Angels

Uncle Matt, Aly, and Mommy

Uncle Matt and Aly

Grandpa Shurtz

Grandma Renae Shurtz

An angel. That's what we think Erin's stepmother, Renae, really is. She may never know what her service to us this past week has meant. After having spent 2 weeks helping her daughter with a new baby followed by a week of vacation in New York, Renae came straight here to Forest Grove to spend yet another week away from her family helping new parents in the family adjust.

Renae cooked, cleaned, babysat, laundered, washed dishes (without a dishwasher), stocked cupboards, and offered the support that only family can during a week when we needed her. Aren't grandmothers great?

There have been other angels, too. Friends and ward members who cooked meals or made a point to offer their services have been indispensable as well.

Thank goodness for friends and family.

Look what the stork brought!

As far as Erin is concerned, she did all the work, and the stork shouldn't get any credit at all...

Alyson Jane Glabe was born on March 31st, 2009 at 1:50 PM. Erin's contractions began at 2:30 AM. Around 4:00 AM, Erin awoke Dave, who patted her on the back, mumbled something vaguely comforting, and promptly returned to his slumber. By 6:30, things started to register for Dave, and the preparations began. After showering, eating breakfast, and packing for a 3-day hospital stay, we were on our way.

At first, the nurses didn't believe that Erin was in labor. When they felt how low the baby's head was, however, they changed their minds.

Following a glorious and much-needed epidural and a subsequent hour-long nap, Erin was ready to push. The nurse was excited to have Dave see the tiny head emerging from the birth canal, and had him bend over to get a good look. Just then, Erin decided it was high time that her water broke, and sent a stream akin to that of a fire hydrant 8 feet across the room, narrowly missing Dave's face.

An exhausting 90 minutes later, Aly was born.

In the week and a half since our baby's birth, we've been adjusting to a new life, void of sleep but full of surprises and the greatest joy we've ever known.

We feel so blessed to have this little miracle from our Father in Heaven in our lives.

Daffodils and dandelions

So, Dave has this thing where he accidentally tends to call daffodils "dandelions." That wouldn't be so bad, except when he comments to others about how beautiful the dandelions are that are growing in their flower beds...

Anyway, daffodils also happen to be Erin's favorite flowers, so we traveled to Lake Oswego yesterday for the annual Oregon Daffodil Society Daffodil Show. After seeing all of the different varieties, we've compiled a list of specialty hybrids we want to include in our own garden someday. Above are some photos we took of the daffodil gardens outside of the exhibit (we forgot to take our camera inside where the actual "show" flowers were). Enjoy!

Hot Mama!

36 weeks! 4 weeks and counting to D-day ... delivery day (hopefully). We're just crossing our fingers that she doesn't come a bit early (during Spring Break), or a bit late (during Dave's finals). Regardless, we're excited to welcome our new baby to our home.

Dave's Birthday

Well, here we are trying to update our blog, which of course means we went to the coast and got some beautiful pictures (since the only time we seem to update our blog is when we go to the coast). We spent one weekend at the beach and couldn't believe how beautiful it was in the middle of January, so we decided to go back the next week for Dave's birthday. It's great to have all this just an hour away.

Here's Erin with her "baby bump" at 30 weeks. She's been dragging Dave to birthing classes and we are excited to welcome little Aly into the world in April.

PREGNANT!!!

This summer we found out we are pregnant ... finally! After much fasting and prayer we feel very blessed that the Lord has sent us this little spirit. Ultrasound pictures showed a healthy, active baby GIRL! Here's Erin at 22 weeks. Over the morning sickness and feeling great in the second trimester, she's excited that people are finally beginning to ask whether she's pregnant (and not just getting fat)! We are anxiously awaiting her arrival in April.

Tillamook Trip

Here are some photos from a recent visit to the Oregon coast where we saw a lighthouse, the octopus tree from Ripley's Believe it or Not, and even hiked among ferns (Dave's favorite). We also visited the Tillamook cheese factory and ate some tasty samples.