I joked on Wednesday evening that I had just bought some fancy flowers to photograph in my entryway for an upcoming post, thereby guaranteeing that I would go into labor before being able to take pictures the next day. Well?
Calvin Edward Balch was born at 8:18 a.m. on Thursday, October 2, 2014. He weighed 8 pounds, 9 ounces (the smallest of our three), and measured 21 inches long. He has fuzzy brown hair with a polka dot of a blonde spot, right in the center on top, and very dark blue eyes that make it impossible to predict what color they will stay.
I’d given birth before without an epidural, so that part of the experience wasn’t new, but this delivery was the first that was free of complications (thank goodness). Calvin and I are happy and healthy, and our family of five is doing well!
115 comments
qlkowa
Congratulations:)
cassidy
Congrats! I saw his little face and instantly thought of Eleanor — a click back to an old post confirmed the impression. You do make them cute :)
Stephanie
Congratulations!
Cindy Wick
i love October 2nd! My 4th one just turned 21 on that day. He’s an amazing kid, traveling in Europe right now. I predict the same ‘amazingness’ for Calvin. So glad everything went well for you. :)
Kristin
Congratulations! He is beautiful, and I am glad that you are both doing well. I have three kids too (7, 5 and 2) and I wish you luck! I found it to be a bit of a circus once the baby started to walk and all of a sudden it seemed like 2 adults was not quite enough to manage 3 kids. But now that our youngest is 2 it has settled down and we are in a good groove. It is sometimes a circus at our house, but it’s always lots of fun. Congrats!
v.j. kohout
Congratulations to you both. He is all Eleanor, well, with a little distinction.
Sava
Congratulations! He is a cutie.
Sandra
He is beautiful. Congratulations!
Eva
What a beautiful baby! Congratulations! BTW, our oldest had dark blue eyes when he was born, and they turned into dark brown eyes after a couple of weeks.
Margie
Congratulations. He’s beautiful.
Jessica
Congratulations! I’m glad there were no complications this time.
Sarah F.
Congratulations! Calvin is beautiful. And I’m glad to hear things went smoothly for you. Enjoy this special time!
Anna
Congratulations!! He is such a precious little sweetie!
Shauna
Félicitations! Gorgeous child!
Dee
He is SO very lovely. Perfect, even. I love how you choose such good, solid names as opposed to way “out there” names kids would probably be tempted to change when they come of age. A beautiful family you have! Can’t wait to see more Calvin Edward!
Debren
wow, Nicole, you sure do make beautiful babies! Many congratulations! Calvin looks so peaceful and mellow. Looking forward to watching him grow with his siblings….
Haley J.
Congratulations, Nicole! He is absolutely beautiful!
CTDC
Congratulations! He looks perfect. Good job, Mama!
Wendy
Congrats on that bundle of perfection. Your oldest two cuties are almost the exact same ages as my two boys. This is making me want another!
itziar
Congratulations!
The new in the family is so adorable!
Morgan Wilson
He is seriously perfect! Congratulations!!
marij
Congratulations!! He looks adorable. I hope the family is doing well.
Tanja
Congratulations!!!! And I wish you a very nice and peaceful first time altogether!
Kathryn
Congratulations Balch family! What a sweet and handsome boy he is.
Maggie
Congratulations!!
Amanda
He is adorable! I love his name. Congratulations :)
erin
He is SO handsome, his name is PERFECT, and I’m so very glad you didn’t have any complications! Congrats, Balch Family!
Katherine
Congratulations to you and your family! He’s perfect!
Nikole
Congratulations! I’m so thrilled for you and your family :)
Jan
Congratulations! He looks just like Eleanor.
Jill
Congratulations! Calvin is a lovely name for such a beautiful baby boy.
Noelle @ Noelle Mullins Design
Congratulations! So exciting and such a sweet name. The first few weeks are so extra special, enjoy it!
Aoife
I’ve never commented here before but Calvin is just so gorgeous I had to say congratulations!
Tara Jane
Congratulations, he is beautiful. Great name!
jbhat
Wonderful news, and congratulations to all of the B5! I love Calvin’s name, and am glad his “birthday party” went smoothly for you. :)
jbhat
chris
congratulations! what a great name. enjoy!
Maegan
I don’t usually comment, but I’m a long time stalker and just had to today….. he is ADORABLE! I LOVE LOVE the name! Congratulations!
raeleneb
Wahooooo! He’s adorable. Welcome to the world, little Calvin. So happy to have you!
Liz
What wonderful news! I wish you and your family all the best.
Claire
Congrats! We also named our son Calvin, so I love and endorse the name. And though I say we also used the same name, we’ve never run into another Calvin, so it’s unique without being odd, and no worries that he’ll ever be 1 of 6 Calvin’s in his class.
Marcee ... ILLINOIS
The baby’s name is really lovely. I had a friend named Calvin in art school. Everyone called him “Vin” though. A cool nickname.
Ursula Ellis
Congrats! He is beautiful.
Tina Slocum
Congratulations to you and your Family! Welcome Baby Calvin! He is a Beautiful Balch Baby for sure! So glad all went well, Nicole.
Sasha
How exciting! He is just precious. Congratulations to your family, on your newest addition!
Judy
What a beautiful Boy. We are so happy for you and your adorable Family. Love from all of us. We have followed you since you were carrying Eleanor and enjoyed your writing and wonderful Creativity.
Mary Ann
He’s perfectly gorgeous!
Congratulations on your handsome new boy, and thanks so much for sharing – it’s a delightful way to start a new week!
Laura
Awwww – he looks perfect! Congrats mama, and glad to hear the birth was complication-free!
Peaches
Welcome welcome welcome Baby Calvin! Hugs and rest to you all :)
Libby
Congratulations! So happy for you and your lovely family – Calvin looks gorgeous!
Alison
Congratulations!! Both on the beautiful baby, and also on the labour going well — what a relief!
Katie
Congratulations, he’s perfect! Also, glad to hear that they delivery went just fine without complications!
Marcee ... ILLINOIS
Mazel Tov! ;)) May Calvin bring you naches! At first glance, I thought it was Eleanor. For sure, August and big sister will absolutely adore their baby brother. P.S. Everyone get some sleep!
wendy
Amazing. Congratulations on the family expansion.
Desiree Fawn
Yay!! Congrats :D
Deb
So happy everything went smooth for you and Calvin! Congrats to you and your family!!
Nadine
Congratulations! He’s adorable.
Melissa
Congratulations! He’s beautiful — take care!
Stephanie
Congrats!
Tonia
Congratulations! He’s just adorable. I’m so glad all is well with you both!
Ariane
Félicitations ! He looks perfect – just like his sister and brother :) Take care.
Erika
Congratulations! And what a lovely name!
Allison
Congratulations to you and your family!
Jacole
Congrats to your family! What a great day to be born…my birthday too! :)
Amie M
Congratulations! I am waiting for mine to pop out any second. Any second now. C’mon baby.
Raquel
Congratulations! He is adorable–such clear, perfect skin for a newborn!
lsaspacey
Congrats! His photo looks so much like the one you took of Eleanor! You know with a name like Calvin to expect a lot of stuffed tiger toys for presents, right?
Mary Kay Nelson
Congratulations! He is absolutely beautiful!
Eleni
Congratulations to your family for the new baby!
Anne@itsabaltimorelife
Ahhh congratulations! I love his name. He is the same birth size and weight that my daughter was…how freaky is that!!!
LeeAnn
He is a perfect, beautiful baby! Congratulations!
Cynthia
What a beaut! Congrats to all and kudos to the parents for another stellar name pick!
Brittony
congrats! what a beauty he is.
Jennifer
He’s perfect! Congratulations! Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Diane@InMyOwnStyle
So precious- Congratulations to you and your family. I am looking forward to watching him grow through your posts.. XO
Amy
Congratulations! 8 lbs 9 oz is your smallest baby?! You deserve some pretty fantastic Mother’s Day breakfasts for the rest of your life! ;)
Jenny G.
He’s beautiful! Congratulations! Get some rest and enjoy your new family of 5.
Sarah @ Sarah's Daybook
CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!! That was worth all of the unnecessary exclamation points. :)
He is so beautiful and I am so excited to see how he grows up in the lovely home you have made with your family. Enjoy the early days, hate to say it, but before you know it he will be in college! What am I saying, I’m only 16 and it feels like 4192 years until I go to college.
Much love to the whole family! Can’t wait to see how the nursery comes along!
Sarah
Juli
congratulations!! what a sweetheart.
Bonnie
I found you through the Chicago Tribune when Eleanor was a newborn. Now there is sweet Calvin to join her and August in the patter of little feet around the Victorian. Joy!!
Best,
Bonnie
Ragnhild
Congratulations!
I am so happy for you.
Lots of love from long timer reader, first time commenter from Norway
Julie.
Oh my gosh Congratulations and welcome to little Calvin!!! My son had a little polka dot of a blonde spot on the back of his head when he was a baby and he’s 9 now and still has it – I love it!
Lisa
He’s beautiful! Congratulations! :)
elicia
He’s beautiful! Congratulations to you all.
Brie
Congratulations! He’s precious. :)
sandi m
What a cutie!! Now hope he stays this quiet….
Congratulations to all!
Becci
Congratulations! He’s adorable! <3
Many greetings from Germany
Becci
poulattitude
Congratulations ! What a cuteeee baby :)
Enjoy !!!
Sana
Congratulations, Nicole, and welcome to little Calvin!
Line
Congratulation to all of you :) He looks absolutely wonderful.
kristin
Oh he’s so precious and beautiful! Love his name too, you guys have great taste in names. :) So glad to hear you didn’t have any complications with this guy, that will make the newborn period that much sweeter. Take care and enjoy your THREE kids!! It’s a trip at the beginning!
CK
Congratulations to your family!
AnnMarie
Congratulations! He looks so snuggly and cute and just downright adorable. ^_^
Audrie
Congratulations! He’s just beautiful!
Lauren
He’s wonderful. Congratulations!
Gina
Congratulations! He is beautiful!
Katie
Congratulations! I know a couple of people with dark hair and blond spots. Our neighbor’s child has a blond spot right on top of his head and our neighbor likes to say that it was God giving him one more kiss before he came down.
Cindy
Congrats on the newest. Addition to your family! Glad to hear all went well!
Lisa
Oh he is just beautiful. Congratulations to you and your family. Enjoy every moment.
Nat @ This Little Yellow House
Nawww that is awesome news. Congratulations and I love his name.
Hannah
I’m a silent reader of your blog, but thought this was worth a comment. Congrats on Baby Calvin, he’s a beauty!
Priscilla
Congratulations! So glad you & Calvin are doing well! What a sweet name :)
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