4after5 Show Tonight!

This is it, folks! Today's the day: the 4 After 5 art exhibit is here and open to the public. Remember the opening reception is TONIGHT from 5-8 pm. Need directions?

4 After 5 Art Exhibit

When: November 18, 2010 - January 7, 2011

Where: coolspace @ artspace, 710 Texas St., Downtown Shreveport

Opening Reception: November 18, 2010, 5 - 8 PM

Eck Halloween 2010

This past weekend was one of Arwen's favorite days of the year, Halloween! Arwen wanted to be a kitty cat this year, and we found a little bat costume for Jonas, so we had the cat and bat! I put together a last-minute Cyclops (Leader of the X-Men) costume using an X-Men movie replica visor (a gift from cousin David from a few years back), some black clothes and a roll of yellow duct tape. We went to a trunk-or-treat celebration last weekend at a church in Bossier City and then went trick-or-treating in our neighborhood Halloween night. She makes a great kitty!

Jonas Update

Well, we're 2 weeks, 3 days into life as a family of 4 and things are going pretty good. Jonas is a pretty mellow guy who sleeps most of the day away and eats the rest. Arwen is enjoying being a big sister and loves to help out. She got a cold last weekend, but I think we have successfully kept Jonas out of the danger zone. The only thing that worries me is that he's showing signs of being a Philadelphia Eagles fan. First he got upset when I started beating the Eagles with the Cowboys on the Playstation. A few days later, he gets upset when they made a bad play against the 49ers on Sunday. I don't know what's going on here, but I think I need to take him on a trip to Arlington, STAT!

Introducing Jonas

Today we welcomed a new member of our family into the world, Jonas Briar Eck. He was born at 5:32am after a grueling 25 1/2 hrs of labor. He weighed 7 lbs 3 oz and was 20" long. We didn't labor with Arwen, as she was breach and had to be C-sectioned, so this was a new experience for all 3 of us (us and Jonas, that is). Shelley worked through some wicked-looking contractions with the resolve of a champ. After 21 hours of labor she decided that she had fought her good fight and asked for an epidural. After that things moved much faster and in 4 short hours later we met our son. He seems MUCH more relaxed than Arwen, so I look forward to how that dynamic at home will play out in the years to come. Arwen came by a few hours later and met her brother and brought him a stuffed dog. Many thanks to our doctor who worked with us the entire 25 1/2 hours and at this moment is still going strong almost 12 hours AFTER that. I would also like to thank our doula, Jen, the kind nurses who worked with us, and Mimi who took care of Arwen for us when we couldn't. What a day. What a boy!

1st Day of School!

Today was Arwen's first day back at preschool! Shelley, Mimi (Evelyn), and I all took her together. This will be her 3rd year going to this school/daycare and we all love it. As an added bonus, her teacher from last year, Miss Lisa, moved from 2 to 3-year-olds this year so Arwen is in her class again! When she saw Lisa she ran up and gave her a big hug. Good times. Check out her new "big girl" backpack. She had to have one big enough for her papers and her lunch bag to fit in, hence the huge bag and the tiny girl. :)

Mother/Daughter Tea Party

2 weeks ago Shelley and Arwen got dressed up and went into town to have a tea party at the Glenwood Village Tea Room. They did their nails, put on perfume and wore their tiaras! Here are some pictures I took before they left.

New Family Blog

Hey Everybody! Since it's been over 2 years since I updated the news page on our EcksSite.com website I've created this blog to keep friends and family up-to-date on the Shreveport Ecks. I plan on keeping this one much more current, as it is SO much easier to update with pictures and text than my old site. Please check back soon, as our new baby will debut here soon!