Well, surprise! I announced on my old blog on Friday that I would be launching my new blog today, but little did I know I would also have a new baby by today! I posted on my old blog around 2pm, got a call at 4pm from my OB that I needed to be induced, and by 7:15 I was in the hospital watching Pitocin drip down an IV and into my arm. Our son was born about 4.5 hours later, healthy and hearty and crying oh so lustily!
After much deliberation and gazing into his face, we decided to name our boy Mark Gilchrist. We will call him “Gil” for short. Gil Garber. Our little son!
I’ll share more of the birth story, the background on his name, and some photos tomorrow and Thursday. Right now we’re home from the hospital and reality is still sinking in as I gaze down at this little bundle beside me, sleeping so peacefully and trustfully, making those little newborn squeaks and grunts that I remember so well from Lena. I’m overwhelmed with love, thankfulness, and gratefulness.
I also promised you a giveaway with the launch of this blog. It’s a great giveaway… but I didn’t manage to take photos of the items before our baby was born! I will post all the details about this Italian-themed giveaway on Wednesday, so check back a little later this week for that.
If you’d like to follow along during these early days, I’m on Instagram now; my username is beccagarber. In the meantime, this mama will be snuggling with her two little loves!
CONGRATULATIONS! Oh my goodness, he is the sweetest little thing ever. Many many happy thoughts and light coming to you and your family Becca. So happy for you! x
Thank you, sweet Rincy!
What a wonderful way to start a Monday morning…MANY CONGRATULATIONS to your beautiful family! I hope you and your husband are able to be busy only with hunkering down and snuggling up with your two little cannolis. :) Thanks for sharing your exciting announcement with your stranger-followers!
Haha, cannolis… I love it! I’m going to use that nickname again!
Love the new blog, love you, and love little Gil! We can’t wait to love on him for many many years to come :)
Enjoy that snuggle!
Congratulations to all three of you! I heard the news from my mom on Saturday, but glad to hear it from you today!
The new blog looks great! Added to my Google Reader. I especially love the photo of your family on the “Why Making Room?” page. Just beautiful.
Speaking of beautiful, Gil is such a cute baby! I love that he’s following in Lena’s footsteps with a thick head of hair already. Hair makes babies so much more attractive, IMO. Your families must be ecstatic about his arrival, and wishing they were there with you. And I’d imagine your dad is beside himself at having a grandbaby with his name attached : ).
Blessings to you all. Especially to new big sister Lena!
Do you feel a special connection to him, Katie, because of the name Gil and our mutual affection for Anne of Green Gables? :-) One day he’ll watch Gilbert Blythe come to life on the DVDs you gave us!
I really do! Gil is just a precious name. If you ever name a baby Walter Cuthbert I will be completely overcome with emotion. : )
Have you ever watched Kevin Sullivan’s Road to Avonlea series? My family watched it when we lived in Islamabad on the Kermit channel. I have never been able to find evidence that that channel existed, but it was this amazing combination of Jim Henson productions and Canadian TV. And sometimes the CBS miniseries Christy. So good.
Road to Avonlea ran for seven seasons and is sort of Canada’s answer to the Little House of the Prairie TV series. It’s partially based on the Story Girl books, and on Chronicles of Avonlea, but since it ran so long there were a lot of other plots going on. Colleen Dewhurst and Jonathan Crombie make a few cameo appearances, though Anne herself was never featured. It’s really well done, so I recommend it if you haven’t seen it. Especially for family viewing once your kids are a little older. It’s wholesome family TV without being trite.
Thanks for letting me know about Road to Avonlea, Katie. I hadn’t heard of it and it sounds like it’s right up my alley! Elliott and I were talking about movies we loved as kids. I wonder what the classics in our home will be with Lena and Gil? Definitely the Anne DVDs, Sound of Music, Homeward Bound… and beyond that, hard to tell. Can’t wait to establish those traditions with our little ones someday!
The new blog is beautiful, though pales in comparison with the new baby–MY GRANDSON! I’m trying not to tag you “super woman,” but it keeps rumbling up to the front of my mind, as I reflect back on how I felt after the birth of your husband (!) who was my second child and first son also. Love all of you lots <3
Congratulations!! I am filled with joy for you and the family!
I gasped when I saw your new blog- it really is very beautiful! Congrats on the blog launch! :)
Thank you, Phi! It was a monumental task to get it up and running and I can still only see all the glitches… groan. But I am so relieved that it exists and am excited to share more about life with our new little man. :-)
Love the new look! And the babe…
Congratulations! He’s a handsome little guy…hope you are all well, and big sister is adjusting to her little brother!
Congrats! He is perfect. Hope you are having a wonderful Monday :)
Wow! You ARE superwoman, Becca! A new baby and blog all in a few days! LOVE Gil…. Lena’s twin :)
I think they do look so similar too, Michelle. I need to find good photos so we can compare them side by side!
Congratulations to you all! He looks adorable……. I hope that you are all well and enjoying some quiet family time….
WOW WOW and again WOW your Little Boy, born on the same date of our Daddy Lele, is beautiful…… and your new blog is super!! A lot of compliments from Lelli Family
Congratulations! What a handsome family you all are! Such happy news!
Hi Becca! Congratulations on the birth of your son! You don’t know me–but I was friends with Elliott in college, and I believe we have some mutual friends (Meriwether Anderson is one of my best friends). I just wanted to say hello–your blog is lovely, and I look forward to reading through it :) I had heard that yall live overseas. We are also a military family (Air Force), and we’re hoping to get somewhere in Europe next year! Blessings to you guys as you adjust to life with two little people!
Anne, you will always have a place to stay in Sicily if you’d like to visit. We hope you get to Europe with the Air Force! We’d have an amazing experience here and know we would never have lived here if it weren’t for the Army.
P.S. We love Meriwether too! She lives in my condo in D.C. now… I want her to live there forever!
The new blog is beautiful but Gil definitely takes the prize! Enjoy all these early days and soak him in. Peace and grace to you all.
Yaaaayyyyy!! Congrats and more congrats!! The new blog looks great and Gil is just precious!! Can’t wait to read all about it, and if you have tips for having your self-hosted blog, I would love that too. Blessings on you and your sweet family in this precious baby mooning time!
Joy, I’ll see what I can do about some tips about a self-hosted blog. I am still figuring it out myself, but thanks to Elliott I have actually been able to set it up and make it work. Thanks for your congrats!
Congratulations!!!!! Can’t WAIT to snuggle him!
Love the new digs for the blog, too!
Auguri! What a lovely way to start a new week and new blog. I have been reading for a while, first time commenting. Love the new blog and the little fella is the cutest.
He is beautiful! What a big baby–ouch! However he is gorgeous! Congrats!
Oh, isn’t he precious?! Congratulations!
Congratulations, Becca! He is beautiful! I love the name you chose, and the new blog looks fantastic!
so excited for you and your family!!! congrats. he is beautiful!
Your new site is just beautiful, but more importantly, so is your new little boy! Congratulations to your family – hope you are well!
The compliments on the website mean a LOT coming from you, Alli! Thanks so much.
AHH! Becca! I’ve been out of blog world for a few days and missed this amazing announcement! How wonderful! He is so so handsome! Congrats friend. And the new blog is gorgeous. So much goodness happening at once :)
Thank you, McKenzie! We’re so excited around here. Btw, I checked out your Instagram and your photos are just beautiful! I’m excited to follow along.
My little porcipine..or beaver..haven’t determined nickname yet.
I definitely thought “Chipmunk” those first few days… ;-)