It's been a busy week in our world! Where to start?

Last Thursday, Ben, Wesley and I got up reeeeally early, loaded ourselves into the car and drove to the Amsterdam airport. We had two purposes...

First:


And then, after meeting my parents (and Wes meeting Gamma and Papa), they all got back in the car, and I got on a plane to Ohio. Like I said, we were busy. I know many many people think I'm crazy for traveling back to the states mere weeks after Wesley was born, but I had to because Jessica (my best friend) was getting married! I couldn't miss that for anything! She's been my best friend for almost 20 years, and I was the matron of honor, so I had to be there. Plus, a trip to the U.S., even a short one, means I get to make a visit to Target. Sweet Target, my home away from home, the happiest place on earth. That alone was worth the trip.

But even better than Target was seeing Jessica, and being there for the wedding.

Helping the bride get ready


The happy couple


There was cake!


And dancing!


And chocolate martinis at a bar afterwards so Jessica could milk the wedding dress attention as long as possible!

See my big smile in all the pictures? I had fun. And it was so good to see Jessica. And to finally meet Doug, who is great and I'm glad Jessica married him. I had such a great time, it almost makes me wish I lived in Columbus. Almost, but not quite. Too bad it's not in Minnesota.

Meanwhile, back in the Nederland, Gamma and Papa got to hang out with the baby, help Ben with stuff around the house (don't be jealous!), and even get out and see a couple things. They made a trip to our market and bought more fruits and vegetables than one person could possibly want (unless that one person is me. Yay for fresh produce!), and then on Sunday they went to check out the antique market in Tongeren. They didn't return with any antiques, but they did bring back some beautiful items:

Yum!

There was also a pastry for me, but it was set aside until my arrival back in Amsterdam Monday morning.

Whoops, did I say my arrival Monday morning? Yeah... about that... The plan was that I would fly to Ohio on Thursday, stay for all the wedding festivities, and then fly back on Sunday afternoon, arriving here early Monday morning. That didn't quite happen.

So, you know Hurricane Ike? Yeah, the one in Texas. Well, it came to Ohio. And closed down airports. For real. All the planes in Columbus were grounded for hours. I was supposed to fly from Columbus to Atlanta and Atlanta to Amsterdam. Well, I had to rebook because there was no way to make it to Atlanta on time. So, next they booked me on a flight to Cincinnati, then Cincinnati to Amsterdam, getting in a couple hours later than originally planned. The only problem? Cincinnati's airport was shut down due to weather, too. The geniuses at Delta reasoned that this was okay, though, because it meant that my next flight would be delayed too so I would most likely make it. Hmm. I couldn't really argue though, because every single person in the airport was attempting to rebook flights, and I was just happy to have some sort of option.

Guess what? It didn't work out. They neglected to tell me that my flight from Cincinnati to Amsterdam got canceled, something I found out when I arrived in Cincinnati at about 10 p.m. Something Ben found out much before then because Delta called our house trying to get a hold of me. They could call my house to suggest Ben come get me from the airport (Hellloooo? We live in the Netherlands. He can't exactly collect me from the Columbus airport. They had a hard time understanding this.), but they couldn't do anything crazy like, you know, let me know before I got on an airplane and got stranded in Cincinnati overnight along with 800 million other people. So, the short version is that I joined a bajillion people trying to get hotel rooms in Cincinnati, ended up sharing a room at the Radisson with another of Jessica and Doug's friends who happed to be on my flight (luckily we found each other because the Radisson was not so cheap AND it was nice to have someone to commiserate with over a bottle of wine), and then I left at 3 p.m. the next day, getting home on Tuesday after much more time on airplanes and a long layover at JFK, one of the crappiest airports ever. I was not really happy by the time Ben picked me up. I greeted him with a big hug and a glazed donut (one of the things from the states that he loves, misses, and cries himself to sleep over) and then started to cry because I was just that tired.

Luckily, I got to come home to this:

Ahh, baby snuggle naps make everything better!

Warning: bragging and too many exclamation points

Last Saturday was my birthday. Yay! Happy Birthday to me! Thanks. I had been kind of mopey about it because I knew that with a new baby we wouldn't get to do much to celebrate. Not that we do much for our birthdays anyways. Usually the festivities include a real breakfast (not cereal), a small gift (I went all out and gave Ben a DVD for his birthday), and dinner out somewhere (like our tapas place! Or Thai food for Ben's birthday! Or P.F. Chang's when we lived in the good old U.S.A.!).

I knew this year would be fairly quiet though because we would have a very small baby and probably be very tired and perhaps just want a shower and a nap. My expectations were low.

Ben, however, had different plans. He wanted the mother of his little miracle to have a fantabulous birthday, and he delivered (with the cooperation of a baby who enjoys napping in his carseat whenever we take him out of the house).

My day started out the best way possible, with a fresh, clean baby delivered to my bed to snuggle with me.



Meanwhile, Ben was downstairs in the kitchen, making noises, and eventually the house started to smell good, so Wes and I went down to find a present and pancakes! The pancakes are a recipe that I got from my dad and that Ben has mastered and are sooo delicious. I should take pictures and share, but I'm always so focused on eating them that there is no time for photography. Maybe I can con Ben into making them again and post it on my food blog. Because they really are delicious. Mmmm...

Okay, snapping out of my food dreaming and getting back to last weekend. After breakfast, I took the dogs for a walk while Ben and Wes went on a secret mission, but came back empty-handed and informed me that they had been to Maastricht, but had to go back later to pick up... a cake! I LOVE cake! It was supposed to be ready in the morning, but it wasn't, so we used the delayed cake as an excuse to head back to Maastricht, where we sat at a sidewalk cafe and introduced Wesley to the joys of sunshine, people watching, and a cold Heineken.

He may have slept through the whole adventure. I, however, was delighted with our outing because I realized I can finally have a cold beer on a sunny day again! Wooo! Non-pregnant Ellen is getting wild and crazy!

And then, the cake:

Yes, it looks like a wedding cake. But that's because I had seen adorable mini-cakes for weddings, etc in magazines and online and had pestered Ben about them, daydreaming about when I could possibly get a little fancy mini-cake. So he went out to the frou-frouiest bakery we have found here in the Netherlands (they have pastries so pretty they practically look French!) and ordered me a very small wedding cake.

And it was delicious. It had two layers of a dark chocolate mousse sandwiching a thick layer of almond cream on a very thin graham cracker-like crust. And then it was covered in a frosting that was somewhere between fondant and marzipan. Yummmmm.

It didn't last long in our house.

Finally, as if the day couldn't get any tastier, Ben made dinner. Can you believe that? He gives me presents, he cooks, he cleans, he takes care of babies, he plots surprise birthday cakes, and then he cooks again!

I'm a sucker for a man in an apron.


Especially when he makes Chicken Monterey for me.

And he encouraged cake before and after dinner. What more could a girl want?

We're home!

It feels so good to be out of the hospital! Ben, Wesley and I finally got to come home and start getting used to our new life here yesterday morning, and we are all VERY happy about it.

But before I jump right into our new adventures, we promised details on Wesley's arrival. So here's the long version, if you want it. If you don't, feel free to look at the pictures and sit tight for more interesting stuff in the weeks to come.

Let's go back a week from today. I had a doctor's appointment because I was over a week past my due date and my doctor asked, "When would you like to be induced? Yesterday?" We laughed, and said "Yes, no really, right now, please?". So my induction was scheduled for first thing the next day.

We got up bright and early Tuesday morning, and while I took the dogs for one last quality walk Ben made me pancakes for breakfast to give me a delicious start to my big day.

My very last belly photo, 41 weeks and 4 days, as we were headed out the door at 7 a.m.


When we got to the hospital, they monitored me and the baby for a little while and then put a gel on my cervix to get the contractions and dilation started. And we just sat and waited.


It worked pretty well, and by mid-morning I was having mild contractions every 3 minutes or so.

This is where it goes downhill. I kept having contractions 3 minutes apart and they did get stronger, but they weren't actually doing anything. 1 cm dilated all day. Great. They sent me home at 5 p.m., saying we could try again on Thursday if they weren't too busy. Fantastic.

We went home.

We walked the dogs, made some dinner, walked the dogs again. We knew walking is supposed to help move labor along, and boy, did it ever. By halfway through our second walk I kept having to slow down or stop with every contraction and I may have mumbled "motherf***er" once or twice, and we decided it was probably time to call labor and delivery and head back over there.

We got to the hospital about 12:30 a.m. and guess what? 1 cm dilated! Wooo! Wait, what? You mean no progress yet, even with the reeeeally painful contractions? Hmph. So, more fetal monitoring, more contractions, more waiting. 2:30 a.m., I was finally up to 3 cm. That's something at least, right? So at some point (3:30ish? I was sleep deprived and stuff) they decided to break my water. After that they gave me a little something for the pain that lasted for maybe a couple hours. It still hurt, but in between the pain I felt nice and floaty and sleepy. Then, it wore off. And then I wanted to die. And I wanted my epidural. But they said the baby's heart rate dropped every time I had a contraction so they had reservations about the epidural. Oh yeah, and I was still only at 4 cm. The next few hours are kind of fuzzy in my memory. I remember screaming and shaking and screaming and wanting to kick a nurse because she kept telling me "No, breathe like this: hee hee hee hoooooooo". Finally, at about 9 a.m., the doctors decided that the epidural was not gonna happen and that instead I needed a c-section. Pronto.

They gave me a drug to relax my uterus (how about some real pain meds, people???) and quickly wheeled me to an operating room. Ben, in case you were wondering, was freaking out a tiny bit at this point. He had been concerned about me the whole time and by my side, holding my hand whenever possible. And the sudden rush was a little unnerving for him. But he handled it like a champ, suited up in his hospital scrubby gear, and got to my side as soon as I was ready for the surgery. At this point I finally got my sweet, sweet epidural and was gloriously numb.

I was so deliriously happy, that Ben thought they had given me something a little more... narcotic. But no, I was just overjoyed to be able to think coherently without horrendous pain that I came off as a little drugged.

From this point, everything went very quickly. Within minutes, we heard Wesley gurgle and then start to cry as they brought him up by my head to show him to me. Then he and Ben were whisked off to clean him up and weigh him.


They reappeared briefly so I could cover them both in kisses,

and then were whisked off yet again while I was cleaned up and put back together and wheeled off to recovery where I finally realized I hadn't slept in forever and promptly passed out. Good times.

It wasn't really the experience we hoped for, and not one I want to repeat, but we feel completely blessed because both Wes and I are 100% healthy and happy, and in he is perfect in every way.

And then, finally, after 5 days of hospital recovery (which was terribly boring, with the exception of sushi picnic night, compliments of Ben)


They actually let us leave the hospital!


We're home!


And the Bella and Spud finally got to meet their new squeak toy, I mean, baby brother.




And if you just can't get enough baby pictures (Yes, you, Grandma and Grandpa) you can check out more Wesley pictures here.

This is Wes

I know there are a bunch of you out there who can't wait to meet Wesley. However, there is the problem of one really large pond in between us and you. Hopefully, you will enjoy a little video of him and it will hold you over until you can meet him.

To others it might be a little boring. I understand it is just a baby and 2 day old babies don't do much. But don't hate. It is my world and I love it.

Introducing...

Wesley Raymond Morrison

Born at 0930 (Dutch Time) on August 20, 2008.
Or if you write it the European way 20.08.2008 (pretty cool).

Weight - 3275 grams (7 lbs. 3 oz.)
Length - will be measured later (Some weird way the Dutch do it)

He has is dada's lips and nose and his mama's long fingers and slightly lopsided smile.

He was delivered by c-section after a very long and painful labor, but both he and mama are in perfect health.

Full story to come when we're not all so exhausted.

How do Ben and Ellen kill time while waiting for a baby to show up?

Well...

I've been baking an awful lot. Just today I made peanut butter brownies, and in the past couple weeks I also have made macarons, honey ice cream, some other peanut butter blondies (Ben's boss had asked why I don't make peanut butter stuff, so I've made a couple things for him. He's one of my loyal fans and I like to keep my fans happy), and cupcakes.

The cupcakes, though. I needed to make them. You see, I had leftover chocolate ganache and vanilla buttercream from making macarons, and I also had a brand new toy to play with. I saw this mechanical pastry bag on the Williams-Sonoma website a little while back, lusted after it, mentioned it in passing to my mom, and then magically got one in a box a early birthday presents from my parents. I'm pretty much in love with it.

So I whipped up my favorite almond cake recipe, filled some with cherry preserves and topped them with chocolate ganache AND vanilla buttercream.


Yum. I didn't eat any, but Ben said they went over really really well at work.

We've also been going out to eat as much as possible. We've been out every weekend for the past four weeks, and it's been great. The last two times we went out, we went to The India House, an indian restaurant in Maastricht. I had been wanting good indian food for a while, but it's not easy to find around here, so eventually I just googled "good indian restaurant in Maastricht", and voilà! It's delicious and the people who run it are nice and it's delicious, and when Ben asked if they can do take out (for when/if this baby ever comes) the guy said "Sure!" Yay!

We also like to walk around Maastricht after eating, and usually end up at the Fun Photo booth at the train station

It is terrbily fun.

And of course we've been going to Starbucks (as usual)



And if we're lucky, while walking around Aachen after our Starbucks trip we stumble upon free entertainment.

This was the "Dance Wizards", a hip hop dance group. By American standards they were pretty bad, and Ben and I laughed and laughed and laughed. And laughed some more. But by German or Dutch standards they were pretty good. They're good at fried foods around here, but not so great at the dancing thing. I told Ben that those girls totally stole all my moves, the ones I use when I'm at home alone and nobody can see me. I could be a star here!

Even funnier than the real dancers was the older woman standing next to us. She was gettin' down.


Other than that we're still just sitting around, waiting, walking the dogs, watching movies, waiting. And to answer any questions, I feel great still, baby is great, no sign of anything happening, and as of today I am 9 days overdue. I guess the kid is just happy in there.

Me, today, 40 weeks and 1 day pregnant.

FAQs about me and the baby:

Q. Is the baby here yet? Is he here? Have you given birth and not told me?
A. Please see above photo.

Q. How are you feeling?
A. Fine, thanks.

Q. Do you want him out right this minute?
A. I'm happy and feeling good, so I want my little guy to come when he's ready. As long as that's sometime in the next couple weeks.

Q. Are you sure the baby hasn't come yet?
A. Yes, see photo.

Q. Are you excited?
A. Very. We can't wait to meet him!


And finally, not a response to a frequently asked question, but something I've been dying to share. My number one proudest achievement during this pregnancy (besides growing a healthy baby) is that I have stayed healthy and active, and that I can STILL do yoga regularly, including the tree pose. Check it out.

Aw yeah, that's me balancing on one leg and not falling over. I'm pretty sure I'm awesome. Thanks.

And finally, yes, we'll let you know when the baby comes, but he seems to be taking his sweet time. If you don't hear from us, you can assume that we're hanging out, going to lunch, or baking cookies or something.

Speaking of baking cookies, I've started a separate blog to detail my cooking adventures. If you want to check it out, you can see it here.