By Popular Demand...

...a smattering of images from days 3-8 of Ian's life, including his first car ride, walk in the park, bottle from daddy, sponge bath at home, encounter with the feline kind, meeting with his godmother-to-be and some additional cuteness, such as the scrunchy face below.

Quick Update

As of Wednesday afternoon, we're home. We're enjoying Grandma time while my mom is here in town. As I have explained to those who have asked, having my mom here means that the dishes get done while I stare in awe at the baby, dinner gets cooked while I coo at the baby, floors get swept while I feed the baby, and the baby is tended while I try to grab a few winks of sleep. In other words, we're exceptionally grateful for the help.

Ian is doing well. We've had some significant challenges with the whole feeding routine, but we're learning together and are finding ways to overcome our problems. Ian had lost a great deal of weight over the first few days of his life due to latch problems, but with the help of some changes in our feeding routine, flexibility and a bit of formula, we've brought him back up to what promises to be a healthier weight and he's back on breast milk alone, most of it from a bottle. That was not my ideal. However, I'm quickly learning that parenthood requires one to let go of expectations in favor of realities, using what is helpful by way of freely-proffered advice... and lumping the rest. I am also learning that I need to be gracious with myself. Not living up to my own expectations or that of others is not a failure -- carrying the disappointment of unfulfilled expectations is, because the main thing is overcoming the challenges, not failing to have them in the first place.

Ian has been a very sweet baby so far. He has been very mellow the vast majority of the time, and his Daddy and I are in love with him (and each other)! We think his grandma is quite fond of him, too. I love nothing more than gazing at him (when I can stay awake to do it) and reveling in the wonder that he belongs to us. Daddy has been helping a great deal with feeding and diapering, and he's also beginning Ian's cultural education by reading poetry to him and playing classical music for him. It's fun to watch Daniel settle right in to fatherhood.

I've taken more pictures over the last few days, but I am not quite ready to post them yet... so, with that teaser of good things to come, it is almost certainly time to feed a certain sweet little boy again...!

Eye on Ian

Ian is going on one day old, and his first 24-hour period outside the womb has been a busy one! His health continues to look good, he passed his hearing screening, he had a visit from Fr. Thomas for a special blessing, and spent time with his grandma. After a very alert night, he has spent a lot of the second half of his first day sleeping. Mommy and Daddy only wish they could have done the same! Mommy is doing well, aside from a very sore back and medicine that makes her very drowsy, and Daddy is getting to be a diaper-changing and baby cuddling pro. Here are a few moments from Ian's first full day.

Introducing Ian Gordon

Date: August 3, 2009
Time: 7:45 PM
Weight: 7 lbs, 9 oz
Length: 21 inches
Apgar: 9 and 9



About Ian’s name

Ian is the Scottish form of “John” which is of Hebrew origin and means "the Lord is gracious". We chose a variant of John in honor of St. John the Merciful (also known as St. John the Almsgiver), who is commemorated by the Orthodox on November 12.

St. John the Merciful was the Patriarch of Alexandria in the early 7th century, and earned his name because of his reputation for unfailing compassion for others, humility and generosity in his work for Christ through the church. Where his contemporaries saw trickery and abuse of generosity by a man who came in disguise seeking alms, John saw Christ and gave over and over again. With all of the riches of the church at his disposal, he lived simply and gave generously from the church coffers in faith that God would supply what was given away — with interest. When a conflict with a brother priest who had erred and had been disciplined for his shortcoming kept that man from repentance, John left the gifts at the altar, in obedience to Matthew 5:24, and prostrated himself before his brother to beg forgiveness, even though he had not been in the wrong. John’s humble action moved the man to repentance and reconciliation and a restoration of his ministry. John lived mindful of his mortality, and had his own grave partially dug prematurely, asking to be reminded on every great occasion that his grave awaited him and that he knew not the hour of his death (Matthew 25). St. John dedicated himself to Christian education, to the freeing of those in slavery, and to service of the sick and needy. Under his leadership, the number of churches in Alexandria swelled from 7 to 70. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_the_Merciful, http://orthodoxwiki.org/John_the_Merciful)

Needless to say, we would love for Ian to follow in the footsteps of this godly man, as he followed Christ.

Gordon is a family name. Gordon is from Gaelic origins, among others, and one of its meanings is “beloved.”

Ian’s paternal grandfather, who passed away while we were pregnant with Ian, was named Gordon. Ian’s maternal grandfather, Ronald, also bears the name Gordon, but as a middle name. We wished to honor our fathers, both of whom have also dedicated their lives to Christ, by giving Ian their shared name.

Indeed, this child is beloved, and he is an example of the graciousness of God in our lives. We are incredibly blessed.