Stay Tuned

Ok for all of you Team Baliko addicts who are dying for new Annie pictures, we know that we have been a bit remiss in updating the blog this week. My parents (Steve's) came into town on Tuesday and we've either been trying to survive 100+ degree weather or traveling on our great escape to the coast. I also forgot to bring the camera's cord for downloading pictures...sooooooo....you'll have to wait until we get back to Portland. It will be worth waiting for, trust me. Annie has gotten to see her first whale in Depoe Bay, she was caught sleeping and looking beautiful on several occasions, there will be a brief study in how to steam oysters (Netarts Bay oysters...best in the west!) and there are several pictures with grandma and poppop Baliko that are adorable. Today we are leaving the surfing condo we stayed in last night and we are headed up the coast to the newly reopened Astoria column and other breathtaking sites along the way. Until we meet again...stay tuned.

First Bath...Oh my, you might have heard her

It all started so peacefully.


Last night we decided that it was safe to try Annie in the baby bathtub...I had thought to use the hose but Darla reminded me that 13 day old babies and hoses are not a good idea. So much to remember- don't give babies peanuts, don't let them eat the ice cream off your plate, no french fries, no bungee jumping with the baby, no rides that involve shaking and now, no hoses. Ok so we got some lukewarm water and set her down in the baby tub...

and well the pictures pretty much represent how much she "loved" it

...in order to get the full effect you might have to scream in the ear of the person sitting next to you...but trust me none of you adults out there are going to reach this octave!
She calmed down once we wrapped her in an adorably cute pink towel that had a hood...its like a little gansta towel...these modern kids get all the cool stuff.

PS: You know that you have achieved the threshold of real parenthood when you cheer (yes, out loud) when your baby, who has not pooped for five days, actually poops. I heard myself say "I'm so proud of you for pooping." In a sugary sweet cheerleader kind of voice....ahhh parenthood (and yes, I was the one who cleaned her up).

You can dress 'em up, but...

Darla bought some precious dresses yesterday and she got Annie all fixed up in one of them for church this morning. Today was first Annie's first big outing: lots of people, lots of sound, lots of heat. So Darla picked out a beautiful little breathable number and Annie seemed to like it. She and Dad got some pictures right before we left for church.

Yup she's winking at the camera because she knew what she had in mind to do.

The moment we parked the car she spit up all over her new dress and her car seat (boy, did that smell good after church and 2 hours of 90+ degrees) Never fear we had another cute dress for her and in no time flat Team Baliko was back in action and ready for church. We ran into several sets of friends and met up with Darla's long time friends Grahame and Karen who happened to be in town this week. They loved the chance to see Annie and us with Annie (Grahame performed our wedding ceremony in October '08) and we'd loved the chance to see them along with their son Carl and daughter-in-law Angie.

and Annie because she knows that her dad is typing embarrassing facts about her, has just peed on her dear old dad....ahhh she's so cute.

Summer Harvest: Urban Wheat Fields

Earlier this year I planted two modest fields of wheat out front of our Portland apartment building. I tended it day in and day out (see my proud-farmer wheat field pictures in an earlier post). And then the time was ripe. That time of year when the kernels are full and the heads bend over with reverent anticipation of harvest. Today was that day. I got my tractor out(ok, it was Orion's tractor and thankfully he was taking a nap when his dad let me borrow it. Thanks big O!) and set to harvesting some Urban Wheat.


I thought this field alone might take all day but thankfully we were only out in the hot sun for three minutes...but harvesting is just one part of bringing the harvest in.


Making that final pass through the rows of stubble.

Nothing is quite as satisfying as setting out across the open field with a load full of freshly cut wheat. Don't knock it until you've tried it!


This may look like child's play to you, but trust me this was the hardest and most exacting portion of the harvest. I breathed a big sigh of relief when I got the load down the stairs. Phew!

Carefully navigating the city sidewalks, doesn't look like I'll be picked up and chewed on by any crazed labs or collies. I had my crew clear the path of all five years olds, just in case...I don't want to talk about what happen in '02.

Easing off the curb and getting my bearings for the open road.

Out on the asphalt, looking both ways before I cross the "busy" intersection.


Heading off down the road to take the harvest to town.

And some people might be asking, Steve what are you going to do with ALL that wheat. Well I've got some ideas and a certain hankering for a nice thin piece of bread. Or perhaps we'll try out some popped wheat like this site suggests- http://waltonfeed.com/old/self/wheat.html . No matter what happens, I reckon it will be the best wheat we've ever eaten.
THE END
Stay tuned for the further adventures of "the little garlic that could."
We now return you to Annie: The Cutest Child in the World (except yours, of course)

Annie Reclining in the Lap of Luxury

Annie was taking a nap this morning on our red sheet covered with a multi-colored blanket. Looking like a princess in a fairy tale.

So here a few pictures of her...again...if you are susceptible to cuteness diabetic comas...you might be in trouble...take your insulin and proceed.

A Walk in the Park

Darla and I took Annie for her first trip to the park. Quite a few people ohhhhed and ahhhhed over her and loved seeing a week-and-half old baby out for a walk. (Ok I did most of the walking but she let's me do the work to make me feel good) It was a gorgeous night, cool and clear. Annie loved looking around and was surprisingly content on the swings. And of course she was her wonderful cuteness.


Peeking over my shoulders at Momma



Annie told me to let her swing by herself but I was too scared.

These hands...

...what will they do?

Annie sleeping like an angel

Annie was sporting some great pensive and cute poses as she slept the other day...so like any over-doting and attentive father I grabbed the camera and asked Darla to reposition Annie's little hands into the cute ways that they had been when I grabbed the camera, children know when the are being cute and they tempt you to get the camera and then move out of that position...fortunately Annie is still in that "I'm really sleepy after taking a long trip" state and she is still susceptible to our gentle parental posing. Enjoy!


Ok she is so cute you just want to spread her on toast and eat her up. I'm not advocating the eating of children. Cute ones or ugly ones...I mean there are no ugly children just ones that are adorably challenged. Yup, I need more sleep.

One Week Check-up

Yesterday we had a visit from one of our midwives to check up on Annie and me. We're proud to say that Annie is doing so well, now weighing 9 lbs 9 oz - a four ounce gain from her birth weight! (This is great, considering that the goal is for newborns to be back up to their birth weight by the time they are two weeks old.) This is also good news for me, as I no longer have to wake her every 3 hours to feed her. Instead, I can just feed her at her request, which is a moving little mouth and tongue - the cutest little mouth and tongue you ever did see.

I'm doing well, too - and I'm glad I don't have a two week expectation to lose my baby weight! (I'm actually not worried about it. It's great how giving birth to a 9+ pound baby, plus placenta, plus amniotic fluid, plus whatever, can make a regular ol' postpartum girl feel like a toothpick.)

Happy One Week Old

Darla took this picture at 12:17pm today on Annie's exact moment of being born. Happy One Week Annie!


and then she decided to sing to us all...ok really she was yawning.

Some deep thoughts about the wonder of our child's birth

"...but surely the child is [herself] a little stranger who visits us. In however many reassuring ways [she] resembles us, [she] nevertheless remains radically different. As we know, we discover more and more as time goes by how much the child was wanted all along. There is something magnificent in this freedom that can transform fertility from a biological urge into the desire for a vaster love. But it will happen only on one condition: however much the child was wanted, even if it had been possible to 'programme' [her], [she] must have been welcomed in the beginning and welcomed as a stranger." (On Human Being by Olivier Clement)

One of my mentors sent me this quote this week after he heard about Annie's birth. I loved it and wanted to share it with you. There is a realization growing in me (in us) that she is her own person and we get this brief season of her life to care for her and to get to know her in part, never fully. She comes to us as a beautiful mysterious stranger. She comes in need of care, love, and sacrifice. She comes to be welcomed and to be blessed with open arms and willing hearts. Hearts that are willing to learn and to teach, listen and speak, love and receive love. What an amazing gift to see the stranger transformed into the friend, not through coercion or manipulation but by selfless compassion, sacred wonder, and deep deep joy. What an adventure!

Annie coaxes her parents into the Camera

Evening here in Portland and it is finally cooling off. We are grateful for our borrow air conditioner. A cool room is key for momma and baby on days that are 90+. Here are a few pictures of our day-
Annie content after some good nursing time

Annie got visited by another Annie today!

Dad gets some good time with Annie- Awake...

and Asleep!

And one more parting shot:

Fun with Blocks and a Flurry of Pictures

The people have spoken and they want to see MORE Annie. Well who are we to deny the people a look at Annie...again more beautiful today then yesterday. I will probably have to confess the sins of vanity and pride this next Sunday at church, but just take a look at this cuteness and you'll be right there with me! So first a color shot wide awake:

Now she is waving to you- "Hello world!"

Ok now here come the pictures that verge on cuteness overload...we couldn't help ourselves.


the symbolic name shot:


Ok well we will have some Annie and Mom and Dad shots soon, but trust me we don't look so good right now...Darla looks better than me...but that's nothing new. Actually we are doing well and loving this special time for the three of us to spend quiet time enjoying the beginning of life together as a Family!! More later...I promise you I'm about to get philosophical (and perhaps poetic)...you've been warned!

Day 2

If it is possible Annie was more beautiful today then she was yesterday. She took an amazing 3 hours nap and looked lovely in the early afternoon sunlight...so of course I couldn't help myself and snapped a few B/W photos.



Darla is recovering well and we are being well cared for by friends and family near and far. Tomorrow is our first home visit from the midwife and hopefully a chance for some more great pics and long naps. I promise to be a little more reflective in future posts but right now I feel like I'm going to fall asleep on my keyboard, so whatever I come up with might be non-sensical. (case-in-point)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

ON July 13, 2009 our lives were changed forever. Our beautiful daughter was born at 12:17pm She weighed 9lbs 5 oz and is about 21 in long. And as you can see from the picture, she has a wash of brown hair. For the time being she has dark blue eyes, no teeth, and is choosing to not impress us with her knowledge of latin.
After much deliberation, prayer and several naming summits (that did not include commemorative pens) it has become clear that her name is (drum roll please...):
Annie Bella-Rose Baliko. In her own way she told us that she approved when we told her, her name (code for: she did not scream and yell or poop her diaper at that exact moment HA!).

We had a fantastic birth experience and I'm sure Darla will want to spend several future posts giving a more full and rich description of what that time was like for her. Our birth team was incredibly supportive and amazingly skilled at every point in the process.


We left Alma Midwifery Center around 1pm on Tuesday afternoon and have been getting settled in at home the past day or so. Annie has already had her first video conference and she has other high aspirations for today, her second full day of life with mom and dad.


Darla is doing well and recovering like a champ. She did amazing during the birth. More on all of that later. For now...YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks be to the God of all Creation for a healthy baby, a safe and beautiful birth, and a home that is full of the love that has been infused and empowered by the Glory of our Savior Jesus. We can't wait to share Annie with all of you, our beloved friends and family! Stay tuned...much more to come!