What great weather we’ve been having here in Birmingham, AL. It’s not too hot to enjoy sitting outside in the evening and not so cold that you have to bundle up. Plus, it smells like baseball outside, my favorite time of year.
So what better time for little DJ to have a little while outside with big sister. Bree made mud-pie dinner and DJ did his best Jedi impersonation. Pics below.
So it was up to us to show up at the hospital at 8:00PM tonight to get started on introducing our latest family addition to the world. This is the whole story…
8:00PM
We arrived at the hospital on time and got primo parking. We wondered around for a little bit until we found a nursing station and learned where we were supposed to be. When we arrived there was a line. A line to have babies, how awesome!
Our nurse, Lindsey, is really nice and there’s a Yankees / Red Sox game to watch. So, let’s get this party started!
9:00PM
We’re settled in and Mel is hooked up to all the monitors and stuff. We’re still shooting for a tomorrow AM delivery, but we’re hoping things will move quickly. When I ran down to the truck to get our bags I took a picture from the deck.
9:30PM
All hooked up, appropriate medications have been applied. Now, we wait. And hope for some miracle where both the Yankees AND the Red Sox lose this game.
Here’s a picture of pre-labor Mel:
9:51PM
My kingdom for a Sprite! So with all the recent media attention on health care costs and $300 Tylenol you would think those willing to pay $1.25 for a Sprite could land one. Not the case, however, when you’re dealing with a Coke machine that was originally intended for the 7th circle of hell.
I mean, disregarding the terribly creepy image of a doctor… ON A COKE MACHINE… you would think an organization as advanced as a top-tier American hospital could figure out the whole coin-op thing. Well, apparently they can’t. And while they’re at it, the thing won’t return your money. So I’m out $1.25 on top of whatever other expenses I accrue. Know what’s even BETTER? It’s Easter Sunday, the hospital cafe’s are closed. So now I’m going to wonder the halls until I either figure out how to get a Sprite or an orderly mistakes me for one of the characters in “The Shining” and treats me accordingly.
10:15PM
I can has Sprite! I went rogue ninja eyelaser pirate and found another Coke machine, this one without the creepy doctor on it, and used the last of my change to get a Sprite, as pictured below:
Along the way I noticed this sign on a door:
This made me wonder, is a door that is never opened even a door? Or is it just a fancy wall?
Oh, in other news, Mel has started having contractions. 😉
10:45PM
Sprite and crackers consumed. 🙂
Things are progressing… slowly. Time to catch a little sleep before we ate ready for the big show!
6:25AM
Mel is in a “great contraction pattern” and a doctor (not her doctor) came on and broke her water. Time to get a move on, little guy!
6:45AM
Wendy, Zoey and little Christopher showed up and brought me some breakfast. Jack’s biscuit, yeah! Now I have to figure out how to track down a drink…
Mel is in a little more pain with her contractions now. We’re ready for little guy to get here.
7:20AM
Zoey and I grabbed some Starbuck. Need… Caffeine!
7:15AM
Mel just asked our new nurse, Erica, for an epidural. The contractions are really strong and close together now.
7:55AM
Epidural is in and active, Mel is feeling a lot better now and is able to relax a little.
8:30AM
Bree!
9:30AM
Dr. Heath came in and checked on Mel, she said it’s time to start pushing! Here we go!
10:00AM
The room is set up and everything is a go. Go go gadget Mel!
10:17AM
DJ is here! Everything is great, mom and baby are doing awesome.
Donald Joseph Garvich, III – born April 5th, 2010 at 10:17AM. 21 inches long, 7 pounds 1 ounce.
10:00PM
Well, this Easter is particularly special. A little sad since it marks the last night I’ll ever tuck Bree into bed as an only child.
Of course, putting her cute little basket together helped! 🙂
7:30AM
Bree loves her basket! She spent a good while looking over everything, putting on her jewelry and breaking apart every egg she could find. And after begging me ti turn her Etch-A-Sketch “on” she proceeded to play with the plastic grass… It never ceases to amaze me how much enjoyment kids get out of the simple things. It makes me think that spending huge amounts of time and money trying to “wow” them with gifts is missing the point. Either way, our baby loved the basket we put together for her and we loved watching her eyes and little face while she explored it. Now to get ready and head to family events!
12:00PM
We made it over to Mel’s parent’s house for lunch. What a perfect day for spending some time outside!
2:00PM
Hiding the eggs! Time to hide Easter eggs for Bree and Zoey! The hunt is on!
2:30PM
Time for Easter with the Garvichs!
Today, after breakfast, we were hanging out for a nice Sunday morning watching some great nature documentaries and playing with Bree.  She had found some headbands and had decided that a head band, a purse and a cell phone were all she needed for a good time.  Melanie, thinking that Bree would LOVE to see how cute she was grabbed a mirror and leaned it up against the couch so Bree could see herself.  That’s when we realized that this was the first time Bree had ever realized that the cute little girl in the mirror was her.  So I took a quick video with my iPhone.
A funny ending… After I took the video Mel wanted to take a look at it.  You can see where Mel is sitting in the video… right behind the mirror.  So while Mel was watching the video behind the mirror, Bree was still looking at the mirror.  When video Bree started talking, mirror Bree was more than a little freaked out.  Of course, she was excited that the girl in the mirror was talking so she had an entire conversation with the girl in the mirror!  It was great… I wish I had video of the video, but the universe can’t handle the paradox.  😉
Also known as my youngest sister’s 18th birthday, we spent the evening hanging with my family and ringing in a new decade… And a new birthday.
Everyone was pretty tired yesterday, and with Mel sick most of the day was spent hanging out and resting. But last night Bree got 12 hours of sleep and was eager to play with her new toys this morning. So we set up her table and she played for a LONG time with her new cooking toys.
Merry Christmas everyone! Here’s hoping that your holiday finds you well and that Christmas is a fitting and happy end to this decade for your family.
We started this year’s Christmas festivities by opening our gifts to and from each other on Christmas Eve, Bree had a blast, and loves her vacuum cleaner and guitar, in particular. I’m either going to have to get her used to the keyboard or get Chip to give her guitar lessons, we’ll see. 😉
Christmas day started with Bree playing with all the gifts that Santa brought, her favorites appeared to be her hair dryer and the huge bag of play balls we got her for her play gym.
Next we headed to Mel’s parents house for breakfast and some early Christmas fun. The breakfast was (as always) awesome and got our stomachs in gear for a full day of overindulgence.
After breakfast we headed to my parent’s house to hang out until a late lunch. Bree got her sunglasses early and loved them, along with what will undoubtedly not be her last encounter with cheese balls. After a relaxing lunch we headed downstairs for the traditional gift exchanging, a good time was had by all.
Once gifts were exchanged, it was time to head back to Mel’s parent’s house for gifting and dinner. Upon arrival Bree was introduced to Pimento Cheese… She loves it. After many spoonfuls of Pimento Cheese were consumed we exchanged gifts, watching the kids open their present is tooo much fun.
Then came dinner, where we decided that maybe Bree was big enough to graduate from the high chair to the kid’s table. She was having a blas right up until she fell head first from the chair. She’s fine, of course, but not nearly as big of a fan of the kid’s table as she once was.
After dinner it was time for reminiscing, catching up and eventually wishing everyone well. In the end, it was another wonderful Christmas with the Garvichs.
Merry Christmas everyone!
As I sit here, with Thanksgiving 2009 winding down and Mel in Bree’s room trying to get the little one to fall asleep (she’s cutting teeth… molars even… quite the job for her little body), I’m reminded of what this holiday is really all about.
In truth, there’s simply no way to sum up the things I am truly thankful for in a way that would fit into words. Of course there’s the usual, family, counry, job, etc. But in the end, I’m simply thankful… for everything, and at the same time for nothing specific, and that’s why this is my favorite holiday.
We’d do well to keep an attitude of gratitude in our daily lives and not just one day of the year. Being thankful for, and content with what you have, no matter what that is, should be a daily goal. It would make us all happier on a much more consistent basis and it’s likely to make those around us respond to us in a more positive way, making everyone happier! There’s just really no downside to being routinely content and happy.
If nothing else, the goal itself is noble.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I am so excited about the warm weather we are getting this weekend! The warm weather is like New Years to me because its like a fresh start with fun new things to come! I believe this could be the best summer I have ever had since I have my sweet little girl to share it with. I envision going to the park to swing, picnics with Donnie and Bree, swimming at Mimi’s house, ballpark days with all the Garvich’s taking up the entire set of bleachers, oh and lets not forget about the ice cream!!! My nana and papa instilled a love of ice cream in me early on and it has never left and I don’t plan on letting it!! Another thing I love is the excitment of planning and going on our family vacation, I instantly feel the sand under my feet, the sound of the crashing waves and the warm sun on my skin! I don’t really think of anything other than the beach when I think of summer vacation. Those are some my best childhood memories! Mom and dad always went all out for vacation and made it all about me and Wendy having the best time possible, which made it fun for them. I get that now…Bree is our joy! Well I hope I have inspired thoughts of what your perfect summer might be and set you on the path to creating it!!!