Sunday, July 13, 2008

First Shampoo


The night Matilda was born she got her first sponge bath and her first shampoo. She hated the bath and screamed throughout, but enjoyed the shampoo. Seems to be the same way now that we're home.
We got this picture of her first shampoo and I just love the face she is making!

More pictures of Matilda


You can see all of Matilda's pictures and order your own prints or photo calendars ect. from Kodak by following this link or by clicking on Matilda's picture in the sidebar at the top left of the page.

Don't forget to check back every so often--I add new pictures to the gallery every few days.

Enjoy!

Saturday, July 12, 2008

So tiny!




These pictures were taken at the hospital and I just love them. It's amazing how small Matilda is.

Good morning!




We're just lounging around in bed this morning and Matilda is in her basket, cooing and looking around. She's still cute!

Friday, July 11, 2008

What is Matilda doing now?





Matilda is a week old today. What is she doing right now? Sleeping. And looking like a little angel.

Bath time


Every couple days Matilda gets a little sponge bath and lotion. And boy does she HATE it! Today we did her bath, and got a picture before she started screaming. We also washed her hair under the faucet today, and strangely, she loved that!
We're really looking forward to her first real bath once her belly button heals--I hope she likes that!

Thursday, July 10, 2008

Coming home



On Sunday, Matilda came home, and wore clothes for the first time! Here's Matilda in her coming home outfit.

Sunday, July 6, 2008

Proud Parents




We should be going home today and settling in with our newest family member. But I couldn't resist sharing a few more pictures this morning. We're so proud and so in love with our little girl!
She's still sleeping a lot, but she will cry just because she's lonely sometimes at night now. She loves to snuggle and she and I are both doing well. Daddy is pretty tired (he's had to sleep on a vinyl couch for three days!).

Saturday, July 5, 2008

Matilda Riley Gustafson





Matilda Riley Gustafson arrived at 5:58pm Fridy July 4, 2008. She was 8 pounds, 8.4 ounces, and 21 inches long--a big girl!
Matilda and I are both doing well and should be home soon.
She has light brown hair and light blue eyes. She has a full head of hair, but at the crown she has a top-knot like I did when I was a baby. I think she looks like Ed--at leat she has his nose! She has a very pleasant temprament and only cries if she's dirty or cold--so far. Enjoy the baby goodness-there will be many, many, many pictures in the next few days!

It's Time!!


Ed and I went to a movie Thursday night and by 7, contractions had started. By 1:30am Ed was still trying to convince me I was in labor--I just didn't believe it!
I let Ed get some sleep and waited til morning to see if the contractions persisted.
At 7:30am Friday we went to the hopsital and we were admitted at 8 in labor!
Since only about 5% of babies come on their actual due date, we were pretty surprised to learn that our baby would be right on time.
Here's a picture from the beginning--when I was still smiling!

Thursday, July 3, 2008

Not Today

Well, today is not the day. We went in for our follow up tests and the fluid levels are up and everything is looking good. I might just be pregnant forever.

Tuesday, July 1, 2008

I think we'll have a baby soon!

We saw the doctor again yesterday and it turned into a really really really long day.

Typically, it's a 10-20 minute appointment--get weighed, check the blood pressure, measure, do a quick exam and "see you next week."

But, the baby has been moving a little less recently, so they decided to do a "non-stress test." For this test they strapped two monitors to my belly--one for her heart rate and one to monitor contractions, just like they use in labor--and had me push a button every time I felt her move.
During the test she moved really well, and I was having "practice contractions" (tightening, but not labor) every 4 minutes. It was pretty neat to be able to see all of it printing out on that machine. The doctor said that the baby got an "A+" on her non-stress test.

However, her heart rate had dipped lower than they like during a few of my little contractions, so they sent us downstairs to the high-risk office for an ultrasound to check the fluid levels. They measure the fluid levels in centimeters of fluid surrounding the baby. Typically, 9-20 is "normal" but it's not a major concern unless you drop to 5 or less. We got a 6.9--which is still acceptable, but on the low side. So, her fluid is getting pretty low.

This is a normal part of pregnancy--as she gets bigger she runs out of room for fluid, and the placenta starts to degrade as we get closer and closer to delivery. The only real concern right now is that if the fluid levels keep dropping, real labor contractions could be too stressful for her.

The doctor stressed that we do not need to worry about this yet. We will be going in for ultra sounds twice a week now until I deliver to monitor the fluid levels. Since this was not a concern before, we don't know if the 6.9 is normal for our baby, or if it's reflecting a big drop, which is why we're going to be checking it so often. If it has dropped more when we go in on
Thursday, we'll probably be discussing an induction if labor hasn't started on it's own.

Regardless, it won't be long now, and I'm really excited to meet my little girl!

Friday, June 27, 2008

Even my toes are ready!


Let's hope I can see them again soon without the help of a camera!

The waiting is the hardest part...


Well, another week has gone by, and I'm another week closer to my due date. But I have to admit I'm feeling a little bit down. I had hoped that we would have a picture of our baby up here by now instead me continuing to waddle around, increasingly uncomfortable, as summer threatens to get hotter and hotter. Anyway, I know all the "positive thoughts" stuff--the "it will be worth it in the end" and "a couple extra weeks will seem like nothing in the long run," and, my personal favorite, "she'll come when she's ready," but I'm ready now.
Nothing too exciting to report. We won't see the doctor again until Monday. And, as it has been since the 13th, she could come tomorrow (fingers crossed), or she could just hang out until the doctors go in and get her as late as July 18th!!
It would be nice if she would come by the 11th at least so we could have her home to meet Kim and Eric and my dad before they all head back to their homes. It would be even nicer if she would come today!
So, we just keep waiting. I guess now would be the time to offer your creative suggestions or old wives tales about how I can get her out, because begging, pleading, bargaining, and yelling haven't worked. Oh yeah--none of that walking stuff--my hips are just falling apart, I can barely get out of bed. Marching around for miles in the hopes of inducing labor is just impossible now.

Tuesday, June 24, 2008

Don't forget to vote!


My bags are packed and I'm ready to go, but you still have time to vote!
Since she hasn't budged, there's still time to get your vote in as to when you think the baby will arrive, how much she will weigh, and how long she will be. Remember--the winner gets diaper duty immunity! Please vote in the comments at the "9 Months" post.

A truly unique gift



Sadly, I never had a chance to meet Ed's grandma Gustafson. But from what I hear, she was a really special lady. She had a tradition of making hand-made baby blankets as gifts for anyone who announced they were expecting. Our daughter is lucky enough to be the recipient of her last one. In May of 2000 Grandma Gustafson made a baby blanket in her favorite color--blue--wrapped it up and addressed it to her first great-grandchild. Since our little girl is that great-grandchild, she received the blanket. Mona mailed it to us and we opened it with Jim. It's just so special that she thought to do something like this, and we really cherish the blanket. I'm sure it will be well-loved, but we hope to keep it preserved well enough for the other great-grandchildren to be able to enjoy it too.

Get Out


Well, I've been "full term" since June 13. And I'm ready to have this baby! She doesn't seem to feel quite the same way, so I had to serve her with an eviction notice.


EVICTION NOTICE

TO: Baby Girl

Pursuant to the provisions of Illinois state law, the Golden Rule, and common human decency, (as well as several human-rights treaties, I'm sure!) you are hereby given an eviction notice and notice to vacate on or before July 4, 2008 the premises and appurtenances owned by your mother in her womb, which premises are now occupied by you.

THE REASON(S) FOR THIS EVICTION NOTICE IS/ARE:
1. Your failure to pay rent due and in arrears when demanded. A settlement offer to pay rent or vacate was served upon you on June 13, 2008 (commonly known as 37 weeks gestation), and you have refused and neglected to pay rent for your entire tenancy. Furthermore, you have continued to use and deplete all the resources available on the premise and have made no effort to compensate your mother for said usage, and have not indicated any willingness to cease and desist such usage--in fact, your demands have increased as the months have gone by.

While previously, an agreement may have been able to be reached regarding a payment of liquidated damages in return for extending your stay, the relationship has degraded to a point that eviction is the only option.

2. Substantial damage has been done to the premises as follows:
a. notable cosmetic damage including, but not limited to: acne, hair growth, lina negre, and spreading of the nose
b. irreversible structural damage including, but not limited to: stretch marks, loss of integrity of breast tissue, serious abdominal and uterine expansion
c. damage to the plumbing and other systems, including, but not limited to: heart burn, carpel tunnel, constipation, urinary incontinence, swelling of extremities and gas
d. numerous miscellaneous offenses interfering with other's enjoyment of the premises including, but not limited to: mood swings, leaking breasts, bleeding gums, cervical mucous and other untold horrors spilling out, rib kicks, and bladder punches.
e. Finally, we have received credible information that you have made a threat of serious, irreversible and permanent damage to the premises in the near future.

3. Your failure to comply with a material term of the lease as follows: in entering into this arrangement, your mother was made to understand that while there certainly would be some discomforts, you would grow quietly while providing your mother a sense of excitement, peace and fulfillment, as well as a noticeable "glow." You have failed to comply with these terms, causing your mother untold distress.

4. Behavior by you that adversely affects the health or safety of the landlord (your mother), as follows:
a. The damage noted in section 2 is incorporated here by reference.
b. Your constant kicking, punching and wiggling is causing considerable pain and discomfort to your mother as you persist in your attempts to take up more space.
c. Your refusal to relocate is putting your mother in serious danger of a complete mental break-down.

5. For other good cause as follows:
a. The term of your tenancy expires on July 4, 2008, and in consideration of all the grievances listed above, it is impossible to willingly grant you a 2 week extension.
b. Arrangements have been made for your comfortable relocation to much brighter, more spacious accommodations, rent free, with round the clock servants, plenty of room to move and grow—failure to accept this offer should be considered valid grounds for involuntary commitment.
c. Your mother has decided to take a sabbatical from her duties as a landlord, and said sabbatical cannot begin until you have fully vacated the premises.
d. Your father wants to meet you!

Dated: June 23, 2008

Jen Gustafson, Your Mother (landlord)

I hereby certify that on the 23rd day of June, 2008 at 12:00 pm I affixed a true copy of this above original eviction notice to the abode of Baby, the above-named tenant.

It's done!



Our patio was finished on Friday. It looks great and we have a table and chairs and Jim and Joanne sent Ed some fantastic adirondak chairs and table to put by the fire pit for Father's Day. We've been having breakfast and dinner out there every day since they finished and we just love it.
Romper has a little pool to cool off in and now he has shade that he can relax in so he doesn't seem to mind as much being outside in the heat. And we're finding it really relaxing to sit outside together--I forgot how much we've enjoyed our paitos in the past. I'm so happy that it is finished before the baby arrived.
Tonight, Jim and Joanne came over for a cook out and fire on our patio. We had grilled oysters, cantaloupe, steak salad with blue cheese, grilled crostini, and grilled peaches with raspberry sauce over vanilla ice cream. Ed was a master-griller and everything turned out great. We had a very enjoyable evening.

Kudos!


Eric has been plugging away in graduate school at Brown for a while now. But this year he's being published! It's a really big deal, and although I don't really understand all the scientific stuff in the paper, I know it's quite an accomplishment and it's great to see his smarts and hard work paying off.
His paper "Polycomb Group Gene Expression in the Sea Urchin" lists him as the first author and will be published in the July edition of Developmental Dynamics.
We are so proud of him!

So Jealous




Eric, Ed's brother, recently returned from a bachellor party and we are so jealous! He and his friends went down to the Virgin Islands where they chartered a boat and sailed around for a week. Here are some of the pictures he sent back. It looks beautiful and we so wish that we had been down there floating around in the bright blue water!