Well, over the last week we have been enjoying the company of Grandma Bev. And I have to say ... Joe really misses you already. She was so helpful in these early days for Owen, but we also had so much fun in the evening. Just hope you had a relaxing vacation amongst all the running around the kitchen island and playing hockey.

Thank you so much for visiting, we all enjoyed it so much.

With Owen's arrival last week I took a little time off to spend with my expanding family. To my benefit it overlapped with Father's Day ... which I like to think has been extended into a full long weekend.

Saturday took us back to the ice rink. And as typical with strapping some blades on your feet ... we had a blast. I was really exciting to see how Joe continues to get better. His balance on the single blades off the ice is incredible - only difference between skates and shoes is ... he walks in skates (mostly). On the ice is just need confidence. He can now handle holding only one hand, and has taken a few steps on his own.

On Father's Day itself ... well, I tried to do nothing. That is right - I relaxed. Read a little, slept a little, and got a cool tee-shirt ... and saw a movie. Also got a waffle machine ... which we promptly put to use the next morning.

To do this right we made then from scratch. That is right ... mix in the yeast, separate the egg whites and yoke, and let stand prior to cooking. So it turns out our breakfast was really a lunch ... but hey ... it was GOOD, VERY GOOD!!

Then we headed out to the art museum for a little cultural experience for Owen ... and hey ... don't want to spend this entire family vacation sitting at home watching TV. It was actually an incredible day, the boys were really good and there is some great exhibits going on. Its great to be Dad!

At approximately ten hundred hours on the thirteenth day of the sixth month of 2007 a lock-down of the woman center occurred. Someone was escaping with one of the new babies ...

Earlier Joseph Bahan arrived to visit his newly born baby brother. Using this influence with the authorities Joe managed to secure an escorted walk outside the cell room confining his new found flesh and blood. Owen was placed in the protective transportation device and Joe took the controls. Joe looked around to get his bearings and noticed he had been here before ... two years, one month, and eleven days before to be exact. This same room, this same hallway ... it was all familiar ...

As Joe reached the door he took a quick look back and turned left ... straight for the exit. Dad managed to catch him before he hit the doors ... but ... not soon enough. The alarms were triggered ... "Code Pink" ... "Code Pink". Joe headed down another hallway ... but all exits were locked and now manned with guards. Nurses appeared demanding a count of the babies and attempting locate the offending door.

Dad had to sheepishly put his hand up and state that he had already caught the perpetrator and was heading back to the cell block (Pediatrician had just arrived). Guess Owen would not be coming home that day.

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But Owen has come home now. Mom and baby are both upstairs resting right now ... and I will be up there soon. It is good to be home where our lives can start getting into the new groove. I want to thank Krishen for rushing over to our house on the 12th allowing Melissa and I to head to the hospital, and also Christopher and Shannon (and Tiffany) for taking Joe that afternoon and overnight until we were released this morning. Without friends like you we would not be able to fully enjoy these remarkable events ... Thank you.

Born: 7:26am 06/13/2007

Weight: 8 lbs even
Length: 20 in.

Welcome Owen to your new family.

Mommy time

Daddy shares in some quality time

Look, they are already scheming

Joe is going to make a great big brother

Owen, I know you are as excited about the days ahead as we are. We love you and can't wait to share in your hopes and dreams as you grow. Welcome to our family.

So we still await our new arrival ... latest doctor appointment says 70% effaced and 2cm dilation. So we are making positive progress. We did spend little time on getting everything finally set up ... if nothing else for Grandma Bev's arrival early next week.

... but since we must wait a little longer ...

Joe and I hit the fields. Apparently I was letting my mind and body go over the last several months and Joe thought a little running around was in order.

After a little coaching from Krishen and a little watching us all throw the disc around while running up and down the field ... Joe was ready for a shift. Like all ringers, he came in on the last point took a couple passes and scored a point.

(He also got mom up and running around as he played on the jungle gym and slides found at the park ... we all had such a great time we are going to have to do it again)

So this last weekend we once again hit the ice, this time bringing the single blade skates for Joe. This allowed Tiffany and family to join us and use Joe's dual-blade skates. She took to the ice as well as Joe did ... and we all had a blast.

She's a natural

Tonight Joe got to stay up extra late and watch the Ducks and Ottawa fight out game 5. Anaheim refused to let Ottawa back into the game after taking a first period lead. Ottawa pushed hard in the second but also made some critical errors. By the end of the third they were out of gas and Anaheim closed it out. 6-2 was the final.

Dreams

Oh ... I should mention ... our family status remains unchanged. Actually, things have completely settled down. Guess we will have to wait to see what the doctor says tomorrow.

This incredible photo courtesy of Krishen

We enjoyed breakfast at First Watch this morning as a quiet family outing. Get out and enjoy the newly found rain that is sprinkling on us. Well ... was sprinkling on us, but the end of breakfast the sun was back out and the temperature was back up. It was "Berry" who is paying us a visit and has just been downgraded to a Tropical Depression ... wow ... second named storm on day one of the season ... me thinks an interesting year is ahead.

The really fun thing is that the low pressure system is not just supplying much needed rain, it is also playing with Melissa. Resulting in some strong Braxton Hicks. We are watching the clock to see if anything comes of it ... but right now it is just hard to keep from getting too excited.

We will let you know!

Update

13 minutes, 10, 9, 8 ... 10, 14, 24 ... none!

We were regular for about 3 hours ... and then they seem to have disappeared and we are now back to just some braxton hicks. A little tease of things to come, and a chance to get the bags packed, camera ready, and iPod charged :)

So, with things settling down it was time for a walk to the ice cream parlor and then have a nap.