Baby Anderson: The Journey

Looking Around

2010-03-21T16:57:00.003-06:00

"Life goes by pretty quickly; if you don't stop and look around, you might miss it."

The about quote from the great Ferris Bueller pretty much sums up how I feel most of the time. I clicked on our blog today and actually said out loud, "Surely I've updated since 2008?" Nope, champ, you haven't. So what exactly have we been doing?

Liliana is attending Trinity Presbyterian Mother's Day Out Program. She loves it there and has a nice little group of friends. She continues to grow and learn everyday, as well as testing my patience quite regularly. In the fall she will begin the Trinity Pres pre-school program, which will last two years before we move her to a private kindergarten. Luckily we have several private school options here in town, so we can explore those as time goes by. She loves music and dance, so we are going to enroll her in little ballet at my old dance studio next fall. The family is learning Chinese at a rapid rate to keep up with her as her favorite show, "Ni-hao, Ki-lan" is teaching her Chinese phrases. She is very patient as she translates for us adults who don't know how to say, "You make my heart feel super happy" in Mandorin.

Personality-wise, Liliana is very strong willed. I don't bother buying her clothes without her because she won't wear them. One of our friends has been the recepient of several lovely outfits that were never worn because Lili didn't chose them herself. She is also extremely helpful. I have been cleaning the house the past few weeks and she is always there to help with a small task or ask to try whatever I'm doing. Thank goodness for organic, non-toxic cleaning products. One thing that is interesting about her is that you can't predict her choices. Food, clothing, interests--she tries so many things and is so sure of herself. I mean, she likes wasabi, for crying out loud. One steady in her life is her relationship with Larry, my stepfather. Liliana just adores her Papa; he is her buddy and best friend. Sort of reminds me of my relationship with my grandfather.

Staley is taking a biology course this semester and doing extremely well. His instructors are impressed by his work and I can vouch that he takes his studying very seriously. An option he is considering at this point is getting a bio degree with a chem minor. The field is interesting for him and he could still work with Baker Hughes, if he wanted to. Of course, there are so many fields he could explore--I think right now he is just getting a feel for the subject.

Baker Hughes is lucky to have my husband. He is an excellent worker and puts in more hours every week than some people work in two. Sixteen hour days are not unusual, due to his desire to do a good job and help out wherever he is needed. I have thankfully persuaded him to at least take a week off in May to enjoy Disneyland with the family. Actually, I think it was Lili telling me "I rescue Daddy and take him to Disneyland" that sold him.

As for me, school is going well. I am teaching a Creative Writing class this semester which is a nice break from my normal Freshman comp I and II. Next fall I'm adding an online Tech writing course which should also be an interesting change. Every semester is a learning experience, probably more for me than my students.

The last bit of news most of you probably already know--our family will be welcoming another member in June/July. We are acclimating Liliana to the idea of a baby brother, who, at this time, has not been named. We've actually taken to calling him "He Who Has Not Been Named" or Voldemort, which makes sense for those who read/watch Harry Potter.

My camera has died, but I will try to post some photos soon. For those wanting more pictures and frequent updates, you can Friend me on Facebook under Amber Kelly Anderson.

Changing Seasons

2008-11-01T09:51:00.004-06:00

Greetings friends and family!

One of the problems with keeping our blog up to date is that I always tell myself I'll wait until after ________ (fill blank with some special occasion). And then the occasion comes and I find another one lurking around the corner. The upside of this is that it shows how many special occasions fill our lives.

Liliana . . . is Two! It is incredible to me that she has grown so much. Our family just welcomed a new little blessing, our cousin Michael, and looking at pictures of him it is almost impossible to comprehend that just two years ago that was our little Lilibug.

I always joke that Staylee has this way of dragging his birthday out for several weeks. Despite forgoing a party this year due to our trip to Orlando, Lili and I still managed to do it. The whole birthday celebration actually started on Friday, October 3 when my friends Jenn and T.J. took me out to a birthday lunch. Saturday night we celebrated the big day a bit early with Lili's Aunt Jenn and her husband. On her actual birthday Lili received a birthday blessing at church and enjoyed opening her presents from Mommy and Daddy later that evening. We had gotten her a toddler version of her Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (her favorite show) and ended up dragging her to bed because didn't want to stop playing. Grandma and Grandpa threw in some cake and more presents a few days later, and Mimi Carole finished things off with a special birthday dinner about two weeks later. All in all, we received so many wonderful gifts and cards--I still haven't finished all the thank you notes! We really are so loved.

Our trip to Florida was brief and not without bumps, but we had such a wonderful time spending with friends and experiencing so many unique things--it really was a once in a lifetime trip. We were able go Trick or Treating in the Magic Kingdom; Lili's first real experience with it. Disney Fairytale Weddings help sponsor a wonderful event at the Adventurers Club where we got to have yummy appetizers and desserts while enjoying the show and performers. We had brunch in Neverland and Dinner with Pirates of the Caribbean and somewhere in the middle of all of that managed some park time as well as getting our family pictures taken. The pictures were done by Randy Chapman, our wedding photographer, and he was just amazing. Taking pictures of a two year old is in no way easy and he worked so hard to get good shots. He even met us on a separate day to pick up some new shots, just to make sure. As with our wedding pictures, he was worth every penny.

Lilibug has become such a fascinating little person. Playing outside is a daily routine that she looks forward to. Coloring is also something we're started doing. She received a giant coloring book for her birthday and her day often consists of working on some of her pictures, adding to things she has already started. Apparently it is her Sistine Chapel. She loves anything having to do with Mickey Mouse, especially Minnie Mouse. We got to see Minnie three times in Orlando and all three times left the meeting with a sobbing toddler because she didn't want to leave. She is also interested in Handy Manny and Little Einsteins.

Anything with music holds a strong appeal for her--although she doesn't really sing the songs, she does have elaborate dances that go with them. We attended her school's open house this week where part of the program was all of the various classes singing songs. What Lili lacked in singing, she made up for in enthusiastic dancing. She has taken to singing parts of her songs around the house. We just didn't realize it until we heard the actual songs. It doesn't even have to be children's songs. Our friend Geneva got us hooked on Dancing with the Stars and Lili just loves it. She dances along to the music and claps when the songs are over. It is now a staple in our Monday night ritual.

Swimming remains a big part of our lives. Lili has been allowed to join the advanced toddler class where we are working on her strokes and kicks. This session there aren't any other children in the class, so we are basically getting private lessons. Lili loves her swimming coach, Stephanie, and tries to imitate her. Stephanie is very patient, but actually makes Lili work on her swimming, rather than just letting her splash and play. We are currently working on our Australian Crawl. Lili's strokes are getting better, although we are still working on our stomach kicks.

It is amazing to me how fearless Lili can be. Last session, when we had a larger class, the instructors took the little kids to the diving pool to let them practice standing on the diving board. Lili was the only child who didn't cry as we got on the board (some wouldn't even step on it). I walked out behind her, but when she saw her coach in the water below, she jumped right in. The water was really cold, so she cried a bit out of shock, but then she was ready to go again. Back in her training pool, she has been jumping into the water, going all the way to the bottom of the pool (I think it's four and a half feet deep), and pushing off to swim to the surface. She is also apparently considering life as a swimming instructor, as she has been teaching her Handy Manny doll her swimming kicks and strokes.

Interestingly enough, many of the words Lili says have to do with swimming. We are still having speech therapy three times a month with Mindy and it has helped Lili pick up some words. But most of the things she says have to do with swimming--swim, kick, splash, shake, stroke, swish, let go. Mindy finds it funny because the words Lili is picking to say are some of the hardest. It's like she's working backward. I told Stephanie about her swimming vocabulary advancement, so she has started working with Lili as well. With Mindy, Stephanie, my mom and dad, Staylee and me, and Lili's teachers working with her we now have additionally: 'ickey (Mickey), 'anda (Panda--every time she sees the Kung Fu Panda commercial), one two three, EFG, up and down, quack quack, Bunny (thanks to our wedding/family photographer Randy Chapman), Uh-oh, and a few others I'm not thinking of at the moment. We are hopeful that things will continue to improve.

Liliana continues to love school. We really love Trinity Presbyterian because they offer a Christian based education. And I do mean education. Lili has science, art, library, chapel--all sorts of educational things, rather than just running around. Her teachers are just that--teachers instead of people who just watch our child. We have so many of her art works, we are running out of room! Anyone wanting a Liliana original, just let us know. They are also teaching her bible verses and prayer--she actually does prayer hands and bows her head when we say our prayers now. It is very sweet.

I frequently tell people that there is such a strange conflict with Lili at this age. On one hand, she is so much more demonstratively loving--she hugs us all the times, hugs and kisses the dogs, and looks after her babies. On the flip side, her lack of speech and the age in general lead to some serious tantrums. She is such a passionate little girl; sometimes she just doesn't know how to express her anger.

Staylee . . . Has finally been taken off of restricted duty at work as his back has improved. He is taking Trig and History this semester and somehow managing to make good grades while working like crazy.

This past summer I had noticed that Staylee was snoring an incredible amount at night. Needless to say, it made me a grouchy because it definitely kept me up. However, we are now so glad it did. One night I noticed that he would stop breathing for long stretches at a time. We were both concerned and so he met with our family doctor. After two sleep studies, we discovered Staylee has serious sleep apnea. During one session he actually stopped breathing 27 times in one hour. He now has a machine to help him keep breathing at night. I am just so thankful for the snoring; otherwise we might not have been able to intervene before the issue got worse.

Amber . . . Teaching is frustrating, rewarding, overwhelming, fascinating, glorious, devastating, and inspiring all at the same time. The amount of preparation and work that go into each class is insane--just when I figure something out, it's on to the next topic. That being said, I really love Howard. The school is just a fit for me. I have been very blessed to have been taken under the wing of Linda Conway, another English teacher. She is the one who I think really got me my job to begin with (she is friends with one of my Sul Ross professors) and has proven irreplaceable in terms of her guidance, kind ear, and general spirit. It also helps that we just mesh personality-wise. It might be because she reminds me a bit of Staylee's stepmother--and we hit it off in the same way. I hope to post a more detailed analysis of my experiences on my other blog, but alas it won't be for a few more weeks. Things are just way too busy.

That pretty much brings us up to date. In the coming weeks we will be moving toward the end of the semester (!) and the holidays. As a special treat this year, we will spending Thanksgiving in Oklahoma with Staylee's parents and then Christmas at home. Lili really got excited about Halloween (we're still playing Trick or Treat), so I'm hoping Christmas will be the same way.

On the thoughts and prayers front--we ask that you continue to pray for my aunt Lynn as she moves through the next stage of her cancer treatments. We also ask that you pray for our family, especially Staylee's father Ronnie and his side, due to the passing last week of Staylee's Grandfather, Ray Anderson.

Pictures are on their way! I'll post them next week and email the alert.

Best,
Amber

Lazy Days of Summer

2008-08-26T11:03:00.003-06:00

The days mentioned in the title are drawing to an end and I decided it was time for an update. The title, however, is misleading because our summer was so busy.

Staylee . . . has been working hard, as you might expect. However, sometime during the past year he hurt his back. The pain was only getting worse as time went on and because it was work related we had to deal with the frustration of health care bureaucracy. It has been very frustrating, but after several doctor and ER visits, he has begun physical therapy. It seems to be helping and he is hoping to be placed back on regular duty soon. This week he is starting a new semester at Midland College--taking History and Trig.

Amber . . . June was a pretty big month for me. I finished and successfully defended my thesis. It was a good thing because I had already gotten a job offer to start teaching English at Howard College. The commute is about 45-minutes, but I figure it would be the same as if I lived in a larger city. My office is actually pretty big and everyone is very nice. I may even be doing some consulting with the drama department. My first few classes were a bit nerve wracking, but I think I'll get the hang of it pretty soon. Leaving Midland College was definitely bittersweet--on one hand I was glad to be moving on to something more challenging, on the other I was leaving behind some good friends and one amazing friend. But we have already spent time together, so I think the friendships are going to last.

The only real yuck for me was a car accident my first day at Howard--I was yielding and the woman behind me didn't agree, so she tore the back of my car off. (There's a picture in the summer album.) My parents were kind enough to give me their old car since the insurance money would barely cover a down payment. I was in a neck brace for a few days and it looks like I will need some physical therapy, but I'm just so thankful Lili wasn't with me.

Liliana . . . After the first few teary days, Lili loved baby school. It came to the point that she would drag her rolling bag to the door because she wanted to go. On the last day we almost had to drag her away. In an interesting development, all the boys in her class were crazy about Lili. I dropped her off one day and watched as a little boy came running over to kiss her. By the time I left she was dancing, surrounded by a group of about 6 of them. When I picked her up later, one of the boys actually burst into tears when she left. She just blew him a kiss. I swear, she's such a little flirt--she just flits from boy to boy, like Miss Scarlet at the picnic. We're thinking an All Girl's School might be worth looking in to.

Swimming continues to go well. Lili has good days and bad days, but her teacher is very patient and Lili just loves her. Her swimming has also helped another area we've been working on this summer--her speech.

As some of you know, Lili doesn't really talk. In fact, she has only really said one word consistently (hi). Her teachers expressed concern and referred us to an Early Intervention program, Project Tyke. They came and accessed Lili and decided she needed further testing for speech. At that point they weren't ruling out autism, so we had a few tense days. They tested her for everything, not just speech and were relieved when they told us that it wasn't autism. In fact, Lili scored above average (28 to 30 months) on developmental, cognitive, motor, and other areas. So the speech is the only thing we are working on. We have therapy three times a month. We have added two new words--Kick and Swish. They are both words we sing in Wheels on the Bus at swimming.

Lili loves anything to do with music--drumming, piano, dancing, and singing songs. She also loves dogs. She often goes to Charleigh's kennel and bangs on it because she wants her favorite playmate out. Cora, my mom's dog, is another of her buddies, although Cora gets a lot more baby pats (Lili petting) because she doesn't run away. And, like her mother, she is totally obsessed with shoes--she loves to put on her own shoes, as well as other peoples' shoes. She really is a happy and loving little girl.

Coming Up:
It's a big time for school for us all: Howard started Monday, as did Midland College, and Baby school starts again next week. Lili will be moving up to the next class. We hope she likes her new teachers as much as her old ones.

It's hard to believe Liliana will be two in October!

And our much anticipated family trip to Orlando for our Disneymooner meet.

So that brings us pretty much up-to-date. You can see our summer chronicled in pictures in our Web Album. Thanks for stopping by.

May Days

2008-06-11T09:09:00.000-06:00

So here we are, the middle of June, and of course I am way behind in my blogging. I find it’s easier to read this if I break it down into sections, so you can read about what you are interested in.

Staylee-This summer is very busy for him so far. His work schedule is still crazy, but he is taking a little more time for family and friends. His friend Michael Midkiff (his best man and Lili’s godfather) has moved back to Midland and we are enjoying spending time with him. Lili is already flirty with him and now lights up when she sees Uncle Michael. Michael has also gotten us watching ROME, so we are enjoying his company and learning a little history.

Amber-Work is busy in spurts. I have applied for several jobs and am waiting to hear back on interviews. I recently interviewed at Howard College and it went very well. I think I would really be a good addition to their department. However, they are interviewing a dozen people and I bet I have the least experience. One of my Sul Ross professors is good friends with someone on the hiring committee and gave me an excellent recommendation. Hopefully that will help too. My thesis is almost done—I am finishing up with picky formatting stuff and defending sometime the week of June 23.

Liliana-Right now is a time of change for our little Lilibug. She is still not talking much and one of the things that was suggested was letting her spend more time with other children. At the beginning of June she started what I call Baby School (Mother’s Day Out) Tuesdays and Thursdays at Trinity Presbyterian. The first day was rough, but it seems to get a little better each day. She gets a little report card and we are having less teary and more happy and curious. She painted her first picture which is now displayed in our dining room. The program seems really good and encourages learning and creativity. Although, reading their schedule for the month, her teachers are so brave. They do all sorts of crafts and science experiments. You couldn’t pay me to conduct experiments with sixteen one year olds.

We have also gone back to swimming lessons. As showcased in our Walt Disney World pictures, Lili loves water. She wasn’t too happy about being back in the pool the first night, but her teacher remembered her and she is doing really well now. She’s the youngest in her class and the best about going under the water. We’re hoping in the next couple of weeks she’ll be ready to swim on her own to the wall. It’s a big step, so we’re trying not to rush it. Staylee has been able to join us on occasion and it is always so much fun.

Her appetite is enormous. She loves eating pancakes (that’s our special Mommy-Lili treat. We have them on weekends and sometimes as a special treat at night.). But her hands-down favorite food is spaghetti. Grandpa Larry got her started and she eats almost a whole serving by herself. We have some pictures in our family album. Grandpa Larry remains one of her very favorite people. She is very affectionate to him, my mom, Staylee, and me—giving us hugs and messy baby kisses. She’s also sleeping much better at night. Monday night was the first time in weeks she woke up during the night.

Last weekend we went to see Kung Fu Panda and she really loved it, although she stood up the whole time. Daddy had been teaching her to growl and now when you say Panda she wanders around doing panda growls and Kung Fu walk-squats. It’s so funny. She still loves Mickey and Minnie, Handy Manny, and some of her Disney movies.

I can’t believe it’s already time to start boxing up her baby toys. She has just outgrown them. I have also had to put aside a bunch of her stuffed animals because she just doesn’t like them and they end up being too much temptation for Perdi. She still only likes Baby Jack, Romeo, and Baby Pooh Bear. It’s weird. I’m hoping she’ll grow into the stuffed animals. Staylee just bought her a set of baby Legos (I think they are another brand, but it’s the same idea) and she loves them. She likes to make little towers. It amazes me to watch her design and problem solve. She has also taken to playing my mom’s Bongo drums.

I guess that’s about it for us. Sunday is my mom’s birthday so we’re doing a joint birthday-Father’s Day dinner at Olive Garden. We may have to hose Lili down afterwards.

I think that’s pretty much all the news for us. Please feel free to look through all the new pictures. I have just done one WDW section and then pictures from this spring.

Best Wishes,
Amber

Moving On...

2008-04-28T09:02:00.002-06:00

I had the best intentions of posting long before this, but have put it off because I wasn’t sure what exactly to post. I will start by sharing a few thoughts on my grandfather, and then provide some updates on the Anderson Clan.

Grandpa:

On April 5, we buried my Grandfather, Clyde Chynoweth, in a flood of tears and sadness. The funeral was very nice and I was happy that our family at Saint Nicholas was so eager and kind as to help us through a very difficult time.

I wish I could say that the rest of the weekend, with the gathering of family was a special time, but it wasn’t. It was a time filled with high emotions, stress, and lots of grief. Everyone grieves in their own way and sometimes that’s not exactly sensitive to the way other people might grieve. What I experienced that weekend was a family unsure of how to move forward without the thread that had held us all together. I don’t really have much more to say about that.

Staylee and I are both people who grieve quietly. I think because of the stress of that weekend and the days leading up to it, neither of us got to truly work through our feelings. We thought we had worked through it, but then we have days when something sneaks up to us. We were leaving a restaurant after dinner the other night and Staylee abruptly went back inside. He came out looking shaken. He told me later he had gone back to wait for Grandpa, something he always did to help him to the car. I was cleaning our house the other day and found a Valentine Grandpa sent me last year—he sent me one from him and another one addressed “to Mommy, love Liliana.” I was cleaning out the freezer yesterday and came across some turkey cutlets he had picked out for me to cook for him.

It’s weird, I guess, in that his loss was not sudden. It was expected and, as I tell everyone who checks on me, a blessing that he did not suffer any longer. He had a great life. I suppose I am just surprised with how much he was a part of our everyday lives. The best part of his funeral weekend was spending an afternoon with my cousins in his house. It was amazing because we all had different memories. It was also interesting because my experience of the house was so different. Staylee and I walked in after my cousins had been there a bit and heard them discussing how organized he was—with everything labeled on his label-maker. I can’t say it was something I had forgotten; rather it was something I just took for granted, as much a part of him as his tin mug and its place in the drain rack. I needed that afternoon because it reminded me of how extraordinary all the little things that I just accepted as part of him really were.

I miss him. Staylee and I both do. We haven’t been back to his house; it’s too hard right now. We have discussed the possibility of trying to buy the house from my uncles later on, but both feel we need a few months to work through our grief before we can make that decision, one way or another.

I thankful for so many things about him: I am thankful that he got to spend as much time with Lili as he did. I’m thankful that I got to experience China with him, a trip that he so wanted to make. I thankful for all the quiet moments we shared. And most of all, I am very thankful to have been a part of his life and to been given the gift of being raised by such an incredible man. He was the only father I have ever known.

The night before his stroke, Grandpa, Lili, and I went to dinner at a new place here in Midland. We had a pretty long wait for food, but he didn’t complain, just enjoyed playing with Lili. We both had the Hawaiian, me the burger, him the chicken sandwich. When we dropped him off, he thanked me for driving, as he always did. And then he said, “Love you, babies.” We love you, too, Grandpa.

Updates:

Liliana is 18 (now almost 19) months old. She went for her check up and she weighs 22 pounds and is 31 inches tall, so she is rather on the small size. Dr. Reese says she’s advanced in her motor skills, although her speech is a little late. She’s not worried about it and thinks it will improve when she goes to Mother’s Day Out this summer. She still loves everything to do with Mickey and Minnie Mouse, Cinderella, and 101 Dalmatians. Her new love is being outside. I’ll post some pictures of that when I get up the April pictures in the next few days. We actually have to drag her back inside, usually screaming. She’s very affectionate and loves to give hugs and pats. We’re working on eating with a spoon and drinking out of straw, but she’s still a bit shaky. She’s really into shapes and things she can pull apart. We’re working on her patience by reading a story every night before prayers. Although sometimes I have to physically contain her; it’s going better than I had anticipated.

Staylee just got back from a weekend trip of visiting his grandfather, dad, and stepmother. He is finishing up his semester with strait As. His best friend Michael has been discharged from the Army and moved back to Midland. We’re looking forward to spending more time with him and he’s looking forward to getting to know his goddaughter, Lili, better. Staylee has been working long hours, but his company at least recognizes his hard work and has given him a really nice raise in the past few weeks.

And myself? I’m sort of in stasis right. My job search continues and I do have some promising prospects. My thesis appears to be on the verge of being finished—my introduction has been approved and they are talking about formatting, which I take as indication that we’re nearing the end. I’m still waiting for requested revisions on the creative portion of it, but the initial reaction that they really liked it.

Coming Up:
In two weeks Mom and I are going to Orlando with Lili to unwind for a few days. In June Lili starts Mother’s Day Out two days a week. We are hoping it will improve her verbal and social skills. Staylee is going to continue taking classes and I’m going to continue my job search and hopefully defend my thesis in June. We are also hoping to spend more time together in the coming months.

We have been discussing our plans for the next five years, whether they will take us to another city, whether they will keep us here, whether they will include another child, how school and work and Lili's education fits into all of it. No major decisions have been made, but we are staring to plan, trying to figure out where God's plan might lead us next.

Please take a moment to browse through our pictures. Lili is growing up so fast!

Strange Days

2008-04-01T13:51:00.003-06:00

I had planned on posting a March update, but I will have to do that sometime next week. I have pictures to share, but those too must wait. There are several things going on for us right now and I would love any prayers that people can spare.

My grandfather, Clyde Chynoweth, passed away last Sunday following complications from a stroke. Our family is taking it very hard, despite knowing that he has rejoined my grandmother in a better place. He was an incredible man and we are all deeply blessed to have been a part of his life. Please pray for us over the next few days as our family comes together to mourn and to celebrate our patriarch.
Around the same time as my grandfather's stroke, my Aunt Lynn was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent her first chemo treatment yesterday. Our thoughts and prayers are with her and the rest of the family as well.
On a better note, I sent off the creative part of my thesis (which is the bulk of it at 186 pages) to my advisor. All that is left is the introduction and the inevitable revisions. I will try to update my thesis site next week with information on the various challenges I have dealt with getting to this point, for anyone who is interested.
Thursday I have an interview for the Human Resources position I had previously mentioned. I come from a family of teachers and boy scouts so I always try to do two things: Be Prepared and Do Your Homework. I am doing both for the interview. I don't know that there is a strong chance I will get the position, but it doesn't hurt to hope. This new job would be a big boost for me both professionally and financially. Fingers crossed.

I suppose that is all for now. I have started writing about some of my favorite memories of my grandfather that I would like to share at later date. Best wishes to everyone.

Amber

January/ February Updates

2008-03-03T08:55:00.002-07:00

It was my intention to post at least a monthly update, however, January brought an onslaught of thesis rewrites that have left me with little free writing time. So, I shall have to combine the two months. You can also find pictures from both months in our family photo album.

Liliana was baptised on the January 13 by Reverend Liggitt. It was a lovely service and we were lucky to have many family and friends present.

There has been a massive flu outbreak in Midland, but we have been blessed in that she had remained healthy. She still doesn't talk much, although she does communicate. She also calls Staylee "Dada" much of the time. She has started calling my mom "Nana," but Mom keeps trying to get her to say "Grandma." We're hoping the Nana will become Grandma before too long. Lili loves our dogs, especially Charleigh, Perdi, and Cora (my mom's dog). By loving them, she tries to let Perdi out of her kennel, laughs at Charleigh, and feeds Cora half of her snacks.

Lili's made a few attempts at feeding herself with a spoon, but her heart isn't in it, yet. We have also started dealing with tantrums, but they've gotten better since we just ignore them. Lili is very spirited and you can't make her do anything she doesn't want to do. She doesn't really like to be held by anyone but Mommy and Daddy because she'd rather walk and explore. Lili is an affectionate child, but only to a small group. She really only hugs Mommy and Daddy, sometimes Grandpa Larry. She is very interested in books, but she doesn't like to be read to. She just likes to look through them on her own. She will also find books with the same pictures on the cover and match them.

Lili loves to dance, especially to the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Happy Monster Band, and Handy Manny songs. She isn't that interested in the actual plot of the shows, just the music at the beginning and the end. One of her very favorite things is taking a bath. She just loves to splash in the water. She isn't really that interested in most of her toys: she prefers to explore the world around her. And she loves her babies, which are the five stuffed toys she has chosen to sleep with her. They all have very specific places in her crib that cannot be disturbed. Other stuffed animals she's not really into.

Staylee has been working very long hours at Baker Hughes. He is also attending classes at the college two nights a week--History and Business Math--and doing very well in both. He has received many written and verbal commendations at work for all his time and effort.

Amber--I am working away at major rewrites on my thesis with plans to defend in June. Work continues to be unchallenging and boring. After talking with my supervisor and praying on it, I am starting the search for a new job. Today, I am applying for a new position on campus, and although I don't meet all the requirements, I figure it can't hurt. My dean and VP are both very supportive and wrote me terrific letters. If I don't get this, I'm just going to keep applying for anything that might be a step up until something pans out. So everyone keep your fingers crossed that something works out.

All the Rest...The first weekend in February we celebrated Grandpa's 91st birthday. Lili and I have been making him dinner two nights a week. I think the oldest and youngest generation enjoy their interactions. Of course, Grandpa's dog, Mia, is not so thrilled, but she had learned the perks of having a messy baby eat at her house.

Lili, Charleigh and I have started walking around our neighborhood on nice days. Lili loves to watch Charleigh run ahead, although we did have a sticky day when a Yorkie attacked Charleigh. So I ended up pushing the stroller while holding a 40 pound border collie as a 10 pound Yorkie jumped up at her. Charleigh still gets scared when we walk by the house.

Yesterday we took our girls to see the Easter Bunny at the Midland College Vet Tech. Lili went crazy for the bunny. While we were picking the pictures, she actually toddled over and pulled herself into the bunny's lap to snuggle. It was so cute.

Coming Up in March...Lili starts swimming lessons again tomorrow. Next weekend is the Celtic festival in Midland so we are taking Lili and Charleigh. The next weekend we are spending a few days with Staylee's parents in Oklahoma. And we will be spending our first Easter at St. Nicholas. Thanks for reading!

The World's Newest Christian

2008-01-16T14:15:00.001-07:00

Well, not anymore, but such was the case Sunday morning. Liliana was baptised at our church by Father James Liggit. I have to say, I was surprised at how many people were there. The church was almost full, although only a few were there just because of the ceremony. We were very sad that Liliana's godmother, Marty, couldn't be there. However, Staylee's mom, my grandfather, Micheal (Liliana's godfather), Micheal's mom Cindy, and Diana Williams all attended.

It was a wonderful occasion. Lili did cry when they poured the water over her head, but when she realized everyone was watching her and clapping for her, she turned on the charm. We received some very nice gifts for Lili, including a frame and cross from Michael, a book of illustrated scripture from Cindy, and a board book of Bible stories from Carole. Afterwards there was a lovely reception and then Staylee's mom and Stan took the family out to breakfast. I don't have that many pictures, so I'll just post them in the column. A woman at church said she took some pictures of the actual event. If we get some of those I'll add them.

Posing with Father Liggit.

The Baptismal Party: Michael, Amber, Liliana, and Staylee

With Uncle Micheal, her godfather.

Liliana's red velvet cake.

Best,

Amber

New Year, New Update

2008-01-07T13:54:00.001-07:00

Happy New Year to one and all! Things are finally starting to calm down after the holidays and we are drifting back into our routine. We had a wonderful break.

Liliana loved Disneyland. I am currently editing our flood of pictures before uploading them to share. She went on pretty much every ride she was tall enough for and met many characters. That was actually her favorite part. She is now in love with Minnie Mouse in addition to her already cemented Cinderella and Mickey Mouse love. The rest of the California trip was nice. Lili went to the beach for the first time and we had to drag her away despite the fact that it was freezing.

Christmas was small and wonderful. We only had a few presents as a result of the trip, but Lili didn't care. She got a giant Minnie Mouse from Santa and a princess calender from her Uncle Mike and Aunt Michelle--anything else was pretty much superfluous. We have yet to hang the calander because she keeps toddling around with it, showing us Cinderella over and over again.

We had the pleasure of spending a few days with Uncle John when he brought Grandpa back from Florida, although I don't know that Staylee has quit recovered from some of his African snake stories.

Last Saturday Staylee and I celebrated our third wedding anniversary. We didn't do anything big. Staylee, Liliana, and I went to a nice family lunch and then that evening Larry watched Liliana while Staylee and I went to a movie, a luxury I always treasure.

This coming Sunday is Liliana's baptism at St. Nicholas'. Everyone in the congregation has told us how much they are looking forward to it.

Our plans for the semester are already under construction. In March we're going to spend a few days in Oklahoma with Staylee's parents. In February I will be returned to Alpine for the Cowboy poetry weekend sponsored by my honors society. I don't know yet if it will be a weekend or day trip. It depends on the schedule. And Liliana and I will at some point be traveling to Lexington, Virginia to visit her godmother, Marty. I'm really looking forward to that trip.

Until the pictures are up from the trip, I will just post a select few from Disneyland and a copy of the invitation to Liliana's baptism. Anyone who will be in the Midland area Sunday, January 13, is welcome.

Best,

Amber

Holiday Wishes

2007-12-11T10:02:00.000-07:00

Seasons greetings from the Anderson family. We have had a really wonderful year full of growth and learning, laughter and joy. Here are just a few of the things we've been up to for those new to our blog.

The Year that Was...
Staley continues to work for Baker Hughes Centralift. He has become an essential (and sometimes only) member of inventory. At his company Christmas party it was wonderful to meet all the people who thought so highly of him and the work he does.

As most of you know, I finished the coursework for my masters in May and passed my MA exams in October. I am currently at work on my thesis, a creative work based in Arthurian literature. I am still working in the Midland College Technical Pool. It's a completely unchanging job, but I work with nice people and it gives me time for my thesis.

Liliana has grown so much. She became an international traveler in July with our trip China. The Chinese were quite taken with her and it was all around a really wonderful trip. She started walking three weeks before her first birthday, which she celebrated with friends, family, and panda cake. Lili is currently into everything. She is full of joy and mischief, keeping Mommy on her toes.

Our dogs have adjusted to their baby sister. Perdita loves her so much and is very protective of her. Charleigh is more easy going, but is still fond of Lili. In October Charleigh and Lili won a costume contest for Best Duo as Cinderella and her pumpkin.

Another big development this year was our induction into the family at St. Nicholas Episcopal Church. Staley grew up in St. Nicks, so when we started looking for a church he suggested we try it. We wanted a church that Lili could grow with and I think we have found it. Everyone is very nice and so fond of Lili, even when she insists on making a joyful noise during the sermon. My parents started going to St. Nicks as well, which has made it even more special. We have been active with things like Angel Tree and outreach to help others.

The Year Ahead...
December 14 we are leaving on a family trip to California. Liliana will be going to Disneyland for the first time and then we will end the trip in San Francisco.

Staley will be returning to school working toward a degree in computer science. We are lucky in that his company will pay for some of the costs.
I will (fingers crossed) be finishing my thesis and graduate in May. From there I hope to find an adjunct position at the college with the desire to someday become full time. We hope to become more involved in our church and to cultivate the relationships we've developed.

And Liliana? Now that her health is better we want to start swimming again because she loves it so much. We are planning on having her start part time day care as well as dance class in the fall so she can play with other children. Aside from that, who knows? That's part of the fun. We never know what she will be up to next.

Thank you all for the blessings and well wishes we have received. Have a wonderful a safe holiday and a wonderful new year.

Love,
The Andersons
Matthew, Amber, Liliana, Charleigh, and Perdita

PS. Please feel free to browse out photo album at the left.
PPS. If you would like to be emailed when the blog is updated, feel free to email us at ladylazarus1961@yahoo.com.

Thanksgiving

2007-12-05T14:25:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving this year was so wonderful. It is probably the best Thanksgiving I have ever experienced. Liliana was supposed to keep away from people on the actual day, so we planned a small dinner at my mom's house. Larry and I were set to cook as Mom reiterated that she doesn't "do turkey."

We woke up Thanksgiving morning to soft snowfall. Mom came to pick Lili and me up to begin preparations at her house and the world was slowly turning white. By the time the turkey was half done, the snow was up past Lili's feet. She wasn't too crazy about it at first, but we did get her to spend some time outside. My (first) turkey came out really well and we all enjoyed a wonderful dinner, especially Lili. She ate all her turkey and wanted seconds. Staylee let her taste his cranberries, thinking she wouldn't like them. She ended up eating four servings. When it came time for pumpkin pie, Lili finished her tiny slice and then grabbed her Daddy's arm as if to say, "Got any pie, Dad?" Staylee has since started eating with his arm covering his plate.

Saturday we braved taking Lili out and enjoyed a beautiful snowy evening topped off with a visit to our newly opened Cracker Barrel. Liliana was especially fond of the biscuits (see pictures at the left).

Sunday morning we bundled her up for a lovely church service, followed by brunch at Cracker Barrel. Larry just wanted to try their breakfast. That evening we got out the Christmas stuff to officially kick off our holiday season.

The entire weekend was so wonderful, full of family and laughter and the addition of the snow made it just perfect. In our family album you'll find pictures of the food and festivities. I've even thrown in some of Perdi playing in the snow. Mostly because I really like my dog.

Next Friday we are leaving on vacation, but I will try to post some Christmastime pictures before then. Hope everyone is well.

Thankful

2007-11-21T09:51:00.000-07:00

In the spirit of the holiday, I would like to share some things from the past year I am thankful for.
I am thankful that...

...Liliana is such a joyful, adventurous baby. Everyday she surprises and amazes me and she has brought a new happiness to Staylee and me.

...My family continues to be safe and healthy whether they be in Midland or Columbia.

...We have found a church where we are able to help others and feed our faith. We are also lucky that my parents have joined us there. It is bringing us closer.

...Liliana had gained a pound from last week and finally seems to be on the road to recovery.

...Staylee continues to be my partner in every sense of the word as we end our third year of marriage. Watching him each day and experiancing the love he has for Liliana and me is incredible.

...I have found a new friend at work who not only supports me, but also makes me laugh myself stupid at least five times a day.

...My education goals are nearing completion.

...I have so many wonderful people in my life, friends and family, who support me and accept me.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone!

The worst thing about being a mom

2007-11-16T06:56:00.000-07:00

I apologize for the silence and lack of picture updates. It has been a tough month in the Anderson household. On October 20 Staley, Liliana, and I were in Alpine having dinner to celebrate my completion of my MA exam. During dinner Liliana started violently vomiting. Luckily we were eating at our hotel, so I was able to take her upstairs. It was the beginning of her being sick for several hours before we finally got her to bed. The first thing we thought of was an allergic reaction. The day before Lili had been started on real milk, a major change in her diet. So we decided maybe she just wasn't ready.

She seemed fine the next day. But Tuesday morning I got a call from my mom telling me she was sick again. I called her pediatrician to ask if this was perhaps a reaction to the extensive shots she had received the prior week at her wellness check up. The nurse told me no, that it was most likely a virus. We were to put her on bland foods and keep her hydrated.

For the next week and a half Liliana continued to be sick. The pattern seemed to be every other day. The Friday before the two week mark, I called the doctor again and they set up an appointment for that day. Dr. Reese really couldn't find anything, although Lili had lost weight. She instructed me to put her on soy milk in case of a dairy allergy. I left with the instructions that if Liliana wasn't better by Monday, to go to the hospital for tests.

The weekend went pretty well and I thought we were in the clear. Then I got another phone call from Mom. So we went in for testing. The next 48 hours were really taxing. Staley was calling me every hour for news. Finally the nurse called to tell me the tests were clear. We were so thankful! But I also had to ask, what now? We were told to wait a week and if she wasn't better to bring her in to be weighed.

The past week was frustrating to say the least. Watching my daughter throw up everything we feed her, her stomach cave in, hearing her wake up screaming and clutching at her tummy--it just killed me. People would ask me about her at work and I would start crying because I was so frustrated. The frustration and the inability to do anything about it is the worst thing about being a mom. I felt so helpless. The nurses I work with offered some suggestions, but they didn't work. And now Liliana was to the point that we couldn't get her to eat much of anything.

Wednesday morning marked the one week mark and I called the doctor. They set up an appointment for yesterday morning. I prayed that God would give me patience and strength as I held my little girl and that Dr. Reese would give me some glimmer of hope that we could stop this. I had also made the decision that if Dr. Reese told me to wait and see for another week, I was going to go for a second opinion.

We went to the doctor yesterday morning and Liliana had lost another pound. I wanted to cry. My thirteen month old daughter weighs barely 19 pounds. Dr. Reese was very concerned. She and I went through everything we could think of--anything new added to the house that could be causing environmental allergies, food allergies...I told her everything I could think of, even reminding her of our China trip. I have to say kudos to the TV show House because that's what made me be so thorough in my information. And one by one we shot the ideas down. Dr. Reese says she still feels strongly that it is a virus and Liliana just has a really weak immune system. We are supposed to feed her anything she will eat and give her at least 16 ounces of milk and one serving of yogurt each day. She thinks the extra Bactria will really help. Next Wednesday we go back and if she's still losing weight we are going to a specialist for more intrusive testing.

So that's where we stand. If you think about it, please say a prayer for our little girl that she stops throwing up and starts putting on weight. I will try to post an update next week after we go to the doctor. Thanks.

Here are some recent pictures. I will add more to our album in a few days.

Here she is on her 13 months birthday. It was incredibly hard to get her to stand still for me to take the pictures. She was running all over her nursery like a crazy baby. You'll also notice she is carrying a coathanger. She loves them and some how keep mysteriously finding them, so matter how often I pick them up.

Walking out from lunch with her best buddy, Grandpa Larry. She doesn't like to be carried, she likes to walk like a big girl, holding Grandpa's hand.

Our Little Ghoul

2007-11-01T09:45:00.000-06:00

We were really looking forward to Halloween this year as last year Liliana was really too small to do anything.

Last Saturday we took Lili and Charleigh (our Border Collie) to the Midland College Vet Tech Fall Fair. They had fun seeing all the dogs and ended up winning second place in the costume contest for best coordinating duo--Cinderella and her pumpkin. Liliana looked adorable in her Cinderella dress, a gift from a girl I met on my Disney bride website, and Charleigh was a very cute, although slightly deranged looking pumpkin. The funniest thing was that Lili kept taking off one shoe.

For the actual day, we had planned on taking Lili to a party at church, but she has had the flu and we didn't want to expose any other kids, so we just took her for a ride in her wagon. I decorated it with gold and pink ribbons and we took her for a walk at sunset, along with Charleigh of course. They both had fun and it was nice to spend time together. Pictures have been posted to the right, so check them out when you get a chance. I'm going to see if the vet tech people have anymore from the fair.

About a Munchkin

2007-10-29T11:40:00.000-06:00

I finally have a few minutes of downtime to post updates on the lovely Miss Liliana.

As you can probably tell from the pictures, she had a fantastic time her birthday weekend. And thank you to all of you who sent us cards, gifts, and well wishes. It really means so much to us. We went to dinner Friday night at Shogun and she loved the fire and ate a ton of veggies and shrimp.

The birthday party went really well. We had lots of friends drop by and Liliana had a great time toddling around and greeting everyone. She was quite the little hostess. She got tons of great gifts and enjoyed smashing up her panda bear cake. If only we could have gotten her to wear her birthday hat without resorting to force. Oh well...

Sunday we went to church and Liliana and I both received birthday blessings. Staylee and my mom also bought the flowers for the alter in honor of our birthdays. That evening we took Liliana for her first wagon ride and I think the pictures show how much she loved it.

Two weeks ago she went to her one year check up. She weighs 20 pounds and is 31 inches tall. So tall and thin. We're supposed to get her off of bottles, which is going pretty well. We're also supposed to get her away from the pacifier, but that's not going as well. Our next appointment is in 6 months, so I have some time. She got a ton of shots and cried really hard, but she got over it.

Last week she came down with the flu, which made for a tough couple of days for all of us. She felt better by this weekend and she and big sister Charleigh won second prize in a costume contest as best duo. Liliana was Cinderella and Charleigh was a pumpkin. I'll post pictures later this week. I want to wait until after Halloween when we go to the church party.

At one year old, here are some of her favorite things...

Foods-Oatmeal, banana baby cookies, baby ravioli, bananas, chicken nuggets

Clothes-She loves wearing jeans and Robeez. She does okay with dresses as long as they're short. And she likes wearing two piece, big girl PJs.

Books-She really doesn't have the patience to be read to, but she does like Disney first reader board books like Daisy's Picture. She also loves V-tech books. She could look at her Winnie the Pooh book for hours.

Toys-Leap Frog table, wagon, spoons and dog bowls, Baby Jack, Winnie the Pooh, Emma (the last three are her comfort toys), Peek-a-blocks and balls, Whooz-it, Pooh Bear push train, pretty much anything she can carry around and bang on or with

Activities-Chase the baby, walking, going for rides in her wagon or stroller, baths, swimming, helping Mommy (ex. Mommy puts away dishes, Lili bangs on the dishwasher with a ladle), anything noisy

Television/Movies-Cinderella (we really try to rotate her movies, but she always wants this one), Lady and the Tramp, Classical Baby, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins, 101 Dalmatians, Aristocats, Top Chef (yeah, that's totally my fault)

And a few dislikes...

Foods-Green beans

Clothes-Anything with feet, long dresses, tights, hats, hoods, bows (anything that goes on her head), any shoes that aren't Robeez (or similar)

Books-Anything that doesn't allow her to tear the pages out.

Toys-Nothing comes to mind

Activities-Getting her diaper changed, going to bed, taking a nap, pretty much anything where she has to be still

Television/Movies-Dora the Explorer, Backyardigans, Baby Einstein videos, anything scary or with scary music

That's all for now. Check back for Halloween pictures later in the week and in the meantime I will keep adding China pictures.

Albums up!

2007-10-22T15:44:00.000-06:00

Following the example of my cousins, I have started an Anderson Family Album, which is available by clicking the link at the right. I have posted some birthday pictures, as well as pictures from China. This way I can post a bunch of pictures much faster. Keep checking back this week as I will post more, including more China pictures. Enjoy!

Quick Pics

2007-10-17T14:18:00.001-06:00

I apologize for not posting all the details of Liliana's first birthday. It was really fantastic and we had so much fun. Next week I will smother everyone in details. This week, well, I'm just trying not to stroke out. My Masters Exam is Saturday morning. So please keep me in your prayers everyone as I sit for this important test. Please also pray that we have a safe trip to Alpine and that Liliana's crankiness and pain from all the shots she got yesterday abates so she and Daddy can have a nice time while I test and do some thesis research. In the meantime, here is a sampling of birthday weekend pictures.

Changes

2007-10-01T09:04:00.000-06:00

In just a few short weeks, everything has changed and continues to do so.

A week ago Saturday (September 22) Liliana started walking. She had been taking a step here and there, but never actually took off. I was on the phone with my mom and all of a sudden she walked from the recliner to the side table where she proceeded to pick up a hammer. So my commentary went something like this:

"yeah, so I don't think that's g...She's walking! She's walking! Staylee come quick! She's wal...no, no baby, that's Daddy's give it to Mommy."

My camera was stolen, so I don't have any pictures, but hopefully we will have a new camera soon. We've tried to video it, but she sits down and crawls whenever we try film her.

Swimming classes are going really well. Lili has figured out how to breath when going under water and smiles when we take her under. She can also paddle and kick by herself, just holding on with one hand. Her new favorite exercise is one called Humpty-Dumpty where she crawls out of the pool (with help) and jumps into us. She loves Barrett, her swimming teacher and is so happy in the water that she is frequently used to demonstrate. It's a great time that the whole family looks forward to every week.

Friday Liliana turns one! It's amazing to me how quickly the time passes. We have a packed weekend planned--I am taking the day off Friday to spend with my girl. We have a photo session at 11:30 for some birthday shots and then lunch and a nap before another photo session for some modeling Liliana is doing. Finally, the grandparents are joining us at Shogun for a birthday dinner. Saturday is the day of the big party complete with Panda bear cake and ice cream.

Since my camera was stolen, we don't have anymore recent pictures. I will post some more stuff from China in the meantime. Have good week everyone!

Quck Update

2007-09-12T09:07:00.000-06:00

Sorry I am so behind in posting. This fall is shaping up to be super busy. I am studying like a madwoman for my MA exam, writing my thesis, planning Liliana's first birthday party, and still trying to spend time with the family.

Liliana started swimming lessons three weeks ago and really loves them. Staylee takes off early from work to come and we have a really good time. We are allowed to take pictures on guest day, September 19, so I will post some after that.

We've been doing baby yoga lately, which Liliana absolutely loves. I only wish I had started it sooner. We have such a good time together and it allows us time to do something together, just us. The book I'm using is Itsy Bitsy Yoga and I highly recommend it.

I think Staylee and I have finally found a church we like. It's actually Staylee's old church, St. Nicholas. We went two Sundays ago and really enjoyed it. Lili was great during the service (we didn't think we should leave her in the nursery just yet--she doesn't do well with strangers on her own), although she tried to sing along with the hymns. But people were very nice, coming up to us afterwards and commenting on what a good baby she was and how nice it was to hear her joyful noise. We know several people and they have a good children's program, something that is really important to us. Unfortunately I was sick last Sunday, so we didn't get to go, but we are looking forward to this week.

We had to make a trip to the doctor yesterday because we thought she had an earache. She's been waking up several times a night screaming and is generally not her jovial self. Dr. Reese figured out that it was her acid reflux, which has caused sores on the roof of her mouth that are now infected. We have to put her on medication for the reflux, but there is really nothing we can do about the sores but wait it out. Dr. Reese did give us a prescription for some Tylenol with Codeine to help her sleep for a few days. So please keep her in your prayers that she will feel better soon!

Finally, here are some recent pictures of our wonder girl. She's getting so big!

Standing by herself for the first time. She will walk holding one hand and has taken two steps, but that's all for now.

After her first swimming lesson. She was the only baby that didn't cry in the water!
Playing at the park. She was too little for most of the equipment, but she loved crawling back and forth in this tube. The wind came up and she just had this look of pure joy. I was lucky enough to catch it on film.

More pictures to come: China, swimming, the park, and before you know it...Liliana turns ONE!

Getting There is Half the Battle, The Pictures

2007-08-16T08:11:00.001-06:00

Waiting for take off at the Midland Airport.

The parade in Dallas.
Liliana loves Great-Grandpa! (and his nose)
Performing serious suitcase upkeep.
Our Chicago sleeping arrangements.
Liliana bunks down for the night.
I think Liliana's shirt says it best.

Getting There is Half the Battle, Part 3

2007-08-16T08:07:00.000-06:00

Thursday, June 28th

I woke up at six with my back feeling like I had been run over. Lili woke up a few minutes later and I gave her a morning bottle since there was no place to nurse with discretion. (Well, I could have gone behind the phones, but someone had vomited there and no one bothered to clean it up.) We all played with the baby for awhile and then at 7:30 Mom and I got in line to check in. The minutes ticked by and a little after eight we got to the desk. Thank heavens everything went smoothly. We checked in our luggage, got our boarding passes and were on our way to security.

We were about to go through when I noticed a weird code on the bottom of the boarding pass—SSS. I now know that it means that you are marked for a random search. I discovered this a few minutes later when we went through the checkpoint. After Liliana and I stepped through the metal detector, the security guard told me that I was selected for a search. Then before I could even blink, she grabbed Lili out of my arms and took off with her. Now, I always try to be cooperative with airport security, but this really upset me. Lili started crying and the woman glared at her and told her to be quiet. She’s a baby, for crying out loud.

To make matters worse, I had to boarding passes, but they wouldn’t let Mom get them from me, so she couldn’t go through the detector and take Lili. They took forever searching, with Lili getting more upset with each passing moment. One guard finally let my mom through, but they wouldn’t let her near us. They then started pawing through Lili’s diaper bag. It was a total mess.

After about ten minutes of riffling through the bag, the lady shoved it, all its contents, and Lili at me and told me to move along. Mom put the bag back together while I tried to calm Lili down. Feeling a little shaken, we made our way through the airport, getting a wheelchair for Grandpa along the way, and finally settling in to the food court for some breakfast. Mom and I left Grandpa with Lili (who was sucking down juice in between little gasping sobs) to get some food. I found a Danish and Cinnamin Roll for Mom and me to share while she got Grandpa some eggs and other breakfast stuff.

After breakfast, we went to our gate to discover that our flight was...
DELAYED.

I actually started laughing—of course it would be delayed, why wouldn’t it be? It was scheduled to go at noon and wasn’t going to take off until three. I called Larry to let him know what was going on and he laughed too. He told me that United had told the tour company that we had gone to Los Angeles and were on our way to Beijing, Ummm...not so much United. I went ahead and called the company to tell them when we were due in and our flight number. The lady told me no problem (he he he).

We made Lili a little play area on the floor and let her crawl and stretch her little legs. The waiting didn’t actually seem that long and at three we finally boarded our flight to Beijing. We ended up idling on the runway for another hour, so we finally took off at about five.

Mom and I made a little palette out of pillows for Lili to lay on across our laps. She was so sweet when she fell asleep. I wish I could have said the same about Grandpa. I kept trying to nod off while Lili was asleep, but he kept waking me up to ask me questions. We were fed Chinese food for dinner and then later a Chinese snack. Grandpa ate all of his and most of Mom’s and mine—he just kept eating. About four hours into the flight, Mom switched seats with me and Lili and I snuggled up together and went to sleep. Even now it is such a sweet memory, cuddled with my daughter and her stuffed dog. We woke up in time for breakfast (American style) and before we knew it, we were in China! We landed in Beijing after a twelve hour flight at about 6 pm Beijing time (which is thirteen hours ahead of the USA). I was so excited for our trip to really begin!

Getting There is Half the Battle, Part 2

2007-08-16T08:04:00.000-06:00

Wednesday, June 27th

The wake up call came at four and I seriously felt like I had only been asleep for ten minutes. I didn’t want to wake up Lili until the last possible moment, so I slipped out of bed and into the shower. My back was so stiff from sleeping on the floor, but the hot water really helped. When I got out the shower I got dressed and then got everybody else up. Grandpa was grumpy and complained that someone was snoring. It was him! But Mom just said, “Sure, it was me.” How we do appease those we love.

After the troubles getting into Dallas the night before, I thought I ought call United and check on our flight status. My hunch proved valid—our flight to San Francisco was canceled. Mom and I had a little pow wow and decided that we should go on to the airport to see what the airline could do. I fed Lili and when I picked her up to get her ready I realized she had wet the bed. It’s wicked of me, but I was sort of proud of her considering that La Quinta had been less that helpful.

With everyone dressed and ready, we headed to the lobby to wait for our cab. It was raining, but nothing too bad, so I was confused as to why our flight was canceled. The cab took about twenty minutes to get there and in the meantime I made everyone eat something from the breakfast buffet. Everyone else had fruit and yogurt (or juice in Lili’s case), but I found make-it-yourself waffles with a Texas shaped maker—yay! I love shaped waffles. I’m easy to entertain.

The cab arrived and we all piled in. I kept my death grip on Lili all the way to the airport. The drive was much shorter than the previous evening and before we knew it we were standing in the packed United terminal. The line was practically out the door for international check in, so we put the luggage up near the front of the line and staked Grandpa out in a wheelchair to watch it.

All around us were people using there cell phones to make other plans for our canceled flight. That is the big head smacking part of the whole trip—we didn’t bring our cell phones. I asked Mom if she was bringing hers and her response was, “What for?” I charged mine up to take just in case, but forgot it in the final rush. This would come back to bite us in the butt multiple times. This was already the second.

We ended up waiting for two hours in line. During the wait I kept checking on Grandpa and trying to entertain Lili. She was actually really good. We finally got to the counter and told the woman we had to get to Beijing. She typed a bunch of stuff and told us we couldn’t get out of Dallas for two days. My stomach literally dropped. Mom immediately told her that was unacceptable and so for the next two hours we stood at the counter as they tried to find a way to get us to Beijing. They tried everything and finally came up with what sounded like an annoying, but last resort plan. We would fly on American to Atlanta at noon, change airlines and fly to Los Angeles, change airlines again and have a ten hour layover, and then fly Air China to Beijing at 1:50 in the morning, arriving in Beijing in time to start our tour. We got ready to bustle off to the American terminal, ahh, but not so fast—Mom’s ticket wouldn’t print.

Another 45-minutes and five employees later, we were on a bus to the American terminal where we had to stand in yet another never ending line. There were several kiosks for self-check in, which ironically required four airline employees to work on, while on two were checking in other passengers. I asked one of the self check guys if he could just check out tickets to make sure when were on the flight. He told me to wait in line. Two hours later we made it to the front of the line where the airline representative proceeded to tell us that they had no reservation or room for us on the Atlanta flight. Now up to this time, I had been really positive, but that ticked me off. I made some comment about wishing that they could have just checked like we asked two hours before and the lady said that they had to help people with self-check. And before I could even stop the words from coming out of my mouth I said, “Then you really shouldn’t call it self-check, should you?”

The lady then told us that we would have to go back to the United terminal and have them straighten the mess out. Mom and I decided not to drag Grandpa, Lili, and the suitcases all over the airport again, so she went to get things sorted out and I stayed with them.

By this time Lili was tired of being in her stroller, so I took her out and let her play with one of the suitcases. I guess my daughter is simple like I am, because it amused her for over an hour. The lady I had snapped at came by and apologized, as did I. After some sweet potatoes, I walked Lili around the terminal for about an hour until she was ready for a nap. While she slept in her stroller, I read a little and then Grandpa and I played Farkel. Three hours after she had left, Mom returned.

I’m not sure exactly what happened, but I could tell she was about to flip out. She told me we were on standby for Chicago at four and confirmed on a flight to Beijing at noon the next day. If we didn’t make it on the Chicago flight, we would take an early morning flight to Chicago arriving in time to make our Beijing flight.

I made the call that we should get back to the United terminal and get some food. On the way, Mom told me that she was so angry because most everyone else on our San Francisco flight had been rebooked on a flight that left an hour later, but United hadn’t rebooked us because we weren’t considered priority.

We got checked in and finally got to check out luggage before setting in for some much needed McDonalds. It was three by this point and we hadn’t eaten since the hotel. So my quarter pounder tasted extra yummy!

After lunch, Mom wanted me to call Larry, somehow hoping he could straighten the whole mess out. I knew I needed to call him to have him get in touch with the tour company to tell them we wouldn’t be on our expected plane. Larry tried to help as best he could, but after several back and forth phone calls, nothing had really changed.

I snuck off with Lili to find a place to nurse her. We found a little abandoned spot behind some chairs and while she nursed I watched the rain fall outside. When we got back to the gate, Mom was frantic because she couldn’t find me. We had made it on to the afternoon Chicago flight! Yay! I called Larry and asked him to see if he could find us a hotel room.

We boarded a few minutes later and Liliana soon fell asleep. I watched a little of the Office when they showed (Phyllis’s Wedding for all you Office fans like myself) and napped a little afterwards. Two hours later landed in Chicago.

Once on the ground, we got our luggage and I called Larry. Because so many Chicago flights had been canceled, all the hotels in Chicago were booked. We were on our own. A very nice monk (who looked like my stepfather, according to my grandfather with one eye—so, not really) suggested we stay at his seminary, but it was two hours away.

We decided to go to the United counter to make sure we were confirmed on the flight the next day and see if we could check the luggage and find someplace for Grandpa to sleep. We were confirmed, but they wouldn’t let us check our luggage or get boarding passes or leave the ticket area until the next morning. I then explained that my grandfather was 90 years old and asked if they had a room or a cot or even just a blanket so he could lie down. Nope. Since our flights were screwed up due to weather they weren’t responsible for anything.

We wandered the ticketing area until we found some benches. Mom staked them out while Grandpa and I bought dinner. Forty dollars for three sandwiches and three bottles of water. Awesome. After dinner we tried to get Grandpa and Liliana to sleep. Lili passed out in her stroller. I was restless so I walked around and discovered that the next terminal over had cots, pillows, and blankets. But they were all being used by a group of teenagers and no one was willing to give theirs up for my Grandfather. So he stretched on a bench with a sleep mask on. Mom and I took turns watching the luggage and Lili. Mom took first shift, so I tried to sleep on the floor. It was a restless night, with me having to take Grandpa to the bathroom about every two hours. I think the only one who slept well was Lili. After my shift, I passed out again on the floor and was so tired that actually got some sleep.

Getting There is Half the Battle, Part One

2007-08-16T08:01:00.000-06:00

Tuesday, June 26th

Because I would be taking so much time off (two and a half weeks to be precise), I decided to work part of the day. We hadn’t done much packing the night before, so I went home at noon to begin the arduous process of packing for myself, Lili, Mom, and Grandpa. I am a notoriously good packer—the downside being that everyone wants me to pack for them. I finished packing the three suitcases for Mom, Lili, and me pretty quickly because I had a really good list. Mom and I only took a week’s worth of clothes, planning to have most of our stuff do double and triple duty. I then went to Grandpa’s to work on his suitcase. He already had his things sitting out for me, and it was looking not so good. He had five shirts, five pairs of shorts, and five pairs of underwear. Ummm...for fifteen days? Really?

I made the mistake of questioning his packing choices and was promptly told that he didn’t need to pack everything in his closet like me and Mom. He was a smart packer. (If he’s so smart, how come I’m the one packing? Just saying.) So fine, take your five little things and live with it.

I got back to Mom’s house in time to go home, pick up a few things and get Staylee to go to the airport. Mom and Larry left to go get Grandpa and I ran home. Staylee for once was ready to go, so pretty soon we were on our merry way to Midland International Airport. (The International cracks me up since the only international flight is about one a year to Mexico. Everything else is either through Dallas or Houston. International my eye.)

The drive was pleasant enough and before I knew it, Staylee was helping me unload the car and kissing me and Lili goodbye. I hadn’t anticipated how hard it would be until that moment—Staylee and I had never been apart this long before. I could tell he was upset, too because he kept making me promise to stay with the tour group and not go anyplace that looked dangerous. Mom stuck her head outside the airport door and told us to cut the goodbye short. I gave Staylee one last kiss and Lilia and I went inside...

...where we got to wait in a very slow line. We basically standing still until I realized that people were upset over canceled flights. I checked the monitor for our flight status and wouldn’t you know, it was the only one labeled CANCELED. Gahhh!!

Mom immediately flipped out and said that Grandpa has a little black cloud over his head when we travel because we always run into snags. I put on my best Spoon Full of Sugar voice and attitude and went to work cheering them both up. Mom called my stepfather and started freaking out that he would have to drive us to Dallas (6 hours away) and then had to hand the phone off to me because she was so upset. I told both she and Larry that I thought we should wait to freak out until we talked the people at the desk.

For once I was right, because as soon as we got to the desk, they told us there was a plane flying in and turning right around to go back to Dallas, and if we hurried we could just make it. Hurry? With a baby and a 90 year old? Sure, why not? We hustled as much as you can when you have to pull all the liquids out of the diaper bag and explain that the juice is indeed for the baby and have a little old man searched by hand since his pacemaker prevents him from going through the metal detector.
Thankfully we made it to the plane with time to spare. We sat down for a few minutes to enjoy some cold beverages (last call Diet Dr. Pepper! Does not translate in China) and then it was time to board! The worst was over, right? (You will look back at that line and laugh later—or at least I will. I have to in order to keep from crying).

We arrived in Dallas only an hour behind schedule and picked up our checked luggage. We had reservations at the La Quinta for the night (not my choice of accommodations, but it was just for one night) and I called their shuttle to pick us up. We rented a cart for the luggage and Mom pushed Grandpa in a wheelchair who in turn pushed Lili in her stroller. It was quite the parade!

The shuttle picked us up fairly quickly, but we had to stop to get some other people. We didn’t have a carseat (and there would have been no place to put one if we did), so Lili sat on my lap. It felt so weird and I seriously started hyperventilating at the thought of a crash. By the time we got to the La Quinta, Lili’s arms and tummy were red because I was holding her so tight. Grandpa was grumpy because we weren’t staying right the airport, but the hotel really wasn’t that far. Inside we went to check in and were faced with more bad news—they had messed up our reservations (even though we had double checked them 24 hours before) and we only one room on the second floor at the back (not so good for Grandpa) and since there were so many people with canceled flights not only could they not get us another room, we would not be able to ride the free shuttle back to the airport at 5 am, we would have to take a cab. We asked if at least we could store the luggage since we were all crammed in one room—nope. No roll away bed or crib either. We turned to leave and Mom said, “This is why I stay at the Hilton.” I guess the girl felt bad, because she moved us to a ground floor room at the front.

Mom and I managed to get all our stuff into our sneeze of a room and it was decided that Mom and Grandpa would each take a room and Lili and I would sleep on the floor. Everyone got ready for bed and I put the bedspreads and Mom’s top blanket on the floor for Lili and me. We turned the lights out and Lili was fascinated by the wall and kept trying to cruise along it, so after thirty minutes I finally switched her to my other side and got her to sleep. It was one in the morning and we had to get up at four. Sigh.

Coming up:
Things to do in Dallas when your plane is dead,
Lines that lead to nowhere, and
Why I will never go through Chicago O’Hare airport again.

Apologies...

2007-08-16T07:58:00.000-06:00

First, I would like to extend my regrets that I have not posted in so long. After we got back from China, work was just crazy and I've been trying to get somewhere with my thesis. I do have some recaps from our trip for those who would like to read them, as well as some pictures. So please stayed tuned for the wonders of China. It really was an amazing trip.

Father's Day

2007-06-21T10:14:00.001-06:00

Father's Day was a big celebration day for us. Not only did we celebrate 3 dads, we also celebrated Mom's birthday since she was out of town for the actual occasion.

Liliana and Daddy celebrate with kisses. Her shirt says My Dad' A Superhero.
Staylee opening presents.
Larry had never received a Father's Day present! Well, Liliana and I slammed him with them this year, including yummy gourmet chocolates.
Grandpa opening his travel survival kit for China.
At Red Lobster, Liliana was entertained during the wait by watching the lobsters in their tank.

Summer Baby

2007-06-21T09:59:00.000-06:00

I wanted to take a minute to post some pictures of Liliana and her activities this summer. She is crawling everywhere and pulling up on everything. She's been having a hard time lately because she is trying to cut her first teeth, but Mommy has concocted a nightcap that works wonders.

Checking out core samples during her first trip to a museum. Great-Grandpa educated us on the geology of the oil field at the Petroleum Museum.
Sleeping after a long day of baby work.
Enjoying some play time with her big sister Charleigh, who wasn't really interested in the baby until Lili picked up a tennis ball. Then she had the dog's undivided attention.
Liliana offering Perdi her pacifier. Perdita politely declined, although she did give her some kisses as a thank you.

My parents bought her a little pool for the porch. At first she wasn't sure what to think, but by the end she was splashing and having a great time.

Uncle Chris came in for Mamaw's birthday--Liliana loved her uncle and cousin.
Reading with Cousin Tristen. She really liked him--at one point he had her laughing so hard she fell over.
Playing with a cup at lunch one day. It's amazing the things that can occupy her.
Sweet baby girl with her Disney pals.

8 months!

2007-06-06T07:17:00.001-06:00

It is hard for me to believe that Liliana is 8 months old already. She is crawling like a champ, although still slowly and occasionally going back to dragging herself. She is also pulling up on things and still loves standing. Here are some pictures from her photo session yesterday. She was so happy and cute the whole time!

Update

2007-05-23T09:11:00.000-06:00

Liliana is growing by leaps and bounds. Of course, she’s a little girl to begin with, so now at seven and a half months she is outgrowing her 3-6 month clothes. She is also getting ready to crawl. She scoots across the floor and rocks back and forth on all fours. So it is just a matter of time before she’s into everything even more than she already is.

We had a lovely first Mother’s Day. Liliana hosted a tea for her grandmothers that was very nice and I received several cards and a beautiful necklace from Staylee. All in all it was a wonderful day.

Liliana has been sleeping in her big crib in her own room for about a month now and it is going really well. She goes to bed at nine o’clock (although last night she went to bed earlier because she was a fussy britches and didn’t want anything else). We have a established a routine that really works for us—I change her diaper, put on her sleepy lotions, and put her in her jim-jams. Then Daddy comes upstairs and we say our prayers and kiss her goodnight. We then put on her bedtime music, turn out the light, and run like the dickens before she lets out her first “But I’m not tired!” cry. Of course she is tired, because about ten minutes later she stops crying and falls asleep. Left to her own devices, she sleeps until about nine in the morning. I have to wake her up to feed her before we go to work.

To finish, here is a picture of our summer girl taken on her seven month birthday during our last weekend at Sul Ross.

More Oklahoma!

2007-04-27T07:48:00.000-06:00

Here she is playing on the coffee table. She loves standing. We are actually having trouble getting her to sit because all she wants to do is stand.

Here she is on Easter morning with her Easter basket. About 10 seconds after this picture she began chewing on the basket.
Posing with her new teething ring.

Walking outside with Daddy.

Saying goodbye to Papaw. Yes, that is a bunny hat she is wearing. In line at the airport the security guard announced that the Easter bunny was in line.

Oklahoma!

2007-04-27T07:25:00.000-06:00

where the wind...well you know the rest. Liliana took her first plane trip to visit Papaw and Nana in Edmond. The next few posts will be pictures of that trip and her first Easter.

On the first plane waiting for take off. She was really good and didn't cry except when we were stuck on the runway in Dallas. It was like she was telling us, "Let's go!"

Getting ready to go shopping with Nana and Papaw.
Giving Nana snuggles.

We were there for Harlee's birthday, so we had a cake for her and some presents. While posing for this picture, Liliana reached out and grabbed a handfull of icing. You can actually see the little hand going for it. She wasn't sure what to do with the icing, so she mashed it in her hands. Luckily, we got her cleaned up before it went in her mouth.

6 months!

2007-04-11T08:59:00.000-06:00

My baby doll is growing up so fast! Over the past weekend, she turned 6 months old, went on her first airplane trip, her first trip out of state, and celebrated her first Easter. She was an angel on the plane and everyone thought she was so cute (which she is). She was supposed to get her pictures taken last Thursday, but she wasn’t feeling well after her trip to the doctor to get her six month shots. She currently weighs 15 pounds, 2 ounces and is a little over 26 inches long. Dr. Reese thinks she looks great and is very healthy. So here are professional pictures we took on Monday. I have to say they are the cutest we have taken. And considering she was still unhappy after the trip to Oklahoma (she was tired and cranky and wanted to get back to her “job”) I’m surprised at how much we got her to smile. The first outfit is a Humphrey’s Corner dress that I just love. I have an addiction to those clothes, even though I can only order them through ebay from England. The second is her Easter dress her Mamaw bought for her. And the last one is a little watermelon suit Mom and I fell in love with along with her watermelon Robeez from her great-aunt Judy and great-uncle John. Enjoy!

Amazing...

2007-04-02T14:21:00.000-06:00

It has been too long since I posted, but everything is so busy and I had trouble getting into the blog homepage. Liliana is growing and changing so much every day. She has found her feet, which now provide endless entertainment. She is very grabby and everything goes straight for her mouth. Last week she tried to pull Grandpa’s entire sandwich tray into her carrier. Luckily we caught it in time.

We took her to the puppy park with the dogs last night and she loved it. She thought Perid attacking the doggie drinking fountain was hilarious because she just kept laughing every time the dog would do it. She’s getting more and more into a routine. She has the things she does at my mom’s house everyday and we have our night time routine: we read two board books (if she’s not too fussy) and then say a family prayer. It’s such a sweet time of day, Staylee and I holding our daughter’s hand and thanking God for our blessings. It’s so amazing to watch her grow and change each day, to watch her discover the world a piece at a time. We are so blessed.

This is actually a big week for us: Liliana is turning 6-months old, she has her 6-month check up, 6-month pictures, and she is taking her first out of state trip on her first airplane to see Nana and Papaw in Oklahoma! We’re very excited, although I am nervous about flying with an infant, but I think I am prepared.

Other big news...Liliana is going to China! In June Grandpa, Mom, Liliana, and I are all going to China for two weeks. I’ll have more information on that trip in the coming weeks. I’ll try to post the 6-month update before we leave. If not, I’ll have that and a trip recap when we get back next week. In the meantime, here are a few pictures of our miracle.

With Mamaw at brunch.

Pitiful

2007-03-07T10:10:00.000-07:00

That is the only word I can think to describe baby doll these days. About a month ago, I came down with bronchitis. I thought I had stamped it out, but it flared up again last Friday. The same day Liliana started coughing really hard and you could hear the junk rattling around in her chest. We spent the weekend in Alpine and she kept getting worse. The coughing was accompanied by wheezing, sweating, and fever. I called in sick Monday morning and called Liliana’s doctor to see if there was anything aside from the over the counter baby cough medicine I should be doing for her. At this point she had fussed through much of Sunday night, coughing herself awake and whimpering in addition to not eating with her usual gusto. I listed her symptoms to the nurse and was told to bring her in. So I bundled my baby girl up and headed to the doctor.

I should note that this is the first time I have taken Liliana to the doctor by myself. Mom has always gone with me before, but this time she couldn’t go with us. I was really scared because my baby was having so much trouble breathing and I just didn’t know what to do for her.

We got to the doctor and the nurse immediately noticed how badly she was wheezing. They did a test for something called RSV, which can be deadly for infants, and Dr. Reese listened to her chest, asked some questions and looked at her chest. It was caving in and so Dr. Reese called for a breathing machine. They brought it in and I had to hold the mask up to her little face to help her breath. Thankfully, the RSV test came back negative and the machine stopped her chest from caving when she breathed. Dr. Reese gave me a prescription for the wheezing and another for fighting off pneumonia and told me to keep her indoors with her head elevated when possible, away from public places, and watch her closely for changes.

So I have been home with her the past two days. She finally started eating better today. Yesterday she pretty much would only eat her Pedialite. I keep sucking stuff out of her nose and sucking out the stuff she coughs up as well as giving her the two prescriptions in addition to her Tylenol and cough medicine and sleeping with a vaporizer. It’s just sad to watch because she is fussy and doesn’t really want to play or do much of anything. She’s sleeping more than usual, although it is hard to get her to relax enough to get to sleep.

Everyone keep your fingers crossed that she’ll be her usual bubbly self soon.

Four Months and counting...

2007-02-13T07:23:00.000-07:00

Four months have come and gone and our baby doll just keeps growing. She had her appointment at the doctor’s last week and is doing very well. She’s in the 50th percentile for weight and 80th percentile for height—meaning that 50 percent of babies weigh more or less than she does, but 80 percent are shorter. It’s funny because all along we had been thinking how short she seemed compared to other babies and it turns out she’s tall. The doctor says we can start her on green veggies, but she needs to master eating oatmeal off a spoon first. She loves bouncing on the bed and being held on my legs while I’m on my back so she can “fly”. She has also started reaching to pet the dogs, although Perdi is the only one who stays still and lets her do it without trying to lick her to death.

So here is a rundown of her world at four months, along with some pictures taken on her four month birthday.

Weight-13 pounds 8 ounces
Length-25 1/4 inches
Hair-Blond with reddish brown highlights
Eyes-Dark blue
Favorite food-mom, rice cereal, and oatmeal (it's still a limited field)
Favorite toys-Leap ABC Frog, Lily 123 Frog, Octopus Drum and Lobster rattle, Fruggy (hot pink frog), Boing Elephant, Bunny Lovie, Baby Einstein Shape set
Favorite movies-Cinderella (she just loves the talking mice), Little Mermaid, Lady and the Tramp, Fox and the Hound, Aristocats
Favorite activities-Snuggling with Mommy, Daddy, Grandma and Grandpa Larry, talking to her toys, bouncing on the bed, playing baby airplane, standing, sitting in baby Bumbo chair, listening to Grandpa Larry talk

But I'm a miracle! (She still doesn't like to be put down)

Winter

2007-02-06T10:50:00.000-07:00

These are some pictures from the past month of winter here in the Wild West. It cracks me up: two inches of snow and we cancel school.

With Daddy on our snow day (and her first day with snow).
Bundled up for these harsh Midland winters. I think it's supposed to be a bear suit, but she looks more like a puppy or a sheep to me.
Grandpa at his 90th birthday dinner at Red Lobster. His advice to all us young 'uns? Just hang in there.

Liliana and Daddy at Great-Grandpa's birthday party.

Christmas

2007-02-06T10:38:00.000-07:00

I have finally managed to upload Christmas pictures.

Here is the family at church on Christmas Eve.

Four generations getting a picture with Santa at the Museum of the Southwest.
Grandma and Liliana at the Museum of the Southwest.
Surrounded by all her Christmas spoils.
Our little elf.

Growed

2007-01-31T09:16:00.000-07:00

So Liliana has been telling us for weeks that she is grown up and doesn’t want to be treated like a baby (except when she does). She definitely has a strong will and knows what she wants (except when she doesn’t). Yesterday afternoon Grandpa Larry gave her an oatmeal + milk = gruel bottle and rather having it held for her, she reached out, took it, and proceeded to feed herself.

Aside from that, she likes to stand up all the time (while being held, of course) and especially loves to bounce on the bed. The other night that was all she wanted to do until Mommy’s back couldn’t take it anymore. I think she’s getting ready to go through a growth spurt because she’s sleeping more than usual.

Piece by piece I am slowly packing up her 0-3 months clothes as she outgrows them. For the most part she got some good wear out of everything. There are some little socks and slippers that she never wore because she would cry every time I put them on her and a dress she has only worn once. I’m going to put it on her again on Friday for her Great-Grandpa’s birthday dinner and then it too will probably end up in the box. Dresses are really not practical, especially now that she loves to put fabric in her mouth. If she wears things that are separate pieces, she always yanks up her shirt to chew on it.

We’re at a weird stage because while some of the 0-3 months stuff is getting too small, much of the 3-6 months stuff is too big. So there all you people who talk about what a big baby she is—she’s perfectly normal and really not as fat or big as several other babies we know her same age.

Liliana has started singing. She got a little frog for Christmas that sings the alphabet song. She knows how to push his little tummy to turn him on and likes to chew on his arms and feet. The other day in the car, after he had finished singing, she started making these little noises in the same rhythm as the song. She also sings along with him and loves it when Mommy or Grandma sing along too.

So that’s about it. She has her four month check up next week, so I will post our vitals then. I think she should be starting veggies soon, much to Grandpa Larry’s disappointment. He, for some reason, really wants to give her applesauce.

Brief Update

2007-01-22T09:31:00.000-07:00

I don't have any more pictures to add at this time, but I will try to get some up this week. I am also going to play around with the video camera mom gave us for Christmas and see about posting some video. Not sure how that will work, but it should be interesting.

In other news, Liliana rolled from her stomach to her back for the first time the other night. She was annoyed with tummy time and decided she had had enough and was going to do something about it. She wants to stand all the time (we have to hold her up) because I guess she has decided she is grown now. We went to see Dreamgirls yesterday and ended up taking her with us when Staylee didn't make it home in time (he was stuck at the store and came to pick her up at the theatre about 20 minutes into the movie). She was actually watching the movie and started jabbering away to Eddie Murphy when he sang. It was very cute, but I felt like I had to quiet her down since she might disturb other people. If we had been at a movie like Happy Feet, I wouldn't have worried about it. But Dreamgirls is not exactly a kids flick. (Good movie though--Jennifer Hudson and Eddie Murphy both rock. I knew I was right when I voted for her on American Idol.)

Finally, I have started another, non-Liliana centered blog. Some folks are interested in keeping up with my thesis and school work in addition to seeing the baby, so I have created Lady Lazarus. You can access it by clicking the link at the left or by going to http://questforbrilliance.blogspot.com/

Miss Liliana at Three Months

2007-01-10T08:50:00.000-07:00

Here is baby doll on her own. (Note the little feet--that little flexed foot just kills me).

Family Pictures

2007-01-10T08:46:00.000-07:00

For our anniversary we got family pictures taken. Lili was a little sleepy at the beginning so the family shots aren't that great. But I think some of her solo shots (coming next post) are so cute.

Picture Smorgesborg

2007-01-10T08:40:00.000-07:00

I have lots of picture to post, so it make take several posts. Here are some from Christmas (there are more, I just haven't uploaded them yet).

The first three were taken on the day of her first snow (of course being Midland it didn't stick).

Posing with the notorious Nigel.
Sleeping under the tree with her Baby's First Christmas ornament.

Rice Milk and Christmas Wear

2007-01-05T10:43:00.000-07:00

I know people actually check the blog for pictures of our baby doll, so I wil post some taken in the first half of December.

Smiling under the Chrstimas tree.
Eating her first food off of a spoon (rice cereal and milk). She really had a good time, as you can see.

Hanging out in one of her Christmas sleepers.

Two Years ago...

2007-01-05T10:02:00.000-07:00

...Staylee and I were exchanging vows (or actually getting ready to at this time) at Walt Disney World. Staylee woke up in a room with his friends and went for breakfast while I spent the night on my own in a hotel room and slept late until my mom, Beth, and Marty came to start getting ready. We had already rented a house in Lamesa where we planned to live with our sweet dog, Meg. Staylee was working part-time at Home Depot and trying to get work with Massage Therapy. I was working part-time at Midland College and considering going to graduate school for Counseling.

Today: Staylee left for work about six so he can leave early tonight to have family pictures made. Liliana and I slept a little past that and I tried to get her to eat breakfast. (She was much more interested in sleeping in--how do you explain to a three month old that Mom can't feed you again until lunchtime?) Staylee now works for Baker Hughes Centralift doing some sort of oil field work (I still can't grasp everything he does, but it is a lot). I work full-time for Midland College in the Technical Pool and am 3 hours, two exams, and a thesis away from my master's in English. We own our own home in Midland, about a mile from my parents. We unexpectedly had to say goodbye to Meg (and still get teary about it) and now have the wacky and unpredictable Charleigh and Perdita.

Everything is different than we planned. Our first few months of marriage were hard--Staylee was working nights so we literally would pass each other on the road driving to/from our respective jobs, I didn't get into the program at Tech (the whole reason we moved to Lamesa in the first place), we were very low on cash most months, Meg got killed...it wasn't anything like we had hoped. And then, one day at a time, things got a little better.

So here we are--married two years and now numbering three (or five if you count the fur babies, which we do). Has it been challenging? You bet. Has it been frustrating? At times. Has it
been amazing? Absolutely.

We have such big, exciting anniversary plans. We are both working all day and then I'm going home to give Lili a bath and get her (and myself) ready for family pictures. My baby girl is three months old today and getting cuter and more in interesting every day. I love her so much sometimes I can't stand it.

First Christmas

2007-01-03T15:41:00.000-07:00

We survived Liliana's first Christmas. Much of the two week vacation period was spent with Liliana being sick and thus confining us both to the house. But she had a good Christmas showered with gifts from grandparents, aunts and uncles, and of course, Santa. The big score was the baby swing Grandma bought her house--she loves it so much Great-Grandpa is buying us a second one for our house. She's also seriously addicted to the Baby Beach Band (a soft octopus drum with noisy toys inside) that Santa brought her. Christmas morning she sat and played with it for about an hour. As anyone who has tried to entertain a two month old baby will tell you, that is quite an achievement.

She is starting to outgrow her 0-3 month sized clothes. I take this as a sign that she is growing right on schedule. She no longer likes to be held with her tummy on your chest. Only when she's sleepy does she go for that. Otherwise, she wants to be turned out to see the world or be playing (the Baby Eintstein light up star never fails to amaze and delight). I try to give her plenty of tummy time, but sometimes she just screams like she's being killed. Liliana has also become a bit of a chatterbox. She coos and talks (very loudly--we think it is because she likes to talk to Perdi, our deaf dog) and is very kicky. We help her stand and she takes little steps (mostly we hold her and her little feet step and move her forward while we support her weight). A few weeks ago she decided she is ready to be mobile, so she creeps military style on her tummy a few inches before she gets frustrated. We have also accomplished rolling from back to side, side to back, side to front.

I have Christmas pictures that I will try and post in the next few days.

(Oh, and for anyone interested in things other than the baby--I pulled straight A's last semester despite giving birth to Lili. In fact, one of my professors (who also happens to be my thesis advisor) liked my final paper for her class so much she wants me to develop it into my thesis. So I have that, my master's exams, and one last class and I am done. Yay!)

Photo Angel

2006-12-11T09:26:00.000-07:00

I thought I would post the proofs from Liliana's first professional photo shoot.

Our little snow angel. These were actually the last pictures we took, so she was tired and ready to go home, thus they are not the most dynamic.

This is the one where she looks concerned for Nigel's safety.

All I Want For Christmas...

2006-12-08T15:57:00.000-07:00

We took our girls to meet Santa a few weeks ago when Midland College's Vet Tech program offered a chance for photos with pets and kids. Liliana actually slept through the whole thing, but Charleigh and Perdita had a great deal to tell Santa.
Here's what Staylee and I imagine to be on their Christmat lists:

Charleigh: Tennis balls, shrimptails, tennis balls, someone to throw tennis balls, tennis balls

Perdita: A bubble bath, chocolate, snuggles, a stuffed toy to destroy, grandma's fall-apart meat, more snuggles

So here are our babies.

Penguins, Pictures, and The Exorcist

2006-12-06T07:59:00.000-07:00

Liliana had her two month check up Monday. They gave her a variety of shots, which made both of us cry. Thankfully Mom was there to hold both of our hands. She currently weighs 10 pounds 12 ounces and is 23 1/2 inches long. On her bottom gum you can see where a tooth is going to come in. I couldn't believe it! Already? (That'll be a fun surprise for me at feeding time when it does come in.)

Dr. Reese also thinks that Liliana has reflux because she cries so much when you push on her tummy. We can start her on medication or try rice cereal. I opted for the cereal because it just seems so sad to start her on medication at two months. When I got home from work Monday night, she ate her first meal off of a spoon--she absolutely loved it! She would open her mouth really wide for every spoonful and then shove her fist in her mouth to "help it down." In between bites she was cooing and grinning and laughing up a storm. So cute! I have pictures I'll post soon.

Speaking of pictures, she had her first professional photo session last night. I got her all cleaned up and dressed in her Christmas dress. A little boutique Christmas store near our house was having Santa Claus so I thought I would take her for her picture there before Staylee got home and then we could go together to the professional session. I had just (and I mean just) finished buttoning up the back of the dress when she projectile vomitted all over me, her dress, the floor, and the changing table. It was like The Exorcist.

So I had a moment of panic and thought about rescheduling because we really wanted the pictures in her dress. Then mom instincts kicked in and I cleaned her up, rinsed out the dress and threw it in the dryer. Crisis averted.

(Something that amazes me about motherhood is the way your focus changes--I cleaned her up first, then the dress, then the changing table, then the floor. Like ten minutes later I remembered I had vomit on me too and should probably clean myself up before going in public.)

The first few pictures she was really cute. Then she started to get cranky, so the ones in her second outfit looked terrible. She was tired and just wanted to go home. But there is one of her smiling that is adorable and one of her looking at the camera that I love. She looks very serious (Staylee thinks she was concerned for the safety of Nigel, her penguin, who was hanging over the photographers head to get her attention), but sweet. I can't wait to get them back.

So at two months here is how her world stands:
Weight-10 pounds 12 ounces
Length-23 1/2 inches
Hair-Blond with redish brown highlights
Eyes-Dark blue
Favorite food-mom & rice cereal (it's a limited field)
Favorite toys-Nigel the penguin, Sally the musical panda, Molly McDuckie & Rupert Frog (hanging jingle toys), Piglet soft rattle, Baby Einstein Ocean Wonders To Go Bar
Favorite movies-Anything with music, especially Classical Baby Dance & Art Shows and Fantasia 2000
Favorite activities-Being held, snuggling with Mommy, Daddy, and Grandma, talking to her toys, going for walks in her stroller, shopping with Mommy and Grandma in her stroller, helping Mommy cook

And like me, it seems my daughter is a huge Christmas fan. She loves looking at the lights on trees and the deocrations in the mall. On Sunday I was doing some Christmas baking and put on a kids Christmas CD. She laughed and cooed when I danced for her. But the cutest was watching her sing and laugh and dance to "Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer." Good to know my child has a sense of humor.

Fall Holidays and more...

2006-11-30T08:35:00.000-07:00

Halloween: she was too little for a costume, so we put her in her Yoda onesie to help answer the door.

From the back.

Charleigh as Darth Vader.

Perdita as a busy bee.
During her first dance with Daddy to "What a Wonderful World/Somewhere Over the Rainbow" Hanging out in her froggie jammies on her froggie quilt.

Here she is all dressed up for Thanksgiving and asking her Daddy when she's going to eat.
After eating (milk for Liliana, pie and turkey for Daddy) they are full and happy.

Just hanging out in one of my current favorite outfits for her.

Proud Mommy

2006-11-30T08:27:00.000-07:00

I can't help it...I am a pround new mom. So I am going to bombard people with pictures of my girl. She'll be two months old on Tuesday--that's so crazy!

Her first bottle.

After her first bath.

First Photos

2006-11-22T07:35:00.000-07:00

Time does pass so quickly. Liliana is almost seven weeks old and preparing to celebrate her first Thanksgiving. She is growing and changing every day--little things, but things a mother notices. She's a little flirt and smiles and giggles all the time. No, she's not sleeping through the night yet. That's the first question everyone asks. This is also my first week back at work, so she is adjusting to being with Grandma and Grandpa during the day. We weren't sure Larry would handle the baby well (and he was a little grumpy about it), but I came home to find the pair of them cuddled up watching Westerns together.

Here are some photos my father-in-law took during Liliana's first hours and days. I have current photos, but I have to get them put on a disk before I can post them. So we are sort of moving backwards.

Mommy and Daddy the night before induction. I can't believe how huge I was!

Our first moments together as a family.
Liliana in her little crib in the hospital.

Spending some time with Daddy.

Getting ready to go home in her Humphrey's Corner Outfit. In her car seat getting ready to go home. She really hated it that first time, but now she loves it. On her first trip she went with Mommy and Grandma to Alpine and actually slept that night in her carrier because it made her feel more secure. Look how mad her little face is!

Liliana has arrived!

2006-10-27T16:38:00.000-06:00

As most people know, Liliana Kelly arrived on October 5 at 2:22 pm, 21 inches long and weighing 8 pounds 6 ounces. Nothing went as planned and I ended up having an emergency C-section, but everything turned out just fine. The past month has been hard (I'm so furstrated and exhausted by trying to heal and not being able to do everything I want to) and amazing. Our little girl is just beautiful and we are so blessed to have her. So here are some photos I've snapped in past two weeks. (Sorry some are sideways--I don't know how to rotate them!)

...

2006-10-02T08:00:00.000-06:00

Nope, not yet.

It's Today!

2006-09-28T10:47:00.000-06:00

...except not. We had a doctor's appointment first thing this morning and nothing is happening. In fact, I'm at the same place I was on Friday. So, we are set to be induced a week from today, October 5th. I was really hesitant about it because I really wanted to go into labor naturally, but the doctor said going much longer than that can be hard on the baby. I feel somewhat like I'm giving up and taking the cheaters way out by not going the distance and letting it happen naturally. I really hope it happens on its own before the induction date. I guess Liliana is just too comfy to be bothered with something as trivial as being born.

Now, when people aren't asking if I'm in labor, they are giving me advice as to ways to speed up labor. The big one is "Take a Walk--get up and move." Ummm...I am currently working 10 hour days, most of them up on my feet. I walk all over campus, should I enroll in a marathon? Another of my favorites is castor oil. As far as I can tell there is no connection between ingesting nasty castor oil and labor. I do, however, see a connection between that and me being deathly ill with a whole new set of issues. Nasty. I've got enough problems, thank you very much.

So everyone send me natural labor vibes and pray we have our little girl before this time next week.

Nursery Pictures, part two

2006-09-27T11:34:00.000-06:00

No, still no baby.

Here are some more nursery shots. This is the top drawer of the dresser: tiny socks, bibs, shoes, burp clothes and knickers (they all came with outfits from England, so that's what I like to call them).

Drawer number two filled with blankets from friends and family.

The bottom drawer at the moment has seasonal stuff and hats.

This is the top row of her closet: 0-3 months through 6-9 month sizes.

The butterfly puppet Godmother Marty sent her from New York.

A Room for Baby

2006-09-26T14:32:00.000-06:00

I was able to take some pictures of the nursery. The blog will only let me post 5 at a time, so here is the first set.

Here is the crib and bedding. Mom made the quilt, sheet, and bedskirt. I painted the letters and the Paddington painting in corner was painted for Staylee by his Granny Annie and is on loan to Liliana.

The window shade and valance Mom made. It's hard to see, but the valance has tiny frogs on it.

The wreath on the nursery door.

Grandma's rocker, and the memo board and lamp I made.

The dresser/ hutch with changing stuff.

Is it time yet? Part Two

2006-09-25T12:17:00.000-06:00

Nope, no baby. So all you folks calling and stopping by looking disappointed that I was at work today—suck it up. Babies come in their own time. Hounding Staylee and I will not make the baby come any faster. It will just serve to irritate me even more than the snowstorm of work that has hit my office has irritated me.

People keep giving me crap jobs to do that they think are the most important possible thing I could have to do. Then they get upset when I explain the first come, first serve policy. But I want an Umpa-Loompa NOW, Daddy! says they. Can it you nit! says I. I promise, the world will not go careening off into oblivion if you don’t have your copies RIGHT THIS VERY SECOND.

At the doctor on Friday there was really nothing going on. No real dilation or engagement. I go back on my due date and if nothing has happened by then, we’ll induce around October 5th. So there all you need-to-knowers, there is a date you can mark on your calendar.

I survived my very uncomfortable trip to Alpine this past weekend, even though I really didn’t want to go. I have decided transcendentalists needed to shut up and stop trying to transcend their own existence and start trying to transcend their very dull habit of talking a point to death. That means you Thoreau and Emerson. And Fuller, don’t think you’re off the hook just because you’re a woman—you’re just as guilty as the other two. Unfortunately, my professor has a long standing love affair with good old Henry David, so I keep my eye rolling and less than flattering opinions to myself.

Is it time?

2006-09-18T10:30:00.000-06:00

This question has been echoing through my office nonstop. People are calling us wanting to know if it’s time yet. So here is my answer to all of that—NO, it is not that time. We saw Dr. Locke on Friday and after an exam he told us that nothing is happening. I’m not dilated, I’m not engaged—nothing. The baby is still a ways off. And while this may not be the news the antsy people want, it’s good for us. We still have to finish cleaning our house and I have several big projects at work that I would like to complete before leaving.

This weekend I have class in Alpine again and even thought I really don’t want to go, if there’s nothing going on with the baby still, Mom and I are off to the Big Bend. I have to say I am not looking forward to another weekend of tedious Thoreau chat with the trite, annoying people in my class. Sigh. Now, I know Dr. Locke would probably tell me not to go, but lots of people come up from Alpine to have their babies in Midland. The key is we are not going to ask him. Then he can’t say no and we aren’t going against doctor’s orders. However, if there are any signs of change, I’ve already turned in my work for this weekend and I would be more than happy to stay put.

Friday the girls in my division (and my mom) threw me a surprise shower (although I already sort of knew about it). People were very generous and we got a lot of cute gifts, as well as a gift card and money tree. With the gift card we were able to buy our high chair, a gate for the stairs, a diaper pail, the Boppy feeding pillow I wanted, and several childproofing things (plus we got a free umbrella stroller with our purchase!). I felt weird spending so much money at once, but it was stuff we needed.

I am happy to report that it is a beautiful fall day in West Texas: it’s breezy and cool without being windy and overcast. The temperature is perfect. Finally.

That's Perfectly Normal

2006-09-13T08:27:00.000-06:00

Pregnancy is just weird. There is no way around it. Strange things happen that your doctor can only explain with, “That’s perfectly normal.” I have said on more than one occasion I think I could tell Dr. Locke my head’s come off and he would reply, “That’s perfectly normal.”

Some of the things I’ve experienced I have found to be typical in other preggers. However, here are a few “quirks” that seem to be more specialized to me.

Nose bleeds—When I was little I used to get them all the time, but I hadn’t had them in years. And then one morning a few weeks ago, BAM, blood gusher. I’ve had about three now and they are like May Florida rainstorms: they go as quickly as they came.

Carpel Tunnel—Or at least that’s what my doctor says it is. My hands hurt like crazy, especially at night. What’s really weird is that my ring finger on my left hand gets these excruciating cramps in the top joint that wake me up at night.

Bad Vision—So my distance vision has been a little blurry for most of my adult life. Since becoming pregnant, I swear it has gotten worse. My glasses, once reserved for movies and night driving, are a must have for shopping or anything with florescent lights. I remember just walking into Wal-Mart one day and not being able to see anything on the shelves. I decided to put off getting new glasses, because what if my eyes go back to normal after the baby is born.

In other news, well...there really isn’t any BIG news. The baby hasn’t dropped (although she may not until I’m in labor—that’s perfectly normal) and I’m not having contractions. Certainly, there is the random shooting pain, but they are isolated and never more than one. I’m trying to keep upbeat, but I know my crankiness seeps through. I’m so tired and my back and feet are painful.

A guy at work bought me some slippers to wear around my office because I was spending so much time barefoot. I see now where the phrase “barefoot and pregnant” comes from. I always thought it was some sexist thing (and to some it is), but in truth, all those pregnant women are barefoot because none of their shoes fit anymore. I find myself gazing forlornly into my closet at my beautiful shoe collection, fantasizing about the day my lovelies can come out to play once again. I have been warned that my feet may never go back to normal. This notion is too horrible for me to process, so I refuse to believe it can really happen.

2006-09-07T08:54:00.000-06:00

Here are some random pictures of the puppies, Staylee's birthday, and my one belly picture.

This was taken on July 28th, I think. So I'm about 8 months along here. Mom and I are on our way to her student's wedding.

Charleigh waiting for Daddy to come home on his birthday. She thinks the time would go faster if I would throw her rope.
The girls waiting on the stairs to surprise Daddy.
Perdita is ready to party. She'll wear a hat if there's a chance she'll get cake later.
Happy Birthday Daddy! (Notice how sad Perdita looks--she is wanting less pictures and more Pirates of the Caribbean cookie cake. Charleigh is wanting less pictures and more rope throwing.)

Tick Tock

2006-09-06T11:38:00.000-06:00

The clock is ticking away...as of tomorrow we are three weeks from our due date. I am amused that people seem to be in a rush...everyone keeps asking me if I think it’s going to be any day now. No, I don’t. Although Dr. Locke confirmed that she has turned (which I had figured out by the abundance of kicking at the top rather than the side of my belly), she hasn’t dropped at all. People keep telling me how anxious I might be, but really, I think Liliana and I are quite fine waiting a few more weeks. We’ve got stuff to do.

Liliana is busy making brain cells and finishing up development on her lungs, so I know she’s pretty booked right now. As for me, I’m trying to find a work study, get all my work in order for my classes at Sul Ross, formulate a descent Arthurian Literature research paper that can be developed into a killer thesis, get our house into some sort of discernable order, train my beloved assistant T.J. to do all the mundane crap I forget I do on a daily basis, and keep up with the new episodes of House and Project Runway. We’re busy girls!

This Friday I start my weekly visits to the doctor, although they are not going to check for dilation until next week. Dr. Locke doesn’t seem to be in a huge hurry to get this baby born either.

Our other babies, Charleigh and Perdita, seem mystified by the whole idea of the nursery. They like to go in the room, but they don’t seem to understand why they aren’t allowed to wreck their usual havoc on the place. Perdi likes to snuggle her big old head on my big old belly, while Mom’s dog Cora finds it very offensive that I have gotten too fat to let her on my lap. Keep in mind Cora weighs 57 pounds and really isn’t a lap dog, but you try arguing with an evil genius Collie.

I am worried how Perdi will react to the baby, as something else taking my attention away from her. Perdi is very much my big baby (60 pounds) and panics if she can’t find me. She gets so jealous if I pet another dog, even Charleigh and heaven forbid I should try to go to the bathroom by myself. So if anyone reading this (and living in or visiting the Midland area) would like to really help me out, when you come to see the baby, make sure to give the big white deaf dog lots of attention, too. She’s very sweet and likes bubble baths, chocolate, petting, and snuggles. She’s not too crazy about seafood, midgets, and motorcyclists who don’t wear helmets.

Six Weeks To Go...

2006-08-08T13:08:00.000-06:00

...and it feels like an eternity. I feel huge (although everyone tells me I’m not) and the Texas heat is definitely not helping. My feet are swollen most of the time, so I live in flip-flops, when I’m not sneaking off my shoes under the desk. Backaches are now part of my nightly routine and poor Staylee has to deal with me flip-flopping like a Salmon trying to get comfortable. But I know it could be much worse, so I try not to complain too much.

People are constantly asking me when I’m due. My current favorite response is, “I’m not pregnant.” The look of sheer terror on their faces is hilarious. Then I give them I break and tell them I’m kidding. We finally managed to take some pictures of me, which I will try to get developed and post, although I think I look like a toad—everyone else thinks I look good. So far I’ve only gained 18 pounds, which is really good according to my doctor. I refuse to be weighed, but he says lots of people put on 40+ pounds with their first pregnancy—good grief! I already waddle; I can’t imagine carrying another 20 or 30 pounds.

The nursery is coming along very well. Almost everything is done and ready for its new inhabitant. I have to say at the moment it is my favorite room in the house—it’s so cheery! Although I know there will come a day, at 3 in the morning, when I can’t get her to stop crying, that I will not have the same rosy feeling I have now.

We started childbirth classes two weeks ago. Some of it is really interesting, although Staylee and I don’t really agree with some of the stuff our teacher talks about. She seems to assume that everyone is having an epidural and told our class there are no side effects to medication. Okay, I’m not a doctor, but I know that any medication you give the mother goes straight to the baby and has SOME EFFECT, good or bad. She also implies that episiotomies are the best thing for every birth when my doctor and I both agree that that is not true. So we shall see how the rest of the classes go.

Two down, One to go

2006-07-10T12:04:00.000-06:00

And so with scorching hot temperatures and little ado, Lilliana and I begin the third trimester. I now go to the doctor every two weeks. Last week, Grandpa took me so I could have my glucose and anemia tests. The glucose was not a problem, but I am heavily anemic, so they put me on prescription iron pills. The nurse actually said, “If you can stand the samples, we’ll write you a prescription.” Yikes. Turns out they aren’t bad. I’ve had a bit of headache, but otherwise nothing too terrible.

On the craving front, I constantly want peaches, Schlotzsky’s Mediterranean pizza, and hummus. I could live on those three staples and be quite happy. My feet and ankles are a little swollen, but nothing to worry about.

Lilliana is moving around like crazy. When they gave me the glucose test I had to drink this stuff that was basically pure sugar. It was like the baby was on a sugar high for the next hour. My stomach looked like an earthquake shaking and rolling. She is also fond of bouncing up and down on my bladder like one of those inflatable castles. TJ, my assistant, finds it funny that I’m fine one minute and the next I’m like, “I have to go to the bathroom...NOW.”

Leaps and bounds are being made with the nursery thanks to Mom’s tireless dedication. She has made the most beautiful sheets, dust ruffle, and other nursery things. The walls are a pale buttery yellow and the furniture is cherry. I have even made a nightlight and lamp to match the froggies. Sometimes I just like to sit in there, in Grandma’s old rocking chair and enjoy what a happy room it is shaping up to be.

Sugar and Spice

2006-06-19T07:21:00.000-06:00

Although the news has spread quickly for the most part, I figured I’d post the official announcement that the A Team is expecting a girl in September. The doctor confirmed that it is indeed a Miss Baby A and we couldn’t be happier. Staylee was making up songs about having a daughter and is so excited about his little princess-to-be. We have decided to name her Liliana Kelly. I almost feel a little bad about it—with a baby girl, me, and two female dogs, Staylee is definitely outnumbered. But he seems thrilled about it.

In other news, the baby and I are both doing fine. I feel her moving all the time, although Staylee hasn’t been able to feel it from the outside yet. The biggest thing is the heat, which makes me tired and cranky. Temperatures having been hitting 106 in our lovely little desert and some days I just stand in my office in front of the fan. I’m having some cramping in my back and legs, but that is supposed to be normal.

Mom is busy making nursery fixings—sheets, curtains, quilts, and other baby decor. We’re doing the nursery in a sort of rose pink with hot pink dots, and little green and yellow froggies. It sounds weird, but it is actually really cute. I am constantly amazed at the mad skills my mother possesses.

We do have pictures from the sonogram, but I feel that pictures of my daughter’s bathing suit area are not really meant to be displayed on the internet.

Flutters and Food

2006-05-18T15:42:00.000-06:00

Starting last Friday afternoon I began feeling the baby move. Everyone had told me it would feel like a butterfly, but in truth it felt like a thumb pushing on the inside of my stomach. It’s weird, but good and the baby really likes to get going when I’m going to sleep. Last night it felt like it was jumping rope. Pregnancy cravings are of fascination to many folks, so I figured I’d share mine. I don’t really have cravings, but there are some foods that taste so good now—I can’t stand it. So here is my top ten food list for the first half of my pregnancy.

1. Aunt Nellie’s Pickled Beets—Only available at HEB these are incredible even when you aren’t pregnant. But are more likely to eat an entire jar in one sitting if you are.

2. Crab Legs—I have had these twice now at Joe’s Crab shack and they were so good. Mom has compared watching me eat them to Daryl Hannah eating an entire lobster in Splash. I’m hoping to try some at Red Lobster this weekend.

3. Watermelon—Love the fresh stuff now that it is in season. I’m also a fan of the sour watermelon gummy candy.

4. Milk—Love it. Drink it all the time, sometimes straight out of the carton.

5. Kid's Meal from McDonald’s—Sometimes I get the cheeseburger, sometimes nuggets, but always apples with caramel sauce instead of fries and milk.

6. Cottage Cheese—One of my favorite things to eat for dinner because it doesn’t keep me up all night.

7. Papa John’s Cheese, Mushroom, and Pineapple Pizza—Love it, although I can’t as much of it as I would want.

8. Minestrone Soup—Especially the stuff from Olive Garden.

9. Cheddar Cheese & Sour Cream Ruffles—My sneaky midday snack if I forget my healthy yogurt or fruit snack.

10. Macaroni & Cheese—Good old-fashioned Kraft with an extra sprinkling of shredded cheese.

The only weird things I’ve eaten are an omelet (I hate eggs as a rule, but I really wanted it) and when I accidentally dipped my McNugget into Caramel—not bad, actually.

More Pictures

2006-05-12T10:25:00.000-06:00

These are the pictures we got from today's appointment. We also got a DVD with all the movement that we get to keep adding to. To tell the truth, I wasn't exactly sure what we were looking at sometimes, but other times I could make it out once the doctor told me. And I had no trouble with the head, hand and foot.

First picture: No clue--maybe Mom and Staylee can figure it out.
Second picutre: You can make out the tiny foot and leg bone (that sort of hammer shaped thing).
Third picture: The skull structure of the face--it may look a little creepy, but you can make out the eye sockets and front of the skull.
Fourth picture: The lips and the nose--I have trouble making this one out too, but the doctor saw it and I know he knows his stuff.

It's a...

2006-05-12T10:17:00.000-06:00

...stubborn baby! That's right, we are still in the dark as to the gender of baby A because it chose to keep its legs crossed and together today. Staylee tried talking to it, commanding it, begging it, grounding it until it's born, but nothing. Dr. Locke actually jostled it with the sonogram tool--hitting my stomach a couple of time and it just tucked up further.They will make another attempt next month to sneak a look at it--but knowing how stubborn both its parents are, I'm not getting my hopes up.

Aside from that, the appointment went very well. We got to see the heart and other organs which are all in good shape. We also saw the head, a little foot, the face, and the left hand. It was waving at us, its little hand opening and closing, as if to say, "Hi Mama, Daddy, and Grandma--I know something you don't know!" The blood tests came back just fine so aside from the disappointment of the baby telling us "NO!" when we wanted to know the gender, the baby is in really good shape. And that, to me, is the best news we could have gotten.

The Naming of Babies

2006-05-08T17:34:00.000-06:00

What’s in a name? Many things, as it turns out, even if you aren’t in the midst of the Bard’s most famous tragedy. Staylee and I have been discussing names for it seems like years now (it hasn’t really been that long, it just feels like it). We went through an entire list when we discussed getting a dog and decided on one we liked—and then actually got the puppy and picked something completely different.

It is amazing to me that two people are in love and agree on most of the big questions in life can have such a hard time deciding on a baby name. We’ve both had our share of stinkers we’ve suggested: Mine was Tallulah (I was thinking of Tallulah Bankhead, not really processing that our child would have to answer “Here!” to that name—all the while hiding her head in shame); Staylee’s was Saul (To which I said, “Are we having an 87-year-old Jewish man?”). We’ve both had to give up names we loved because one of us either dated them (Audrey) or we know and/or related to too many of them already (William—4 and counting, although that’s only counting the ones still alive).

We have a girl name we both love. In fact, everyone loves it. It’s unique, but not weird, and everyone who hears it thinks it’s fantastic. Then there are the boy names. At the moment we both have a favorite name that the other one doesn’t hate, but doesn’t love as much as their pick. So what do we do? Use one as a middle name, but the question is which one? I have a feeling whichever way we go we will each end up calling the baby by the name we prefer. Poor kid.

Of course, this is all a moot point if it’s a girl—which we find out Friday, for those keeping track. Then the battle either heats up or is stored away for another time, another baby.

Everything Is Waiting

2006-04-20T15:34:00.000-06:00

After an epic wait to see the doctor yesterday, I had a five minute check up. The baby’s heartbeat is really loud and strong at 144 beats per minute. Now old wives tales might say this indicates the baby’s gender, but not so much. A woman my mom works with was convinced she was having a granddaughter because the heartbeat was 165 and all her grandsons had been less than 140. Well, surprise, surprise, her grandchild is a big old boy. So there goes that theory.

I told the nurse I don’t want to know my weight unless I’m gaining too much and it’s a reason for concern. Turns out I’ve lost weight. Thank you, baby A!

Other than that we did a blood test that will tell us if the baby has Down Syndrome or some other birth defect. Some people say they don’t want to know because they will love the baby regardless. Well, that’s true of me too. I will love our baby regardless. But if we are going to have some challenges with baby A, I would like to know so I can start preparing and researching ways to make its life better. Will we need a specialized pediatrician? Where are good private schools that might help the child flourish rather than just survive in the pitiful special education classes Midland offers? I want our baby to have the best life possible and if that life is going to be a little different from other babies, I’d like to get a jump on doing everything I can to make it wonderful.

Oh, and for those who are climbing the walls to know what the baby’s gender is, we will find out on May 12th. I actually am not that anxious to find out what it is because I have two major classes to finish before that time and really those are praying more on my mind. It’s not like baby A is a fruit fly—once we know the gender its not going anywhere. We’ll still have plenty of time to get excited about it. Pulling a 4.0 for the semester is definitely my priority.

The Great Pediatrician Drama

2006-04-13T13:39:00.000-06:00

I have read stories where people have registered their babies for preschool before they were actually born. In these stories these things happen in far off places like Manhattan. Little did I know in my rookie state that things move almost as fast here in little old Midland.

Take the recent events that unfolded involving getting a pediatrician. At my first doctor’s appointment they gave me a list of pediatricians and told me I needed to have one before I was seven months along. Naïve little me, I just tucked the thought in the back of my head and went on my way. You see, I was under the impression that our general practitioner, Dr. Best, could just handle all that. He’s a fantastic doctor, so good in fact, that his practice has been closed to new patients for the past 5 years. You either have to marry into or be born into a family that already sees him. Lucky Staylee and Baby A.

So I had Mom ask him if he could handle the baby and if not, could he give us some recommendations? He explained that he doesn’t have the shots necessary to take care of babies, but gave her two names he recommended, one of which was his kids’ pediatrician, Dr. Reese. Mom gave me the information and I figured I would call sometime this summer when things are further along to set it up.

Stupid Amber! About a week later Mom and I were chatting with Donna, who works at the college and whose daughter is due a month before me. Donna mentioned that her daughter had gotten the last appointment Dr. Reese had for August: otherwise she would have had to go on a waiting list. Mom and I were both surprised that someone would call this far out, but decided perhaps I better give Dr. Reese a call.

The secretary was kind enough not to laugh at me when I told her I needed a pediatrician and was due at the end of September. She sweetly informed me that Dr. Reese had no new openings in September. I told her that I figure the baby will be born in October and wondered if maybe there was an opening them. Nope. Dr. Reese only takes 5 new patients a month and she is booked through December. (This means, my mother later pointed out, that girls are basically crawling out of the backseat and calling a pediatrician, then taking the pregnancy test.)

The secretary suggested I go to the Midland Pediatric Association because they usually had lots of openings—not the best selling point. It sounded like a breath away from the free clinic. I’m sorry, I know that is fine for some people, but I have really good insurance so that our baby can go to a good doctor.

Well, for something I hadn’t really cared about 24 hours before, I was now really upset. I know there are other pediatricians, but perhaps it is the whole “the harder to get the better to have” thing. Mom suggested I let Dr. Best give it a try. I have to say I was doubtful. I crashed Mom’s appointment two days later to explain my Dr. Reese rejection. Dr. Best thought it was crazy that people were booking so early, but he said he would see what he could do.

Two days passed and I didn’t hear anything. I assumed Dr. Best forgot. It didn’t help that I ran into a high school friend whose new baby goes to Dr. Reese and she just raved.

Then Tuesday morning I got a call from Dr. Best’s nurse. She had called Dr. Reese’s office and told them Dr. Best was referring me. They just needed me to call in and give them the vital information. I couldn’t believe it! I called right then and they acted like it was no big deal: they just needed some personal information to start my file and to tell me to come by before the baby is born to sign the paperwork.

The moral of this story is: people get their pediatricians way too early and Dr. Best ROCKS!

The train

2006-03-22T15:58:00.000-07:00

I had my second doctor's appointment today, although it was much less dramatic than the first one. We were able to hear the baby's heartbeat easily--it sounds like a tiny train. Dr. Locke had to keep moving the machine because apparently Baby Anderson is a bouncy little thing, constantly in motion. Staylee believes it has already adapted his habit of pacing. I like to think of it as a tiny pinball, gleefully bouncing off of its surroundings.

For the most part I am in good shape. Dr. Locke says I am dehydrated, so I have to up my water intake. All in all the appointment was over very quickly and apparently this is how most of my appointments will be. We will find out the baby's gender at the end of May (for those of you who have asked). I know some women claim to "know" what they are carrying--but I have no clue. Of course, I wouldn't know what it would feel like either way, would I? So we will just have to wait and see.

Cravings and other weirdness

2006-03-21T12:02:00.000-07:00

There are some strange misconceptions about pregnant women and cravings. Some of them seem to be part of the culture (ie. pickles) and others just assumptions people make. And most of them are not true.

For one thing, no two pregnant women crave the same things. I haven't had any cravings for pickles and ice cream doesn't appeal to me at all. Another thing about cravings, or at least mine, is that they are not stagnant. I may crave something one day, but once I have it I'm pretty much over it.

As for my own personal weird eating habits, I think they are pretty tame. I like to eat saltine crackers with mild salsa, but I have always liked that. I sat and ate a jar of pickled beets the other day, about 12 in all, so I guess that is pretty weird.

I think the thing that struck me as being the strangest was that I had to buy all new lotions. My mother-in-law bought me all these dessert scented lotions for Christmas that I can no longer use. I had been using Creme Brule, but one day the smell hit me and I wanted Creme Brule so badly--it was all I could think about. Of course, Midland is not exactly the place to find Creme Brule, so that made that craving particularly difficult. I finally managed to get some this past weekend and I don't want it anymore, although should I use the lotion again, who knows. I'll stick to Cherry Blossom, Gardenia, and Peony for the time being.

The only thing I really crave continuously is milk. I love it--ice cold in my San Diego zoo Panda glass. It's so good. It also helps with indigestion, something I have grappled with in the late hours. I am also craving fruit (watermelon especially) and salad.

I think one of the biggest changes has been my super sensitive sense of smell. I have never had a good sense of smell so this is an interesting change. I have nose to rival my beloved Perdita. This can be good, but with more aversions than cravings it can also make me sick when I have to inhale unpleasant smells (a man on the plane last week smelled of refried beans and I thought I was going to be sick). Shopping for fruit is really fun because for the first time I can pick out all those smells you are supposed to check for to determine quality. Strawberries, peaches, and nectarines smell the best.

My hormones have apparently kicked in because my emotions have become more erratic than ever. I can cry for an hour about absolutely nothing. Most days it feels like people are doing things just for the sole purpose of annoying me. And my internal censor seems to have broken down--I can hear myself being a bitch and I just can't stop it. Mostly I just want people to leave me alone because there is a good chance that completely unintentionally they are going to say something to irritate me. Rationality and pregnancy are indeed strange bedfellows.

Imelda Marcos was a baby once

2006-03-02T07:58:00.000-07:00

In my wildest dreams I never imagined the amount of crap there is available for babies. It truly is staggering. I mean, there are hundreds of different kinds of bottles, pacifiers, wipes, diapers--it boggles the mind. Baby Einstein makes two play gyms, one basic and one aquarium model. For ten dollars more your baby can experience sea creatures and a squishy mat. Does this mean your baby will be smarter? Or will be afraid of water if you go with the plain one? Who knows?

I think the thing that really gets me about baby stuff if baby clothes. Most of it is so pointless. I have known babies that had closets full of clothes and shoes before they were even born. Now I understand it is human impulse to buy tiny clothes because admittedly they are very cute (well, some of them) but logic dictates this is generally a waste of money. It would make much more sense to me to buy a few onsies and sleepers in assorted sizes to prepare for the baby and leave it at that.

First of all, babies are born all different sizes. So all those cute little outfits in size newborn or 0-3 months may not even fit baby when it's born or baby will grow out of them in like a week. Second, unless your baby is a Brangelina offspring, there isn't a good chance it's going to be photographed in public that often. More likely those pictures will be little candid photos that you won't have time to dress the baby in cute outfits for. It also blows my mind that people still make baby clothes without snaps. Why would you put your baby in something that will require you to completely undress them every time you need to change them?

But even more inane to me then buying tons of baby clothes just because they are cute are buying shoes for a baby. Any kind of shoes. Most babies hate shoes and it has been proven that it is better for your baby to learn to walk barefoot. I think a collection of cheap socks that can be lost is much more valuable than a pair of tiny Nike that will most likely get lost the first time they are worn and the baby tosses them off.

Granted this is my first baby, but it would seem to me that there are so many other things a baby could use like diapers, a high chair, a play yard, a car seat, a savings bond that would really help them get a good start as opposed to some overalls with a duck on them.

It's Alive!

2006-02-23T07:44:00.000-07:00

We had our first prenatal visit yesterday and found out that Baby Anderson is doing just fine. We tried to hear the heartbeat, but it was very hard to hear, so we did an ultrasound and got our first glimpse at our little bean. Everything looks good, although Dr. Locke changed our due to date to September 28th. Mom had a lovely time saying I told you so because she has believed all along the baby would be born the first week of October. They gave us tons of free stuff and all these papers we have to study and fill out dealing with the actual birth of our child. Without further ado, here is our bean's first picture.

2006-02-23T07:41:00.000-07:00

First Photo

Pregnant or Just Fat and Lazy?

2006-02-21T07:29:00.000-07:00

This is a question I have been asking myself quite a bit lately. I'm at a weird place right now--I have no morning sickness and lack other traditional signs. Sure, my waist is getting thick and my clothes are snug: I actually put on one of my favorite skirts the other day and noticed a distinctive pooch. I have to drape myself in shapeless skirts and baggy sweaters. But other than that, some mild cravings and aversions, and feeling like I've just run a 50 mile marathon, I have no signs.

I think the worst thing is that I can't feel the baby yet. I have no idea if it is okay. I am terrified that the baby is dead or something is wrong or I'm just not pregnant and it was all a misunderstanding. Maybe I'm not growing a new life; maybe I'm just fat and lazy. And maybe those aversions and cravings are all in my head.

Of course, everyone I tell this theory to laughs and Staylee doesn't like it when I mention the words "dead" and "baby" in the same sentence. (This from the man who used to like to tell dead baby jokes.)

Tomorrow Staylee and I attend our first doctor's appointment. I have read that sometimes they won't check for the heartbeat but I plan on begging and pleading (there maybe tears) to please let me listen to its heartbeat. I need to know the baby is alive. That I haven't inadvertently killed it, gotten it knocked out by flying puppy paws or tricked a blood test into believing water weight is a baby.

The Dentist, Broccoli, and Other Issues

2006-02-03T13:27:00.000-07:00

It has been an incredibly long week. Last weekend I had my first graduate class of the semester and had to bashfully tell my teacher that I was pregnant and therefore could not wait two hours to take a bathroom break. She was very understanding about it, although it ended up opening a class discussion of weird cravings. I think the worst I heard was a woman who used to sprinkle Kool-Aid mix on dill pickles. That is too disgusting.

Beginning with lunch on Saturday I began having very strong cravings for pickled okra. Man, I felt like I could have eaten a vat of the stuff. I'm still craving it right now, actually. I'm going to have to get someone to take me somewhere with a salad bar so I can eat that and pickled beets.

Wednesday I made a trip to the dentist. I have heard that many woman have serious teeth problems resulting from pregnancy. I have never even had a cavity, so of course I am terrified that the baby is going to claim my teeth as the price of a healthy pregnancy. It turned out my hygienist was 7 months pregnant, so we chatted about various things early in pregnancy. She told me, to my extreme relief, that my teeth are in good shape and as long as I keep brushing (and remember to floss) things should be fine.

This was also a very frustrating week in that Tuesday afternoon Grandpa was checked into the hospital. Initially, we knew very little about why and Mom and I totally panicked. She was at work, so she couldn't go to see him and everyone voted that it was best for me to stay away from the hospital because of the baby. Luckily, Staylee went to see him and we found out it was just anemia and he needed a transfusion and some rest. He came home last night, looking and feeling much better. I was so glad Staylee went to see him. My mom was so grateful that she has such a loving, caring son-in-law.

I have another thing to add to the list of food aversions, although until now it was just yellow mustard. I now know I dislike the smell of cooked broccoli. Mom and Larry ordered some at dinner last night and the smell made me want to throw up. It was just disgusting.

I bought my first baby clothes this week. Toys R Us was having a clearance sale of all their winter baby stuff and so I bought some Christmas and other things (gender neutral, of course). Always the bargain hunter, I got three sleepers, two pairs of socks, two bibs, and two hats for under $20. Not too bad, in my humble opinion.

Lunching with a Pregnant Girl

2006-01-27T15:26:00.000-07:00

Today was a wonderful dining experience that really exemplifies everything in my life right now. My grandfather, Mom, and Larry took me to Outlaw Deli, which continues to be one of my favorite places to eat, despite negative reviews from my co-workers. I ordered my usual, half a turkey sandwich and a bowl of broccoli-cheese soup (it should be noted that this is my second broccoli-cheese soup consumption in less than 24 hours).

While the other members of my family were at the counter ordering, I loaded up the typical bowl of complimentary pickles and banana peppers I usually get for the table to share. But the cranky pregnant girl couldn't wait and before my family had even gotten their drinks I had already finished the pickles and peppers. I then decided that what sounded like the best thing in the entire world was an entire bowl of banana peppers, which I proceeded to scarf down before any one else arrived at the table, despite the tears in my eyes from consuming that many peppers.

If that wasn't enough, when the food arrived I ate at lightening speed (secretly so I would stop burping up pepper taste). My family took their time finished their meals, but as soon as I finished mine I promptly fell asleep. People were talking to me and my eyes shut and the next thing I knew I was almost falling into my empty soup bowl. I have become the picture of class--who wouldn't want to lunch with a pepper chugging girl who belches and then falls asleep?

The Call of Spaghetti

2006-01-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

These first few days have been strange. I thought it would take a while to feel any symptoms, but they are already present and accounted for. Still no morning sickness (my mom didn't have any either--yay genetics!).

I believe (and I have to guess here since I've never been pregnant before) that my cravings have begun. Starting last Thursday night and lasting through Saturday night I have been craving spaghetti. I mean, to the point that I almost burst into the tears when Larry had already eaten and wouldn't take me to Fizoli's. Luckily, they have a drive thru and twenty happy minutes later, I was sitting at home eating a huge bowl of pasta. YUM!

Friday night saw me dragging my family to Johnny Carino's for more spaghetti. Two things I learned: the minestrone soup at Johnny Carino's is brown for no good reason and the spaghetti is not at good as Fizoli's.

Saturday night Staylee took his Italian craving wife to Olive Garden. In this case, spaghetti was forgotten when I saw a picture of melted cheese stuff with bread for dipping and the appetizer sampler, including the yummiest calamari. I guess Staylee noticed that I was sneaking all the fried squid, which we were supposed to be sharing, because he backed off. Smart man. I was prepared to fight him for it.

The only aversion I have at the moment is mustard. Plain yellow French's mustard. Gross. I just saw a jar of it at my grandfather's and thought I was going to be ill. I usually love mustard, but yuck now.

The biggest sign that continues is that I am so tired I could die. At about 7 o'clock I start to lose my wind and by 9 it's about coma time for me. I've read all these websites that tell me what is going on with baby this week (6 weeks) and apparently that is a busy little blob. About the size of a pepper corn, its brain is developing, along with the limbs. No wonder I feel like the walking dead.

First Thoughts

2006-01-19T13:29:00.000-07:00

Finding out you are pregnant is a surreal experience to say the least. I had blood taken yesterday afternoon and an hour later they called me to tell me the results. Of course, when she told me to results, my cell phone cut out so all I heard was "Your test was ---tive." My test was what? Positive!

I screamed "Oh My God!" and almost burst into tears. I called Staylee (who was already at work) and told him he had to meet me at the house at 5. Of course, he thought something was wrong, but I assured him it wasn't.

After work I pulled up to the house and Staylee pulled up right behind me. I went in and got a present for him out of the guest closet and told him to open it. He looked at me like I was nuts (and I was a little), but opened it. Inside was a little white bib with rainbow letters that said, "I Love My Daddy." He looked up at me completely bewildered and I said, "We're pregnant." Staylee started laughing like crazy and hugging me and kissing me over and over.

Although we have a told a very few people, it still doesn't feel real. I was thinking I had imagined it all when I got a call from my doctor to tell me what the insurance was going to cover. Crazy.

I am actually feeling good--no morning sickness, although I am dead tired and have to pee about every ten minutes. I'm excited and nervous to see what comes next!