mimi & lala

1 month (going on 4 months!)

2010-10-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

I am reminded of how quickly time flies every time I look at Naomi so I am really trying to make an effort to soak up every moment of Alana's infancy. She will be our last baby and I know these short minutes/hours/days/weeks/months are fleeting, to put it mildly. Before we "blink da eye" she will be running around this house with her big sister. Not long after that she'll be heading to college, I'm sure. I am already mourning our future empty nest!

With this in mind, you can imagine my surprise and dismay to see that our littlest is so anxious to be a big kid already! At a mere three weeks, Alana started rolling over from front to back. No assistance, no exaggeration. This was no fluke, either. She has done it every day since. Put her on her belly and she'll roll to her back. For those of you yet to have your children, you should know that normally this doesn't happen until 3-4 months. Here is video proof for posterity's sake.

Also, for the record, Alana is an absolute dream. She is sweet, mellow, and a happy sleeper. Yeah, you heard me. She usually sleeps from 11pm-8am waking only once to eat. She has followed this pattern pretty much since the day she was born. She is thriving so the doc said there is no need to wake her more often for feedings. SWEET. I am relieved to say that, so far, I am probably the least sleep deprived mom of a newborn ever. I know many of you probably want to tear my face off right about now. I understand. Just be gentle.

She's here...

2010-10-07T15:26:00.000-07:00

It's official - we've fallen in love all over again.

Alana Stowe Roberts
September 12, 2010
6:57pm
9lbs 1oz, 20in

2 weeks old...

21 Months

2010-10-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Little kid, BIG personality.

20 Months... and waiting.

2010-09-11T10:40:00.000-07:00

Naomi's 20th month, so far, has been spent in anticipation of the arrival of her little sister, which has been nothing less than an emotional roller coaster. I'll keep updating the status of this situation so keep checking back, but in the meantime here is where we are at, and some photos of Naomi to keep you entertained for the time being. We'll make a brand new post when the little one arrives, which Naomi keeps saying will be "baby sister soon!"

As a forward...
For those who have not been induced, I can tell you that this is a completely different experience than letting labor happen spontaneously. With Naomi, I started labor, my water broke within 30 minutes, and we were on our way to the hospital. 20 hours later we had a baby in our arms. It went smoothly, we enjoyed the experience, and I actually looked forward to the next time we could bring a baby into the world.

With Knock-Knock, since we have been dealing with the umbilical cord issue for more than 2 months now which has included 2x Non-Stress Test (NST) per week and 1x Ultrasound per week, we have been scheduled for a "medically necessary" induction at the beginning of our 39th week. This way we know she is mature enough to be delivered safely, yet we cut her risk level of dependency on her cord.

Getting to induction, at least in our experience, takes a lot of mental preparation. First you have to come to terms with starting a process that your body or the baby may not actually be ready for yet. It's unnatural and weird. Then you have to get over the fear of the drugs you know they are going to give you to start the process. We've all heard the horror stories and negative outcomes. Then you have to just plain get ready to have this baby in your arms and you try to go through the motions in your brain, rehearsing what has to be done first, what you need to remember from last time, etc. This is mentally exhausting stuff, especially for a planner like me. I'm admittedly not so good at just going with the flow when so much has been planned out for me.

Bottom line, just putting everything in the back of your head and letting labor happen when it is going to happen is SO much easier. Yet, the doctor insists that we need to deliver the baby, so you trust that and agree, go through all these mental hurdles, and expect the call to report the hospital.

Thursday, 09/9/10
This is the day we have been scheduled for induction. This day came and went. We called in at 8am as instructed, were told we were most likely going to be called to come in by noon. I waited until 4pm to call again, which is when I was informed that we would not be admitted on this day. They were just too busy.

Also, the doctor called me and insisted on scheduling another NST for the next day. I asked if it was necessary if I was going to be induced the next day. She said, "Well, it's not guaranteed you will get in tomorrow either, then if you don't get in this weekend, that means we don't see you until at least Monday..."

WAIT, WHAT? We were disappointed and upset, mainly for two reasons: 1. I had to go through this prep all over again the next day, or maybe even MULTIPLE days in a row, and 2. Jim had just burned a valuable vacation day waiting for nothing.

Really? Could they really delay a "medically necessary" induction for MULTIPLE days?? No way...

I made the NST appointment, albeit begrudgingly, for 2:30pm the next day and decided to keep some faith that the doctor had a plan to get me in by at least then.

Friday, 09/10/10
We wait all day, in vain, for a call in to the birth center. We went to our NST where the doctor had us sign our induction informed consent, just to get the paperwork ready. By the time we left the office at 4:15pm, there was still no room at the birth center for us. We went to a movie (~~Induction~~ Inception, which was very good) to kill some time, hoping that we would get a call sometime in the evening before heading back down to Tacoma. No luck.

Before making the drive south, I called the charge nurse to see if there was any chance for a call. She said that I was first on the list and she was hoping she could get us in by 11pm. Either way, she would call us and let us know.

So we went home in time to spend some time with Naomi before bed and waiting for a call - WHICH CAME at about 10pm! We were told to get ready and be at the hospital at 11:30pm!

So we did. at 10:30pm, knowing that I-5 Northbound was closed part of the way and we'd have to take a back road, we took off. We made it to the end of the block when the phone rang...

"Don't hate me," she says. "We just had 3 women in spontaneous active labor walk in so we don't have a bed for you anymore."

This is when I completely lost it and railed into this nurse. What, afterall, was the point of scheduling this supposedly "medically necessary" induction if they are not actually going to do it? And what if something did happen to this child during this days-long wait? Whose shoulders would that be on? And why is it that this hospital has this completely wishy-washy policy when every other person I have talked to who has been induced at any other hospital was given an actual scheduled appointment that was actually honored? And did they have any idea what this does to an already emotionally and hormonally charged 9 month pregnant woman? And did they have any respect at all for the rest of the family who is also on this roller coaster and changing their lives to take care of your other children? And what about my husband who has now killed TWO vacation days for no reason when they could have been spent helping me with a newborn in the house?

The answer to all this: "I can't stitch up someone else's cervix to push you into labor." I thought this was the most callous answer I have ever heard, asked her what would have happened if I had gotten there 10 minutes BEFORE these other women (they would not have denied any of us care), and I told her that I would be in touch with the department head as soon as possible to file a complaint and hung up.

Then had a good cry and went to bed.

Saturday, 09/11/10
I called at 7:30 this morning to see what my chances of getting in today were. I spoke to both the new charge nurse and my doctor. I was told that they would get me in ASAP, of course and if I didn't hear from them by 11:30am to call again to check in. So here we are, waiting. Again. On day 3 of my "medically necessary" induction.

(Update!)
The 11:30 call yielded no reassurance of space for us, but the nurse said maybe we'd get a call around 3:00pm.

It came at 1:30pm that they were ready for us and we jumped in the car to go, where I promptly shut my phone off. No way was I going to answer if they were to call again on our way up! We were going to the hospital and STAYING there!

We were shown to our room, unpacked our stuff, got changed and met our nurse. We're here and they can't kick us out now!

The first hurdle is placing the IV. Two nurses (including one who, upon entrance, promised not to keep "porking" me... another hysterical story for another day), an IV Tech and FOUR sticks later, we finally were set. I finally got my first dose of cytotec at 5:00pm. Please, let's get this show on the road.

Sunday, 09/12/10
The clock has just clicked past 12:00am. I am contracting, but too often (about every minute or two) to get the 2nd dose of cytotec. But the drug has not done enough to soften my cervix and dilate me. And I've been told the doc on call won't really assess me until early morning, or unless these contractions get painful (which they are obviously not since I am writing this). SO, what to do? Walk around, then try to get some sleep.

(Update! And the rest of the story...)
The morning came and the doc came in to check me. Still 1.5cm at 6am. And still too many contractions. Not good. The on-call doc started to talk to me about a crazy balloon thing-a-majig the they would probably need to insert to help dilate me manually. HELL NO. What were our other options? We discussed giving me a flush of fluid to see if we could space out my contractions enough to do another round of cytotec. This may take longer, but it is less invasive. As far as I was concerned this was the way to go.

SO, we started the fluids and that ran for about an hour. By the time we were done with this, my OB was back on call - yeah! And when she checked me I was already at 3cm! No more cytotec, no balloons, I was progressing on my own! So we start running the pitocin.

By 1pm we were at about 4.5cm but still not in active labor. To move things along she broke my water, warned me that labor would get more intense and painful, and ordered me my epidural (I'm not an all-natural type of girl... Judge if you wish, but I don't like pain).

She was right. By the time the epidural arrived 20 minutes later, I was ready for it. I should say, though, that the epi was A LOT lighter than the one I got with Naomi, which pretty much knocked my lower half out of use for a full 24 hours. This time around I could still feel everything (and all the accompanying pressure - moms, you know what I mean), it just took the edge off the pain. It was pretty much smooth sailing from this point on, though. By 6:00 we were pushing.

At 6:57pm our girl, all 9lbs 1oz (WOWZER!) and 20 inches of her, was born. Alana Stowe Roberts came into the world to the tune of Ta p'tite flamme by Amélie-les-crayons.

Welcome, cheeky monkey. We love you so very, very much.

Another post dedicated to Alana will be posted soon...

19 months, and Cape Cod!

2010-08-01T09:00:00.000-07:00

The absolute highlight of Naomi's 19th month was our long-anticipated trip back east. We took a multi-family trip to Cape Cod with my roommates from college and all of our families. 10 adults and 6 kids, plus 2 more buns in the oven - talk about a full house!

This was the first time we have all been able to get together in 3 years. It was also the first time we have gotten all the kids in our extended family together. As you can see from the pics below, it was a BLAST for them! Naomi still asks for her new friends from the trip.

Photos: Kim Praast Photography

It was all a wonderful, stress-relieving blur and we agreed that a week was just not enough time to enjoy each other. Next time, maybe two... now we just need to decide where we are going to go!

A big thank you to my girls, their others, and their kids for being... just fantastic.

This was the perfect vacation. We love and miss you all.

XOXO

The Vogan-Holmes Family: Karen, Josh, Erica Lily and baby Sawyer

The Oliver-Carr Family: Jeannette, Mark, Abigail and Samantha (+1 coming soon!)

The Maggart-Cranmer Family: Lindsay, Jason and Tristan

The Praast-Reber Family: Kim and Jeff - the coolest aunty and uncle a bunch of crazy kids could ask for!

18 months, and summer is finally here!

2010-07-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Waiting for summer this year was tough. Last week it FINALLY pushed into the high 70's! Warm enough to run around in the fountains at the park, which is probably Naomi's favorite part of the park - except for maybe the swings.

The past month has been a little stressful, to be honest, but we are taking things as they come and we are hoping for a better July.

Naomi took a nasty spill out of a shopping card on Monday, the 21st, scaring the crap out of everyone. I had placed her in the basket of the cart because she was a little antsy on the last of our errands (bad mommy...). She sat there for a while taking things out of my bag and destroying the contents of my wallet, as per normal. All of a sudden, jumpin' jack flash stood up lunged forward for something outside of the cart. Her top-heavy little body just tumbled out of this standard-sized shopping cart and she fell right on top of her head. The paramedics came. They suggested I take her to the local children's hospital to get checked out.

To make matters worse, as I was was carrying her in, I fell! To prevent Naomi from hitting the ground again, I took the brunt of the fall on my elbow and knee, then twisted around to my back to protect both the baby in my arms and the baby in my belly. Owie. That left me sore for a few days...

Naomi checked out fine and was released after an hour or so of observation. I have never been so grateful.

We continue to have complications with the 2nd pregnancy. If you hadn't heard, we already fought off low amniotic fluid levels (due to dehydration), concerning head growth (which has righted itself), and now we have found out that there is an Intra-Abdominal Umbilical Vein Varix (essentially a varicose vein in the cord). It is a rare thing to have, and there is nothing we can do about it, but we are being watched very closely as it could be very dangerous for little sister.

Starting the week of July 18 we'll be monitored with a weekly ultrasound and semi-weekly non-stress tests. That's a lot of testing. Should we find any potential threat to the baby's blood supply (poor flow, clotting, etc.), we'll have to deliver immediately. Seeing that we are only at 29 weeks, this is a scary thought. Every day we can keep her in the womb is two less NICU days we may be facing. I am crossing my fingers that I can make it to at least 38 weeks, but more than likely we will be welcoming our newest addition by the end of August. WOW - that is just around the corner!

Also, my mom was here for a visit the past two weeks to spend time with us before she starts chemotherapy next week. Wish her good luck, mild side effects, and a full recovery!

PS. Still undecided about starting a second blog or making this a family blog... will keep you posted!

17 months, and a visit to "Gamma"

2010-06-03T12:10:00.000-07:00

For those of you who have not heard, my mother has recently become ill with pancreatic cancer. A nasty disease, that one is. After her diagnosis, Naomi and Aunty Em (my sister) and I took a little trip down to Florida to visit with her. We were glad to be able to spend most of our time with her pre-surgery (the Whipple procedure), then were able to stay with her for a day or so post-surgery. While the reason for our visit loomed overhead and was hard to forget about, I think we were able to keep things fun and keep "Gamma's" mind off of the heavy stuff a least a little bit. We spent a day driving around South Beach, did lots of pool swimming, and even spent one morning taking Naomi on her first beach excursion, resulting in this month's photos.

She LOVED both sand and water, and sat mesmerized by the vast ocean.

As a short update, mom is home from the hospital as of last night and working on getting herself recovered and strong so she can tackle the big treatments ahead: A course of chemo, followed by radiation treatment, followed by another course of chemo. The road ahead would be daunting to any of us. Please keep her in your thoughts...

Current Stats

Weight: 25lbs, 13.5oz

Height: 31"

Head Circumference: 18.5"

16 Months

2010-06-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

Forgot to post this one! Sorry, folks...

15 months, and a poll!

2010-04-11T22:39:00.000-07:00

A trip to see the tulips in bloom in La Conner!

Again, time has gotten away from us. Naomi is 15 months already. Milestones seem to be mixed in with some typical (crappy) toddler behavior - read hitting and whining. But on the positive side, her vocabulary has skyrocketed ("Auntie" and "Uncle" are the new exciting ones as she refers to Emily and Chad), her mouth is full of teeth (which she LOVES brushing!) and all-in-all she is a pretty happy, easy kid. Its a little sad seeing her become such a big kid so quickly, but I suppose Naomi is scrambling to learn as much as possible in the next 5 months so she can share the info with her new brother or sister!

Which brings me to our next topic...

The countdown is on to finding out the sex sex of our beloved second child, currently known as "Knock Knock" since Naomi likes to knock on my belly like it is a door to say hi to the baby. Comment below if you feel like taking a guess! We'll announce the results on April 27th after our ultrasound - provided the baby cooperates.

Good luck - the prize is bragging rights and the privilege of claiming to be psychic.

Month 14 pics...

2010-03-01T08:00:00.000-08:00

Just realized these never got up on the blog! Oh, mommy, you're slacking...

Today was a good day...

2010-02-16T18:45:00.000-08:00

Not only did Naomi get to eat chicken nuggets for the first time, but she also got to see the little person she'll be big sister to in about 7 months via ultrasound.

Yes, you read that right! We're due September 16.

13 months, or just "one?"

2010-02-07T23:21:00.000-08:00

I am torn about still using "months" to answer the question of how old my child is. It just seems weird. It made sense the first year but now that she's past that 1 year mark, counting off the months sounds more like baby obsession than accuracy. What do you all think?

By the way, Naomi is walking like a pro - almost running. We'll post a new video soon... in the meantime, enjoy these pictures!

Happy, happy birthday, baby!

2010-01-02T16:42:00.000-08:00

The holidays have taken on a whole new meaning for our family. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the normal holiday craziness, we had a first birthday to plan for!

Happy, happy birthday, Naomi. If it wasn't absolutely clear before, let it be completely clear now... YOU ARE LOVED! And not just by your parents, but by everyone who meets you.

Now that you are a year old, let's revisit some recent milestones:

You are toothy! Your tooth count is now 8. Four up top, and four on the bottom. And your teeth look big for your face, which allows you to deliver an especially toothy big smile. It is completely endearing!

You are an ALMOST walker! While you don't yet have the confidence to walk on your own, you have stood up on your own without support. And you love to practice your walking - whether you are using your lion walker that Grandma & Grandpa sent you for Christmas, or you are holding on to one or two of our fingers. We can tell you want to - you just need to believe that you can. That first step is just around the bend.

You are a talker! There are plenty of words you have down pat: duck, dog, dada, mama, pop-pop, baby, bobby (your name for your blanket), and best of all - BANANA. And words you can't yet say, you understand. When asked how old you are, you put one finger up... then it goes into your mouth. When I say "No, no, no," you look at me and smile... and keep doing whatever you are doing so you can hear me say "No, no, no," again. When I say, "No, yucky!" you take whatever you have in your mouth out and hand it to me.

You are an adventurous eater! You will try anything and everything, and there are only a few things you have not liked so far - parsnips being one of those. You have earned the nickname "the mooch" since you demand food off of everyone's plate at every meal. You are on mostly table foods now and REALLY enjoy seeing how much you can stuff in your mouth at one time. Your favorite so far, though, must be stewed carrots and your first cupcake - banana and pecan, with Caramel buttercream, made from scratch with love by your mama for your first birthday.

You are a JOY! We can not wait to see what you have in store for us in your second year!

Is it Brad Pitt? Elmo Loves Brad Pitt.

2009-12-23T08:29:00.000-08:00

9 months old

2009-10-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

Naomi has now officially been out of my belly longer than she was in it. And she has grown so much since then. Shall we look at comparison pictures?

Remember Naomi as a newborn...

And Naomi now.

Wow. A world of difference. Dark hair turned blonde. Muddy eyes turned crystal clear blue. 4 teeth (yes, the two upper front teeth are in now!). 12lbs, 12 oz added to her weight, now at 21lbs even (90%). 8.75" to her height, putting her at 27.75" (75%). And just look at her. She is no longer a fragile little baby. She is a strong, active, INTERACTIVE kid!

She makes friends everywhere we go. Every errand we run takes twice as long now as she needs to say hi to everyone she sees (mostly a wave and HUGE grin, but sometimes even a little not-so-confident, am-I-saying-the-right-word? "hi.") And, of course, everyone needs to stop and indulge her. They can't refuse that face, and I don't blame them. She is just magnetic and I am in awe of her daily.

With this big-kid personality comes some big-kid moving around. Naomi is crawling. Full speed. And Climbing. While Naomi is not yet sturdy enough to stand on her own, she is happiest on her feet practicing. You are most likely to find her cruising around the furniture these days. This has already gotten her in trouble, as most of you already know. On Friday, Sept 25 Naomi pulled a top-heavy speaker over, making mincemeat of the tip of her middle finger on her right hand. This incident earned her her first three stitches. Besides the initial pain, little miss didn't let the stitches or very dramatic-looking bandage phase her. She was back to her old tricks that afternoon.

I think I was more traumatized by it than she was. But leave it to Naomi to make ME feel better as she crawls to me, saying "mama" through a huge smile and with wide, happy eyes. My heart melts and the world spins in the right direction again...

The eighth month...

2009-09-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

August flew, plain and simple. Jam packed, full of travels and visits and fun and work and... teeth.

The three of us took a long weekend in San Francisco August 8-10, coinciding with the SF International Gift Fair. Business is always a good reason to travel, and why not make it a family affair! We had a fantastic time exploring the city, eating scrumptious food (read: foie gras sushi that was to DIE for, our first experience with In-n-Out Burger, and casual tasties from Taylor's Automatic Refresher). I think Naomi was hungry to enjoy the grastronomical side of San Fran, too, as that is where she cut her first tooth! For the record, that was August 10th, and it was the bottom-middle-left.

The bottom-middle-right came on August 18.

Another big event happened the beginning of August. Naomi met her maternal grandma! My mom came out for a visit and got to spend some long overdue time with Naomi. During her visit we took a trip out to the the beautiful San Juan islands and spent the day at Friday Harbor. It was here that Grandma picked up this sweet hat, perfect to keep our little nymph warm all winter!

Naomi also got to meet some of her island O'hana! We were able to catch up with our friend Tamar (in San Francisco) and Tamar's mom, Judy (on a trip to Tacoma). Tamar and Judy are also Aunty and Granny to Naomi's far-away friend Kilinoe, and Sister and Mom to MY faraway friend Tina.*

Our friends Scott and Jarvalen, and their little one, Brennan, were also in town for a wedding in August and made some time to stop by for lunch and a playdate!

August is also a lovely time in Tacoma - the weather is perfect (but a bit hot this year), the days are long (daylight 'til 10pm!) and the vibe is just relaxed and fun. One of my favorite things about summer is being able to walk down the street to the farmer's market. On one particular trip we were able to spend time with my friend Jennifer and her kids, Opal (3) and Ellis (newborn). Opal is the cutest - she just LOVES Naomi, and Naomi just loves to watch Opal do her thing and learn how big girls play. This particular photo amuses me, though, so I thought I would share! (Note the sign in the background and Naomi illustrating the point...)

Mid August also marked Naomi's first National Park visit. Mount Rainier towered over us in all it's glory. Just stunning...

I told you August was busy. There was also probably a barbeque somewhere in there, a few trips up to Lake Stevens to visit Aunty Em and Uncle Chad, a heat wave... we'll be looking forward to a slower, cooler fall.

*HEY TINA - don't you think it's time for you and Kili to take a trip up North to finally meet Naomi?

I'm freaked out by this.

2009-07-31T22:55:00.001-07:00

Yoga is part of my life, and I can't wait to introduce Naomi to Yoga one day... but absolutely not like this.

7 months

2009-07-31T10:00:00.000-07:00

Naomi's July was a busy one! The two biggest developments were a) sitting on her own (even in a grocery cart!), and b) the extent to which she is babbling now.

It is clear that we have a chatter on our hands. She is an expert in B's, M's, and D's (think in a string of "mamamama babababababa dadadadadadadada" followed by a squeal or making a raspberry sound with her lips. It is particularly cute, I must say, when she is moving her lips, practicing how to form her mouth for a particular sound, but not making any. Then, a minute later, she will give us a confident BABABABABA if that is the sound we asked for. Having an exchange with Naomi is lovely.

Even better is that it is clear now that she is understanding more and more of what we say. Among her favorite phrases to hear are "Jersey Puppy" "Who's that pretty baby" (when looking in the mirror), and "You want some num-nums?" (Num-nums being food).

Naomi also has favorite songs. She has for a while, but a particular few calm her down when needed. First best is Apples and Bananas. Runner up is Itsy Bitsy Spider. We do a lot of singing in the car these days...

The biggest event in July, of course, was the visit of Grandma (Jim's mom) and 12 year old cousin Trellany! Making the trip from Alabama to visit Naomi for the first time, Rhonda and Trellany were able to spend 10 days with us. Most of it was spent relaxing and allowing our visitors time to spend with Naomi. We did take a trip to Snoqualmie Falls on one day, caught a Mariner's game on another - always a favorite thing to do in Seattle! - and even walked in the CCFA 5k! Come back and visit again soon!

Naomi & Trellany at Qwest Field

Grandma & Trellany at Snoqualmie Falls

The CCFA 5k (Bree & Metztli joined us, too!)

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-04T08:24:00.001-07:00

They could have pared this down to Animal, Beaker, and Chef and I would have been just as thrilled to find this today! Those three are my all-time faves....

Have a fun and safe holiday!

6 months old!

2009-07-01T14:00:00.000-07:00

Today marks Naomi's half birthday. Man, this goes quick! What is Naomi up to these days?

Naomi now sits on her own unassisted. I love that! She is just looking like such a big girl now.

She still plays with everything with her feet, like a little monkey. It's pretty hysterical, actually. I'm not sure I've ever seen another baby handle things with their feet the way Naomi does. It is almost as much as she uses her hands!

While rolling from back to front is her favorite past time, she is still refusing to go form belly to back. She knows how. She has done it, but we think she is just lazy. She would prefer to whine until one of us flips her over. We figure this can't last forever. Come her crawling which is sure to be just around the corner seeing how she handles herself from the sit position, she's going to have get over it and do it eventually.

She does squirm and get whatever she wants to get wherever it happens to be. It is not uncommon now for me to turn around for two minutes and she is in the complete opposite direction from where I left her. She also wakes up from her naps sideways in her bed and has taken to sleeping on her side lately. I am grateful for this because it is allowing the hair on the back of her head to grow in!

Solid foods. ACK! What a mess! so far her favorite is bananas mixed in oatmeal. I laugh because this is my father's favorite breakfast, too. Two peas in a pod, those two.

Still no teeth. I'm waiting for that terror. She is teething and everything she picks up goes directly into her mouth but I feel for teeth every day and nothing yet. She will occassionally wake up crying late at night because her gums hurt. I know they are coming in soon.

Naomi's current favorite toy is a Little Tikes piano Judy Hassing gave us a long time ago. She just loves to sit on the couch and bang on that thing. And she thinks it is hysterical when I try to sing the notes she plays. (Why does everyone laugh when I sing?)

In other friend-based news...

Naomi and her friend, Metztli had their first playdate recently! The girls are just SO cute together. Metztli is so gentle with Naomi, shares her toys, and even gives her sweet little besos! Ah! So much fun! It is also nice for me to be able to visit with Metztli's mama, Bree.

Metztli and Naomi

A new friend for Naomi has been born! Making his debut on June 21st was Eliot. A BOYFRIEND! He's pretty darn cute, too. We can't wait until Eliot is grown up a little bit and the kids can play together. Congratulations mama KC and daddy Jac!

Elllllliiiiooooot (*ET Voice)

There is another new friend on the way, too. We're not yet sure whether it will be a boy or a girl, but we do know that whatever it is, that baby is LATE! Good luck Jennifer and Kelly and big sister Opal!

Cute picture of KC (left) and Jennifer at Kc's baby shower! (Belly Buttons!)

And that's it, I think. It's been a really busy month for mommy with work so, again, apologies for my lack of posting. I'll keep trying to work on that!

The whining.

2009-06-26T08:19:00.000-07:00

Please tell me this is a passing phase.

5 months old!

2009-06-01T09:39:00.000-07:00

The amount that Naomi has changed in the last month is just incredible. I know I sound like typical first time parent, but this it is just stunning to watch day in and day out.

Naomi is now 15 1/2 pounds (according to our postal scale), and while I don't exactly how long she is, she must have just gone through a growth spurt. She is just looking really long all of a sudden.

Her feet are still her favorite toys, but a close second are her lips as she purses them, spits from them, and experiments will all sorts of new noises. Girl really likes to talk!

Also, if you haven't noticed, her hair is going super blond. I am still a little shocked at this. I thought for sure she was going to be a raven haired little girl. But, she is looking more like her daddy every day. I might be Maury Povich's first guest on for a MATERNITY test. Not sure where I fit into the equation. Did I really give birth to her? Did we mix her up at the hospital?

Let's see... what else:

Elmo obsession in full swing. If Elmo comes on while she is eating. She will stop in her tracks and refuse her bottle.
While she loves Elmo, Naomi has started to fuss and cry as soon as Mr. Noodle comes on. I always hated Mr. Noodle, too.
Naomi's new favorite place to be is in the corner of the couch (or bassinet, or crib) - anywhere we can prop her up and let her sit on her own for a good while. She feels like a grown-up, I think.
Naomi is an awesome sleeper, for the most part. We have had some rough nights but overall she is doing really well. I just love that she has gotten so good at self-soothing. She doesn't make a peep when I put her down for naps or for bedtime. She does still want a 4-5:00am bottle... hopefully I can break her of that once we start cereal (in a week or two!).

Naomi is the happiest baby. We are so lucky. She is just so easy! I know our next one is going to be a terror.... isn't that how it works??

As happy as she is, though, Naomi is a stubborn little girl. She does NOT like to be on her belly or roll over. She can do it. She just refuses. She is, however, ahead of the curve on sitting up. She is pretty good and getting more stable every day. I think she'll easily be able to really sit on her own by the end of this month. She can handle about 10 seconds at a time right now without losing balance, but like a good girl she puts her hands out for support.

I am really excited for the next few months. This is a huge milestone period for babies.... eating, sitting, crawling, maybe a first word... we'll keep you posted on progress!

Mother's Day

2009-05-11T20:48:00.000-07:00

My first mother's day was lovely and low-key. Perfect. Bagels & lox for breakfast, a quiet morning playing Wii Fit (my gift from Naomi - fun!), then a picnic lunch at Owen Beach here in Tacoma with a spectacular view of Mt. Rainier and Commencement Bay. But who was looking at those silly sights when you have a face like this to look at...

I feel so lucky to be Naomi's mommy... she is such a gift.

4 months, and time keeps flying...

2009-05-01T08:00:00.000-07:00

N's first baseball game, April 18, 2009. Go Tacoma Rainiers!

This has been a busy month, and you know it has been since this is the first real post since I was announcing Naomi's 3 month birthday! Yikes... I gotta get on it...Need to carve out more time...on the flip side, it really means that business has picked up for me so it is really hard to complain about that!

Anyway, Little Miss Independent turns 4 months today. She actually had her 4 month appointment a couple weeks ago as we are part of a group of families that goes all at the same time. So, here are the stats - really at 3 1/2 months:

Height: 22 1/2" (10%)
Weight: 12.1 (25%)
Head Circumference: 39.8cm (25%)

OK, so she's kinda short. Don't make fun! We're not the tallest people in the world...

Our little fishy goes to the pool... N's first swim, April 19, 2009.

As far as big developments are concerned, here is what is going on:

Naomi thinks she is all grown up now. How do I know? She insists on holding her bottle herself. We still need to give a little support but she is mostly there. Baby is already doing 6 1/2oz curls! Her daddy is so proud...

On the subject of food, there are some times that she is watching us eat and I think she is literally going to POUNCE on my plate! She tracks food from the plate, onto the fork, and into our mouths. I don't know how we are going to hold her off on solids until she is 6 months old without her getting really pissed!

I was watching Oprah today and could not hear the TV. Why? Because Naomi was talking her head off. Obviously not words, but she babbles like crazy. Constantly. I think we're in trouble. Of course we've all been nurturing it, talking back to her and asking her questions. I know in her mind we are having real conversations... it's pretty adorable actually, especially when she gets her plethora of facial expressions going.

And, last but not least... (DRUM ROLL)...

Yesterday, on the very last day of her 3rd month, Naomi completed her first solo roll-over (tummy to back)! I swear I thought she was never going to accomplish this. I am SO relieved!

Like I said, April's been a busy month. For all of us.

Lamb-a-rama-ding-dong, N's current favorite doll.
An Easter gift from Grandma and cousin Trellany.

Paul Rudd, YOU rock!

2009-04-22T05:00:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day, everybody!

Ready for her close-up!

2009-04-18T08:41:00.001-07:00

For those of you who are on Facebook, you have already seen this latest video. Naomi is becoming so much fun!

PS. For those of you who do not know, PUNIM means cute face in Yiddish. It is a term I grew up with in my Jewish household.

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T09:09:00.001-07:00

3 Months Old!

2009-04-02T07:19:00.000-07:00

La Bandita Incognita

Wow, time is flying! Yesterday marked Naomi's 3rd full month of life and we are in awe of how much happens in such little time! She has changed TONS and seems like such a big girl compared to just a few short months ago.

Naomi's neck and back are getting SO strong, she just loves to be in the sitting position. While she can't quite balance herself yet, she loves sitting in my lap (where she is right now, no doubt learning how to type) and in her bumbo. She does hate tummy time, though, and at this rate I'm not sure she'll ever complete a roll-over... but she'll have to learn walk eventually, right?!

No matter where she is, Naomi needs to have toys around. Little Miss is VERY handsy! Currently her favorites are those colorful linking rings, but the other day she was playing with her friend, Athena's suction toys (below) and she LOVED them, so we ordered two for our own collection.

Illumination Station by Sassy

By the way, happy first birthday, Athena!

There is lots of giggling and cooing happening around here, which is a total delight to the ears. We just love watching Naomi watch and try to repond to us... makes my heart pitter-patter with every silly face she makes!

On a sadder note, Naomi has started to protest breastfeeding. She refuses to spend more than 5 minutes on each side even though I know I still have milk in there... I am really trying to hold on to the breastfeeding if I can, but it may be out of my control! Can't make her, and can't let her starve. Hello, stubborn capricorn.

Bring Bedtime ON!

2009-03-13T13:34:00.000-07:00

I can't help it, I have to boast. Really. I am so ecstatic about our newest development, I just can't contain myself. It has changed my world. Naomi is such a big girl, and I am so proud of her! She has been nicknamed "super-sleeper." Why, you ask...

Naomi now sleeps from 8/9pm through to 8/9am, getting up only once at about 5am for a 45 minute feeding!

Seriously, this is a complete triumph. We have this sleeping thing WHIPPED! I was so stressed about getting her on a sleep schedule. I had my doubts about how to get her to soothe herself, but now she is a total champ! She took to it right away and doesn't even fuss!

Serious props to my friend, Bree, mama to Metztli. It was her encouragement and advice that got us to this glorious state of rest. HALLELUJAH!

Adios, Mr. Noodle!

2009-03-13T13:26:00.000-07:00

I believe the Elmo craze has begun in our household. I admit to sitting Naomi down in front of Sesame Street in the mornings. When Elmo's World comes on, it is all giggles and coos around here.

Jim found this Youtube clip today and I admit this makes Elmo a little more tolerable to me... however inappropriate it is for Naomi. Ricky Gervais would make a FINE permanent replacement for Mr. Noodle, don't you think? These two have CHEMISTRY!

No worries - we'll wait until she is at least a teenager to share this one with her. In the meantime, we adults may share!

The newest member of our household

2009-03-09T20:38:00.000-07:00

Naomi's grandfather has finally made the move west!

My father, better known as "Papa" around here these days, suffered a heart attack a few weeks ago. Tiny Naomi and I flew east for 10 days to help dad recover. While we were there, we decided it be best for him to make the move he has been talking about for years and join us on the west coast. Maybe he wasn't anticipating a move quite so soon, but we sure are happy to have him no matter the circumstances. Naomi just ADORES her grandfather. He can get her smiling and giggling like no one else! They are just the best of friends already.

So, Papa will be staying with us for a few months while he regains his health, and finds work and an apartment. WELCOME, PAPA!

2 Months Old!

2009-03-04T14:37:00.000-08:00

On Sunday Naomi turned 2 months old, and yesterday she had her 2 month well visit with the doctor. Here are the stats:

Height: 22" (27%)
Weight: 10lbs 0oz (27%)
Head Circumference: 37.6cm (27%)

She is in spectacular health, and as the doctor said, "VERY PROPORTIONATE." such great news, she felt the need for a DANCE PARTY!

Random Videos

2009-02-13T17:19:00.000-08:00

For those of you who don't know, we have been posting random little videos of Naomi to Jim's YouTube channel. I want to start posting them here, too, just to keep everything in one place. Let's start with the one we shot today...

This is how I see our baby every day since the sling is where she is happiest and how I can get stuff done. My back is paying the price, but sanity is reaping the rewards.

No Need for Maury Povich

2009-02-10T09:22:00.000-08:00

I don't think there is any disputing paternity here...

Product Review: SEVENTH GENERATION DIAPERS, STAGE 1

2009-02-08T17:01:00.001-08:00

Don't waste your money with these if you are eco-conscious and have a newborn. Supposedly they are good for 8-14lbs. Our 8lb Naomi grew out of these by her 2 week doctor appointment, and NO she does not have an unusually large caboose. We have heard other poor reviews about this particular size of Seventh Generation diapers so we will hold out hope for Stage 2 since we have all that diaper credit from Amazon. We just got some in but want to get through the Kirkland diapers from Costco we bought in the interim.

New Section: Things We've Learned

2009-02-08T16:11:00.000-08:00

I have been thinking of starting a new section of this blog dedicated to sharing things we learn along the way. Not big things, just minor thoughts and everyday tips that have made the details of parenting easier. Things that we never knew but have had to learn quickly. Kinda like a reference for soon-to-be parents, or parents who are dealing with specific challenges. Let's call it a place for us to exchange ideas. We would love for all of the parents in our lives to participate in the comments. We will post a recap of shared ideas the next time we post to this section.

Here is what we have compiled so far (in no particular order):

T-shirts & pants are the best outfits - easier than onesies. It makes it super easy to check diapers without having to completely undress (and upset) baby.
Do not use nail clippers on your baby until the nails actually separate from the skin. They are not born this way and you'll draw blood. (Luckily we learned this before any kind of catastrophe.) DO bring a mini nail file to the hospital with you. Baby's nails are RAZOR SHARP and need to be trimmed immediately and often. Best to do this while baby is sleeping.
If you can't get to the nails and/or they grow fast, definitely use those little cotton mittens (or the onesies with the fold-down sleeves).
Make or buy BIGGER receiving blankets. Baby will grow out of the standard ones within 2 weeks, and the bigger ones are easier to swaddle baby with anyway.
Don’t waste money on all those cute infant clothes! Maybe one or two "show-off" outfits, but the rest should be just a few essentials the baby can wear over & over again. Besides, friends and family will most likely give you a ton of clothes - hand-me-downs and new. They just can't help themselves!
Get a BIG diaper bag. You'll need the room. And make it one you REALLY like since you will no longer be wearing a purse! I think it is OK to spend money on this item - it will be a constant part of your wardrobe.
Always carry TWO extra outfits in your diaper bag. On a bad day, one may not be enough. And make sure you have a big ziploc in there to carry the poopy or wet clothes without ruining your bag.
Socks don’t stay on – no matter how “wiggle proof” they claim to be. I haven’t figured out a solution yet, but when I do I’m going to start another business .
If having the baby sleep in bed with you the first few weeks or months means YOU get to sleep, too, make peace with that solution and do it. Ignore the nay-sayers. You’re not going to roll onto your baby. And you are going to be able to function during the day!
You can not spoil your baby when they are newborn. If they need you, go to them and make them feel secure. Instinct tells me that this will NOT make them more dependent later on. (I'll update this as Naomi gets older and let you know where I think this threshold is.)
A baby's hands and feet are not a good indicator of how hot or cool the baby is. Check the back of baby's neck instead.
If baby doesn't poop for several days straight, it does NOT necessarily mean there is something wrong. Don't freak.
You'll also want to carry little bags like these in your diaper bag for when you don't have a place to dispose of those dirty diapers.

We'll just keep adding to it as we keep learning. Maybe one day compile them all officially on paper... participate and share the credit! Looking forward to hearing all of your tips and tricks!

Labor = FUN!

2009-02-05T20:33:00.001-08:00

As I mentioned before, we had some fun while I was in labor. Here are some highlights:

These are the sexy disposable maternity panties you are advised to wear during labor and after to hold the football field-sized pads that you need to wear to catch the before and after mess. We needed to see how big they actually can get. It turns out you can easily fit a VW bug in one.

The peanut gallery thought it would be funny to give their impressions of what their pushing faces would look like while I was in labor. I thought I'd share that with you all.

And, of course, the classic cigar shot.

Mother's Milk

2009-02-04T20:24:00.000-08:00

Ugh. This has been the biggest challenge yet.

I was determined all throughout pregnancy to exclusively breastfeed. I was convinced that I would love this time with my baby, that it would be easy and natural and the best thing I could give her. I would go so far as to say I was judgmental against mothers who did not breastfeed. I couldn't understand why on earth someone would buy formula when you could get the best milk for free.

I can say now that I was wrong in every sense. Breastfeeding is not easy. It is not as intuitive as I thought it would be. It is not always a choice to breastfeed exclusively, or at all. And I wholeheartedly understand why some families turn to formula. You have to really WANT to breastfeed, and WANT to make it work if it is going to work at all. If you are not all in, then you are basically all out.

Let me just say that we totally got off on the wrong foot, and I actually place a lot of blame on the hospital for the problems we have had with breastfeeding, and furthermore how it may have contributed to Naomi's jaundice.

First of all, if I could change any one thing about my birth experience it would be that I regret not insisting on the baby being allowed to try to latch within the first hour of birth. The nurses put her on my belly for all of 2 minutes after she was born before whisking her away to do all sorts of nonsense such as footprints and a bath - stuff that could have waited. But, this being my first birth, I was kinda taking the nurse's lead. Now I know better and will be able to be a better advocate for myself and my baby next time around. SO, it was a good hour+ after birth before we had a chance to try and breastfeed.

To boot, since Naomi was born on a "holiday" there were no lactation consultants on duty for a full 36 HOURS after Naomi was born. Any advice we got was piece-mealed to us by whatever nurse was on duty. (I should note here that while the labor and delivery nurses I worked with were the absolute best I could have hoped for, the post-partum nurses were all TERRIBLE. I'm not joking. It was night and day comparing the two sets of nurses and the hospital really needs to examine this issue. I won't go into detail, but the 36 hours after birth that I was in the hospital were split between a chatterbox, a passive aggressive bitch, and a nice woman who had hands so cracked, dry, and nasty looking that I cringed every time she touched me or the baby.)

Anyway, the advice we got was completely inconsistent and just thrown at us in passing. Even when they brought me a pump so I could get things moving a little better, they just dropped it off. I had to figure the damn thing out myself. It was completely frustrating, both for me and Naomi, and as a result Naomi didn't eat much while we were in the hospital at all. The only real attempt we had was when we finally got a consultant in for an hour before we went home. Naomi's latch was all disorganized, she couldn't get the hang of it, and it was so painful for me I began to dread every feeding time. I likened it to having your nipples clamped every three hours for a full hour. (Why people are into that, I'll never know.) In total, I would say Naomi MAYBE got half an ounce in that whole time. It was a disaster.

And then we went home and she still didn't eat much. By the time we got to the doctor on Monday morning she had dropped to 7lbs - that is a full 1.25lb weight loss since birth. WAY unhealthy. The pediatrician ordered us to start supplementing my feedings with 1oz of formula.

Now, this may seem weird, but I feel like I needed to be given that permission. Until it became "doctor's orders" I wouldn't even consider it. The nurses and the lactation consultants never even mentioned it as an option. The pediatrician at the hospital mentioned it in passing but did so when the lactation consultant was in the room, so I had to watch her roll her eyes. I felt so completely judged, failing in the number one job of being a mom. I also felt like I was on my own. I had no idea what I was doing, how I would know if she was getting enough, and just had this overwhelming feeling that after9 months of being completely in synch, my body was now failing her body.

But as we went through the 4 days after Naomi's birth before going to our permanent pediatrician, I felt horrible knowing that there was no way she was getting what she needed. She no longer produced tears, her lips were completely chapped. She was unhappy, lethargic, jaundice.

So when I started tube-feeding her the formula after every breastfeeding session and I knew she was getting something in her belly I felt so much better. That was the same day she started her light therapy. While it was all very stressful, I finally felt like at least she was getting what she needed and I was doing whatever had to be done to get her healthy and thriving. I felt so much better. And Naomi started to bounce back quickly. She gained a whole 7 ounces on the first day!

After that, I just struggled trying to get my milk to come in any kind of quantity. I pumped after every feeding. I tried drinking tons of water, taking fenugreek, went back to the lactation consultant.

Fast forward to now, we are still breastfeeding and still supplementing 2oz after every feeding. I am not really sure when to stop, or if I should. I know that she is drinking well from me, but she also looks forward to her bottle after the boob. So I give it to her. I feel good knowing that she is still getting the benefits of whatever milk I am able make for her, but she is also getting as much food as she needs.

I'm at peace with that.

A Very Ripe Lemon

2009-02-04T19:57:00.000-08:00

Shortly after birth, Naomi had to fight a pretty bad case of Jaundice. it could have been caused by a few things...

First of all, all babies are born with premature livers. It is difficult for little ones to filter out all of the excess red blood cells in their bodies that they need in utero to transport all the nutrients they need to develop around their bodies. SO, all babies are checked for jaundice, both at birth and a few days later.

Naomi was also born with a pretty large bruise on her head. We think she banged up against my pelvic bone for a while while trying to engage, which is why it took her so long to get into position. A bruide like that increases the risk for jaundice - more broken red blood cells that need to be filtered out of the body.

And, finally, I had a really tough time with my milk production. More about this in the next post, but basically Naomi was not getting enough milk that would have helped her flush out the excess bilirubin.

So, the odds were stacked against her and when we went to her first pediatrician appointment on the Monday following her birth they sent us to the lab right away. This photo was taken the day before we went to the doctor - compare her skin coloring to mine. It made me feel awful for calling her Lemon all this time!

Her first bilirubin count came back at 21.9 - the docs like to see it under 12 in a newborn. 25 is considered a very dangerous number. Luckily we caught it before it got that far. So, Naomi was ordered to be on light therapy until her level hit under the 12 mark. She was on her bed from Monday, 01/05, through Thursday, 01/08. This was truly difficult as we were not able to take her off the bed other than to feed her. So, for 45 minutes every 3 hours I was able to hold her. Otherwise, she slept. But she made marked progress each day, finally hitting 10 on Friday, 01/09, with her final blood draw. We were so happy when that was over!

Labor & Delivery

2009-01-18T17:17:00.000-08:00

For my entire life I had been completely TERRIFIED of this day. The day I had to go through labor and deliver a baby. I was convinced it would be traumatizing, both physically and emotionally. It would be painful. It would be bloody. It would be chaotic. It would be, in short, a nightmare. But then your urge to have a baby and start a family finally overrides your fears and you just get pregnant and decide to deal with the agony when it comes, keeping in mind it can't last forever.

I realize that the above scenario is a reality for some people. I was so glad that for me it was the complete opposite.

I woke up at at 4:30am on 12/31 feeling what I thought might be Braxton Hicks contractions (painless practice contractions). I tried to time them to see if they were real and if I could detect any kind of rhythm to them. They seemed to be about 8 minutes apart. So, I woke Jim up at 5:00 to let him know that I thought that MAYBE I was starting labor...

Like a movie cliche, he jumped out of bed ready to go gather our stuff and hit the road to the hospital. I laughed at him and told him to get back into bed. If this was labor, chances are we had quite a while to go. Besides, we weren't supposed to call the hospital until we hit the 5-1-1 mark (contractions 5 minutes apart, lasting about 1 minute, for at least an hour). So, we laid back in bed and tried to fall back to sleep... we didn't get very far.

At 5:35 I felt a slight sharp pain, not unlike how it would feel if the baby kicked my cervix. Then I felt it again a few seconds later, followed by a distinct "gush." I thought to myself, "Either my water just broke or I just peed the bed."

For those of you who don't know, once your water breaks you have 24 hours to deliver the baby, otherwise risking serious infection. So, we called the hospital and told them what was up. They told us to come in immediately. What I really wanted to do was take a shower but I figured I'd be able to do that once I got to the hospital and checked in.

We got to the hospital at about 7:00. The nurse confirmed that my water did break and that I was in labor. My blood pressure was a bit high, which was strange as it is always in the normal range. Because of this I was confined to bed and not allowed to take the shower I was hoping for!

Despite the doc's request to start Pitocin, I decided to go for it on my own for a while to see how far I can get. I had a long way to go since I was only 1cm dilated when they checked me. The doctor decided that I could try it for a while but she was concerned that my contractions were not strong enough to get me very far.

We checked again at 10:30 and I had made it 3cm. Again, I requested to go ahead without Pitocin for the time being. I was still able to breathe through the contractions pretty well.

We checked again at 1pm. By this time I was only at 5cm and while I was progressing, my contractions were still pretty weak (although getting more and more painful) and were not going to get me all the way there. The doctor pushed me this time to start Pitocin in order to avoid coming down to the wire and risking a c-section. I had decided in my birthplan that induction with Pitocin were necessary I would definitely need an epidural started BEFORE the Pitocin. I have heard nightmares about going the other way around.

This is where it gets kinda blurry... blurry in a good way. Once I got the epidural I was no longer watching the clock, counting to my next contraction, dreading every second. After I got my epidural everything was, dare I say, pleasant.

Seriously. I enjoyed the rest of labor and delivery. I'm not kidding. I enjoyed the anticipation, knowing that Naomi was about to arrive, wondering if she was going to be a 2008 baby or a 2009 baby. Emily and Chad and their friend Jashwant from school came and hung out with us. We talked, laughed, watched TV, (they) played cards. Jim and I even napped for a while. I didn't feel a thing! And this is what we did until about 11:30pm when I finished dilating and the baby was engaged and ready to be delivered. Chad and Jash went to wait outside. Jim and Emily stayed with me to watch the baby being born.

I admit, this is where I got REALLY nervous. Not about Naomi's arrival, but about pushing. Really, I was terrified of the physical trauma that pushing could leave behind. But, at the point of no return, what can a woman do? So, I pushed.

With an epidural, if you haven't experienced this, pushing is a bit tricky. The doc had to literally tell me HOW to push because I couldn't feel anything. In fact, I was so numb below the waist that the part of my body that hurt the most were my TEETH. I had just had my braces adjusted a couple days before so they were still sore. And that was my only complaint. I think the doctor thought I was crazy when I vocalized that discomfort!

I think this is where I was amazed, once again, at how smoothly everything went. My doctor handled everything exactly how I would have want it to be handled. Everything was calm, I had great music on in the background, a cool washcloth on my forehead, and the lights dimmed in the room. The hour that I pushed went by quickly - I just took it one push at a time and before I knew it, Naomi had arrived: January 1, 2009 at 12:34am.

Emily noted that Tori Amos' "Happy Phantom" was on as she was born, if you are curious. She also said something that made me really proud. Apparently, I make giving birth "look easy." Also, I guess my pushing face looks like I am smiling, although I can say that I was really working hard on the pushing and I was not intentionally smiling. But, it makes me feel good to think I looked really happy when Naomi was coming into the world.

To back up for a second, I have to give serious props to Jim. He got through the whole thing like a total stud. He was calm, he held my left leg as I pushed, he surprised me by actually watching Naomi being born AND cutting the cord! If you missed the post I wrote about this previously, read it here. You'll note that he made a complete 180º in this area as we had previously decided that he would NOT watch and NOT cut the cord. I just think it ended up not being as scary or gross as we had prepared ourelves for. The worst part, he says, was having to sit and stare at my placenta for 20 minutes as it sat in the metal bowl on the table while they tended to the baby and stitched me up (no worries - only a minor tear requiring 2 stitches, and that didn't hurt either).

And that was that. The room cleared out, and soon it was just me, Jim, and Naomi. And we were completely blissed out. I can say for myself I fell in love twice that day: once with my new, perfect little girl, then once again with my husband, the man who gave me the biggest gift I could ever ask for.

I'd like to post, but...

2009-01-07T18:19:00.000-08:00

I am just too tired.

I have been asked for updates and new photos many times in the past week but to be honest, I sleep when I can. If you have ever had a newborn in the house, you know what I am talking about. There are many things I would like to share with you as a week with Naomi has brought a lot of change and happenings, but for now you'll have to settle for a list of things I would LIKE to post about eventually, once I can open my eyes again:

Labor & Delivery Story and Photos: We had a surprisingly pleasant labor & delivery experience. I had prepared myself for the worst, but feel like I was lucky to get the best experience I could ever have hoped for. I will eventually tell you all about it. Once I get photos from my sister, I will share some those, too. Not gross ones. And not ones I think I look horrendous in.

A Very Ripe Lemon (Jaundice): Yep. Naomi is doing photo-therapy for a case of jaundice. Will tell you what that is all about at some point.

Mother's Milk: Turns out this is a challenge in itself. Why did I think milk came in magically? Maybe for some it does. For me, not so much.

SO, be patient with me. I'll get back to you all soon. I'm taking notes and you're on my to-do list. In the meantime, if you need more of Naomi because she is just so delicious, check out Jim's YouTube Channel. There is some random stuff up there...

She's Here!!!

2009-01-01T17:12:00.000-08:00

Everybody please welcome Naomi James Roberts.

*Sorry about the shaky video.

"Baby Alive Learns to Potty"

2008-12-23T17:54:00.000-08:00

This is, perhaps, the most disturbing doll I have come across. And I think the video speaks for itself, so I needn't say much about it. One question... Did she say, "uh-oh, I made a dookie." ???

They've gone too far... Get yours HERE. I won't judge. Really.

I can't sleep

2008-12-23T05:39:00.000-08:00

But that is not unusual these days. It is 5:45am and I've been up since 3. The first hour and a half I spent laying in bed hoping to fall back asleep. Even Jersey's ultra-super warm spooning skills couldn't do the trick. So I got up and moved to the living room. This is my stand-by trick. Usually works - maybe it is the cooler air or a little TV noise in the background. But no-go tonight. At 5:15 I realize I am so famished I need to eat something. A small bowl of cereal suffices.

That, in itself, is something that caught me off-guard with pregnancy. About once a week or so I wake up in the middle of the night because I am so hungry my stomach hurts. This is just weird to me. I never had this problem before, but I guess I never burned so many calories, seemingly without effort, before. My body is working hard! Jim tells me not to starve the baby. I swear I don't. I eat whatever I want, just making sure most of it is mostly healthy, and keeping sugar in-check. But my body has reacted strangely to pregnancy in this regard.

You might want to kick my ass after I tell you the next bit, but please remember every woman reacts differently to pregnancy in every way and in every pregnancy... I have only gained 9 pounds in 38 weeks. And, as we found out last week, 7 of that is solid baby. Now let's be real and say that I have plenty on reserve. I'm not a small girl. But I really was expecting a lot more weight gain. I have been concerned in the past and have asked my doc about it more than once (I'll want to remember those moments... "Doctor, am I GAINING enough weight?" Never, in a million years did I ever imagine those words coming from my mouth...). She's not concerned, so neither am I. And Lemon is obviously thriving, so it is what it is.

Besides, what goes around, comes around. My luck, next pregnancy I'll probably pack on a solid 50.

Anyway, still can't sleep so here I am blogging, reading other blogs, writing emails, window shopping on Etsy. Cereal in my belly, I am fully awake now. Crud. Maybe I am just subconsciously preparing for life with less sleep. I hear what happens with a newborn in the house... Yeah... that's it. The universe at work.

Fetal high-five!

2008-12-22T18:41:00.000-08:00

I just love hearing baby news from friends... it means Lemon is going to have a new future friend! We are thrilled that our friends, kc and jac, are expecting! Their little one will arrive in late June/early July... we're so thrilled we can hardly contain ourselves.

They sent over 12 week ultrasound pics this evening and baby already has thumb-in-mouth. Very advanced, practically genius. It seems surreal how far they come in just 12 weeks. And then just see how big they (and you) get in another 26. This whole process is just trippy!

CONGRATULATIONS mommy & daddy-to-be!

SO, when's the blog going up?

Diggin' Out

2008-12-22T10:57:00.000-08:00

If I had to guess, I'd say we have about 10-12" of snow on the ground - this is a rare event for the Puget Sound - especially as far south as we are. And for those of you who aren't familiar with our set-up, we park our cars in the back of our house at the end of a long alley that is really only used by us. To boot, the top of the alley sports a steep hill. No traffic means snow build-up that we need to get through to get anywhere. Besides Jim needing to get work, we need a car handy in case Lemon decides to put me in labor. So this morning has been consumed with diggin' out - thus far, using only a super-heavy garden shovel. We rarely get snow in these parts so we have procrastinated in buying a snow shovel for 2 years now. Silly us.

Jim tried to get the Prius out but with its super-fancy traction detection system he couldn't even rock it out of the spot in our backyard (in this case, the car is too good). So plan B, the Celica (which happens to be the scariest car to drive in these weather conditions due to almost NO traction), is in effect. We managed to get it to the end of the alley but could not get it up the hill. After about 8 attempts at backing it up then trying again, we keep slipping back into the same spot without success...

A neighbor just came to our rescue with a real snow shovel to borrow (thanks, Sara!) so hopefully the next couple hours will be more fruitful than the last couple, spent with Jim shoveling and pushing, and me squeezing behind the wheel of the car trying to rock us out of the jam we're in...

Otherwise, Jim will need to burn a vacation day meant for after the baby is born. Bummer.

Note to self: Next year get a shovel, have salt and kitty litter on hand, and some chains might be nice.

UPDATE (12pm)
Another great neighbor, Neil, came to our ultimate rescue with a big truck and tow strap. We had never met this neighbor before so we are happy to have made a new friend! We have success and the car is out... Jim gets to go to work today.

Encourage Talent, but KEEP IT AGE APPROPRIATE!

2008-12-19T09:08:00.000-08:00

This is just bad parenting. And I admit I am judging here in a severe way. And you can call me old fashioned, you can call me a prude, you can call me whatever you want - it's not going to change my mind. Watch this video, then let's discuss...

THIS IS NOT OK, PEOPLE. I don't care if you think your little one may be the next Britney Spears (God forbid). Hell, I'll even say that this little girl can dance better than Britney based on her last VMA performance. However, at 3 years old, if you feel your little one has a talent for dance, there are plenty of opportunities to enroll him or her in AGE APPROPRIATE classes to find the correct outlet for them to develop their talent through. Ballet, Jazz, even modern dance. But you should not, under any circumstances, be encouraging your 1-10 year old to watch MTV and repeat the sexually-driven dance moves of the latest Pop Tart spanking her ass to her "F-me" lyrics.

Don't get me wrong, I'll admit I personally enjoy a lot of that music - even this Beyoncé song. I can't help but sing along. But I am 32 and I know that I can ignore stupid lyrics, enjoy a good flow, and dance to the beat. But it is your responsibility as the parent to, when your kids are around, keep it clean.

It is NOT CUTE for your kid to sing along to the latest Ludacris. Your son may not know what he is saying now, but the lyrics will stick. One day it will dawn on him, then he'll think that his parent's thought it was a good example for him to have and he'll really start thinking of women as "bitches & hos."

It is NOT CUTE for your kid to dance along to Shakira. I love that lady and her music but hip grinding should at least be reserved for the teenage years. Your daughter may not know what her moves actually mean now, but you'll be kicking yourself when her actions start to take on a sexual tendency at an earlier age than expected and you are beating back horny little 6th grade boys and trying to explain to your daughter why the attention she is getting is not because they actually "like her as a friend."

OK, I'm done.

A Day of 7's

2008-12-17T19:24:00.000-08:00

Today we had our 37 week appointment with the doc. We got to have an ultrasound - the first one in 17 weeks. The tech took all sorts of measurements - around her skull, her belly & chest, her arm bones & leg bones. She is looking perfect! She is in the 77th percentile for her gestational age, and weighs... you guessed it, 7lbs on the dot.

I should also note a few other things:

We have, perhaps, the most uncooperative baby in the world. We asked for them to confirm Lemon's sex again, JUST TO BE SURE, but no luck. She was sitting on her feet. She was also covering her face with both hands, so no look at that, either! Then, when it was time to measure her heart rate, once again she landed me a non-stress test as she decided it would be fun to practice her karate moves, or gymnastics, or jazzercise - whatever it is she likes to do in there. An hour later we got a healthy baseline heart rate and were allowed to leave.

Our baby, as predicted, has a LOT of hair. It was the first thing the technician said when she saw her skull. This is not surprising and it is why, as I mentioned before, I have already started Lemon's hair clip collection. Now I'm just curious what color it will be!

And, as I could have also guessed, her head measured a bit large, and her arms and legs a bit short... daddy's traits, for sure!

It was good to say hello to her today. I just can't wait for it to happen for real! Anyone want to put money on Dec 27 or Jan 7??

College-Bound

2008-12-14T14:38:00.000-08:00

18 years and counting...

Yes, you may think it is a bit early to start thinking about college, but is it really? With tuition rising and the economy flailing, the earlier we can start planning the better. And in my mind, college is just not an option. Unless Lemon or her future sibling(s?) are passionate about a particular trade or a military career - and they are going to have to give me a deeply convincing argument - I don't really see college as an option. Not these days. It may have been different when our parents were growing up, or even as recently as my college days, but in the ever-more competitive job market, it seems you need at least a bachelors to work as a barista.

So, in the interest of goal-setting and expectations, the question is posed: Should we encourage our little Lemon to work towards any college of her dreams, including the Ivies, or do we push towards a less financially-demanding public school?

The parent who wants every possible opportunity for their child naturally leans towards the former, but we need to do the research on whether or not this is actually the smart, educated choice. January's SmartMoney magazine features an article that delves into this specific question, "Why the Ivies Aren't Worth It." It is not yet available online, but if you have kids it is worth going to the library for the quick read.

SM looks at what the majority of students expect from their school of choice (making more money post-graduation) and the actual return on tuition. Looking at historical degree tuition, average student loan debt, and corresponding alumni salaries both in early career and mid-career, it turns out the public schools - almost across the board - blow away the private schools. SM also has noted that corporate American knows this and the prestige that once came with an ivy league education is waning, with nearly half the top execs at Fortune 100 companies hailing from public schools.

As Jim posted before, we are lucky enough to live in a state that has two programs that are geared toward easing the tuition strain down the road: the Washington GET and the Coverdell ESA. We will most likely take advantage of both so Lemon doesn't have nearly the college debt load I have been strapped with. I am also happy to report that according to SM, the University of Washington ranks No.5 in the country with an average payback of 225%. I think I just became a Huskies fan...

If money were no object, I might splurge on this:

2008-12-13T17:50:00.001-08:00

The Re-Set by Re-produkte. It's not just the prettiest cradle I have seen (ooh - the dark wicker, the clean lines), it is also the most interestingly diverse. It is a cradle, rocking chair (either tethered together or separate), and convertible to rocking horse. Seriously. Rocking horse.

Of course, if money were no object it would be OK that this thing goes for $750 - not including the mattress. It would also be OK that we have already purchased a perfectly lovely bassinet that converts to playpen.

It's OK to just look, right?

Happy Birthday, Maggie!

2008-12-11T13:03:00.000-08:00

Although we celebrated it Saturday, I just wanted to remind everybody that it's Maggie's Birthday today! Whoooo!

Un-Happy Birthday Cake

Jersey: Making friends, playing nice.

2008-12-10T21:55:00.000-08:00

It was much to my relief that on Saturday, at my birthday party, Jersey made nice with Athena, the 8 month old daughter of my friend Caitlin. You may recall that a while back Jersey had a little growling problem toward Athena... unsolicited snarls that made me wonder if we were going to have a serious problem when Lemon arrives.

Well she must have known how disappointed I was with her behavior because on Saturday, Jersey made her way to Athena more than once to give her sweet kisses on her hand. Of course, we backed up that behavior with lots of love and praise and kisses for the Jers - we were all so excited and SO proud of her!

To top it all off, Jersey had another delightful encounter with another baby in the middle of the night last night... I got up to pee at about 3am (TMI, I know) then came back to bed. Jersey had to, of course, reposition herself at that point as well - assuming I am awake and will give her some scratches to help her go back to sleep. To solicit scratches, she has the habit of tapping you with her paw. Last night she tapped me straight on my belly because, well, it's hard to miss these days. In complete shock - and with much amusement - I felt Lemon kick her right back. Jersey paused, had obviously felt the kicks, and then tapped again. Believe it or not, and to my complete joy, they kept up this back and forth on my belly for at least a few minutes!

Now, you may be thinking I am one of those crazies who reads way too much into her dog's actions. That may be true. But I am just going to go with this one as I enjoyed it so much, and I am truly hoping these two become fast friends upon Lemon's arrival. This has to be a good sign, right?!

If you look to the right...

2008-12-09T15:53:00.000-08:00

...you'll notice the number on our baby-ticker.

30 Days to go.

We're down to the wire already! We had our 36 week appointment today to see where we are at. Lemon was sleeping so her heart rate was a normal 135 (as opposed to the drama she caused at our last appointment - hooking me up to the monitor for an hour as she practiced gymnastics. I am not kidding, she would not settle down and literally kicked me 100x in an hour. The doctor was very impressed...).

We also learned that she is head down. Good girl. My cervix is still closed so I doubt she'll come anytime before we are officially at term - next Thursday! It is hard to believe that she can pretty much come anytime now and it is a-ok.

The arrival poll you all participated in put Lemon's arrival most likely either before the new year (Daddy's dream tax-break baby), or after her due date (Mommy's nightmare procrastinator baby). Can't wait to find out! I just hope she doesn't wait too long - we're anxious to meet her!

Hair Clips!

2008-12-08T08:45:00.000-08:00

I am banking on this kid having a full head of hair like her mama. For those of you who don't know, I was born with hair so long it had to be cut upon arrival. I understand that this is a gift and there are some not as fortunate. For instance, Lemon's big girl friend Kilinoe in Hawaii recently made the milestone of braiding her hair for the first time at the tender age of 3! (Congratulations, Lucky!)

So, naturally, when we found out we were having a little girl one of the things I quickly got excited about was hair clips! The perfect little girl fashion accessory. Mind you, I realize I am going to be a snob about this. And if I offend anyone during this post, I do apologize, but maybe it is something you need to hear...

Not all children's hair accessories are created equal. Let us explore some baby hair fashion no-no's before we talk about some of the most adorable hair fashions I have found so far...

Having more headband than hair seems a bit unbalanced, especially when you are obviously going for the 80's hair band look.

A hair bow to look like ballerina legs.... might be a bit much.
Flowers bigger than baby's face is just distracting.

Likewise, more BOW than baby is also bad.

This girl is going to look back on this picture and DIE one day as she realizes her mom put two identical cabbages on her head.

There is no need for glamour shots under the age of 16. In fact, there is no need for glamour shots EVER.

And then, as goes without saying, the Hamas headband is probably the ultimate faux-pas.

The painful images above now behind us, let look at the GOOD STUFF. Please make note of these three adjectives that you will notice is the underlying theme when choosing kid's hair accessories: SMALL, SIMPLE, DELIGHTFUL.

Yesterday, at the Urban Craft Uprising in Seattle I picked up this little number from Moth & Squirrel - a cute little felt whale with beaded eye. Our whale is seafoam green with a teal spout - great colors! Libby Chenault also makes other animals shapes that I'll be sure to collect as we move forward.

Apoidea Projects is another crafter I encountered yesterday. She makes the sweetest barrettes out of vintage buttons, beads, and broken pieces of jewelry past. Most of her wares are even versatile enough to share with your baby without looking weird! And if you're not into the barrettes, check out the other jewelry available for adults!

For those of you who are not yet familiar with Giddy Giddy, miss out no more... GIddy GIddy is a well know in the mommy blogs and just about EVERYTHING they make is perfectly suitable for little girl hair. I even love their beautiful clip keepers (the new "Doe-a-Deer" is perhaps my current favorite)...

China Sprout is a source for super-cute asian inspired hair-stuff for kids.... the good news is that they carry WAY MORE that hair stuff. Check them out!

Daisy Chain on etsy makes some sweet copper bobbies I am super fond of (among other great barrettes)! And I just LOVE that she is not afraid to use subject matter normally reserved for boys - breakin' boundaries here!

Kitchen Table Studios is another great etsy find. I especially love their vintage cabochon barrettes featuring a myriad of animals.

And, lastly, if you must have ribbon, please approach with restraint and style such as with some selections from SkullnCross Bows.

Better news re: blood sugar

2008-12-04T17:36:00.001-08:00

I just realized that I forgot to update you all on this situation. The doc took a longer look at my blood sugar levels last week when we had our 34 week appointment. She thinks they look great and has asked that I only monitor 3 days a week now, just to be sure/safe. I am 35 weeks along today. That's 5 more weeks of monitoring, 3 days a week, 4x a day... 60 more sticks. WAY BETTER than the 140 I would be facing if monitoring full time.

Small victories!

Fawn & Finch

2008-12-04T17:18:00.000-08:00

I just recieved my first Etsy purchase. I couldn't help myself - these are just the cutest solution I have found to a problem that totally sicks me out - pacifiers on the floor.

It is inevitable. Pacifiers drop out of babies mouths. I just don't want to have to run to the sink to wash it every time it lands on the floor. I also don't subscribe to the "stick it in your own mouth to clean it" deal - first of all, ew. Second of all, this is how baby's first cavities are made (through bacteria transmission from your saliva).

Fawn & Finch makes these great, stylish pacifier clips at SUPER reasonable prices ($3.50 each!). Anything similar I have seen start at around $8 each and are, by far, not as cute. Made from fray resistant linen ribbon from Japan and clips with plastic teeth to protect clothing, they are, in my opinion, perfect. Can't wait to match the clips to Lemon's outfits!

Here are the FOUR I bought to match various wardrobe changes (like I said, I just couldn't help myself...):

Black Friday

2008-11-28T06:00:00.000-08:00

Let's keep it in perspective, people. How much we spend on each other for Christmas presents has nothing to do with how much we love each other. And I am not just saying that because we are trying to save money here. I would much rather receive a small item handmade with love than anything else.

Recently Jim found a news story featuring a crazy lady who "felt guilty because she is unemployed this year and can't treat her THREE YEAR OLD to the $600 Christmas shopping spree she got last year." You know, last year when she was TWO.

Are you kidding me?? Guilt over not spending a ridiculous amount of money (that she probably didn't really have last year, either) on a kid that young when they don't know the difference between a toy that costs $5 or $50 as long as it is entertaining? What kind of expectations is this mother setting her daughter up for with behavior like this? Fast forward 13 years and I bet we find a girl demanding a BMW for her birthday. Fast forward 23 years and I bet we find a young woman with impossible monetary standard for any mate to be able to live up to. This girl believes she is entitled to the world - and will probably end up miserable because she can't have it - all because mommy let her have a $600 shopping spree at the age of two.

I think this is an important lesson we need absorb as parents and we need to pass on to our children. Money is not what is important. So when you hit those Black Friday sales (for those of you crazy enough to do this - I know who you are), keep this in perspective as you are being lured by all those sweet deals. What REALLY matters? That big ticket item you can get 25% off for, or something smaller that, perhaps, you spent time on and made by hand?

Happy shopping.
Love,
Your Conscience

Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T09:00:00.000-08:00

Please don't eat your children...

(via Martha Stewart)

lmnop: Issue 5

2008-11-26T09:00:00.000-08:00

It's out!

I've said it before, I'll say it again: if you appreciate tyke clothes and toys that border on art, if you have little ones in your life that you would like to instill an intrinsic sense of style and beauty into, then you MUST follow this quarterly e-zine, downloadable for free here.

As with all issues, I can really only covet the high-priced items featured, but it's fun to pick out the one or two things you might, one day, when you win the lottery, splurge on. OR, just see if you can find something that is actually affordable that you love (for instance, I wish I had the $14 Constructable Drinking Straws when I was a kid!). If nothing else, the beautiful layout of this publication just overflows with tons of inspiration.

I am also pleased to see that I don't have to wait for JUST the quarterly issue anymore! lmnop has started a blog! Ahh.... a daily dose....

Oprah: Just thought I'd mention...

2008-11-25T09:00:00.000-08:00

For mature audiences only... (we're all adults, right?)

On Friday, if you missed Oprah, she had Dr. Laura Berman on - a sex therapist. I thought it was interesting that one of the couples had the specific problem of the husband not being able to "look" at his wife the same way after he watched their babies being born. In fact, he wasn't able to look at "her" at all, let alone get close enough for any recreational activity.

Dr. Berman went on to say that this is perhaps the one biggest mistake men make (watching birth) and one of the most common problems she sees within sex therapy. She recommends daddies stay up near their baby-mama's head, perhaps to support her through breathing and pushing via eye-to-eye contact.

I thought this was interesting because this is something that has come up in more than one conversation amongst friends and family. "Jim, will you watch? Will you cut the umbilical cord?" This question puts a father to be in a very awkward position... Amongst some crowds, say NO and it's as if he's a loon, unwilling to share in the experience, embrace this "beautiful" birth, and neglecting his wife and offspring from the get-go. There seems to be a belief that a man is supposed to have an internal switch with which he can turn on and off his sexuality in the birth situation. Men are just not wired this way. They are visual beings, and it seemed a no-brainer to me that this may pose a problem in the post-baby bedroom.

A long time ago, before Lemon was a glimmer in our eyes, we decided that whether to watch or not would be up to Jim. The way I see it there will be very little about the labor and birth experience that he can control. This is one of the things he is able to decide how to play out for himself. It was almost as if there was audible sigh of relief from Jim when I told him how I felt. If I remember correctly, he held back the "thank god" and went for a more sensitive, "I don't think I want to watch." And I am perfectly fine with that. In fact, more than fine.

If you have already had children, I am interested in hearing how you all handled the situation (if you don't mind sharing). If you have not yet had your kidlets, feel free to pipe in with your thoughts, too. Maybe we'll learn something we haven't thought of before...

Blood Sugar: Update

2008-11-24T18:53:00.000-08:00

I finally got a call back from the doctor's office after faxing my first week of blood sugar numbers last Wednesday (sure am glad I didn't have an emergency!). She said my numbers look great, but to keep monitoring - better safe than sorry. Thursday will mark 34 weeks so it really won't be too much longer (6 weeks, give or take).

So, I will keep poking my fingers 4x a day until Lemon arrives. That's 176 times, if she arrives on her due date. Ouch. My poor fingers.

Blue or Brown eyed girl?

2008-11-14T08:25:00.000-08:00

I like my browns eyes but I'd be lying if I said I don't not-so-secretly hope our little Lemon is born with her daddy's big blue gems. They are melt-my-heart stunning.

So, when I found this eye color predictor site this morning, I had to give it a shot! I learned in 7th grade biology how dominant and recessive genes work, and that brown eyes are dominant but that won't stop this girl from hoping, especially because I have seen recessive genes in action - my sister has the only blue eyes in a family full of brown. And our odds must be better since Jim's family is all blue and green eyes - no brown in his immediate family.

This is what our chart looks like based on six children (right!):

As predicted, there is a 50% chance Lemon will have brown eyes, 25% chance of blue, and 25% chance of green - which surprised me. As much as I can't wait to have my curiosity satisfied, we may not REALLY know what color eyes she will have until about 9 months after she is born anyway. Chances are if she is born with brown eyes they will stay brown. BUT, if her eyes are gray or muddy, it can take up to 9 months for the true pigment to build up and reveal a permanent color, whether that is brown, blue or green.

It really doesn't matter to us - I just can't wait to meet Lemon! But this is a fun little site to check out... if you haven't had your kids yet, or haven't had ALL of your kids yet, let us know what your results are!

Blood Sugar Update

2008-11-13T14:40:00.001-08:00

I attended my gestational diabetes class on Wednesday. Two hours worth of info I could have gotten on WebMD in 10 minutes. Yes, I am an instant gratification-driven generation X'er. The interesting part of class was getting the meter and testing it out... it's sad when the best part of class involves pricking your finger.

Anyway, right after class I had my 32 week OB appointment. I discussed my concerns about "over-reacting" and being quick to diagnose - especially after I was given my full results from the GTT and all of my post-Glucola sugar levels were WELL within range. She and I agreed to go ahead and test for a full week (4x a day) and we can review the results together and see how to proceed.

Her biggest concern is that my fasting blood sugar, taken before eating in the morning, was a little high (104). Unfortunately this is the one reading that, if off, you can't control with diet. If it is consistently high it may require taking a slow acting insulin before bed at night so that my reading is normal (<95) in the morning.

Today I took my first fasting reading - 96. Just a point high. All my post-meal readings (taken 2 hours after eating) were perfectly fine (<120): Breakfast - 111, Lunch - 82, Dinner - 114).

We'll see how the week goes...

Of Completely Poor Taste

2008-11-11T11:06:00.001-08:00

Who needs a Gingerbread man or Santa sugar cookie this holiday season when you can have a dozen of these in the oven?:

If any of you buy this cookie cutter for $9.99 here, it will definitely change my opinion of you - and not in a good way. Now if only they made placenta-shaped cookie cutters, this person would be happy.

Birth Prep Class

2008-11-11T08:00:00.000-08:00

This past weekend was full of fun as Jim and I spent both days in an intensive birth and baby prep class. I'm glad we nailed it in one weekend... If I had to go 6 weeks straight I could easily have seen us blowing this off after a few weeks. It seemed like most of the information was stuff we already knew. I guess that is a good thing, but I was looking forward to the class but ended up being bored by most of it.

Saturday was focused on the birth. We watched what was probably TOO MANY birth videos. I know it is good to see many different possibilities but we (and by we I mean mostly Jim) squirmed through the whole thing, all wide-eyed. I also caught him laughing and pointing at me when I looked at him during particularly intense or stomach-turning parts... thanks for the support, honey. You are lucky I have a sense of humor!

We also went through many different laboring positions to see what was most comfortable for us (me). Jim and I are obviously going to have relaxation breathing issues. It is like dancing. You need synchronization and rhythm. Jim is supposed to lead me through breathing so I can focus on him instead of the pain. The problem is that he has no rhythm and I wanted to lead the whole time. We were SO BAD we couldn't help but laugh the entire time. We are going to have to find another means to relax me during labor. I am confident I can employ my yoga and meditation breathing. I think Jim is going to have to just make sure he is up on his massage skills and be OK with being bossed around and yelled at. I have warned him several times by now that I am not really expecting to be a nice person through all that pain. I do feel like I am more ready now and anxious for the whole labor and delivery thing. We are feeling more confident and really can't wait for Lemon to arrive!

Sunday was focused on care for baby after birth - both in the hospital and at home. Again, feeling pretty good about my knowledge level. We had a fake baby to practice on and I LOVED watching Jim change the diaper and dress the baby! All in all, a successful weekend that I am glad is over. Now let's get on to the real thing...

Baby Shower!

2008-11-10T08:00:00.000-08:00

Last Sunday, Nov 2, Lemon's Aunty Em (my sister, Emily) threw me a baby shower to celebrate the upcoming arrival of our little girl! We had a great time despite a few snafu's. Here are the highlights:

I had TWO east coast visitors! Aunty San (Sandy, my BFF from high school) flew in from New Jersey, and Aunty Karen (one of my roommates from school) flew in from Vermont to join in the festivities! THANK YOU both for making the trip!

For some reason the TIME of the party was unclear. The three of us walked into Emily's house and she promptly yelled at us for arriving an hour early... uh... no we didn't. Party starts at noon. She insisted it was 1pm. Luckily Aunty Dana arrived 10 minutes behind with the invitation in the car that clearly states a 12:00pm start. HA!

Uncle Chad, Emily's husband, was still home, in his pajamas, helping Emily clean the house. Double HA!

On the opposite end, I had to remind Aunty Laura (a friend from Hawaii who lives in Seattle part time) that the party started noon and not 2:00pm as she left on my voicemail the night before! Yikes! Unfortunately Laura never made it to the party... I didn't hear my phone ringing in my purse as she drove around Snohomish county as lost as she could be. Boo... Again, SO sorry, Laura.

Party attendees included (in addition to myself, Emily, Dana, Karen and Sandy) Aunty Bree & Lemon's new friend Metztli, Aunty Lisa, Aunty Caitlin (Caitlin's little Athena stayed home with daddy that day for the first time ever! Still waiting to hear how that went!) it was a fun little crew full of girly chatter. Perfect.

We did have a couple of last minute cancellations - Aunty Kristen, I hope you grandfather is OK; Aunty KC, I completely understand how hectic it can be to have family in town... both of you were sorely missed, though.

We did not play any shower games (thankfully). Instead we stenciled and painted onesies that Lemon will be able to wear during her first year! This was what we did for Caitlin's shower back in February and I am so glad we re-created it for my shower. They came out GREAT! (Note to Bree: as your hands were full with your toddler the entire time, rest assured that Lisa went ahead and finished your cute elephant - see photos!)

(L to R): Dana, Karen, Sandy, and Emily hard at work!

Maya Played babysitter for about 3 minutes so mommy Bree could at least TRY to make a onesie!

The results - I will have the best-dressed baby in town.

Thanks again to Emily for our hard work, to all of you who were able to make it - especially those who traveled by plane! And for those of you who were unable to join us, we missed you! It is one of the downfalls of having moved around a lot - most of my friends are flung across the country and across oceans. Love to you all.

New Poll!

2008-11-09T21:19:00.001-08:00

Please participate in the poll to the right... time to start taking bets on Lemon's arrival!

If you want to choose a specific date, still vote in the poll but add a comment to this post with the exact date. We'll keep track! If you choose the correct time frame outlined in the poll, you get bragging rights, but if you choose the exact DATE you get a special prize!

Poll closes December 1. Hopefully she'll wait at least THAT long!

An Unusual Doctor's Appointment

2008-11-09T18:39:00.000-08:00

Warning: Very long post.

Up until last week we have been having pretty standard doctor's appointments. Blood pressure normal, urine protein and sugar normal, weight gain normal, baby heart rate normal. Uneventful, up until last week.

When we went to check Lemon's heart rate it was high. Normally her heart rate has been sitting comfortably between 145 and 155 beats per minute. I'm not sure where it was when the doctor was checking it but it was high enough to hook me up to the monitor for 30 minutes. The monitor measures the baby heart rate while I pushed a button every time I felt a kick or movement. I wasn't too concerned as she had been active all morning and even kicked the doctor while she was checking her heart rate. The way it has been explained to me is that when she is kicking, it is the equivalent of when you or I would run on the treadmill. Naturally the heart rate increases. What they wanted to check on was whether or not it was staying steadily high or if it was increasing with the kicks. The monitor should show healthy peaks and valleys that correspond to the kicks.

As I was laying there I could tell by looking at the print out that her heart rate was fine. Healthy peaks and valleys with resting rate at 150. Phew.

The next thing I asked was how my 1 hour glucose tolerance test score was (done at the previous appointment). I assumed no news was good news. I had passed, but only by 1 point.... oooh. Narrow margin. She may have overlooked it but it turns out that the urine test I took at that day's appointment put my sugar output at 4+. Too high. As a precaution, the doc decided to send me for the 3 hour glucose tolerance test. Yikes.

With friends coming in a couple days later I scheduled it for two days later (Sat, Nov 1). I needed to get it done so I didn't have to worry about it while they were here. Besides, it was the perfect motivation to keep my hand out of the Halloween candy bowl.

I had to fast from 10pm Friday night until the test was done, so I had a big glass of milk at 9:45p hoping it would keep me feeling full for a while (lots of protein, right?). I showed up early for my 8am appointment - at about 7:30am. During the test there are FOUR blood draws (ouch!) - the first one is your fasting blood sugar. You then drink the glucola (lemon-lime flavor syrup containing 100g of sugar - YUCK!). You then have three consecutive blood draws an hour apart from eachother to see how your body metabolizes the sugar.

I got the results last Monday. FAIL! Are you kidding? I was shocked. I really wasn't expecting that result. The doc told me that it was actually my fasting blood sugar that failed, not the others. It measured at 104. A good result is <100, but when pregnant they actually like to see your sugar level at <90. SO, this basically means that my blood sugar level is either an indicator of Gestational Diabetes (GD), pre-diabetes (Type II), or a fluke (which I am personally thinking is the case).

Here are some things we need to think about with GD:

Big Baby Syndrome - because there is so much more sugar in a GD mom, baby tends to pack on more weight causing a higher birth weight... this is where 10lb + babies come from! NIGHTMARE! And, of course, this increases the c-section rate, which I am trying to avoid.
Low blood sugar in baby - I know that sounds weird, right?
Jaundice at birth - when your baby's body can not properly break down the excess belirubin in it's system.
Development of Preeclampsia (high blood pressure for mom at birth), which can be very dangerous for both of us.

Now, back to the test results. My gut is still telling me that my results may be a fluke. Why, you ask? Several reasons:

I had been indulging in some Halloween candy a couple days before my urine test the day of my last doctor's appointment. I am SURE I had more sugar in my system than normal and I think my body was just dumping the extra sugar through my urine.
Note I drank a whole, big glass of milk just before fasting for the GTT. One of the first things I read when looking up diabetes diet changes is that if you drink cow's milk you may need to switch to soy because of the amount of SUGAR in cow's milk - I HAD NO IDEA!
I arrived at the appointment a half hour early so I didn't get my full 10 hours fasting in. My fasting blood test is the only one that failed. My body actually handled the glucola fine.

Maybe I am fooling myself but I am thinking my doctor is being a little over-cautious. I can't really fault her for that as I would rather her be safe than sorry, BUT I feel like my results were SO borderline that I am considering asking for a re-test at my next appointment on Wednesday. Not that I am planning on some heavy sugar consumption - in fact I feel like I will be more conscious now on my own anyway. But when you are labeled GD you are automatically put through the wringer with extra monitoring of the baby, which equals extra medical expenses. My insurance is good (although a pain in the ass to deal with sometimes) but I would like to avoid spending unnecessary money if possible.

Will keep you all posted.

Pregnancy & Grace

2008-10-16T10:00:00.000-07:00

These two words do not belong in the same sentence.

Today is the first day of our third trimester. How time flies! I think this is also the time when I am allowed to complain a little bit. I have had, overall, a great pregnancy so far. I am hoping this continues. However, a few things have recently caught up to me which, I think, will be challenging hurdles over the final 12 week stretch.

Sleep & Snoring
Pre-pregnancy I could honestly say that I looked forward to my sweet good night's rest. I am usually a solid sleeper. This has gotten trickier. I have two positions available to me now: right side or left side. Thank god for my snoogle (picture a full body pillow that curves around your body like a snake) or else I think I would be completely miserable. The snoogle makes this lack of sleeping options ALMOST bearable. And you know, it is not so much that I mind sleeping on my side, but when I need to roll over, I can no longer do this in a blissful sleep - I full-on wake up, have to move the pillow with me, adjust this growing body and baby, then put up with a few kicks until the baby gets comfy again.

But I could handle this if this was the only problem, but it is not. My recent incarnation into a buzz saw has been the recent popular topic of discussion. I was known to snore a little bit pre-pregnancy. Not a cute attribute, I know, but my ever patient husband said that it really wasn't that bad. That has all changed. I think he quickly switches from being startled awake, to absolute shock from the shear volume of my new snoring habits, to utter annoyance - usually followed by an elbow jab or nudge to get me to stop. I would be unaware otherwise, but I feel horrible and have trouble falling back to sleep afterwards as I want him to be able to sleep, too.

Jim has actually taped an episode of my snoring. I keep telling him that I think it is Jersey doing the snoring (she is the WORST snorer!), but he assures me that I'm the one making the noise. When both the Jers and I are going at it, I am sure Jim is ready to go sleep in the car.

I have been spending many nights on the couch recently. My recently preggo friend, Caitlin, has assured me that she went through this, too, and the snoring actually does stop after you give birth. Great. Just in time for us to become sleep deprived for other reasons. Maybe this is the universe's way of preparing us for less sleep.

My Nose
I'm not going to go into much detail here but this so-called "rhinitis of pregnancy" thing is ridiculous. If you need details just ask, but I'll spare the rest of you.

Sciatica
Oh, yes. Went to the doctor yesterday and it seems that the pain in my right ass cheek that shoots down my thigh is "normal" during pregnancy and called Sciatica. It's a back/disc problem that I am praying goes away after I unload this baby. I have not gained very much weight at all so far so I am not sure why I am so afflicted but my body is changing and weight is shifting to the front so maybe it is the way I am carrying myself. Whatever... the doc suggested that if it gets worse I go to physical therapy. Seriously? All I want to do is go get a massage.

On a brighter note...
I must mention the positives: my hair is growing longer and thicker (not that I ever had much trouble with this anyway). My nails have looked better than they have in years. My skin is clear. My energy level still seems to be good, although I have a feeling that will change shortly as Lemon is due to start packing on 1/2 lb per week from here on out. Also, I still do love feeling her kicking in there. I think that will be the thing I miss the most when she finally arrives in my arms.

Humble Plea: The Flu Vaccine

2008-10-15T16:04:00.000-07:00

Dear friends and family,

As our little Lemon is due to arrive in the middle of flu season, we are understandably concerned. We don't plan on being germ-a-phobe parents but we need to protect our little one during the first few fragile weeks. If you are planning on spending time with Lemon upon her arrival, I implore you to get your flu shot this year. You can follow the link below to find out where and when it is available in your area:

FIND A FLU CLINIC NEAR YOU

It is quick, painless, and about $20. For those of you who are concerned about getting the flu from the vaccine, don't be. It is a dead virus they use to create it so you can't get the flu from it. Also, if you would prefer a thermasil-free version, you can just tell them you are pregnant or ask for it specifically. It shouldn't be a problem.

Thank you for helping us! We are SO looking forward to introducing Lemon to the world and we want you to be part of it!

Love,
Maggie & Jim

Happy Birthday, Jim!

2008-10-11T08:56:00.001-07:00

Today Lemon's daddy turns 33! I am embarrassed to say that I actually forgot for the first hour or so of the day. I know very well that his birthday is today. We even talked about it last night. Perhaps celebrating last weekend with a joint party for Jim and my sister, Emily (whose birthday was Sept 29), threw me off. Maybe it's just my pregnancy brain. Either way, he got a big fat kiss as soon as I remembered.

What will Jim be doing with his day?

Right now, he's watching back episodes of South Park while prepping some DVD's he's sold on Half.com to ship.
Make a run to get some more free Tagro so he can finish feeding the lawn and prepping next year's garden plots.
We will most likely go out for lunch, perhaps to Jimmy Mac's Roadhouse in Federal Way. Jim's been wanting to check it out. 99 bottles is at the same place so I bet we make a stop in there to pick up a specialty beer or two he can enjoy tonight.
After lunch we'll pick up his strike checks from the union house in Auburn. We are hoping this next week is the last week the union will be on strike - talks are resuming this weekend!
He'll most likely actually do lawn/garden work through the afternoon - he's trying to get it done while the weather is holding out.
I will cook a special dinner and dessert for him tonight... I haven't decided what is on the menu yet, but I'll figure it out!
For sure the evening will hold a game or two of Wii Madden 09. Perhaps we will also watch a movie curled up on the couch with the dogs.

A low-key birthday, but I think that's the way he prefers it! We'll enjoy some peace and quiet around here while it lasts... I have a feeling this next year is going to get a bit louder...

I have NO skills...

2008-10-05T20:40:00.000-07:00

Luckily, none are really required.

Ever since I calculated my due date when I peed on the stick and got the two pink lines, I have been worried about having a COLD baby. It just struck me that the tool I rely on to keep me warm at night in the winter, a blanket, is just off-limits when it comes to babies. Ever since I have been devising ways to keep Lemon warm through a chilly Northwest winter. We have purchased a bunting, receiving blankets, footie pajamas, swaddlers, hats, socks, a cool car seat cover. Jim has sealed our room for when she sleeps in there (nights) and we are working on sealing the upstairs when she sleeps up there (naps).

One day my path crossed with a post on a blog I follow, makebabystuff.com. A pattern for fitted sheets... that seemed easy enough, and a cheaper solution than having to buy multiples. And then I had a brilliant idea, just for that EXTRA warmth at night... FLEECE fitted sheets.

My nesting instinct is kinda in overdrive and I have had the uncontrollable urge to sew as many things as possible for the baby. Mind you, I am a complete sewing novice but I have been improving steadily with each project I tackle. I looked at this project and thought to myself, "no sweat."

Today, to escape Jim's back and forth between real football and the Wii Madden 2009 football he got for his birthday, I went to the fabric store and bought enough fleece for 2 fitted sheets, and also enough flannel for two sets of those, too. Then this evening I got to work on the first of the four.

Everything started off swimmingly - measure, cut, sew the corners... but then it came to finishing the edges and adding the elastic to the corners. Seems easy enough. People, it was an ugly scene. I don't know if it was the bulky, slick fleece, or the stitch types i had to use since I don't have a surger, or the fact that I have never worked with elastic before and it was kinda hard to manipulate. It most likely was a combination of all of the above. The edges and elastic corners are the UGLIEST I have ever done. I cursed through the process and broke a needle in the middle of it. I imagined myself 40 years from now with tweenage grandkids who beg Lemon to ask me not to sew them Christmas presents AGAIN. I let go of the dream of being the ultra-crafty mom who could eventually sew my kids awesome homemade Halloween costumes. My confidence just came tumbling down.

But then I realized... the saving grace is that the edges and corners, when they are on the mattress, are hidden nicely UNDER the mattress!! As I said before, the top and sides look great. So I pushed myself to finish and went to put my new, orange fleece fitted sheet on the crib. It looks great! I feel so much better now. I would post pictures but since it is just a solid fitted sheet made of fleece, it would be kinda boring. Just use your imagination and be proud of me. I am.

On this day in 2003/2028

2008-10-01T11:11:00.000-07:00

Jim and I said "I do" October 1, 2003. I can honestly say that getting married that day was the best decision of my life. And if we think it has been fun so far, I can only imagine what this next year has in store for us!

Five years goes so quickly, I can now see that 25 years isn't very far away. Where could we possibly be in another 20 years? Let's make a written prediction, which I am sure will be fun to check out once we hit that landmark! In the year 2028, this is what we'll be doing:

We'll still be living here in Washington - perhaps on Jim's dream street: N 29th Street, in a bigger house, a bigger yard, and views of Commencement Bay. We'll most likely have a younger sibling or two for Lemon who would still need to finish out high school in the area, not that I see us ever living away from here anyway (except for winters in a warmer climate maybe??)
Lemon will be in her junior year of college. We'll be looking forward to seeing where her talents lie and what she ends up studying. Her dreams will be our dreams.
At the ages of 52 and 53, we will be looking forward to our nearing retirement and we'll have about 8 years to plan for the projects of our golden years... perhaps a small brewery and a lot of travel.
Jersey and Bailey will still be running around, but at the ages of 27 and 26, most of their body parts will have been replaced with robot parts. We will leave Jersey's voice box out, or at least install a mute button. The jump function might also be disabled.
They'll have found a cure for Crohn's disease and my life would be so much simpler.
They'll have found a cure for allergies and Jim's life would be so much simpler.
We will finally be throwing a vow renewal and reception for all those friends and family members who were left out the first time. Sorry to say it, but yes it will most likely take another 20 years to do it, but it will be worth the wait.

I look forward to the next 20 years of my life with Jim, but I will remind myself to savor it and slow it down as much as I can... I don't want it flying by too fast...

...status quo...

2008-09-23T18:09:00.001-07:00

I realize there hasn't been a post in a while. That's because there is nothing going on, yet lots going on, at the same time. It seems we are home a lot in order to avoid spending money since Jim is still on strike with Boeing. But we have been keeping busy at home. Here is what we have been up to:

Baby. Lemon is fine and getting more active by the day. I still love feeling her in there.
Painting. While on strike, Jim has been a busy bee. He finished painting the baby's room & bathroom yesterday... SO LONG nasty peach and sponge painting, HELLO nice, clean, soft, antique white.
Next project up: installing molding around the bottom perimeter of the baby's room. Hopefully this will be the last labor intensive project up there.
Curtains. I have been a sewing-machine lately and these are almost done. I found an adorable fabric that matches the bunny bedding perfectly. I sure hope this kid takes after her mama and loves orange, too!
Furniture. I made a trip to Ikea and have chosen all the furniture we need to finish out the room. Hopefully this strike is over soon so we can get this stuff purchased.
Football. Jim has organized a football pool for the season so we have been watching as many games as possible on Sundays. I have to say, participating in the pool has been making this season tolerable at least so I am going in the right direction in terms of accepting one of the things my husband is passionate about... I have to try seeing that there is no way I am ever going to love his other two passions (Mexican food and beer. EW and EW). BTW, props to Rhonda for winning this week's pool. Can't wait for you to come back to collect your prize (a pint of Guiness at Doyle's pub)!
Gardening. This has been more of Jim's project seeing as I am not really allowed to garden (not only because of the pregnancy, but also because the meds I am on for my Crohn's disease further kills my immune system and puts me at extra risk for infection from the particles in the dirt and compost we use). Anyway, we have finally been yielding a steady stream of tomatoes and zucchini. Good thing as it has been getting COLD around here and pretty soon we are just going to have to call it good and pull the plants up.
Blogging. Between this blog, the Seattle Center for Book Arts blog I run, and our brand new Uncommon Envelope blog, I am gettting carpal tunnel. Who knew I had so much to say??

And that's it. As I said, not a lot happening, but so much at the same time. I have to say I love having Jim home all day. Times like these I wish we were independently wealthy and didn't have to work so we could spend all of our time together. A girl can dream, can't she...

Dear Amazon: We're Pissed.

2008-09-13T12:29:00.001-07:00

When a company runs a promotion, we think it should clear, run smoothly and a consumer should not have to jump through hoops for what is fairly theirs when following the rules of said promotion. So how and why has a company like Amazon.com dropped the ball?

After we got "comfortable" with our pregnancy (after the first trimester) we started looking at all the baby items we will need and shopping around to get the best prices. It became clear that Amazon.com was a clear winner, especially when most items are eligible for their free super-save shipping - one of my favorite features of Amazon. And then when we saw them advertise their Seventh Generation diaper promotion, we knew this was the place to center our registry/to-buy list...

As the promotion is running, all we have to do is purchase $750 worth of stuff off our registry by September 30 and we will receive a $250 credit towards Seventh Generation diapers (about 6 months worth). This was a diaper brand we wanted to test out anyway as it is one of the more earth-friendly options, so it seemed that it made complete sense to buy stuff we'd need anyway in order to walk away with a ton of free diapers (from what I hear we'll need 8-10 per day, people).

So we made a list, checked it twice, and started buying a little at a time. Then we got a big boost with the purchase of our crib, almost 1/3 of our purchase requirement, by Jim's parents... or so we thought. Immediately there was a glitch in the system. Although they purchased directly through our registry, it was not showing up as purchased at all. Rhonda emailed Amazon and asked about the error, and got less than an answer. So, she resorted to calling Amazon. We thought they misunderstood the problem because the item then appeared on our registry as "Additionally Marked As Purchased." What does this mean??

Apparently this is what you can do to manually change an item to "purchased," but it means you purchased it elsewhere and just want to let people know to not buy it. In other words, we were NOT getting credit for this purchase towards the promotion!!

So, as my brother-in-law Chad likes to call it, it was time for Amazon to get "Campolong'd." We Campolong women learned from the best when it came to giving a piece of our minds. I had to get on the phone with Amazon, over the course of 2 weeks, not once, not twice, not even three times... four times I had to talked to different people on different customer service levels to work out this problem. Each time they told me they understood the problem, would submit the paperwork to get it fixed, then get back to me. To no avail. Eventually I decided to back-up and try email again. Eventually it lead to this response on 9/1:

Greetings from Amazon.com.

I apologize for any frustration that you have experienced with the seventh generation diaper promotion.

I can confirm that the DaVinci Jenny Lind Baby Crib was purchased from your registry and that the $227.99 should normally apply to your $750 benchmark of purchased item to receive the promotional discount.

Unfortunately there is a technical error that is preventing this amount from being added to your total items purchased. Those responsible for fixing this error have been informed, and they are working diligently to correct this. However they have not provided us with an estimated time that this will be completed.

I have annotated your account that your corrected purchased amount should be $269.45, you still have $480.55 worth of purchases to go until you qualify for the free diapers. The error should be corrected before you reach this amount. If not, simply contact us again and we will make sure the diaper promotion is properly applied to your account.

I apologize for any additional inconvenience that this may cause. Thank you for your patience while we fix this problem. We look forward to seeing you again soon.

Best regards,

Robert Stacey
Amazon.com Customer Service

As of now the error has not been corrected, but at least I have this email to back me up. I just can't believe the amount of time I have spent trying to get this handled. I truly feel like this hasn't been a promotion and that I have earned those diapers at this point. As of now we have $399 to go before the promotion times out at the end of the month. We will hit that, no problem, and then I fully expect to have to still fight for Lemon's diapers. We'll see how it goes.

This experience just reaffirms to me that being consumer saavy and frugal sometimes takes more work and determination. This could easily have happened with a smaller $20 item which could have easily gone unnoticed and resulted in a total loss on the promotion we thought we had fulfilled. So check your reciepts, follow up on promotions and make sure you get what is promised to you.

Mia Hamm, are you in there?

2008-09-10T11:36:00.000-07:00

Seemingly overnight, Lemon got the hang of this kicking thing.

Over the past few weeks I have been feeling her off and on - but they were the little flutters, or a short pounce on my cervix (ouch!). Nothing I could prove to anybody. But yesterday, out of the blue, while I was eating a Key Lime flavored yogurt (SEE - I'm not kidding about the citrus thing!)... WHAMMO! Mid-tummy, she started thomping on me. I put my hand on my belly and... POW! She kicked me square in the palm. I was shocked. I ran upstairs to Jim (to the nursery which he is so lovingly painting while on strike from Boeing) so he could feel for himself. But it was too late. She found her comfy spot and settled down.

Last night while we were watching the premier of Fringe (very promising new show, by the way) she started again, and this time Jim caught it... He felt his very first kick last night. It was very exciting!

And can I just say, it feels SO COOL! I say that now while she is still tiny. I reserve the right to change my tune as Lemon starts to stack on the weight - which is what I hear she should be working on now.

A place to lay her head...

2008-09-02T16:30:00.001-07:00

The crib, mattress and bedding have arrived! Jim and Bailey worked hard as partners putting the crib together. If you can't tell, we've gone with a classic white Jenny Lind crib, but left the gaudy brass wheels off. And the mattress is a firm, foam Colgate Classica II.

Also, the aforementioned bedding, Meadow by Amenity, was delivered today! It is as perfect as we had hoped! We tested it out on Jersey since she is the only one in the house small enough to fit in the crib. As you'll see from the pic below, she was less than thrilled to be the guinea pig. She growled the whole time she was in there. Maybe that is why the bunny is staring at her...

Now that we have the bedding, it is time to pick paint swatches so we can get the peach off our walls! We'll keep you posted on overall design of the nursery as it starts to come together.

A Trip to the Zoo

2008-08-31T15:58:00.001-07:00

Yesterday Lemon and I made our first trip to the zoo... I know, it doesn't count since she is still in utero. We'll just call it practice. BUT, it was fun hanging out with a couple of friends I don't get to see very often: Mama Bree and 1 year old Metztli (who just LOVED meeting my puppies and offering Bailey special french kisses - eww!), and Mama Leslie and 3 year old Jack (who did not like the puppies so much).

The kids loved the zoo almost as much as the adults! I tell you, monkeys and sharks are fascinating. Can't wait until Lemon is old enough to enjoy day trips like this.

Wish I had some pics to post but we all forgot our cameras... Bad mommies!

Fur Babies

2008-08-28T12:40:00.000-07:00

We have two of the canine variety. And I can't help but be curious about how they are going to react when we bring our new little one into the house. It's not so much that I have any fear that they would be mean to Lemon in any way, but I think they - or particularly Jersey - won't really know what to do with herself once she realized that the baby is going to be sticking around for quite a while.

Jersey

Bailey

Bailey, our aussie shepard mix, I have no doubt will be fine. She loves to give kisses to Lemon's future best friend, Athena, any chance she gets. And her attachment is more towards Jim anyway... she literally thinks I am the other woman.

For those of you who know my relationship with Jersey, our precious little cocker spaniel, I am sure you understand. For those of you who don't, let me just explain by saying that since we got her 6 1/2 years ago, she has been my "baby." We are inseparable. As I write this, she literally snuggling up right against me. If I didn't have a computer on my lap, no doubt she would have perched herself on my thighs.

Needless to say, there is going to be quite an adjustment. I know I'll have to work a little harder to assure Jersey that I still love her even though Lemon is likely to claim any free lap space. And I will really encourage Jersey to connect to and protect Lemon. Nothing would make me happier than to one day realize that Jersey and Bailey have both found a new best friend - replacing Jim and I with our little girl.

I have seen some wonderful examples of this relationship with other friends' kids & dogs: The ever-patient Nalu (black lab) with Nanea and Makena, the live-in zoo of Kula (golden retriever), Pancho (mastiff/bloodhound), and Riley (great dane) whom Kili has complete command over... I just hope our transition is as successful as these!

We'll keep you posted on the introduction and progress on this front once Lemon arrives!

2¢: Newborn Must-Haves

2008-08-27T09:50:00.000-07:00

Here's your chance to sound-off! Tell us what items you just couldn't live without when you had (or have!) a newborn in the house. Any advice particularly for WINTER babies is greatly appreciated, too, but don't feel limited to that. We are looking forward to taking your advice into consideration as we set up our registry and to-buy lists. Thanks in advance!

PDF Publications

2008-08-25T10:30:00.000-07:00

It seems that the next step beyond blogging is the e-zine. These specialized PDF publications, typically distributed quarterly, bring online convenience of the magazine format - this perfect for someone like me: I have a radical respect for print design, but I already get enough magazines in the mail to legitimately compete with your busiest doctor's office. I rely on magazines for inspiration, but I simply can not burden my mail carrier with yet another subscription.

There are two in the kiddy world that are more than note-worthy:

LMNOP
This Aussie magazine is chock full of eye candy and ideas. The layout is playful and thoughtful, and it seems like the advertisers are even on board with the aesthetic because the ad spots are right at home within the pages - this is rare for a magazines where most of the time the publishers are at the mercy of poorly designed ads.

Small
I am not quite sure where this pub hails from (US? UK?), but think VOGUE for kids. The fashion layouts are high fashion with itty-bitty models in deconstructed poses... I really don't know how they get the kids to pull this off, but they do. There is also a playful side of Small, featuring toys and decor. But I think what I love most that they feature the work of kid-centric artists and crafters.

A couple of notes on both...
First of all, you will notice some overlap between the two publications, but all is forgiven as everything is just so pretty to look at you won't mind looking twice. The other point I wanted to mention is product price. 90% of the items that are advertised or featured are quite inaccessible to the average family income. Let's face it, who could (or even WOULD) buy $260 shoes for a newborn? The good news is that subscription to both e-zines are FREE, which is the best price tag of all. So, summon your inner crafter and use these pages as inspiration to create your own versions of the items or ideas you love!

Have you ever shopped for crib bedding?

2008-08-24T17:21:00.000-07:00

There isn't much out there for those that are both picky about design AND frugal. As always, design wins out and frugality goes out the window. I just couldn't compromise on the one item I am basing the entire nursery design on.

The big factor we had to keep in mind when choosing this item, oddly enough, is the carpet in the nursery. It is peach. Yes, peach. Not really ideal. Thank god we are having a girl or else I was going to have to get REALLY creative in order to make this work. The walls happen to be peach, too (PUKE!), but luckily daddy has stepped up and offered to paint up there - he's been shopping around for low or no VOC paint. Maybe I can persuade him to post a little about what is available on the market in this area once he's finished this research.

Back to bedding... there were some interesting runners-up. I thought I would share those, then unveil the final choice.

RUNNERS-UP

Como by Nojo ($)
As you can see, this is is probably the bedding that most blatantly would match the carpet, but it was just TOO pastel for me, and it just lacked character. Simple enough but I just couldn't warm up to it.

Geisha by Tadpoles ($)
I really LOVE the pattern on this set, but it was all the pink that turned me off. It just would not work with the peach.

Hayden by Caden Lane ($$$)
The extreme mix and match pattern choices of this set was quite alluring to me, and it pulled the peach through in such a subtle way in the details. In the end, though, it was just too busy for the quiet and relaxing nursery we are hoping to pull together.

White Mini by Area ($$$$)
So clean, so modern, so pretty with all those embroidered circles. This was a serious contender, but I just couldn't justify the price for something the baby will pee on. And it was my sister, Emily's, least favorite. She said it lacked the warmth the others had. I had to take that into consideration.

Lali by Rickshaw Designs ($$$)
I found this unexpectedly through Daily Candy the morning before we went for the last ultrasound. I thought that if I decided I wanted to go ULTRA feminine, this would be my choice -lots of pink, but the peach in the details would have pulled it all together. I think it was just too much flower for Jim to stomach, though.

AND THE WINNER IS... (drum roll, please)

Meadow by Amenity ($$$)
How could we not just ADORE the woodcut-esque, vintage allure of this organic set. It was a clear winner for Jim when he looked at all the options. I think his exact words were "I like the bunnies." My heart pitter-patters every time I look at it. Simple, artsy, warm... makes me want to snuggle the baby in there right now! And now that you've seen it, can you understand why I couldn't go with the standard stuff?

Jim's parents are gifting this precious set to us, so thank you to Rick & Rhonda for their generosity. XOXO!

PS. I'll post on the boy choices that lost by default at another time.

*Update: Just added links to the above items.

O.M.G.

2008-08-22T21:33:00.000-07:00

All I can say is while I find this extremely disturbing, the fun that could be had with creating a girl is making itself apparent. These are RIDICULOUS and HYSTERICAL all at the same time... It's like a streetwalker-starter-set.

If you hate your baby girl, buy these here.

What can Lemons make?

2008-08-21T16:00:00.000-07:00

According to the picture above from failblog.org, lemons are good for making orange juice (what?!).

Another thing we have recently learned about lemons is that they are good for making GIRL BABIES! Yes, you read that right! We are expecting a little girl. The poll showed that most of you were right-on in your guess. If this was you, it is your time to gloat in the comments. We are ecstatic, of course! We both voted girl in the poll.

For those of you who are curious about where exactly we are in the baby-making process, we officially hit the half-way mark today. 20 weeks down, 20 (give or take) to go!

And now for the unveiling... some fresh new ultrasound pics:

Bath Time!

2008-08-13T19:19:00.000-07:00

Have you ever found yourself shopping on Amazon but your order comes up JUST SHORT of qualifying for their free super-saver shipping? I have to say, those are the times it is convenient to have a wish list or registry set up - just choose an item that you want or need anyway that is close to the price you need to hit the minimum for free shipping. This is an especially easy task with Lemon on the way.

Last week our coffee maker busted, which indirectly led Jim to supplement the order with our second official baby purchase. The First Years Sure Comfort Newborn to Toddler Tub was the item Jim chose off our registry.

Something about the idea of bathing baby in the kitchen sink skeeves me out - maybe the thought of cleaning raw chicken in there, or the nasty dish pile we accumulate daily. Gross. I believe it is the dirtiest place in the house even though I disinfect it daily. So, I knew I would want a baby tub that I could either use on the kitchen counter, OR in the midget bathtub that is upstairs in the kid's bathroom.

This tub gets great reviews - probably the best I have seen on Amazon. In addition, it probably gets the best review of the three tubs featured on Consumer Reports, the only negative being that they say it is small... whatev - the price is right, and I am sure that by the time Lemon outgrows it s/he will want to sit and play in the real tub anyway.

Why did I like it? As mentioned before, the price. At $19, if it sucks I won't feel like I wasted a lot of money (the frugality rule). I like that it is at least designed to handle the baby in multiple stages, infant - toddler (the multi-use rule). In addition, the tub plug actually turns color if the water is too hot - I will, of course, not rely on this but I like it as an extra safety feature. Simplicity in design is the final reason. Who knew something so basic as a tub could be so ugly?? This is the best looking one of the bunch in the price range.

We are looking forward to some happy bath times ahead!

Reminder: POLL CLOSING IN 6 DAYS!

2008-08-13T13:46:00.000-07:00

If you haven't cast your vote yet on whether you think Lemon is a girl or boy, now is the time to do it! We have our next ultrasound next Thursday and, unless baby is being stubborn, we will find out what we are having.

What do you get out of it if you are right? Bragging rights, of course!

Book Review: SECRETS OF THE BABY WHISPERER

2008-08-07T11:48:00.000-07:00

Upon the trusted recommendation from friend and veteran mom of two little girls, Aloha Allen, I recently borrowed this book from the library. Secrets of the Baby Whisperer: How to Calm, Connect, and Communicate With Your Baby was penned by Britian's own "Baby Whisperer", Tracy Hogg.

Unlike other books I have read that are either hard to sit and motivate to read, or are quite sturdily opinionated, this book stressed less the "should" or "should not" perspective, and more the idea that whatever you decided is right for you and your baby, remaining consistent in technique and pattern is the key to helping your baby feel secure. Tracy focuses on newborn parenting for first-time parents, which was perfect for what I was looking for in terms of advice.

One of the things I could have done without was her continually calling you "luv" as you read. I understand the conversational nature of her writing, but it was slightly condescending, although this may be a cultural interpretation. I'll give her a pass on this as a nod to all of the great advice she offers.

Sadly, I had to return to the book to the library (and pull out all the tabs I stuck in there as important points for Jim to read), but this is one I will want as reference in my permanent collection.

I think we will try to put many of the Baby Whisperer techniques into action when Lemon arrives, and for that reason I give this book 5 out of 5 contractions.

Why "Lemon"?

2008-08-06T19:35:00.001-07:00

I have fielded this question more than a few times, so I thought we should probably go public with how we came about the nickname "Lemon" for our little one.

There are a couple reasons, really...

First of all, we needed to think of something other than "Peanut." Peanut was our affectionate name for the baby we miscarried last year. When we got pregnant in April a couple of the people close to us who found out right away started calling this baby Peanut, too. It kinda struck a nerve - our Peanut deserved a nickname of it's own, as does this new baby.

Secondly, I have learned that pregnancy cravings are no joke. Luckily, mine have been of the healthier variety. I can't get enough citrus. Oranges, orange juice, lemonade, you name it - if it's sour, I need it. Melon or berries will do in a pinch, as will anything ice-cold. If it's citrus AND ice cold, I feel like I've struck gold. Needless to say I have been freezing a lot of OJ into ice pops and experimenting with varieties of sorbet - just recently I have made watermelon sorbet, strawberry sorbet, and honeydew sorbet. As a side note, I have to tell you, I feel like I could make a small fortune with the melon sorbets - they are RIDICULOUSLY good. If you own an ice cream maker and you want the recipes, let me know.

Thirdly, at the time we started this blog - around 14 weeks gestation - Lemon was about the size of a, well, lemon.

We are also big 30 Rock fans. For those of you who watch the show, you'll know the fourth reason we went with Lemon. If you are not a fan, you are lame. Easily the funniest show on TV.

SO, here's to hoping our Lemon is sweet, not sour. Let's also hope that choosing the real name of the baby is not as complicated... although I am not holding out much hope for simplicity on that front.

And no, we have not started discussing that yet.

And NO, we will not tell you what we decide on until after baby arrives. You better dig up some patience 'cause we're not budging on that one.

Baby Fashion

2008-07-30T09:39:00.000-07:00

I'll tell you one thing I know for sure - no longer are we slave to pink frilly bears or blue boy boats when it comes to kids clothing. There are OPTIONS, people! Baby fashions are available in every style to reflect the unique personalities of each baby (or is it the PARENT'S personalities that are reflected??).

Gorgeous couture for newborns that will cost a small fortune and fit the baby for no more than a month are as readily available as sleek jumpers for the ultra mod, understated babe. And, if you are into it, you can even emulate the stylish get-ups we have seen on the LDS kids that have been plastered on the news recently with the arrest of Warren Jeffs (just visit FLDSDress.com if you don't believe me):

There have been a few stand-out funny and clever baby clothes we have come across in our search for baby gear that we thought were worthy of sharing. This is not mere clothing, people, this is entertainment for the adult crowd. Enjoy!

*For the die-hard Steve Colbert fans (such as us), available at Baby Wit

* For the Hippies with a sense of humor, available at Green With Whimsy

* For the little political activist, available at BarakObama.com (yes, McCain has one, too, but I wasn't going to spend time digging it up...)

* For the Baby Hunter - Bear Gloves, complete with blood from a fresh mauling. (sorry, forgot to note the source for this one.)

* For the student of pop culture. (Again, I forgot to note the source.)

* For the future martial arts master, available at Stardust Kids.

* For the Jewish Rapper in all our babies. Another winner from Stardust Kids.

* For the Superhero wannabe, but I think every kids deserves a cape. Available at Spoon Sisters.

* I think this one would be quite fitting for our little one, available at Urban Baby Runway.

* And for those of you who know Jim, you'll know why we appreciate this, available at Bambina Mia, an Etsy store. (For those of you not familiar with Strong Bad of Homestar Runner, click here.)

Nuchal Translucency Test and Integrated Screening

2008-07-28T13:29:00.000-07:00

We just received the results of a battery of tests that screens for genetic risks and possibly determine whether or not a baby has any of the following:

Down Syndrome (DS)
Trisomy 18
Neural Tube Defects, such as Spina Bifida or Anencephaly
Other various Genetic Disorders

The screening is a time-sensitive, multi-step process. First we went for a high-resolution ultrasound when we were 12 weeks along. At this time they did an initial check of the baby's anatomy, a crown-rump length to measure the size of the baby for it's gestational age, as well as a nuchal translucency (NT) screening. The NT measures the water present in the back of the baby's neck. Too much water can be a risk factor for DS.

Once the ultrasound was done, we did a little blood draw. The labs measure the amount of two protiens in my blood - proteins normally found in pregnant women:

Free 8-hCG
PAPP-A

We then compare these blood levels with a second blood draw at 15 weeks, which we did last week. Together, these tests catch about 85% of positive genetic and spinal defects, leaving parents with positive results time to consider the problem that is present and either decide to terminate or prepare themselves for a child with special needs.

The doctor just called and we are happy to report that all of our tests came out negative. Just thought we'd share the good news!

If you are interested in reading more about this screening process, follow these links:

Nuchal Translucency
Integrated Screening

Should I Be Worrying About This Yet?

2008-07-27T21:10:00.000-07:00

So, I don't really have any bills from college to speak of since my classes were mostly paid by my previous employer. But my college experience consisted mainly of classes at night and on weekends with other people employed full time. Baby Momma's college experiences sound much better, but she has to send $250 a month to Sallie Mae for thirty years.
We want Lemon to have the best of both of our stories, M's normal college experience and my lack of a drag on my credit report. I've been doing some research and right now I think I've narrowed it down to two ways to help our little citrus pay for school. The first way is the Washington GET and the second is the Coverdell ESA and we could also do both at the same time.

The Washington GET (Guaranteed Education Tuition) is, according to their website:

GET is Washington state's 529 prepaid college tuition program. With GET, you prepay for your child's college tuition today. The State of Washington guarantees that the value of your units will keep pace with resident undergraduate tuition and state-mandated fees at the most expensive public university in Washington, either the University of Washington or Washington State University.

Basically, you buy units at a set price today and you use them in the future to pay for college. Right now a unit costs $76 (125 units = 1 year of college) but in 18 years it will be worth 1/125th of whatever tuition costs at Washington's most expensive public university, presumably a lot more than 76 dollars.

The Coverdell ESA (Education Savings Account) is a tax advantaged investment account designed to encourage savings to cover future education experiences. It's kind of like an IRA but for education instead of retirement. It even used to be called the Coverdell IRA until somebody realized that didn't make sense.

Both programs have their pros and cons, which you can read about in the links above. I think we will end up using a combination of both. If anybody has any helpful info please feel free to leave it in the comments.

Book Review: FRESH MILK

2008-07-26T13:09:00.000-07:00

Need I spell out the topic of this book? if it makes you uncomfortable, look away.

If there is one thing I have come to understand, with help and stories from all my mommy friends, it is the importance of flexibility. It is unrealistic to expect everything to go as planned or pictured in your head, so as a parent you must be willing to accept any situation that arises, make the best decisions you can with the information you have at the time, and GO WITH THE FLOW.

I think this starts as soon as you get pregnant. I remember being quite surprise at how it "felt" to be pregnant. I'm not sure what I was thinking it would be like but feeling the "fullness" as soon as I did was unexpected. I expect this to get even more interesting as we proceed through the pregnancy, and of course through the birthing process.

One of the first tasks we are handed as mother, though, is the responsibility of nourishing our children. Fresh Milk is a collection of short stories witnessing the experiences of breastfeeding from a quite diverse group of women. Their stories vary greatly from elation to frustration, from the (shockingly) erotic to the terrifying, and honestly there are one or two disturbing/controversial tales in there as well.

This is not a "guide" to breastfeeding. Instead, for me, it is permission to feel whatever I personally WANT to feel about breastfeeding. It gives me the freedom to make the choices that are right for me and our baby without the guilt of other people's words or judgments nagging at my conscience. And it gives me the right to change my mind, without having to explain to anyone, if what we originally decide does not work for us.

The act of nourishing your child is a deeply intimate matter, no matter how you go about it. This, at least for me, is something to look forward to.

Fresh Milk gave me perspective on the subject I had not considered before, and for that I am happy I read it, even if parts did make me a bit uncomfortable. I reserve judgment. To each her own.

I give it 4 out of 5 contractions.

Our first purchase!

2008-07-25T17:45:00.001-07:00

I have heard how helpful swings are with infants - apparently they LOVE them (maybe something to do with the front-back motion that simulates the mom walking around with baby in the womb?) - so I knew that this would be a purchase we would make before Lemon's arrival. It was one of the products I started looking at first.

Now, while shopping for baby things, there has been one common theme I have been steadfast in keeping in front of my mind: everything being as multi-functional as possibe. As much as I am tempted to buy every gadget and amenity for Lemon, I am determined to remain practical and frugal when I can.

So I happened upon this swing from Graco:

Not only it is the best pattern and color scheme I have seen in unisex baby gadgets, but beyond it being a swing, it is also a BOUNCER. The seat easily lifts off the frame - and this will be perfect for me to move around the house and keep an eye on baby as I cook, clean, etc. I looked at other swings without the bouncer feature thinking I can buy a bouncer separately, but I couldn't even come close to the same $130 price point when combining the cost of separate pieces - at least not in a design-sensitive manner. Those of you who know me know that I can not sacrifice aesthetics no matter how much money I might save. If it's ugly, I can't live with it, and I am determined to raise my child to have an innate understanding of beauty and good design.

So, my heart was set on this swing. We would have waited a bit before purchasing, but unfortunately this swing is being discontinued so we had to snatch it up before it was all gone! Now it sits upstairs in the nursery, kinda lonely, waiting for the company of the rest of the cute future baby furniture... and hoping to be fed some D battieries so it can come to life with gentle vibrations, 6 swing speeds, and soothing nature sounds.

We are looking forward to Lemon's first ride in it!

My new best friend

2008-07-24T13:32:00.000-07:00

I just added a link to the right called "CR Baby Product Blog". CR stands for Consumer Reports - the most trusted guide we use when making household purchases that we would like to last for a while. Who else would be a better reference when researching all our baby needs than the guide that has steered us well in the past, especially now that safety is the biggest concern!

They also cover general child safety topics and tips that are not product-review related, such as recalls, avoiding choking hazards, food safety... basically, if you have a concern about it, they cover it. It's worth sifting through the post archive to catch up on items you missed, too.

Granted, the blog doesn't give you rating information that the CR subscription affords you, but there is lots of good info here.... and it just MAY inspire you to become a CR subscriber. (Another example of how blogs are such a force in marketing these days - good for them!)

I think this is a must-read blog for any mom and dad, so bookmark it, subscribe to it, or do whatever you do to keep updated on your favorite web stuff.

Look What I Found!

2008-07-23T19:04:00.000-07:00

Yeah, Lemon will have something to wear to our Super Bowl party!

It can be found at NFLshop.com

it's been a nervracking few months...

2008-07-18T11:07:00.000-07:00

(lemon at 10 weeks)

...but here we are, 15 weeks along! understandably, we've been gun-shy about announcing that we're expecting. a few of you have known for a while, some are just finding out. caution has been the word through the first trimester.

now we are happy to report that baby, aka LEMON (nickname), is doing well - bouncing around like an acrobat - and will be making his/her entrance somewhere around january 8th. this due date has changed several times - the 13th, the 14th, the 11th, and now the 8th. we have come to the conclusion that lemon will come when s/he wants to come!

we are looking forward to documenting the process of lemon's arrival, then his/her life thereafter. we are excited about the journey and are more than ready to be happy (though sleep-deprived) parents. we heard a very healthy little heartbeat today - 155 beats per minute! it was the first time we had ever heard lemon's heart, so it was so much fun!

we've started the "gender poll" - cast your vote in the right-hand column! we will find out who's right and who's wrong on august 21st during our next ultrasound, so you have a few weeks to cast your vote. we can't wait to see what the consensus is!

please subscribe to this blog - either via feed-reader or email - so you are notified of updates automatically. you can find links to subscribe either way on the bottom right-hand side of this page. if you need help putting this together, let us know and we'll walk you through it.

love,
jim, maggie, and lemon