100 Days of Ellie: Day 1

Great Monday

Things are amazing. I was planning on going back to work, but with the support of my boss, I'm taking more time off this week. Just in time, too, as Ellie has become more interested in the "witching hours" between 11pm and 4am. So, nights have been a little rough--but nothing that can't be remedied by a couple large cups of home-brewed coffee.

It's a beautiful day wherein I'm planning on giving Alden a bath, planting the rest of my seedlings, sowing some other seeds, showering, shaving, and writing/addressing/mailing the birth announcements we're expecting to be delivered today. So far, Ellie received her first piece of mail (her Social Security card!) and I received a free pair of shoes; plus I am uploading a video of Ellie waking up on Day 4 of her life. It's 2 minutes and 22 seconds of pure Adorable.

I feel so busy! But it's all good stuff, including a majority of staring at a beautiful sleeping baby.

Home

This blog might be changing up hardcore. Ms. Ellise Clementine was born last week and I think my focus is going to be about our family and not just me and bikes and maintaining arguments with antagonistic people.

I haven't even made time to write up our birth experience, let alone the cute things Ellie does, or the fact that I just put some kale in the ground and that our basement is almost finished thanks to our dad; so enjoy a photo for now and hope that I can pick this back up.

If nothing else, this might be completely gutted and turned into my journal about being a dad and all the cool stuff we're doing.

Peace and love

Seriously, she's here.

Meet Ellise "Ellie" Clementine Love Strong. Born on April 8, 2010, at 12:29 am after an unexpected induction the morning before. A perfect 7 pounds 11 ounces; 19.5 inches long.

On Wednesday, C and I showed up to what we hoped might be our last OB-GYN check up. C's blood pressure had measured high at the beginning of the previous three appointments and we weren't surprised that this visit was the same. Oddly, this time around her blood pressure stayed up. Our doctor sent us down the hall for a non-stress test. Thirty minutes later C's only thought was how late she would be for a meeting she had scheduled at work. After a third high blood pressure measurement our doctor came in to point out that our baby's heart rate dropped slightly after a mild contraction. This was enough to convince her to order us to labor and delivery. She realized how panicked we looked and asked if we were packed. Nope! She told us to go home, pack, eat something, and check into the hospital as quickly as possible...
(to be continued)

Family Time

Picked this up at the library--just what I was looking for; more or less a reggae album for kids. Ziggy Marley's Family Time. So far so good--too excited, I couldn't wait to get through the whole album before posting about it. The album features other Marley siblings, Jack Johnson, Toots (Hibbert), Willie Nelson, Paul Simon, and others. Very mello and upbeat, not far from the great Bob Marley, but with tunes that really focus on family. So great! Can't wait to rock this while dancing with Ms. Baby, enjoying a warm and sunny day, or brightening up a gloomy one. Enjoy!

Week 39

week 30 v. week 39

Prep

We have 8 days left until Ms. Baby is expected to arrive, in theory. Looking ahead to what might amount to chaos (or at least total exhaustion), C is in the middle of preparing 4 casseroles to freeze. Last week she made a large lasagna and froze all that we didn't eat. It's pretty awesome, 'cause C is a good cook and has some impressive instincts when it comes to personalizing a recipe to make it even better.
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Meanwhile, working on the last of the baby laundry which is mostly flannel receiving blankets, sheets, and miscellaneous fitted covers for stuff... Need to finish up some art and might even go to a nearby antique store for extra decor... I promise, nursery photos will be up soon.

She's here!

Our baby has arrived! April Fool's, I keed, I keed.

But April has arrived; the month of the birth of Ms. Baby. C is getting anxious and I don't blame her. Sleep has become hard to keep straight for her. The doctor keeps saying she's not yet dilated. What the d? But things are great though. Slowly but surely the nursery is getting finished up. On this beautiful, sunny, 79-degree day I unwrapped our crib mattress and have it propped up outside to air-out per the recommendations of others. Just need to finish up some art projects for the room and we'll be rollin.

Lots of love