to the hospital to have herself and the baby monitored for a few hours. She went up there mid afternoon and couldn't pick up Wyatt from school so I got to go and get him. We stopped at BK for something to eat and brought something for the girls as well.

The kids meal toys are dogs which is right up Genevieve's alley!

Picnic in Triage

The kids enjoyed having a picnic on their mom's bed.

Joylynn texted me to bring the girls a snack but failed to mention that she hadn't eaten any lunch either :P So Genevieve and I got to run to the cafeteria to get something for her.

This a perfect depiction of their current personalities

Genevieve is sweet and loves to play with any kind of animal, Wyatt is a "poser" getting a little too cool, Danika is just a goofy little girl, very happy all the time.

Out in the Waiting Room

When Genevieve and Danika were born in this hospital the waiting area had a television. It no longer does. It has one toy and a few very lame books for kids. I think we should donate something for that area.

Outside in the Courtyard

They had been sitting still a little too long so when Jess got there and went to check on Joylynn I took these birds out to the patio courtyard. They ran and climbed and yelled and had a grand old time.

Okay I'm ready.... anytime baby

I'm sure Joylynn wouldn't mind being pregnant for a bit longer but I'm now done with my school responsibilities so I'm ready for that baby to come any time!

We are on summer break!!!!!

Hurray!!!!!