Boo and Baby

Mother's Day Serenade

2011-05-08T08:52:00.004-05:00

Happy Mother's Day from Nicholas to all our favorite Moms - whatever species their charges may be.

Boo, The Snowman, & The Horse

2011-03-12T22:20:00.016-06:00

Things that have been happening at our house this week:

1.) Boo and Nicholas had a cuddle without either one ending up squashed, scratched, or crying!

2.) Nicholas built his first snowman and loved him so much that he cried when we went inside for lunch.

3). Nicholas discovered a new artistic medium! He loves pennies so I gave him a jar of misc. coins to play with. He carefully placed coin next to coin - each barely touching - and created this cool design. He said he was making a horse. He had a blast running around the design and jumping over the coins when he was finished; never once knocking a coin out of place. When he got tired of that game, he went through, on hands and knees, and wiped the whole thing away.

Art Projects with Nicholas are a Lesson in Patience

2011-01-22T14:14:00.003-06:00

Lilly Pads

2011-01-20T17:04:00.002-06:00

How we spend cold winter afternoons....

Eight Minutes with Mr. Fixit

2010-12-01T17:51:00.003-06:00

Here's a typical eight mintues with our chatterbox child.

Count Nicholas

2010-08-03T22:47:00.004-05:00

"Schroeder" In Our Midst?

2010-07-12T12:56:00.007-05:00

Splash Pad

2010-07-09T13:09:00.007-05:00

Nicholas at the MN Zoo's Splash Pad

Guitar Hero

2010-05-04T13:42:00.004-05:00

Nicholas playing "While my Guitar Gently Weeps" (Rockband- The Beatles).

(Please ignore the mismatched clothes!)

The Hunt

2010-04-04T10:13:00.013-05:00

Preparing for "The Hunt"

I found one!

A serious egg hunter.

I like hunting eggs!

Newly Added: A bonus "The Hunt" video produced by "Daddy"

Easter Eggs

2010-04-03T15:01:00.004-05:00

Enjoying Peas and Carrots

2010-02-26T16:07:00.001-06:00

Up, Up, and Away!

2009-12-31T11:48:00.003-06:00

Monkeying Around on Halloween

2009-11-02T10:44:00.006-06:00

Today I Played in the Snow

2009-10-12T14:39:00.013-05:00

Nicholas is One!

2009-10-06T13:51:00.028-05:00

Nicholas is now a one year old! We celebrated his birthday with family and friends, presents and cake, and lots of fun. The biggest event of the day, other than turning one, was Nicholas' first taste of sugar in the form of birthday cake.

The intial introduction was.... cautious.

At his parents urging, Nicholas gives it a taste.

"I don't think I like it."

"It's is great for smushing, though.

"Maybe I'll give it another go..."

"I might like this cake thing afterall."

I'll fess up. I'm late with this post. Nicholas' birthday was Sept 15. Truthfully, I'm late on a number of summer related events, birthday included. In the spirit of the season, I'm going to turn over a new leaf (get it?) and try to post a bit more regularly. In the next few weeks a number of back-logged posts should appear. They won't follow any particular order so be prepared for a jumbled timeline.

Happy Birthday Daddy!

2009-09-14T12:35:00.002-05:00

I love you bunches!

Happy 20th Anniversary Gramo and Grampo!

2009-08-18T09:47:00.003-05:00

You May Want to Bring Your Own Tissues Next Time You Visit

2009-08-04T19:48:00.023-05:00

It started with a shattered coffee mug full of water, a water-strewn wooden train set, an overturned garbage bin, a bruised shin, a sleep deprived, irritable teething baby wanting to play with said wooden train set, and an overly curious orange cat. It ended with this. I'll let you fill in your own details.

I decided to leave the mopping for another day.

Happy Adoption Day Boo!

2009-08-04T19:05:00.020-05:00

Boo joined our family 3 years ago today. Bill and I originally saw Boo at the Humane Society in Woodbury. We'd visited the shelter to see a different orange cat but Boo (then named Bernardo) caught our attention. He was in the top row of cages reclining on his side, one paw dangling out of the cage, watching everything. He was big and orange and adorable. But, our hearts were still heavy from the loss of our previous cat and we weren't certain we were ready for another. We left without meeting him.

Two days later, we were still thinking of "Bernardo". We made a second trip to see him only to find he'd been sent to the local PetSmart for promotion. We debated adopting him on the drive to the store. We weren't sure we were ready, but we knew we wanted to spend some time with him and see.

He was in a big cage behind glass. His litter box was filthy and overflowing. His food had spilled and mixed with the litter. His water dish was dry. The employees let us take Boo into their break room to spend time with him. He was warm with a fever - dirty and smelly, parts of his tail and back were covered in poop. He was a sorry sight but he purred and purred, played like a kitten, and was friendly with everyone. There was no way we could send this loveable cat back to such awful conditions - so Boo became ours. Our crazy, cuddly, chipmunk obsessed, attack cat - Boo Radley.

Happy Adoption Day Boo!

The Tale of Nicolius (in HD)

2009-07-04T22:15:00.009-05:00

Yes, I know the videos are larger than the blog window. It's frustrating but I’m working on a solution to the problem. Until then, you can view videos in full screen by pressing the “full screen” button just to the right of the volume button on the bottom of the video window. Press the "Esc" key on your keyboard to return to a normal screen.

Happy 4th of July!

2009-07-04T20:56:00.004-05:00

Nicholas found his first parade to be interesting and fun - even if it was raining. The fire truck horns were a bit scary, though.

He's a High Stepper

2009-05-17T15:40:00.005-05:00

New Video

2009-05-09T15:12:00.006-05:00

For the stout hearted: the full 9 minute, unedited version can be found on YouTube.

An Earth Day Message

2009-05-07T12:48:00.010-05:00

Yeah, we're late on this one, but I thought it was cute enough to post. Every day should be Earth Day, right?

Just a Quick "Hello!"

2009-05-02T11:12:00.003-05:00

Just a quick "Hello!" from Nicholas. Nicholas is enjoying the spring weather (as is his Mom) and gives us something new to laugh about every day. I've got a few videos up my sleeves which I hope to have posted sometime soon, so stay tuned.

Happy Easter!

2009-04-12T12:20:00.005-05:00

The Boys

2009-03-13T19:47:00.009-05:00

The Bee's Knees

2009-02-24T21:18:00.004-06:00

It all started last Wednesday. Until then, I was a big fan of swaddling. Who wouldn’t like it? It helps you stay snug, warm, and comfy. Plus, I had these flailing things that would hit me in the face all the time. Mom calls them arms. Whatever they are, every time Mom tried to put me to sleep un-swaddled, these “arm-things” would flail around and whack me in the face and wake me up. I hate to admit it, being a guy and all, but it really made me cry! So, I liked my swaddling. About a month or so ago, Mom convinced me to sleep with one of those arm-things out of the swaddling blanket - but it still flailed around a bit and I didn’t always get a lot of sleep.

Then, on Wednesday, I decided that this swaddling thing was for babies. I’m five months old now and I’m no baby, so I said “I’m done with that” and refused to go to sleep swaddled. I fussed and fussed but Mom just didn’t get it (sometimes she’s kind of slow on the up-take). Eventually, she figured out, unwrapped both arms, and I was free to sleep like a big boy. It was great and I slept pretty well.

Mom and Dad were so proud of me that I decided I’d give the other “big thing” a shot. Mom reads a lot of books – she’s a bit of a nerd, really - and those books have been telling her that I would start rolling over anytime from about 3 to 4 months old, though there’s a wide range on this skill.

For months now, she and Dad (mostly Dad, he’s impatient about these things) have been asking me when I thought I might want to rollover. They’ve been showing me how to do it – rolling me from front to back and back to front; over and over again.

It doesn’t seem that hard. I’m pretty strong and they don’t have to help me much. I can lift my butt of the floor really high and I can roll onto my sides easily enough. I could rollover if I wanted to, but really, what’s the point? I like being on my back. Or my front. I don’t really care. And, just about the time I get bored with where I am Mom comes along and whisks me away.

Then, about a week ago, shortly after my 5 month birthday - when those books all said I should be rolling over - Mom took things into her own hands. She got down on the floor and showed me how it’s done. She rolled one way and then the other. Back and forth across the living room floor she went showing me, in detail, the mechanics of rolling. It was pretty funny and we both laughed a lot. But, I still didn’t see any point in trying it myself.

Then came the Wednesday night when I slept like a big boy and I saw how proud Mom and Dad were of me. It got me thinking….

So, on Saturday, I gave it a try…

And another…

And a few more tries that I won’t bore you with. By then I was beat! So, I cuddled with Mom, had a nice big meal, slept for an hour, had a bit more to eat, and gave it another shot.

And Finally…..

Mom and Dad were VERY excited. They gave me hugs and kisses and told me how very clever I am. It was great! So, I decided then and there that’d I’d really surprise them and work on sitting up all on my own.

It was a great surprise and Mom and Dad think I’m just “the bee's knees”, whatever that is. Mom says, “There are probably lots of 5 month old babies that can roll over and some of those might even be working on sitting up. But, how many of those babies rollover and start sitting-up for the first time all on the same day?”

The Power of Speech

2009-02-03T16:15:00.007-06:00

Our verbal little Nicholas has discovered the power of speech; he's learned to squeal. And, luckily for me, he's decided it wields the most power when he's angry. He spent the entire day practicing "the squeal" the day he discovered it - honing his volume and timing for the best effect.

He's peeved at me in this clip because I put him in his crib to watch his mobile for a few minutes while I put away some clothes. He did NOT want to be in the crib. Can you tell??

Hurray!

2009-01-20T13:09:00.010-06:00

Hurray Barack!

It seems appropriate to celebrate the day with a few photos of Nicholas cheering for Barack Obama on election day - and one enjoying today's inauguration.

Long & Lean

2009-01-15T18:22:00.019-06:00

Nicholas is 4 months old today! We marked the day with a pediatric checkup & immunization update. Nicholas enjoyed his visit - for the most part. He found the ear check quite funny (made him laugh) and the injections surprising & painful (made him cry). The Pediatrician declared Nicholas strong, engaging, and very verbal.

Growth wise, our boy has grown longer and leaner. His newest stats are:

Weight: 13 lbs, 8 oz (25th percentile)

Length: 26.5 inches (97th percentile)

Here's a shot of his skinny, bandaged thighs....

365

2009-01-13T20:19:00.016-06:00

A year ago today I took a Valium, travelled 12 miles to a clinic in Minneapolis - laughing and giggling the entire way - and had a bundle of 80-some cells transfered to my uterus. 365 days later, those 80-some cells have grown by the millions to form a laughing, crying, eating, pooping, delightful baby boy.

It's been, simply, the most amazing 365 days of my life.

Bits and Pieces

2009-01-06T11:05:00.010-06:00

Fun With Videos

2008-12-04T11:18:00.009-06:00

Sorry for the hiatus. Boo and Baby have been keeping me quite busy. I have a few posts in the works but they not quite ready for prime time. In the meantime, enjoy some videos produced by Bill.

Nicholas' Alter Ego

Daddy's Little Roman

(For those of you not up on your Roman history, the speech is Augustus (Caesar's son) telling the senate that he was taking control after his father's death.)

A Shout Out to Justin

2008-11-09T12:54:00.006-06:00

(we thought this was fun enough to share with everyone).

In the Immortal Words of Prince...

2008-11-09T12:36:00.012-06:00

"Baby I'm a .... star! "

Nicholas Votes. Do you?

2008-11-04T12:31:00.009-06:00

Nicholas visited his first polling place today and helped Mom place her votes. Follow Nicholas example and "Vote Often, Vote Well"!

Information on your local candidates or polling place can be found at the League of Women Voters website.

Whew, voting is tiring work ....

Happy Halloween From Nicholas and Boo!

2008-10-31T20:31:00.024-05:00

Thanks to Aunty Jen and cousins Sophia & Lydia for the adorable skelleton costume - and to Aunty Sue for Boo's costume!

Happy 5 Weeks Nicholas!

2008-10-20T14:18:00.011-05:00

Nicholas is 5 weeks old today! He celebrated his 5 week birthday by sleeping 5 hours in one stretch last night. Did you catch that?

Five. Straight. Hours.

It was the most sleep either of us has had in one stretch since before Nicholas was born. Nicholas' "longer" sleep sessions typically last about 2.5 - 3 hours so you can imagine how refreshing 5 hours in one stretch would feel. In case you can't imagine, it feels absolutely fantastic!

Boo celebrated Nicholas' 5 week birthday by watching chipmunks and playing his new favorite game ... Leap the Baby. I have a little mobile changing station set up on the living room floor for those frequent diaper changes. Boo's "Leap the Baby" game involves running madly, at top speed, from one end of the house, into the living room, making big leap over Nicholas as he lies on the changing pad, and then darting away again. Boo thinks this game is great fun and can leap over Nicholas 3 or 4 times in one changing. I find this new game pretty amusing. Bill... not so much. Nicholas is oblivious to it all.

Here are pictures of Nicholas practicing his smile and showing his strength ...

Little Boy Blue

2008-10-16T14:45:00.011-05:00

Nicholas and I both have thrush; a persistent little fungal infection common in infants and breastfeeding moms. Fortunately, Nicholas has a pretty light case. I, on the other hand, have a more severe one. We've been fighting it with various prescriptions and over the counter meds for 3 long weeks now and it only seems to be getting worse. A few days ago, I reached my physical and emotional limit and, in desperation, made urgent medical appointments for us both.

I came away from my appointment with lots of empathy, a lovely pain relieving cream, and a systemic oral medication. Nicholas was treated with a topical liquid called Gentian Violet, and came away with one very colorful mouth.

Pictures just don't do justice to the deep, vibrant purple/blue that is my baby's mouth. A vibrant color that, according to our Pediatrician, may last up to two weeks. Poor Nicholas. The cute little baby with the very blue mouth.

Here are pictures of my "Little Boy Blue". You can get a better idea of the intensity of color by clicking on the image and viewing it in full size.

And, of course, the obligatory cute picture. This is Nicholas' "going to the Dr." outfit that I thought was adorable. Nicholas was pretty excited about it too!

Its a..... BOY!

2008-10-12T18:08:00.007-05:00

Nicholas Alexander
September 15, 2008 at 1:04 p.m.
7lbs, 6 oz
20 inches
2.5 weeks early

I know, I know; not exactly late breaking news. It has been 28 days since Nicholas arrived on the scene and I'm just now getting to the first blog post. I haven't been ignoring the blog, or trying to keep everyone in suspense - just very busy trying to keep up with Nicholas' great demand for food. And believe me, he has an appetite to rival a linebacker.

Since I'm perpetually tired and have very little time between feedings, I will leave you with the following various pictures. Enjoy!

Routines

2008-08-02T12:03:00.007-05:00

Boo and I have a long established morning routine. It changes a bit from season to season, but essentially it’s always the same.

We get up early while the day is still quiet (Bill is more of a night owl). Sometimes I wake on my own, but on sleepy days Boo gets fed up with my laziness, puts his face right up next to mine, purrs and tickles my face with his whiskers. He’s tried this tactic on Bill a few times, but Bill sleeps right through it. Me, on the other hand, I’m a light sleeper so this wakes me instantly. We have a bit of a cuddle and then I get up.

Boo, excited to start the day, meows and dances around while I grope around for some socks or slippers then follows in my wake as I stumble to the bathroom for a morning pit stop. Boo has a long drink from the bathtub faucet while I have my break and put in contacts. When we’re both done, we head to the kitchen.

I start my morning tea (decaf for now) then head outside to fill the bird feeders which include a ground feeder for rabbits, chipmunks, squirrels, doves, deer, etc. I leave the patio door open (screen in place) and Boo sits himself down - nose to patio screen - waiting for his morning's entertainment; watching the wildlife come to the feeders. I sit down in the living room with Gertie (my laptop) check email, the news and weather and wait for my morning’s entertaining – watching Boo and the wildlife.

It doesn't take long for the wildlife to appear. They know the morning routine as well as Boo. Squirrels and chippies are the first to arrive and the show begins. Squirrels run around, fighting over feeder rights. Devilish little chipmunks run up and over the patio steps, an inch or so from Boo’s nose, on their way to and from the ground feeder. Boo forgets himself and tries to pounce them through the screen door. He hits the screen so hard that it rattles on its track. Later, the Blue Jays come to collect peanuts. Boo, who is particularly fond of Jays, chats away to them in strange little chirps and – of course – tries his pouncing moves once again. Sometimes the deer even make a morning appearance. Boo thinks they're his playmates. He rolls over, exposing his belly, and tries to engage them in a round of play scaring them away in the process.

Eventually, Bill, the “spoiler of morning fun” gets up for the day and comes to close the door. Or, if it’s cool enough to leave the windows open, the birds and mammals clear out the best of the bird food and move on to other feeding grounds. Boo begins to loose interest and moves on to other activities; like pouncing me as I do some housecleaning. At least I’m a target he can hit.

I love this morning routine. It’s a nice serene way to start the day. And I know, without a doubt, it’s going to change in just a few short months (60-ish days or less, in fact). Sure, I’ll still feed the wildlife and Boo will spend his mornings watching them. But the quiet will be a thing of the past and my time watching Boo’s antics will be limited. I think this is the only bit of my current life that I’ll be sad to let go of - these beautiful, quite morning with the wildlife and Boo. Unless, of course, I can convince Bill to take early morning baby duty. Do you think that’s possible? Would bribery help?

Now for a quick baby update:

I’m in the third trimester - 31 weeks and a few days
I’m still measuring one week ahead
My blood pressure and glucose levels are low and normal respectively. These are both good signs as the risk of high-blood pressure/pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes are significantly higher for women pregnant in their 40's. Actually, if I have any problems at all it's having too low blood pressure (light-headedness/faintness) and too low blood sugar (shakey, sweaty, urgent need to eat). I'll take the lows over the highs any day!
The baby is very strong, active and moves enough to shake my whole stomach.
Bill and I are still having a hoot with the pregnancy and are enjoying every momement. Sore ribs and back aches, and low blood sugar crabbiness included.

I Blame Wal-Mart

2008-07-15T19:24:00.002-05:00

I spent the 4th of July - my favorite holiday - on crutches and I blame Wal-Mart.

I’m not a huge Wal-Mart fan. In fact, before dating Bill I’d probably only been to a Wal-Mart once or twice. I don’t even know if we had Wal-Marts up here in the Great White North until recently. Maybe we did. Everyone I know always shopped at Target. Who wouldn’t when given the choice?

But Bill has a fondness for Wal-Mart, despite their questionable employment practices and other social sins so, I shop there - usually when Bill comes with me. It’s nice to have someone help bag groceries and carry them out to the car. Plus he’s happy to do all of the price comparison mathematics. I’d sell my soul to give up that responsibility.

Anyway, I picked up some patio cushions on a Wal-Mart trip a couple of weeks ago. They were sort-a cute and a good price so I thought I give them a shot. We brought them home, put them on the patio set, and gave them a try. They looked nice enough, but lord were they uncomfortable! All of the stuffing was piled up in the middle and sitting on them made it feel like someone was pushing pillows up your bum. Fun for some, I suppose but we didn’t enjoy the experience so I decided to return them.

Fast forward a couple of days and I’m heading out to work. I’d planned on returning the bum-pushing cushions during my lunch hour. Bill was working from home that day so I was going it alone. Per usual, I was running a little late so rather than taking a couple of trips to the car, I grabbed my bag, purse, lunch, and then piled all the cushions up in front of me ‘till they were over my head, and then stepped out the door - straight on to the edge of our welcome mat.

My ankle twisted, my foot flipped over and I ended up with the top of my foot on the ground. It hurt like hell.

I went down. The cushions, my bag, carefully packed lunch, and purse flew everywhere and then Bill came running. It was such an absurd situation that I laughed. Hysterically. And then I cried. And laughed and cried some more. Poor Bill didn’t know what to think.

I ended up at Urgent Care later in the day; and in an air cast and crutches by evening. Two days later, I found myself – very pregnant - in a foot wrap and air cast hobbling up a huge, weedy hill in order to watch 4th of July fireworks. Damn Wal-Mart and their crappy goods. They weren’t going to ruin my best holiday. Still, I’m happy to blame them. I mean really, who the hell sells cushions that push all the stuffing up your bum???

Sex … not that kind!

2008-06-30T20:53:00.011-05:00

We’ve had mixed reactions to our wishes to not know the baby’s sex. Some people think it’s great, others are completely baffled. The controversy reigns on in our very own household. Bill wants to know the baby’s sex. I do not.

For those of you more inclined to Bill’s point of view, here are a few reasons for not wanting to know.

Revisiting the Days of Yore: This has been an extremely high-tech conception and pregnancy. Heck, we’ve been seeing pictures of the baby since it was only 50 cells big and lived in a Petri dish. Don’t get me wrong. I’m beyond grateful for every bit of technology involved. For me, though, it’s kind of nice to have a bit of “old fashioned-ness”, too.

Nursery, Clothing, etc: Knowing the baby’s sex would make no difference in our nursery choices. The traditional blue and pink themes? Not for me. Honestly, I’m not fond of blue. I know… I know … everyone likes blue, right? Well not me. It’s one of my least favorite colors. Hardly surprising from someone who’s not fond of cola, meat, or chocolate either. And, although I like pink just fine, neither of us would likely choose a pink nursery theme, either. Avoiding these colors in the nursery is easy. Clothing is more difficult, but I’m giving it my best shot. The neutral color clothes are so much cuter anyway.

Names: Sure, it would be easier to focus on just boy or girl names, but truthfully I’ll be surprised if we can agree on even one name by the time the baby arrives. It took weeks of discussion, negotiation, and brow-beating to name Boo. I don’t imagine naming the baby will be any easier. Oh, and for the record, Priapus is definite NOT on the list.

Suprise! I just want the excitement of the surprise.

On the other side of the coin Bill feels that knowing would help him imagine the baby better – help him feel more bonded. I can’t blame him for wanting this. I’ve got the baby with me 24/7. I get to feel every kick, flip and punch. Bill is able to enjoy only occasional movements. I get his desire to know more about the baby than the a few occasional kicks.

This is why, after a lifetime of certainty that I would never want to know my baby’s sex prior to birth – we have, in fact, found out. I wanted Bill to have the bonding experience he wished for.

There it is. We know. Now it comes down to the question of letting others in on the secret. In typical W*** style, we differ on this. Bill, of course, wants to tell everyone. I would like to make it a surprise. So, we’re leaving it up to you. To Know or not to Know. That is the question. Let us know....

Tomorrow I'll tell the story of how I started the day completely mobile and ended it in bed, foot in an air cast, with crutches sitting next to me.

Prenatal Limericks!

2008-06-29T11:20:00.005-05:00

Our brother-in-law Jim, famous for his limericks, felt inspired to write the following. I loved them and thought I'd share them. Because this blog is part of the public Internet, I've blanked out our last name (W*****'). You all can fill that in yourselves.

Two W****’ – A Bill and a Jen –
Baby’s coming, but we don’t know when
But we’ll play the game
And pick out his name.
Our final answer is Sven.

Two W*****’, a Jen and a Bill
A new baby – Oh what a thrill
For fortune and fame
She needs a good name.
Our feminine option is Lil.

Come back tomorrow for yet another blog update!!

Energy Crisis

2008-06-29T10:48:00.015-05:00

Information presented in the pregnancy literature can be confusing. It's common to find conflicting advice about the baby’s development and various pregnancy related symptoms. But, there’s one topic they all agree upon. The second trimester is filled with energy (!):

"Many women take advantage of the increased energy levels in the second trimester…."
"the second trimester is the easiest. For most, nausea has subsided and energy level is high"
"You are now entering your second trimester. Your energy level should increase …"

Quite frankly - and I'm feeling frank - it’s all a bunch of bull. I am in the midst of an energy crisis the likes of which haven’t been seen since the gas lines of the 70’s. Sure, I don’t feel the same levels of exhaustion that came in the first trimester. I can actually get my butt off the couch during the day. But I sure don’t have loads of energy and a feeling like I can take on the world; and I’m nowhere near the same energy levels I had pre-pregnancy.

Mornings are pretty good and I tend to get a lot done. Afternoons come with less energy, but overall I can stay on top of things. But by evening – say sometime around 6:00 or 7:00 – I hit a wall. That’s when complete and utter exhaustion sets in. Because weekend work involves more physical activity, things are worse. I’m pretty much down for the count by 4:00 or 5:00. I can keep going to 6:00 if I push myself, but I pay for it the next day.

So what’s up with this mythic second trimester energy boon so vastly touted in the literature? I think it’s some nasty psychological trick. A scheme designed by the medical community to help keep 2nd trimester OB appointments short and complaint free. A "power of suggestion" thing designed to keep those of us with growing bellies quiet during our 2nd trimester checkups. I think it's a bit like telling women that labor feels like “intense pressure". If we’re told we’re a bunch of 2nd trimester energizer bunnies we’ll certainly believe it. Right??

I much prefer the info I get from some of the Moms I work with who tell me “Energy? Yeah. Well, that’s pretty much over now. You’ll never get it back.” Daunting advice, but at least it’s honest.

The good news is that next week (Thursday, to be exact) starts the infamous 3rd trimester where, apparently, a pregnant woman has ever right to be tired. Ah, the freedom it will bring!

Check back again tomorrow (yes, tomorrow!) for another post update...

A Few Stats ....

2008-06-21T09:30:00.012-05:00

Hi there! How've you all been? It's been a while since the last post, hasn't it? I've no great reasons or excuses for the long absence - just a combo of general business, late day fatigue and a calm, uneventful second trimester.

I have a few interesting posts perculating away - none of which are quite ready for prime time so for now, I'll just let you know that all is well , Brunhilda is growing and quite active, and Boo is... Boo.

I'll leave you with a few stats and misc photos.

Stats:

Number of Weeks/Days: 25 weeks, 2 days (24 weeks is the start of viability for babies)
Month of Pregnancy: 6th month
Trimester: Second trimester.
Weight gain: 14 lbs
Recommended weight gain for 25 weeks: 13 - 21 pounds
Belly Measurement: 39 3/4 inches
Belly Growth in the Last Week: 1 1/2 inches
Total Waist Growth To-Date: ~9 inches

Pre-Pregnancy:

Last Week:

Our Water Cat:

Our Resident Momma Raccoon Taking A Rest:

All Quiet on the Pregnancy Front

2008-05-24T09:13:00.010-05:00

We're at week 21. I've gained 11 pounds and my belly now measures 37 1/4 inches. Other than these rather dull stats, there's nothing really of interest to pass along. No exciting events, embarresing stories, or big developments. So, this week you get Boo, Boo, and more Boo.

I understand that this topic has limited appeal to those of you tuning in for the "Baby" portion of this blog. However, those of you who have met Boo can attest to the fact that he is a force to be reckoned with. He is not to be ingnored, nor shoved aside for any reason. So here, without further ado, is Mr. Boo Radley:

Thumbs Up!

2008-05-18T13:54:00.019-05:00

We had our 20 week ultrasound this week. The 20 week ultrasound, for you “prental techno-newbies”, is one of a number of prenatal screening tests done in the second trimester. It consists of an hour-long detailed anatomy scan of the baby. It is performed by a Sonographer and evaluated by a Perinatologist. The purpose of the scan is to:

Check for major birth defects &/or structural abnormalities (open neural-tube defects, cleft lip/pallet, Downs Syndrome, heart/brain abnormalities, etc)
Verify dates & growth
Check amniotic fluid, placenta health, and umbilical chord
Evaluate fetal well-being

For Bill and me, it was just another chance to spend an hour watching the baby. It was, quite simply, a blast. Gunthilda (our new contraction of Gunther and Brunhilda) was, as always, very active. We’ve definitely got a little squirmy one in there.

And what were the he ultrasound results, you ask?? They were a "Thumbs up"!

Yes, that IS the baby, giving us a thumbs up sign.

Brunther (another contraction of Brunhilda and Gunther) gets a gold star. Brain, heart, lungs, eyes, pallet/lips, arms, legs, etc… all look good. One might even say “great” in fact. Gunther has definitely grown in the 8 weeks since our last ultrasound. He weighs in at 15-oz and is measuring in at 20 weeks 4 days. The ultrasound was at 19 weeks, 6 days – which puts him about 5 days ahead, in other words - normal.

Here's a picture of Brunther's very long legs:

The Perinatologist said the baby has “a gorgeous round forehead, nice profile and is all around a very beautiful baby". I'm sure she says that to everyone, but it was fun to hear anyway. To add one more plus to the whole thing, we already know one of our baby's personality traits. We’ve now spent 2 + hours watching the baby in the course of this pregnancy and Brunhilda is ALWAYS seen with her hand curled up next to her face. We've actually never seen her in any other pose - except very briefly when moving.

As for Boo… well, he’s just being his normal “Monster” self. Here he is taking a bite out of my arm and enjoying some freshly picked daffodils. Er… daffodil water…

Comments

2008-05-13T19:06:00.009-05:00

There's neither Boo nor Baby in this blot post. Instead, I thought I'd comment on ... comments.

Leaving comments on this blog is confusing. So confusing, that even Bill a.k.a. "Mr. Computer" couldn't figure it out without my help. Unfortunately, I can't change the comments format - its just part of template. I can however, give you tips on leaving comments.

Jen's Guide for How to Leave Comments:
1.) Look for the following line at the end of each blog entry:

* " Posted by Jen at 11:45 AM 1 comments"

2.) Click on the word "comments". This will bring you to a new page where you can leave comments.

3.) Enter your comment in the box where it says "Leave your comment" . Oh, and please leave your name so we know who you are!

4.) Choose an Identity:

* If you have a gmail account, you can select Google/Blogger and sign in.
* Everyone else, simply select "Annonomous"

5.) Click on "Preview" to preview your comment - OR - click on "Publish" to publish your comment.

That's it! Once the comment has been approved, it will be posted. The only other thing to add is that we LOVE comments. Leave them as often as you like!

Belly Pictures!

2008-04-27T11:45:00.019-05:00

You've been asking, so here they are. Belly Pictures!

What??? You were expecting pictures of Brunhilda??? Ok, maybe just this once.....

(Picture removed)

Growing, Gaining, Losing ....

2008-04-27T10:06:00.031-05:00

Gunther (that’s Gunther with a long U, as in Uno) is now 17 weeks. 17 weeks, 4 days, and a few hours to be exact. And, with an IVF conception, one can be very exact.

At 17 weeks, Gunther’s body is complete. Actually, that work has been done for some time. Gunther’s main job now is to complete all of the circuitry, develop his brain, harden bones, practice using new muscles and organs, and gain weight. Most importantly, Gunther is looking to gain fat.

Up ‘til now, a peak at Gunther would reveal an extremely thin, and very skeletal little micro-person. The reason? Gunther has no fat. Oh, he’s warm enough – floating merrily around in the balmy amniotic fluid. But, down the road -- say sometime in early Oct -- he’s going to need body fat -- and lots of it if he’s going to be comfortable in a MN winter.

This all boils down to the latest fact of pregnancy that I’m now facing. I should start gaining approximately one pound every week until delivery. Did you get that? No? I’ll repeat it. One POUND per WEEK over the next 22 weeks!!

Raise your hand if you’v ever been told to gain weight (pregnancy excluded, of course). Go on, don’t be shy. Pretend you’re scratching your head if someone catches you with hand in mid-air. OK, OK – put your hands down. This is the U.S. and most of us don’t land in the “need to gain weight” category. Of course, it happens. Some, people just need to gain weight to be healthy, but I’ve never been one of them.

I was a chubby kid and teen who developed into a rather fat college student. I spent most of my entire teen and adult years on one lame diet or another. -- Does anyone remember the banana, hard-boiled egg, hot dog diet? -- And now, after 30-some years of actively working to lose or maintain weight, the rules have changed. Gaining weight is a good thing and I can’t quite wrap my mind around this change.

To be clear, the whole gaining weight thing while pregnant comes with a lot of stress. There are “Rules” to pregnancy weight gain:

Gain. But not too much!

Don’t gain too many pounds in any one week – gain slowly and regularly.

Be sure to gain in a healthy way. Eat healthy, get the right mix of nutrients, and exercise.

And, my personal favorite…. Any gain over the recommended 25 lbs is extra body fat that will be harder to shed than the actual baby weight…. Yeah.

Fortunately, I’ve been spot on with the weight gain so far. I’m up approximately 6.5 lbs. Not all of it, sadly, is baby. But still, I’m currently on track for my allotted 25-30 lbs of gain.

Notice the highlighted “currently” used above? Given my growing appetite (described as “truck-driver like" on one website ), I’m not sure how long this trend will last. At least I have comfort in those 30-some years of dieting experience to draw upon later this fall.

I wonder if veggie dogs can be substituted in the “banana, egg, hot dog diet”???

************************************

Now on to Boo and the “Loosing” part of this blog’s title.

Boo is loosing it: his mind, his fur, and his cute demeanor. Despite the snowstorm we had yesterday, springtime has arrived in Boo’s mind. He’s been shedding and running around like a mad-cat; causing havoc whenever he runs.

His new favorite activity? Sneaking up on Bill while he’s working on his laptop, and biting him on the foot. Or, the leg. Or, if the attack comes from above – say from the couch – the bite will land on his arm or shoulder.

There's no warning of the upcoming attack, no anger involved, and the bite usually happens quite slowly. Boo just opens his mouth, turns his head for a better angle, draws his ears back, and slowly bears down on the piece of flesh chosen at the time. We're not sure what going on in his little cat head, but from my perspective, it’s pretty amusing to watch. From Bill's perspective, it's annoying and painful. Here’s the scene:

Bill: Quietly sitting on the floor, laptop in front of him - completely unaware of his surroundings.

Boo: Sneaking up on Bill, in a quiet unassuming way; giving no indication of intent.

Then, out of the blue… The bite. The shout. Ensuing chaos.

Before I say goodbye, I'd like to invite you to post your own blog comments. It's easy, simply click on the comments link at the bottom of this, or any post and send your email. (The comments link looks like this---> "Posted by Jen at 10:06 AM 0 comments.")

And now... I’m off in search of a snack. I haven't eaten in at least an hour and Gunther does needs his fat.

Since you liked Boo Stays Home ...

2008-04-21T19:43:00.042-05:00

Yes, yes... I know. I heard the outcry. I knowingly left you all stranded somewhere on the way to the airport in a cold, windy France on the ever popular Boo Stays Home travel blog. (http://www.boostayshome.blogspot.com/)

I have excuses; good ones, in fact. I came home, started our third IVF cycle, got ready for Christmas, traveled to MO, had our IVF, got pregnant, became VERY tired, then nauseous, and then... well, then I just plain forgot about it. Do you forgive me for abandoning you yet? No??? Hmm... what if I promise to bring us home one day? Would you then accept a new "Boo and Baby" blog? I can't promise the same level of fun and excitement as a trip to Paris, but I will try to share as many embarrassing stories as possible. So, are we good?

Now that we're made amends, I thought we could take some time getting to know each other. Meet the main players in this little blog...

<--- The infamous Boo Radley

Nicknames:

"The Monster", "Pooh", "Boo-fors Cannon" (don't ask), "Boo-cephus"

Age:

Approximately 3.5 years

Hobbies:

Playing in running & dripping water, waking Jen, playing chase, attempting to pounce chipmunks through the patio door, dare-devil staircase play, and just generally causing trouble.

<---- "The baby"

Nicknames:

Gunther, Brunhilda

Age:

16 weeks

Hobbies:

Growing, swimming, swallowing amniotic fluid, causing parental anxiety.

Now that we've become acquainted, I'll leave you for the day. More fun and laughs promised for our next visit. In the meantime, check out some our favorite links listed over to the right.

Jen, Boo, &, Brunhilda