0 to 4 weeks- a review

We are amazed that our little guy will be 4 weeks tomorrow (1 month on the 30th)! To commemorate this milestone, we have put together a photo gallery of Ambrose during his first four weeks.

Ambrose was alert immediately after birth and was able to focus on faces. We swear he was cooing and giving genuine smiles when he was only days old!

Ambrose's first outing: photo shoot

If you have a Facebook account check out amber bond photography and click on folder entitled 'Ambrose'.

You can preview the pictures. We'll be sharing photo galleries of the babe soon. stay tuned.

Friends and neighbours

Ambrose has been busy meeting friends and neighbours since arriving home.

On the first day home neighbour Barry happened by with home made stew and dumplings and a plate of nanaimo bars. Barry held the baby for a moment and snapped a shot on his cell to demonstrate his one upmanship over his partner Brad who happened to see us at the hospital while we were leaving.
Our neighbours Todd, Tomoko and their baby Ren dropped off a fabulous feast of quiche, bread, and cinnamon buns!
Christoff was quick to come over to meet Ambrose, followed by Colin and Natasha - expecting their first baby in May- who dropped by later that evening.
My good friends Angela and Gina came over for a very nice visit.
The "New York contingent" (our friends whom we were to join in New York this weekend for Karel's art show) dropped by through out the week - Vivian with her baby Jaelyn, Christy and Karel (who are also expecting), and this past weekend Michelle and Andreas and Kiri, Mike, Finn and Ember.
Carly and her teenage daughter Tash stopped in for a quick visit as well.
Our family down the street - Edwina, Trevor and their children Miriam and Silas (whom have tolerated Dave documenting them as they've grown!) came over bearing yummy muffins.

Ambrose has been showered with incredibly thoughtful gifts from family, friends and neighbours! We are so lucky to be surrounded by so many wonderful people!

family, meet baby

Day 1
Baby had many visits from family during his first couple of days. Nana had the honour of being baby's first visitor on day one of his existence (she even beat daddy who allowed himself to rest at home). Nana Shirley and Papa Abby were fast on her heels. That evening Auntie Desiree (who had come in earlier from Gatineau, QC) Uncle Gody, Auntie Naomi, and cousin Emma came for a quick little visit.
Day 2
Nana Shirley and Papa Abby popped by followed by Nana. Later that day Auntie Brytt, Uncle Earl and cousin Jessie arrived to meet baby.
Day 3
Homecoming late in the afternoon. The Streit family worked hard to transform the dining room into a makeshift mommy and baby room (so I could be on the main floor and recover from the c-section). The family quietly left and allowed us to get used to being at home.

Easter weekend etc...

Lots of visits from the family. Desiree slept over one night and got to spent some QT with her new baby nephew before flying home. There was a Streit family Easter dinner. My sister Brooke and niece Jessie popped by. Nana Shirley and Papa Abby spent lots of time with baby before they left for home. My mom dropped in to see baby and my dad met baby after the weekend. It's evident who baby gets his large hands from!!

Name that baby: Ambrose Hilding

I sometimes have to remember that there are certain milestones that ought to be flashed on the blog that Brandy and I keep.

(Brandy is sleeping so we won't have the benefit of her edit. precious sleeeeeeeep...)

The big news last Tuesday night was that we named Choo Choo!

Ambrose Hilding Streit. Sometimes "Ambie" sometimes "Brosey". google it.
Hilding is taken from Brandy's grandpa Bill (old swedish).

Ambrose was a sudden name that had been lurking off the "short lists".

off the top of my head...

Very old Greek name, means "immortal". St. Ambrose of Scotland 4th century AD (can't remember what he did). There was a civil war General Ambrose Burnside...invented term "Sideburns". Ambrose (or rather Ambroise) Lepine was Louis Riel's body guard/enforcer. There's also a town outside of Winnipeg St. Ambrose..

the name is new to both of us so its been fun finding out where it's been used. apparently the name is more common out east.

must sleep now.

a baby post

here are some of the moments we've recently experienced.

we don't have a name quite locked down as of yet. apparently we have thirty days.

the grandparents aren't very impressed with this....but they will forgive us.

"choo-choo" was born on march 30th 2010 at 11:44 p.m. weighing in at 8 pounds ten and a half ounces, 21 inches long.

it was a four day labour with a previous "false labour" a week earlier.

words cannot describe the strength and bravery required to be a mother.

Our natural childbirth hopes were replaced with mans talent for drug pain management.

emergency C-section followed.

baby latched onto mom. even after all the pulling and tugging (which was wicked).

i could go on and on....i think pictures will do for now.

quite a beginning. and this is only the beginning.