More pics to see

Click on these links to find more pics from Arlo's first few days:
http://picasaweb.google.ca/kalynuk/ArloJamesEarlKalynuk?authkey=Gv1sRgCN_YptOZu6yMmgE#

http://picasaweb.google.com/kalynuk/Day207?authkey=Gv1sRgCJugnbWP_piQHA#

http://picasaweb.google.com/kalynuk/Day206?authkey=Gv1sRgCJqY1ZWfmrPt0gE#

http://picasaweb.google.com/kalynuk/Day205?authkey=Gv1sRgCNO_wNTYqLHjHA#

http://picasaweb.google.com/kalynuk/Day204?authkey=Gv1sRgCJWX1KC8h5OC8AE#

http://picasaweb.google.com/kalynuk/Day203?authkey=Gv1sRgCIG7-fi2wKCg4gE#

http://picasaweb.google.com/kalynuk/Day202?authkey=Gv1sRgCIeF7q2sj5yWGA#

http://picasaweb.google.com/kalynuk/Day2?authkey=Gv1sRgCJiFqufTvsflIg#

Assistant Birthing Coach

So, apparently Jenny and Ray just need Tiiu for about everything. She is Ray's teaching team partner, she was Jenny's maid of honour last summer, and she was there to assist "Coach Ray" during Arlo's birth. Of course this made her honorary "Auntie Tiiu" and she was the first person, other than his parents, to hold little Arlo.

De ja "View"

After the initial excitement of Arlo's arrival I looked back at pictures that Tiiu had shot during the event and something kind of rang in the back of my head. It took a day or two to figure it out, but finally I realized what Arlo was reminding me of. Talk about a coincidence. The most exciting exhibit at the National Gallery in Ottawa for my students over the past five years or so has been Ron Mueck's giant sized, ultra realistic, sculpture of a baby's head. Though Arlo's was considerably smaller, I am sure taht this is the size Jenny thought it was during the delivery.
What a resemblance!

Introducing Arlo

Jenny and Ray enjoyed a relaxing Victoria Day weekend, and were finishing off a Monday of gardening with a nice barbecue and (for Ray) an ice cold beverage, when things started to get interesting. Jenny thought her water had broken, and after a few minutes, and a helpful phone call to their friend Kim Yates (birthing guru extreme) they knew a trip to the Civic birthing ward would be needed. First though they finished barbecuing, cleaning up from the day, packing some last minute things, and then they left, with only a few pains coming for Jenny at this point.

It was not long after they arrived at the Civic that Jenny started having pretty serious contractions, that cam only a few minutes apart. As a result of her close contractions they were moved from triage to a birthing suite. A quick call to their assistant birthing coach Tiiu, and the whole 'team' was set up in what happened to be the same room that Tiiu had given birth to her daughter Daisy just over a year before.

The night was long, and action packed, as Arlo was excited to see his Mommy and Daddy. Contractions averaged two minutes apart all night long, which gave Jenny just a few moments of rest between them for a drink of water and to catch her breath. Tiiu was instrumental in assisting Ray with making Jenny comfortable throughout the ordeal. In the end, just about ten hours after entering the hospital, baby Arlo was born, at 6:52am, on May 25th, 2010, at 3295 g, (7pounds 4 ounces).