Temperatures in Seattle finally cooled down to about 70 degrees after a heat wave kept them in the 90s for much of the month. Phew! To celebrate, all three of us went down to the local zoo.

Amber seemed to like the bears best, maybe because they were the biggest animals there (or maybe because they were the most active!). She tried imitating the mouth movements of the mountain goats that were grazing on clumps of grass. Too funny! We also spent a lot of time watching the river otters swim back and forth, and even waved a few times at them.

We're excited to bring her back again soon!

Grandpa William and Grandma Brenda stayed with us the first week Amber was home...boy, was that a life saver! It was nice to be able to catch at least a few moments of rest (and shut-eye, in some cases) while they held our precious little one. We're naturally paranoid that the house isn't warm enough or that we're holding her wrong (or going to break her somehow!), but our friends who are already parents themselves assure us that it's only natural. I guess we're relieved!

Aunt Frances and Uncle Tim will be visiting us next week, and then Grandpa Roy and Grandma Hannah the week after that. I think our house is booked solid for the next two months!

Amber Cailyn was born at 10:30am on January 5th. She kept Mom up all night, making us think she might arrive a bit earlier...but then she decided to sleep in a bit. Too bad Mom didn't get to do the same!

The labor lasted about 12 hours - Jane says it seemed much longer than that! Grandmas and Grandpas and aunts and uncles waited anxiously in the waiting room to see how everyone was doing. Everyone was so excited when they heard that we had a healthy girl!

 Thanks to everyone for their support, oftentimes in the form of some kind of coffee or pastry. We'll post lots more pictures when we can!