Merry Christmas to all...

from our house to yours.

More pictures of all our Christmas frivolity as a family of three to come...

Some amazing things

Meeting the Kantors

Today we celebrated Christmas among all the many Kantor aunts, uncles, and cousins. So Joseph put on his best outfit and got ready to meet the whole Kantor family. He started by saying hello to Great Grandma Kantor, whom he loved cuddling with, and then on to meet all 17 other of Grandma's great-grandchildren. There were lots of hellos and hugs and holds and kisses... but Joseph slept through most of them so will need to be re-introduced to everyone at the next family function.

Merry Christmas Kantor Family!

39 weeks... just for the record

Home Sweet Home

Home really is much sweeter with a baby... we were very happy to get a clean bill of health at the hospital yesterday and to be able to come home with our bundle of Joseph. We've never driven more carefully or come to more complete stops than on our drive from the hospital... Joseph always says, "Safety first." Anyway, he seems to like our house... I gave him a tour and showed him the kitchen, and explained that the Christmas tree isn't always there, and welcomed him into the green room (well, his room). And we've had a good first day of family living. Night time was a bit of challenge - apparently Joseph is nocturnal (just like the hamster I had when I was 12) - but I'm told that all of that will work itself out.

Here are a few pictures of our first day on Carberry Way...

Getting a tour of the joint...

Today Lily came over to poke that baby.

Hanging out in the green room...

Me and Joe. This is bliss.

Getting to know Joe

Thanks to all the friends and family who have sent us such kind words by phone and email. Joseph feels pretty important and can't wait to meet you all. And Joseph was also thrilled (he told me so) by the number of people who came to meet him right away on Monday. These included...

Nanny and Papa Kantor...



The Bodners...


The Dhas family...

The Flahertys...

And Tante Cheese... (Lisel)...

Joseph looks forward to meeting all the rest of his family and friends. He's already heard so much about you and thinks that you are (and these are his own words...) "."

life, love and a miracle

Today, I was going to go to work as on any Monday. Gillian had planned to clean the house, wrap Christmas presents, fold laundry ... like on any other normal day.

Those plans all flew out the window at 3:42 am when Gillian's water broke. With many people praying for us, we were in good hands. Gillian did what women so heroically do and literally pushed through labour until at 12:54 pm, our baby came into this world. Baby K ... or as he will be known henceforth:
Joseph William Gerald.






Here are some of his stats:
Weight: 7 lbs 14 1/2 ounces
Length: 21 inches
Appetite: seemingly endless (like father, like son, I guess)
Origin of name: we wanted to name our son after the great fathers in our life ... Joseph, father of Jesus, William, David's father and Gerald, Gillian's father.
Everyone is doing well, and we are thrilled to be a happy, healthy family. Gillian and Joseph are at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital resting for the night.





On our wedding day, I thought I could never love Gillian more. As we journeyed together these past two years, especially on the Camino and in Australia, my love for her only grew. And now as I watched her give birth to our son and hold him in her arms, I love her more than ever.

Lord Jesus, we thank you for the LOVE you have so graciously given us. We are in awe of the MIRACLES that you make happen around us everyday. We praise you for this gift of LIFE ... Joseph William Gerald.

laughs, tears and a good meal

This weekend, it was Gillian's turn to treat her husband.

First treat - A Vinyl Cafe Christmas with Stuart McLean at Massey Hall. What a thrill to see Stuart McLean, host of CBC's Vinyl Cafe and one awesome storyteller, bring his Christmas stories alive and move the audience to hysterics and tears (yes, sometimes at the same time). By our baby's movements, s/he must have a good sense of humour. The stories were interspersed with some great Canadian music, all wrapped in a warm, Christmas atmosphere. I think everyone walking out at the end had a smile on their face ... and a sore face from laughing so much.

Second treat - Swan Restaurant

Our favourite restaurant and the birthplace of the spicy brownie enjoyed by many at our wedding. We enjoyed our usual - crab cakes to start, risotto of the day for Gillian, fish of the day for David and a shared spicy brownie to cap it all off. This was on our list to do before our baby arrived, so check ... now we can have our baby.

What a lucky husband I am.

Whatcha doin'

I've been off work for a while now... starting to get *bored*... always knew I was impatient... this just proves it. Anyway, lots of friends are having babies... so I'm making blankets for them. Thank you, friends, for giving me something to do.

38 weeks

A getaway from the everyday

Before Baby K arrives, Mr. David Kantor decided to surprise Mrs. Gillian Kantor with a weekend away. I'm snoopy, so surprises don't work that well... I knew we were going somewhere but just not where. After three hours of driving on Saturday, we ended up at the Domain of Killien, a bed and breakfast owned by a French Count and Countess outside of Haliburton.

Fun things about the weekend:

1) It was snowy and wintery and beautiful.

2) Food was plentiful and delicious.

3) And we tried snow-shoeing. Baby loved snow-shoeing, so we think it will become a regular winter sport for us. Now we just need snow shoes.

37 weeks