The Babe is Born!

POSTED BY GRANDMA WALSH

Gabriel Benjamin Walsh came into the world at 8:15 AM on August 6, 2009, weighing 8 pounds 12 ounces and 20.5 inches long. And Daddy did just fine staying in the OR through the procedure!!!


While we waited for the news that we could come to the hospital, Kien learned to play Brandy's Mellowphone.

Then off to the hospital for our first glimpse of the newest family member!

An emotional moment for me...


Look at these awestruck siblings!!!

Kien said, "I like him." :)

Cathi is doing fine, but a Cesarean is no picnic!




Lunch was at a nearby McDonalds.


Since Daddy was off work and the Drivers' License Bureau was close to the hospital, we went over there for Brandy to take her tests for a driving permit (she passed!). While they waited in line, Kien got his nap in his carseat while he, Jeremy, and I had to go back home for some things for Cathi (which I had left behind...). Oh, well, Kien needed a place for a nap! Then back to see Mommy and baby one more time before going home.


After the kids and I had gone home, Greg caught some great shots of little Gabe this evening!!! Some with the babe's eyes open!



For the most part, Gabe seems to be a cross between his Mom and Dad in looks, but, in this shot, he definitely looks like his Aunt Karin!!! She was 8 lbs. 10.5 oz. and 22 inches. Greg had them all beat! He was a 10 pound 1 ounce baby!!!

Greg at birth

Karin at birth


While they were taking awesome photos, we were at home walking around the block.

Brandy can drive!

I have been doing the parent taught Driver's Ed program with Brandy. I took her to the get her learner's permit and therefore is legal to drive! *GULP*

She passed the written portion.



Waiting to get the permit.

Big Day for Everyone

Kien's older sister Brandy showed him how to play the mellophone



Kien went to McDonalds and played on the playland.

Checking out the world

He decided to open his eyes and see the world on his 1st day!

Introducing Gabriel!

After they got him all cleaned up and Cathi was back in her room and recovering, they brought Gabe out for us to see him. Grandma Walsh was there by then and got to meet her first biological grandchild.

Suddenly the day seemed brighter!

The two older brothers came to meet their new baby brother.

Gabriel Walsh arrives into the world!

When called, I went into the OR to be with Cathi while she had a spinal. We talked while they were doing the surgery. She started complaining about ALOT of pressure on her stomach and then there was the sound of a screaming kitten... wait no... it was baby Gabe!

They asked if I wanted to come out from behind the curtain to see him, I said, "No. I'll wait a minute until hes out and getting cleaned up."
So they showed him to me on the way to cleaning him. Then they cleaned him, weighed him at 8 lbs 12.2 ounces, measured him at 20 1/2 inches, and then put on a diaper and wrapped him up.


Then they let me hold hime for the 1st time and mommy got to look at him too!



Then they asked me to come to the nursery with him while the surgeons finished with the mommy.

I watched and snapped some pictures while they checked him over. He has a 13" head, 14" chest, and his hand/feet were all purple! ack! They said that its normal and as the blood flows, they will turn peachy too.

Today's the day!

Cathi and I got to the hospital at 5:30am to get her ready for her c-section. We were rather excited and nervous about the new baby coming.







We got to the labor and delivery wing and they were waiting for us. They even had a bag of snacks for daddy to keep him plump and occupied while mommy was having surgery.



Cathi got her hospital attire on and they prepped her for the operation. Can you believe how calm and happy she was? After 9 months of getting her butt kicked, I can see why she was ready to be done with it!




They took her away to the operating room and would come 1/2 hour later to get daddy. I wandered the halls hoping to calm my nerves.
My truck sure is peaceful sitting down there all alone!



Its hard to imagine having a bad day when you see the sunrise...

Tuesday Tricks

POSTED BY GRANDMA WALSH

Cathi had a zillion errands to run today. She looked so cute when she was ready to leave that I coerced her into one more photo.

Keenie Bean was his adodrable self. For lunch, I fixed him scrambled egg, a grandma-made banana oatmeal muffin, and then some strawberries with vanilla yogurt which were the real hit. He had three helpings of the strawberries! When he finished the first bowl, he said, "More stawberry pease." Then, "Tank you." After I took this picture, he asked, "See it," so I showed him his picture.

We read a couple of books about being a Big Brother before naptime.
It was a lovely warm/hot day in TX. Perhaps a bit hot for dogs. This is how they looked after a brief foray outside.

It really is tough to use someone else's kitchen and equipment. I made a chicken casserole recipe for dinner and found a suitable round glass "baking" dish. When I opened the oven, all of the sauce was on the bottom of the oven (no wonder the house smelled so good!). When I opened the baking dish, NO sauce was in it. Cathi informed me that it was a steamer for vegetables! WHAT?! A GLASS steamer??? Oh, my.... So I had fun cleaning the oven tonight.

Pray for Cathi -- that it will be a safe delivery with no complications and the best recovery possible from the C-section.

Tomorrow is the day!

Tomorrow morning at 7:30am Cathi is scheduled to have her c-section and Gabriel Benjamin Walsh will arrive into our world!

Facts about Gabe:
- Greg's 1st biological son and 4th child. Also the last child.
- Cathi's 3rd biological child and 4th child. Also the last child.
- Gabe will have a sister 15 years older, a brother 12 years older, and a brother 26 months older.
- He will be the 5th grandchild to my parents
- He will be the 1st biological grandchild of my parents to carry on the Walsh bloodline and name.
- Kien and Gabe both carry the Walsh name.
- Gabe has a 1st cousin in North Carolina and an Uucle.
- He has an Aunt and Uncle in Nebraska as well as three 1st cousins.

Wake up Storytime

POSTED BY GRANDMA WALSH

Mommy read Kien a counting book this morning. He is such a little smartie!


Something that is obvious to me now is his coordination. He is remarkably adept at climbing, running, jumping, somersalts. But then I remember how he dropped himself over the back of the sofa into the kitchen last fall and climbed on the table all the time. Since this kitchen is not babyproofed, he is never allowed to wander.

Monday Family Fun

POSTED BY GRANDMA WALSH

8:30 AM is Kien's wake up time. He was very groggy when I went in to lift a whimpering boy from his crib. He flopped on my shoulder, so we sat in the rocker, which he has always loved to do until fully awake. But he fell asleep! So I did too. Jeremy took this shot just before Kien awoke after another 50 minute sleep on my shoulder!


Jeremy practicing his clarinet and doing a very good job!


Mommy loving the boy.


Jeremy and Kien watching TV and having a snack.


Brandy studying her driver's training materials. (Greg is her teacher.)

POSTED BY MY MOM

I arrived in Texas today in anticipation of the big event on Thursday!

Kien came to me right away at the airport but was shy and didn't look at me. After a few minutes, he lay his head down on my shoulder in his expressive, loving embrace as he is doing with Daddy here. In this shot, he had just awakened from his nap and had his socks on his hands!


Daddy put together this little workbench for him. It is ALL he played with for the rest of the day! If I wasn't on the floor with him, he would look at me and say, "Play!" So I improved my screwdriver and wrench skills.

Christmas in July - The Walsh Family Boys

Our church was doing Christmas in July during our At The Movies series. They were taking pictures with a cool backdrop. Yes, it's a snowman made of sand. heh