Church Picnics

Today we had a church picnic. It was at the Bonner's house and was a ton of fun. Almost everyone was there, including our most elder members.
We got a game of good ol' whiffle-ball together and I was talked into playing (with the assurance that there were 2 nurses present and others who know CPR). Mrs. Brandt played too which was awesome seeing her hit the ball and run the plates.

Long and short- I hit. I ran. I know.... its funny to me too.

They Say It Happens

I never thought that I would be one of those dads. You know, the one with 10,000 pictures of the first born, 5000 of the second born, and less than 10 of the third. Well... guess what? Want to see some pictures of Anna and Owen?

Here is the play-thing that Auntie Linda donated. She bought it for George . I told her that she can have it back when George and Olivia (the name I am giving the next Baby P until (s)he is born) move back to Grand Rapids. Of course, they can pick it up here as well in their James. Here is Anna with a big stick. She thinks that it is cute.
Okay, I guess there were a few of Owen's new toy on the camera after all. Watson is shown here being pushed in the baby stroller.
Anna stopped for a pose.
They wanted to try to push him together as well.
Here is my mother with Watson and the blanket that she made for him. She stayed for a week and was a huge help. All that hard work resulted in needing back surgery again and a torn rotor thingy. Don't sue me!
Here is Owen and a computer enhanced image of what he will look like at 57....oh wait, that is my dad.
This is one of Anna's crazy shots. I always love these random pictures.
And one after the house slid into the cliff...
And ending with Owen with a soap beard. Too bad we cannot take pictures of our own soapy beards in the shower. They are so much fun!

Some New Watson Picutures

Here is Anna snuggling with her little brother. She wants to do this quite often.
Here is one where we are breaking the rules of the Academy of Pediatrics. Do not try this at home:
Enjoying the pillow and a little drool.
Elfkin ears... just like Anna had.
To the right.
To the left.
Ahhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are all falling!!

Miss Ellie Rose Vedra

Please welcome Miss Eleanor Rose Vedra into the world with us. Miss Ellie was born to Adam and Emily Vedra on Wednesday. She was 6 lbs 5 ounces and 20.25" long.

At the present time Miss Ellie is in the NICU at Saint Mary's on Jefferson. There are some serious medical conditions that are requiring her to spend some time at De Vos Children's Hospital.

Please check updates here on her condition and remember her in your prayers. Remember Adam, Emily, Noah, and Seth as well. Pray that the Lord sustains them through this trial. May God's name be glorified and the church learn of God's goodness toward us!

Again?

In September of 2005 there was a most horrid blog post about our dog Sam. Must it happen again?

Schnauzer for sale: $0.01

Whata Weekend With Watson!

This was a very special weekend for our family. Besides Watson getting baptized, we had some special visitors as well.

Here is Mrs. Lanning giving Watson a kiss. He is in the very special baptism gown that she made out of Lydia's wedding dress. All three of our children were baptized in it and we hope that it will stay in our family for generations to come. Maggie spent the weekend with us. She slept in the boy's room and Owen had to crawl in with her at 8AM to make sure that she did not sleep the day away.
Here is the Grand Rapids Commission of the RPCNA. We had a long weekend of examinations, family interviews, and hours of great Christian fellowship. James Faris was unable to be in this picture, but he is on the Commission as well.
Here is a goofy picture of the smiling Eshelman women. It looks like Brian is trying to snuggle up to my mom... but I assure you that this is not the case!
Here is another of Linda with Watson. She deserves two pictures since she made the dress. Today is Linda's tenth 40th birthday as well!
Here is Rev. Lanning with us. He has had the privledge of baptizing all three of our children. I cherish the pictures of him with them after the baptism. He gave a moving sermon as well as on Jesus's view of children. It is worth listening to again.
And one of the family. Watson was the picture perfect baby through the whole baptism. He slept the whole time!
* * * * * * * *Sorry, Bruce, no turkey pictures as of yet. I will get the video for Watson and make sure he memorizes all of the tips. You will have to take him hunting though... I gave it up after grandpa dropped me in the river!

Happy Anniversary

Yesterday marked 10 years that Lydia and I came to Grand Rapids to attend Calvin College.

Lydia came from Chicago with her reasons; I came from Pennsylvania with my reasons. We met over some Ramen Noodles... and the rest, as they say, is history!

September 4, 1997. We are so old!

Big Weekend Ahead

This weekend is going to be quite busy. Our congregation has the "Grand Rapids Commission" of the RPCNA coming for a congregational visit. This means that there are going to be events Friday, Saturday, and Sunday for me (Lydia is exempt from much of the busyness for obvious reasons).

On Sunday, Watson is being baptized. This is the quickest that we have had one of our children baptize- 9 days old. Grandma Eshelman will be in from Pennsylvania to witness this blessed event. * * His baptism will be at 10AM if anyone wants to be a witness to this sacrament.

Between the services we are going to have a fellowship meal. Usually this means gross sloppy joes and ham and buns (Dutch staples). We are going to rebel and bring something yummy in lieu of sloppy slop.

Brian has been here this week making cheesecakes for the event. (He also made us a scrumtrelescent Chicken Marsala tonight for dinner!) I thought that I would share two of the three that he has made thus far:

This is a New York Cheesecake with blueberry puree marbled through it. It is sitting on my kitchen counter now. Should I eat some?
This is my favorite Brian cheesecake in the whole world. It is a cafe alaut white chocolate mocha cheesecake. You would not believe how much I want to call over the neighbors and devour this bad guy. I bet we could slip Brian $25 so that he could make another one. It really does not take that long... only a few hours to make it.
I know what Owen wants to do!
(That is Brian's crust mix in his mouth...we do brush his teeth.)

Tante Heidi ist die beste tante in der ganzen Welt!

In my last Saturday evening, I forgot to put up a picture of Tante Heidi. I must say, that I am quite ashamed since she is ALWAYS there for us for love and support. Heidi has been there for Anna and Owen's delivery and I know how much she wanted to be there for Watson's birth as well. We understand, work is an honorable thing. She made sure to check in every few hours as well as kept up-to-date on the blog while she was at work. I have heard that her fellow employees were quite interested in the unfolding of event on LOUA as well!

We are so grateful for her love and support. Her love for our family always shows in her kindness towards us.

Here is Heidi with her niece and nephews. Anna does not look too impressed, but Owen sure is infatuated with Watson.
Anna remained unimpressed for this photo as well, but the love is there.

"We love you Tante Heidi!"

"Wir lieben dich Heidi, kommen bitte, uns wieder zu sehen real bald! Wir können nicht warten, um dich in Frankfurt zu besuchen!"

We are Home

We are home. It feels good to be home and waiting for things to get back to 'normal'. I love how the hospital will let a post-partum woman leave the hospital so quickly. 'Back in the day' women stayed for a week, Lydia had the baby YESTERDAY. It is good though.

Heidi and Irma came to see the baby yesterday. They spent the night at the Marriott and Anna wanted to spend the night with them. This came as a huge surprise, but we allowed her to. She loved it. It is good to see that as a new child comes along, the older one is ready to move onto bigger milestones.

Irma brought Watson a really great Hummel. It is of a little boy who is a doctor.

The subtlety is amazing with her!


Below is a cute picture of little Watson sleeping away. It is funny how much anticipation comes with a new child, yet there is so much sleeping in the first month or so... babies are much more fun when they start acting more... human.
Here are the three amigos in the car. Three car seats. Wow.
Here are the pictures that dog lovers expect and dog haters despise. The famous meeting of the new baby. Sedgwick could care less.
Sam was hoping it was table scraps.
As we began to settle in for the night, about 9 PM, our phone rang. I chose not to answer it since we were trying to get the kids to sleep. Immediately my cell phone went off. It was Pastor Lanning. I grabbed it and heard, "well, are you up for a short pastoral visit?"
I was honest, "well no, we are all quite exhausted and I am getting the kids to sleep."
Rev. Lanning said, "I am at the front door."
"Okay, hold on."

It was a good visit though. He read Psalm 138 and prayed for all of us. We are so tired... we need it!

Psalm 138
I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.
All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.
Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.
Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

Updates on Baby Number Three

These updates are being given every 30 minutes to every hour. You may want to scroll down to 1:40 AM and read them as they progressed through the night (and day).

12:36 PM

Here is my little buddy. I have not slept yet and find myself to be a little nutty. The kids came to meet the baby and are so excited to finally meet him. Paige came to visit the baby. She had the children over night and they were happy to be with her. She said that Owen woke up in the morning and said, where is Bill?
Here is Anna holding her brother for the first time. She is going to be a big helper.
Here are my kids!
Owen holds his brother for the first time.
And what is his name? His name is Watson Truth Eshelman.

Where is Lydia? Room 4424.
Phone number to her room: 391.7331.

9:13

He is huge!

Baby boy born!

10 pounds, 4 ounces

22 inches long!

Name: We will see.

8:06

Lyd is working very hard. No baby yet.... maybe he is a bit stubborn??

7:05

We are at shift change. Lisa is leaving us for some sleep. Lydia is on the phone with Tante Heidi right now. Heidi was present for both of the other two children's births. She feels really bad that she could not be here. We understand the necessity of work though!

Dr. Van De Burg thinks that things are going to pick up real soon. We will see.

I would like a Venti Mocha with an extra shot of espresso. My eyes are a little burny.

6:44

Lydia is now at a 9. One more and she wins!

When we were here for our first child it was really an amazing time. To watch a life come into the world is so incredible.

After Anna was born they brought the three of us to the room where Lydia and Anna would spend the next couple of days.

I remember looking out over the city of Grand Rapids and saying to God, "How on earth are we going to be able to do this?"

He gives the grace that is needed though.

As we contemplate being out-numbered by our children, we again ask, "how can we do this?"

The Lord will provide all that we need for raising 3 unto his glory!

6:21

I have been asked to let everyone know that I am not neglecting Lydia by blogging right now. She likes some space in all of this.

Things are getting more intense and it seems that we may have an early morning baby yet.

5:50

Lydia is at a 7-8. (Go ask a mother what this means.)

We have turned all of the lights off and opened all of the blinds. Soon we will see the sun rise and a new life brought into the world.

I keep thinking of the Psalter selection:
"Now unto us thy mercy show/ let thy salvation now bestow/ We wait to hear what God will say/ Peace to his people God will give!"

5:24

Lydia is resting quietly between contractions. We have gone over some new age, I mean... super-Christian breathing techniques. I am not sure how helpful I am, but I am here for her. When she is having a baby I really realize how much I love her. Lydia is quite amazing.

4:51 AM

It amazes me how many of these people try to push the pain drugs*. When you first come in and they ask if you will be using pain meds- and you say (politely and in a Christian way), "no thank you" that does not mean that everyone will stop asking. It is kind of annoying because they make it seem as if it is really foolish to not use anything for pain (other than endorphines).
*Not that we are opposed to people using them if they need them.


One really great thing though is that Lisa is not making Lydia be on the monitor (this is the thing that watches the baby's heart rate and some how rates her contractions). We like that. She is checking on his heart rate about every 45 minutes though. She is being safe.

Lisa also made me some Hazelnut coffee. It is pretty tasty.