Knock on wood

Having been bestowed with the "Yurpiest Baby on the Planet" award for the past 5 months running, it is with great surprise (and relief!) that we can report that it seems that our Zo-suvius has usurped her yurpy title. That's all fancy talk to just say that over the past couple of days, perhaps week or so, we've noticed a drastic decrease in the volume of yurp Zoe has been producing. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! (Thus the 'knock on wood' title for this posting.)

Zoe has been an absolute champ over the past few evenings when plans with friends made her a girl about town. Friday was a relatively very unproductive day for us gals, what with erratic napping on Zoe's part, but it seems it was all according to her master plan to be perfectly behaved during our hour-plus meal of *excellent* Chinese food that evening (we highly recommend Chiang's up on 80th & Lake City Way!). She was notably mellow and happy to take it all in and treated us with a dessert of sweet chatter before we departed. Saturday, after some errand running, we went in for round number two, meeting up with friends at Tutta Bella's in Wallingford (choice cuisine for the child-bearing set: there were all of 8 tables at this HUGE place without kids! Oh, and the 'za was yummy, too). Again, Zoe was a champ and let us dine without distraction (aside from her good kind), wowing the group with her sweet smiles and great disposition. It was obvious she was tired, but she opted for the snuggle over the scream. Thanks, Bug, we owe you a million :)



One of our Saturday errands was to pick up a Johnny Jump-up (or rather, Janie Jump-up) for our little jumper. She simply loved it. It's right up her alley right now - whenever she's just hanging in your arms or on your lap lately, she makes as though to bounce which in turn makes your body TIRED. With the jumper, she can bounce, swing and dance to her heart's delight. SO fun. Now when we pick her up or put her on her feet it's ALL about the bounce. We may have created a monster with this, but man, she's a cute monster! You thought she was smiley and cunning before?



In other Zoe news, she spent some time this morning wowing us with her ability to mostly sit on her own. Just days ago she was pretty good, but toppling quite easily. (see below)



Now, not only is she more steady on her bum, she can pretty well recover herself from a deep bend over to get at a toy. That, and she can just about get herself sitting upright as long as she has a bit of an incline to help her get started. My guess is that in a matter of days, she'll be quite adept at doing it all by herself. And next she'll discover her knees will get her places...Watch out kitties!!!

(And look! No bib!)

Sitting pretty

Well kind of! Zoë's latest ricks include doing a heck of a job sitting up, mostly on her own. She's not quite to the point where she can really sustain herself, but she does manage to sit up, bend around and recover a bit.

Case in point:



Short and sweet tonight...sorry!

6 month check-up - now with pictures!

Last Friday, we took Zoe for her 6- month check-up and while she didn't meet any milestones at the Dr's office (as she did at her 2-month and 4-month visits), she's made a few little strides before and after. For instance, late last week, she started stringing together B-b-b-b-b and M-m-m-m-m noises. I think we've even heard some D-d-d-d-ds in there, as well. Man it's so cute to see her twist up her little face to make such big sounds. We've been 'talking' for quite a while, but now it feels like an actual conversation!

Also, the big news is that Zoe finally decided to turn off her back and onto her tummy...and back onto her back again, of course. Despite the fleeting-ness of the moment, we're putting this one down in the history books as a definite milestone achievement. She had made a similar move around the 4th of July, however with much more prodding. At this point, we don't care so much how much she does it as about the fact that she can and will do it. Obviously, this girl has her preferences and isn't easily persuaded to entertain the alternatives. A girl after my own heart ;)

At the Dr's office she weighed in at a whopping 17lbs (70th percentile) and nearly 27" (90th percentile). Who knew that I'd produce such a tall baby!!! Apparently, though, growth trends have more to do with nutrition than genetics at this point, so we've got a few months to go to see if the poor thing will inherit mom's long torso and short legs. Oh well, I guess, if she does - they've served me well enough so far.

The aftermath of her check-up and vaccinations was about par for the course. Aside from some edginess, she fared pretty well Friday evening, but developed a fever overnight. Amazingly, though, she was almost in better spirits with her fever than she was without it! Maybe that's thanks to the good long naps she took Saturday morning while I was at the vet with all three kitties for their check-up. Yes, it was a well-vaccinated weekend and everyone was on watch.

Anyways, she managed to have a lovely visit with Nana and Pepere St. Pierre and even showed off her new 'bouncy bouncy bed' tricks. (I'll try to get Dave to post some video of that at some point...)


(You can't really see them here,but she's wearing the sweetest overalls. Thanks Uncle Skip and Auntie Pauline!)

Come Saturday evening, though, Zoe's abundant rest apparently caught up with her as she really didn't go down to sleep until ONE AM!!! Yowsers. It's almost all a blur right now, but I do remember her stint in the office some time after 11 when Dave and I were at a complete loss on how to convince her that it was time for nuh-nights.

Thankfully, though, Sunday night resembled more normal trends. Not to say that I wasn't secretly panicked though: our pediatrician tends to make self-fulfilling comments and he did mention the perils of up-ended sleeping patterns and how they can sometimes stick and become the norm. Ultimately, I think we'll be ok since Zoe's generally been a truly great sleeper, but we're not quite in the clear just yet: last night, it literally took hours for her to settle down again after her night-time feeding.

I guess this is what they mean when they say that in life with children, every day brings something new.

January 12, 2007

Since I got my pregnancy updates up here, I figure Zoe's 'birth story' is fair game, too. I'll take my spin at it and invite Dave to chime in with his comments or his own version.

Here goes.

On January 11th, I made a presentation to about 50 people at the OSPI annual statewide conference at the WA State Convention Center, in downtown Seattle. Months before, I made my boss promise to present with me, being somewhat convinced that I wasn't likely to make it to my due date (1/20/07) and feeling that 1/11/07 was certainly in the realm of possibility for the birth. And man, was I glad to have her with me...I was a tired and uncomfortable gal and given that the weather had been pretty terrible (snow, ice, etc) in recent days, was glad to get in, do my thing and take off to be done with all of it.

Early the next morning - at about 2:30am, I woke to some serious pain along the perimeter of my belly and ribcage. I'd been having similar discomfort for weeks (at least since Christmas and from memory, weeks before that) but chalked it up to late pregnancy heart burn and fatigue. However, this morning I was nearly fit to be tied with discomfort. I had to lay on my back propped up high with pillows just to stand lying still. I really didn't sleep at all and finally took a shower at about 5am to kill some time before bugging Dave and my midwives. At about 6am I woke Dave to let him know that I was in pain, but really didn't think it was labor. He decided to stay home with me to see how things developed.

By 7am, I couldn't wait any longer and opted to call my midwives for some assistance in just feeling better and making it through the day. I still didn't think I was in labor. Heather suggested that I take Milk of Magnesia, have some tea and to call her in a couple of hours if I didn't feel better. Dave ran out for the MoM and by the time he got back from the store, driving on the ice-slick roads (we had another, though relatively small ice storm the night before), I was in the bathroom having dry heaves - my labor's apparent greeting card.

Having had a 'practice' contraction around Christmas time, I thought I knew what I was in for, but the contractions I was having this morning felt nothing like that, nor anything like I'd ever felt before. I was in weird and confusing pain! At that point, I started having a persistent 'side stitch' and neck ache - as though I'd run too far, too quickly. I bided my time for 9am when I could call the midwives back to inform them that I did not feel any better.

When I called the second time, Fra Na had just come on duty and had spoken with Heather re: my complaints. To me, she sounded hesitant about it being labor, but did suggest that I go in to the hospital so that they could check on the situation. This was not according to my plan to wait out early labor in the comfort of my own home in the loving presence of Dave and the kitties and our Doula, Jennifer. But, the pain was enough that I didn't argue.

I left the house thinking that I'd be sent back, but with all the birthing gear, etc in case we wouldn't. I just thought they'd tell me I was having heartburn mixed with early labor and to go home and try to rest it out. As far as I could tell, I hadn't even seen 'lightening' - the baby's head lowering into the top of the birth canal, the evacuation of the mucus plug or my water breaking - so it just didn't look and feel like labor. But something was going on for sure.

So, Dave cautiously drove me along the icy - and bumpy! - roads to the hospital. That was some of the longest 5 miles I've ever ridden in my life. There was NO comfort to be had since I had to brace against the pain every bump of the way. But, nerves and excitement helped to get me through it.

At the hospital, they put us in a room and hooked me up to a monitor immediately. I was somewhat embarrassed for being there so early into labor and mostly pretty annoyed at being tied to the bed. I was still hoping for a lovely, movement and breathing filled, Doula-assisted birth. This was not that.

The monitor showed my small little contractions, which seemed to be happening at a pretty regular pace although I honestly couldn't tell one from another too well since the general pain I had was so persistent. But figuring we'd be there a while, I had Dave call our student Doula, Jennifer. While waiting for her to arrive, I was subjected to lots of blood work and another ultrasound. There was concern over my gall bladder and other organ-related complications that are rare, but not unheard of in later pregnancy. I really wasn't convinced that they were going to find anything and was still mentally prepared to be sent home, despite the persistent pain in my side and neck.

Contractions were about two minutes apart and Jennifer was helping me get through some breathing techniques to quell the pain when Fra Na came in to deliver the news. I was going to have a C-section pronto because I was really sick; my liver enzymes, which at a normal high rest somewhere around 50, were up to 250 (whatevers). My initial reaction was to feel crushed. I was so convinced that I wouldn't have a C-section. So determined. But when she suggested that I and the baby were in danger and that there really wasn't any time or room for discussion, I swallowed it. The only cure to the situation was to get the baby out. They were 'going in' within an hour, so I sent Dave to call the family.

In the meantime, I finally let myself give in to the pain and disappointment I was feeling and started to cry. Thankfully Jennifer was there as a support. Not quite the kind of support I'd anticipated getting from her, but necessary support, nonetheless.

The rest is mostly a blur. I barely remember getting wheeled out, but do remember trying to just calm down and relax. But the tears wouldn't stop. At one point, the OB who was to deliver me came upon me in the hall outside the OR and suggested that I pull it together since what they were doing was necessary for me and our baby. I nearly choked. I won't litter this walk down memory lane with the expletives I now use to describe that woman, but I'm pretty certain that she won't be delivering Zoe's future sibling.

In the OR, after getting my epidural (alone! they don't let the dads in for that??? thankfully, Fra Na let me hold her hand through it, but still!) Dave came in and joined me at the head of the table. I was splayed out in a cross with my hips tilted to my left and even under sedation, was still in tremendous pain - especially in my neck. They warned me that C-section delivery can sometimes create 'referral pain' that presents itself in the neck, so I wasn't about to get any relief. The funny thing was that when I'd call out with pain, I'd have to qualify it for poor Dave: "Shoulder! Not feeling pain anywhere but the shoulder!"

Dave was a champ through it all. Honestly, what he did and said specifically that day aren't really imprinted on my memory too well. I guess the pain - the oddity of the kind I was having - created a veil over my memory. It was a beautifully sunny day, though and I just remember his orbiting around me making sure that despite the weird pain, I was all right. As always, he was a constant source of calm and I know that his being there through it helped me keep my head. I was trying so hard to not make the ambiguity of the situation get the better of me. It was strangely easy (for lack of a better word) because I had my rock with me the whole time.

So, after a bit of poking and pulling, I felt a sudden release and called out to ask if it was the baby. It was. Dave had asked to announce the sex to me and when he peaked over the curtain, he said "It's a Zoe!". It's a Zoe! I almost didn't know what that meant beyond the fact that it was in fact, our baby. Our baby was here. She arrived in such a weird and unexpected fashion, but was beautiful and healthy and seemingly unaffected from the affliction that kick-started her entry into the world. My sweet and resilient Zoe.

I'd had visions of her coming out naked and landing on my bare chest so I do remember feeling frustrated that she was all wrapped up in a receiving blanket. But the touches and smells I did get from our first meeting still make my heart ache. It was lovely.

Dave then took over her watch - funny how that happens - you've got this baby inside you for 9+ months and poor dad can only wonder what's going on and all of a sudden, the baby's in his arms and you aren't attached to her anymore the way you used to be. But now he's attached to her in the biggest way and it's truly an amazing thing to witness.

The stitch-up took forever and I was dying to just get out of the OR and into a cocoon with Dave and Zoe. I have no clue when or how I made it back to the room, but I think I had Zoe in the bed with me and Dave at my side as they wheeled us along.

Back in the room, there began the busy tending-to a post C-section commands. The nurses, in general, were great, though and we quickly began to feel at home. I was high on pain killers and magnesium (to ward off any HELLP-related seizures); and I was HOT. Poor Dave though, was freezing. Apparently the room wasn't too warm. I guess, too, that we'll be bringing him a sleeping bag for the hospital next time maybe since their little blankets aren't quite cozy. Again, I was either oblivious, or he was really a sport - most likely both.

So, we are a family now. Dave says he doesn't really have anything to add - that I did most of the work and that this is how it was. So there. This, Zoe, is how you came into the world. Welcome. We're so glad you're here.

Zoë retrospective

Well, I'd always figured this blog would act as a sort of a diary or journal for Zoe's early days and in that vein, I want to 'archive' the baby update emails I sent out during my pregnancy. So, here they are, photos and all. Too bad I didn't start the blog with this, but oh well, there's always next time.

Otherwise, life with the bug is good. Her disposition seems to have shifted recently - either because she's still tired from the big weekend or because she does, in fact, seem to be teething. (Her gums are actually looking a bit swollen!) So, that means our generally mellow and easy girl is a little less so and a bit more prone to impatience and crying. All in all I think we can consider ourselves lucky, but I bet Zoe would disagree right now ;) Tomorrow is her 6 month appointment and we'll be happy to report that this evening, Zoe decided to turn from her back onto her tummy. That and she actually has started hanging out on her tummy (tonight, it was on mom and dad's bed when we were having family time). I guess I want to be clear that I never thought she *couldn't* do it...just that she certainly didn't *want* to do it. Believe you me, I'm taking notes as this is likely a glimpse into our oldest child's personality. Us two youngest children are in a run for our money ;)

So here goes the tome of pregnancy emails:

7/14/06

Hi everyone -

We went to Fra Na (Fra-nay), my midwife, yesterday for my monthly check up. All is well. Looks like a clear screening on the nuchal translucency tests (for Downs) and my blood work (Rh factor, blood type and rubella antibodies, among others I can't recall) are all as should be. So, happily, we're in good shape.

But! she moved my due-date back to 1/20....it seems that due dates projected from earlier ultrasounds are more accurate since aside from last period and possible conception dates, they are determined by baby size. So, early ultrasounds (like the one we had when it was sesame-sized), actually show fetal development when size and growth aren't influenced as much by genetics, etc; later ultrasounds (like last week's) have more baby growth and development (which is much more subjective) at play in due-date projections. Oh well. I was enjoying having things speed up a bit, but me and my impatient self are just going to have to wait to be further along. Besides, due dates are really just windows of possibility, not hard fast deadlines. All of this is going to be a great test for my impatience. I swear, although I know it doesn't seem like it, that I'm already mellowing a bit. I have no desire to find out the sex of the baby and am actually really enjoying the pregnancy. I'm just anxious to start seeing the lump! (oh, and to feel it move and to finally meet it, but that'll have to wait ;)).

Our cystic fibrosis tests won't be back for another week or so, and we don't expect to hear anything about them until the next appt (8/10) unless something is in fact wrong. No news will be good news. In the meantime, I'm having to get creative with my eating. While my appetite is back (yay!), I just can't eat the volumes of food that I used to, in one sitting. I'm definitely grazing now, trying to snack on veggies and fruit and adding substance with yogurts and cheese (love those cheese sticks!) because I just can't eat any more peanut butter crackers (they got me through the nausea, but now I'm DONE with them). I am having fun with the ice cream cravings (seriously!) too, so all is well. Dave's been great - he actually plates my dinners for me and makes me eat my veggies first because he knows I fill up fast. He just needs to work on his portion sizes ;) I'm just not the same eater I used to be!

That's all for now.
Love,

Les and Dave



9/1/06

Hi everyone -

We had our last (weep!) ultrasound this morning, so I thought it might be time for another baby update.

As of this Sunday, I will be a whopping 5 months along (I know, seems like forever already, huh?). And I'm still due ~1/20/07 (although I figure 1/15/07-1/24/07 is fair game).

The ultrasound was very fun - we got to see our little one moving around quite a bit - even swallowing amniotic fluid - all normal, of course - and waving its arms. Since the baby now has bones, instead of just cartilage, we got to see lots of its skeleton (honestly that was a little creepy sometimes): lots of fingers and toes (just the right number, we think), the legs and spine were all easily identifiable. We could even see the four chambers of the heart as well as the kidneys. Take a look:

US1.jpg - this one's a great profile shot featuring, from right to left: the head/face, an arm reaching up, the belly (that belly!), a glimpse of the umbilical cord and a knee/leg
US2.jpg - another profile shot - a tiny bit more zoomed in
US3.jpg - Feet!!
US4.jpg - a really bad profile-ish shot interrupted by the baby's arm (it's in front of the face). I don't like that pic, but heck, it's another view
US3a.jpg - and this one is Dave's take on what those feet will be doing in about 10 years...although I'm not so sure ;)

The baby is now about 10 inches long and that means that the lump has finally, barely, arrived - see the attached belly shots. The baseline was taken back in February or so...

Yep, I seem to be carrying low and around, not forward and round. Whatever that means... (no, we didn't learn the sex today, though we could have).

As of last week, I've started to wear a few of the interim maternity items that I bought to stretch (literally!) my wardrobe until I'm wearing the full-fledged maternity stuff lying in wait in my closet. Long tank tops and a "belly band" (think 'tube top' for the tummy) under my regular tops help to cover my peeking tummy and unbuttoned pants. Many pants and skirts from my normal wardrobe have been retired. I'm anxious to start showing more and I know it's going to happen any day now, but now that the 3-day 60 mile breast cancer walk is over, I'm more than ready! (The walk went great, by the way - I did all the miles and finished #62 out of 2700 walkers on the last day.) I'm hoping that Dave's cooking and my cravings (mostly Italian food) help move the bump visibility along a bit more ;)

It's been great lately since I've been feeling flutters of movement for the past month or so and real kicks in the past week; Dave finally felt it move this past Sunday which means I'll now allow others to touch my belly - just ask first!

Finally, in case you haven't all heard, we've pretty well narrowed down the list of possible names:

- If it's a girl, it looks like it will be Zoë Miren. Zoë is a good friend of ours, although we wouldn't be naming the baby *for* her; Miren, as many of you know, is Maria's given name.
- If it's a boy it looks like it will be Owen or Henry as the first name with something like Jack or James as the middle. Henry is my dad's middle name and his father's first name.

That's all for now - we hope you're all doing well. One of Dave's 'Daddy Do' list items is to get our website (www.theseattlestory.com) back up and running. We got a brief video from the ultrasound today so I'm hoping to post that and the ultrasound and future belly pix there soon...stay tuned.

Also, as most of you have heard, today was Dave's last day at Greenlake Jewelry Works. He'll be starting with Head Sprout (an online reading software company based in Seattle) next Tuesday. So for now, you can reach him at his comcast.net address (copied here). Congrats, baby, on the new position and bigger paycheck!

Love, hugs and kisses to all and thanks for your interest in our growing family!

Les (and Dave)

(that last one's my 'baseline' pic)


10/1/06

Hi everyone -

Can you believe it's 6 months already and only 6 months all at the same time? The impatient part of me is ready to meet this baby, but the part of me that knows life will be changed forever once it’s here says that these last few months offer good transition time that we should make the most of ;)

I actually got a few "you look pregnant!" comments this week, which is good since I swear I did some serious growing over the past 7-8 days. I've got a few skirts from my normal wardrobe that I can still (barely) wear, but other than that, it's full time maternity bottoms for me (if not yoga pants a la the attached pix). *Now* does everyone believe me that I'm starting to show?!

My energy is still good and in general I still feel great, although I'd say I'm a little more wakeful at night (meaning I don't always just fall back to sleep after my 1am, 3am and 5am trips to the bathroom). And my walks have grown a bit shorter - I'm feeling gravity's pull a bit on my belly so get tired quicker. Sigh. I'm looking into some water aerobics and prenatal yoga to get me through the rest of this. This Tuesday we'll be starting our birthing classes - another fun reminder that this is, in fact, all very real.

From the other attached pix, you'll see that we've been a little busy on the nesting front (hey, I waited 6 months!!). Thanks to a couple of great friends with great hand-me-downs (ie. the crib), we're already pretty much squared away re: furniture, baby seats and strollers. And thanks to Lani for the beautiful quilt, bumper pads (and curtains that are in the making) - they really look great. The black and white changing dresser is an old family piece my great-grandfather built (for my aunt Madeleine?). It has made its way through a few nurseries in our family and along with the cabinet is something I collected and painted in a black and white furniture phase in high school. The little rocker was mine when I was little. The big rocker is my other great-grandfather's that my mom refinished to a shine (it was a dull lacquered black) and Dave did a nice job staining the new toy box to match.
It's a little bit of a mish-mash, but it’s so nice to have a touch of everyone in there with our baby.

Oh, and that’s Oscar testing out the crib with Dave’s gorilla. We’re trying to ease him into realizing that someone else will be living in that room pretty soon, but right now I swear he thinks that it’s awfully nice of us to redecorate his digs ;)

Love to everyone,

Les and Dave


11/2/06

Hi all -

We're in for the final stretch, almost literally! Belly and baby are stretching constantly and we've now passed the 'viability' threshold, so all is well. 'They' deem your baby viable at 26+ weeks and since I'm close to closing week 29, I'm safely over that hump. Doesn't mean I'm hoping to deliver any time too soon, but it means that if I do, the baby has a certain chance of surviving...with lots of help.

My latest belly shot is attached - no stretch marks yet (ever, let's hope), but I've definitely felt close to the limits of my body's capacity over the past few weeks. I know, I've still got some growing to do, but my poor itchy skin is liking the little respite that I seem to be getting this week. My midwife says that all is growing well and that I should enjoy the lack of girth while I can. But I will say that a more obvious 'basketball' lump would be appreciated. With the cold weather fast upon us, my sweaters and layers have made their way back into my wardrobe and I swear I just look like I've started with the holiday eating a little early this year! Oh well...:)

The baby's been thrilling me with its acrobatic skills lately, too. No painful kicks or punches to speak of, but man, I can't tell you how distracting it is to pull up to my keyboard and get a swift kick for it! It looks like I'll be reconfiguring my desk soon...

Sleeping is still going well enough for the most part, although fatigue is really settling back in. (I take naps at work now about 3 times a week!) Getting up to pee three times a night is like old hat now, but I will say that I'm more wakeful in general. Dave's been sweet though, and encouraging me to sleep in and nap when I can. In a few months, those opportunities will be rare for sure.

Lastly, I'm happy to report that while I tested high on my initial glucose screening, my Halloween trip to the vampire's lair, er, blood lab (hey, they made me fast for 8 hours, then drew blood every hour for three hours after making me chug down a bottle of glucose syrup - pretty ghoulish if you ask me!) yielded a negative result for gestational diabetes. Yay! I can still have my cake and eat it too! And, the baby should maintain a reasonable size which bodes well for my intentions of having a natural birth.

Love, hugs and kisses to all - looking forward to seeing more of many of you during the holidays. Until next month,

Les (Dave, and baby)


12/6/06

Hello again -

Well, I know that I'm about two weeks late with this latest update and apologize to those of you who were waiting on pins and needles. (as if!) I guess we just got busy!

You'll find the latest belly shots attached here - not our usual close-up profile shots since they were taken in haste on request for Amy one recent evening, but they should suffice. (Please ignore the black socks and goofy facial expressions.) Besides, most of you have seen the belly in person and know how I've finally started showing for real. :) (These pix were just after Thanksgiving, I think. Dave said he thought I grew on the way home from Vancouver that weekend and I think he was right!)

Oh! and did you know that Dave is expecting, too? (see the "Dave preggers 1.jpg pic) That's Oscar, our 'lump' (he can't stay away from Dave when he's on the couch with a blanket and sometimes can't stay away even when the blanket isn't there!

Anyways...pregnancy is still going well for me. I'm actually closing in on the final SIX WEEKS! Baby and I are growing each day. We're still having lots of fun movement and nothing too painful for me just yet (a rib or kidney kick here and there, but nothing too bad). And, the last time we saw our midwife, the baby was in the head-down position which is very good, however since there's still room enough to move around in there, doesn't mean a whole lot for long. But, just to encourage the nice behavior, I tell the baby just about every day how glad I am that it's being so agreeable ;) It's all I can do! Otherwise, sleep is still pretty good, aside from my being more wakeful than I'd been and getting comfortable (in any activity or position) is more of a chore but it's all more of a distraction than anything.

Dave's been busy whittling down on the "daddy do" list and I think we're both glad that we have the holidays to distract us through most of these final weeks. I'm not too stressed (really! I swear!) about any of it, but am trying to mentally prepare myself for those feelings to settle in later. If I think about any of it too much, it will get to me and it just makes more sense to roll with things (amazingly, I feel like I'm actually letting myself do that!) - It's only going to help me roll with things when the baby is actually here and running the show. Really, I think Dave and I are just in a very good place right now - enjoying the time we have left as just the two of us, but loving the anticipation of the birth of our own family and everything new to come.

So, 9 months is just around the corner (about Christmas time), but I promise to try to write and send pix again. Until then, enjoy the season, stay warm and take care.

Love, Xs and Os to everyone,

Les, Dave and baby-to-be

P.S. My last day of work should be 1/12/07 - after which time my email will be monitored by a co-worker. PLEASE SEND ALL FUTURE COMMUNICATION TO ME AT my hotmail address!!!!!



12/25/06

Hi all -

Yep. This is the last official 'baby update' you're likely to get from me since Xmas eve marked the beginning of my 10th and final month of pregnancy. While I will officially reach 'term' next Saturday, it really could happen any day now. Bets are already being laid, I think, that we won't have to wait until 1/20/07 to meet this little one. My mom and sister-in-law think I'll be in labor sooner than that, although I've yet to see any of the supposed 'tell-tale signs' that I'm soon to be in labor, ie, baby moving down. Of course there is that full moon on 1/13/07....so we shall see ;)

The latest pic is attached. NO, those are NOT stretch marks you see, but rather beauty sleep wrinkles from my much-needed nap this afternoon. There are no stretch marks to be found yet, so I think I'm one of the lucky few to not get them at all. Yahoo! As you can see, though, I continue to grow...grow, grow :) Comfort is still possible, but I have to work harder for it and I've gotten better at asking for help with getting up, picking up all the things I keep dropping, and carrying stuff - I figure I've only got so much longer to take advantage of the "P card" (aka the pregnancy card/excuse)! It's not first nature though, so I do think I drive Dave a
little crazy sometimes, for reasons other than the usual ;)

The holidays have been a blessing as far as distractions go, but given the
fact that I've already tossed out one suggestion from our doula to go ahead and do the baby laundry but wait for early labor to fold and put things away, I think the waiting will soon be the hardest part. (I couldn't stand it! I had to spend time with all those adorable little onesies and sleepers and socks and blankets from my shower!!)

Baby is still pretty active, (although there is far less room in my basketball tummy - it's so taught!), with its head down (good baby!) and sending kicks in the same darned spot in the upper right hand corner of my belly, a few inches south of my ribs. I swear I've got a 3 month old bruise on the inside from that little knee or foot pushing and kicking in the same old place. I've still not suffered too many rib-kicks, although I think the rib spreading has really kicked into gear since I get really tired around the top of my belly at the end of the day. Seems the belly is winning the battle of the bulge.

I'm still moving around pretty well, though not nearly how I would consider to be like me. People actually pass me on the sidewalk now, but that's ok because I've usually forgotten where I'm headed these days. I'm a bit slower at my water aerobics classes too, although the water is a god-send with the intermittent swelling I've been getting in the past few weeks. And, the grandmas in my class have gotten a lot more attentive to me as I get bigger each week so it's been fun to have the chance to talk baby without fear of boring people (sorry office mates!)

Speaking of the office, work is winding down, although I've still got a healthy list of to-dos before I'll be able to wake in the night without thinking about it. With any luck (??), I'll be able to present at the upcoming OSPI conference at the downtown convention center with my boss, one day before I call it quits (1/12). After that, I'll be at home, resting with my feet up. Or so the plan reads....

FYI - I'll be working on my call/email notification list, next. Dave will be responsible for calling immediate family members (parents and sibs), in hopes that they can start spreading the news to extended family. Amy, my sis-in-law, graciously accepted the task of sending out an email notification that will go out to friends and much of the extended family. I'll copy mom and Lani when I send that list to Amy so that you know who will be in the know when there's something to know! :) Apologies that we won't get to share the news with everyone personally, but I think they'll understand if I've got Dave on other duties when labor is in progress.

Well, this message feels more ADHD-driven than usual, but I wanted to send out at least one last message before leaving the count-down to mother nature. We are very excited to meet this little person. The mystery of their little personality (actually, I bet it's a big personality) and what they look like and what sorts of parents we'll be is nearly overwhelming, but really a joy. I have to admit, though, that I'm still in a bit of disbelief when I say to myself, "you are going to be a mom", but when I look at Dave and think "he's going to be a dad!" I feel more confident. For, as much as I know this baby will turn our world upside down, I know we'll find the up-end together.

Thanks to all of you for your love and support and well wishes - and for listening to this baby making history. We know you're rooting for us and we love you for it.

Love, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,

Les (Dave and baby)

P.S. Please remember to email me here, now since I'll be off my work address soon.



And, finally: 1/13/07 - from my sis-in-law, Amy Sidell:
Yesterday, Friday January 12 at 4:43pm, proud parents Leslie St. Pierre and Dave Alonzo welcomed Zoe Miren Alonzo into the world! Zoe made her debut weighing in at 7 lbs 2 oz, and is said to be a beauty. Mom, Dad and Zoe are all happy and healthy and recovering after an exciting delivery. Zoe is looking forward to meeting everyone once Les and Dave have had a chance to settle into their new roles as parents!

Smiley girl

(Now with pictures!)

The annual Coffield family reunion was this Sunday, so Dave, Zoe and I were busy packing up and traveling all weekend long.

The fun began on Friday when Zoe graciously took her long morning nap to allow me to get the car packed for the weekend's festivities. Then, us girls headed to UW where I met up with some old co-workers for lunch. She put on the flirt to woo the two young men, winning the one soon-to-be hitched over to the side of fatherhood. To quote: "Ok, I could manage one of those. She's cute!" We then rounded out the work-friend-themed day by stopping by my office and her Daddy's office where she again wowed the fans with sweet smiles. She certainly seems to get the whole "mom/dad's friends are my friends" idea!

After picking up daddy from work early, we hit the road to head down the long path to Vancouver, WA. Thankfully, after a half hour report on her day, she napped the last three hours of the trip, waking just before we got to Grandma and Grandpa Coffield's house. Amazingly, she was in great spirits (thrilled to be out of the car seat, I'm sure) and proceeded to wow the family with still more smiles.

Note the theme here: smiley girl. All weekend long we beamed with pride as everyone who met her were impressed with her sweet smiles. Given the alternative, we consider ourselves blessed.

Our bliss, though, took a small hiatus that evening when, after her bedtime feed, Zoe decided that she was rested enough and wanted to party. This could be due to the fact that she was sleeping in a new location (Grandma and Grandpa's trailer) and a new bed (the pack n' play), but is likely mostly due to the fact that this mom was half asleep herself when changing Zo's diaper and failed to protect the golden key to a good Zoe's night sleep (aka, her sleep sack) from the pee Zone. Sigh. After two hours or so of partying in the pack n' play, Zoe earned herself a spot between mom and dad on the cozy trailer 'master bed'.

Did you know that babies are noisy, raucous, sleepers? Did you know that putting a baby down perpendicular to her bed mates does not prevent her from grabbing dad's chin hairs and kicking mom in the face? Hmmm.... we didn't either. But now we do.

Anyway. After a 4:00am wake-up call to feed, Zoe was a sport and actually napped most of the morning, allowing me to catch up on some Zs myself. Dad, on the other hand, wasn't so lucky, as he had all of 4 inches to park his rear on Grandpa's crowded boat (or rather the Grandpa-crowded boat ;)).

One cute development of the day was a new curl atop of Zo's round little head. Seems that bath time mixed with a bit of humidity brings out the Kewpee doll in our little gal.

Zoe and Great-Grandma Leona

Thankfully, although Saturday evening was still a festive time for our otherwise reliable sleeper, it was much more restful than the night before.

The reunion itself was nice. It seems that each year the crowd is filled with new and old faces and its always a great time to catch up with the cousins, aunts and uncles. Oh, and it's a great time to fill up on the fried chicken and homemade pies!

Mom, Zoe & Great-Great-Aunt Lila; Zoe & Great-Aunt Teresa; Zoe and Great-Grandpa Derrel
Unfortunately, I fell victim to a nasty case of something yet to be determined: either insanely overblown (literally) allergies or a bad head cold. Either way, my sore sinuses and blasting headache put an early end to our stay. Thankfully or not since it took us over four hours to get home. Zoe, love that child, slept about half the way - from Battleground to just north of Olympia. She did, though, get a bit fussy when we hit Lakewood and Tacoma. Of course, who can blame her? I certainly get cranky in Lakewood and Tacoma!


Zo & her beloved elephant (love that elephant butt!)

The day ended on yet another high note as Zoe, energized by the road trip and subsequent reunion with the kitties, opted to play herself down, rather than host her usual chat with her mobile buddies. Seems that you can urge only so much down-time out of a little one before they have to blow off some energy. That's fine. She pretty much slept like a champ the whole night through, so it looks like we're headed back to normalcy, soon.

Thanks to Dad, the web site's updated now! Check it out!

Gaaah!

Ok. It's so hot that I decided to pin my hair up (since I got my hair cut, that takes lots of pins!) But OH MY GOD! Zoe doesn't recognize me!!! She keeps looking at me when I talk, with a smile that quickly fades as if to say 'where's my mom? what did you do with her??'

Sob!

Extreme Zoe

So chatty. So busy. And SO yurpy!! She's beyond technicolor! she's gone to plaid!

Perhaps it's because it's so dang hot? Perhaps it has something to do with the two front bottom teeth buds we've been eying for the past week? But wouldn't that be an odd reaction for an otherwise mellow baby? I mean, I'm personally downright lethargic!

Whatever it is, Zoe is on high. Man. Not only is she chatting up a storm and flirting her pants off, but I can barely keep up with her. She's so busy! How can a 6 month old who can't crawl or walk be hard to keep up with you ask? Let's just say that it seems like her little limbs are warming up for a marathon. That and I'm already on my second outfit of the day after having been hit with the yurp erupting from 'Mt. Zo-suvius'. This time it was accompanied by an actual splash as it hit the floor (thankfully just millimeters from the carpet - good aim, bug!). I guess that's better than down the cleavage where it landed earlier this morning.

With the temps expected to near 100 today, this is obviously going to be a sticky day.

In the very least, however, I've got good company working from home today. Her shrieks and chatter make the tedium of my year-end self evaluation a little less painful. (We run on a 7/1-6/30 fiscal calendar, so I'm supposed to be reporting on all the amazing and ground-breaking work I've accomplished in the past 12 months. Of course all I can think about reporting is the fact that I was pregnant and had a baby, but somehow I don't think that'll quite earn me the raves and kudos I know that deserves.)

Ok, I'm headed back to the grind while bug gets some work done in 'the office'. It's so great to be at the point where I don't feel guilty about putting her down to play. She actually gets frustrated now when we hold her for too long - preferring the company of her monkey keychain and butterfly toys or 'dino' and 'turtle'. We're still fun to hang with, but perhaps a little farther down her list of favorite distractions. ;)

Happy 4th

Well, it isn't Zoe's first holiday per se - she was around for Ground Hog's, Valentine's, St. Patrick's and Memorial Days - but I guess you'd say this was the first she actually participated in? Our unusually warm and sunny 4th started nice and early, as usual (it is a Wednesday after all and she didn't get the memo that we could sleep in), but like the sweet gal she is, after eating and a bit of playing she gladly went down for a big morning nap. So mom and dad napped too. Oh heaven. My lazy bones didn't get up until hers did again at almost 10am!!!

Later, a bit of lunch, another nap and a bit more tummy time (see related pix) Yes, that's all her definition of tummy time - she just won't stay on the tummy!



Then we all headed to our friends, Phil and Devon's house for a BBQ. We pretty much already knew this, but Zoe's a people person! She was happy to have many new faces to watch (and be watched by) and allowed herself to be passed around. As long as mom and dad were within site, she was cool mixing it up with the crowd. She started out pretty mellow (again, see related pic), but by the end of it she was having a blast dancing on her blanket and watching a really cute puppy run around.




















We opted for an early exit, figuring we'd pay her back for the great party behavior. At home, she chatted us up, telling us all about the day - "so many sites and smells and sounds - did you see?!" Man, she's fun.

Finally, we capped it off with a feeding. Normally, I'm not in the habit of nursing her to sleep (we like to encourage her ability to chat and coo herself down), but not tonight. Now how sweet is this?? All in all, I'd say it was a great holiday for Zoe.

Weekend well spent

Despite a rocky start Friday morning what with overflowing coffee pots, and forgotten work transportation schedules, the weekend panned out pretty well. After some wishy washy napping on Zoe's part (usually she's good for 3-4 hours after her first morning feeding, then another 1-2 after her second) we managed to get some serious chore running done just in time to pick Dave up from work. It was actually a good mix of play and rest and productivity and that always makes this mom feel good.

Yesterday we packed it up mid-morning to meet Laura, our Realtor, and visit three houses that seemed to be good prospects until we saw them. House #1 was a great investment opportunity (aka, lots of work to make it the beauty it may one day be), house #2 was a wolf in sheep's clothing (a lovely and well-disguised cinder block home we wish the owners luck in offloading) and #3, an overpriced oddity with a sneaky peak view of the sound. Zoe was a champ through it all, either taking it all in as I carried her in the moby wrap (think new-fangled sling carrier thing) or snoozing in her car seat. All in all, it was a productive round of house-seeing in that I think we're honing in on our must-haves (good windows, hardwoods and flow) and points of compromise (some remodeling in the kitchen or bath). As a result, we've pretty much decided to give it a few weeks to get past the holiday and wait for more properties to hit the listings.

In other Zoe news, we think she might be brewing a tooth as her sleeping and eating have been pretty erratic lately. She's still generally a peach, but perhaps a less patient peach lately. She totally fought the naps yesterday while today she took her 4 hour nap in the mid afternoon. Not so conducive to the walk we were going to take around Greenlake, but oh well. We did manage to get out for a quick jaunt down the street to see a house for sale (UG-ly and too close to Aurora). Dave opted to give the Bjorn-type carrier a whirl (see related pic); I carried the spit cloth and manned Zoe's sun hat. She was great as long as we kept moving and the view was fresh. Today was Zoe's (early by 2 weeks but oh well) exposure to sun screen. I HATE the smell of sun screen, but alas, I prefer pale baby soft baby skin to a baby with sun burn. So there you go.


And perhaps most fun of all - today was also Zoe's first exposure to the dinner table. Dave and I have never been great about eating at the table together (he likes to sit at the computer, I like the breakfast bar withmy books/paper), but I figured now's as good a time as any to get Zoe comfortable with sitting in her high chair. We plunked her down and gave her a few toys, but she was fascinated with her own little table and watching the eating! She's always been a great little watcher, but man, did she dig watching us eat! I don't think we'll have trouble introducing her to food soon (esp not if she takes after me ;)). It was so fun to have such a cute and entertaining audience that I think eating at the dinner table just might stick.