Oliver is One!

We had a fun celebration of Ollie's first birthday full of family, friends, tasty eats, local brew, and - of course - cake! Here are a few photos from the celebration (with a photo credit to our talented friend Ryan Carlson who brought along his camera and helped us capture the day).

The cake was a big hit!

Happy birthday boy

Reading one of his favorite books, "DOG," with Dad.

Big Brother, Isaac

Brothers - "posed"

Brothers - "real life"

Our other sweet boy

Isaac was more than happy to help put together Ollie's new toys 

Balloons! He was equally excited and scared by them...

family

grandma!

Capturing a few stats... my "guesses" for height and weight were right on! A couple days later he weighed 28 lbs and measured 32 " tall at his doctor's appointment (99 percentile).

There are a few more photos of the day in this online photo album (click here).

Happy birthday, Oliver!

Isaac Turns 5!

Isaac is 5 years old! A few pictures from his birthday celebrations.

Celebrations last weekend with G&G J

Birthday Party with Friends at Pump it Up

Ollie & Grandma M at the party

Loves his Legos gifts!

Blowing out candles with G&G J

Hello Oliver

We welcomed Oliver William to the world on Monday, September 15 at 4:30 AM. He was 8lb 4oz, 21 inches long, and he was born with a full head of hair.

Mom and Oliver saying their first hellos

Checking out the world

Oliver's Birth Story

Oliver was due September 10th, and we were starting to wonder how and when he would make his appearance. Would this baby ever come? Would he come fast like his brother, or would I have a more "normal" labor (if there is such a thing)? Here's how it all went down...

I went to bed on Sunday evening and woke up at 1 AM to a small amount of my water breaking. At 1:15 AM some light contractions started, and I started timing them to see if this was the real deal. Around 2:30 I called my midwife and was cleared to come into the childbirth center. Eric's Dad was visiting for the weekend, so he was able to stay with Isaac as we shuffled off to the hospital.

We arrived at the hospital around 3 AM and contractions were picking up. I settled into the room and was checked -- 5 cm and fully effaced. We called parents to let them know this was indeed the "real deal." Not wanting to miss my pain management "window," I asked for an epidural right away. However, nature once again had other plans for this delivery. As I was completing the administrative check-in process, contractions were intensifying fast. At 4:20 AM and out of now where (it seemed), I felt the need to push. I was surprised when the nurse said - "baby is coming now!" As with Isaac, there was no time for an epidural...

After 10 minutes of pushing a la natural, Oliver was born at 4:30 AM... just over three hours from the first contraction.

Labor was intense but positive, and we were so happy to welcome a healthy, baby boy. Eric and the clinical staff were excellent support, as my body was moving a lot faster through labor than my mind. A few hours after he was born I was still in shock about how fast he came. As the nurse accurately said, "he blasted out!"

Oliver's First Few Days

We arrived home on Tuesday and have spent the past few days getting to know Ollie, introducing him to family and friends, sleeping when we can, supporting Isaac in this transition, and settling in to a new normal.

Isaac has been a fantastic big brother and seems very excited to have a baby brother.

Here's a few more photos of Ollie from the past few days.

Brotherly Love

Meeting Isaac & Grandma Jabbusch (I imagine I was retelling the birth story here...)

Merhar Guys

Big Boy

Meeting Grandpa Jabbusch

Meeting Grandma Merhar

Coming home from the hospital

Meeting Aunt Lisa 

Spending a little more time awake...

But sleeping an awful lot....

Happy 4th Birthday, I.O.!

Our little (big) guy turned 4!

Highlights of his birthday included a celebration at preschool, a super-hero themed birthday party at our house, and surprises from both of his grandpas! Grandpa M made a surprise visit to his party, and Grandpa J dressed up head to toe as Spiderman and surprised the whole party.

(Click Photo to Enlarge)

Happy 3rd Birthday, Isaac Otto :: Part 2 (The Party)

Part 2 of Isaac's birthday celebrations was his party at the Kamas Pool.  He had 10 friends (ages 2-5) come for pizza, cupcakes and a whole lot of swimming.  We had an absolute blast!  And, it tired him out.  He fell asleep on our drive home (6pm), and slept through the night. Here are the photo highlights, and a short video of Isaac blowing out his birthday candles.

More photos uploaded on our Picassa album too (click here).

Happy 3rd Birthday, Isaac Otto :: Part 1

Happy Birthday, Isaac! On his actual birthday (April 2), he had a party at daycare and we went to dinner at a favorite wood-fire pizza restaurant on main street.

Look who is three!

On Saturday, we'll do celebration Part 2: a swimming party at the local pool with all of his friends.

January -- A little of this, a little of that

Here is a little bit of what we've been up to the last few weeks:

First, Eric had a birthday! Kind of a "big one"-- but he'll kill me if I tell you he turned 35.  Our friends Kate & Ben hosted a dinner at their house to celebrate.

Isaac and I made him a birthday hat. He was a great sport.

We've both been pretty busy at work this month, although nothing compared to working Sundance last January.  Speaking of which, we did get to enjoy a little bit of the festival parties this year...

Angela & I -- step & repeating at the "Naughty By Nature" concert... Oh yeah... rocking it old skool

And (of course), we've been out on the mountains almost every weekend... how can we not when it is 3 minutes from our driveway?

Family portrait

Day 2 for Isaac! It's still a hit... but it takes 3 data points for a trend, right?

always a gorgeous view... even on a -2 degree day (not exaggeration.. it was cold)

And lastly, a mandatory Isaac update...

this month he loves...

soccer! (nothing new here)... oh, and the blocks are the goal, in case you were wondering.

Drawing.  Total mom-bragging moment here.  But he's motor skills are getting so much better! I think this is a family portrait.  And it's cute, when he talks about his family he usually includes his best friend Haven

Gymnastics! He loves the open gym on the weekend

iPad and Curious George! (obsessed...)

Daddy!  I should have started the post with this one, cause I absolutely love it.  Here we are today at the pool.  These two had a blast.  Isaac was way more confident in the water today, going under the water on his own and a lot less clingy to yours truly.  He stayed in the water almost an hour and a half (thank goodness the pool was closing, or it might have been a meltdown getting him to leave...)

I love these boys!

Happy Birthday to Me!

We celebrated with dinner out on Friday at a great wood fire pizza restaurant on Main Street.  

The gelato sampler is always amazing.

Isaac & Mom

Waiting for the bus up to main street.  Looking like a big boy in his stylin newsboy hat.

Yum!

More silly faces!

Eric got a gold star by bringing flowers to me at work!

I guess 32 isn't so bad afterall...