Introducing...Timo James!

Timo James Gieser

25 October 2012

6 lbs, 13 oz.

19.5 inches long

Our son has arrived! He is healthy and doing just fine so far. Timo was born on Thursday, Oct. 25, at 10.47 am...just 25 minutes after we checked into the maternity center at the Bloomington Hospital!! Yep, it was a superfast birth and a tad crazy (our doctor was not expecting such speed and arrived just in time - he later told us that he was taking the stairs four at a time to get to us). Julianna did super, and so did Timo. I didn't do much :-).

The story behind Timo's name:
In Greek, Timo means "honor" (it is the first part, in Greek, of the name Timothy). We also wanted something that fit my German heritage, and Timo is quite popular in Germany and Scandinavia. In fact, another Timo played on the German table tennis team for the London 2012 Olympic games. So - lots to live up to.  

James is my given name. James and his brother, John, left everything to follow Jesus.

Just minutes old!

A phone call from relatives!

Gemma meeting Timo on Thursday evening.

Mom Hawkins arrived on Friday afternoon and brought along a Bo'Berry Biscuit from Bojangles for the no-longer-pregnant Julianna. A real treat!

He seems to enjoy eating/sucking his fingers - he had sucked off a patch from the top layer of skin on his hand in utero.

This is the most beautiful woman I know!

A visit from Gieser cousins

We had a great day on Monday: the weather was in the upper 70s and several Gieser cousins came to town for the day! Melanie and Jeremy Pennington with Eliot and Auden, and Dan Cooper with Simon. We enjoyed some time together at our condo, then a picnic at Bryan Park. We loved spending time with them and only wish that it had been longer!

A bus ride and muffins

Bloomington has a great bus system which has been my main source of transportation for my 3+ years of studies at IU. It is free for students, always clean and (most of the time) on schedule. It takes approximately 20 minutes to/from campus which, during busy semesters was another 40 minutes I could spend on studies, and in less-busy times allowed me space to read or listen what I liked. It's been a good thing.

Gemma and Jul routinely meet me when I come home - and thus the bus has always been a source of excitement for Gemma. So, it was time for the three of us to finally go into town together - we figured Gemma would like it. Plus, this was on our list of fun activities to do before the little guy was born.

We had breakfast at The Village Deli - I had Pumpkin Pancakes that were awesome - then went to the library for a while afterwards. Then home again on the bus. A fun morning. 

The pumpkin pancakes were great!

We ran into Hilarie, a friend from church, and her kids. This is not uncommon and fun about a smallish town - we often run into people we know at the library.

Back home on the bus.

My pumpkin pancakes in the morning inspired me to make pumpkin muffins in the afternoon. It's a pumpkin time of year, obviously.

Fall afternoons at the park

What beautiful fall weather we have been having of late - and the colors on the trees seem to be at their peak. This is a great time to live in B-town. And a great time of year to enjoy the afternoon sunshine at the park.

"Mommy do it!" she commanded.

This "ladder" on the playground is a bit tricky, and I have so far explained to Gemma that it is for older kids, it's a bit steep, she can do it when she gets bigger, etc. Well - last week she approached it, carefully inspected it, and pronounced: "I'm older. I two years old." And then proceeded to climb up it, totally unassisted and safely, until she arrived at the top, holding her hands in the air and shouting, "Hurray! Hurray! I did it! I did it! I big!"

And repeat. And repeat.

"Let's go this way, Daddy."

And they are off!

Exodus (church) Fall Cook-out

Last Sunday night our church community gathered together (on a cold afternoon and early evening) for a cook-out and hayride at a family farm: 82 acres just south of town, with fields and pond and barn and horses. It was a great way to enjoy the changing of the seasons and relax with folk who we usually only have the chance to talk to for a few minutes after church services. 

It took us about 10-15 minutes to drive down to the farm, and on the way - of course - we drove by several large quarries. Limestone is what made this area of Indiana flourish (and what supplied a lot of buildings in D.C. and NYC), and there is still activity going on. At the crest of one winding hill, we were able to get a view down into one corner of a quarry, so Jim pulled over and jumped out with the camera. It's hard to capture the details and the immensity on camera though! But it was a very cool scene!

Now - on to the cook-out. Here we are getting bundled up. Hmm...where are our winter hats & gloves? Up in the attic space somewhere. (And this Sunday is 75 degrees again...)

Matt and Dan, the two pastors at Exodus. Nice sweatshirts, men.

Senna (Dan's daughter) gets the hot dogs on to the fire.

Two of my "mom friends": Anna with Ellis, and Laura with Kate.

Dan's wife Pam found this huge stick for roasting marshmallows

Gemma tries a roasted marshmallow. She wasn't quite sure about it.

Gemma's friend Pierce holding one of the barn kittens. Naturally all the kids (oh wait, and the adults) couldn't help but going ga-ga when the kittens made an appearance. "This one still needs a home!" said Senna. Oh. Tempting.

Some of the folks off on the hay ride!