Baby girl was 8lbs, 30z and 20.5 inches long.
Born 9/20/21.

Ivy Eden Abigail Williams.

We chose to name her this as Eden represents a life the way God intended it to be lived, and Abigail can be translated to "a father's joy" which is both what she means to me, and a nod to her grandma Kim who's middle name is Joy.

A dizzying December came to a close last night. 

Working in reverse order, we spent the passed few days with the Wine & Cheese club, ringing in the new year in Federal Way, WA, right on the Salish Sea. Three new members (aka babies) have joined the group since last year's trip to Pacific City, OR, and although we have been doing some form of this trip for, like, six years now, this trip felt very different. Each family having at least one kiddo in the mix shifted the dynamic. It was a good different. A good shift. The time together felt like it meant just a little more to each of us... who knows, maybe I'm over thinking that. 

Before the W&C trip, we were with the Kellar clan for Christmas in S. Lake Tahoe, NV where hundreds of inches of snow fell over a 4 week span. Tahoe was a great trip for the extended family. The cousins will remember this trip for decades to come. 3 acres of toboggan terrain (not to mention a fresh coating of powder each morning), a hot tub over looking the sled runs, a private movie theater and a massive cabin in the woods... Not sure there is really any way to spend Christmas. Plenty of time was spent scratching on the eight ball both in Tahoe & in Federal Way. 

On the way back from Tahoe, we spent two days snowed in in Carson City, NV as every mountain pass on our side of the Sierra's had been completely dumped on and closed off. Massive winter storms this year... the snow plows just could not keep up with the work. Luckily for us, Al's mom, Caz, was able to secure us all rooms in the same hotel, creating bonus cousin time. 

On the way home (and down to Tahoe too) we stayed at the Ashland Hills Convention Center  (our new favorite road trip stop). Ashland is a fantastic town and almost squarely in the middle of home & Ally's parents. 

Further back before Tahoe, we've had birthday celebrations, a Thanksgiving trip to Austin, TX, a round of golf at Chambers Bay... it has been a blessed and busy third month of Ivy's life. 

Looking ahead, it's time to travel less, work a little harder, take on some projects around the house, and enjoy the next few months as we just try to stay cheery and positive through the rainy and cool season. 

Praying God protects those in our family and friend circle and that 2022 is the best year yet for team Williams. 

-KW