39 Weeks

Okay, it's official.  On June 8th--a Monday--at 8:00am, Kristina and I have an appointment to have a baby.  Set your clocks.  Ready your tear ducts.  Practice swaddling the dog.  Nemo's coming.

Of course we'll update the blog once we have the little guy or girl.  

38 Weeks

So we went to the doctor today and he backed down from June 3.  Now he seems pretty sure we'll induce on June 8.  We'll know for sure on June 2.  Kristina is 40cm.  Have a good day!

37 Weeks

A full term woman is 38 cm at 38 weeks.  At 36 weeks, Kristina was 39 cm.  We've got a big baby and the doctor wants to get him or her out.  

36 Weeks

Doctor says you can pencil in a June 3rd date for induction.  Get ready!

35 Weeks

As you've noticed, we've fallen behind in updating our blog.  We're really starting 36 weeks.  We've been pretty busy preparing for two big things.  First, obviously, the baby.  The baby's room is almost totally done.   Pictures hung, crib made up, diapers at the ready.  

But we're also preparing for another big event.  On Wednesday, I'm going into surgery for my jaw. 

Because of the long recovery from the surgery, it's going to be hard to update the blog for the next couple of weeks.  Of course, if we receive any information about when the doctor's might want to induce Kristina, we'll let everyone know.  

In the meantime, enjoy this picture of Kristina from last weekend.

33 Weeks

As I've said before, pregnancy is boring.  Aside from the biweekly doctor's visits, we don't have much to report.  Kristina continues to grow--and be  constantly tired and uncomfortable.  The baby's room is coming along nicely, however.  We've got a crib, a glider chair, a changing table, some wall hangings, and a slowly growing collection of clothes, blankets, and diapers.  Kristina and I have settled into a nice routine in the evenings.  We take a leisurely walk around the neighborhood at dusk, do the dishes, make dinner, watch House or Law and Order reruns and fall asleep.  I know that these quiet moments will become few and far between, so I cherish them now.  

Another week, another new set of words to learn.  This week Kristina will teach us "ouch," "help" and "change."  I realize that "ouch" is straight out of E.T.  It will take everything I have to not say "Elliot" and giggle every time the baby makes the sign to tell me he or she is in pain.  I can also admit that the sign for "change" cracks me up for some reason.  Anybody able to tell me why that sign is hilarious?  

21 days until maternity leave!!

32 Weeks

Kristina had a doctor's appointment this week.  These bi-weekly appointments have become anti-climatic.  She goes in, pees in a cup, gets weighed and, unless she has questions, leaves.  15 minutes tops.  We did find out that the baby's head is currently down and his or her booty is pressing up against Kristina's lungs/liver on her right side and causing great pain.  On the positive side, the pain will only get worse.  Other than that, no news is good news.  

As we've gone through the pregnancy process, Kristina and I have researched many different ways to make Nemo's life easier.  One such way that we became very excited about is baby sign language.  All the research indicates that it will help our baby express his or her needs long before speaking.  

However, for this to work, we need your help.  With that in mind, we have decided to include video examples of different signs in each week's blog update.  We'd ask that you study these and, when Nemo comes to your house, you use them.  In theory by the time he or she is 6 months old, the baby will have incorporated the signs and be able to communicate with you.

This week's signs are "more," "eat" and "milk."  I realize that "eat" and "milk" are one in the same for several months, but someday they might mean different things.  Enjoy! 

31 Weeks

Some of you may remember training to be a lifeguard.  When you are taught first aid, you learn that there is an artery in the upper leg that can help slow the bleeding to a wound in the leg.  In lifeguard training you press on this artery of your partner and they do the same on you.  I pressed on Lindsey Robinson's leg and she told me to press as hard as possible until her toes lost feeling.  It took about 45 seconds.  

When Kristina is seated and leans forward even slightly to eat or grab something off a table, her stomach presses against the artery in her legs and can cause her toes to lose feeling.

We traveled to San Francisco over the weekend and had a great time with my brother, his girlfriend and Auntie Sara's boyfriend.  We had a wonderful time in the City--Brooke turned 21, we slept well for the first time in 4 months, hugged giant Sequoia and Redwood trees, had a great Easter Sunday, and finally came home on Monday.  The pictures below are from our trip.

Today Kristina went to a book signing with Kate Gosslin from the TLC show "Jon and Kate Plus 8."  It is a reality show that follows the children--a set of twins and a set of sextuplets--of Jon and Kate.  She watches it with a maniac's regularity and has also read her book.  Anyway, the bookstore was craziness--I thought Obama was in the house.  

Hope all is well with you and we love your continued support and love.  More next week.

30 Weeks

A much more eventful week to share with you. Kristina and I had our first baby shower with the teachers from Cathedral on Friday, we bought Nemo's first Renaissance Faire costume on Saturday, and, on Monday, Kristina had an appointment with her doctor.

First the baby shower. A lady I teach with is pregnant and is thrilled to have a "belly buddy" in Kristina, so she hosted a party for us at Cathedral. It was so humbling to see so many coworkers go out of their way to support us. They were so generous and thoughtful with their gifts that I was quite overwhelmed. The guy who took pictures for us at our wedding also took pictures at the shower and the picture above is from him.   If you want to see more, you can go here.  You may have to refresh the page a couple of times.

For many years, Kristina has gone to the Renaissance Faire and her interest has grabbed me.  She likes the costumes, the irreverent humor, and the people watching.  So we went Saturday and had a great time.  People had many humorous comments about my pregnant wife, all of which were made in good fun.  But the real highlight was the costume we bought for Nemo.  At next year's Faire, Nemo will be 10 months old, so we had to project his or her size and find a costume that we thought 

would work.  Very cute, but who knows how quickly he or she will outgrow it.

This morning Kristina went to her doctor's office for a quick check up.  Really it was mostly business--questions about inducing and cesarian sections, when to stop working and the like.  I guess the most important thing to report is that all is well.  The baby is the right size, right weight and the doctor even kidded with her about Nemo's sex during the ultrasound. 

So, enjoy the pictures and thank you for the continued support and love. 

29 Weeks

It was a pretty quiet week.  No doctor's appointments or surprising body changes.  We have our first baby shower this Friday with the teacher's from Cathedral.  They are a pretty amusing group, so it should be a good time.  

But, we already need a babysitter for two nights.  The first night is September 24th, because the Beastie Boys are playing at the Hollywood Bowl--can't wait to "Ch-Check It Out."  The second night is October 25th, because U2 is playing at the Rose Bowl--it will be a "Beautiful Day."

Perhaps the thing that got me the most excited about Nemo this week was the release of the "Where the Wild Things Are" movie trailer.  I remember the book so well.  It helped me understand the power of imagination as well as the fact that even when my parents punish me, they still love me.  I envisioned myself as the story's protagonist, Max, and I could travel to distant places without leaving my room.  

That's why, when my brother and friend each sent me a copy of the movie trailer, I was so happy that I cried.  I had visions of reading the book to my child and taking Nemo to his or her first movie when it comes out in October.  

When I was in Denver last weekend my parents and I decided to rummage through our old baby stuff and the first book I laid hands on, without being able to see it in the box on a high shelf, was "Where the Wild Things Are."  Of course I brought it back to our apartment and placed it in a prominent place in Nemo's room.  Below is the preview to for this movie--every time I watch it I feel like a kid again.

28 Weeks

Let's play a number's game:

1 trimester left.
2 doctor's visits a month.
3 centimeter stomach gain in two weeks.
4 weeks until the baby's room is finished.
5 pillows Kristina uses in various places when sleeping.
6 weeks until Kristina's first Mother's Day.
6.2 miles from our apartment to the hospital.
7 "easy" months behind us.
8 ethnicities Nemo will be a part of.
9 possible names we're still debating.
10 pounds gained by Brady so far.
11 pounds gained by Kristina so far.
12 different routes to the hospital Brady wants to find before May 1.
15 inches long the baby is right now.
22 inches long--how long the baby will probably be when born.

58 days until Brady's jaw surgery.
60 days until Kristina starts her maternity leave.

61 days until Cathedral's graduation.
75 days until Chaminade's graduation.
85 days until Nemo's due date.
98 days until Auntie Sara comes home.

27 Weeks

Tonight while we were eating dinner, Kristina said that Nemo was being rambunctious.  I looked over and could see her stomach moving.  There were about 2 or 3 real good "butt bumps" that I noticed from about 5 feet away.  Kristina and I just stared at her stomach in awe.  It is so great to see and feel those movements because it really helps me connect more concretely with both the baby and Kristina. 

Since Kristina is closing in on her last trimester, she has to go to the doctor's office every two weeks. During her last trip, they measured her for the first time. They expect a pregnant woman to grow one centimeter for every week she is pregnant, for a total of 40 centimeters. Well, Kristina is 3 cm ahead of schedule. For all that extra size, however, she hasn't gained an equivalent amount of weight. Which means that Nemo is long and skinny. Sound like anyone you know?

As for other news, we got this baby monitor that is supposed to help you hear your baby's heart beat. It's basically a sensitive microphone connected to headphones.  They say you can hear the heart beat, hiccups and maybe even kicking. But when we listened we just heard the sound of flowing water. Turns out you can't hear any of the good stuff for a couple of more weeks. But the flowing water was the sound of blood and nutrients flowing in and out of the placenta; literally the sound of life.

Later that night I tested the microphone on my belly and put on the headphones to see what I could hear. I couldn't hear anything interesting, so I turned the volume up. Then I farted and almost went deaf (no joke).

It's a good thing that I didn't go deaf because I applied for a job with the CIA over the weekend (also, no joke).  They need a few good men or women to join the Clandestine Services and I provided my high score on the James Bond game for the Wii in my list of positive attributes.  If I hear from them, I'll let you know--or maybe I'll be in the cone of silence.  

Will Nemo kick so hard that he or she break's Kristina's ribs?  Will Brady be abducted in his sleep and put on a cargo ship headed to Venezuela?  Tune in next week, same baby time, same baby channel.

26 Weeks

Over the weekend, we went to a "Labor and Delivery Class" at the hospital.  Basically it was a crash course in all the possible things that could happen during labor.  They recommend that we go so that we aren't pestering the nurses and doctors during Show Time.  There were maybe 15 other couples in the class with us--some of them due very soon.  After we heard all the horror stories, saw the diagrams and watched one particularly graphic and nausea-inducing video, we learned that a doctor has to give you a Cesarian Section if you request it.  All the women in the room gave one another a look.  It was the look of, "Hey, I don't have to be anyone's hero." For what it's worth, just being a human incubator for nine months qualifies one for the Hall of Justice in my book.

In far more important news, two interesting things happened when Kristina came to my swim team's first meet today.  First, being pregnant and sitting the bleachers doesn't mix.  She had to leave after the 200 freestyle relay and is now laying on her second ice pack of the night.  After the meet when I got home she said, "Nemo must have been practicing her flutter kick at your meet--she was going crazy."  I teared up.  

Later, during dinner, Kristina reported that, "Now Nemo's practicing her flip turns."  Too much to handle.  It sounds like Kristina needs to get her "bleacher butt" in better shape.  

For all the movement that Kristina can feel, I have only felt the baby move once.  After weeks of hurrying over to her, placing my hands on her stomach and coming away empty handed, I felt what seemed like a slight twitch.  It was very cool.  We decided that it was clearly a "butt bump" and deduced that Nemo likes to boogie.  

Thanks for all the love and support.  It's always great hearing from our friends and family.  More next week.  

  

25 Weeks

Submitted for your consideration:

and

and 

I suggest that Nemo's got rhythm--which is good, because Dad doesn't.  

Over the weekend, Kristina was asked to dance at the "Many Cultures, One Faith Liturgy" during the LA Religious Education Congress.  She carried the baby beautifully in front of over 1,000 people and I was so proud of her.  

Thanks for the name suggestions.  We'll take them under advisement.  More next week.

24 Weeks

We've reached 6 months! Only 4 more to go. In general, Kristina's constitution has improved, but her immune system has weakened and she is often sick. Obviously, her stomach is growing and we've been forced to evaluate all the maternity clothing stores and have come to find what works for her.

So it turns out that the pain Kristina felt in her ribs last week was Nemo's big foot wedged up there. The pain was so much that she went in to the doctor's office to check it out and the ultrasound discovered the cause of the pain.

Our baby is getting fat. He or she is putting on that fat that will make the baby less opaque. That's right, up until now, Nemo has been virtually see-through. The fat will help with that. He or she is the length of an ear of corn--but Nemo will definitely not be a Cornhusker.

This week we are looking for boy's names in the comment thread. Last week we had some great ideas of girl's names. I especially liked Reba and Willamina. Thanks for your help.

23 Weeks

Nothing very exciting to report this week--certainly nothing as exciting as the ultrasound from last week.  I guess the most exciting news is that we're closing in on the last trimester.  There seems to be a lot of excitement at the beginning of the pregnancy--telling everyone and making plans in your head--and obviously a lot of excitement at the end.  But, the middle is filled with a lot of...boredom.  We did, however, get a chance over the long weekend to further organize Nemo's room.  We use a monkey doll as a stand-in for the baby--it's name is Chief Red Bottom.

Kristina has felt a new pain recently.  She says it feels like her ribs have separated from her sternum.  It must be the baby growing and her body trying to accommodate.  It makes sleeping on her side very uncomfortable.  To compound the issue, pregnant women cannot sleep on their backs.  Obviously sleeping on one's stomach is out of the question--though I hear such a position is a new break dancing move amongst all the pregnant women these days.  Such difficulties make for some seriously miserable nights.  

On another note, the great name fight has begun.  We each have our ideas, and our stubbornness.  We could really appreciate your fresh ideas.  Offer any ideas you may have for girl's names in the comments thread this week.  Next week we'll do boys names.  After that maybe we'll have a party--"A Man, a Keg and a Fertalized Egg Party"--to vote on name options.  Thank you in advance for all the great ideas and your continued support.  

22 Weeks

This may sound like a joke, but the baby is the size of a spaghetti squash this week.  It looks like we were all wrong.  

Kristina and I went to the doctor's office today for her regular check up and saw some pretty breathtaking  ultrasound pictures.  First, Nemo was scratching the back of his or her head.  The left arm was reached over the face and the fingers were itching away.  We've got a little thinker.  Maybe Nemo was considering the purpose of mankind in in a chaotic universe or the relationship between Jesus and Buddha.  

Secondly, we saw all four chambers of Nemo's heart.  Fricking amazing.  The blood pumps with the strength of a thoroughbred horse.  Perhaps we have a marathoner, base jumper or even a rickshaw driver on our hands.

Anyway, this is the ultrasound picture from today.  If you look closely, squint and turn your head to the side, you can make out a head, neck and part of the body--sort of.  We couldn't see the rest of the body because we want to be surprised.  

Week 21

The transition into our 5th month went smoothly. There were, however, two important pieces of information Kristina discovered about Nemo. First, the baby is the size of a banana. I don't know if that is a Chilean banana or a locally grown option, but it is certainly not a plantain. The cool part is that now Kristina can answer the question about the banana in her pocket in the affirmative.

The second cool thing we learned is that the baby can now taste what Kristina has eaten via the flavor of the amniotic fluid. Greesy Super Bowl party food seemed most agreeable. But does Nemo like spicy food? Grilled cheese sandwiches? Cilantro? Cigarettes? Whiskey? We'll just have to test everything out.

20 Weeks

Kristina and Nemo have reached the half way point!  Aside from feeling sick since October, always being tired, having a finicky appetite and always being uncomfortable, she's been doing well.  All of this is becoming more and more real because, on at least two occasions, Kristina believes she has felt the baby move--either that or bad gas.  

Thanks to all of you for keeping up with us and for your support throughout the pregnancy.  Keep the comments coming and pass along word about this blog.  

19 Weeks

Sunday marked the 19th week of Kristina's pregnancy, and we'd like to report that her stomach is 36 inches around.  Brady's hips are also 36 inches around, so we can wear the same size pants.  We will offer weekly updates about Nemo's growth, our preparations (or nesting as the doctors call it) and any news from the doctor.