The Bickfords

The Maine Bickfords: William's First Trip to Maine

2008-07-15T21:59:00.001-04:00

For a sneak peek of our trip, visit Gram and Gramps' blog:
The Maine Bickfords: William's First Trip to Maine

William's First Trip to Maine to Visit Gram and Gramps

2008-07-15T20:58:00.007-04:00

The Bickford Family has just returned from vacation in the great state of Maine! It was a fantastic trip. We had a memorable stay at Gram and Gramps Bickford's home in central Maine's lake region. William grew and changed so much over the week, acquiring many new skills and tricks. We all enjoyed spending time outdoors (despite the mesquitoes). The weather was perfect. We treasure every moment we were there.

We have over seven gigabytes of pictures from our and Gram and Gramp's cameras. For those of you who don't know computer lingo -- this translates into scads and scads of pictures. Here are just a few from the begining of our trip when we went hiking on the Messalonskee Trail and tested our Kelty Kids backpack. William loved riding along. Don't forget to check out the video at the bottom. We will continue to post more over the next several days.

A Kinder, Gentler Bathtime

2008-06-22T22:46:00.006-04:00

William's first bath experiences (click to remember) were less than relaxing for all involved! It is now one of his favorite parts of the daily routine. Quiet coos and smiles have replaced his deafening cries -- if you listen carefully, you can even hear the clanking of daddy eating cereal in the next room.

A Beautiful Summer's Evening

2008-06-20T21:11:00.002-04:00

A Taste of Maine to Come

2008-06-20T20:56:00.001-04:00

Acquiring a refined palate for rich Maine Lobster.

A Fun New Game

2008-06-20T20:53:00.000-04:00

Happy Father's Day!

2008-06-15T22:28:00.002-04:00

Aunt Jill bought William's dapper cap as soon as she found out we had a boy. She saved it for a special, first Father's Day. Lots of excitement ensued when we opened up the unexpected package last week. Thank you, Aunt Jill!

Daddy and William go together like khaki and blue.

As a Father's Day treat, William chose today to roll over onto his belly for the first time. We were getting ready for church and William was on his jungle play mat. Instead of the usual crying episode that goes with being on his tummy, he enjoyed his new vantage point and stuffed the elephant's ear into his mouth, crunching away. Pretty soon he will be crawling all over the place . . .

A special thanks to Maureen Mantel for her top notch camera work.

An Evening With Uncle Josh

2008-06-15T21:56:00.005-04:00

On June 4th, Uncle Josh came over for a visit (we are a little late in getting these pictures up -- sorry Unk). We turned up the music and Uncle Josh (a music teacher) played rhythm games with William. There was a great deal of shaking, rattling, and bouncing by everyone present as we listened and moved to everything from Bach to Sousa to Saint-Saens' Carnival of the Animals to American folk music -- anything that had a strong beat. Fun was had by all. Uncle Josh went home exhausted.

Uncle Josh thought that William was having too much fun playing with his rattle -- so he joined in too!

Kicking to the rhythm.

All tuckered out!

Fun with Uncle Nate

2008-05-27T22:01:00.001-04:00

Bonnie Prince William

2008-05-27T21:40:00.004-04:00

We had a memorable Memorial Day Picnic hosted by Nana Holm and Prince William at the Holm Estate. Among the honored guests were William's parents: Micah and Eileen; Uncle Nate and Aunt Kim; Lord Sutberry and the Lady Marsha; Lord Scantlin and the Lady Nan; and the ever elegant Dutchess Eileen Scantlin.

A special thanks to Lord and Lady Scantlin for providing chauffeur service for Prince William!

In Front of the Dogwood

2008-05-27T21:30:00.003-04:00

Nana's dogwood tree lasted for a third week -- just for this Mother's Day portrait.

So Big!

2008-05-13T21:12:00.000-04:00

A Special Mother's Day Present

2008-05-10T22:15:00.004-04:00

As a special Mother's Day present William has slept (mostly) through the night for the second week in a row.

One might think that this means that we would have more time to blog -- but . . . !

Happy Mother's Day!

2008-05-10T21:25:00.008-04:00

For Mother's Day, Micah and William took Eileen to Tyler State Park for an afternoon of outdoor adventure. Micah donned his gear - William strapped to his front and a backpack on his back - Eileen grabbed the camera - and off we went. William loved being outside. William eyes were big with wonder as we walked along Neshaminy Creek - but the fresh air eventually lulled him to sleep. We had a wonderful time and hope to become regular visitors to the park

Note that Micah is wearing a T-shirt and sweating while Eileen is cozy in her winter coat, polar fleece, and long underwear!

We weren't the only family out today!

Who Do I Most Look Like?

2008-04-27T20:25:00.004-04:00

Click on the picture for a closer look.

Don't forget to register your vote on the right!

Wiliam Smiling (or Fun With Photoshop)

2008-04-27T19:32:00.004-04:00

Eileen snapped this great photo of William smiling under the dogwood tree at her mom's house with her cell phone. The only problem was that she got a clip of her finger on the bottom of the picture -- but it was nothing that a little trick with Photoshop couldn't take care of. Below is the original.

God's Faithfulness to All Generations

2008-04-23T20:47:00.006-04:00

William was baptized
at Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church
on April 20, 2008

1. Do you acknowledge your child’s need of the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ, and the renewing grace of the Holy Spirit?

2. Do you claim God’s covenant promises in his behalf, and do you look in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ for his salvation, as you do for your own?

3. Do you now unreservedly dedicate your child to God, and promise, in humble reliance upon divine grace, that you will endeavor to set before him a godly example, that you will pray with and for him, that you will teach him the doctrines of our holy religion, and that you will strive, by all the means of God’s appointment, to bring him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?

BY GOD'S GRACE, WE DO!

William Likes to Play

2008-04-16T21:19:00.003-04:00

William has discovered the joy of playing! He likes to kick and wave his arms and smile. Of all the pictures we took in this series -- only this one was clear. William was moving so fast that all the other pictures are very blurred. What this picture does not capture is the sound of his little chimes as he kicks furiously. Playtime has now become a regular part of William's day.

In the Shade of Nana's Garden

2008-04-16T21:15:00.004-04:00

William and a Visit from Nana

2008-04-16T21:11:00.004-04:00

Nana bought this cozy outfit for William to wear home from The Birth Center -- but it was too big. He wore it for his first visitors. Now it has been packed away because it is too small. We had to unsnap the bottom so that he could wear it for one last picture. O, how fast he has grown!

William Discovers a Friend

2008-04-03T21:13:00.004-04:00

The noise in background is not a technical glitch - William is vigorously kicking his feet on the crackly area of his play mat. His little coos were too cute to delete the sound.

William's Video Debut

2008-04-01T21:56:00.004-04:00

This is our first attempt at video editing, so we look a little squashed. All of you IU ladies understand about squashed pictures! Hopefully we will figure it out and have more to come.

Irresistable William

2008-03-29T10:25:00.002-04:00

William's First Easter

2008-03-26T19:48:00.001-04:00

William's First Trip to Nana's House

2008-03-26T19:39:00.004-04:00

On the Saturday before Easter, William took his first trip to Nana's house in Lancaster. The drive took about an hour and a half and William and Mommy slept the whole way! (One day we will attempt to take William on the nine hour trip to Maine -- but we are not ready to brave that yet . . .)

William enjoyed seeing Nana and getting his first look at her garden. We are hoping that he will love being outside and gardening as much as she does. He looks forward to going again very soon!

William Meets Grandma and Grandpa Bell

2008-03-26T18:46:00.004-04:00

The Bells are dear friends and William's adopted Great Grandparents. It was a special treat to for William to meet the Bells.

Nana introduces William to Grandma Bell

Grandpa Bell and William become fast friends.

Finding Comfort After the Trauma

2008-03-19T21:59:00.005-04:00

William is hopeful that he will not have to face the bathtub again.

Drying Off in a Cozy Towel

2008-03-19T21:57:00.002-04:00

William's First Bath: A Big Splash

2008-03-19T21:47:00.005-04:00

He did not like it!

O, How We've Grown!

2008-03-19T21:06:00.009-04:00

WILLIAM IS ONE MONTH OLD!

He can track objects with his eyes.
He can smile.
He can roll from his tummy to his back.
He can bat at his chimes.

O.K. -- so this does not sound like much, but he's only
ONE MONTH OLD!

The picture above was taken with Micah's cell phone minutes after he was born. You can see Eileen's fingers in the lower right hand corner -- look how tiny he was.

Peaceful William and Mommy

2008-03-16T22:57:00.002-04:00

This is a rare photograph from the collection -- William sleeping peacefully in Mommy's arms. Usually if Mommy is holding William, William thinks, "Oh! It must be time to eat!" He then proceeds to inquire (sometimes rather loudly), "Why aren't you feeding me?"

Sweet William Dreams

2008-03-16T22:49:00.001-04:00

William Likes Cake!

2008-03-11T16:44:00.002-04:00

Celebrating Daddy's Birthday a little late.

William's Favorite Activity

2008-03-10T00:06:00.002-04:00

William Reading Dr. Seuss

2008-03-10T00:04:00.001-04:00

William Meets Gramps

2008-03-10T00:03:00.003-04:00

William's First Kiss From Grammie

2008-03-10T00:01:00.003-04:00

William and Mommy

2008-03-04T21:09:00.002-05:00

William and the Osgoods

2008-03-04T21:07:00.001-05:00

Wee Willy Winkie

2008-03-01T17:13:00.003-05:00

Disclaimer:
This is the only time in his life that he will be referred to as 'Willy'.

Update

2008-03-01T16:41:00.005-05:00

Sorry for the lack of pictures over the past couple of days. We have been exhausted. We are slowly figuring out the rhythm of an eating and survival/sleeping routine. Eileen went to a lactation consultant because she was worried that he was only eating for about ten minutes at a time. To our surprise, within the ten minute period that he is eating, he gains about three ounces (apparently, that is a lot!).

Additionally, we are probably going to need to have his frenulum clipped because he is a 'tongue rasper'. This sounds bad, but it is fairly minor and will help slow down his speed feeding. This is inherited from the Bickford side.

In other news, William's umbilical cord fell off . His fashion horizons are opening as he can now wear little pants. Pretty soon he will be wearing khakis and a blue button-down shirt -- just like his dad!

He is growing by leaps and bounds. It is amazing how much he has changed in less then two weeks, even from hour to hour. Eileen really wanted a picture of his tiny hand clasping her ring finger. We put it off, and now it seems as though his hand has doubled in size.

He is also loosing his beautiful red hair. We are hoping that it remains red when it regrows.

We now have a web cam so that Gram and Gramps Bickford can see him every day. We are looking forward to their visit. Gram Bickford thinks that the whole world will get to hold him before she does.

As a whole, we are doing well and everyone is healthy. We praise the Lord for our dear little son!

Feelin' Just Ducky

2008-02-26T21:13:00.004-05:00

The Next Masked Superhero

2008-02-26T21:10:00.003-05:00

William: Spit-Proofed and Sleeping Soundly

2008-02-25T23:35:00.004-05:00

Lining his seat with cloth diapers makes cleanup a snap!
(We learned the hard way)

Sweet William

2008-02-25T23:16:00.002-05:00

William on Mommy's Lap

2008-02-25T23:14:00.001-05:00

William and Aunt Kim

2008-02-24T18:40:00.005-05:00

It is AUNT, not ANT.

Uncle Nate Learning to Change a Poopy Diaper

2008-02-24T18:34:00.002-05:00

He did GREAT!

William and Uncle Nate and Aunt Kim

2008-02-24T18:31:00.002-05:00

Uncle Nate is holding a baby for the very first time!

The Latest in Modest Nursing Fashion

2008-02-24T18:26:00.004-05:00

William with Matt and Dani

2008-02-23T22:41:00.001-05:00

William and Uncle Josh

2008-02-23T22:40:00.002-05:00

William and Daddy Take a Nap

2008-02-23T10:09:00.002-05:00

William in His Crib

2008-02-21T23:02:00.002-05:00

William's First Theology Lesson

2008-02-21T22:55:00.002-05:00

Reading the Jesus Storybook Bible -- Creation and the Fall.

William and Nana

2008-02-21T22:54:00.002-05:00

Awake William

2008-02-21T22:53:00.002-05:00

Snuggly

2008-02-20T10:46:00.002-05:00

Grumpy

2008-02-20T10:43:00.001-05:00

A Sleepy Baby

2008-02-20T10:35:00.003-05:00

He likes to keep his little arms up by his head, just like in the ultrasound picture.

Getting Checked Out By the Midwife

2008-02-20T10:34:00.001-05:00

Mommy, Daddy, and William

2008-02-20T10:32:00.002-05:00

William and Daddy

2008-02-20T10:19:00.002-05:00

Mommy and William Moments After Birth

2008-02-20T10:06:00.003-05:00

William Edwin Bickford

2008-02-20T09:58:00.003-05:00

William Edwin Bickford
Born 11:54 AM
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
8 lb. 2 1/2 oz. ~ 21 inches

Mommy, Will, and Daddy are all doing well!

It's a . . .

2008-02-20T09:35:00.002-05:00

A Busy Day at The Birth Center

It has begun . . .

2008-02-19T05:58:00.003-05:00

At about 4:00 this morning, Eileen's water broke. She has been having contractions, but they remain irregular. We are waiting for 4-1-1: four minutes apart, one minute long, for an hour. It could be a matter of hours or even days.

We will post pictures as soon as we can.

Less Than a Week to Go?

2008-02-18T20:03:00.003-05:00

Eileen can hardly believe that she has only has four more days of work. She is going to miss all of her coworkers terribly and can barely fathom stepping off into THE GREAT UNKNOWN. But she is looking forward (with a bit of trepidation) to redirecting her energy into being a mother.

Micah is anxiously awaiting the baby's arrival. His daily refrain to Eileen is, "Have you had any contractions yet?" He keeps his cell phone on all day at work and on vibrate during class, ready to jump at a moment's notice. Last Tuesday, Eileen called him near the end of one class -- at which point he promptly closed his books and put away his pen. False alarm! A discussion about groceries was not what he was expecting!

We continue our weekly visit to The Birth Center for check-ups. Everything is normal and healthy. We have become very familiar with the trek and are surprised how the weeks have wound down. One day soon Micah will drive there with a screaming wife and drive home with a screaming baby!

We are still furiously working to get our apartment in order. We have gotten many items crossed off our To-Do list. We are encouraged. One big project left to complete is for Micah to evaluate his books and decide which ones he can live without -- "O, the agony!" This may not happen until after the baby comes, or at some other unknown and far off point -- if Micah can keep coming up with excuses not to do it.

Someone from Eileen's work has been waiting to give us a glider rocker, and since its arrival the other night it has become a coveted spot. We having fun sitting in moving furniture--though the novelty may wear off slightly as it becomes a midnight, 2 a.m., 4 a.m., etc. fixture!

There is not much else to tell. Just waiting and gliding along . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

About to Pop!

2008-02-10T21:56:00.000-05:00

Thanks to the generosity of Gram and Gramps Bickford, we now have a car seat installed in the back of our car! It is fun to drive around imagining our little one riding along with us. We can not wait until we can take Baby Bickford up to Maine.

It proved to be a bit of a challenge to get the car seat secured. There were so many warnings printed in the instructions that we could not find the actual directions. After looking at blurry pictures and Micah's seeking help from a co-worker, we finally got it properly installed. It was actually a lot simpler than the directions made it out to be.

Eileen seems to get a little bigger everyday. She continues to go to work -- her last scheduled day is February 22. She can hardly believe that after that she is done. Everyone at work is taking good care of her. When she comes home, she spends most of her time nesting and napping. At night she can be heard waking up and shouting, "I need to roll over and I can't move my belly!" Micah has not been getting as much sleep as he would like. But this is just a foretaste of things to come . . .

Eileen has been having a lot of Braxton-Hicks contractions -- which are signs that her body is warming up for the big day. On Saturday we drove to visit Eileen's mom in Lancaster. On the way she began feeling a new sensation -- one that she had not felt before. Rather then being a random tightening of her uterus muscle, she felt as though she was "opening up." This was not painful, but came at regular intervals. We began to wonder, "Is today the day?"

Once Eileen had a chance to stand up and walk around the sensations stopped. We would have to wait for another day. We are both anxious for the little one to come -- but we still have a lot we want to accomplish before he/she arrives.

We have also chosen our pediatrician. We are going to a team of doctors at Kid's First. Kid's First is The Birth Center of pediatrics. They are interested in educating families and not over-medicating. One of Eileen's favorite aspects is that they have separate waiting rooms for sick and healthy patients.

Well, that is all for tonight. But who knows, maybe our next post will say "Welcome Baby Bickford" . . .

For Dot!

2008-01-28T20:04:00.000-05:00

The past few days have been a whirlwind of activity and special memories. It is dawning on us that this little baby is really going to arrive!

The amazing weekend began on Friday when Eileen's coworkers threw her a shower. It was overwhelming to have a beautiful party thrown in one's honor ( and overwhelming to both Micah and the man of the house to see so many crazy women in one place!).

The meaningful festivities continued Saturday when our church threw us a shower that began with a hymn sing and dinner. Family and dear friends traveled from Lancaster and even Maine to join with our local friends and church family to celebrate the expected arrival of our little one.

Eileen was thrilled to discover all of the special details that went into the planning of each shower (As this can take some time, co-workers were actually warned to stick to 'bags and tags' lest the admiring of wrapping paper and cards force the party into the wee hours! Eileen was let in on the joke earlier in the day while rescuing some wrapping paper from certain peril).

We are humbled by everyone's generosity and care for us. Yup, we are having a baby -- and we have all the gear to prove it!

A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALL!

The weekend ended on Monday when Eileen's mom drove down with us to attend our check-up appointment to see what the Birth Center was like. Afterward, we took her to Ikea where we bought her Swedish meatballs for lunch, and she bought us a changing table -- THANKS, MOM HOLM. Eileen and Mom spent the afternoon admiring tiny outfits while Micah assembled the drawers to put them in. Micah was overheard exclaiming, "This is like playing with LEGO's!"

In other baby news:

We have now hit the point of "Full Term." Even though our due date is February 24, our little one is considered ready to go and could come anytime.
We will now go to The Birth Center for check-ups every week until the baby arrives.
The midwife did a lot of poking and prodding today and estimates that Baby Bickford is right on track, weighing about 6 lbs.

Now Dot, we have done our part -- now it is time for you to do yours -- LEAVE A COMMENT, PLEASE

Back to Blogging

2008-01-04T20:46:00.000-05:00

Once again the Bickfords have slacked off in their blogging. We have a myriad of excuses -- but you don't want to read about that -- so on to the important information.

We spent Christmas in Maine and had a wonderful, relaxing vacation. We indulged in clam chowder, went snowshoeing, enjoyed Christmas with Micah's parents, did lots of napping, and generally relaxed. It was just what the mom-to-be needed. We don't expect to experience rest like this again for a very long time.

Eileen is certainly getting rounder in the front all the time as the baby is growing bigger. She is ever mindful of her weight gain (there is a funny story here, but you will have to ask Eileen about it).

We are now making visits to The Birth Center every two weeks. We have also started weekly birthing classes. All the driving takes quite a bit of time, but it is making everything a little more real.

We are currently sitting on our couch watching the baby stretch, poke, push, and punch. It is amazing to see the Eileen's belly contort and protrude with the movements of the little arms and legs inside. All this movement is highly entertaining during the day -- but poor Eileen doesn't get much sleep at night. At least this movement is silent -- soon there will be sound effects too!

This picture is with our friend, Dani, on New Year's Eve. Hopefully there will be more pictures to come as we purchased a new camera for Christmas.

All-in-all, everything is very well. We are a bit overwhelmed with the housework we need to get done before the baby comes, but we really can't complain since both mommy and baby (and daddy too) are healthy. Eileen is pretty certain that we will be having a boy. Micah says, "we could have known for sure . . . " But whoever God gives us -- we are excitedly anticipating meeting the newest member of our family in less then two months!

Every Family Should Own This Book

2007-11-06T23:27:00.001-05:00

This post is a little different that others we have posted on our blog. This isn't meant to be a shameless plug for the Westminster Bookstore -- but we just wanted everyone to discover like we did how great this particular book is.

Although there are thousands of children books available for sale, there is a lack of excellent books written from a Christian worldview.

This book does not feature dreamy, Sunday-School-idealized depictions of the real people found in the pages of the Bible. Instead, the illustrations are done in a style kids will relate to, as if drawn by a child themselves. While simple at first glance, their unique perspectives and honest humor will reward the careful viewer. Lots of material for discussion!

Of course, it is the wording of the book that set it apart, which is fitting, as God's Word, the Bible, was given to man in words that can be read, studied, and remembered. Just as God's message can be understood by the youngest of hearers, yet remain unexhausted by the wisest of minds, this little book will teach both children and their parents God's story of redemption.

What is so amazing about this book is that it shows how each story points to Jesus Christ, the Savior. We appreciate how the book shows the scope of God's plan as it is found throughout the whole of the Bible, instead of keeping familiar stories isolated and without meaning.

For example, at the end of the story of the Tower of Babel, author Sally Lloyd-Jones foreshadows the coming if Christ as a Savior by describing how man can never reach up to heaven on his own: ". . . he didn't need a staircase, but a Rescuer . . . People could never reach up to Heaven, so Heaven would have to come down to them. And, one day, it would."

Even young children can begin to understand the beauty of God's design for His creation, and start to see how their own lives are part of God's story.

To read sample pages from the book: click here.

So here is the shameless plug (you knew it was coming!) -- To get a copy for your own family at the lowest price anywhere: click here.

Has It Been a Month Already?

2007-11-06T22:44:00.000-05:00

It is hard to believe that it has been almost a full month sine we last posted on our blog. Time really flies when you have a little one on the way.

So here is the scoop from our last appointment a few weeks ago:

The baby is in the 50 percentile for its size at its current age. If the trend continues the prediction is that the baby will weigh about 7 lb 4 oz at birth.
Eileen, however, has gained about two pounds too many. The midwife cautioned Eileen not to drink too much fruit juice because the pure sugar without fiber adds on lots of pounds to both mom and baby. (We thought it prudent not to mention to the midwife all the candy and cheese steaks we've been consuming of late).
Her current belly measurement is 40" and cute!
The baby continues to kick up a storm. One night it kicked so much that Eileen kept dreaming that she had gone into labor. In addition to little bops, the baby is sweeping its tiny hands and feet horizontally across Eileen's belly.
Even now we can begin to see the personality of our baby. When it is too noisy, the baby is very still. As soon as it quiets down the baby begins kicking again. Also, the baby tends to leap whenever Eileen eats.

We have also begun registering for what we need to welcome our baby home (we only mention this because people have asked). It is sometimes overwhelming trying to figure out exactly what we need -- especially since we have such limited space in our apartment. We have started registries at both Target and Babies R Us. We will continue to add to them as we have time.

First Glimpse

2007-10-09T19:00:00.001-04:00

Here they are -- the first glimpses of Baby Bickford! It was amazing to watch the technician as she maneuvered around to find all the different parts -- we clearly saw the spine and ribs, we watched the little heart beating, arms flailing, and legs kicking. Everything was normal. The placenta (which we thought was surprisingly large) is a good size and all the measurements are in good proportion. Everything seems as it should be. The baby is currently standing in a breeched position -- but that is not a problem as (s)he will somersault around quite a bit between now and b-day. We still don't know if the child is a boy or girl -- the technician was very careful not to reveal anything -- words or images (notice that the pictures stop short at the tummy).

In this first picture you can see a little raised fist. The head is to the left with a big potbelly on the right.
Here you have a clearer picture of the face with the forehead, eyes, nose, lips, and tucked chin. And of course you can't miss that little raised hand and elbow. The black space in the middle of the belly is the heart.

If it takes you a little while to decipher what you are looking at -- don't worry -- it took us some time, too!

The Return of the Monday Maternity Measuring Moment

2007-10-08T23:10:00.000-04:00

39" -- That is the magic number tonight. It was way back on August 20 we last measured Eileen's tummy. It was holding steady at 38". An inch may not seem like a lot* -- but the little guy (or gal) is growing fast and kicking hard. Micah likes to (gently) lay his head on Eileen's tummy and talk to the baby so that (s)he will kick his head.

Stay tuned for first glimpses of Baby Bickford.

*Disclaimer: Our measuring technique is essentially flawed. We find the largest measurement and go with that as opposed to measuring the same point each time. All tummy measurements are intend for entertainment purposes only and may not reflect the actual growth of Eileen's circumference.

Over the Hill

2007-10-07T21:54:00.000-04:00

We've made it 1/2 way -- 20 weeks pregnant and 20 to go! It only seems like yesterday that we found out that we were going to have a baby. God has been so gracious to us over these many weeks.

The past couple of weeks brought us the sad news of two infants who both died only days before they were due to be born -- one to friends of ours and another to the son and daughter-in-law of Pastor John Piper (Please click here to read his response to this sad experience).

It is so easy for us to forget that the birth of our child is not a certain thing. Everything is in the hands of our Almighty God who sustains all life and lovingly ordains all that comes to pass. We must not forget that his mercies are new every morning and his faithfulness to all generations.

As the weeks and months fly pass we must remember to give thanks to God for that tiny little heartbeat, those ever more frequent little kicks, and God's great goodness to us.

Tuesday morning we go for our ultrasound . . .

WE'RE MOVING!

2007-09-27T18:19:00.000-04:00

NO, not to a new apartment! Last night Eileen thought that she might have felt the baby move for the first time. It seemed too faint to be sure, perhaps more hopeful imaginings than real action. But today there is no doubt -- we have a little kicker on our hands. When you hold your hand on Eileen's belly, you can feel a forceful punch! Baby is skimming around in there, topsy-turvy and pushing the boundaries in all directions.

When little Evan Osgood was in the womb (he is now a more than one year old), he would begin leaping whenever their pastor would start preaching. Will our little one have that same God-ward excitement?

The tough thing now is that Eileen is no longer allowed to sleep on her back because she could cut off blood supply to the baby. She has had restless nights of sleep as she tries to stay only on her side. She first had to learn to remain on her back in order to breathe through the night with her baby-swollen sinuses, and now she has to break that hard-won pattern. Why is it that when you are told not to do something -- that is the only thing you can do? Well , I guess that is a discussion on the effects of sin -- for another day . . .

No News Is Good News

2007-09-20T20:02:00.000-04:00

Much to the dismay of some, especially Grandma and Grandpa Bell, we have been silent bloggers for the past couple of weeks. It is fun to know that we were missed in the blogosphere.

Last night as we reviewed paperwork in preparation for today's third visit to The Birth Center, we held up a book to Eileen's tummy that showed a baby at our stage of development in the womb. It was beautiful! The features are really forming and our baby is looking more like a lanky newborn.

To our surprise, we got to hear the heart beat for a second time (had we known in advance you would have another recording to which to listen). It had slowed down to about 150 beats per minute, which we learned was due to Baby's growing size. The midwife had to chase the baby around with the fetal doppler to keep a steady sound. It is funny to think of a little person wiggling around inside the womb.

Each visit to The Birth Center we meet with a different midwife. This is so that no matter when the baby arrives, we will know the midwife on duty. Today we were met with Kathy. Although we have appreciated each midwife we have met -- we particularly appreciated Kathy. As we chatted, we discovered that she too was a Christian, and that we have a mutual friend! What a blessing to come in contact with a sister in Christ.

The trip concluded with another jaunt to Ikea -- this time on a quick errand for Micah's work. But regardless of the reason, it presented the perfect opportunity for a fast lunch of Swedish Meatballs (for Micah at least, for to Eileen's sorrow, her tummy was feeling a bit achy at the time) and to bring home a box of Pepparkakor (Swedish ginger cookies).

The highlight for Eileen was the discovery of Minnen Kanin -- a soft little bunny holding a large carrot. She says it is for the baby -- but time will tell if she will share!

In sum, the mom-to-be, dad-to-be, and baby-to-come are all doing well.

In Memorium of Edwin Jackson Holm

2007-09-03T20:41:00.002-04:00

One week ago Eileen's father unexpectedly passed away. As difficult as this week has been, we are grateful for the grace of God that has sustained us. The funeral was beautiful reminder of the resurrection hope that we have in Christ.

Eileen’s dad was so excited about being a grandfather and we remember fondly two days prior when we took him to Babies-R-Us. He was captivated by the baby slings and enjoyed test driving the stroller around and around the store.

The above photos were two of his favorites from his portfolio. They formed the cover of the funeral service program. The one on the left was taken in the 1960s in an abandoned house he had discovered in rural Ohio. Ed returned to the house to record its sleep throughout the four seasons. The one on the right is of a ship’s hull and the ocean current was one of Ed’s most favorite from his portfolio. It appeared on the cover of Skipper Magazine in November 1966.

We miss him dearly, but rest in the goodness of God.

Holding Steady

2007-08-20T23:02:00.000-04:00

Eileen's tummy measurement remains at a steady 38" despite indulging in Chinese food and Chick-fil-a and an occasional bag of taffy. Sitting here drinking prune juice (per the midwife's orders for her low iron), Eileen wants everyone to know that she really is working hard at eating balanced meals and snacks -- most of the time.

Contrary to Eileen's urging, we will not be having a weekly measurement of Micah's tummy circumference.

Baby Beats

2007-08-16T21:27:00.000-04:00

Tuesday was our second prenatal appointment. The blood results from last month show that Eileen has low iron so she has been instructed to eat lots of iron-rich food. Micah is looking forward to more steak in his diet!

More exciting was hearing the heartbeat of our little child. The midwife warned us that it might take a little bit to locate it, but as soon as she placed the doppler on Eileen -- a quick, little, bunny-like heartbeat emerged, thumping away at a healthy 160 beats per minute.

It is amazing to realize that a little child is growing in there. We are reminded of Psalm 139:13-14, “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” What a great gift God has given us.

Here is a little sample of what we heard:

A Vision of Things to Come

2007-08-16T20:40:00.000-04:00

No, we haven't disappeared from the face of the earth -- we have just had one thing after another with no time left to blog.

A couple of weeks ago we spent a fantastic ten days vacationing in Maine at Micah's parents. The ocean air did us good. Eileen's usual afternoon slump vanished as we climbed on rocks and hiked the trails at Acadia National Park. Baby's "first" camping trip was a success.

For Eileen it was all the better because she and Micah's mom hit the thrift shop jackpot for maternity clothes. Pennsylvania has great thrift shops -- but the dregs for maternity clothes. She came away with 7 pants and 7 tops -- all like new. She is now set for when her belly "pops" (even now things are a little desperate, but nothing that safety pins and a long shirt won't solve).

Here is one preview of her new wardrobe.

Note: Eileen is NOT this big at 12 weeks -- that would be very disconcerting. Rather the hidden prop of a pillow creates the desired effect of things to come.

Monday Maternity Measuring Moment

2007-07-30T11:00:00.000-04:00

Eileen's waist size is holding steady at 38 inches. She did loose some circumference last week, which is not uncommon -- but is now growing again.

The Name Game

2007-07-30T10:04:00.000-04:00

We have decided that we will wait until until the baby is born to find out whether we will have a boy or girl. This means that we need to come up with two names (or one unisex name). So we thought that we would give everyone the opportunity to give us name suggestions.

Martha gave us the first a few posts back with Ikea (fourth comment).

Micah is currently voting for Albert Herbert, with a nickname of Bert-Bert (Hat-Tip to Jonathan and Beth).

Now for the disclaimer: We have already chosen names, but they will remain top secret until the baby comes! However, we reserve the right to change the secret names at anytime, without notice, should Micah convince Eileen that Bert-Bert (or any other suggestion) is a worthy name.

Have Fun.

What is The Birth Center?

2007-07-22T20:22:00.000-04:00

"More than 5,000 babies have been eased into life by the nurse-midwives who work here. Located in a cozy house across from Bryn Mawr Hospital, this freestanding center provides warm, nurturing, and totally professional care from early pregnancy through post-partum."
(From Philadelphia Magazine's 2003 Top Hospitals: Where to Get the Best Care).

Over the years we have talked to many friends who have had both hospital and midwife maternity care. While some have told good accounts of hospital births, those who have experienced midwife care can not say enough of their experiences. Now facing the choice ourselves, we wanted the midwife model for ourselves.

Last Thursday, we returned to The Birth Center for an informational seminar explaining their child birthing philosophy. After an extensive Q & A time, a tasteful video of a Birth Center delivery, touring the birth rooms, and having already attended our first appointment the previous day, we are even more excited to be under care of this excellent facility.

Here are some impressive stats from The Birth Center:

C-Section -- 14 % (Hospitals average 29.1 %)
Episiotomy -- 4 % (14 % including hospital transfers) (Hospitals average over 39 %)

Should complications arise, Bryn Mawr Hospital is located conveniently located right across the street.

Instead of cold, sterile hospital rooms, The Birth Center offers bedroom- style birthing suites. This atmosphere promotes a more relaxed environment to focus on the job at hand and pain coping strategies. Eileen is encouraged to move freely or relax in the jacuzzi -- whatever is most comfortable for her as she is coached by a midwife.

There is also a kitchen, dining room and living room that is shared by the three birthing suites. Because no drugs are used during delivery, the mother-to-be is encouraged to eat during labor, keeping up her strength . This means that after giving birth the new mom is much stronger and Mom, Dad, and Baby can return home sooner.

For the next couple of days a midwife will call and check-in on Mom and Baby. After 2-4 days a midwife will make a home visit.

We are looking forward to our continued care and the birth of our child at The Birth Center.

Eileen IS Pregnant!

2007-07-18T21:58:00.000-04:00

It has been confirmed -- what we expected all along -- Eileen is pregnant. This was the final conclusion after our appointment that lasted 1.75 hours.

We filled out a lot of paperwork, insurance forms, questionnaires, etc. and had a brief exam. The people at The Birth Center were very nice and willing to answer the many questions of this first-time expectant couple.

We will return tomorrow for an official orientation and birthing seminar (we will enroll in a 5 week birthing class at a later date). Our next appointment is in four weeks. At that time we should be able to hear the baby's heartbeat.

The most exciting thing, according to Micah, is that our baby might be a Leap Year baby. According to calculations, the due date is February 24. Our midwife told us that first babies are usually late -- perhaps even early March. Nana Holm is hoping to receive a grandchild as a present on her own birthday, the 26th. But Micah is hoping for a Leap Year baby -- that would just be cool.

In other exciting news, Eileen fulfilled her life-long dream of visiting Ikea. It was everything she ever imagined. She is reported to have gasped, "It is like Magic Land." The trip to the thrilling store was capped off with lunch in their Swedish Cafe -- complete with lingonberry punch, Swedish meatballs, and a life-sized Dala horse. Eileen told Micah, "This was the best date ever!" In the end we left empty-handed, but inspired, and proceeded to our relatively boring appointment.

First Appointment

2007-07-18T09:56:00.000-04:00

Today is our first prenatal appointment. We are going to a place called The Birth Center. We will write more later.

The Blogging Bickfords First Post

2007-07-16T23:36:00.000-04:00

This being our first post and seeing that we are already almost 9 weeks along, we thought we would bring you up to speed on a few things.

The 9 week mark is an important time because it marks the transition from embryo to fetus. Scientific words aside, this means that all the organs necessary to sustain life are present in our baby.

So far Eileen has had it pretty easy. Just very tired and an internal thermostat gone haywire. She describe eating her favorite foods as simultaneous delight and revulsion. Red sauce is the most appealing. So we are eating a lot of pasta!

Last Sunday she had her first morning sickness which translated into her crackling cracker wrappers in the middle of church so as not revisit her experience just prior to leaving the house. After the service, we apologized to the family that sat in front of us for the noise. They didn't mind -- they thought it was one of their own kids! Already the Bickford Baby is casting blame on other innocents.

Eileen is spending lots of time reading and researching the pros and cons of all the different baby accessories. Her big obsession right now is strollers. Who knew that this could be so complicated!

Today Eileen's belly measures 38 inches. So the little guy (or gal) is growing fast.