How You Know You Love Your Pacifier

This morning, Abigail photographed Gracie after an intense hour of sucking on her pacifier. As you can tell, she's pretty worked up about it, and left the "ring around the mouth" to prove it. She's definitely a passionate little girl. As her father, I fall in love with her more and more each day. Today we walked the streets of Glendora in the Baby Bjorn as the sunset on a beautiful fall SoCal day (mid 70s for you MidWest folk). She slept on my chest as we walked and I couldn't help but thinking more than a few times that there's nothing more I'd rather be doing. Then of course we had a complete meltdown and I might be up with her tonight at 2:00am, but this afternoon, we had a moment. Blessings to all. Can't wait for the MidWest nieces or nephews in a few weeks. Gracie heads to Lake Tahoe for her first (of many) trips to the cabin in a week. We need winter gear!

Our lil' pumpkin!

Grandma Aldrich got Gracie this pumpkin costume that she showed off at her first trip to the pumpkin patch. She was a little worn out after the trip! Can you believe that she already weighs over 9 lbs.?! We're such proud parents!

Gracie at 15 days

Here's an updated look at our little Gracie who continues to amaze us with her beauty and charm. She had a great day with mom as you can see in one of the photos below. Parenthood is wonderful. Abigail is an amazing mom who loves despite exhaustion. She's so nuturuing and quite the natural at his whole motherhood thing. It's fun seeing her in this new role. I'm back at school and missing them both during the day. My students and co-workers continue to shower us with baby stuff galore. A nice blessing. For those wondering about Harvestfest 2006...I heard murmurings about a slightly scaled down version from Abigail. If you've never experienced Harvestfest, you've never tasted culinary divininty. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Blessings to all. Gracie misses her Michigan grandparents (at least it seems so), and can't wait to meet her Indiana aunt and uncle in a few days.

Amazing Grace!

At 7:24pm on Monday night, Grace Gaines breathed her first breath while her adoring parents looked on in disbelief. Abigail was amazing through almost 20 hours of labor, and I tried to be a good coach, but felt struck by the fear of God most of the time. Gracie weighed in at 6lbs 13oz and was 19 1/4 inches long. She's now resting at home with mom with grandparents and aunts and uncles a plenty. We'll share more thoughts on the whole thing later, but figured most of you just wanted to see the photos...so here goes.

12 More Days!!!

The 38th week has come and gone and all is well in the Gaines camp. The house is all set. The crew "finished" (sort of) all of their final house touch ups and the sod is going in the backyard tomorrow. I've finished all of my projects that Abigail asked me to get done before Gracie's arrival. A special thanks to the uncle to be, Benny, for all his help in getting the list complete. Dad, we've left the shed for you and I to get to when you come to meet your granddaughter. We've got one more birth class to take on Sunday night and we'll have finished all ten and so I don't know if we could get any more prepared. So now, I guess we wait. Abigail's feeling good, sleeping alright, and still walking a couple miles a day, though a little slow in her step. The baby has dropped, which is a good sign that things are lining up for a good landing. She's still the acting Executive Director at HH and is even getting all dolled up and painting the town red tomorrow night for crazy girl's night out with some friends in Old Town Pasadena. Me...I'll be hitting the driving range with Ben to get all the kinks worked out before the 2nd Annual Vineyard Golf Scramble Saturday morning at San Dimas Canyon GC. Team Captain, Stuart has high expectations for the young guns and we're counting on a couple 300+ yard drives from Ben. We're gonna win one for Gracie. Looking forward to the Midwest invasion in Oct! Keep us in your prayers!

Just Waiting...

Well, well, well...the 37th week is upon us and Abigail finds herself waiting for Gracie in her new glider that was lovingly given to us by a couple at church (Tom and Chiaki Yasumura), who recovered it for us using fabric Abigail picked out to match the nursery. It's highly comfortable and is kind of the finishing piece to the nursery. This is also an exciting week because she's now considered full-term, so we're at a good place. Comfortablity seems to be a fleeting memory at this point and before dinner tonight we both commented that we think her stomach has made some significant gains in girth over the past week. Yet, we still kept our evening ritual of walking Harley around Glendora and enjoying SoCal at dusk. Tonight we talked about fall and what traditions we wanted to start this year with our daughter. We'll miss our traditional October weekened in Michigan, but hope to return next year! We also used our fetal microphone to have a chat with her. In the midst of my daddy-daughter talk, I unexplicably broke into a medly of old Steven Curtis Chapman slow songs (which incidently I believe he performed on The Great Adventure tour CD probably still residing in mom and dad's basement). She now knows where I'll be when she is a soldier, and where I'll be tomorrow morning when she wakes up and the sun does not appear!

I must say that this has definitely been a new and wonderful journey thus far. It's been fun to see Abigail grow (in many ways) and change. To anticipate new life with her and prepare to be parents. Still somewhat unbelievable that by this time next month, we could very well be holding this gift. Am I ready to receive her? Excitement mixed with holy fear. Excited to start a new chapter of life. Holy fear beacause how do you hold something of the divine without a certain bit of trepidation. Just some thoughts 4 weeks out. Love to all!

31 Weeks in Lake Tahoe

Abigail, Harley and I got away for a few days this week up to our family cabin in South Lake Tahoe, which in our estimation is about as beautiful and relaxing as the world can possibly get. We both needed this little respite after what has been an extremely hot summer! (It actually got down into the 30s at night but 70s during the day) We spent lots of time lounging on the deck, with a view of Mt. Tallac still spotted with snow, listening to the rush of Spring Creek below, and watching Harley chase squirrels. We ate lunch at the Beacon Bay Restaraunt, which sits you on the deck about 10 yards from the shore, with a view of the entire lake. Later that evening we got Chinese take-out and took it to the beach and watched the sun drop over the moutain peaks. Needless to say, we both feel refreshed and I firmly believe that every pregnant woman in their 3rd trimester deserves 3-4 days at the cabin (Sarah, Shea, and Mary it's all yours!) I've put a few photos below of the trip, including Abigail and Gracie at 31 weeks and counting. Don't they look pristine?

This is Floating Island Lake that Harley and I took an early morning hike to up to about 7000ft

This is a photo along our same hike of Fallen Leaf Lake with Lake Tahoe off in the distance. The Gaines' - Wes + Steve have done this hike where we tied a ribbon around the infamous BAB'S (Bernie A. Blari) Pine

Abigail and Gracie on the beach!

Jacob contemplates fatherhood lakeside over steamed rice and brocolli

T-minus 11 Weeks and Counting

It's been about a month since I last swung into the baby blog and posted some thoughts so I thought I'd use a few spare moments on another hot SoCal day to reflect. This has already been one of the most exhilerating experiences of my life and I haven't even met this little girl who's already chaning my life in profound ways. She's been moving and kicking like crazy lately. It seems like every time we pray over her or speak to her, she gets a burst of energy. I don't doubt the work of the Spirit even now. Leaping babies in wombs seems Biblical (see Luke 1-2). I sat last week in her empty room (which is about the only room in the new addition completely finished), and I couldn't help but think of all that would envelop this sacred space. Who knows how long it will be her space, and how the colors may change from lilac to something that she some day chooses to call her own? No matter what, I prayed last night that it would be a safe place. That this home, that her mother and I would always be a refuge. It's a nice place.

I'm also excited about the community she will get to experience in so many of you. All the aunts and uncles, and cousins, and grandmas and grandpas, and friends who will play such a vital role in her life. She's already so blessed and she doesn't even know it. Finally, props to the mom to be who is enduring record setting heat during her third trimester and continues to glow (and glisten) with her extravagant charm. Abigail is amazing. She continues to spend each day at Summer Splash, on her feet, loving the children of Azusa in intense heat. And she maintains sanity in the midst of constrution that seemingly will not go away. She's the best, and I can't wait to see her as a mom!

We can't wait to see the MW crew in a few weeks. We're hoping to escape to the cabin in Tahoe before that for a few days before that. We're ready for a little R & R. Blessings to all!

First Father's Day...Sort Of

As a daddy anxiously awaiting the first Gaines daughter in over 50 years, Abigail took it upon herself to get me a few presents in preparation for this fall. In the bottom picture I'm showing off the little T-shirt for this daddy's girl. I also got a bib that says, "My daddy's the best." In the top photo you can see the big gift which was a manly baby pack complete with comparments for all manner of baby odds and ends, such as, an insulated bottle warmer, a portable changing pad, and air tight pouches for the leftovers. I'm all set! Now all I need is Gracie!

22 Weeks and Counting!!!

This is the first shot of Abigail pregnant and 28! After a birthday visit to Dr. Johnson we got a second confirmation that the baby I just felt kicking away is in fact a little girl. Abigail continues to feel good and is enjoying being pregnant. I am enjoying watching her grow as well, and am getting anxious to meet this little one. I was reminded today by my students of Psalm 8 which says, "from the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise." May that be so for our daughter as well as all the other babies to be in 2006!

It's A Girl!

Today was the big day to find out whether Abigail's been feeling a he or a she kickin' all night long. As you can see by our new blog background, we've been touched again by God's grace! More pics to come later!

14 Week Ultrasound...2nd Trimester!!!

14 Weeks
Originally uploaded by jacobgaines.

Today we hit a couple of milestones. Abigail officially began her 2nd trimester (yea!), and we had another ultrasound and got to see the baby kick and move. We thought we'd blog a few pictures so you could all see the progress this child is making. In this photo you can see a nice side view with an arm sticking up and the umbilical cord at the top.

At today's visit we got to see the baby pretty well developed with all its parts (arms, legs, hands, feet, brain, spine, heart, etc.) It was an amazing experience to share together. As soon as Dr. Johnson started the ultrasound we could see our child moving and jumping. Abigail commented that Baby Gaines knew it was being watched so did some extra kicks and jumps to show off for its mom and dad. An absolute miracle to behold!

We'll settle the he/she mystery at next month's appointment. Dr. J said the baby looks beautiful and we're right on track. Thanks for your prayers. We look forward to the role you will all play in this child's life and development. We love you all!

Good Bye First Tri!!!

14 Weeks
Originally uploaded by jacobgaines.

A great 14 week shot of our baby's profile. Nice round head. Cute little nose. Baby Gaines is now the size of a large peach. How sweet it is!

Reflections from Dad

Until now Abigail's been doing all of the baby blogging, so I thought I'd swing in and give a few pregnancy reflections of my own. The Lord has certainly been faithful to us in so many ways. His timing is perfect. As I write we are hopefully coming to the beginning of the end of finishing our major construction overhaul of 143 S. Wabash, and this baby's room which now sits without walls, will soon have the Abitouches put to it. I'm hoping for a mural. After recent trip to Colina de Luz, I'm feeling more ready than ever to be a dad. Ironically, it was on the playground at Colina eight years ago that the Lord first put in me this desire through the embrace of a 5 year-old orphan. He's brought me full circle on that one and again remained faithful.

Abigail's been a wonderful pregnant wife, and soon to be mom. We've gone almost exclusively organic in all of our food consumption. No pesticides, preservatives, or growth-hormones for this child. You all know how health conscious she is and we've only taken that up about 10 levels. She also amazes me as she continues to direct the Homework House amidst weird tummy issues, aches, pains, and exhaustion. I have so much respect and admiration for her!

We've got another ultrasound appointment later this week, so look for another baby picture to be posted soon. Abigail got to hear the heartbeat last week, and I was the absent father (we actually didn't know this was that kind of appointment). Anyhow...my prayer for this child continues to be, "may every heartbeat beat for you my Lord" Seeing that all creation in some way is a part of ceaseless praise directed towards its Creator, we were sitting in church worshipping awhile back and I was struck by the thought that this child is already worshipping even as its being knit together. Wes or Steve, perhaps a song? Too late to make this CD? Worth a shot! Look for an upcoming blog about what it will take to be the best uncle as I reflect again.

A Little Bump!

A Little Bump!
Originally uploaded by jacobgaines.

The baby has already formed its organs and its brain is moving its arms and legs around. By now, its nose, eyes, ears, eyelids, and lips are also present. Its fingers and toes are no longer webbed! Yeah!

Baby Gaines at 9 1/2 Weeks!

Baby Gaines at 9 1/2 Weeks!
Originally uploaded by jacobgaines.

Snug as a bug in a rug, Baby Gaines is already beginning to make its mama's belly stick out! So far Abigail's symptoms have been relatively mild. Besides a few tired days and regular midnight snacks, she's feeling pretty good!

7 weeks

7 weeks
Originally uploaded by jacobgaines.

Baby Gaines at 7 weeks!

The Big News!

The Big News!
Originally uploaded by jacobgaines.

On January 18th, we found out the beautiful news, We're Going To Be A Mommy And Daddy!! And of course, Harles found out that he was going to be a big brother (or something like that)!
Abigail took about 10 pregnancy tests (of all different varieties) before she believed the positive line was for real. It was truly a surreal moment. Jacob just had that "deer in the headlights" look for about 48 hours.