No Pictures, Please!

No Pictures, Please!
July 30, 2008

We attempted to do a 3D ultrasound today. Didn’t happen. Our little baby, who now weighs in at 2 pounds, 9 ounces, wanted nothing to do with having her/his picture taken. She/he was so adamant, that in addition to tucking that little chin to her/his chest – there was also a hand and arm planted firmly in front of the face! So – we will try again in about 2 weeks. Baby Zoe is breech, which makes the ultrasound process a little more complicated. The only thing we were able to see what the top of her/his head!

I really can’t be surprised – stubborn runs in both sides of the family!

I Want To Believe

I Want To Believe
July 25, 2008

Some of my favorite college moments did not happen at a bar…or a party. Instead, many of those moments happened in the dark living room of our dorms at Loyola College on Sunday nights. Sunday nights, you see, were X-Files nights.

I only missed a handful of episodes in the entire run of the X-files, and all but one of those was in the first season when the show aired on Friday nights while I was at work. Once the show moved to Sundays – there was no stopping me. I would call my brother (also an X-Files junkie) from college and we would sit completely silent during the show. House rules – you were only allowed to speak during commercials when the X-Files were on.

Yup – it is probably one of the more dorky facts about me – but little by little I converted my roommates into dorky X-files fans as well. Except for one – who brought to the table a love of the X-files as great as my own. Jen, a girl who lived in the room across the hall, and I hit it off pretty much right away. The beginning of our friendship was hanging on the wall of my dorm room – a big X-Files “There’s Something Out There” poster sparked a conversation that turned us into fast friends and roommates for the last two years of college.

After 6 years of waiting, tonight was the premiere of the 2nd X-Files movie. Jen, my fellow X-Files guru, flew from San Francisco to Baltimore on the red-eye to watch the movie in theaters on opening night with me. As excited as I was to see the movie – I was more excited to see Jen.

Once again – I get to marvel at my good fortunes. Not only did Jen fly in from San Francisco, but Teresa came down from Harrisburg. Jen, Teresa, Rich and I made our way over to the Avenue in Whitemarsh to catch the 8:00 show. Admittedly, the movie was not as good as we wanted it to be – but that didn’t bother me at all. It was money well spent because it generated a memory that will always make me smile.

Get Your Bets in Now!

Get Your Bets in Now!
July 24, 2008

We took a trip to see Dr. Quartner today. The first piece of news is that my C-section is scheduled. October 21 at 7:45am. I was initially disappointed that I was unable to talk Dr. Quartner out of a scheduled C-section. I really wanted to experience going into labor and the excitement of the unplanned. For someone who needs to plan everything, there is something appealing about handing the controls completely over to God. So I spent a big chunk of the afternoon sniffly. Then I got a swift kick in the ass from Renee, followed by another swift one from Teresa, and I realized that although another C-Section isn’t my ideal birthing situation – it’s apparently what is meant for me. And really – the ideal situation is the one that ends in me holding my new, healthy baby!
So – it is time to start thinking about getting your bets in now. Given that I have a C-section scheduled, we changed the parameters of “Guess Baby Zoe” slightly. For Baby Zoe, you need to pick a gender, a weight and a length. We increased the stakes a little - $5/box this time around. Rosie was 6 days late, 9 pounds, 10.4 ounces. This baby will be 4 days early.

Smoke Free

Smoke Free
July 22, 2008
I’ve been smoke free for 3 years now. Just wanted to toot my own horn. (o:

Everybody Toots

Rosie puts on Daddy's hat
Helping Daddy touch up the paint in the powder room

Everybody Toots
July 22, 2008

From the time she was a newborn, Rosie had an issue with certain bodily functions – namely, gas. She would get all bent out of shape and, rather than burp, scream her head off. I’m happy to report that she handles all bodily functions much better these days. In fact, she has become obsessed with them.

Today, while Rosie was with Dani, she announced that “Daddy Tooted.” Poor Daddy was still at work and unable to deny the claim himself. Dani sent me a text message – and I had to laugh. The lesson of our day had been “everybody toots.”

It all started relatively early that morning when Rosie let one rip. She turned to me with a very surprised look on her face and covered her butt with her hands. I responded to her “Oh no, wha happen?” with an “it’s OK, baby – you just tooted. Everybody toots.” Well. We just had to go through every single family member that she could think of and confirm that yes, they did indeed toot.

So, now we are a little “toot” obsessed.

Rosie’s Baby

Rosie picks up Dabby for some play time
Rosie gives Dabby her bottle - while watching Kermit on TV
Rosie talks to Dabby after a "feeding"

Rosie’s Baby
July 19, 2008

Rosie got her first baby doll today. As you know, I have been trying my best to keep all of Rosie’s toys gender neutral, educational and totally princess free. So – when my mom asked me if she could buy Rosie a doll, I was very hesitant. Would this open up the flood gates of overly girly gifts? Would she lose her interest in toys like Noah’s Ark and the Crack House that are geared towards kids, not girls?

Ultimately, logic won out and I agreed that Rosie could have a baby doll – but I wanted her to be the one to pick it out. Off to Toys R Us we went. We wandered for a bit, searching for the doll section. Rosie suddenly shouted “baby doll” and started pointing. There were dolls that burp…dolls that can be fed…dolls that say “mama” and dolls that wet a diaper. Rosie picked the one doll that does absolutely nothing!

This plain little doll came with a blue outfit and a pink outfit – both equally ugly. Its mouth is open slightly, so Nonna picked up a play baby bottle as an accessory. Rosie wanted the keep her new baby in the blue outfit – but when you ask her, the doll is a baby girl. Her name is Dabby. (Abby Dabby is her name for both Abby Cadabby and Zoe from Sesame Street…)

Both Nonna and I tried to put more interesting dolls in front of her – dolls that had binkies…dolls that were a little prettier. Rosie wanted nothing to do with any of them – she just wanted Dabby out of her box. So, Dabby is now her baby doll – complete with a little Pack & Play. Rosie put Dabby to bed today and tried to give Dabby her binkie. Dabby’s mouth isn’t big enough for Rosie’s binkie, but we are all impressed that she was willing to share.

Rosie is very proud of Dabby, her new baby doll…and I am very proud of Rosie. She cuddles her, feeds her – and even burps her new baby doll. (The burping action comes complete with a smack on her back, burping noise and Rosie saying “Shoo me!”)

Rosie & Ben

Ben & Rosie pose for a Photo Op with Elmo!
Rosie gives Ben a kiss...
Ben gives Rosie a kiss...

Rosie & Ben
July 17, 2008

We took our second trip of the summer to Sesame Place with cousin Ben, Aunt Jenn, Aunt Suzie and Grandmama. I am happy to report that we had a wonderful afternoon.

After our first trip, I was a little worried about Sesame Place. It seemed a little shady when we were there last month. A little dirty…a little trashy…and not the Oscar the Grouch kind of trash! Fortunately, Sesame Place seemed to have gotten their act together and our park-going experience was wonderful. A large part of what made this trip to SP so special was watching Rosie and Ben interact.

Rosie and Ben were due to arrive exactly 3 months apart. Rosie was a few days late – Ben was a few days early. When I first learned of Jenn’s pregnancy – I was so thrilled because Rosie was going to grow up having a cousin her age. My cousins are a decade older than I am…or a decade younger. At family events, it was really just me and Billy. Billy’s a great counterpart and a fun guy – but having someone new and different to play with every now and then is a very good thing!

I thought it would be years before we would see the signs of friendship between Rosie and Ben. I was so wrong. They were both a little wary of one another when we first got to the park. Actually Rosie was uncharacteristically quiet for the first hour or so that we were there. By the end of the day, they were kissing, holding hands and playing so perfectly, you wouldn’t think they were toddlers. (Although they are both brilliant toddlers – their interaction still amazed and impressed me…)

The seven of us were able to get tickets to the character lunch – which was so worth the price of admission! Unfortunately, the drive up to Sesame Place had me pretty much wiped out. I was having a hard time walking, standing – it was just a tough pregnancy day and I was feeling the pain. So, I volunteered to watch the table while Grandmama took Rosie to see Elmo. I had already had the joy of being with her during another Elmo sighting in Florida – and I wanted my mother-in-law to have the same fun experience. Well – even though this is the third time we have met Elmo, I was still that fool standing at the table, crying as her kid sat on that furry red lap!

Toddlers are magical creatures. It is so much fun to watch their excitement and feel their wonder. As a parent – you get so swept up in their emotions. Even though I couldn’t take her on rides or run around, just watching her face light up with excitement was such a magical thing for me!

We stayed until the 7:00 parade – and both kids looked absolutely pooped. Pooped and totally content. The excitement proved to be too much for Rosie to let go of, however, since we chatted most of the way home about Ben, Big Bird, Elmo and the water she played in. What makes me happiest is that this is just one in a long line of very happy Rosie & Ben memories….