Canaan's Firsts

In this edition of our blog, titled, Canaan's Firsts, I have chronicled some of our little girl's momentous "Firsts" in her life of ONE MONTH!

Here, her dad is holding her during her first full day of life outside the womb. This is her first official "wail" and her father seems slightly confused..."I thought we would have a quiet, introverted, and meek baby!?!" Well, when both parents are loud and extroverted, it's likely the baby will be the same--which she is!

This next picture shows Canaan during her first pediatrician appointment at one week old...all 6 pounds, 2 ounces of her! She's certifiably a peanut. She had lost 4 ounces since birth (normal) and by her one month visit, she had become a slightly larger peanut weighing in at 7 pounds, 7 ounces and one inch longer than birth--19 1/2 (in the 20%). You can see her chicken leg kicking out...which happens a lot, both in the womb and out of the womb. In fact, when she was in my belly, she would kick her chicken legs out and shove her little butt against my side making a large lump which my first graders could feel..."I feel Mrs. Goodwin's baby's butt!!!!" they would yell as they touched my belly.

This is the first picture of Canaan's THREE grandmothers--on the left is my Aunt Beth from Minnesota...Grammy. In the center is Tim's mom, Jill...Nana. On the right is my step-mother, Kathryn...Grandma. Grammy and Grandma stayed for two weeks after her birth to help out (and change diapers and feed at 4 in the morning and cook and clean and do laundry...I really miss them.) Nana baby-sat Canaan while mom and dad went out with Aunt Sarah and Uncle Josh for the first margarita post-Canaan. Very nice.

This is a family picture of Canaan's first Fourth of July! She's clad in her "All-American Girl" onesie, ready for the fire-works which we saw from the hill in our back yard. It was a successful Fourth of July complete with all her family and Bubba Burgers.

Next, Canaan's first picture with her little friend Gracie Bardin--our good college friends, Greg and Esther's little girl. Gracie will be her play mate two days a week while Esther watches Canaan while I'm working part time at King's Ridge! So this is Canaan (on the right) talking Gracie's ear off explaining why she prefers the "Jason's Butt Creme" vs. the "Burt's Bee's Butt Creme". And sweet Gracie just listening away.

And finally, the last picture of this segment entitled Canaan's Firsts...the first time Canaan realized that life outside the womb is pretty nice. Cute clothes, people hold her, and her legs aren't squished into her face anymore.

Next edition, The Faces of Canaan!

She's Here!

Canaan Marie Goodwin has arrived! She was born on June 26th, 2008 at 3:24pm after 17 1/2 hours of labor and pushing--but well worth the wait! She was a healthy 6 lb. 6 oz. 18 in. little girl with a conehead, a boxer nose, and a folded up ear from her "layover" in the birth canal. But 19 days later, she's cute as a bug! Round head, cutie little nose, Tim's elf ears, my lips (maybe?), someones chin, Tim's forehead that really crinkles (no kidding...just like her dad!), big eyes, a tiny peanut body, and the sweetest little grunting noises. She's a keeper!

We chose her name because in the Bible, Canaan was the land that God promised to the Israelites--a perfect place full of everything they could ever ask for or imagine. They had to work hard to obtain this promise and when they arrived, it was well worth the wait! The Israelites also had to have faith that this was God's Best for them--they were scared when they first saw the land of Canaan and so they had to wander in the desert for 40 years. They eventually learned that they had to have faith in God that this was His Best Plan for them--Tim and I had to have faith in God that having a baby was His Best Plan for us...and it definitely is! We believe our Canaan is a promise from God and will be a blessing to everyone she knows. Marie honors our mothers--Sue Marie and Jill Marie. And Goodwin because we thought she should have Tim's last name--he is our sugar daddy, of course.

Tim and I will email you when we update our blogspot--next edition, "Canaan's First's".
THANKS for caring!!
-Tim, Maureen, and Canaan Goodwin