Merry Christmas 2010 - Introducing: Elliot Gloria Janssen

It's been a long 9 months with a great deal of change. We relocated from Austin, TX to Sioux Falls, SD in November. I left work in Austin as a mechanic, and started work here as an IT professional (again). The weather has been severe with much ice and snow, a shocking change from the mild Austin winters.

On 12/25/2010 at 4:00am, life presented us with our biggest change to date...

Meet Elliot Gloria Janssen, our beautiful baby girl. Born at 4:00am Christmas morning, weighing 7lbs 15oz, and 21" long. No gift will ever compare. Labor didn't go exactly as planned, but went relatively smooth no problems. Tiff's mom was there for the delivery, which was comforting to both of us.

We spent a couple days in the Avera Hospital. It was a very nice and very comfortable place to be as far as hospitals go. Elliot spent most of the time in our room, in our arms, or sleeping on our chests. Tiff began breast feeding right away, a few short minutes after Elliot was born. She caught on pretty quick, and if ever there was trouble, the Avera nurses were there for help and support.

We had some visitors while in the hospital. Of course Nana Pat and Grandpa Rory where there to get as much baby time as possible. We had a nice surprise visit from Tiff's cousin Joe and his wife who live here in Sioux Falls, neither of whom we've seen for nearly a decade.

Joe and Nancy came up from Sioux City and brought Aiden and Alexis with them. The girls hung out in the room, while Joe, Aiden and I wandered the hospital aimlessly, riding elevators and talking about life. Additionally, Aiden felt the need to take a bath in the whirlpool tub which I think was against hospital policy, but kept him entertained for a few minutes anyway.

Monday, December 27th. They turned us loose from the hospital and sent us packin', kid in hand. What on earth were they thinking?