Hello, Elanor

Since I was around 14, I knew what I wanted to name my first daughter. There was no question about it. When Shannon and I were talking through all of the important things you talk about before you decide to get engaged, this was something I had to bring up because it was that important to me. I was convinced when we were pregnant with Edmund that it was going to be a girl, but instead we were gifted with the sweetest little boy I have ever known. This time, I thought it would be a boy, and thankfully again, I was wrong. I am glad God is taking care of things and not me. We were so thrilled when we found out it was a girl. Shannon was going to have her little girl (and a reasonable argument to me as to why we can stop at two kids), and I was going to have my Elanor after so many years of waiting.  In some ways, we were more prepared this time around. Edmund came 4 days early and caught us unawares, so we did not have a bag packed or anything. Even though I was convinced Elanor was going to be fashionably late, she decided to arrive right on time. Hopefully this is a good omen for her life. While we did have a bag of clothes packed, but I had just returned home after a wedding consultation and was scrambling to pack camera gear while finishing up a few jobs for clients that had to get done before we left as Shannon is moaning with contractions in the living room…all the time asking myself for the second time why I did not just have someone else come and take photos of the birth for us.  After hitting nearly every red light possible, we finally made it to St. Elizabeth’s hospital. In the course of an hour, Shannon’s contractions had gone from 8+ minutes to 2.5 minutes. A few hours after arriving at the hospital, our baby girl arrived in her 8 LB 4 oz and 19.5″ glory. Shannon only had to push a few times, and everything went perfectly.

Heaven.

We had wondered how Edmund would respond to her, but I was sure he would be amazing…and he has been just that. He loves her so much, and he is constantly bringing her toys and kissing her and showing her what he is doing. Seeing her is the first thing he wants to do every morning.  We love our little family, and we wanted to share the story with you. In the slideshow are some of the handful of images from her first 36 hours. Be sure to have your sound turned up. I know it’s easier to just post the photos individually for you to skim over, but this is how I want the sights and sounds to be experienced. Special thanks to our dear friend Kami who came by the hospital so we could get a few photos of the four of us together, Shannon’s amazing doctors at Grace Women’s Healthcare, and the amazing staff of nurses and doctors at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital.

Thank you all for being a part of our life. We are thankful beyond measure for the blessings God has rained upon us.

Joel, Shannon, Edmund, and Elanor.