Adventures of Mini Munson

More Words

2011-11-27T06:26:00.000-08:00

You've gotten so much bigger in the time you've spent at Gramma Peel's while Daddy finishes school! You've also gotten much chattier! Here are some of your fun new words. You learn more every day.

Stuff in Evelyn's world:

Mone - phone

Mote - remote

Mono - motorcycle

Puddow - pillow

Minnow - window

Banky - blanket

Bahts - pants

Necka - necklace

Belt

Shoes

Boots

Carcar - car

Book

Heynow - Jane and the Dragon (a TV show)

Clock

Keys

Bag

Baby

Hat

Animals:

Anuhmool - animal

Moush - mouse

Horshie - horse

Moots - moose

Kiki - kitty

Toot-toot - bird

(clicking your tongue) - squirrel

Puppy

Monkey

Buggie - bugs/spiders

Fish

Nay - what a horshie says

Ruff-ruff - what a puppy says

ee-ow - what a kiki says

dub-dub - what a fish says

ooo-oo - what a monkey says

Food:

Milky - milk

Bites

Juice

Waah-Waah - Water

Coco - Hot cocoa

Cheese

Egg

Hot dog

P'ia - pizza

About Evelyn:

Eyes

Nose

Ears

Hairbow

Eyebrah - eyebrow

Moush - mouth

Feet

Foot

Toes

Other things:

Wherego?

Oots - oops

Aw nuts!

Sneak

Go-Go

Hot

Abbi-Dah - happy dance

budduh - booty dance

People:

Nikki

Juh'Ya

Amah Ollie

Amah - gramma

Whoa - grampa

Mommy

Daddy

Lena Puppy

Mina/Manah - Savannah

Chatterbox

2011-10-06T01:01:00.000-07:00

Dear Evelyn,

Your vocabulary is rapidly expanding and it has been amazing to watch.

At 12 months, you had about 8 words you used regularly, in addition to your signs.
At 18 months, you had about 20 words and would try to repeat many Mommy and Daddy said.

Some of your favorite words and phrases from the last 6 months include:

Uh Elp (Uh Oh Help)
No Way
Yesh, Yes or Yep
Okay and N'okay
Owies (Kitties)
Uppies (Puppies)
AniMoos (Animals)
Toot toot (Bird)
Tsoo (Zoo)
Booyah (usually accompanied by a hip thrust)
Bites
Eyes (and recently eyebah or eyebrow)
Toes
Shoes
Poop (any bodily function)
Poo (Shampoo)
Tat Too Mommy (Thank you Mommy)

You will frequently jabber away in your own made up language but you do try to tell stories about your favorite things (at the moment this includes kitties, babies and puppies) by repeating the words you know.

You introduce Mommy (and sometimes Daddy) to everyone you meet. We practice pointing to Mommy, Daddy and Evelyn and saying names. You haven't said your own name yet. You refer to yourself as 'Me'.

Next I'm going to teach you to type so you can help Mommy keep up on your blog :)

Love you with all that I am,
Mommy

'Cheese'

15 Months Old!

2011-05-25T22:16:00.000-07:00

Dear Evelyn,

Every morning you seem to wake up taller. You are suddenly very leggy and your face has lost some of it's baby chub. You are very much a little girl now, instead of a baby.

You still enjoy giving kisses and hugs. Your new favorite interactions are high fives and fist bumps. The little girl next door asked you for a fist bump and you thought it was pretty much the best thing ever. So we've been working on it with you.
For the first time ever, you have asked to go to bed. You picked up Erik Keaton (your Cabbage Patch doll) and took Momma's hand. Toddling towards the stairs, you made it clear that it was time to go to sleep. You were asleep within 5 minutes of laying down to nurse.

You have a new bottom tooth. That makes 7 overall. You are currently working on quite a few teeth, including some molars, and it's made for some sleepless nights.
You love waving and saying 'hi' to the world and people around you. You sometimes do a cute little wave where you hold your hand against your chin and wave. Sometimes you 'whisper' wave by waving just your index finger.
You take pride in communicating with Momma and Daddy. You use sign language alot but you are always trying out new words. You have started to say 'lights' and 'hot'. You try to repeat people's names and words that Momma and Daddy tell you. Last night it was 'bites'. Last week you tried out 'love you'.
You tell jokes in your baby language. You'll say a sentence and pause. Then another sentence. Pause. Punch line. And then you laugh at your own jokes. Sometimes it's a real laugh and sometimes it's the work laugh you use when you think something should be funny but you're not sure.

Tickling is great fun, especially when you get to be the tickler. Daddy is one of your favorite people to tickle and to be tickled by.
We're going to start teaching you how to use the potty soon. You have started letting us know when you have a dirty diaper. And on the occasions that you have an accident during diaper-free time, you are immediately concerned with letting us know so we can clean it up. Sometimes you try to clean it up yourself. My favorite times were when you ran across the room for a wipe so you could clean your bottom (this was my clue to check the nook where you had been playing for a mess) and the time when you were poised, water bottle in hand, to wash the mess away.
We've created a play area on the porch for you with interconnecting rubber tiles. You think they are pretty fantastic. There are times you are so pleased with the tiles that you lay down and roll around. Or stand and 'stomp-stomp' your little feet in a happy dance.

You say 'whoa' whenever you hear a burp or a fart. You even did it in your sleep the other day. You also say it whenever fast cars go by or when there are loud noises.
Cleaning is a favorite pastime of yours. You will take a napkin and wipe your face, hands and then the table. You'll also use dish towels to wipe the floor and the noses of your toys.
You had your toenails painted for the first time this month. Momma was painting her nails and you were very intrigued. She asked if you wanted some color and you sat patiently on her lap while she painted your toenails.

You have an active imagination and it has been a delight to watch you pretend with your toys. Momma and Daddy often comment about how we wish we could see inside your head.
When you want Momma or Daddy to come play or to help you with something, you pat a leg and then grab a finger and lead where you're headed. You are quite proud of your ability to get us where you 'need' us to be.

Love you like the sun loves flowers and cookies love chocolate chips.

XOXO,

Momma

Months 13 and 14!

2011-05-09T00:16:00.000-07:00

Dear Evelyn,

You have been keeping Momma so busy that she never got around to writing your letter at 13 months. You are an active and imaginative toddler who constantly wants to go outside and you want Momma and Daddy to come with you. You're a charmer and a flirt, but shy sometimes as well, who loves making new friends and reconnecting with old ones.

You've got walking figured out. Now we're working on running. And walking backward. Sometimes you forget to watch where you're going and you trip over things in your haste to be where you want to go, fast.

Hugs and kisses have become your latest way to show some love. You don't give them to just anyone and you don't always honor requests but that makes it all the sweeter when you do decide to give some smooches. Sometimes you decide to smooch inanimate objects (which makes Momma laugh) like the vacuum or your toys.
You've received your first kiss from a boy (Jacob). But Daddy is okay because we'll live on the other side of the country soon. This first kiss was followed, within days, by kisses with another boy (Jackson). Again, Daddy is glad we're moving.

The baby in the mirror is one of your very best friends. You chat all the time, give kisses, and even, occasionally, get into little fights.
You still love to talk on the phone. You still use all sorts of random objects as phones, like teething rings, book lights and business cards.

You go on a walk with Momma every day. We walk by an elementary school and you love to see the kids running, playing, and yelling. After we pass the school, the sun shade on your stroller gets pulled down and you settle in, usually falling asleep momentarily. On days that we didn't manage to make it out for a walk, you always ask for one in the evening. It has become part of your routine.
Speaking of routine, you love your shower time in the evenings with Daddy. We start by singing our Shower Time song and we climb the stairs. Daddy is usually a little busy and you call him from the top of the stairs to remind him to come up: 'Dah-dah-Dadd-eee'. You have a set order that you accomplish things in the shower, like soapy-soapy time (rubbing your soapy hands together and washing your face); putting your faces under the water; banging on the shower walls, with hands then with heads; and washy-washy time (washing your arms and chest or Daddy's chest).
You are really starting to communicate. You know several signs: milk, more, all done, please. You have your own versions of the 'real' sign but you are consistent and Momma and Daddy understand what you mean. You've made up some of your own as well. 'Help' is holding your arms straight up over your head. 'Pick me up' is hands in front of you, palms up, and tapping the sides of your hands together. You tap the side of your mouth when you want to wipe your face. You tap your chin to ask for water. You point to your mouth to ask to eat.

You can say hi, Daddy, help, eyes, this and that. You are seem to prefer sign language but we think it's just a matter of time before you start using your words.
You are an affectionate stuffed animal owner. You give them cuddles and kisses. You wipe noses and cloth diaper. And sometimes you try to use your baby laptop as a panini press. But you definitely care for your friends.

You adore being outside. You would be outside all the time, if we let you. Naked, preferably. You are a little irritated that we make you wear clothes outside.
You are showing signs that you'd be interested in potty training. We'll be starting that adventure very soon.
A little boy moved into our apartment complex and the two of you have become fast friends. He's a year older than you but it's fine because it means you can push him around. You want to climb the stairs to his house every time we go outside.
You've discovered that keys unlock things. Like doors and mailboxes. You often play with a set of keys and pretend to be unlocking things. Like the vacuum and your Push'n'Go. And, earlier today, a broom. You've got quite the imagination.

You are starting to play more independently. You want to know where Momma and Daddy are but with us safely positioned, you've started keeping yourself busy for up to an hour at a time.

A third bottom tooth appeared this past weekend.
You've had your first cold, first ear infection, first stomach bug and second cold and second ear infection since turning one. You're getting better but we really need to stop hanging out with other kids with stuffy noses...
You have started picking out your own clothes. And you love wearing shoes- yours and other peoples. You like to wear Momma and Daddy's clothes sometimes too.

You are wearing size 18 month clothes and size 5 shoes. You have been weighing in between between 24 and 25 pounds but you're so active you are really getting tall and lean. You are 31" tall and very leggy.
Your favorite foods are Annie's Cheddar Bunnies, lima beans, cheese, and bites from Daddy's dinner plate.
We've done some tourist-y things: you visited the beach for the first time. You weren't impressed.

We saw the Hollywood sign. You weren't impressed with that either.

Okay, maybe you a little...

You are an ever-changing little person. You pick up new quirks all the time and slowly drop old habits. It's impossible to truly capture who you are in a single blog post. Momma and Daddy are so blessed that they get to be there for each moment of your growth, in stature and in experience.

Love you more than chocolate chips! Which, as you have discovered, is a very big deal,

XOXO,
Momma

Love at the Mall

2011-04-02T21:54:00.000-07:00

We've gotten into the habit, E and me, of taking walks each day around noon. This works well at the moment as it coincides nicely with nap time and the early spring weather is lovely. This past week, however, we've had a brush of summer in the air. In order to avoid melting, I decided that we would do our daily walk at the mall this past Thursday to take advantage of the free A/C.

The local mall has a play area that is always swarming with children (usually significantly taller than the welcoming Kangaroo says should play there) but, being a weekday, was relatively tame during our visit. E explored a tunnel, a ladybug, and attempted to steal another child's shoes before she discovered a little red car available for her use. She climbed in and happily chatted while spinning the steering wheel. A little girl, perhaps 4 or 5, came to investigate. She was nervous that I was right next to the car but succeeded in getting E's attention. Being very social, E thought this was fantastic news. It got even better when she noticed, over this girl's shoulder, a boy. Maybe 2 years old. With dark hair and Asian eyes.

She waved and he toddled over to wave back. They sat in the car together. She let him drive. I told her this was the only time she would ever be allowed to sit in a car with a boy. He was quite smitten- his mother mentioned he normally runs all over the place. Today he was content to play quietly with E in the red car. Ah, young love.

Good thing Daddy wasn't there. He's declared that E won't be allowed to date until she's 35.

Our little diva...

2011-03-18T19:35:00.000-07:00

'Helping' Daddy.

E loves beer bottles. She gets excited every time she sees one. She enjoys sitting on Daddy's lap and 'helping' him drink.

Last night Daddy blew over the lip of the bottle to make a sound and then offered E the (empty) bottle. She put her mouth over the lid and sang the same note Daddy had just made. We're pretty impressed with her musical ear. :)

Evelyn and PDA

2011-03-03T14:37:00.001-08:00

Evelyn has made her opinion quite clear on the topic of Momma and Daddy hugging. She does not want to see it. Ever.

Kissing, however, is greatly encouraged. She grins and pushes us together to kiss more. Then kisses for Evelyn!

One Year Old!

2011-02-27T00:31:00.000-08:00

Dear Evelyn,

An entire year has passed us by and you are still getting more awesome by the day. Your personality is blossoming and it has been a pleasure to watch. I'm not quite sure where the time has gone. I am positive it was only yesterday that you were learning to sit. And the day before that you were learning to roll over.

Scrunchy face and 7 teeth have combined into a delightful combination we like to call your "Toothy Grin". You flash it when you are being sneaky, find an item that you just love, or get compliments. Sometimes you flash it just because.

Toothy grin because Momma is singing 'Hot Stuff' to you.

You can make a noise that Momma and Daddy can't duplicate. Sounds like D'go but somehow you make it throaty and add a double tongue noise.
You are very chatty with your Mamamamama and A-da (Momma and Daddy) and like when we make your noises back to you.
A few days before your first birthday you really figured out this whole walking thing. You took your first steps during the Christmas holiday but were too cautious to commit right way. If you were walking, you wanted one hand (at least) holding onto the couch (or a chair or Momma's leg, etc) for security sake. Occasionally you'd break away and take 4 or 5 steps before realizing you were on your own. Then you'd get nervous and sit down. Until a trip to the mall with Momma and Auntie N. Those racks of clothes were SO tempting. You couldn't help yourself. While Momma tried to find a pair of jeans to fit her still-post-partum booty, you discovered the joy of walking.
Shaking hands has become a pleasure of yours. As has head butting. That one's not as cute though.
A favorite game we play on the bed is called Flops. With a pillow behind you, Momma or Daddy will say flops. And you'll fall backwards onto the pillow. From a sitting position, of course, and always checking to make sure there is a pillow there. Or a pile of laundry. Whatever. You're adventurous, but not foolish.
You adore taking showers with your Daddy. You two have a whole routine involving 'soapy-soapy', where your rub your soapy hands together and then wash your face; 'washy-washy' or 'cleaning Daddy's chest'; and laughing your little head off when he shakes his head under the water spray.
You enjoy being able to feed yourself, as well as feeding others. Favorite eats include pouches of pureed fruits and veggies, cheddar bunnies, cheese, tortilla chip, pretzels, and apples. Breast milk is still your favorite. You make a funny laugh noise when you know you are about to have some.
Your hair sometimes has a mind of it own because Momma is not ready to cut it yet. And hair clips have a habit of being removed...

Is there something on my face?

You adore talking on the phone. In fact you have 4 fake phones you practice on. And when you don't have those handy, you use whatever you have: crackers, shoes, pizza crust, anything.

Hello, hello!

Momma is your best pal and sometimes you yell at Daddy for hugging her. Group hugs are much appreciated however.
Almost every time we go out, you are complimented on your eyes.

Love you, Dear Girl. Cuddle monkey. Senorita Poopy Pants. Face. Sweet Love.

xoxo,
Momma

Happy Birthday!

2011-02-17T16:04:00.001-08:00

Today you arrived in our world and changed it forever for the better.

We love you more than we can express and more than we could ever have expected.

Thanks for letting us be your Mommy and Daddy. Or as you say, "Mamamamamamamamama" and "A-Dah!"

Happy Birthday, dear one.

One year ago today...

2011-02-03T13:33:00.000-08:00

I was due to have a baby. I was 44 pounds heavier and had more sleep on board than I've ever had since. What an amazing year it has been!

'Evelyn has a fall' or 'The scariest day of my life...'

2011-02-03T00:01:00.000-08:00

Sunday morning started out like any other. Snuggles in the morning with Momma and Daddy. Playing in the living room while Daddy does laundry. Rolling around in the pile of newspaper on the floor while coupons are cut. Gathering laundry from the porch as rain started coming down. Normally Sundays are pretty low key until we head to church in the evening. This week, however, we had a birthday party to attend for the afternoon. As the time was approaching to head out we got dressed and went to change Evelyn's diaper.

The next 15 seconds are going to give me nightmares for a while.

I turned to get a wipe and turned back to see her falling off the changing table. She landed on the floor on her butt and her head slammed backward into the frame of our bed. She looked at me as I picked her up but she wasn't moving and not crying- just a sort of groan coming from deep inside her. I yelled for Matthew but didn't get a response so I cradled her and rushed down the stairs. Her arms were just flopping by her side and she still wasn't crying. In hindsight, I'm pretty sure she wasn't conscious. When I got to the bottom of the stairs Matthew was coming back inside. The next bit is blurred in my memory but I know I handed Evelyn to Matthew and he held her against his chest, immobilizing her neck. He told me to call 911. I somehow managed to tell the operator what was happening. Evelyn was finally making some crying noises but not a lot. She'd fuss for a moment and then go silent again, with labored breathing. She would push away from Matthew with her right side but wasn't moving her left side. Her left hand looked a little gray and when I touched the bottom of her feet the left side had no response. Matthew said her neck felt a little funny. Matthew told me to get our wallets and cell phones. I ran upstairs to find the phones and started sobbing, 'What have I done?' and praying, although I don't know how much was coherent.

The EMTs arrived and rushed into the house. They told me to get a diaper bag and change of clothes. One followed me upstairs to see where the accident had happened. He asked me for some information and I lost it again. He was very reassuring. He was a dad and knew how I was feeling. He explained that when we went downstairs, Evelyn would be strapped into the Papoose, the child size body board used to keep her from moving. When we got down, the EMT holding the Papoose told me that all her limbs had been able to move when they put her in and her neck felt normal.

I was ushered to the ambulance to ride with Evelyn while Matthew would follow in the car. I held her hand and ran my fingers through her hair, telling her what a good girl she was and reassuring her. We were on our way, sirens blaring, and the EMTs explaining what was going to happen when we got to the hospital and generally working to keep me calm. They were incredibly reassuring that she was doing well but about halfway to the hospital she nodded off to sleep and I started crying again, since I didn't need to keep a calm face for her.

Once at the hospital there was more waiting than I wanted but the EMTs had assured me that it was a good thing and meant that she wasn't in horrible condition. I didn't see them leave but it happened shortly after Matthew arrived, covered in rain. I'm not sure of how much time everything took because it was as if the world was in slow motion. The doctor came and undid the straps of the Papoose. She okayed me to put a diaper on Evelyn (since we hadn't made it to that part of the diaper change) and said I could pick her up. I spent the rest of the time we were at the hospital hugging her to my chest.

Being held by Momma calmed her down and the doctor told us to try to get her to sleep so that they could do the CT scan without needing to sedate her. She drowsed on and off but she had started throwing up, down my back and onto the floor. Matthew cleaned up with the towels from the Papoose and the nurse gave her some anti nausea medicine. Which she promptly threw up. The ER was completely full, beds lining the halls, but we were luckily in a more quiet corner. It seemed like we were there for days. Finally she settled in and we let the nurse know we were ready. We were top of the list to get a CT scan but for some reason it took them (the radiology team) about 45 minute to come get us. The nurses were furious. Finally we just said we'd walk up instead of waiting for transportation (whatever that meant) and were escorted up to radiology. Evelyn was laid down with her head in a cradle and arms swaddled to her. They put an apron over her body and gave me one as well. I held her chin while they did the scan, talking to her and letting her know I was there. Matthew picked her up after the scan and carried her back down to our hospital bed. I took the opportunity of free arms to change my dirty shirt for a hospital gown, before the smell of vomit made me sick as well.

I had never managed to find our phones and we had no way to contact anyone to let them know where we were. While I'd been working on putting Evelyn to sleep, Matthew had found one of the nurses to find a phone. She let him use a doctors office, where he looked up some phone numbers in his email and managed to make contact with one of our small group members, Jon, who in turn got word out so that people could be praying for Evelyn. He joined us shortly after we got back from radiology, with snacks and a cell phone, followed by another group member, Jeremy. It was strangely reassuring to have friends there. They're not doctor so it's not as if they could do anything but the support was appreciated.

The doctor came back with good news- no problems on the CT. She gave us a run down on head injuries and told us what to look for over the next 24 hours. We were asked to bring Evelyn to her pediatrician the following morning. We left the hospital, 4 hours after the accident, feeling years older.

Once at home, we called our parents to let them know what was going on, changed into comfortable clothes and settled in with the girl. We had company in waves through the evening, per our request, to distract us from thoughts of the day. Chipotle burritos were delivered for dinner. Evelyn was doing a bit better but was still very subdued. It was hard to see her be such a shadow of herself. One of her favorite little girls arrived, parents in tow, and Evelyn lit up and pointed and made some talking noise. It was such a relief to see her starting to react to the world around her. Even the little boy Jackson she is normally scared of was interesting to her. She stayed cuddled on my lap but watched the kids play until she got tired. I was finally able to nurse her around 7:30 or 8 and it was the first food into her stomach since around 11 that morning. She threw up some but most of the milk managed to stay in her stomach.

We decided to take shifts to sleep so that one of us could keep an eye on Evelyn and make sure she was okay. I took the first shift, which turned into the only shift. As she would wake up, I'd nurse her, something that Daddy can't do, so I decided to let him sleep. I watched her sleep next to me on the bed and then snoozed with her on the recliner. By about 4am she was still doing well so I told Matthew, who was sleeping on the couch, that I was going to go to bed with her. At some point during the night she vomited pretty heavily but after that managed to nurse a bit more. Matthew came up to bed around 5 and we fitfully slept on either side of Evelyn until 8am, when the pediatricians office opened. Evelyn was still rather wobbly- I attempted to sit her on her own and she tottered and slowly lay down as if she had just gotten off a carnival ride.

We were able to get an appointment for 9 and quickly packed up and headed out the door. The nurse weighed her in at 23lbs 5 oz and 30" tall. The doctor checked her over and prescribed some anti nausea suppositories so that Evelyn would be able to keep some pain killers down. She told us that Evelyn had a grade 3 concussion and may have had a small seizure when she hit her head, which could have been why the left side of her body had been temporarily paralyzed. She stressed that babies are resilient and that she should be fine. The pediatrician was still waiting on the final CT report but told us that at this point it was basically waiting and watching how she recovers. As long as she steadily improved, it was not likely that there were serious problems.

She also spent a moment with me, explaining that I was not at fault. I think I was still in shock because I sort of felt numb to anything other than taking care of Evelyn.

The rest of Monday passed by a still wobbly, but improving, Evelyn. Jackson came over again with his mom, Lena, and entertained Evelyn. His mom brought us chocolate chips cookies and a giant sandwich for lunch. Every time Evelyn did something she normally would for the first time since the fall, Matthew and I would simultaneously laugh and cry. Like when she laughed and pointed at Lena's arrival. Like when she smiled. Like when she said her version of hello. Or wanted to eat one of her food pouches. She worked at playing with Jackson but needed someone to hold her steady. We heard back from the pediatrician that the second opinion on the CT scan also saw no sign of trouble.

Tuesday showed more improvement still and this morning we decided to stop the anti nausea medicine to see how she would do. She's kept all her food down and her appetite is returning. I think it will be a day or two until she's got her balance back but she is our happy, spunky little girl again.

I want to thank Matthew for being strong for me in spite of his own struggles; our families for being with us on the phone at all hours of the day; Jon, Lena and Jackson for their loving support, for food, and for smiling baby boys; Jeremy for coming to support us and Vanessa for letting him, despite being at home pregnant and sick; Jett, Kelly and Ruby for company, entertainment and clean dishes; Mel for delicious burritos and cheerful company; Tim and Deb for chatting with us past bed time; the Popes for stopping in and checking in; and everyone who was praying for our little girl and showing love via phone, computer and/or brain waves. We appreciate it more than we could express.

11 Months Old!

2011-01-19T00:36:00.000-08:00

Dear Evelyn,
Almost an entire year has gone by since we first met you. This time last year we were anxiously and excited awaiting your arrival. I expected you to come at any time although, honestly, I never expected to have to wait two weeks after your estimated due date to hold you.

You are delighted by walking. You technically can walk on your own but you are a very cautious child (like your father before you) and, if you don't have someone or something to hold onto, you drop to a crawl after two or three independent steps. You are very clever about inventing walking devices- you've used upside down laundry baskets and the foot stool to a papasan chair to make your way around.
Walking with Momma outside is fun. You like to crunch your bare feet on the fallen leaves. It really is very nice that we live somewhere that you can walk outside barefoot in January.
"My by myself," as your Momma used to say, is the phrase of the month. Especially when it comes to food and climbing the stairs. Finger foods are the best, made even better if they require the use of your precision pincer grip. Crispy rice, pizza crust and peas have been favorites and recently you've added sliced banana to the mix. Apples and pears are preferred in their original form. None of this silly cutting into baby size pieces.
You drink very well out of an adult cup. Sometimes though, if you don't have help, you forget that there is still water in the cup when you're done drinking and it ends up all over your. This happens when you are overzealous in your cup tipping as well.
We let you try coloring with crayons for the first time. You put one crayon in your cup of water and bit the tip off another. So we'll be waiting a little longer to reintroduce those.
You enjoy putting items into other items. And taking items out of other items. Spoons go in cups. Toys go in your lunch box. Anything small enough goes in your mouth.
You love "talking" on the phone. You got some toy cell phones for Christmas and you put them up to your ear... you do the same thing with pizza crusts, garlic bread, combs... anything in hand that can be a phone. Hello, hello!

When you get excited you have started to make a growling screech of joy. Real laughter (belly, as opposed to breathy) has become a part of your repertoire as well after being an infrequent occurrence. Dohdohdoh and Wowowow are popular words. Nuhnunna is another. During our trip to Alaska you met a dog and some birds and learned to call them Dadada and Berberber, respectively.
This month marked a huge step in your relationship with scary things- dogs and little boys. Up until now, either type of creature would easily reduce you to tears with their loud noises and fast movements. When we arrived in Alaska you were literally shaking with fear at the sight of Peter Jehosaphat Munson. By the end of the trip you would follow him around, trying to pet him. You still would get scared if he barked but the time spent with him also made little boys less scary.
You are growing like mad and stretching out into a toddler. There are days that Daddy comes home from work and you are longer than when he left.

You get separation anxiety at night in your crib so you still spend a good portion of the night with Momma and Daddy in their bed. In the middle of the night you are insistent on snuggling with Daddy. And then you get mad at him because he can't nurse you. You also sleep in odd positions- Momma might wake up with a foot in her face; Daddy with a noggin' nestled in his neck; arms and legs akimbo with your head sideways up against the headboard.
If you were in charge you'd be allowed to: spend all day on the 3rd or 4th step of the stairs, watching the world; no clothing would be allowed; bath time would occur while standing up.
Your Aunty N got you a swing for Christmas that we've hung on the porch. You've fallen asleep in it several times. Just get you going and the eyes start drooping!

Love you, little girl, more than the moon and the stars! Love you, dear heart, more than chocolate ice cream! Love you, Senorita Poopy Pants, more than I can really express!

XOXO,
Momma

10 Months Old!

2010-12-31T04:11:00.000-08:00

Dear Evelyn,

Hey there little person! You've got opinions on the world now that you aren't afraid of sharing. Life is meant to be explored and you're doing your best to learn all you can.

Momma was so late in writing your 9 month letter that a lot of the things you enjoy remain the same.

You took two rides on a big airplane to get to Grandma and Grandpa's house in Alaska.
You are an excellent stander and cruise along the furniture with ease.
Dancing is your favorite pastime. You appreciate encouragement to really get going. You also take requests.
You enjoy being able to feed yourself. You prefer fruits and love the pouch baby food that comes with a spout so you can eat it 'my by myself'.
You're our little hippie in the making. No shoes for you. No clothes, in fact, when you can swing it.
Favorite toys include cell phones and remotes, when you can get them; things that fit in other things are wonderful; and Momma and Daddy's stuff.

Love you with all my heart. And Daddy's too.

Forgot to add:

You can stand without support and enjoy combining it with your other tricks, like dancing or twisting.
When you're in your booster seat, and pleased with life, you bring your hands up and twist back and forth as fast as you can.
You developed a scrunchy face that is interchangeable with a smile. It's on it's way out of your repertoire but it was awesome while it lasted.

Merry Christmas!

2010-12-25T13:57:00.001-08:00

Christ the Savior is born!

Since arriving in Alaska...

2010-12-25T01:18:00.000-08:00

We've:

Felt 12° below zero.
Felt 23° above zero.
Bundled up and sledded down the driveway.
Watched a moose forage and nap in the backyard.
Learned that dogs are our friends and not scary monsters.
Discovered a love of Rice Krispies.
Taken 2.5 steps without help.

Diapers are here...

2010-12-13T00:44:00.000-08:00

Since E was born we've been using cloth diapers from a diaper service and the occasional disposable. Now that I'm staying home full time we're making the switch to cloth diapers. And I'm way more excited about it than a normal person would be. Here's some of our goods:

Pretty colors!

All contained.

Playing in the shipping box.

We've got the majority of the diapers cleaned (waiting on a diaper safe detergent for the rest) and started the 'christening'. Our diaper service last through this week so we've mainly been using those diapers in pretty new covers. Since we're in the process of preparing for our Christmas holiday we're trying to generate less laundry than normal.

Vintage cloth diapering! Lil Bro in the parachute pants.

Cloth diapering has come a long way from the time our parents (and their parents and theirs) used cloth diapers. There are a plethora of options- diaper pins and crinkly plastic pants are a thing of the past. There is the all-in-one diaper, the cloth answer the the disposable; hybrid systems that can snap in a biodegradable disposable or reusable insert to a diaper cover depending on your needs for the day; covers with 'pockets' for inserting a variety of doublers and soakers to customize your wetness protection. Alot of people are overwhelmed by the number of options but this is a situation in which I thrive. Most people know that I love to research and coming up with the top picks is what I do.

Needless to say, I'm excited about this. And, even though I know that diaper pins are not necessary any more, I was thinking that in order to truly dominate my new found hobby I should master some of the more mundane nuances involved. I remember having cute diaper pins as a child with heads shaped as animals and flowers and wanted to find some of my own.

I discovered two things:

Fancy diapers pins are no longer produced due to lack of demand.
Cartier used to make diaper pins. Like these:


Diamond and sapphire (source)

Coral with platinum inset diamond (source)

What do ya think? Practical.

I'm in the process of creating blog pages covering baby gear, including cloth diapering. What questions do you have about diapers? What would you really like to see covered?

2010-12-09T17:35:00.000-08:00

Remember how I mentioned that Evelyn has her two top teeth coming in?

Well, that was an understatement. She has the two center top, two canine and an unconfirmed siting of an additional bottom tooth. All at once.

She wakes up in the night crying and it hurts my heart. :(

Tops!

2010-12-06T09:55:00.000-08:00

On Thanksgiving we noticed E's first top tooth starting to poke through. And the second one started making an appearance yesterday. Our little girl's smile is about to change forever.

2010-12-03T12:51:00.000-08:00

E just woke up from her nap clapping.

Eyes open. Slow clap. Eyes close. Open. Clap.

Must have had a great dream.

2010-12-02T13:11:00.000-08:00

We took a little trip to the Huntington Gardens for a members holiday event. Santa was going to be there so Momma thought E should get a chance to meet him. Wearing her special Christmas tights and bubble shorts, she looked just like a little elf.
Santa didn't go so well, however. After waiting in line for over an hour, the boy in front of us flipped his lid when it was his turn to meet the big guy. E doesn't do well with other kids crying. The moment she was handed to Santa the tears started up. I attempted to snap a quick picture to have something to show for our efforts only to discover my battery was dead. Our friends in line offered their camera but I was only able to snap a shot of E's back, with Santa behind her.
It's gotta be rough being Santa. He has to deal with crying little ones all day.
We cheered up when we got to the fountain at the end of the statue garden and this little video shows some of E's elf dance moves...

9 Months Old!

2010-11-29T22:26:00.000-08:00

Dear Evelyn,

You are an awesome child. Funny, quirky, social and focused. You are fast becoming a baby girl instead of an infant.

You've started using 'Momma' and 'Dada' appropriately. Not always. Sometimes you are just practicing your words but you know what the words mean.
This past month you developed an interesting 'clap'. When excited, your hands come up by your face and then you jerk them together like you are going to clap. But you don't finish. It's hilarious.

You have become a dancing machine. You'll wave an arm. Or shake your booty. Or bob back and forth. You dance pretty much whenever you hear music you like or when Momma says 'Dancin', dancin'!' (the punctuation for that can't possibly be right- thoughts?)
Verbose is one way to describe you. Oohs and Aahs. Some goos and anungs. Ayah ayah, grrrrowl and squeal. You thoroughly enjoy trying out new sounds.
You take joy in belly buttons. It's especially clever of Momma and Daddy to have them.
Games you enjoy include pointing at others, waiting for them to point back; offering items to Momma or Daddy and then taking them back; peek-a-boo; splashing in the tub; standing so you can't see Momma without turning, then giggling or shrieking when you turn to look for her.
You like to eat banana puffs, prunes, apple cinnamon oatmeal, sweet potato, and little bits of apple. You are very proud when you feed yourself.

At your nine month checkup, you weighed 21 pounds 4 ounces and were a whopping 29" tall. Your hair is growing like mad as well and is often floating around your head like a strawberry blonde baby 'fro.

You love to be outside and the changing colors of the leaves is very intriguing. You still love to look at roses.
You are wearing 12 month sized clothing but you are approaching the upper size limits. You'll probably be moving over to 18 month sized clothing after our trip to Alaska.
You have become a well-traveled crawler and you are currently working on standing on your own. You'll often pull up on a piece of furniture and then let go to play with a toy with both hands.

This time next month we'll be on our way to Alaska. It's amazing to think of what new things await us as Christmas approaches. Will you like the snow? The reindeer? Will you be able to handle an entire house full of Munsons? Will you walk while both sets of grandparents are there to cheer you on?

We'll be finding out soon!

Love you to pieces!

Momma

Welcome to the World!

2010-11-26T18:52:00.000-08:00

Some of our best pals here in CA just announced the birth of their first. Although technically they're in Australia for the birth. And it's a girl! E has a girl friend now :)

Welcome Jasmine Kamana Bryson! May your days be filled with love and breast milk.

If Evelyn ruled the world:

2010-10-27T10:37:00.000-07:00

I'm comin' to getcha...

Clothes would not be worn. All naked baby. All the time.
Bath time would happen two or three times a day, accompanied by 'Bath Time' by Sandra Boynton
Momma and Daddy would let her play with the brick hearth. And the phones. And computers. And the computer cords. And those little fuzzles at the edge of the carpet.
All surfaces would be mirrored. That little girl she sees sure is cute.
None of the car seat business. She's not one to be strapped down.
She's have her very own clutch to chew on when we're shopping. And she wouldn't have to give it Momma when it's time to pay the cashier.
Food would be for making messes. And none of the gross peas, Momma. Gimme that delicious sweet potato!
Who needs bedtime?
Men would all be tall, with beards and glasses. Smooth-faced men are very concerning.
Momma and Daddy would stop blocking the exits from the living room. She didn't come to rule the world confined to such a dull place!

8 Months Old!

2010-10-22T01:25:00.000-07:00

Dear Evelyn,

Another month full of new discoveries has come and gone. It's hard to capture your little personality in a post on a blog but here's a little taste of who you are right now:

You sing with Momma. One of us will sing a note and the other will match it. Usually Momma matches your notes but sometimes you follow her.
Waving your arms and clapping your hands are signs of delight. You copy others when they clap too.
Overnight you've become a crawling machine. You are incredibly stealthy about it too. One moment I'll see you in one part of the house and suddenly I discover you in a completely different locale.
You have two teeth (on the bottom) and we've started on solids. You like bananas and sweet potatoes the best and pears are okay too. We're doing our best to teach you healthy eating habits because both sides of the family have a tendency to be heavy.
You are starting to wear size 12 months clothes when we go out and about. When we are home, you usually just hang out in your diaper!
You enjoy being in your crib during the day- you look between the bars to see the baby in the mirror and you practice pulling up to stand.
You don't think sleeping in your crib is a great idea. It usually takes a few tries to get you to sleep for the night. You'll sleep for an hour or so and wake up, irritated that we've put you in the crib. Once you've settle down for the night, you sleep about 5 hours before waking up to nurse and cuddle with Momma. We cuddle together for several hours until it's time to get up for the day.
Your Grandpa P came to visit and you loved his beard and untying his shoes.
Momma stays at home with you now instead of going to work. It's taken some time for you to adjust your routine from when Daddy stayed home with you in the mornings.
You are becoming so active that we haven't taken nearly as many pictures as usual. Loads of video, however, are available to document your crawls and stands!
You prefer toys that belong to Momma and Daddy but when those aren't available you like your wooden puzzles, ladles, and the toys from your play gym. You've started to display a preference for orange toys. You enjoy playing under Momma's desk because it's just your size.
You love bath time. You've perfected splashing and you sometimes try to sneak sips of water.
The infant car seat has been replaced with a big girl seat. You've gotten so big!

You're such a wonderful little girl, even when you're cranky and don't want to go to sleep.We love you to the moon and back!

One year!

2010-10-22T00:57:00.001-07:00

One year ago today marked the start of this blog journey. I was 25 weeks pregnant and eagerly awaiting the birth of Mini. Today I'm the (tired) mom of an adorably chubby baby girl.

And another one...

2010-10-12T10:52:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we were discussing E's teeth. One lonely tooth had arrived and we were wondering when her next one would pop out.

Apparently we just needed to talk about it (similar to stretch marks) for the appearance of tooth number two. We discovered the little nub during bathtime.

And we finally realized why E has been cranky the past few days. And that we have were being rather dense parents.

Baby training...

2010-10-03T00:25:00.000-07:00

Daddy and E have developed a sleepy time tradition. When the girl is having trouble falling asleep, Daddy will cuddle her in the comfy black chair, rocking and singing. Rock-a-bye time.

There are times E is not a fan of this plan. She's too young to truly appreciate naps. She'll pick her head up from Daddy's shoulder to see what else is going on.

Recently they've come to an agreement. Daddy pats his shoulder and she flops back down, sometimes giving him a sassy look on the way down. But she goes. Every time. Just a couple shoulder pats. And Daddy keeps singing and rocking.

Until...

Vacation: Day 1

2010-09-29T10:59:00.000-07:00

Our trip to the Rhode Island started with the plane. A lovely Grandma arranged for E and I to be upgraded to an aisle seat with extra leg room. We arrived at LAX at about 7pm to give us plenty of time to check in and get through security with a little one. The process was easier than expected- no crowds, no lines. I've never made it to my gate that early for a flight!

E was a darling on the plane. She flirted with the flight attendants. She befriended our row mate, an Indian grandmother literally flying around the world to visit her grandkids. She was awake for most of the flight, to excited to sleep. We left LAX at 9:20pm. We arrived in BOS at 5:45am. E fell asleep at 4:15am.

Grandma and Grandpa P were waiting for us (well, mostly E) at the baggage claim. Hugs all around, luggage gathered, and we were on our way home. At 7:30 or so, I finally was able to crawl into bed and get some sleep, snuggled up to my little girl. I've realized I'm getting far to old to stay up for 24 hours straight.

I woke up at 12:30 to prepare for the 'Meet The Baby' BBQ starting at 1. Guests arrived and E slept through the first hour. Being so cute on the flight apparently really took it out of her! She finally made it to her party and thoroughly enjoyed being the star of the day.

'I just woke up. Have I missed the party, Sandra?'

Yay for cousins! Thrilled to meet Nora, your first cousin once removed :)

Momma has know Chantal since she was 8 weeks old. Now E gets to know her!

Showing off your standing with Bonnie.

Meeting Shara and Lillian. Finally, someone your size!

Playing with your bestest pal of the week, Grandpa P.

7 Months Old! (A little late)

2010-09-27T16:56:00.000-07:00

Dear Evelyn,

You are growing and blossoming into a lovely little girl.You're a flirt. You have a beautiful smile that always makes other people smile. You're a seasoned traveler. You love your Momma and Daddy and we love you right back.

You've started to clap. It developed from waving your arms. You wave them whenever you get excited and now you've figured out that you can clap too. You very much enjoy clapping and do it frequently.
Momma accidentally got a mom haircut. She fixes the back with both her hands and you've started copying her. Two hands go behind your head and you smooth it forward.
Because of your Daddy, you love tall men with beards and glasses. These are usually the type that make babies cry but not you. It's adorable to watch you melt hearts. Your Grandma P is very much smitten with you.
You have three chub rolls on each upper thigh alone. You are such a healthy, beautiful baby.
You're wearing 9 month size clothes but even those are starting to get snug. Momma is going to have to break out the 12 months clothes soon!
Social Baby would be on your resume, if you had one. You especially love other babies and kids. You are going to be a wonderful big sister someday!
Favorite toys include the caps to the Medela bottles Momma pumps milk into, your cell phone (Momma's old one), the frog jumper, Momma's hair, and anything that Momma or Daddy have.
You've started giving Momma hickeys while she's sleeping. She keeps waking up with red makes on her arms.

One little tooth has popped through on your bottom gums. You've been very behaved and haven't bitten Momma while nursing too often.
Vocabulary includes 'a-ma-ma-ma', 'a-da-da-da', and a 'ng' sound that reminds Momma and Daddy of Ahn-Nyeong from Arrested Development.
Traveling with you has been a breeze. You get loads of compliments from fellow travelers. The real metal spoon in first class on the way home from Grandma and Grandpa P's house was your favorite toy.

Everyday you're a new little lady. Love you 'de tout mon coeur'.

At 5 o'clock a.m. Pacific Time...

2010-09-22T10:11:00.000-07:00

'Hi! Wanna play?!'

This morning, in the wee hours, before the sun has gotten a chance to light up our room, I was awakened by baby giggles. E has been spending most of the night in her crib and ending the night cuddled between Momma and Daddy. Usually because Momma falls asleep to fast after feeding her.

Anyhow, E was giggling and talking to herself. When she saw my eyes open there were squeals of delight. And when I sat her up, you would have thought she'd won the baby lottery. She reached over and patted Daddy's back. She drummed on the pillows. She clapped and waved her arms. I brought her with me to the bathroom (we've got a serious case of separation anxiety going on) and she played on the rug with a hand towel. Who needs real toys anyway?

We got back to bed and cuddled in. She checked to make sure Daddy was still there and, after a quick nurse, fell asleep hugging his back. Adorable! Three hours later she woke up again, pleased with the world. I think we've created a morning person.

I realize I've been a bad story teller and haven't shared the details of our trip to the East Coast. I promise that will come soon, along with E's 7 month letter, and a post that I thought of last night that I've completely forgotten the title of. I know it will be good though! :)

Evelyn's First Pet

2010-09-20T23:14:00.001-07:00

Evelyn got a pet today.

She found it all by herself.

She was laying on the floor between our bedroom and the bathroom, happily smacking the vinyl floor. Then she spotted... an ant! Using her ultra-precision pincher grip, she picked it up and put it where she could see it better. Amazingly, she didn't squish it, so it started to run away.

Squealing with delight at a toy that moves on its own, she proceeded to pick up the ant multiple times and to place it where she thought it looked best with the bathroom decor.

After a while, the game was boring and she went back to smacking the the vinyl floor.

Goodbye pet. It was fun while it lasted.

All alone in Pasadena

2010-09-14T09:01:00.000-07:00

Matthew here.

The girls are off on a grand adventure on the Other Coast. B and E (wife and daughter, not the crime) went to visit family - not everyone was able to make it out to see us when E was born. So far, it sounds like they're having a good time.

Grampa is a favorite person, which makes me happy. Apparently, most kids shy away from him since he's tall and bearded and has a deep boomy voice. As luck would have it, I'm tall and bearded and have a deep boomy voice, so he's a good Daddy substitute!

It's weird to be here on my own. After the constant busy-ness that has been our world since E was born, it's strange to come home to an empty house and have it be devoid of activity and noise. I spent the weekend up at Big Bear Lake with some friends from church on a ministry team retreat, so the first couple days I wasn't home and was busy. Now that I've come back to the routine, it's certainly strange. I realized on Sunday that I hadn't held a baby for more than 24 hours - that hasn't happened since E was born!

I'm excited for the girls to come home. I'm getting good work done, but I like my family more than work (go figure).

And we're off...

2010-09-10T10:03:00.000-07:00

Tonight E and I will be departing on a grand adventure. The two of us will be flying to Rhode Island to visit my family. E will get to meet her great grandparents, her uncle B, the people I grew up with, and some of my very best friends.

We'll (meaning me) have ice cream at Wood's. We'll (again with the meaning me) enjoy fresh Lebanese and Portuguese food. We'll visit the ocean. We'll go for walks by gorgeous old homes.

We just have to fly there. Almost 6 hours in a plane. Flying the red eye. In a middle seat.

Pray for us.

The girl knows her accessories...

2010-09-04T23:46:00.001-07:00

Mornings with the Dad

2010-09-01T15:38:00.001-07:00

I stay home with Evelyn in the mornings while Beckie is at work. It's a fun time (usually) - Evelyn and I have the routine down pretty good now.

This morning, she settled in for her morning lap on my chest. I took the opportunity to snooze as well, since the house was clean and I haven't been sleeping well lately. About 11:15, I woke up as she stirred. I greeted her with a "How's my girl?!" as her eyes opened. She put her chubby little hand out and pressed it against my lips, then snuggled back into my shoulder. How very much like her mother... to not be ready for my "noise" instantly upon waking.

She didn't fall asleep again, but spent a couple of minutes just quietly waking up in my arms.

Good times.

Giveaway Winners!

2010-09-01T10:11:00.000-07:00

As only 3 people (plus my husband) entered the giveaway, I've decided to award all three ladies a custom design. Congratulations to Beth, Erika, and vphonegirl! To claim your prize, email me.

Morning with Daddy:

2010-08-30T11:51:00.001-07:00

so far this morning

she has fed herself

with her feet

she has rolled across the living room twice

she has found every item that i didn't blitz

she has face planted on the carpet

she filled a diaper and then roared about it

she growled at a cup

she pulled herself to standing in the bassinet and nearly dumped herself on her face

Sweetness

2010-08-30T11:36:00.000-07:00

My wake up call at 6:45 this morning was absolutely adorable. E had wiggled her way up to my face and then started laughing and squealing and babbling with delight. When she saw my eyes open, her face lit up with a giant grin.

I've never been in such a good mood at 6:45 in the morning.

Tooth!

2010-08-28T13:04:00.000-07:00

This morning we discovered the beginnings of E's very first tooth. Daddy was distracting her from his computer by letting her gnaw on is fingers. A little rub along her bottom gums revealed a sharp spot poking through!

It's impossible to see though. If we try to open her mouth to look, she thinks its a clever opportunity to stick her tongue all the way out.

Wow. Our lil'un is growing up so big!

100th Post!

2010-08-25T11:56:00.000-07:00

We've hit 100 posts! That's big news for this family because we tend to have rather short attention spans. I tend to get excited about something for 2 or so weeks and then I find something new to be excited about. In the last couple months I've dappled in digital scrapbooking, sewing, and photography to name a few.
I guess having one of the cutest kids ever and wanting to share that cuteness with the world is something that sticks with a Momma. Here's a little sweetness for you:


'Smiles!'

In honor of the 100th post, I am going to be hosting a giveaway!

The lucky winner will receive a custom digital graphic design- some choices could be invitations, announcements, holiday cards or monograms... The winner will be chosen at random and will receive via email one (1) custom design PDF of their choosing. Designs can be printed on a home printer!

Need some inspiration?

Giveaway is open until midnight on August 31. Winner will be chosen randomly and announced on September 1. To enter, leave a comment below and let me know what you are passionate about right now.

Good luck!

And the results are...

2010-08-18T23:35:00.000-07:00

Blue! 64% of voters were correct.

6 Month Checkup

2010-08-18T22:46:00.000-07:00

Weight: 19 pounds
Height: 26.5 inches
Head: 17.75 inches

That's my little roly-poly!

6 Months!

2010-08-17T10:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Evelyn,

Wow! Six months. Half a year. Next thing I know, you're going to be heading to Kindergarten! It has been such a treat watching you blossom and grow. You're a bit of a goof, a bit of a flirt and curious about the world around you.

You prefer to be sitting or standing. None of this silly laying on the floor. That's for babies... When you do deign to allow us to leave you on your back, you are quite the little roller.
You make the occasional consonant sounds. M's and b's. Mostly, however, you growl and yell. It's very lady-like, dear girl. Sometimes Momma growls and yells back and we laugh and laugh together. Your Daddy believes that some of your yells are so high pitched that only dogs can hear you.
Bath time remains a favorite activity. We use the big tub and either Momma or Daddy goes in with you. We are teaching you how to float on your back but you aren't thrilled about getting water in your ears. Sometimes we give you some bath toys and you use them to splash like crazy and make loads of noise banging them on the side of the tub. If you are sitting on Momma's lap, you can pull yourself up into a stand with the rim of tub.
You usually scream through your bedtime diaper change because you know that when we're done, it's time to eat. 'Why do we have to do this silly diaper thing! I want to be eating NOW!'
You still chat with your owls after each diaper change. You yell with delight and your whole body quivers with excitement.
Favorite toys right now include cold teething rings, the plastic monkey, the tag on any of your toys but mostly the tag on the pink and white puppy, and Sophie the Giraffe.
The bassinet from your stroller has become a great playpen. It allows you to sit up with out the worry of falling over. It also keeps all your best toys close at hand.

You love the baby in the mirror. And you love when the baby in the mirror shows up on Momma's computer.
Daddy is pretty much the best person ever right now. And you always wonder why other Daddy's don't have a great beard like his.
You sleep in a crib now. It's right next to Momma and Daddy's bed so you know your safe. Up until now you've always fallen asleep for the night being rocked in someones arms or nursing. This past week we've been able to help you fall asleep right in the crib! When your tummy is nice and full, the sound machine and projector are turned on and you are put on your back in the crib. You watched the images on the ceiling and kick your legs. Eventually you end up on your tummy and Momma rubs your back and sings until your little eyes close.
For a few weeks, you would hold your arms above your head and expect Momma or Daddy to say 'SO big'.

You've almost outgrown your infant car seat. Soon it will be time to buy a convertible seat for you. We'll find out for sure tomorrow how much time we have until you are 30" tall.
Grandma M and Daddy taught you how to stick you tongue out. It's such an adorable little tough!
We're pretty sure you are going to pop some teeth any time now. Chewing has become an all consuming passion. Sometimes you even chew on Momma's shoulders and her cheeks. Good thing you're cute!

We love you, Punkinator!

Momma

Four years ago today...

2010-08-05T09:31:00.000-07:00

Momma and Daddy got married.

Accidental Adventures...

2010-08-04T10:49:00.000-07:00

Daddy and E checking out the atmosphere.

We had some good exploring this weekend. Saturday morning found us searching for a place for breakfast. It was Grandma M's last morning in town and we wanted to make the most of it. Daddy spaced out while driving and missed our usual restaurant. Eventually we made it into Old Town and while trying to find a parking space, we passed a great little cafe tucked around a quiet corner.
What a great find! Delicious food in a lovely spot. Load-bearing common bond brick walls, reinforced by well proportioned I-beams. But the architect in me digresses...
I enjoyed ebelskivers- blueberry stuffed pancakes, breakfast sausage, fresh fruit, and fresh squeezed orange juice in a mason jar.

Daddy and Grandma enjoyed croissant sandwiches of over easy eggs, bacon, tomato tapenade and aïoli with a side of sweet potato home fries.

E enjoyed breastmilk.
We will definitely be making future visits to Elements Cafe.

Sunday night we planned to go to a member's evening at Huntington Gardens. Entry starts at 5:30 and we usually arrive around 5:45. This time, however, we arrived at 6:45. We never realized how popular these are because parking has never been a time. At 6:45, there were cars parked for a 1/2 mile in any direction from either entrance.
We gave up on finding a spot and decided to head home. San Marino is full of twisty, windy roads and we promptly got a bit lost. Suddenly, we passed a gorgeous park and thought maybe we could find an entrance.
That's how we ended up at Lacy Park. We trekked to a lovely rose garden and set up our picnic. I'm not gonna lie- we had McDonald's. We're food connoisseurs.

What?! I can't have fries?!

Roses are E's favorite flower and she had a blast seeing all the new blooms with Daddy.

We didn't expect to end up where we did this past weekend. That worked out for the best because we ended up discovering some fun new spots and we're now inspired to get "lost" more often.

Bath Time!

2010-07-28T22:19:00.000-07:00

Swedish design makes E hungry...

2010-07-24T19:28:00.000-07:00

Ignore my pasty arms. Ignore my chubby arms. Focus, instead, on the fact that I have several baby hickeys on my arm.

Today we headed to IKEA to pick out a crib for our little girl. She's grown too tall for her hammock and we are rapidly running out of room on our grownup bed. For most of the trip, she cuddled with Daddy in her wrap but as we were checking out, she declared that she was done with that. So I took her into my arms. Immediately she put her open mouth on my arm. This is not an unusual occurrence- she likes to put her mouth on shoulders and necks... any available body part, really.

Except this time she was sucking. Hard.

Guess she was hungry. All that modern design really takes it out of a baby.

I found some comfy couches in a waiting area and sat down to nurse her. I didn't have a nursing top so I used the wrap for coverage. I got the side eye from several ladies, whom I ignored. When you're showing more cleavage than I have bosoms total, don't judge me for nursing my child in public.

We've set up the crib side car to our own so that I can still have an easy reach to nurse E in the night but we don't get kicks or tickles from the munchkin. Or Munskin, as my Grandma calls her. The Munson Munchkin.

So does anyone have a good hickey remedy?

5 Months Old!

2010-07-17T13:52:00.000-07:00

Dear Evelyn,
I can't quite believe that 5 months have already passed since you were born. At this time 5 months ago, we were in the delivery room, waiting for your arrival.

Your hair has a mind of it's own. It's always wildly and raucously curly about your head. Or standing straight out. Or both. It's also growing in blonder and blonder. It seems like every time we wash your hair, it dries lighter.
You've become an expert roller. This past week you even became an ambi-turner. Up until then you would only roll to your right. Once on your tummy, however, you get frustrated because a) you can't get the whole blanket/toy in your mouth and b) you want to be crawling already.
Sitting has become the "it" thing. We prop you up and you proudly sit up. You enjoy sitting on laps, on tables, in the gym, in the bath. Until you notice your toes anyway. Then it's always a big decision: bring them up to my face to chew on or lean over to chew on?
Speaking of chewing, that's pretty much the cat's meow. If you can get your hands on it, you'd like to see how it would do for a good nom-nom-nom.
Your vocabulary has expanded to "hmmm", "muh", squeals, and grunts. We've tried to explain that grunts aren't terribly lady-like but you don't seem to mind.
After each diaper change you want to stand on the changing pad and say hello to each of your owls. Daddy Owl. Mommy Owl. Evelyn Owl. Daddy Owl is your favorite and you tell him your best stories.
We've started doing bath time in the big tub, which is great for splashing. You think it might be fun to drink the water but we try to discourage that. Sometimes Daddy takes you in the shower and you enjoy sticking your hands under the spray of water.
You love when we use the phone. When you see the display light up and and "ring" on speaker phone, you smile and wiggle. And then you try to put the phone in your mouth. Occasionally you seem rather concerned that Daddy's voice is coming out of that thing in Momma's hand. Where is he hiding, anyway?!
Your best baby friend is Jackson. You roll on the floor together. You like the same toys.
Your favorite toys right now are your pink polka-dotted puppy, your baby doll, Sophie the giraffe and any blankets or burp clothes you can get your hands on. Your terry cloth bunny and flower rattle are good in the car. And the tray to your Bumbo seat is good, with toys or without.
You stay home with Daddy in the mornings while Momma goes to work and you two are such good friends. You enjoy playing with Daddy so much that sometimes it distracts you when you're trying to nurse- hold on a second, Momma, gotta make sure my friend is still here!
After the Farmer's Market each Saturday, we go to the park and watch all the kids playing on the playground. You love rolling around under the big shady tree and practicing your play noises.

Love you, Baby Girl! Wonder who you'll become this next month...

Love,
Momma

Daddy post!

2010-07-16T19:01:00.001-07:00

Daddy's sitting at work, trying to figure out how he's going to finish this project. All he can think about, though, is his sweet little girl.

Thanks for being a wonderful little addition to my life. Now if I could only help you get to sleep at a normal hour....

Working Girls

2010-07-16T14:07:00.000-07:00

Today E came to work with Momma.

I woke up at 6 with an awful migraine so I called into work to let them know I'd be late. I took some Advil and headed back to bed. E had actually stretched out into my spot so I slept at the foot of the bed for about 20 minutes. It was easier than potentially waking the baby! I finally heard her stirring so I navigated my way back to the right position in bed and nursed her, both of us quickly falling back asleep.

By the time we got up for the day at 9:30 I realized that I was either going to get a really short work day or Daddy would have to skip work today to watch the girl. So the new plan was that I would bring E with me, Bumbo and play gym in tow.

On Fridays my office finishes at 11:30 so I figured by the time I got in, there would be very few people left and therefore no one would be greatly disturbed by baby noises coming from my cube.

We made it in at 11:45 and E worked her charm on the few people remaining. We set up her paraphernalia and got started. We did the bumbo. We did the gym. We did bouncing on Momma's lap. I was able to get an hour of work done before E got hungry/wet/hot. I nursed/wrestled her to tide her over for the ride home, changed her into a clean outfit, took 18 trips up and down the steps to reload her stroller and finally loaded her into the car.

She then proceeded to scream from Sherman Oaks to Eagle Rock before falling asleep. My child does not do hot, apparently. Dear So Cal- please stop being so ridiculously warm. Thanks.

All in all, not bad for a first try. She's still asleep and I get to eat lunch. Next time I'll have to do this on a day when it's not 95° out.

Don't want to forget...

2010-07-10T00:05:00.000-07:00

Vintage E. 20 days old.

For the first couple months, when you were nervous, your chin would quiver.
When you were about 4 weeks old, Daddy and I had a very serious discussion about what was more perfect: your lips or your ears.
In the hospital, your cry sounded like you were an old lady smoker.
You can sleep through jack hammers but not sneezes.
You started standing at less than a month old. It would happen when I tried to burp you. Your head would go on my shoulder and then you'd stand your lower half up on the nursing pillow and shake your little booty. We're got video footage to show at your wedding
Of course we've got some time until then because Daddy thinks we shouldn't let you start dating til you're 35.

Love you!

Sass in the making...

2010-07-04T22:44:00.000-07:00

Review: Blessed Nest Nursing Pillow

2010-07-01T16:33:00.000-07:00

WHAT

Blessed Nest 'The Nesting Pillow' in Kaleidoscope

WHY

My initial research in the area of nursing covers basically consisted of which color Boppy cover I would prefer. A chance review on Amazon.com, however, sent me looking in a new direction. Of all the items that we would be purchasing for Mini, the nursing pillow was one that I knew would have alot of baby time. This lead me to look into organic, health friendly options. Boppy offers an organic pillow cover. As one reviewer pointed out: the cover may be organic but the pillow is still filled with the sort of chemicals that you're most likely trying to avoid in purchasing an organic cover.

And so the search continued. I don't remember how I stumbled onto the Blessed Nest web site. It was probably the fateful result of a google search. After about 15 minutes on the site, I knew this was the pillow for me.

The half moon shape is perfect to mold around multiple body types. It drapes across the lap and can be adjusted to account for chair arms or someone sitting close by.
Organic cotton french terry. Gorgeous Harmony Arts organic cotton sateen or twill. And my favorite part- buckwheat hull fill. The buckwheat is similar to a bean bag chair when you're moving the pillow around to the most comfortable arrangement. When downward pressure is applied, the triangular shape of the hulls lock into each other to maintain the shape and provide support. Brilliance in nature!
The cover can be tossed in the washing machine and the canvas pillow can be spot cleaned and thrown in the dryer.
The Nesting Pillow was designed by a mom for a mom. Since I was about to join the Mom Club, it felt nice to support the team. I also like to support small businesses.

LIKES

The combination of shape and filling make for a great fit. Postpartum tummy met it's match. The pillow can be molded around any shape, which is something that didn't quite work for me with the Boppy. The lactation consultant at the hospital said it was the nicest pillow she'd ever seen.
The flat top make it easy to keep baby where she needs to be while nursing and sleeping.
The pillow can be adjusted for cradle hold, with the elbow supported by the pillow. Or it can be plumped up to support a nursing baby head so Momma can use two hands for reading or eating or writing blog posts. This is also useful for hot, sweaty days when cradling a baby leads to sweaty baby and Momma. When E was short enough, it was great for keeping her high for a comfortable clutch hold.
The weight of the pillow makes it feel sturdy and prevents E from being able to push it away when it's cradling her during nap time.
This pillow has been used by Momma, Daddy, friends, and extended family members. It can be shaped around a sleeping baby to prevent them from rolling. It supports tired arms holding a sleeping baby. It supports tired arms that used to be holding a sleeping baby and now just need a break. It works as a lap top tray and a dinner table. It can prop a baby up to sit or help with tummy time. All on top of supporting a little one at just the right height to breastfeed.

DISLIKES

The logo tag is placed on the terry portion of the cover. The edge of the label is rough against skin. I usually solve this problem by either keeping that face of the pillow down or face up by E's feet. The label could easily be removed, as well, if one were so inclined.
White french terry attracts dirt like a 4 year old boy. The terry is also prone to a bit of pulling. Neither of these things are structurally relevant. But I like when things stay pretty... as anyone who has ever borrowed one of my books knows well.

CONCLUSION

This is the single most useful baby product we own. It has been used multiple times a day, every day, since E made her way out into the world. I can see this becoming a snuggle buddy for E when she's bigger. Love love love it.

Summer time

2010-06-25T11:17:00.000-07:00

Summer time is barely begun and it's already getting hot here in Southern California. So E and Momma headed to the mall yesterday to take advantage of some free air conditioning. E traveled comfortably in her Moby wrap and the wide stretchy strap of the diaper bag proved to be an easy addition to my load. The strap just stretched out over my shoulder and E's back. We'll have to get a picture next time- we must have looked like we were having fun because a little girl commented to her mother:

"Mom, you should have another baby so you can carry her like that..."

E had a great time taking in all the new views. We looked at nail polish at Sephora, puppies at the pet store, and shorts at Old Navy before she decided it was nap time and rested her head on my chest to sleep. While E slept, I wandered all over the mall, perusing terrific sales. Learning to say 'no' to myself because baby clothes are just too ridiculously cute. Baby Gap proved to be my breaking point. Who can say no to an extra 40% off sale price? E needs clothes for next summer, right?!

RIGHT!

So, among other things, E is now the proud owner of a pair of lavender harem pants (only $1.97) and an adorable bodysuit, which I had considered buying full price. Patience pays off yet again.

One of the best finds of the day was the women's lounge in Nordstroms. We were preparing to leave the mall and it was the tricky time when E may or may not decided to be starving on the drive home. Lo and behold, a women's lounge. The sign had a baby bottle on it. I'm assuming a breast icon would be a bit awkward. Enter to dimmed lights, soft music, plush comfy chairs. Perfect for breastfeeding a baby who is easily distracted. Thank you, Nordstroms, for providing a lovely spot for Mommas and babies.

4 Month Checkup

2010-06-21T12:59:00.001-07:00

15 pounds 14 ounces
25.5 inches tall

Guess what E just did!

2010-06-20T21:02:00.000-07:00

Daddy placed E on her back, on a blanket, on the floor. He handed her the Frog Ball toy, which she promptly kicked away in her excitement to get it. Well that didn't work for her... so she rolled onto her tummy. Propped herself up on her elbows. Grabbed the frog. And rolled back onto her back to chew his face.

Folks- we have a roller!

4 Months Old!

2010-06-17T23:32:00.000-07:00

Dear Evelyn,

I'm sitting here, watching you sleep, and wondering how so much time has already passed. You're learning new things every day and it's amazing to see you changing before our eyes. My mum has been here for the past month to watch you in the mornings while I'm at work. We call her Grandma Curry because she likes having curry on her food!

Grandma Curry is one of your favorite friends now. You laugh best for her!
Your smile lights up your whole face when you wake up in the morning and when Momma or Daddy get home from work.
You have started rolling over onto your tummy. Most of the time you forget to move the arm you are rolling towards and you end up laying on it.
You are getting so strong- you love to stand up just holding onto Momma or Daddy's fingers.
You love to chew on things. You're pretty sure if somebody would let you chew on their nose that you'd enjoy it. You also enjoy chewing on your doll, Sophie the giraffe, the terry bunny, and your teething rings. The shoulder of anyone carrying you is also fair game.
Bath time is still a lot of fun. We tried taking you in the shower. That was okay but not as fun as the tub. You are getting to be big for your little tub so we'll be starting baths in the big tub soon.
You've started chewing on your thumb instead of sucking it. And it's normally used to fish-hook your cheek instead of being placed in the center of your mouth.
You sleep in the Moby wrap every Saturday at the Farmer's Market. Except last Saturday you fell asleep on the way there so you slept in the stroller instead.
You fit into 3-6 and 6 month clothes. But when it's really warm you hang out in just your diaper. Which is most of the time here in So Cal.
Daddy's beard is great fun- your little fingers burrow in and pat his cheeks.
You are great sleeper! You generally sleep from 9:30 or 10pm until about 4am, in my arms and then in your hammock. You nurse in bed with me in the early morning hour and then sleep next to Momma and Daddy in the big bed. Momma nurses you again before heading to work at 7:30 and you'll nap again until 9:30 sometimes! This, of course, changes frequently. The last few nights you've been waking up between 12-2am for a snack as well.
You are an outdoors girl who loves to watch the leaves blow around above your head. Roses are very exciting and hydrangeas are just okay.
You love to play pattycake on your back, with your feet.
You aren't a fan of tummy time. But tonight, on the day you turn four months old, you not only propped yourself up on your elbows but you also rolled from your front to your back. Go you!

Monday is your next doctors visit. We'll see how much you've officially grown.

Can't imagine life without you anymore.

Love,
Momma

::Yawn::

2010-06-14T10:06:00.000-07:00

My favorite time of day happens at night. Some time between 3 and 5, E wakes up in her hammock. I hear her moving around and making little noises- time for early breakfast. I unsnap the end of the hammock, and lift her out, receiving sleepy eyes and sleepy smiles. I lay her down on the bed on her little blanket and she automatically rolls onto her side and waves her hands, excited that it's almost time to eat! Then it's time for me to cuddle in next to her. She latches on, eyes closed, as soon as Momma is in reach, hugging my chest with both little arms, little feet curled up against my belly. I fall back to sleep and, when her tummy is nice and full, E does as well. It's the best snuggle time and I know I'm going to miss it when she's done with nursing.

I do get to look forward to more sweet mornings like today, when I was awakened at 6am by soft, tiny, slightly sticky hands patting my face. I opened my eyes to see beautiful blue ones smiling back at me. ::sigh::

I love being a Momma.
Even at 6am.
It's nice to be reminded.

Projects Galore...

2010-06-05T19:32:00.000-07:00

Before Evelyn was born, when she was still Mini, we purchased a pattern for a shopping cart cover (only $1) and a pattern for some rompers and dresses. I recently discovered an amazing selection of Michael Miller fat quarters that inspired me to make a quilt for Evelyn.

(photo source)

That led to more fabric searches. And I fear that I've become addicted to Michael Miller fabrics. Here is what I found for her shopping cart cover...

(photo source)

I'm not sure what I'd use it for but I think Evelyn, as the daughter of a rocket scientist, needs this:

(photo source)

Girly space fabric! And wouldn't this make the most adorable romper...

(photo source)

Someone take away my credit card...

This is how we do it.

2010-06-02T23:09:00.000-07:00

Evelyn was the youngest and cutest attendee of the church congregational meeting tonight. She charmed everyone and was on her best behavior. She also did a great work in reducing the average age of attendees, which usually is about 50.

Toes

2010-05-31T18:57:00.000-07:00

Evelyn has discovered that not only are toes great for grabbing, they're also fantastic chew toys. In fact, while laying on the changing table, she tried to stick her whole foot in her mouth this evening!

Well, in Whoville they say...

2010-05-28T09:43:00.000-07:00

Dear Evelyn,

When you're older you'll see the Christmas classic 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas.' Towards the end of the cartoon, there is the line:

Well, in Whoville they say that the Grinch's small heart grew three sizes that day.

That's exactly how I felt on the day you were born and, amazingly, it keeps happening. Thanks for teaching your Momma about how much love she is capable of feeling.

I love your little voice, your smiles, the cleft in your chin, how you snuggle into my arms.

I love your sense of humor, the curiosity in your eyes, the excitement at simple things like fingers and toes.

I love holding you while you nurse.

I love your satisfied face as you fall asleep after.

I love you.

Always,

Momma

The Birth Story - Matthew's Version

2010-05-24T20:21:00.001-07:00

After anticipating our baby's arrival for many months, the time had finally arrived. Unfortunately, not with a "I think I'm having contractions!" but with, "Well, we're two weeks past due. Time to go in for our appointment..."

We headed to Cedars Sinai with no real fuss - our small group came over and prayed with us for a while before we went in. I felt a real peace about what was about to happen, even though it should have been a nerve wracking time. I'm not sure why they had us go in at 10PM - I would have much preferred to spend the night in my own bed than in the hospital, but so we went.

Check in was no problem - they were friendly and reassuring. Our first nurse, Carmen, was very nice and excited that we wanted a birth with minimal medical intervention. We went through a standard round of questions about Beckie's health and the progression of the pregnancy... pretty straightforward. They got Beckie hooked into the pitocin drip about 11PM and off we went.

Beckie's mom was with us through the whole process, and she took the first shift of watching and helping Beckie so that I could sleep. The cot they had wasn't bad, but it wasn't great. Beckie had some small contractions as the night went on - she and her mom walked the halls and she tried laying in different positions to stay comfortable. Moving around was a bit of a pain because she had to take the IV pole with her everywhere and she had to unhook from all the monitors.... what a process!

About 6:30 in the morning, a new nurse came in, along with a doctor (resident) to see how Beckie was doing. The baby was still floating high and she wasn't terribly dilated, so they asked us if we would like to try using a Foley bulb. Basically, they put a catheter in through the cervical opening and then inflated it slightly. This put pressure on the cervix, which helped it open. When the catheter fell out, we would know that Beckie was at 3.5-4.5 cm, which the doctors considered as active labor.

At this point, I was awake and moving, so I took a spell helping Beckie walk the halls. We did some dancing and some swaying, trying to hula that baby down! Dr. Brown stopped in for a few minutes to see how we were doing, and then she headed off to start her day. I gave Beckie backrubs, as by this point, she had some pretty bad back pain. I was concerned that the baby might have turned. On one trip about the hall, I noticed that Beckie was leaving a small trail of blood, and so we let one nurse know it would need to be cleaned up, then went back to our room and called our nurse. The Foley bulb had come loose, and so we were ready to move to an active labor room. Unfortunately, the labor and delivery ward was hopping, so a room wasn't ready for us... we waited for about 2.5 hours, just giving Beckie counter pressure on her back and helping her any way we could.

When we got into the labor and delivery room, I thought we might get to relax a little because the room was much more comfortable. Beckie's body had other plans, having kicked into high gear at this point. The artificial induction had made Beckie have very long contractions instead of the nice round waves that we had been expecting. I did my best to keep her trying new things, on the chance that we might stumble on something that would make her more comfortable. We tried walking, swaying, sitting on the birth ball, leaning on the birth ball, side-laying... long story short, Beckie's back hurt and there wasn't much relief other than pushing on it. I'm so glad Beckie's mom was there. One of us would push and the other would be in Beckie's face, helping her through each successive wave. Beckie's mom was exhausted, since she hadn't had hardly any sleep, but we all just had to keep going.

About 2:00PM, Beckie started to get more and more wild-eyed and I could tell she was really struggling. I went to find the resident that we had met earlier in the morning, thinking maybe she could give us some advice on how Beckie was doing... the nurses were conspicuously absent at this point. I think our main nurse was actually over assisting in another delivery. About the time that the resident showed up, Dr. Brown arrived. Beckie's water had just broken - 2:55 PM, if I remember right. Dr. Brown was happy, since she was going to suggest that we break Beckie's water to see if that would get things moving. I'm really glad that it broke on its own, because even though the clock starts ticking when the water breaks (however it happens), Beckie's body was obviously doing the right things. Dr. Brown checked her cervix and she was dilated 5cm, which was partially discouraging, since we still hadn't even hit transition yet, but then I remembered that it was Beckie's emotional/physical state that told me where she was rather than some arbitrary opening size! She was definitely in active labor and doing good work.

Dr. Brown, however, having not watched Beckie all day long, thought she had plenty of time, and so she left to do some other things. Shortly after Dr. Brown left - just long enough for her to get stuck in LA traffic - Beckie looked at me with panic all over her face and said "I don't think I can do this!" I was torn, because I didn't want her to be in pain anymore, but I also didn't want to jump the gun on making decisions like C-Section without more information. I also knew that we were probably very close to meeting this baby!

The nurse was fussing with the monitors, and Beckie was getting more and more uncomfortable. Suddenly, Beckie says "I think I have to push!" The nurse, thinking that Beckie couldn't possibly be there yet, says "Just breathe. Don't push. You're not ready yet." Beckie was fighting her body, trying not to push, but she couldn't help it. She later told me it's like someone telling you not to vomit. You don't have a choice. Your body takes over.

She continued to fuss with the monitors, while I got more and more concerned about Beckie's state. I was up near Beckie's face, so I don't quite know what prompted the nurse to suddenly change her tune and start calling people, but Beckie's mom said the baby's head was crowned. When she told us the doctor was a half-hour away, Beckie yelled "I don't have a half hour! This baby is coming now!" Then the nurse actually got off the fence and called the delivery team in.

Suddenly, the room was filled with people. I think somewhere around a dozen people were in the room besides the three (almost four!) of us. They broke the bed down so that they would have better access to Beckie and the baby and then, suddenly, it was time to really push. The nurse midwife told Beckie just to push along with the contraction - whatever felt right. She bore down and pushed hard and there was a head! I wasn't sure what I was seeing... later I realized it was because the baby had so much hair! The cord was loosely wound around the neck - the doctor called out that fact and then said it wasn't a problem but that she wanted to move it. Once done, the midwife told Beckie to push along with the next contraction... just whatever was comfortable. Beckie started pushing and POP, we had an airborne baby! The doctor actually caught her as she got doused with a large amount of amniotic fluid that had been bottled up behind the baby. 4:24 PM - our baby is HERE!

They showed me that she was a baby girl and I got to tell Beckie. Then we flipped her up onto Beckie's chest... she got to lay there for several minutes as they toweled her off and got the cord ready to cut. I cut the cord more quickly than we wanted to, but Beckie had suffered a pretty decent tear since the baby had come so fast, and they wanted to get her all stitched up.

I went with our new baby girl to get weighed and measured. They gave her a vitamin-K shot in her leg and then she was mine to hold. I took her over by Beckie while they were still dealing with her stitches. I tried to keep her as close to Beckie as I could without being in the way. I handed her off to a proud Gramma at some point so that I could use the restroom and then she would up on Beckie's chest - she nursed within an hour of being born and was a pro at it her first try!

We headed to recovery together and got settled in there as a new family. Beckie's mom left for a while so we could discuss her name. We'd really struggled with finding the right name for her. Evelyn Grace was one we had been recently discussing and it felt right, so that's what we chose. We were afraid Evelyn was too grown up for a little baby, but somehow it fits her just right.

There's probably a lot I left out and there's a lot more that's happened since (obviously!). Beckie was a champ - I'm so proud of her effort. It was an amazing experience watching new life being brought into the world. Evelyn is a wonderful child and a joy to have in our lives.

3 Months Old!

2010-05-17T23:25:00.000-07:00

Dear Evelyn,

Three months seems like they've flown by in the blink of an eye- you are no longer a tiny newborn. You interact with the world and people around you. You are such a wonderful little person, with a sweet voice and an infectious giggle.

You still adore bath time. If you are feeling grumpy, it always cheers you up. You laughed for the first time when we took you out of your bath. We placed you on the towel in daddy's arms and you giggled. So we bounced and danced around as a family, delighting in listening to you. Now we do that every night after bath time.
You become quite the talker. The lamp over the dining room table is a good friend, as is the cute baby in the mirror... you chat up a storm with both of them. Ooo's and aaa's and a bit of owl-y whoo-ing.
You have rediscovered your thumb. We saw you sucking away at the late ultrasound visits while we were awaiting your birth and you continued to enjoy it for your first two weeks. Then you gave it up. Now you snuggle into Momma's shoulder and pop the thumb in your mouth to put yourself to sleep. You use your other arm to hug Momma's neck. Sometimes at night you wake up and talk to yourself and suddenly there is a loud sucking noise emanating from the hammock as your thumb finds it way to your mouth.
When Daddy puts you to sleep, he uses the 'Daddy Swaddle', using his arms to enclose you and keep you snug while allowing you free movement of your arms.
You've been sleeping 7.5-8 hours at night. You fall asleep in Momma or Daddy's arms (usually Momma's) and after about an hour, we lay you in your hammock. Generally you go to sleep between 11pm and 12am and wake up at 7:45
Your neck takes some effort to keep clean because you are a healthy roly-poly baby and sometimes you get milk under your chin chub.
You are wearing some 3 month clothes but you are starting to wear 6 month outfits because you are a tall baby girl!
You love to watch the TV show 'Friends' and you laugh when Chandler tells jokes.
Your hands are the best toy right now! They are great to watch, for grabbing clothing, for chewing on. Especially for chewing on! Sometimes when you are about to nurse, you get really excited and put your fists in your mouth. You also have started holding onto toys like your rattle and soft baby doll.
You love listening to Momma sing. Daddy, however, sometimes makes you cry! We think it's because his deep voice startles you. You love his talking voice though and will fall asleep in his arms to the sound of it. You also enjoy chatting with him on the telephone and can't figure out how that little device sounds just like Daddy.

We love you, dear sweet baby girl. As excited as we are to meet the person you're going to become, I'm going to miss little Evelyn. I hope that you will always have laughter in your eyes and a smile on your lips. And now, while you're still so small, I'm going to enjoy the snuggles and the wiggles and milk breath smiles.

Love,
Momma

Smiles

2010-05-12T10:38:00.000-07:00

Truly my daughter...

2010-05-04T21:15:00.000-07:00

These are a few of my favorite things...

2010-05-02T00:28:00.000-07:00

I'd originally planned on doing a top 10 list and reviews for my favorite baby and momma items. Then I realized that post would rival my birth story in length... so I've decided to do a quick list and do full reviews in coming posts.

For baby:

Blessed Nest Nursing Pillow- Our most useful item. We use it everyday for nursing and for support while holding Evelyn. Also makes a great laptop pad. Made from buckwheat hulls and organic cotton.
Fisher Price Infant-to-Toddler Rocker- this is the reason Momma can take showers.
Moby Wrap Organic- the best way to put a tired girl to sleep and still have two hands to check email... plus is provides some relief to arms and shoulders. A bit warm for So Cal weather but I've gotten so real mileage out of this wrap. The wrap spreads the weight out across your shoulders and back, making life much more comfortable.
Pikkolo Baby Carrier- great for Dad's and for shopping trips. Quicker to put on than a wrap.
NoseFrida and Little Noses Saline Spray/Drops- makes snot removal virtually pain-free and oh so easy.
Aden & Anais Muslin Swaddle Blankets- incredibly soft and lightweight. Larger size makes swaddling a breeze. They also come in adorable prints that are the envy of all the other mommas :)
Uppababy Vista Stroller- rides like a dream. I think Daddy likes driving as much as E likes riding. Comes with a bassinet and stroller seat. Optional additional attachments include an adapter for infant car seats and a rumble seat for a second child.
Thirsties and Bummis Cloth Diaper Covers- the double gussets on the Thirsties prevent diaper blowout and come in great colors. The Bummis (sz. S 8.5-15lbs) have a larger leg opening so they'd be great for a newborn with chubby thighs (which E didn't have) or as an in-between cover for the transition between XS (6-12lbs) and S(12-18lbs) Thirsties.
Under the Nile baby clothing, esp. kimono style bodysuits and bunting- fair trade Egyptian cotton goodness.
Miyo Baby Hammock- space saver and beautiful design in one. Allows us to have E right next to our bed. She prefers sleeping next to Momma but she'll do her first few hours of sleep in the hammock quite comfortably.
Fisher-Price Rainforest Melodies Gym- a fun interactive playtime favorite. Best features are a nature sounds music track for when baby songs are getting tiresome and a machine washable base mat.

For mom:

CVS Pea ice pack- a blessing for a sore bottom
Gerber Nuk Hot/Cold packs- eases engorgement discomfort.
Ameda Hydrogel pads- bliss for sore nipples.
Boob singlets- top half of the shirt can lift for easy access. Surprisingly discreet looking.
Bravado Body Silk seamless nursing bras- I live in these. Stretchy enough to deal with engorgement and lightweight material dries quickly if I leak during the night and am too tired to change.
Milkstars nursing shirts- amazing double layered shirts... looks like a normal tee but when you lift the outer layer there is a full layer underneath with openings under the arms for nursing access. I've got the 2 Jenny's and a Michelle. Next I'm hoping for the Rachel and the Suzy.
Jane's Plus Cup Nursing Bra- great for sleeping, esp. if you need to wear nursing pads 24/7.
Avent Eco-Friendly Disposable nursing pads- for when you don't want to do tons laundry because an oversupply of milk.
MomShop.com Daytime Cotton nursing pads- incredibly soft and the best all-cotton pads I found (thanks Aunt Katy!) as far as preventing leakage. They also have thicker nighttime pads that will be my next investment.
Cloth Diaper Service- sounds like it should be under baby, right? Sure, having nice soft cotton against a bottom is a boon for baby. Service means that Mom and Dad can enjoy a diaper rash-free baby without having to deal with crap. Literally. Just drop the dirty diaper in the pail, no rinsing required. Fresh diapers are delivered weekly and the dirties are toted away. Best of all- the service costs less than what it cost to do brand-name disposable diapers.
Bebe Au Lait nursing cover- a must have for nursing in public. Allows easy line of sight for mom while keeping the goods hidden. Because I don't want people to be jealous of my amazing knockers... ;)

Well, I've got to get to bed... E is snoozing in her hammock and I should get some sleep before her next meal. Keep an eye out for more in-depth reviews on some of the items I mentioned... just keep in mind it may take a little while since I'm usually typing one-handed!

Sweet dreams all!

Love

2010-04-25T01:06:00.001-07:00

There is something about holding a sleeping baby that just makes my heart feel like it's too big to fit in my chest.

What's that thing clicking in my face?!

2010-04-21T19:15:00.000-07:00

Two Months Old!

2010-04-19T13:30:00.001-07:00

Dear Evelyn,

I wanted to post this two days ago but you keep Momma very busy. I just wanted to let you know a little about yourself at this ripe old age...

You have a beautiful grin. And you smile whenever we tell you that you're beautiful.
You love bath time. Every night at 9, we plop you in the tub and you smile and coo. It doesn't matter that you may have been crying just moments before. You are an excellent splasher, too. We keep your tub on the dining room table and you always manage to soak the whole table. And Momma and Daddy. You don't like the hoods on your towels- you cry if we try to put them on your head.
Your favorite toys right now are a rattle from Great-aunty K, a giraffe from Grandma M and a frog from Grandma P. You're not quite sure what to do with the rattle yet but it does intrigue you. You'll hold onto it but you don't seem to realize that you are. It's great for Momma or Daddy to shake though. The giraffe and frog give you kisses at diaper change time. They're super soft and you love to feel them on your face and tummy.
You don't enjoy diaper changes but you do like being naked and you really enjoy your changing table. Sometimes we'll even move the changing pad to other places in the house so you can lounge on it in your birthday suit.
At your last checkup, you weighed 12 pounds and were 23.5 inches tall. You are wearing mostly 3 month sized clothing but it won't be long before we have to switch to the 3-6 and 6 month sized clothing. Your cloth diapers are a bit bulky so you need clothing that is larger than you otherwise would.
You are an avid talker... especially with Momma. We have conversations all day long. You even talk in your sleep! Right now you can coo and gurgle and make breathy laughs. No belly laughs yet but I'm sure those are coming soon.
Ever since you were born you have loved to be outside. I can't count the number of times you've been fussing, because you're tired but can't figure out how to go to sleep, and the moment you're outside, your eyes close.
You can tell if someone is sitting or standing while rocking you. Most of the time, sitting just won't do. That's okay though- Momma still has some weight to lose from when she was pregnant with you.
Speaking of sitting and standing- you love to do both! You still need help to balance but you are a very strong little girl. We like to joke that you'll be walking by 4 months.
One of my favorite parts of being your mom are watching you sleep when you're done nursing. You snuggle in my arms and smack your lips. Sometimes you reach up and play with your hair. Or cover your face with your forearm.

You've finally settled in to sleep so your Momma is going to take advantage of that and get some sleep herself! We love you and we're so excited to meet the person you're going to become.

Love,
Mom

Evelyn's Birth Story- Mom's Point of View

2010-04-12T18:13:00.000-07:00

Evelyn’s birth didn’t start how I had imagined… I’d always thought I’d go into labor, spend early labor at home, then make the drive across LA (hopefully avoiding traffic) and arrive at the hospital to complete active labor, transition and delivery. Instead, at two weeks past our estimated due date, we had a scheduled induction. It was strange knowing exactly when labor was going to start. The element of surprise was gone but at that point it was a relief to know that there was an end in sight. The induction was scheduled for 10pm. Our small group arrived at our house around 7pm to pray with us before the big event. I was feeling nervous because induced labor contractions are more intense than natural contractions… medical science hasn’t quite managed to perfectly duplicate the necessary hormones. More intense contractions are harder for Mom and can cause fetal distress, increasing the likelihood of interventions and c-sections. My hope was to give birth without pain medications, which can slow labor and affect the baby during labor and after birth.

At 9pm we got in the car and made it to the hospital in a record 30 minutes. It’s amazing what a lack of traffic can do! A plus side to having a scheduled induction is that we were able to make the drive from Pasadena to Beverly Hills minus contractions. We calmly checked in and were shown to the early labor room where we would start the induction. It took about an hour to answer all the questions from our nurse, Carmen, and do the initial exam. I was 1.5cm dilated, about 40% effaced, and the baby was at -3 station. At 11pm the pitocin was started. Induction means significantly more instrumentation than a natural labor: continuous external fetal monitoring (EFM), IV for pitocin drip and saline solution, and frequent blood pressure monitoring. To go to the restroom, I had to unplug from multiple machines, maneuver an IV pole around the bed, and hold up both my hospital gown and multiple cords… all while breathing through contractions!

My first blood pressure was a bit high so they decided to keep me on the monitor for a few hours to keep an eye on things. Not surprising considering how nervous and excited I was about the upcoming events! I started to have some light cramping in my back so my mum massaged my lower back and hip until I fell asleep. I was able to sleep for about two 45-minute stretches. Due to the late start, we had decided that Matthew would sleep during the early labor stuff so that he would be fresh for when things picked up. By about 2am, they were convinced that my blood pressure was fine and they finally took the cuff off, which made life a little more comfortable. (As a side note, I had angry red marks on my arm for about 2 weeks after Evelyn arrived from having the cuff on so long and often during labor)

We requested a telemetry monitor, which arrived around 3am, so that I could spend some time walking the halls. Basically, this a remote sensor about the size of a purse that could be hooked to my IV pole and transmit to the main EFM unit. I spent a couple hours walking the halls with mum, IV pole in tow. They start the induction with a low level of pitocin and increase the amount every 30 minutes until the body starts to experience regular contractions… for example, I started at 2 and by about level 6, I started to feel some light contractions. While I was walking Carmen came to turn down the pitocin (from 12 to 10) because I was basically have continuous contractions. I’d thought it was just increased intensity from finally getting upright and moving around. At each contraction I would stop, grab onto the hallway railings, and hula-hoop my hips while mum massaged my lower back. A doula for another patient suggested squatting during the contractions, something we had also discussed in our childbirth classes, but that made my lower back hurt.

At 6:30am I had another internal exam… I was now 2cm dilated, 60% effaced and the baby had moved down slightly to -2 station. Not much to show for the last 7.5 hours. At this point, there was a shift change and I was introduced to our new nurse, Heather, and the daytime resident, Dr. Zakhour. Shortly after this Heather introduced us to one of the physicians at Cedars and asked if I was interested in trying a technique called the foley bulb, a suggestion from my OB. The procedure involves placing a catheter with a bulb on the end inside the cervix and inflating the bulb with liquid. The catheter tube is taped to the inside of the thigh and the nurses occasionally check progress by tugging the tube slightly. When the baby has not engaged the pelvis, sometimes the cervix needs a little help. The pressure of the bulb acts to help dilate and efface the cervix similar to the way a baby’s head does normally. Eventually the cervix dilation is larger than the size of the bulb and the bulb comes out, leaving a nice large (well, relatively speaking) space for the baby’s head to drop into and finish the dilation process. It also means that the cervix has reached 4cm dilation and what the hospital considers to be active labor.

After the doctor inserted the bulb, Matthew and I walked the halls some more. By now the contractions were starting to be pretty regular and definitely made me stop to focus on each one. We were able to finally see some early morning light coming in and realized we’d probably have the baby today! After walking for about an hour, I felt something dribble down my leg and realized that I was lightly bleeding from the foley catheter tube. The nurse checked and told me everything was fine. She brought me a supersized sanitary pad (think adult diaper-sized) and mesh underwear. Incredibly unattractive. Incredibly comfortable.

I was starting to have back pain so I climbed back into bed, alternating between lying on my side and kneeling while leaning on the inclined headrest of the bed. I also spent some time in “slow-dance position” with Matthew. At 9:30, Dr. Zakhour returned to check on me and, with a small pop, the foley bulb was out! We bonded over our amusement at mesh underwear and the like while she performed an internal exam. Voilà… 4cm dilation! We were told we’d be moving to an active labor room as soon as one was available but that the ward was a bit busy. By this point I was having pretty serious back labor so we started trying the various techniques we’d learned in our childbirth class to deal with the situation. Walking felt good but I didn’t like dealing with contractions in the hall so we spent most of the time in our tiny room- swaying, side-lying, kneeling on all fours. Matthew and mum took turns applying counter pressure to my lower back during contractions and talked me through the contractions.

Just before noon, a delivery room opened up. I had originally wanted a room with a tub but I realized that I probably wouldn’t be able to get much use out of one with all the machinery attached to me. The room I ended up in had a shower and an amazing view of the hills through a full wall of windows. Once in the room we continued to work through contractions. Matthew encouraged me to continue to try new positions every hour or so. I didn’t really want to because moving hurt my back but I knew that I should. The back pain was bad enough at this point that I needed one person applying pressure to my back and the other person in my face, talking me through the contractions and helping me to remain relaxed between contractions. I rotated between sitting cross-legged on the end of the bed, kneeling on the bed with my head and arms resting on the birth ball, and sitting on the birth ball on the floor. Matthew and mum would rest between sets of contractions- I would have several contractions rapidly together and then have a break. There were a couple times I told Matthew that I didn’t think I could do this… he encouraged me and praised how well I was doing.

We had a substitute nurse, Susan, for a while as Heather was required in another delivery room. Susan informed me that Dr. Brown was going to be coming in to discuss breaking my water bags in order to help labor progress. The monitor displaying my contractions didn’t pick most of them up so the nursing staff didn’t really have a good idea of how my labor was progressing. According to the monitor, I was moving pretty slowly. We were torn on whether we wanted the intervention. Once the waters have been broken, labor has a time limit set due to the increased risk of infection. We weren’t sure we wanted to commit to that if my body wasn’t ready. It didn’t turn out to be an issue though- Matthew reminded me it was time to change positions so I rolled from being on my knees/birth ball to my side and there was a “pop” and a gush. My body did it all on it’s own at 2:55pm! A few minutes later, Dr. Brown arrived and was very pleased to hear the news. She performed an internal exam and I had progressed to 5 centimeters. Dr. Brown decided that we’d be fine for the next couple hours so she was planning in returning at 5:30 to check on me again.

Hearing that I was at 5 centimeters was a downer for me. I was already in a great deal of pain, due to the fact that the back pain did not yield between contractions. I thought about having to do this for hours and hours and started to panic. I told Matthew that I really couldn’t do this. In our childbirth class we learned about emotional signposts of labor. These signs can be an even more accurate assessment of how labor is progressing than dilation. The third and most difficult phase is self-doubt. Pre-childbirth I hadn’t realized how intense this phase was. We were taught that the woman would believe “I can’t do this” and the partner should take this as a sign that transition was happening. It would be more accurate to describe the sentiment as “I-can’t-do-this-and-I’m-going-to-die.” Matthew immediately recognized that I was much further along in the labor process than either the nurses or I realized. I didn’t ask for drugs- I remember thinking that all I needed to do was tell Matthew our safety phrase and he could tell the nurse. But I knew I’d be disappointed. Instead I stared into Matthew’s eyes and tried not to panic with each contraction. Matthew could tell I was hurting but knew in his heart that the baby wasn’t far from coming. He did his best to comfort me.

About 15 minutes after Dr. Brown left I suddenly felt a need to go to the bathroom. I told the nurse “I either need to poop or push!” She was doubtful that pushing was the case but when she performed an internal exam, my cervix had reached 7cm. She told me to breath through the urge to push, little puffs of air, since I wasn’t fully dilated yet. She spent the next bit of time fiddling with the baby’s heart rate belt and gathering items for the delivery, but with no real sense of urgency. With each contraction, my uterus would push, despite my best efforts. It was like trying to stop myself from vomiting, but in the other direction. The nurse responded to my grunts with “Don’t push. Small breaths.” Really, lady?!

“I’m not pushing,” I growled/yelled at her. That finally got her attention. She called Dr. Brown and informed us she would be there in 30 minutes.

“I don’t have 30 minutes. This is happening now!”

She sent out a call for the delivery team and sat at the foot of the bed, still trying to keep me from pushing. By this point the baby was starting to crown. Within minutes our room was filled with people, bustling through preparations for Mini Munson’s arrival- Heather, Dr. Zakhour, a nurse midwife, nursing students, the man to count gauze pads, a pediatric nurse, the pediatrician’s representative, a chief of surgery. About 15 people in all. Matthew, mum and I waited impatiently while they removed the bottom half of my bed and counted out scissors and gauze pads. Dr. Zakhour would be catching our baby in Dr. Brown’s absence. I was relieved to have a relatively familiar face in that position.

During this all, my body was still pushing the baby out, with no encouragement from me. My internal monologue at the time:

“Wait… this baby is coming out of where?!”

“Hey look- the Hollywood sign!”

“There is no way out of this now…”

Finally I was told I could push. I bore down and the head emerged. The doctor paused me to gently unwrap the umbilical cord, which was loosely around the baby’s neck. The midwife told me that when I felt the next contraction to push as I felt comfortable. A moment later the contraction started. I took a deep breath and pushed. Then another breath and another push and Mini literally shot out, with a huge splash of amniotic fluid. Our baby was airborne for it’s first seconds out here in the world, at 4:24pm. Safely caught, they lifted Mini for us to see and Matthew got to say, “It’s a girl!”

She was immediately placed on my chest, a warm, wet, wiggly little girl. We still were not 100% certain of her name so we had Baby Girl for a couple hours. I was so focused on this beautiful little person that I didn’t really notice the cord being cut and the placenta delivered. I just kept saying “baby girl” over and over. I have never felt such incredible joy.

After having her on my chest for about 15 minutes, the surgeon asked if it would be ok for Matthew to take the baby. I had a bad tear, potentially fourth degree, and they were considering taking me to the OR to stitch me up because the lighting would be better there. Matthew took Baby Girl to be weighed and measured while the team worked on cleaning me up. Between the cessation of back pain and the feel-good hormones pumping through my body, I actually laughed when they asked if I was in pain and gave a very sassy “I’m good. My back doesn’t hurt any more!”

It was decided that the lighting was fine in the delivery room and I was offered local anesthetics and an IV painkiller so they could stitch me up. The midwife told me that the drug had a very short half-life and would not affect the baby through my breast milk so I accepted. At this point, Dr. Brown arrived. The surgeon happened to be a good friend of hers so the two worked together to stitch me up. It took them about an hour to stitch the third degree tear. (Here is a link showing illustrations of vaginal tear severity by degree)

At last I got to hold my little girl again. She was very agreeable to getting some food so I nursed her for the very first time in the delivery room. What an incredible experience!

I held her as my bed was pushed to the recovery room. Everyone we passed in the hallways congratulated us. After settling into the recovery room, mum gave Matthew and I some time to our selves to discuss the all-important name. When she returned we were pleased to introduce her to her granddaughter:

Evelyn Grace.

Beautiful

2010-04-11T00:36:00.000-07:00

Two Month Checkup

2010-04-08T15:35:00.000-07:00

12 lbs.
23.5 inches

I'm a big kid now...

2010-04-01T21:04:00.000-07:00

Hanging out

2010-03-29T15:05:00.000-07:00

(picture source)

Today I'm all on my own with Evelyn. We're in between guests at the moment so I've popped E into her carrier and she's snoozing on my chest while I get some chores done. This is her first time being in this carrier for more than a few minutes and I'm glad it's going well. I'll do a full review later but, for now, if you want more information on the Pikkolo baby carrier, please check out The Portable Baby. She also has a great reference chart comparing Beco, Pikkolo, Ergo and Baby Bjorn carriers.

Up and coming...

2010-03-23T17:25:00.000-07:00

So it's taken some time... but life is starting to be manageable and that means that I'll start updating the blog again! Here are some upcoming posts I'm planning:

Evelyn's birth story (two part- Mom and Dad points of view)
Baby product reviews
Pictures galore!

She's here!

2010-02-22T09:55:00.000-08:00

Evelyn Grace Munson arrived at 4:24 PM on Feb 17, 2010. She was 8lbs. 8 oz. and 21.25 inches long. She's a lovely girl with a good crop of dark blonde hair! We love her to pieces already!

More later. Just wanted the blog not to be a cliffhanger!

This is it!

2010-02-16T11:18:00.000-08:00

Tonight's the night!

We're going in at 10pm tonight to start an induction... which means that Mini should be here sometime tomorrow or Thursday! We're finally going to get to meet this kid!

I'm sure we'll have some updates from the hospital but, in the mean time, we'd appreciate prayers that things go smoothly, that the pitocin isn't too overwhelming and that we're able to get some sleep on little hospital beds!

Dr. Appointment

2010-02-11T18:17:00.001-08:00

We went in for yet another appointment today- good news is the baby is in a much more favorable position for delivery: left anterior. That's exciting because maybe now the baby is ready to drop and get this show on the road! We're are more than ready to meet Mini... it's amazing how much you can love someone that you haven't even really met yet!

Mini's heart beat was good this morning, as was the flow in the umbilical cord and in Mini's brain. Yea... I got to see my baby's brain today. The amniotic fluid levels are still in the normal range but they are starting to drop off, which means the placenta is starting to age but not to the point where we should be worried yet. I had one little contraction while hooked up to the monitors and Mini was really sleepy so we had to wait a long time to get two good samples of baby movement.

Our ultrasound tech, an adorable French lady, showed us some 3D views of Mini's face and this little one has some seriously kissable cheeks and an adorable little mouth. She also informed us that we should watch out because we're going to have a long-legged blonde.

Our OB has scheduled an induction for Tuesday night, if Mini hasn't arrived by that point. That would give a birth date of February 17, which is the two week mark after our due date. We're praying that Mini comes sooner than that. I have been having some good contractions but they seem to go away when I go to bed at night. I told Matthew it's as if my uterus has no short term memory and forgets what to do when I go to bed. He didn't believe me that it could be a great movie, similar to "50 First Dates".

Anyway, it's great to know that the most we'll have to wait for this new little person to arrive is Wednesday... there is an end in sight! And then the real fun begins...

Week 41

2010-02-10T11:48:00.000-08:00

How far along? 41 weeks
Total weight gain: I officially weigh more than Matthew. That's all I'm gonna say...
Sleep: I'm trying to be as well rested as I can to help with labor but I'm always torn between taking it easy and going for a hike in hopes of getting this baby to drop and start labor.
Movement: Yep. And apparently I've been having contractions that I thought were movement.
Stretch Marks: I'm hoping Mini comes before they take over my whole body. They're currently still restrained to a small-ish area but if I have to wait another week, that may not be the case.
Belly Button: Still in. It has a funny little lip of skin on top that makes it look like a frown.
Best Moment this week: Seeing people's reactions when I tell them when my due date was. It's like they're nervous I'm going to have the baby right in front of them.
What I miss: the confidence that Mini was going to arrive on schedule. Now I'm starting to feel like we're never going to meet him/her.
What I am looking forward to: Having this baby!

Past due...

2010-02-08T15:36:00.000-08:00

We've started having two appointments every week to keep an eye on the quality of my placenta, the amount of amniotic fluid left and the health and well-being of Mini. We're both still healthy but Mini doesn't seem to want to cooperate - he/she has been head down since at least 28 weeks but refuses to face the right direction. Last week, Mini was in a left posterior position, which means that his/her spine ran along my left side and arms and legs were poking my right side. The preferred position, anterior position, is to have the spine along my stomach because this is how the baby best fits on the way out. I went through every technique I'd been taught to encourage this little one to turn into an anterior position, including going to the chiropractor. But at today's appointment, Mini had turned in the wrong direction and is now totally posterior (his/her spine is running along my spine) despite my best efforts. It's still possible to deliver a baby this way and there is still enough amniotic fluid for Mini to turn into anterior position but we'll see if that happens. If you wouldn't mind saying a little prayer that this little person starts to cooperate, that would be much appreciated by all parties. Delivering a posterior baby is harder both pain-wise and time-wise and we'd like to have Mini in our arms as soon as possible.

That said, I do have some good news in that I have had a contraction "on the record". At each appointment, they hook me up to monitors to show Mini's heartbeat and and any contractions I may be having. Up until now, Mini has performed amazingly while my uterus has been totally quiet. Today my uterus stepped up to the plate and, well, contracted. This made the doctor very happy, especially because Mini was happy even during the contractions. If Mini was starting to get stressed out by contractions it could have been a signal that my placenta was getting too old. Contractions are a sign that my body is figuring out what to do and it increases the likelihood that we won't need an induction.

Our doctor is scheduling an induction for early next week, however, as after the 42 week mark it becomes much more risky to wait for labor to kick in on it's own, but with any luck (and lots of prayer) Mini may be here before then.

We'll keep posting the news... hopefully soon we'll be able to share that Mini is here!

Week 40 - DUE DATE!

2010-02-03T14:00:00.000-08:00

How far along? 40 weeks
Total weight gain: 44lbs. But I drank alot of water before heading to the appointment. That's it... yea.
Sleep: Now I'm just having trouble going to bed because I'm too excited to sleep.
Movement: Like crazy! Now my whole belly moves. They did a non-stress test at the doctor's today and Mini was seriously trying to kick the monitors off my belly. During the ultrasound Mini was sucking his/her thumb like there was no tomorrow. The ultrasound tech laughed and said that this one is ready to nurse. She was also told us that we had one of the best babies she'd seen as far as movement and coordination. Ballet dancer, here we come.
Stretch Marks: Threatening to start moving above my belly button. I'm fine where they are now because I can't see them... if they pass the belly button, I'll have to look at them all the time.
Belly Button: Still in, shockingly.
Best Moment this week: Watching Mini on the ultrasound. And watching the baby respond to Matthew talking to my belly.
What I miss: I'm not sure. I've been pregnant so long I kind of don't remember what it was like before.
What I am looking forward to: Having this baby! And finding out if we're going to have an Owen or a .... girl. Still need a name!
Milestones: Today is the due date!

No baby yet...

2010-02-02T16:23:00.000-08:00

But look what I can do:

Matthew and I had one last photo shoot, just in case this little one comes on schedule. After doing the usual poses, Matthew asked me to touch the ground so that we could have photographic evidence that it's still possible. That led to more showing off and voilà... a picture that had me laughing about the oddness of it and rethinking my choice in lounge pants.

Dr. Appointment

2010-01-29T11:13:00.000-08:00

Had an appointment yesterday and everything seems to be going well. I'm not having any contractions yet but I have been having cramping, which means my body is prepping to have this baby. The baby's heartbeat was strong and when the doctor checked to see if I had any dilation, Mini gave her a big kick. As of yesterday, I was 1 centimeter dilated with a good start on effacement but Mini hasn't dropped yet so we've still got some time.

After the appointment, my mum and I wondered around Rodeo Drive for a while. We went into Ralph Lauren because they have a baby section. So many cute, tiny, preppy clothes! Mum found a dress for herself that was on sale for half off... only $559. What a deal! That's about when we decided to go home.

Last night our childbirth class instructor came over to do a review with us. We'll be the last people in our class to have a baby. It's interesting to practice for something you've never experienced. After we were done with the review and practice, we showed her the baby hammock all set up. She was very impressed. I wonder if people in LA start buying them, if we can get a commission for getting it all started! :)

Week 39

2010-01-27T15:29:00.000-08:00

How far along? 39 weeks
Total weight gain: 42lbs. Next update tomorrow morning.
Sleep: I remember what it was like to sleep. And I miss it.
Movement: Starting to run out of space in there. I'm hoping that encourages a prompt exit strategy on the part of Mini. On my part, I'd like to share that I can still touch the ground without bending my knees.
Stretch Marks: Under my belly still.
Belly Button: Still in. I think that may be the final verdict.
Best Moment this week: Discovering I had Jell-o Chocolate pudding in the cupboard.
What I miss: Taking pictures without fear of a double chin.
What I am looking forward to: Having this baby!
Weekly Wisdom: Only share your birth story if it was positive. It's not helpful to hear about what an awful ordeal you had to go through... I've still got to go through this.

Week 38

2010-01-20T14:04:00.000-08:00

How far along? 38 weeks
Total weight gain: 40lbs. Next update tomorrow morning.
Sleep: Not so much. Between feeling uncomfortable and having a bit of a head cold, it's been a rough week. As soon as I find a nice position, my post nasal drip wakes me up.
Movement: Mostly rolls now. There really isn't enough room for punches and kicks.
Stretch Marks: I got some moisturizing oil to prevent them from becoming itchy. Still just a couple under my belly.
Belly Button: Still in. It was rapidly approaching flatness for a while but it's not there yet.
Best Moment this week: Getting our baby hammock set up!
What I miss: Comfort.
What I am looking forward to: Having this baby! I'm so excited to be able to meet him/her!
Weekly Wisdom: Husbands are great help with nesting because they can actually move stuff!
Milestones: 95% done with this pregnancy!

Dr. Appointment

2010-01-14T12:40:00.000-08:00

Just got back from my doctors appointment and everything is going well. The baby's heartbeat was nice and strong. Our doctor was able to feel my belly and give an estimate on what size Mini is- right now she's guessing about 7 lbs, so right on the mark to be about 8 lbs at birth. It amazes me that she can do that because basically I can feel that my belly is round and hard... I can't pick out body parts. I also lost a pound- that makes me feel better about having gained 5 pounds in a single week at my last appointment. I'm hoping to keep my weight gain here at 40 lbs. It's amazing what cutting out a few desserts in a week can do!

My blood pressure was slightly high when I arrived but when they took it again before letting me go, it had dropped to where it should be. I'm guessing it was a bit high after walking past the De Beers window on the way to the office and seeing a gorgeous diamond necklace that probably costs more than my college education. I love having a doctor on Rodeo Drive. It makes me feel swanky. Even when almost every item I'm wearing today is from Target.

Week 37

2010-01-13T12:41:00.000-08:00

How far along? 37 weeks
Total weight gain: We'll see how my appointment goes tomorrow morning.
Sleep: It's getting harder to find a comfortable position. Matthew may be moving to the futon soon so that at least he can get some good sleep.
Movement: Yep. I get nervous when the baby has quiet days but I always get enough movement to pass the kick count test my doctor has me do. Ready for this baby to be born because then at least I can see that everything's okay.
Stretch Marks: Sunday morning I woke up thinking: "I'm uncomfortable but at least I don't have stretch marks." That night, as I was getting ready for church, Matthew noticed two tiny patches of stretch marks on the underside of my belly. His response: "At least they're symmetrical".
Belly Button: I never believed it would get flat. But it's progressively getting shallower and I think it might go flat before Mini gets here! Not shocking considering my waistline has gone from 26" to 44".
Best Moment this week: Snuggling with Matthew on Tuesday morning.
What I miss: Agility. My chiropractor is impressed at how well I move for a pregnant lady but I still feel like an oaf.
What I am looking forward to: Meeting with potential pediatricians.
Weekly Wisdom: Don't wait until the last minute to schedule pediatrician interviews. I thought I had all the time in the world and suddenly I'm three weeks from the due date and no pediatrician yet.
Milestones: Mini is now a full-term baby!

Sleepy thoughts

2010-01-11T09:23:00.000-08:00

As I was falling asleep last night, I realized something profound. Wednesday marks 37 weeks for us, which is when we're pretty much OK having the baby at any point. Which means that, anytime now in the next 3-5 weeks, I could get a call from Beckie saying, "I think I'm having contractions." Whoa. We're so close! The time has really flown!

Laundry Time!

2010-01-08T13:18:00.000-08:00

Today I'm washing all the newborn and 0-3 month baby clothes, along with all the blankets, x-small diaper covers, hats, toys, etc... When clothes are this tiny, you can fit so many in one load! I actually had to find the laundry bag I had for washing delicates to put all the socks in so they don't get lost.

After today all we'll need is for our hammock to arrive (winter storms in England are causing delays in shipment) and we'll be 100% ready for Mini to arrive. Or as ready as first time parents can be, at any rate.

Can't wait to meet this little person who's been dancing around in my belly. Can't wait to see what he/she looks like. Can't wait to hold Mini in my arms and marvel at the fact that Matthew and I made this tiny creature.

Week 36

2010-01-06T18:57:00.000-08:00

How far along? 36 weeks
Total weight gain: 41 pounds. Apparently eating lots of ice cream to celebrate not gaining a bunch of weight at my last weigh in was a bad plan. Here's to healthier eating this week...
Sleep: Now that I'm off work, I can get enough! Yay!
Movement: Yep. Matthew has been feeling alot at night when we go to bed.
Best Moment this week: Hiking today in Eaton Canyon. It was hot and sweaty and felt oh so good.
What I miss: My pre-pregnancy cheeks. I feel a bit like a chipmunk.
What I am looking forward to: 4 weeks to prepare for Mini to arrive with no work.
Weekly Wisdom: Chocolate and ice cream is not the way to celebrate small weight gains.
Milestones: 36 weeks means that from here on out, if I go into labor, they won't stop me. And my last day of work!

Baby Checkup

2010-01-05T13:31:00.000-08:00

Beckie had an appointment with the OB today. As far as we know, everything's on track for a healthy mom and a healthy baby! The OB estimates that the baby is right around 5-6 pounds now, so we're probably going to be in the 7-8 pound range. Some cultures came back negative, so Beckie won't have to have IV antibiotics during the labor/delivery. We might just see if they'll let us go without the hep-lock at all.

So exciting! I'm so eager to meet this little person!

Impatient

2010-01-04T14:22:00.001-08:00

The baby isn't here yet. This is a problem. I know it's still early, but I'm now officially ready to be done with this pregnancy. And I'm not even carrying the baby!

Happy New Year!

2010-01-01T08:57:00.000-08:00

2010 is here! Mini is going to be born this year!

And the Old Wives say...

2009-12-31T11:48:00.000-08:00

Just for fun I thought I'd take a quiz that compiles all sort's of Old Wives Tales about pregnancy and see what my odds were of Mini being a boy or girl... Here are the results:

You have a 21% chance of having a boy.
And you have a 78% chance of having a girl.

And Here's Why...
You are carrying the extra weight out front, so it's a boy.
The hair on your legs is not growing any faster during your preganacy, so it's a girl.
Boys are carried low. You are going to have a boy.
Your feet are not colder than they were before pregnancy. You are having a girl.
Dad-to-be hasn't been gaining weight along with Mom-to-be, so it will be a girl.
The maternal grandmother doesn't have gray hair (dyed or natural), so a girl will be born.
You had morning sickness early in pregnancy, so you are expecting a girl.
You are looking particularly good during pregnancy. Therefore, it must be a boy, because girls steal their mother's looks.
Your chest development has been quite dramatic during pregnancy. You should expect a girl.
Since the sum of the mother's age at conception and the number of the month of conception is an odd number, it will be a girl.
A needle on a thread held over you belly moves from side-to-side, so it will be a girl.
Your urine is a dull yellow color, so you will have a girl.
You are craving sweets, which means that it is a girl.
Your nose hasn't changed during pregnancy, which indicates a girl.
You have been craving fruits, so it is a girl.
You are not having headaches, so it's a girl.
Your belly looks like a basketball, so it's a boy.
You show them the palm of your hand, so it's a girl.
You use the body of the mug, so it's a girl.

Week 35

2009-12-30T15:05:00.000-08:00

How far along? 35 weeks
Total weight gain: 36 pounds.
Sleep: I just woke up from a delicious nap. I love time off from work.
Movement: Yep.
Best Moment this week: Spending Christmas Day with Matthew. And getting to hold baby Jackson.
What I miss: Knowing what sort of food I want.
What I am looking forward to: Having this kid!
Weekly Wisdom: A bag of Milky Way minis is even better than a full size bar.
Milestones: 35/35. I'm 35 weeks along with 35 days to go!

Baby!

2009-12-28T10:51:00.000-08:00

I'm getting really eager to meet this little person! Even though I have a ton to do, I'm still hoping that Mini comes early (not too early, but early enough). Woohoo for babies!

Baby Stuff!

2009-12-25T21:57:00.000-08:00

On Christmas Eve we received a big box in the mail from Isaac and Jordan (and Jacoby) filled with a baby bath tub, clothes and diaper covers! I love hand-me-downs- our supply of baby clothes has more than doubled now! And we're set on diaper covers until Mini tops 18 lbs.

Being who I am, the first thing I did was sort the clothing into piles based on size. They range from 0-3 months all the way up to 9 months. I also organized diaper covers and hats. I was tempted to unfold all the tiny socks and put them in order by size but thought that might be a bit of overkill.

We're so ready for this little one to arrive!

Week 34

2009-12-23T09:18:00.000-08:00

How far along? 34 weeks
Total weight gain: 34 pounds.
Sleep: The last few nights haven't been too bad, thankfully.
Movement: Yep. Especially during Christmas Caroling... the baby was objecting me using my diaphragm to sing.
Best Moment this week: when Matthew sang a bit of a solo at the caroling party on Monday night and it made the baby dance.
What I miss: People having verbal censors. Just because I'm pregnant doesn't mean you can say anything you want to me.
What I am looking forward to: Opening Christmas gifts! Matthew has this crazy idea that packages that arrive in the mail still have to wait to be opened until Christmas...
Weekly Wisdom: Chocolate Christmas tree ornaments from Trader Joe's are delicious.
Milestones: We are next in line to have a baby! Yay!

Welcome!

2009-12-23T09:13:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the world Jackson Thomas Garcia!

Born 12/22 at 7:59pm, measuring in at 9lbs 6oz and 22.5" long!