New Photos

Check out the latest pictures!  The facial expressions are fantastic.

Decorating

It took us a little longer than usual, but we got the tree up and decorated.   We only had a small altercation with the lights, but they gave in.   The tree has a great selection of ornaments with room for a few more - just in case.  

I ran another time lapse setup.  The camera was set to take a frame every minute and I added some royalty free music from iTunes.   iMovie and Aperture make this project a snap!

Bottle Feeding

For reasons unknown to us, Shelby is refusing to eat from a bottle now! She starts screaming or just plays with the nipple in her mouth. It takes Scott an hour to get her to drink 2 oz. The Pumpkin has six weeks to get her act together before she goes to day care!

She also seems to be quite comfortable on her changing table. So, Scott attempted to feed her on the changing table with moderate success! Who says you can't eat where you poo?

Christmas Photo Shoot

This morning Shelby was very happy to pose for some Christmas photos.  I turned the living room into a little photo studio.  She even made it through an outfit change.   We shot a few family pictures last night, but we're saving those for the Christmas card.   I just placed the order at Costco - 75 cards for about $23, with envelopes.   That seems about half the going rate!

Saving for College

Tonight I opened Shelby's 529 College Savings Plan through Vanguard.   I figure the odds of the market losing another 50% are pretty slim.   Starting now should make the monthly contribution fairly manageable.   I'll have to run a few calculations to see what tuition will run in 18 years...   

Anyway, donations are welcome!   Shelby thanks you.

Shelby's First Thanksgiving

It was an unusual Thanksgiving but was gobbles of fun!  Shelby got to see Grandpa (for the first time) and Grandma from Ohio and Uncle Nick and Aunt Pat joined us in between trucking jobs!   Pat and Nick showed up in their shiny red truck fresh from a delivery down south.   Their next load wasn't due for a pickup until Monday, so they joined us the whole weekend!  Since the guest room was taken, they camped out in the truck - probably the lowest maintenance house guests ever!  

The food was great - sweet potatoes, cranberries and pie were my picks.   While we ate I ran a little time lapse photo experiment.  Even Shelby made the corner of the picture.   No turkey for her until next year.  

Grandma and Aunt Pat enjoyed a few sunny Florida walks with Shelby while Grandpa fixed a backed up sink.    With free babysitting on hand,  Bonnie and I snuck out for to see the new 007 movie.  It was great watching them all handle the baby, it was like they had done this before.  

With everyone gone, it's so quiet.   But it won't be but a few weeks before we're joined again for Christmas.   Shelby's got less than a month to smile on command! 

The Sounds of Shelby

Shelby makes the funniest noises - constantly! We have captured some of them on film for you viewing enjoyment.

http://gallery.me.com/slawrence2011#100110

Never Mind

Well, I think it was just a fluke. Shelby woke up at 2:20am for a midnight snack. Oh well. A new milestone to look forward to!

4 weeks old

Today is Shelby's 4-week birthday! We threw a party. :) It's been a big week for us so far:

1. Scott fed Shelby her first bottle last night! She was a bit sloppy, and had a hard time getting the hang of it. Tonight she pounded that bottle! I took many pictures of it tonight.

2. She slept through her 2am feeding! After all of her evening squawking, she went to bed at 10:30 and didn't get up until 4:30! I'm not sure if it was a fluke or not. When I got up to feed her, I was trying to figure out if I had "sleep-fed" her and just didn't remember.

3. Today I taught her to suck her hand (thumb tucked in and sucking on her thumb/forefinger). Apparently she found it quite soothing. She fell asleep while sucking. She was ticked off when we gave her a bath tonight, and she brought her hand to her mouth and started sucking all by herself!

Bath Time!

We seem to be making progress on the bathing front. After several ear piercing screaming baths, tonight we enjoyed moments of calm in the bath tub. Only after a few pictures and hair washing did Shelby begin to get a bit irritated. She was even showing off her new trick of sucking her thumb/fist to calm herself down.

Now, if only there was a more comfortable arrangement for us other than kneeling over the tub on a hard floor.

1 week old

The Princess is a week old now. It's hard to believe! We've started to get a little routine going at home. I know I'm going to jinx us, but we've been very lucky in that she's sleeping 6 hours a night! hard to believe! The price we pay is that she's fussy and inconsolable for an hour before bedtime. Small price to pay!

We looked at a growth chart, and her birth weight is in the 10th percentile. While her length is in the 60th percentile! She looks very lean. Now she's starting to show some more fat on her little arms and legs.

We went to the pediatrician last Friday, and she was down to six pounds even. She should be back to her birth weight next week. But, the doctor gave her a good report card. I went to the doctor today, and got a good report card, too! I finally have NO SWELLING!! I have ankle bones and veins and tendons! I've lost quite a bit of weight since having Shelby - most of which is from the fluid retention.

Meet Shelby Lawrence!

Shelby Elizabeth was born on Tuesday 10/21 at 6:02pm. She weighed 6 lbs 6 oz, and was 20 inches long. She's a beautiful baby (if I do say so myself!) with chubby little cheeks! Her delivery went pretty smoothly. and, we were released from the hospital on Thursday.

All three of us are getting used to our new life at home. We haven't gotten a lot of sleep since we came home from the hospital, but we're learning! Things we have learned:

1. Shelby loves to be held!

2. Scott's pinkie makes a fine pacifier

3. Shelby is a spitter

4. Bonnie's shirt/pants/hand/hair will absorb spit-up just fine

Baby on the Way!

We went to the doctor today, and she has decided that this baby is ready to be born! The proverbial "Bun in the Oven" is done!

By the time we saw the doctor, it was too late in the day to induce...apparently, doctors don't prefer to work late in the night if they don't have to. But, we have an appointment for 6am tomorrow morning to get this show on the road. We were told to still expect 12 - 18 hours of labor before The Princess makes her appearance.

Dad is very excited to take real pictures of his daughter. Mom is excited to be able to see her feet again. We will have statistics & pictures of our newest family member available very soon!

Waiting Game

We are now at "full term!" I'm still on bed rest. So, the sooner she comes, the better! I'm analyzing every Braxton-Hicks contraction and twinge to see if it's anything different. Everyone I've talked to says, "You will know when it's real labor." I'm just fearful that I'm going to be the one who doesn't realize it, and I end up being a story in the next childbirth class!

gute Nacht!

Out for the Count

Well, it seems as though my desk job is not healthy for me. the doctor has decided to take me out of work and put me on Bed Rest for the rest of the pregnancy. Some might say this is a good thing. I'm 3 days into it, and GOING OUT OF MY FREAKIN' MIND!!

I'm working 1/2-days from home, knitting, and learning German! I found a German language podcast that teaches a new phrase everyday. I can now tell people my name, ask how people are feeling, and say "good morning," "good evening," and "good night." Anything to keep me entertained!!

Auf Wiedersehen und gute Nacht!

Packing the Bags

The last couple days we've been working on our hospital bags. Bonnie will get a bag of 'goodies' from the hospital - mostly things you don't see or hear mentioned in the movies. My bag however, is what I might take for a weekend camping trip. With my camera bag, it'll be like packing to make a documentary of a camping trip. Here are the highlights:

• A change of cloths
• Comfortable t-shirt and shorts
• Bathing suit
• Snacks
• Toiletries
• iPhone charger
• Headphones
• Tennis balls - for massages
• Magazines

The camera gear will require a separate post.

Baby Names

Many thanks to Uncle Mike for reopening Baby Name-gate.

Baby Lawrence's name (were she born to Sarah Palin) would be:
Creation Schwarzkopf Palin. Simply frightening.

Scott's name: Falter Locust
Bonnie's name: Crop Schooner

Knocked Up & Laid Up

We went to the doctor for our weekly visit on Tuesday. I was experiencing a moderate case of what we affectionately call "Sausage Feet." My doctor, however, thought the swelling & blood pressure increase to be more worrisome. So, she has put me on the dreaded "Bed Rest" for the rest of week & through the weekend. She will evaluate the situation again on Monday.

In the meantime, I am semi-working-from home, knitting, and trying desperately to keep myself sane/entertained.

Time Capsule

We want to make a time capsule from the day our baby is born. We're looking for ideas of items to include (newspapers, a BUD with her birthday as the born-on date, etc). Let us know if you have some ideas!

Mother Ship on the Move

Babies R Us is building a new store by the mall. Our store closes Oct 21st, but the new one doesn't open until Oct 31st. Could our timing be more off??

We did get a letter from Babies R Us that said, "There may be times when you experience low inventory levels in the store. We apologize for any inconvenience." We went to the store this weekend, and forget "low inventory levels!" It was a liquidation sale! The place was picked clean!They're already down to selling the endcaps and the fixtures! And, everything was only marked down 10%. I don't know what they're going to sell for the next month!

College Football

It won't be popular down here, but I'm going to say it. I hate living in the South during college football season!!! My Big Ten games are preempted for Florida, North Carolina, or Alabama. I got excited when I saw "Mich St vs. Notre Dame." But then I saw the "OR," and I knew I would see two teams I didn't care about.

Baby movie

We went to the doctor yesterday for a 4-d ultrasound. What makes it "4-d" you ask (and we asked, too)? The "4" is when the picture is in motion - not just a still picture. Baby Lawrence cooperated, and we got some good footage of her!

The tech did some measurements, and she is still measuring 2 weeks ahead of time. Her estimated weight is 4 lb 12 oz right now. The tech did remark, "Oh! She has a big head!" Grrr-eat.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTUUtcxpw3I

33 weeks

I'm now way past the point of being able to see my feet. But, that's a good thing because I'm unable to see my swollen feet and ankles. I've surrendered to wearing flip-flops to work. And, the doctor's response?? You guessed it: drink more water.

A Little Humor

I came across these blogs today, and got quite a laugh from them. I love them! Be on the lookout for your own examples!

http://www.apostropheabuse.com/

http://quotation-marks.blogspot.com/

http://badparking.wordpress.com/

Jewelry Store

We went to the jewelry store at the mall today to get another link put into my watch. I swear it used to fit before I was pregnant!! We were waiting for the "watch lady" to finish up the repair when another saleslady tried to make conversation. She actually said (out loud), "You're having twins?" I smiled and told her, "No, I'm just big."

I think she felt bad, but she couldn't let it go. Her next questions was, "Are you hungry all the time?" Seriously.

What's in a Name?

We may have settled on a name! We are currently "vetting" the name - researching the popularity, meaning, etc.

She, for the time being, has settled into a sideways position in my belly. Her head pokes out at an odd angle to the left, and her feet precariously poke my ribs on the right hand side. We had a suggestion to give her a name that means "contrary" or "stubborn." How very fitting!

Oh, just don't ask what the name is. We aren't ready to tell!! :)

Baby Class

We have started Childbirth Classes at our hospital. There are about 6 other couples who are due about the same time. This week was Class #2. We went over the stages of labor. The nurse leading the class basically said "Do what she wants. Don't argue." The husbands' eyes all got a little bigger, and all were probably thinking, "Grrrrreat." Scott was the only one who uttered that out loud. :) I told him he better suck it up. I talked to my mom, and she said, "You go, girl! You do/say what you want!"

Fun fact: During a hurricane/tropical storm, the barometric pressure drops and the birth rate goes up during that time! The same is true for full moons.

Baby's Room

We are making even more progress in the baby's room! We have the crib mattress and sheets put on now. So, at least the baby has somewhere to sleep! We have no car seat, so we can't bring her home. But in case we do, at least she has a place to stay!!

Gettin' Big

Dark

The lights just came back on after a few hours of darkness. I don't know what the problem was. It certainly wasn't the weather. Although I did get to test my glow sticks and battery powered lantern.

Tropical Storm Fay

We just saw a news report that showed the storm weakening slightly. But the projected path still tracks near our area. I stocked up on water, snacks and batteries this afternoon. I may even get to try out my glow sticks that I bought 2 years ago during the hurricane tax holiday.

Thanks to the recent baby shower, we will have plenty of baby books to read. And we're stocked with beer for the shower this weekend (sorry Bonnie).

Hopefully the biggest hassle will be dealing without A/C for a day or two).

Busy Weekend

Well, we are certainly getting there with the baby's room.

Saturday: Painted the room a lovely "Marine Reef." Like nail polish colors, you can never really tell what the name of the color means. Marine Reef is a mint/sage green. It looks really good with the white baseboards and closet door!

Sunday: Hung up new blinds. We picked a 2" plantation blind (in white). They do a good job of blocking the light! Most importantly, we picked up and assembled the crib! The dresser and crib look very sharp together.

Next step: curtains.

Work

As seems to be the fashion, I have a new job at work....well, it's the same job, but I got shuffled from the Operations department to the Logistics department in a Warehouse/Logistics merger. We're evolving from separate duties to an integrated supply chain department.

My new boss is very awesome! I've only worked for her for a week, and she has already offered Scott and me Jaguars tickets for this weekend! She wanted to give us the Jags/Browns tickets, but since it's 6 days before my due date, we opted for the Jags/Miami game this weekend.

What a Party!

We returned from Cleveland early this afternoon. Thanks to everyone to attended the baby shower! It was great to see you all. In case you're wondering, we managed to fit all the gifts and books in our suitcases! The baby is well on her way to collecting more books than Grandpa Dave or Uncle Mike.

Oh, and a break from the humidity was nice too.

Big Girl!

Yesterday we went to the doctor for a sonograph. Our little girl is only 27 weeks, but her arm/leg bones are measuring 29 weeks! Plus, she should be about 2lbs right now, and she's weighing in at 2lb 11oz already!! Mom said, "Heavens! You have a moose in there!" Antlers on this child would at least explain some of the violent poking of my ribs!!

Again: a drama queen pose. Scott and I are in trouble...

26 weeks

Hi Millicent...we are your crazy parents. Don't worry: we will foot the therapy bills for at least 18 years...

Shark Week!

I think this might be my favorite week of the summer!....Discovery Channel Shark Week! Is it sad when I tune in to a show, and recognize that it's a re-run from last year?

24 weeks and counting

A girl at work is 5 weeks away from delivering. I asked her how she was doing, and she said, "Huge." She said people at the plant want to touch her belly - and they do! She was pretty horrified. No one (wisely) has tried that with me. I think they know better. Scott has taught me some Jiu-Jitsu defensive moves if anybody comes in with a an unwelcome hand to the abdomen. Watch out!!

Registry Round 2

We survived another round at Babies R Us. Our registry is probably about 80% complete. We've picked out most of the larger items - strollers, car seat, crib, furniture, bottles, toys etc. The crib we selected was back ordered, but we were assured it'll be in stock in a month or so. We opted for the tea stain color over the dark wood color.

Baby Registry

We've finally managed to start our baby registry. We only lasted an hour. Sadly, we didn't get through the first section of the store!! I think we both had sensory overload! Who knew there were so many choices for nail clippers, baby bath tubs, and pacifiers!!!

We are not proud people. Do you have personal, product reviews for high chairs? Pack 'n Plays? Diaper pails? Let us know!! I trust my friends more than the (potentially) crazy people who post reviews on the Babies 'R Us website!!

Fatherly Advice

I suppose it's a little early to start preaching my wisdom. But here's a little article I'll be saving for our little girl.

Critters

When we moved to Florida, we didn't realize that a "Bug Guy" was a necessity until there were spiders and Palmetto bugs and other bugs (oh my!). Our pest people have taken care of those annoyances inside and out. But, then there was yesterday....

Scott was looking out into the backyard, when I heard a vociferous, "OH MY GOD!!!" I raced to the door to see a 3-foot long, 2-inch diameter snake slithering on our patio!!!!! Scott grabbed his camera to document the event, and I grabbed my laptop to Google "snakes, indigenous, Florida." The snake checked out the grill, the drain spout, then wandered down the slope in the yard back to the forest preserve beyond the fence.

We compared the pictures to the websites, and sent the pictures off to our Florida native friends, and we believe we hosted a cottonmouth. Great, just great. Tonight when we went out to grill, there was much surveying of the area before proceeding.....

Introspection

Last night we had the unfortunate opportunity to attend a co-worker's son's wake. The kid was 19 years old. He was sitting in the back seat of a car (not wearing his seatbelt) when the driver struck a tree while traveling 80 mph.

Summer Again

Ahhhh. Summer in Florida. 95-degree weather with the humidity to match. Everyday the weather forcast is, "High in the low 90's with a change of thunderstorms mostly after 2pm." At work we don't have a lot of windows, but you can tell it's raining by an earthy/soil smell. My friend Chris and I can smell it, but most people just think we're insane until they look outside.....

Just for Kicks

So, the baby is moving around like crazy now! Considering she wouldn't stay still during the last ultrasound, I think I'm in for some trouble! Scott felt her move, too. I think he's a little creeped out by it. :) Scott saw this movie and now he's scarred!

Partners in Crime

Scott and I found out that friends of ours are due 3 days after us! We went to dinner with them and walked to the restaurant, the big conversation was about when the next bathroom opportunity would be and comparing the outrageous cost of day cares - not really about the wine selection! How the conversation topics have changed already... :) They're very politically charged (and their due date is Election Day). They announced they were having a boy as saying they were having a "Barak" rather than a "Hillary."

Rochelle also plans to go back to work after her maternity leave. And, like me, is not sure she's going to be able to handle 12 weeks away from the thrill and excitement of work! Scary, I know. It will be nice to know someone will be wondering the same silly, new mother things we are. And, at least I'll have a Maternity Leave buddy!!

What's in a Name?

People ask us what we're having when they find out we're pregnant. When we tell them it's a girl they have two comments:

1. "Congratulations!" - This seems like a normal response (that I've probably said to expectant parents in the past), but all we have accomplished at this point is sit through a 30-minute ultrasound session to find out it's a girl.

2. "Are you happy it's a girl?" - We've heard this one so many times, we've come up with our own Lawrence-style response, "No, not really. We were really hoping for a Muppet." It almost makes sense, but it gives people enough pause to be comical.



We've narrowed the field of names down to about a dozen. No, I will not share them now. So, when people ask the third inevitable question, "What are you going to name her," we have a canned response: Millicent. Are we being smart? Are we paying homage to a ancestor? Hard to tell....

Visit to the Mother Ship

We're now at the halfway point to meeting our little girl (20 weeks). We decided it was time to look for baby furniture. Target had surprisingly little selection. We made the trip to Babies R Us (the "Mother Ship"). We first went to the strollers. There were about a half billion types. I think we have a winner! Of course, we're too proud to ask for help on how to fold it up. So, we looked like a couple of idiots staring at the contraption while pushing on things looking like levers.

Since we're such tall people (mmhmm, yeah right), we decided we needed a drop-side crib. We found a nice one with a matching dresser & hutch. Classic look, but not too frou-frou. Some of these cribs are huge!

We walked around the rest of the store, and realized we have a lot more decisions to make about gear!...Baby Bjorn or sling? What kind of car seat? Go completely girly or more gender neutral?? Oy!!

It's a Girl!

After nearly thirty minutes of ultra sound work, the technician finally filled us in on the news! I'll spare you the identifying image, but here's a great profile of our little girl. Everything is looking great!

Names

If all goes as planned, we should find out if we're having a boy or girl tomorrow. And then the naming decision will officially begin.

Here's a fun site that might help us through the process.

17 weeks and counting

We're past the constant nausea nad past having no appetite. Now we're to the point where no clothes fit and back pain. Never fear: the mood swings continue!! Next week we go to the doctor to hopefully find out the sex of the baby!

15 weeks

Scott is starting to get into the maternity portrait stuff! I think he's just excited that he'll have a permanent photo subject soon! And, one that can't talk or run away during a shoot!

12 & 13 weeks

Not much to see, but getting there!

11 weeks

The 11 weeks ultrasound. It looks like the little guy/girl is waving!