Thanks for your patience with radio silence

I'm sure you all understand. The transition to a family of 4 is going as smoothly as could be hoped for, and it still is taking some work.

There are, of course, at least a thousand stories to tell about the last 6 days. If I start, I'll never catch up to present. Some highlights:

Vital Stats
Born 5/19/2007 at 4:16 pm
7 lbs
20 inches
Brown hair, dark grey eyes (so far)

Oosje already told this one, but some of you don't read the comments, so I'll repeat it. When Boo arrived at the hospital to meet R2, the first thing she said when she saw him was "R2 come out!!" She was very interested, gave him lots of kisses and smiles, told me "Need to hold it," then said completely unprompted "I love R2!"

Boo wore her special fairy costume the second time she came to the hospital.

The first day home, Boo had a lot of fun putting her babies into R2's various seats. When it was bedtime, we asked Boo if she wanted to take her baby to bed. She looked at the line-up of babies, pointed at R2 and said "That one."

R2 went to his 5 day check-up yesterday and weighed in at 7 lbs 1.5 oz. He was 6 lbs, 10 oz when we left the hospital. The goal is to be back at birth weight by the 2 week appointment, he made it in less than 5 days. Yes, he is a good eater.

First rogue pee incident on Wednesday afternoon. Boo was standing in the line of fire. She was not happy about it.

First family outing to the park on Tuesday. We all enjoyed the "big girl swings" together.

Lost the umbilical cord yesterday. Boo says he has a "tiny, tiny bellybutton".

Fred gave Boo some Dora bath toys. Big points! They are now required for sleeping, especially "crocodile Dora".

Yesterday, R2 and Bampa enjoyed some James Bond.


Oosje says that yesterday, R2 "got handsome."

Oosje, Bampa & Boo went to the zoo today. Climbing the fences was the best part. The monkeys were also funny.

Time for R2 to eat!

Good night

Multimedia message

Thanks for the flowers Bampa. We can't wait to see you!

A Few Pictures from the Hospital

He's here!

5.19.2007 at 4:16 pm. 7 lbs, 20 inches. All well.

From today's paper

Doctor says it's us today.

3rd time a charm?

Admitted.

Practice run # 2

We've had two busy days, but no baby yet.

Yesterday Oosje planned to take Boo out for some fun so Mama could finally have one quiet day. Buffy was all cued up and ready to go. Then, Mama felt very sick and the doctor said to come in right away. Dr. G. asked Mama some questiosn and sent her over to the hospital for testing and observation. Daddy and Oosje tag-teamed to get Boo to her daytime family and Daddy through an arbitration. Then we waited. Sandy, a very nice nurse, took good care of us. Four hours later, we got sent home.

Lessons learned:

1. Oosje needed to have a hospital bag, too, with a book and socks and a sweatshirt.
2. R2 is a confirmed prima don. He likes to have grown ups at his beck and call. Boo wasn't like that at all when she was under construction.

Today, Boo went back to her daytime family again. Mama and Oosje had breakfast and watched James Bond. We did have a scheduled visit with Dr. G. in the middle of the day. Oosje took her book, sweater & socks. Dr. G. told us that Mama's tests yesterday looked very good and that Mama should not wait around at home for long when contractions got serious because he expects R2 to come very fast when it happens and he doesn't want R2 to be delivered on the freeway. He also told us that R2 would have to wait until Monday afternoon at the earliest to get him as a doctor, but that the people on call between now and then are very nice and would do a good job.

Tonight Oosje has a "bon voyage" dinner planned for R2. She's making his favorite foods to encourage him to come out. We will enjoy our BLTs and root beer and keep waiting for our little drama king to decide on the perfect entrance.

Predictions

Oosje and I went to a great toy store today after our walk and breakfast. While Oosje was making her purchase, I noticed a Magic 8 Ball on the shelf. I asked it whether R2 would come today. It said:

Very Doubtful

I called Daddy to tell him. He wanted me to ask the Magic 8 Ball about tomorrow, but by then I had left the store. So, he got online to see what the Virtual Magic 8 Balls had to say. His results:

5 Virtual 8 Balls Polled

4 Said R2 Would Come

Friday night

1 Disagreed
It was wishy-washy and wouldn't give an answer.

Results discarded as it clearly didn't know what it was talking about.

Birthdays

First, Happy Birthday to Opa Hans!

As Auntie BSU let you know, we thought R2 might share a birthday with Opa Hans. Last night at dinner I had very strong contractions and Daddy took me to the hospital. Once we got there, things quieted down. We got Coldstone ice cream and came home. The ice cream was good.

We will let you know when we are admitted via mobile blog.

Facts and figures

I'm running out of interesting ways to say "No news yet". Pregnancy trivia:

• My wedding ring still fits.
• My belly button is still an "innie".
• My belly is 42 inches at the widest point
• My total weight gain is about 5 pounds (I lost almost 20 during the first two trimesters)
• I have to use the bathroom approximately 5 times a night. I couldn't possibly count how many times I go during the day.
• There is always gas in all the cars.
• The hospital is 7.8 miles from the house
• Daddy has at least two "back ways" to the hospital
• The "Diva Toes" are currently dark purple
• I live in nightgowns. I have 7. Nanna gave me my first one for Christmas and I've gone a bit crazy since then.
• Oosje and I have done 7 loads of laundry to wash hand-me-down baby clothes and have about 4 more loads to do today. That's only the 0 - 9 month clothes we've been given. The 9 - 18 month clothes are just going in boxes.
• Mama likes the striped and plaid shirts, khaki shorts and jeans best

and finally:

• Daddy gave me a daily scrapbooking calendar for Christmas. It has about a week's worth of "theme" scrapbooking ideas at a time, holiday-related or otherwise. From yesterday through the 20th, the theme is "Happy Birthday".

A generous and wily boy...

R2 is seeing how many adults he can get to put their lives completely on hold and sit around waiting for him. He was up to four actively waiting, then Bampa had to go home. There are at least another dozen waiting pretty anxiously, although they are still going about their lives, not sitting on Boo's couch watching the grass grow. Oosje and Bampa have begun to withold treats (like ginger ale and ice cream) on the grounds that he should come get it himself.

In the meantime, Boo has finally returned to her daytime family after a full week of fever. We are very glad she is well, and that she got well before R2 made his grand entrance, because otherwise we would have had a very hard time with their introduction. R2 would have been very disappointed if he couldn't throw his Big Sister Party.

Some of you have wondered "What is a Big Sister Party?" R2 has decided that when Boo comes to meet him, he will have some presents and cupcakes and balloons celebrating her as his big sister. He thinks that will be a nice way to start out their relationship.

R2 (with Oosje and Bampa's help) also got Mama and Boo a fancy new double jogging stroller because Boo told him that Boot Camp is very fun and he wanted to be able to come along. Boo and her baby took it for a test drive and it passed inspection with flying colors

Boo and R2 got Mama a nice new camera for Mother's Day. It's not as fancy as Daddy's SuperDooper camera, but it's more portable for taking blog pictures and video at the park, the zoo, etc. Mama likes it very much. You all should also benefit from it very soon.

None of that was the news you came here for today. Unfortunately, I have nothing more to report. I've gotten a few backaches, some sciatic pain, and many kicks to the organs, countless predictions and oodles of advice, but no sign of real progress. We'll see what happens tonight, tomorrow, and after that.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mamas out there:

Oosje

Nanna

Drama

Gigi

Aunt BSU

McAunt

The Princess



And, Happy Soon-To-Be a Mother's Day to Aunt Fanny.

Ready or Not!

With Mama's help, Daddy and Boo now have R2's room ready for occupancy. It is painted, furnished, and stocked with clothes and diapers. Oosje and Bampa have arrived with the cradle that Opa Hans made for Mama in 1970, and which has slept many babies since then, including Boo and Lil' 11. The plans for Boo's care and feeding are handled. The presents for her "Big Sister Party" are wrapped and in the car. The hospital bag and camera are packed and waiting by the door. The doctor has said "Anytime now. Maybe as long as a week, probably before your due date."

The remaining question is whether Mama is ready. Not that the answer matters. R2 is clearly in charge of this show. But, is Mama ready?

I am very aware that I am in my last days of my last pregnancy. I have been very fortunate in both my pregnancies and had healthy, relatively easy experiences. There are common issues and discomforts that I won't miss, and will spare you discussion of. There are also things that I am sad that I won't have again. I will miss feeling the baby move. I will miss the heaps of praise that pregnant women get for doing the mundane. When you are expecting, people tell you that you look great all the time, and any amount of exercise is lauded as "amazing". It's a great confidence booster. I will miss the anticipation. And, I will miss sleep, some minimal amount of personal time, and being able to send my child to get her own shoes or pick up her own toys.

I've been thinking about those things for a few days now. Yesterday I had a dream. I was stuck in traffic with Boo and late getting to the hospital. So, somehow, they delivered without me. I got there and learned that I had not one, but two babies. Boo wanted attention. She was climbing my legs and asking me to sing Bus with her one more time. I looked at the nurse and said "So, what's the schedule here? Do they need to eat or something? Do they need shots or anything like that?" I was completely confused and had no idea what to do next.

I know that when he arrives, I will be ready. Until then, I'm enjoying the time and family I have with me now.

And, for those of you who aren't with me, here are some photos of the finished room. Good job Daddy, Oosje & Boo!

New fish friends

Around the Room

Daddy and Boo Putting up Stars

Instructions for properly hugging a baby.

Thanks to Oosje for sending me this one. Strider is taking notes.

1. First, find a baby.

2. Second, be sure that the object you spied was indeed a baby by employing classic sniffing techniques. If you smell baby powder and the wonderful aroma of wet diapers this is indeeda baby.

3. Next you will need to flatten the baby before actually beginning the hugging process.**Note: The added slobber should help in future steps by making the "paw slide" easier.

4. The "paw slide"Simply slide paws around baby and prepare for possible close-up.

5. Finally, if a camera is present, you will need to execute the difficult and patented "hug, smile, and lean" so as toachieve the best photo quality.

Dogs, if this is properly done, it will secure you a warm, dry, climate-controlled environment for the rest ofyour life.

Good luck to all of you!

R2 Status Report

R2 is staying happily tucked away.

Boo, on the other hand, has been home with a fever since yesterday afternoon and will be home with Mama through tomorrow at least, modifying this week's plans significantly. This plan is fine with Boo. She got to ride in the front seat of the truck, watch as much Dora and Big Bird as she can stand, and nap on Daddy's pillow. Altogether a good week for her.

I did sneak in one Buffy during a nap, and some naps of my own thanks to Dora.

Maternity Leave Starts Now!

Miss A. invited us to a Fairy Festival

It was lots of fun. There were lots of activities. Boo liked the chalkboard on the back of the castle and the stairs on the gazebo best. Mama did get her to sit long enough to make a Fairy Hat.

Fairies at the Maypole



With Miss A.


Flying Fairies

In the Fairy House

The Dragon

Fairy Hats

Happy Girl



Last treat

Thanks for the Dora hair bands, Nanna!

Parenting Test

I am trying to wrap up work projects so that I can start my leave next week. So, here's an email I got from a parent friend. My favorite is the "Night Test".

Mess Test: Smear peanut butter on the sofa and curtains. Now rub your hands in the wet flowerbed and rub on the walls. Cover the stains with crayons. Place a fish stick behind the couch and leave it there all summer.

Toy Test: Obtain a 55-gallon box of Lego's. (If Lego's are not available, you may substitute roofing tacks or broken bottles.) Have a friend spread them all over the house. Put on a blindfold. Try to walk to the bathroom or kitchen. Do not scream. (This could wake a child at night.)

Grocery Store Test: Borrow one or two small animals (goats are best) and take them with you as you shop at the grocery store. Always keep them in sight and pay for anything they eat or damage.

Dressing Test: Obtain one large, unhappy, live octopus. Stuff into a small net bag making sure that all arms stay inside.

Feeding Test: Obtain a large plastic milk jug. Fill halfway with water. Suspend from the ceiling with a stout cord. Start the jug swinging. Try to insert spoonfuls of soggy cereal (such as Fruit Loops or Cheerios) into the mouth of the jug, while pretending to be an airplane. Now dump the contents of the jug on the floor.

Night Test: Prepare by obtaining a small cloth bag and fill it with 8 - 12 pounds of sand. Soak it thoroughly in water. At 8:00 PM begin to waltz and hum with the bag until 9:00 PM. Lay down your bag and set your alarm for 10:00 PM. Get up, pick up your bag, and sing every song you have ever heard. Make up about a dozen more and sing these too until 4:00 AM. Set alarm for 5:00 AM. Get up and make breakast. Keep this up for 5 years. Look cheerful.

Physical Test (For Women): Obtain a large beanbag chair and attach it to the front of your clothes. Leave it there for 9 months. Now remove 10 of the beans.

Physical Test (For Men): Go to the nearest drug store. Set your wallet on the counter. Ask the clerk to help himself. Now proceed to the nearest food store. Go to the head office and arrange for your paycheck to be directly deposited to the store. Purchase a newspaper. Go home and read it quietly for the last time.

Final Assignment: Find a couple who already has a small child. Lecture them on how they can improve their discipline, patience, tolerance, toilet training, and child's table manners. Suggest many ways they can improve. Emphasize to them that they should never allow their children to run riot. Enjoy this experience. It will be the last time you will have all the answers.

Boo-isms of the week

After a countdown "5 minutes til bedtime, 4 minutes..." and "Bedtime"
"No, one minute bedtime."
"One minute is up, it's bedtime."
"No, one minute down"

After being scolded for kicking Mama's tummy:
"Little Rudder moving and kicking Mama's tummy."

In the morning when being asked to brush her hair.
"No brush hair. Really pretty."

And, first thing in the morning a few days ago, without prompting:
"Mama, you really pretty."