Best birthday ever

So, I got a birthday gift and a card from Sully.  I think if you check out the writing, you will quickly agree that he should be in the gifted program.

Home

We've been home a few days now and can't believe how lucky we are.  Knock on wood, Sully hardly fusses and is easily calmed.  He loves to be held and we have had a steady stream of willing friends and family help out with that "chore".  He is sleeping most of the night, and right now only wakes up to eat and then goes right back to sleep.  We've worked out a pretty good night time feeding schedule, and we take turns with those feedings so each can get a bit of uninterrupted sleep.

We've taken a couple of outings, but only to places with lots of open air and few opportunities for germs.  It is taking a concerted effort, but we are trying not to be "those parents" that cringe every time anyone touches our kid.  

Our favorite thing so far is when Sully is quiet and alert, with his big eyes open, taking in a world of new sights and sounds, one of which always being one (or both) of our faces and voices.  It is hard to imagine life before the little guy, and its even harder to imagine loving something so much so quickly.  What an amazing gift a baby is. 

Two shopping days left

For those of you that have forgotten, Sunday is my birthday.

Did I mention that Sunday is my birthday?

Yes, Jon Steven Bial was born 37 years ago this Sunday.

Sunday, don't forget.

Also, comments are welcome. We often get funny emails that seem off color, but really deserve to be shared by all. So post them!

Baby Shower - Feb. 21 - 2 PM

If you didn't get my mom's invite, it's by accident or because of computer error. If you have access to this blog, we'd love to have you.

Email my mom at jbial@msn.com for details.

Visitors

We had a wonderful surprise visit from Kris Ann's friend Zubin.  We were also fortunate to catch Marc on his way out of town.

We feel so blessed to have such good friends.

Visitors

In between changings and catnaps, we've been graced by the presence of some of our friends and family. Just thought we'd share some photos of Sully with his new friends.

Jon Sullivan

Although Kris Ann and I were nowhere close to ready, Jon Sullivan decided to join the world on January 18.

Labor started at 10:15 am, we made it to the hospital about 11:15 am and Sully was pulled from mom's belly by C-section at 12:34 pm.  7lbs, 13 oz, 19.5 inches long.

Mom and baby are doing fine.

I asked the nurse, "At what point do we test for the gifted program?"

No news this week

As there is nothing to report this week other than Kris Ann is still very pregnant and is still having headaches, backaches and swollen feet, I thought I'd remind you all of a very important event coming January 25, 2009. It's not a national holiday yet, but I'm certain that Obama will make it a holiday immediately after he takes office. After four days, he is likely to need a day off anyway and my birthday is as good a day as any.

Yes, January 25th is my birthday. There are only a few shopping days left, so don't delay. Did I mention that my birthday is January 25th?

Oh yeah, baby still hasn't turned, so we are most likely looking at a C-section on the 27th.

Did I mention my birthday is January 25th?

Perhaps Wendy was correct in her comments... one in diapers, one not. At least not yet.

Jon

P.S. January 25th.

Upside down baby

There is no doubt that this child belongs to us… last minute, and stubborn.  We had an ultrasound yesterday and baby is still in a frank breech position, which means that its head is under Kris Ann's ribs on the right side, and its feet are under her ribs on the left side, with its bottom sort of cradled in her pelvis.  Well, cradled might not be an adequate description… "firmly planted" is more accurate.  During our visit yesterday, much to Kris Ann's (very vocal) discomfort, the doctor tried to push baby's butt up and out of its current position to see if there was any chance at trying to turn it.  No dice.  The kid is nestled so tight in there that there is no point in trying to do the external version (massaging it from the outside).  Hence, we wait and hope that baby will turn on its own in the next two weeks.  We have had a variety of suggestions on things we can do to coax the baby to turn, some of them more reasonable than others.  For example, to tell a woman who is 8 1/2 months pregnant to stand on her head (or anything even close) is NOT reasonable.  Our favorite suggestion so far has been from Kellie, who says that shining a light at the bottom of Kris Ann's belly will entice baby to want to move towards the light.  We'll see!

In two weeks we will have another ultrasound to see if our efforts have been successful and if baby has turned.  If not, we will most likely have to schedule a cesarean section.  Not exactly the way we envisioned things, but then again, it's probably good practice for the go-with-the-flow attitude you need as parents.

Other than being upside down, baby is doing fine and getting big… 6 pounds and 10 ounces big!  Kris Ann is enduring gigantically swollen feet and the other general discomforts that go with being near the end of pregnancy, but is in full nesting mode and doing ok.  Jon is learning the middle-of-the-night grocery store hours (Safeway closes at 1am, if anyone else needs to know), and how to graciously cope with a woman who is nesting.  The hardest thing for him has been the realization that not everyone in our baby classes has found him to be as funny as he really is.  Boy, are they missing out.

We will keep you posted as our little world changes.  Until then, think thoughts of head-pointed-down babies, and if you know a sure way to turn the kid, we'd love hear from you!

From a seed to a baby

We're getting pretty close, with an expected due date the end of this month.  The car is spotless and ready for car seat installation.  We've taken the baby classes and Friday we tour the hospital.  We interviewed and selected our pediatrician today.

Kris Ann is starting to nest.  She has taken inventory of all our baby stuff, put together the diaper bag, washed all the blankets and baby clothes.  

For my part, I've been settling my cases, and should have just about all my pro bono cases wrapped up well before baby arrives.  

We're both really excited, but are hoping we still have at least a couple of weeks to go!