Juliet in a Basket

Juliet is on facebook, on cloud 9 studios site. This photo appears on their facebook page, thanks Lashina and Medgyn for letting us know her photo is up for all to see!

First days with Juliet

I'd like to dedicate this blog entry to Grandma Gloria! You've been such a help coming over and simply holding and loving Juliet! It's allowed Marc and I a few hours to run around and get things done! It's amazing how much planning goes into a simple trip to Target now. Marc and I are finally adapting to our new lives with Juliet. She is a great baby and loves to Eat, pass gas, poop and be held! No holding back, this girl burbs like a champ and makes Marc laugh hysterically each time she makes a gasous noise!

As you know Juliet is now 2 weeks old but I thought I'd take you back to her first few hours and days in the hospital. She sure was a lot bigger than we expected at 8 lbs, 12oz (by the way Marc, who is your weight guessing winner?)

Overall labor and delivery was not bad at all. I succeeded and met my goal of no drugs! Thanks to Michelle and the Bradley Method I learned how to relax and breathe through the contractions. I know it sounds unrealistic but it worked for me! I was also lucky with no back labor! And check out this head of hair! It's so long we can think about a ponytail in the near future! Ok, now I understand why I lived on Tums during those last new months!

So, our biggest challenge was feeding. It took nearly 24 hours for her to feed from a bottle and forget about breast feeding. It wasn't until day 11....we didn't give up and after a wonderful visit with a lactation consultant we began breast feeding (SOOO much better than pumping constantly AND supplementing with formula). I'd have to say the first week home with Juliet was one of most challenging things for me. I don't do well with little sleep as it is, now add strapping myself to a pump every 2 hours AND trying to feed, diaper and shhhh her alseep. All I have to say is THANK GOD for my WONDERFULLY AMAZING NEW DADDY Husband, Marc! Baby I couldn't have done it without you.

This picture is dedicated to my mom, Grandma Carol. She made Juliet's coming home outfit. A white sweater, booties, hat and beautiful blanket. Juliet sure does love her blankets and she's got quite a few special one's made by friends and family. Each one used is special ways whether it's in her car seat, swing, while feeding, on a walk to block the sun or hanging up on display in her nursary.....thank you to all for the thoughtful blankets!

So the girls have met Juliet and let me say that Ginger is definately a "mommy dog". She follows Juliet everywhere we take her and constantly checks on her when sleeping. Well, today is another day and adventure....off to baby land!

Jenny

Juliet in the Sling

Here is Juliet in her sling. She is 2 weeks old today! Mommy and Daddy are starting to get into a routine.  We have been enjoying some time on the back patio by the pool w/ baby Juliet, and can't wait until she (and Mommy) can go in the pool with me.  So far, the pool is about 77 degrees, and I am sure that it needs to warm up a bit more before she will be able to go in.  Next time we go Juliet's doctor, we are going to see how old she needs to be before she can go in the pool.  Can't wait.

Thanks again for all of you that have been helping us along the way to get through this (dinners, baby sitting, cleaning, guidance, etc) we would not have made it this far without you.

Also, a special CONGRADULATIONS to my grandparents, "Mem and Pep", on their 60th wedding anniversary last week!

Home Sweet Home

We are all home, safe and sound!

Update, no news

No baby yet, we are being patient.  Jenny and I have been doing lots of walking, and she has tried eating an olive and a jalepeno (trying to stimulate labor) but nothing yet.

Keep checking for up-to-date baby info...

Still no baby

Update, Juliet has not arrived yet. Walking and stairs to help her along...stay tuned

No baby yet

So just to keep everyone updated, Juliet has not arrived as of yet. Jenny and I are doing lots of walking to try to get everything in motion, but no luck yet.  Will let you know of any changes...

Maternity Pics!

Hello All,

It is coming down the the wire.  I have added a poll for all to guess how big they think Juliet will be when she is born.  To make a specific prediction, please comment on this posting with your guesstimation of her weight.  Please, keep all predictions to only one decimal.  The winner with the closest guess from the comments will win a prize (to be determined).

Ok, back to maternity pics.  We had some professional pics done a month or two ago, and picked a few for a collage.  Posted here are the pics we chose for your viewing pleasure.  You can see the collage when you come by the house, it is hanging in the nursery, and it came out beautiful (Thanks Cloud 9)!  I have to say first off, I receive no kickbacks and have no financial ties to Clound 9, except for the bill for our collage :)

Now that I have made all my disclosures, I have to say that Cloud 9 was amazing.  They were so friendly and easy to work with.  You can see more of their work on their website: http://www.photosoncloud9.com/.  Jeanine is just great, very creative, and makes a warm, relaxing enviroment to work in.  She has just about everything and anything you could think of for props, and if you need more, just bring it, and she will incorporate it into your shoot.  She does maternity pics, but more importantly, she does amazing baby pics!  Juliet will be visiting there soon after her arrival, so stay tuned for pictures!

So, make sure to participate in the poll on the right, general weight predictions, and if you have a gut feeling about a specific weight, comment on this posting. Winner to receive a PRIZE!

We love you all, and I hope you enjoyed this post, especially the pics of Jenny, Juliet, and I!

On that note, I would like to give a special thanks to the love of my life, Jenny.  You are doing an amazing job with the pregnancy.  I am amazed at how much you and your body have been through and had to deal with.  But you handle it with such grace.  When we first found out we were pregnant, I heard so many horror stories of how the pregnant mommy becomes the ball of raging hormones, but in my eyes, Jenny has managed to keep her hormones in check, and enjoy the pregancy with all its wonders and miracles.  Anyway, long story short, Jenny, you are amazing, and I am the luckiest man on earth to have a wife like you.  I love you, and will be with you every step of the way.  12 days and counting, but could be anyday! 

Keep us in your thoughts...