Bonding with my Son

I really can't believe the last time I blogged was in September. Things have been ridiculously hectic these last few months, but I have now found time during the holidays to both bond with my family and post a new blog.

I raised a concern with Danielle this morning; it went something like, "Danielle, I'm not sure if you've noticed, but I feel as though I'm not in many photos with Milan." To be quite frank, I'm convinced that out of the thousand photos we have of our son, I'm maybe in a dozen of them. Her response you ask? She immediately went upstairs, grabbed the camera gear and took a few shots. The above photo was the result of my observation :)

I catch myself staring at Milan, mesmerized by the hope; by the innocence; and well, by how darn cute he is. He's growing quickly and becoming more active and aware of his surroundings. He loves bouncing, smiling, reaching out to grab objects (he's got impressive hand-eye coordination for such a young lad), endless chatter and chewing on Daddy's fingers with his two new teeth.

We have also started feeding Milan rice cereal (pablum). As you can see from the shot above, he's still learning to keep it all in his mouth. This has become a nightly routine, but I have not had the opportunity to feed him myself. I've got a lot of confidence I'll be able to handle it though. If I was able to find my groove with the baths, diaper changes, clothing and children's songs; I'll be able to develop my new skillsets to keep up with my boy :)

It's fantastic that I've been able to spend a good chunk of time out of the office during the holidays. I get the chance to see my son everyday; sit on the floor and play with him during tummy time; read "My First Christmas" to him over and over and over again; put him down for naps; watch NCAA basketball with him and coach him on the intricacies of a 2-1-2 full-court press; and watch him bounce for endless hours in his jolly jumper.

I know every parent feels this way, but I gotta say it. What a phenomenal child we have...the love and bond continues to strengthen and is something we'll cherish forever.

That's it for now, but since I likely won't be back on prior to the new year, I'd like to wish everyone a very happy, safe and prosperous 2009.

To Saskachewan and Beyond!!!

Hi everyone! As I promised in the last blog entry, I am posting some photos of our trip from out west. Hope you enjoy!

A snapshot of Milan on the plane. He did so well! I doubt he even knew he was off the ground to tell the truth... We had Sasha's dad, Janko, drive us to the airport and help us to check our luggage, then we were really on our own. It went very smoothly, which made me so happy as I had been pretty anxious about travelling with a baby alone for the first time. For those who don't know, Sasha and his parents were joining us in Saskatchewan for Grandma Flo and Grampa Joe's wedding 8 days after Milan and I arrived.

Here is a photo of Milan at Grandma Flo's and Grampa Joe's after we arrived. He is such a little hero! All that travelling and bustling about and nothing but smiles from him!! We were so glad to get there and get unpacked - it was really nice to be back in Saskatchewan again.

Grandma Flo was so happy to have her little boy with her again! No one has more fun than these two when they are together. Milan is always comforted by the sound of her voice and is easy to smile when she is around.

After we had been in Rosetown for 2 nights, it was time to drive to Regina to see Great-Grandma and Great Grampa Seitz. Milan is the first Great-Grandchild, so it was really special to see them together and snap a few photos. The drive from Rosetown to Regina was about 3 hours long and it was also the first time Milan and Mommy were in the car driving together alone for such a great distance. We were troopers and made it safely without a hitch.

Many other members of the Seitz clan got to meet King Milan for the first time while we were there. The visit wouldn't have felt complete without a traditional Seitz meal made by Grandma Adeline. M-M-Tastee!! Thanks Grandma for the wonderful supper!

Uncle George and cousin Jordan with Milan. Auntie Louise and Milan
Here is a neat photo of Renee and Uncle George hanging out with Milan.

This is Suzanne, one of the greatest mom's I have ever met, she continues to inspire me daily, with Milan, Liliana, and little Elana in the background. She didn't even break a sweat for this photo. I did.
The woman with the magic touch. If anyone needs rocking to sleep, see her.

Simone needed her baby-fix one evening, so she brought Michele and Jeremy over for a visit. Jeremy gave Milan a toy which used to be his as a baby and it has become one of Milan's favorites! Thanks Jeremy!
Here is Michele with Milan. Milan didn't give her a easy time holding him, but she did a great job! Michele also celebrated her 13th birthday while we were visiting in Saskatchewan. Happy Birthday girlfriend! :-D
The day before the wedding, some family and friends gathered to decorate the hall. With every one's help, it turned out wonderfully! We were ready to party! Here is Aunt Alice meeting Milan for the first time.
On the wedding day, Grandma Flo looked absolutely gorgeous all done up with her hair and make-up. A beautiful bride indeed! Grampa Joe looked extremely handsome and it was obvious when he was standing with his sons that good looks run in the family for sure! Never one to be outdone, Milan insisted on wearing his tuxedo so that he might be presentable and dressed for the occasion. He looked quite dapper, and everyone agreed that James Bond himself would cast an envious eye to our little man.

That's it for now! Hope you enjoyed all the photos! Take care everyone!

A moment to Cherish

It's quite late to be writing a post (12:35 to be exact), but like many who keep note pads by their bed to jot down thoughts, ideas or revelations when they may strike, I felt compelled to come downstairs and type up my own thoughts as they occurred to me a moment ago.

I know I am needing to get thoughts and photos together about our big trip to Saskatchewan recently. I promise a blog post dedicated entirely to this very soon.

This week Milan cut his first tooth. December 10th, Sasha, Milan and I were all upstairs hanging out in bed all cozy as could be. Milan has been in the teething process for at least a month now. We knew it because he was suddenly drooling quite a bit and always chewing on his hands, fingers and fist if he could. Poor little guy is so young to be teething that developmentally, he cannot even hold a teething ring to offer relief. So he was gnawing away at daddy's knuckle when daddy announced that he felt the tooth biting into him! We knew it was coming, just not quite this fast. It's the front bottom tooth on the left. Wouldn't ya know it that the very next day, a tiny sliver of the tooth right next to it popped up too.

Anyhow, before getting off track, this teething thing is taking a toll on him in the sense that he is just exhausted. Tonight he went to sleep around 6:30 and has woken up twice for some sampling of mummy's milk, then promptly dozes off again.

The most recent feeding at 11:20 had me in the spare bedroom laying next to the little stinker. He doesn't stink, really. Even when he needs a bath he smells like the heaven's and all the glory in the world. He's fed, changed and fast asleep and I couldn't be more awake, darn it. We're laying next to one another all bundled up in Great-Grandma Seitz's wool quilt, and I can't help but to stare at my life's greatest achievement with wonder.

He is growing up so fast! I know about a million people told me that he would, but he really is. I found myself thinking, "I want to remember this...". Hence me sitting here at 12:43 typing away. I want to remember the chunks that are his healthy cheeks, his almost-not-there eyebrows, the dimples where his knuckles are and the chubby fingers. I want to be able to call upon the image of the creases at his wrist, almost like he is wearing a sleeve that ends just there. The beauty of calmness that lies over his eyes while he sleeps, and the occasional twitch of his eyes underneath their lids telling me he is dreaming. Is he dreaming of the kisses I just planted all over his face even while he sleeps? I know that our time sleeping side by side is somewhat coming to an end. It's never going to be as easy as it is now to pluck him up when it's nap time and curl up with him. Holding him close, tight and warm, with my arm around him. There will come a day that cuddling with mommy just won't be on his to-do list, his idea of 'cool things to do', there won't be enough play time in the hours of the day let alone time to canoodle with mommy.

Y'know, I bitched and complained about breastfeeding for awhile back. My cousin, Suzanne, told me that it'll change and it will cease to feel like such a chore, and I may even come to enjoy it. Lately this is definitely the case, because it means time that we can just lay there and let time tick away. Nothing else matters while we breastfeed. Who cares if the phone is ringing or there are chores to do? I can listen to him guzzle the milk from my breast and nuzzle close to him. Listen to him breathing and touch his soft fuzzy hair, which is also just one more thing that is growing and changing on my remarkably perfect little man. He doesn't even know how many times I have taken his soft little hand and caressed my own face with it as he sleeps. It's the most divine feeling in the world, because exists little else in the entirety of the world that is that soft, that innocent, that pure. Nothing else matters during these moments, and they are the ones I want to remember forever.

I end now, leaving you to return to my little boyfriend, who doesn't even know I have left his side as he sleeps peacefully.

“We do not remember days, we remember moments.”
Cesare Pavese

Just another day in the life of Milan....

Milan is 3 months old! How could this be?! We have been told by a few different people that we are entering the days of the milestone. Everyday a new development will seemingly occur. Already we can sense all the changes that are right around the corner...

He makes me smile all day long. We've gotten to know each other, I think, and have developed somewhat of a routine that works for both of us.

8-9am - Wake up and get out of bed. This can take an hour because we try and squeeze in some extra winks after daddy leaves for work.

9-10:30ish - Play in the swing, excersaucer, bouncy chair, bumbo chair, or on the muffin mat. Mommy tries to make coffee and have some breakfast while Milan is content playing on his own for a few minutes. Then she sings songs like 'Old MacDonald' (he really likes this one!) and other songs that we've learned together.
Usually at the 10:30 mark, it's time for Milan to have a snack and a nap. Milan is now sleeping much less during the daytime then he used to when he was a new baby. He takes a few 20 -45 minute cat naps during the day and is getting much closer to sleeping through the night.

After Milan wakes up from his morning nap, he eats again and we repeat the play activities. Sometimes we have play dates with other babies and mommies, coffee dates at Chapters, or we go do some shopping and run errands. Mommy has learned that we have a 90 minute time limit on most outings before the possibility of a Milan-sized meltdown can occur!!
**** Get Me Home Mommy!!!!!***

1:30ish - another snack-a-roo, then nap time. We know when nap time has come when Milan is getting a bit fussy. I'm almost 100% positive that this will become whining when is is a bit older...
Once or twice a week, Grampa Herakovic will come over and spend some time with Milan. They walk and chat and Milan will fall asleep in Grampa's strong arms. Grampa likes to coo to Milan in Serbian which is very special. Almost like a secret language shared between the two.... Milan will just gaze up at Grampa and smile and try and laugh here and there at something funny Grampa says.

Around 4:30 Mommy starts to find ways to get dinner started while Milan starts to get fussy and in need of another nap. Daddy comes home and finds his son happy to see his father and to be in his arms. Mommy is boring after being together all day!! :-)

Sometimes Milan needs a nap around the dinner hour, sometimes not. He decides and lets us know. He will go to bed between 7:30-9 but only for a few hours. He wakes up well before midnight for another feeding and then Mommy and Daddy make bets on how long our little Mister will sleep for that night. Mommy usually wins!

These days Milan is holding his whole upper body up when he lays on his tummy. During 'tummy time' he props himself up on his forearms/elbows and holds his neck and head way up off the ground. His little legs kick excitedly as though he wants to crawl away! But Mommy says, "No way! You have to stay my little baby for a bit longer Milan!" ;-) On 3 or 4 rare occasions, he has rolled over from tummy to back, which got both Mommy and Daddy extra excited!

He is also developing quite the vocabulary of baby sounds and is working on a shriek which startles him! It's pretty cute, he makes a little scream then gets all serious because he didn't know what just happened and what the noise was!
One of his favorite things is to stand up on his strong little legs. While we hold him under his arms, he will stand and bounce up and down. We are all amazed and are certain that we are only providing him with the balance. If not for that he would be able to stand on his very own!!

He is a charming little boy who flirts with big smiles that consume his whole face. His eyes smile so bright when he is excited and it makes our hearts flutter! We are so lucky to have such a wonderful baby boy.
Tomorrow, (Saturday, November 22nd) is the day that we have decided to decorate our house for the Christmas holidays. We want to make it festive with a big tree, lights and festive decorations. It's our son's first Christmas and although he won't be able to remember it, we want to have memories of family and friends, happiness and joy - everything that the holidays represent. One day we will be able to tell him about his first Christmas and just how special it was for the whole family. We will surely take lots of photos of the day to remember for years to come, as well as to post on the blog for everyone to enjoy.

Stay tuned for more!

Two Month Milestone

October 17th arrived marking Milan's first 2 months in this big world.

It's safe to say that everyday has been a mysterious adventure with him so far. We never know what to expect. He is a chameleon of a thousand faces. This much is certain. Both Mommy and Daddy find that we can watch him for endless periods of time, gazing into his thoughtful eyes as they search our face, or as he smiles and coos, or fusses and cries. His little coughs and sneezes are enchanting to us, which may something only parents can find adorable of their young ones...even his little spit bubbles are cute to us!

It feels as though something on his face changes everyday, as though the little baby boy we brought home from the hospital is fading right before our eyes. He is slowly transforming into a little boy. A little macho man! There have been several times where we've looked at the size of his hands with such long fingers and wonder if he'll be a future star in the National Basketball Association (NBA).

We see other families with their little boys and can't help but wonder what Milan will be like at their age. Will he be mischievious or timid? Short or tall? Social or shy? ...whatever the future holds, we know one thing for sure, we cherish every moment with him and our love becomes stronger each time we look at his angelic face.

A Thoughtful Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is all about God and thanking him for the gifts of life, love, joy, and especially family. It may be somewhat of an uncommercialized holiday without gifts or glitzy decorations, but the spirit is still there, and Thanksgiving is definitely one of my favorite times of year. This year we are giving thanks for so much - beginning with our handsome son, our health and the happiness we have in our lives.

It has become our tradition to plan a fall photo shoot during the first two weeks of October. We have chosen this time of year because there are colourful leaves on the ground, yet some still remain on the trees as well, making for an undeniably gorgeous canvas. This time last year it was just the two of us, and the air was crisp and cold. Now that baby makes three, our festive photo shoots have a new purpose. What more appropriate holiday to give thanks and cherish the gifts in our lives than Thanksgiving.

Today was a special day. We woke up with anticipation knowing that our fourth annual Autumn photos would have a new beginning; thanks to baby Milan. The weather today was as nice as it had been all summer. Sunny, clear skies and a high of 25...needless to say our little boy experienced a beautiful day surrounded by all of natures wonderful colours.

If someone would have told us at last years photo shoot that we'd be parents to a gorgeous baby boy, we probably would have laughed. Now that we have Milan in our lives, holidays such as Thanksgiving have taken on a whole new meaning. Suddenly it feels as though we will be able to experience the same holidays we've celebrated for many years through new eyes; through Milan. Even though he is too young to know it now, our excitement is growing to be with him during his first snowfall, his first Christmas, Easter and so on. It will be the greatest gift to see the wonder and amazement in his eyes that each holiday holds.

I would like to end by wishing you a warm and happy Thanksgiving spent with those you love and are loved by, and by leaving you with a quote which I find uniquely appropriate for this holiday.

"Thanksgiving Day comes, by statute, once a year; to the honest man it comes as frequently as the heart of gratitude will allow."

~ Edward Sandford Martin

There's a first time for everything...

There is always a first time for everything. As new parents, we've become a lot more conscious of any and all these 'first time' moments because we realize that it's so easy for them to pass you by unnoticed and equally un-cherished. You never get a chance to redo them or to try again, they just happen in their natural way, the way God intended.

- You're first day of school

- First Kiss, crush, love, break-up etc...

- Getting engaged, then Married

- Buying your first home with your spouse (and feeling oh-so grown up!)

- Having a baby, becoming parents and the roller coaster ride of personal growth that comes with that huge avenue.

As parents there are a lot of new 'first times' that Sasha and I will get to experience. Yesterday was a day where we got to experience two new moments which we savour the memories of. We are often hired to photograph the wedding day of blissful newlyweds. This was one of those days. It was the first wedding that we were scheduled to photograph since Milan's arrival. Usually they are in Kitchener-Waterloo, but this one was in Toronto's famous castle, Casa Loma. This meant leaving our new bundle of joy all day - for more than 12 hours! What a huge first for any parent!

Knowing the wedding date and having been booked for this event quite some time in advance, we had our baby-sitters of choice carefully selected (using a complicated selection process, of course). Grampa & Grandma Herakovic, (or Baba and Deda as we call them in Serbian) were beside themselves with excitement for this day to arrive.

As we anxiously prepared ourselves, leaving a highly detailed list of instructions and emergency phone numbers, Milan slept away peacefully unaware in his bassinet. We gave him our last kisses for the day and reluctantly got in the car - childless - for the first time in almost 6 weeks.

The whole drive to Toronto we couldn't help but feel as though we had forgotten something. It had been 6 weeks since Sasha and I had been alone together without the baby in tow! We made it less than 25 kilometers out of town and made the first call home to check in. All was well. Still sleeping peacefully. Then we spent the remainder of the drive looking at each other asking, "I wonder how things are going at home", and "Do you think we should call home one more time before we get there?".

13 exhausting hours, and 8 (or so) phone calls home later, new mommy and daddy stumble home to discover that our little King was so well behaved and easy to care for that we should promptly have 10 children.

The report from our trusted caregivers stated that Milan ate well all day long, slept very well all day long, smiled and flirted when awake, and successfully made wet and poopy diapers all day long.

Apparently, the first time being separated from his loving mommy and daddy went much smoother for Milan than it did for us.

After having slept on it, I can look back and say that it was a breeze and that Sasha and I have no problem leaving our little prize for a few hours, but that would be a lie. We had a very good day in Toronto, but our hearts were aching to be home every moment. It was SO nice to walk in the door and race to his side to watch him sleep, breathing calmly, and wish we could wake him up to hold, kiss and cuddle him again.

No one tells you that sometimes a couple of those 'First Time' moments can be hard on the heart. We might need to let ours heal a bit before becoming brave enough to venture away from home without our handsome boy again.

We've come a long way baby!

Our little boy is 4 weeks old today! That means that 4 Sundays' ago, I was in the hospital for what was one of the biggest events of my life. I remember it well because it was still a short time ago, but I know inevitably, the finer details of that days memories will fade. That's not to say I will forget the day - I enjoy replaying it over in my mind every once in awhile. But while I create new memories to savor, the colourful details of other moments may fade slightly. Such is life I guess...

I remember being in complete awe that the fateful day I would become a mother had finally arrived! I was so scared, and nervous. There were so many things I didn't know how to do when it came to being a parent! One of the biggest challenges I thought I was certain to face was the great sleep issue. So many parents warned us of the sleepless nights, the diaper changes, the multi-hours of night nursing and the eternal zombie-like state that goes with new parenthood. I've been pleasantly surprised (so far) at how well I have adjusted to the on/off sleeping pattern that goes with having a newborn infant. I tried to prepare myself prior to Milan's birth to "roll with the punches" and sleep when I could, and so far that theory is working well.

One area that needs some work on my part is what I call the Fluster Factor. I tend to become flustered when I cannot sooth our little bundle of joy. It hurts me to know sometimes you just have to let babies cry - when all I want to do is fix the problem. Getting used to a baby's wail isn't something that happens overnight. Perhaps a CD or a DVD comprised solely of a baby's cry would be a 'must-have' item to purchase for any expectant parent?

Although I need to remind myself to stay as calm as I can during these trying moments, I am proud to say that I am starting to be able to distinguish between King Milan's cries. The Tired Cry, the Hungry Cry, the I'm-Uncomfortable-Cry and so on. Surely not everyone can boast this rare, yet valuable talent?! The bottom line is that I am trying my very best to be as in tune with our son's method of communication as possible. This is my winning formula to success.

Additionally, who would have thought that I'd be a champion at breastfeeding?! Not I, that's for sure. But the scale is proving that our son is thriving and gaining weight like a sumo-wrestler in training. Just one more way that I have gracefully slid into the role of Motherhood. The last weigh in was just this past Thursday, September 11th, and the King was a whopping 10lbs 6.5 ounces! Mummies milk must be good!!

As it stands, this evening I have begun to exercise my vocal cords for what will be thousands of hours of song singing, lulling baby to sleep, and learning countless cartoon jingles which will probably get stuck in my head for thousands of hours more...

I end this blog saying so far, so good. I can do this. I am doing this! I am a mom and at this point, I feel as though I'm hangin' in there. Keep in mind it's only been 28 complete days. We'll see how the next 28 go. ;-)

Stay tuned for more Adventures with Milan!

Still a rookie parent, but making progress!

Blogged by: Proud Papa (aka Sash)

We're only a few days away from Milan turning one month old; unbelievable how quickly time goes by. Many parents have told us that this stage goes by so quickly and to cherish every moment. I've been very conscious of it, trying to spend as much time with him before I return to work. It'll be an adjustment for the whole family, but I'm personally dreading the day I get the phone call from Danielle at work saying, "you'll never guess what he just did!! Milan just (insert amazing accomplishment here) !!" C'est la vie I suppose, but maybe I could talk him into saving those major milestones for the weekends? :)

He has already captured the heart of his parents, as well as the friends and family that have had the chance to meet him already. Danielle describes his personality up to this point the same as mine; apparently I'm cool, calm and collected :) We've had our hands full this month, but I think we're slowly "getting it", however, I still struggle with a few of my baby related tasks, including, but not limited to the following:

1. Changing his outfits in a timely fashion. I think I have a 1 in 5 success rate. The neck holes are too tiny, his head to wobbly, the sleeves are too tight, argh..I sometimes question what some of these baby clothes designers were thinking, but definitely see this as an area I'll improve on with more practice.
2. Bath time. How parents don't have anxiety attacks when they're picking up a soapy baby is beyond me. I'm cautious by nature, but I take it to the extreme here. I've got a way to go before I can do this one on my own.
3. Singing to him. Okay, so I'll admit I've got a pretty karaoke singing voice, but it's useless when I can't remember words to even the simpliest of lullabies. Currently I'm either singing him Christmas carols or making up my own songs.
4. Diaper changing. I evolved from a total rookie to a competent diaper changer within the last month, but the piece that has alluded me up til now has been the "oh do I feel cold air? let's pee on Daddy" syndrome. The kicker here is that this has only happened to Danielle twice. I'm getting better each day so the quick changes tend to mitigate this problem, but it will inevtiably occur again soon.

I'm curious to know what the next month will bring for our new family. Ah, the bliss of being a father.

Inspiration

There are many definitions for this word on the internet, but the one I liked best is:

"arousing to a particular emotion or action"

Today I had to say a sad goodbye to my mom, Milan's Grandma. She was here for 2 weeks following his birth. I still remember calling her at 8am on Sunday August 17th to let her know I was having contractions. I didn't expect her to walk through the door of my hospital room less than 2 hours after our son was born, but she did.

I know there are a lot of different situations for new moms in the world. Some women have a baby and are sent home only to have their husbands or partners have to return to work the very next day. Some women don't even have husbands or partners, let alone a support system. Talk about nerve racking! I don't think I could've done it alone. My situation is a fortunate one. I have an amazing support system - one that every new mom would envy. I have a loving husband, a very close relationship with loving in-laws and I was blessed with an incredible mother.

She stayed with us for 2 weeks and helped build my confidence as a new mother. She was there when I was crying from fatigue, frustration, snarking through raging post-partum hormones, burping the baby when no one else could get a burp out of him, and changing diapers as though they were as fun as going on an afternoon shopping spree.

I realized today that she has provided me with a very clear picture of the mom I can aspire to be. The way she is with her little grandson is the most endearing image ever to be seen. Whispering sweet nothings in his ear, dropping soft kisses all over his angelic face, and such confidence and ease that only experience can bring. I could have very well been watching her hold me as an infant 28 years ago. How lucky I was to be held and loved and to call her by the name Mom. I was so fortunate and didn't even know it then. It took me a long time into adulthood to fully understand what a blessing she was and still is - and here I got to witness it, with the exception of it being my child, her grandson instead of me all those years ago. The special magic touch of a mother is still within her.

I told her today that I love her. And that I didn't know who or where I would be without her. It's all I could say to thank her for years of selflessness and a mothering that compares to none.

Thank you Mom, for inspiring me to be great at something that really counts - being a Mom.

A few photos of our little Prince... enjoy!

One Week Later...

Blogged by: New Papa (aka Sash)

Wow, what a week! Is it possible that Milan is one week old already? While he's trying to adjust to the outside world, Danielle and I have been adjusting to parenthood. The sleep deprivation has kicked into high gear, but I'm happy how things have progressed up to this point. Milan has been keeping us busy, but like to think we're holding our own even if we are rookie parents. Danielle is an amazing Mom and my Mom-in-law has been a God send; she has made the adjustment so much smoother for us. Thanks Mom!

Milan is sleeping quite a lot during the day, but likes to wake up regularly throughout the night so he can have his favourite food :)

We're heading up to give him a bath. This will be my first kick at the can so stay tuned.

Blogged by: New Mommy (aka Danielle)
So this is it. Motherhood. I can't believe it's here- after 10 long months. Did you know that saying pregnancy is only 9 months is kind of a lie? It's true. No one gives birth on the 1st day of the 9th month. Pregnancy lasts until the end of the 9th month and sometimes if you are overdue, into the 10th month!

It's hard to swallow that one only has 9-10 months to physically, emotionally and mentally prepare for the responsibilities of being a parent. I doubt there is much preparation for the journey of parenthood, which inevitably will test your every strength beginning from the very first moment, lasting the rest of your life. You can't just "log hours" into a training regime for something like this.

I would like to say that from Milan's conception right through to his birth, the experience was absolute perfection. My stay at the hospital was complimented by the most caring, knowledgeable professionals who made a difference in bringing our son into the world. I don't know how many nurses receive post-birthing thank you notes, but I have already filled out 3 cards for a few special individuals in the Maternity Ward.

I also feel compelled to note that Sasha has been my statue throughout this beautiful journey. It was incredible to see him coach me through the birth, so strong, loving and seemingly unfazed by the frenzy of delivering a child. It was even more incredible to watch him hold his son, his son, for the first time with awe and admiration. As I sit here tonight reflecting on my life at this moment, I feel even more strongly then ever that I was privileged enough to meet my soul mate, marry him and to father his perfect little child. I wish this upon every soul on the earth.

Above, Sash mentioned our sincere thanks to everyone who has expressed enthusiasm towards our momentous arrival, but I would like to emphasis our sincere thanks to everyone as well. It can be overwhelming to realize the extent that people really do care.

So, to you, I thank you. You've made such a wonderful difference. Stay tuned!

Prince Milan has Arrived!

Blogged by: New Papa (aka Sash)

So the highly anticipated day finally arrived. Milan Luka Herakovic joined our family on August 17th, 2008 at 6:41pm weighing 8 lbs 5 oz and 21 inches in length.

Danielle is doing extremely well adjusting to motherhood and Daddy...well, I couldn't be more proud. We're 3 days into being parents and dealing with the sleepless nights relatively well up till now. I'm sure the next blog post will be unreadable as the fatigue kicks into high gear ;-)

Once we figure out our new routine we'll be shooting photos frequently and updating this blog with Milan's latest achievement. I'm such a proud father and look forward to giving Danielle and Milan everything I possibly can.

Thank you to everyone for their well wishes and support throughout Danielle's pregnancy and after his birth.

Milan's Due date has arrived... He has not.

Well today is Milan's due date. Actually it has been something of a moving target between today, August 9, 2008 and August 11, 2008. Who's to know? The midwife has flip flopped between these two dates a few times. We've just been going with the 9th. It is 10:16pm and it seems that August 9th 2008 is going to pass us quietly, uneventfully.

Last night Sasha's parents came over for supper and we watched the Olympic Opening Ceremonies. I was feeling so uncomfortable that I was certain Milan would come last night. Little Milan seemed very happy to kick me senseless for hours! After 4 potty breaks throughout the night to relieve an uncomfortable bladder, I accepted that I would wake up pregnant again this morning.

Waking up this morning, still larger than life, I thought to myself, "What's a girl to do on her due date?". I felt SO normal. SO regular. SO far away from being in labour and giving birth! (I still do as I sit here and type this...) Shouldn't I be feeling something impending creeping up on me? Should I be feeling funny? Having a weird twitch? C'mon!!! Give me something--Anything for gosh sakes that is a sign!

So I did what any normal and rational pregnant woman does on her due date, while clearly not in labour. I went out for lunch with the girls and then to see the new Batman movie for the second time. lol.

Looking back, there were 3 eventful things that happened to me today. The first was at the restaurant, the manager asked me how much longer I have to go and when I replied I was due today, his eyes almost bugged out. The next was at the movie theater, when using the automated movie-ticket dispensing machine, I accidentally bought a senior citizen ticket and got away with it. And finally, during the movie I removed the only pair of stretched out shoes that still fit me. At the end of the movie, I couldn't put the right shoe on. Yes, that's how gloriously swollen my feet were.

I'd say I've had a very complete day- almost. One tiny little detail still missing. Oh Milan, my little dictator... when will you decided the time is right? I guess only you know.

Maternity Shots at the Shakespearean Gardens

Blogged by: New Papa to be (aka Sash)

Seeing as I'm partially responsible for all the mayhem that lay ahead in the coming weeks, I figure it's only fair for me to blog...for the first time...ever! I've gone through a few phases since finding out that we're going to have a baby. First it was shock and disbelief, quickly followed by holy shit can I actually do this, then the excitment settled in. Now I'm just plain ready. I've never held a newborn for more than 15 seconds, let alone changed a diaper. In fact that first and last time I held a baby I was 20 years old and she puked all over me. Hopefully Milan takes it easy on me until I figure things out.

We've got a couple weeks left (20 days according to our midwife, but I don't believe her) and have been trying to enjoy the last of our time together as a childless couple. We went to Stratford over the weekend to take advantage of the nice weather and to squeeze in those ever-important maternity photos that every first time parents should have. The photo above is one of the many beautiful shots of Danielle in her verrry pregnant state. I can only pray that the labour goes as well as this pregnancy has...knock on wood, but things have gone well. I hope this is a good sign of things to come for us and little Milan.

That's it for now, but this blogging thing is kinda cool, so I'll try to jump on from time to time and share some more thoughts from a future sleep deprived proud papa. Now back to the couch to rest my legs after playing a grueling game of basketball; 25 minutes of one-on-zero took it's toll on me :)