Kate

I finally have access to a computer and can download some pictures and post them!  I know many of you have been anxiously awaiting them and we appreciate all your well wishes and congratulations.  Well, we have a lot of pictures so far and I’m sure Dawn will do a much better job of writing about everything and putting up more pictures. Right now though, I’m sure most of you just want to see her.  So, without more delay, here she is …

I think she’s beautiful (but I’m biased). Dawn sure does make cute babies.  Everyone is doing great so far and hopefully Dawn will be able to come home soon.  Kate seems to be latching like a pro so that’s good.  Stay tuned, I’m sure more will follow .. as time permits.  We do have a newbornafter all!

Oh! One more thing. Noah visited Dawn and Kate for the first time today. Until he saw them, he was all “Where’s mommy!”, “Where’s Kate!”, “I wanna see mommy!”.  When he did get to see them, he gave mom a look and hug, stared briefly at Kate with a “who’s that?” look, then saw all the buttons in the room and it was all over. Too funny. We’ll see how that goes.

Katherine Claire (Kate) is here! Dawn and Kate are doing fine. Kate was born at 4:40PM weighing 8lbs and measuring 20″. She’s got a full head of black hair and is so beautiful. Pictures to follow.

I wanted to share the latest (and last?) update regarding the baby.  As most of you know she has become a bit of an over achiever in the weight department (measuring almost 9 pounds on Tuesday) and because of this we have a very small window in which to naturally welcome her into the world.  Unfortunately my body has no interest in moving things along and Kate continues to “just float around” (like an astronaut?) leaving us with very few options.

We have decided to check again on Monday morning to see if she’s changed her mind about joining us although our doctor isn’t hopeful.  If nothing has changed we have decided to have her via c-section that evening.  I cannot believe this is our last weekend as a family of three.  We certainly have it jam packed with fun things to do and some hard work.  For Walter and I we are taking one last night out to have dinner and a movie.  I expect this will be the last time we can have a date for a very long time.  On Saturday we’re getting everything in order to be sure we’re ready, with the generous help of some great family and friends.  We’re also going to make a huge pot of matzo ball soup to help this sick, sick house.  Everyone who lives here is ill and on antibiotics.  It couldn’t have happened at a worse time.  On Sunday we’re taking Noah to Disney on Ice.  Through the generosity of one of his classmate’s parents we are actually going to enjoy the show from Wayne Huzienga’s private box.  For those who don’t know, that’s the man who owns the building and several sports teams in our area.  I’m sure it will be quite a treat for us all! 

Then the real show begins on Monday.  I will try to update you once we’ve had the OB appointment and decide which route to go.  I have a feeling I will have a c-section but I’m still hoping for change.  Either way we will try to keep you up to date and share pictures once we have them. 

Until then I leave you with a nursery update.  Walter finally had an opportunity to put Kate’s monogram above her crib.  Here’s a photo of the final product.  You may also notice a change in the bedding.  As soon as Lindy saw it put together she called to inform me of my lack attention to sewing detail – the bumper was on inside out and backwards.  All is now right in the crib world.

And I also thought I’d share a laugh from this morning.  After eBaying all of Noah’s leftover clothes we had bins laying around the office.  He likes to play in them but this morning decided he could fit in one with the lid on (while supervised of course).  He reminded me of Kate all curled up in there.  I’m hoping she’s a bit smaller since I don’t think my uterus came with a 50 quart label like these great Rubbermaid containers but I couldn’t help but laugh.

Wouldn’t it be nice if giving birth was this easy? -

So as I mentioned below my uber-talented sister, Lindy, made Kate’s crib bedding and got it here in time for the surprise baby shower.  She almost came unglued when I had time to tell you about that and post photos but didn’t have a single one of the bedding on the crib.  So after much anticipation here it is – Kate’s bedding!!!!

And yes, I know I need a course in bow tying (anyone, anyone?) and I am also abundantly aware that the monogram is yet to find the wall.

The colors are off in this photo but it’s a more overall view.  On the glider you can see the blanket Lindy made for Kate.  Unfortunately those taggie people get their panties in a wad when someone else makes one of these so it was a one time deal but let me tell you, it’s fabulous and minky!

This is the best shot of the colors.  Aunt Lindy also made this pillow for Kate.  She made one when Noah was born too and he still sleeps on it.  Also, notice the piping on top of the bumper, she did an amazing job!

And here’s the rest of the nursery (again with color correction issues) -

So the bedding is gorgeous and fits great.  One of the ties is off on the front but Lindy will move it on her trip down in November when she comes to meet Kate.  To give you an idea of how challenging this was for her she’s never seen the crib and made everything off of a photo with a tape measure held up to the furnuiture.  She’s never done bedding before either so there were a lot of hurdles but it is absolutely incredible.  She’s also making window valances that match the crib skirt, which if you can’t tell from the position of the crib (at its highest setting) is a white box pleat skirt with a pink ribbon trim that matches the ties on the bumper.  Isn’t she amazing?  To see more of her work you can check out her website www.lilsugarpie.com.  She’ll be selling on Etsy soon too! 

Thank you Aunt Lindy!!!

This weekend I had a surprise baby shower!  Walter was out of town at our dear friend, Jill’s, wedding.  He had a great time, got to visit with some old friends and took some great photos so I could enjoy the trip as much as possible while being forced to stay home (I can’t fly at this point in my pregnancy).  He’ll blog about his adventures soon I’m sure.

Well it turns out it was a good thing he was gone because he’s a horrible liar (which I’m grateful for).  Noah and I were to join my girlfriend Rachel and her family and inlaws for lunch in Delray on Saturday.  By Friday night there were a few holes in her story and I started to get suspicious.  Walter wouldn’t budge but I knew he knew something.  And while I started to question the real motives behind lunch I certainly never expected what I was about to walk into.  In a very short time Rachel pulled together the most beautiful and fabulous baby shower I’ve ever been to.  It was very intimate so I didn’t get overwhelmed (anyone who knows me knows that I hate surprises), the food was incredible and the love was palpable.  I teared up the minute I walked through the door (damn pregnancy hormones) but I wasn’t choked up for long.  I had an incredible time and recieved so many generous gifts.  I think Kate is going to need a second closet for all of her loot!  Gifts were sent from friends and family who live out of state as well and it was so touching to know they cared enough to participate from so far away.  The out of town cards said things like “Surprise – I really hope you’re not upset!” which made me laugh.  I guess everyone knows how I feel about being ambushed.  But this wasn’t like that at all and I couldn’t have been more flattered, honored, or blown away by all the hard work and selflessness that went into honoring Kate.  I tear up just thinking about it. 

Anyway, one of my great and very talented friends, Virginia, took photos.  She’s incredible and has such a big heart.  Here are a few of her teaser photos.  I will share the rest when I recieve them.  If you’re looking for an amazing photographer (she specializes in maternity, babies and families) you should definitely hire her!  You can see her work at www.virginiahartman.com. 

Two other amazing friends did all of the flowers for the shower.  My colleagues and great pals Nanda and Eduardo of Petunia Flowers (www.petuniaflowers.com) generously contributed every last petal.  Aren’t they super sweet and incredibly talented?!

Onto the photos -

Here are Noah and I entering.  We never use the front door at the Friedman’s so something was definitely up.  When we walked in everyone yelled “Surprise!!!” and Noah tripped on the door jam and fell straight to the floor.  I’m going to have to teach him how to be suspicious!

Friends and Family -

We met the three ladies in the foreground (everyone except Robby’s mom in the back) and Rachel at our birthing class three years ago.  We all have two year olds and have become such a great support for each other.

My mom (on the right) and long time family friend Delora, mom’s best girlfriend.

Rachel (the hostess) and I.  Did I mention she is the same Rachel who painted Kate’s mural?  It’s such an honor to have such great friends!

My mom, sister, niece and I                                   My girlfriend Raven and I with Virginia’s hunk Nate

Katherine (my mother), Claire (Walter’s mother) and Katherine Claire (ok, and Noah and I)

Shower details -

I’ve wanted to make Kate a very whimsical paper crane mobile for her room but I haven’t had the time.  Rachel thought of everything!  Now Kate will have a paper crane mobile from everyone!  Each guest made a peace crane for her.  How sweet!

More fabulous flowers!

Virginia had to leave before we got to gifts.  I’m sure I’ll get a few photos from other people at some point.  While everything was so amazing I have to say I was most shocked to recieve Kate’s bedding at the shower.  My sister (who has been stringing me along for weeks) finished it and sent it for the shower.  I’ll post a picture of the made bed soon.  It’s beyond gorgeous!

LITERALLY!

This morning I took a tumble trying to bring Noah’s ride on tractor into the garage. Unfortunately I fell on my belly. I felt fine, the baby was moving and other than scraped up knees and being a little shook up, nothing was wrong. I debated for an hour before calling my doctor just to let him know. I had fallen a million times during my first pregnancy and they didn’t do anything but it was never on my belly (and I was also seeing a different doctor). Well, my doctor (who I felt horrible for bothering on the weekend) told me to go to L&D. Because I have a negative blood type there could be problems if my blood had somehow mixed with the placenta or baby’s. I was shocked, I never thought I would have to go to the ER, I even tried to talk my doctor out of it.

So I went and Walter and Noah went to our niece, Amy’s, baptism, which I felt bad about missing.  We haven’t seen her since just after her birth and now I was going to miss an opportunity again!  Well, they monitored me, did blood work, gave me an ultrasound (where they clocked the baby at just over EIGHT POUNDS), and monitored me some more. Other than some contractions and back pain, everything was fine. So 8 hours of sitting in L&D alone gave me plenty of time to rest and relax; my feet are remarkably unswollen! I saw some of the most beautiful babies and really got excited about meeting ours in the next few weeks. I see my doctor next week and he told me to be careful or he was going to get me a walker.

So the moral of the story is to be careful because losing your balance can ruin your Saturday!  Here are some photos from the baptism –  

My favorite, I think this is so beautiful!

The happy family -

It’s a gorgeous church!  This is also where Jaimie (our other niece and Amy’s older sister) was baptized.

Yesterday was a very big day in our house, filled with lots of joy and drama.  Over the weekend we had a few concerns regarding Kate and we weren’t sure what was going on.  I had spots in my vision, pain and pressure, contractions, chest pain and the little booger wasn’t moving.  We even tried to wake her up with a giant wedge of chocolate cake from New York Prime, where we celebrate my parents’ and our anniversary Monday night (and oh my is the food there amazing!).  Well, nothing.  She was going to be stubborn.  Because I was worried I went to my doctor’s office first thing Tuesday – no call, no appointment, just a big surprise me.  They were so great and accommodating.  They checked everything out and the good news is all seems to be well.  I also won myself an internal exam (my first this pregnancy) and we found out that while I am having contractions, absolutely nothing is happening because of them.  That’s good news for Kate and a message to me to get my patience in check.  We have an ultrasound tomorrow to make sure everything else looks good and in the meantime I have to count her kicks after every meal.  By the way, it took Fig Newtons, apple juice and belly jiggling to get her mad enough to move.  Apparently she’s lazy and out of space.

Later in the day our friend Rachel called.  When she saw Kate’s pink room and her birth announcement she was inspired to add some flair to our plain walls.  She’s an amazing artist and did a great job on her daughter’s room so we told her to go for it.  Robby, Rachel and Ayla came over so we could all eat dinner together and let the kids play while she got down to business.  I’m still amazed that she started and finished everything in one night. 

*Warning: we took a lot of photos last night!

The kids had a blast although they were both a little crabby.  We should have timed it but for the record it only takes a few seconds for two toddlers to wreck a living room!  And doesn’t he totally look like a dwarf doing the “Whistle While You Work” song?

After baths they went for a ride.  Robby calls this “Driving Miss Ayla”.

And then they talked us into cookies.  No one actually wanted the cookie though.  Ayla ate all the frosting off of hers, Noah picked every last sprinkle from his.

And Rachel painted away.  How she can freehand this and it all be the same scale is beyond me.  I got to help put a second coat on one corner.  She couldn’t believe how slow I was!  And yes, that’s paint on her chin.  LOL!  She did an amazing job!

After the white was all done she added a dark pink shadow and here’s the final product -

I’m not sure if you call it a mural, but the mural is only on one wall.  Kate’s monogram will go over her crib on another wall and the third will stay blank for photos or whatever (the fourth wall is a closet).  I’ll post more photos and room photos as we make progress.  I’ll also get some better photos with proper lighting, these were taken around 11pm and the colors seem to look different in every photo.

First, the update from the doctor – return the newborn clothes.  Kate is over 6 pounds already and if she were to make it to her due date she would likely wind up over 10.  The problem?  I’m not sure I’m physically or emotionally prepared or equipped to birth anything that big, even a child who I’m so anxious to meet.  There is a chance the due date could be off since she’s been measuring ahead for the majority of the past 9 months in which case she would likely come before her due date anyway.  But just in case it’s because she’s been enjoying too many of mom’s late night snacks the doctor is encouraging us to force her out by inducing labor.  They will do a final ultrasound in the middle of September and should things remain the same (meaning she’s still measuring 3 weeks or more ahead) we will pick a day to get things moving.  It’s very exciting but nerve wracking all at the same time.  We’re so not ready, and now having to be ready so much sooner is making things even crazier.

One of the things I insist be done before she arrive is her room.  Granted, she’s not going to sleep in there on her first day home, but the girl has stuff and it needs to be organized.  The room isn’t painted, the crib set isn’t done, her monogram is still in a tube, her furniture is still in Noah’s room… it’s enough to make me nervous we’ll be decorating around her.  But my fabulous hubby is heading my warning (and dirty looks) and is finally getting a move on the painting.  Because Noah (who constantly refers to himself in the third person) is such a great big brother he insists on helping and every time Walter goes into Kate’s room he begs “Noah help!  Noah help!”.  So today, we let him help.  Of course we got a few photos of the scribbles he added to the decor and personally, I think they look fabulous!  Have a great Labor Day Weekend.  We’ll be working hard on the house!

And no, we didn’t sign him up for the military.  We were trying to grow out his hair but he has a very stubborn cowlick in the back of his head that makes all of his hair back there fan out like a peacock on parade.  The stylist recommended we keep it short for now, hoping things work themselves out eventually.  It’s that or give the kid permanent bed head.

What a roller coaster it’s been with maternity photos this time around.  We were elated to have Amy Hill (www.amyhill.net) agree to do them again but things have been crazy for both of us and time has been slipping away.  In that time I have gotten to the point where I feel DONE.  I’m beyond huge and find it hard to smile when someone points a camera at me.  Because of this I am no longer up for a marathon shoot, outside, in the heat, with a two year old, and an extra boulder attached to my already heavy frame.  I feel bad for not giving my belly the attention and time we devoted to it when Noah was inside but I’d rather have professional photos of the actual kid anyway.  Besides, Amy has a beautiful new daughter, Quinn, who I’m sure would rather soak up all the time she can with mommy before wedding season is in full force.

Not wanting to go completely without a family photo we decided to take a few of ourselves.  Just something to commemorate the occasion with, nothing fancy, and I think we did alright.  Thank God Walter is handy with the camera and we had such a great opportunity to get a few shots!  This was right after a 3 hour nap (thank you, Noah) so while we may all be feeling our best some of us may also have bedhead.  Here are some of our favorites -

Noah was so patient with us that we took him to a playground afterwards to thank him.  We got a few cute shots there too.  Not for the same reason but still some fun photos worth sharing.

One of my personal favorites – this is the boys giving me “a look” (when I suggest something absurd, like leaving too early or that they pose for a photo).  We have several photos of this expression through the years but it gets cuter everytime, I think Walter is getting much better at it too!

A really awesome room accessory, that’s what!  Anyone who knows me even a little knows that I’m not into anything “too baby” and anything princess practically makes me gag.  My daughter will probably be destined to love everything uber girly just to taunt me but while I still have some control over the look of her room and style of her clothes I’m going to exercise it.  So naturally, since I’m the only non-girly girl on the planet, when it came to picking out a theme for her room I struggled.  I don’t like purple, baby animals are not my thing, anything crazy busy and bright pink were immediately excluded, so we finally settled on this -

A monogram piece over Kate’s crib as the biggest decor accessory, probably ever. I absolutely love it and can’t wait to pick it up tomorrow. The monogram was copied, errrr, designed by Walter and printed by Alicia at Dali Decals (www.DaliDecals.etsy.com), who by the way has been amazing if you’re looking for any wall graphics. It will be in white and her walls will be – ready? – pink. Yeah, I know, but it was the lesser of all the evils. We got our inspiration from a magazine photo from The Land of Nod that looked like this -

I can’t wait to get it all put together. I already enjoy sitting in the glider in her room. It’s the quietest place in the house. I can’t believe there will be a baby in there in just a few weeks. Thank you as always for letting me share these stupid little details and thoughts that occupy my mind.