Most of you probably expect this post to be titled something like "Sleepless in Seattle" yet the truth is I, Steve, am reasonably well-rested in Three Hills. Our dear little Caleb sleeps quite well, both during the day and at night. Of course, I'm not the one who does all the hard work... it's his wonderful mommy that is slightly less rested. When Caleb wants to eat during the night, I am glad to get him out of his crib and hold him for a few minutes until Sarah has a chance to wake-up, use the washroom, come and sit in the rocking chair in the living room, and start feeding him. Then I promptly head back to bed and fall back to sleep rather quickly. Once in a while, I hear Caleb making various noises in between feeds as he gets his diaper changed, but not usually. Most of this week, we have gone to bed around 11:00 pm and Caleb has awoken for his first night time feed around 2:00 am and then again around 6:00 am. Of course, it also helps that this week is Easter Break here at PCA (and most other schools in Alberta) so I don't have the regular daily responsibilities at the office. Perhaps next week I'll be "tired in three hills."
Other highlights in the past few days...
*Walking in from work and hearing the instrumental music of great hymns and then looking to see my amazing wife holding Caleb, feeding him and smiling at our content little boy.
*Reading the "Baby's first Bible" readings to Caleb while he feeds before we put him in his crib for the night.
*Watching Grandpa Marlowe hold Caleb as he fell asleep while we had Easter Sunday dinner at Hunts!
*Hearing, crying and trying to sing Bill & Gloria Gaither's song, "Because He Lives" on Easter Sunday while my incredible wife holds our precious little boy and smiles at me.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Reflections after our baby’s birth (aka “Post-game reflections”)
Various reflections from Steve’s perspective on the events of the past weekend – some interesting, some funny, some… enjoy!
1) “Dr Steve” and Dr Swinton sat around the delivery room while the women did all the work. It felt rather helpless as a husband to be able to do nothing to help my wife with her pain. It was wonderful to be there and I was glad I was “supportive”... but you can also understand why saying “you’re doing great honey!” or “things are progressing well” gets rather pathetic and unconvincing after 4-5 hours of “labour.”
2) “Oh yes, make sure you get a picture of the placenta for Lois.” Dr Swinton was a little surprised by this request... but I did get the picture as requested.
3) Our two moms were both amazing help all day Saturday as they encouraged, counted and blessed Sarah and I with their support during the labour and delivery. We are so blessed to have such amazing family support around us here in Three Hills!
4) Our Senior Pastor, Tim Strickland, was away on the weekend and so when I talked to his wife, Carol, she was so excited to be able to tell him the news, rather than the other way around (since people usually call the church office and then he gets to tell his wife).
I also told Tim that Caleb was glad to be born just before a Sunday when Pastor Tim was not preaching so that he did not miss any of the sermon series. (Though we have heard excellent reports of the message James Janzen brought on Sunday! Check out the church website)
5) Tim & Carol and their children did get to the hospital just before we checked out on Monday evening and Tim wanted to pray with us before they left, but Sarah had stepped out of the room with the nurse to get the final paperwork talked through and so Tim said, “I’ll pray even though Sarah’s not here,” to which I replied, “I’m sure it will still be efficacious.” Tim laughed with/at me and then Carol said, “oh my, I guess that’s the kind of joke two theologians can appreciate.” Yeah, we two theologians enjoy some fun jokes and yet when I see the respective wifes that the Lord has blessed each of us with, I think we are both amazed beyond words… that two nerdy, geeky, theological detail freaks who were born in Toronto in 1972 each have a beautiful, fun, loving wife who is also an incredible partner in life, family and ministry.
Tim was speaking in Bow Island, AB at a church where a former PBC faculty member and long-time family friend, Mike DeRidder is Senior Pastor. And is associate pastor is Roger Lobb, who graduated from PHS/PCA in 1989 with me. When Tim shared the news of Caleb’s birth with them, he got another laugh as Roger told his wife, “Yeah Steve had a baby!” to which his wife replied, “I didn’t know Steve was married.” Roger replied, “Oh yeah, I’m sure I told you about that.” Tim felt that was a true “pastor’s comment” – sure he’d told his wife all the news… when he really had not!
6) There’s been some “fun” discussion of whether Caleb will be a basketball player – like the Hunt side of the family (Grandpa Marlowe & Uncle Jon esp) or a hockey player. With Caleb’s active little hands and legs, we think he will be a great skater with good stickhandling skills and/or a great big man inside with good footwork and ready to slam dunk the basketball!
1) “Dr Steve” and Dr Swinton sat around the delivery room while the women did all the work. It felt rather helpless as a husband to be able to do nothing to help my wife with her pain. It was wonderful to be there and I was glad I was “supportive”... but you can also understand why saying “you’re doing great honey!” or “things are progressing well” gets rather pathetic and unconvincing after 4-5 hours of “labour.”
2) “Oh yes, make sure you get a picture of the placenta for Lois.” Dr Swinton was a little surprised by this request... but I did get the picture as requested.
3) Our two moms were both amazing help all day Saturday as they encouraged, counted and blessed Sarah and I with their support during the labour and delivery. We are so blessed to have such amazing family support around us here in Three Hills!4) Our Senior Pastor, Tim Strickland, was away on the weekend and so when I talked to his wife, Carol, she was so excited to be able to tell him the news, rather than the other way around (since people usually call the church office and then he gets to tell his wife).
I also told Tim that Caleb was glad to be born just before a Sunday when Pastor Tim was not preaching so that he did not miss any of the sermon series. (Though we have heard excellent reports of the message James Janzen brought on Sunday! Check out the church website)
5) Tim & Carol and their children did get to the hospital just before we checked out on Monday evening and Tim wanted to pray with us before they left, but Sarah had stepped out of the room with the nurse to get the final paperwork talked through and so Tim said, “I’ll pray even though Sarah’s not here,” to which I replied, “I’m sure it will still be efficacious.” Tim laughed with/at me and then Carol said, “oh my, I guess that’s the kind of joke two theologians can appreciate.” Yeah, we two theologians enjoy some fun jokes and yet when I see the respective wifes that the Lord has blessed each of us with, I think we are both amazed beyond words… that two nerdy, geeky, theological detail freaks who were born in Toronto in 1972 each have a beautiful, fun, loving wife who is also an incredible partner in life, family and ministry.
Tim was speaking in Bow Island, AB at a church where a former PBC faculty member and long-time family friend, Mike DeRidder is Senior Pastor. And is associate pastor is Roger Lobb, who graduated from PHS/PCA in 1989 with me. When Tim shared the news of Caleb’s birth with them, he got another laugh as Roger told his wife, “Yeah Steve had a baby!” to which his wife replied, “I didn’t know Steve was married.” Roger replied, “Oh yeah, I’m sure I told you about that.” Tim felt that was a true “pastor’s comment” – sure he’d told his wife all the news… when he really had not!
6) There’s been some “fun” discussion of whether Caleb will be a basketball player – like the Hunt side of the family (Grandpa Marlowe & Uncle Jon esp) or a hockey player. With Caleb’s active little hands and legs, we think he will be a great skater with good stickhandling skills and/or a great big man inside with good footwork and ready to slam dunk the basketball!Sunday, March 09, 2008
Baby Arrived!
Dr Steven & Sarah Ibbotson are praising our Amazing and Gracious God for the safe delivery of a baby boy, Caleb John Ibbotson, born on Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 7:00 pm (MST) in Three Hills, Alberta. He measures 46 cm long and weighed in at 8lb 9 oz. Proud grandparents are Marlowe & Dorothy Hunt and John & Wendy Ibbotson, along with a number of proud uncles, aunts, cousins and four great grandparents. Thank you to all of you, literally around the world, who have prayed recently for baby’s safe arrival. Mother and baby are both doing well… daddy is still taking oxygen (though he’s well too!)
About our baby’s name: We chose the name Caleb because both Sarah and I both liked the name and because of the biblical character. Caleb means “loyal” and “courageous” and we trust that these two qualities will mark his life. Caleb is also special name as Sarah had a cousin, Caleb, who only lived a few minutes after birth. Our desire and prayer is that the little boy God has entrusted to us, like the biblical Caleb will see God’s hand of blessing upon his life “because he followed the Lord whole-heartedly” (Deuteronomy 1:36).
His middle name, John, honours Steve’s dad, and yet also is chosen because of the NT character (actually the cousin of Jesus) who points the way not to himself, but to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. By God’s grace, we trust that this too will characterize Caleb John Ibbotson’s life.
About our baby’s name: We chose the name Caleb because both Sarah and I both liked the name and because of the biblical character. Caleb means “loyal” and “courageous” and we trust that these two qualities will mark his life. Caleb is also special name as Sarah had a cousin, Caleb, who only lived a few minutes after birth. Our desire and prayer is that the little boy God has entrusted to us, like the biblical Caleb will see God’s hand of blessing upon his life “because he followed the Lord whole-heartedly” (Deuteronomy 1:36).
His middle name, John, honours Steve’s dad, and yet also is chosen because of the NT character (actually the cousin of Jesus) who points the way not to himself, but to Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. By God’s grace, we trust that this too will characterize Caleb John Ibbotson’s life.
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