BitterSweet Week

The Bitter
I have a bit of a heavy heart today. It is my last week of recovery and adjustment that we call Maternity Leave. My little boo just turned 7 weeks old today and I will be returning to the workforce next week. Boo hoo. It is not so much that I don't want to work at all. I have a lot of pride in the business I have built and I think I would miss it if I had to give it up completely. I also really miss some of my coworkers (some of you may be reading this now and it's true - I miss you!!). Plus, by choosing to live in the Bay we have basically guaranteed the need for dual income. But the thought of leaving Roscoe all day with someone else (even if that someone is his Lala Friend Grandma) makes me kind of sad. (And a bit relieved, let's be honest, he is certainly a handful.)

The plan is for me to work 3-4 days a week and take him with me all but one day (Lala's day - thank you, thank you, thank you, Lala!) for a couple of months. I am grateful to be able to take him, but honestly have no idea how this will work. Some days I have a hard time eating and peeing let alone changing my clothes or leaving the house. That is just asking too much. So, how am I supposed to get ready in the morning, get to work and then work productively all day, get us home from work and then feed us something and try for a few hours of sleep? I am hoping for many miracles in the coming weeks that allow this far fetched plan to succeed.

I think I am also in mourning because I thought that this would be a sweet bonding time for Roscoe and I and that I would be able to take him for long walks in his stroller and go meet Ray for lunch and all of these wonderful Hallmark movie moments. In reality, I am only beginning to feel healed from the labor and am now in pain from the Raynaud's and he has spent the majority of his 7 weeks screaming at me. I knew I would be sleep deprived, but I didn't really expect all of this. So, now just as things are getting a little better I have to go back to all of the old commitments. *sigh*

Not all is Bitter, though, and here is some of the Sweet... I did mention things getting better!

The Sweet

"Morning has broken, like the first morning..." I keep thinking those Cat Stevens lyrics lately, it is like our little Rascal has turned a corner and we are seeing more of his true personality instead of just the fussin'. Most evident in the fact that he can actually be soothed. If he cries, we can soothe him (Hallelujah!). What a relief!! No more hours of soothing and still crying... sometimes he makes us work pretty hard for it but at least there is an end. And when he is awake and alert, he is a pretty happy boy. He even LOVES having his diaper changed. What a strange kid. I hope he doesn't have a thing for being naked and grow up to be a streaker or something. He also enjoys staring at the black and white pictures frames on our walls, listening to music (especially when his Daddy sings along) and long walks on the beach (kidding).

Ok, one more thing. It takes me a couple of days to write anything and in the meantime (specifically this morning) Roscoe actually put himself to sleep in his swing! He was winding down and I put him in his swing and he looked around for awhile and then FELL ASLEEP. OMG. I think the miracles have begun...

Here are a few pics (and a VIDEO!) from the last week...

Video: Roscoe Playing in Crib

p.s. Ray's dad's surgery went well and he is feeling pretty good. Thank God.

Raynaud's, Refrigerator, Radiation and Roscoe

It was another eventful weekend at the SF Nest.

It began with a diagnosis of my bizarro breastfeeding pain (Raynaud's phenomenon - rare and yeah, it hurts). Something to do with blood vessels and circulation and changing temperatures. Usually this affects people's hands and feet, but it can happen to a breastfeeding mom's, well, breasts. You know that feeling you get when you go from extreme cold to a really warm place and your hands kind of burn and you think maybe you just got frostbite (or is that just me)? Well, that is a hint of what this feels like. Obviously when you are breastfeeding you cannot avoid the changing temperatures (every couple of hours at least!) and you also can't avoid that even though you are in pain, this little baby still needs to eat, which causes more pain. Blech. I love my midwife for diagnosing this right away (people can mistake it for thrush and go through rounds of treatment only to realize it is not working so it must be something else...) and then for having me try Niacin (Vitamin B3) for treatment instead of jumping straight to the big drugs. Here's the thing though, Niacin has what is known as a "flush" as a potential side effect. Holy friggin flush. The first few times I took I broke out in a severe sunburn-like rash all over my body. It burned and itched and then I felt feverish and got chills and was shaking. This scared the crap out of me until Google told me what it was and reassured me that it was not unusual. It went away after a couple of hours, but when you are taking it 3 times a day this can put a serious wrench in your day and your morale (keep in mind I still have the pain and a colicky baby on my hands). I called Judi desperately on Saturday morning (on her cell, poor woman) telling her I wanted the drugs asap. She reasoned with me that I may not want to go there yet (she is right) because they are drugs used for people with heart problems and come with there own side effects. Plus they pass to the baby. I am now on half doses and the flush is more manageable for sure. I am giving it a week to see if we can control the Raynaud's with the Niacin alone. Be warned potential Niacin takers: that flush is no joke.

A taste of The Flush:

Then Ray and I bought a new fridge. He had spotted a great one on sale and we finally bit the bullet. Our old fridge has been limping along for as long as I can remember. The freezer defrost thing is all janky so it freezer burns everything pretty quickly and then it leaks water into the fridge. We can't use the back half of the fridge because everything gets wet and then freezes (no consistent temp control going on there). We also can't use the drawers because they flood. And we need to wet vac out the fridge periodically to prevent it from leaking all over the floor and causing many more dramatic problems. As annoying as this is, we have just accepted it as another piece of "character" offered by our old home (I know many of you understand!). Much like the doorknobs that fall off. And the back door that falls off the hinges. And the cracked single pane windows. And the "heater" in the hallway that keeps only the hallway warm and Ray needs to keep relighting the pilot light to even keep that going. Most of the time I have patience for all of this. More accurately, I think I am just used to it all and don't notice it that much. But once in awhile it adds up and I think I am going to lose my mind for a minute. And then there is that beautiful moment that feels like complete luxury when something gets fixed. Tomorrow our new fridge should arrive. It will feel huge to be able to use all of that space and not worry about dripping/freezing/flooding. Ray and I are so excited and inspired by the thought that it makes us want to rip apart the house and fix everything! Ray's voice of reason concluded that maybe we need to wait for the dust to settle from the latest Big Adjustment (i.e. Roscoe) before we take on something else. Smart man.

Then came a wave of shock and sadness. Ray's dad told us he has prostate cancer. How do you even take in that kind of news? Thankfully it was caught in the early stages (yay for Nurse Big Willie hounding him to get his check up exams) and they expect it to respond very well to treatment. He is going in for surgery tomorrow to have a radiation device implanted, which will emit radiation for one year. They expect this to eliminate the cancer. Because of the radiation he cannot be within 3 feet of anyone under the age of 18 for 30 days. This includes his grandchildren who he adores (this is the man who would stop by our house on a random Tuesday morning just to hold Roscoe for 10 minutes). We spent much of the weekend at their house letting him lug around our screaming child to get his fill. I am optimistic about the treatment, but really I think I am mostly in denial. It is hard to comprehend that someone you love has such a scary disease. And he seems the same on the outside as before the diagnosis which I find makes it harder to really grasp. I hope his body responds well and quickly eradicates the evil cells. Get your checks, people. You know what you should be doing, so do it. Because if you are reading this blog, I love you and want you around and healthy.

Through it all Roscoe makes us smile. Even some of his cries are kind of cute (some, not all) which I suppose only a mother would say. Speaking of, I had my first moment where I actually felt like a mama the other day. I was in pain (Raynaud's, still recovering from delivery), feeling like crap (Niacin flush, haven't slept/showered, etc.) and alone with Roscoe. He was in pain (gas presumably) and crying out like someone was stabbing his gut. It broke my heart and I was using every bit of my energy to try and soothe him. It hit me then that this is what it really is about. I love him. I will do anything I can to be there for him and comfort him and somehow set aside my own pain. I must be a mom.

We are having many happy victories with our little Turtle. He is smiling more and more (it could be gas - hard to tell since he is perma-gassy - but he does it when we are talking to him or being silly so it seems real to us...) He also just took his first nap in his bassinet (from his new stroller). This is excellent news because a) he took a 45 minute nap which is its own victory and b) it was in his bassinet which is where he will be napping when I bring him to work with me, so it is quite important that he likes it in there.


Speaking of going back to work, I have either 1.5 weeks left of leave or 2 weeks. It is still being sorted. Time is ticking. We are so grateful and excited that Roscoe's Lala Friend (Ray's mom, aka Big Willie) will be watching him one day a week. The other days he will be working with me at the beginning. At least I can count on one productive day of the week!

In other Roscoe news, I think he broke his own record for outfit changes in one day yesterday when he hit 6 (due to poopie explosions and pee leakages). Thank God for bibs or he would need even more considering his spit up talent. I can only imagine how much laundry I will be doing once he starts running around *gasp*. He also discovered the mobile on his swing yesterday morning. He was really intrigued by it for 1o minutes and I should have been using the precious time to do something with myself, but I couldn't help but watch and laugh as his big eyes took it all in. I think he has had his fill for now though because I have tried since and he is not as impressed.

Another milestone (in my mind) is nearing as Roscoe hits the 6 week mark on Thursday. Since he was a few days old people keep telling us that the fussing and colic and digestive ills will greatly improve at 3 months. I must be really hanging on to that hope because I am very excited that we are about halfway there. Not that I am not enjoying this little bitty baby time, but I am also looking forward to a little less pain and shrieking from the little man.

Roscoe chilling on my legs after a feeding and Ikaika trying to sneak in a cuddle:

Roscoe modeling his dress shirt (made by Laura!):

Our little hippie in his tie-dyed onesie from Traci and fam:

How's that for an update? And we're off...

Roscoe's First Month

This feels like a milestone to me. Maybe because everyone tells me the first month is the worst and I am hanging on to the hope that things get at least slightly easier. Regardless of the challenges, I end the month happy to have this little man with us and already forgetting everything that happened more than 24 hours ago.

Here are some highlights:

* The first 2 weeks were one big blur of fussiness and lack of sleep. The most frustrating thing I have ever experienced is spending hours soothing a baby and having him still screaming. Especially the first night after no sleep in 48 hours and feeling like I was run over by a mack truck the night before (i.e. labor). Ray and I set him down at one point and just looked at him screaming and looked at each other and no words were needed...

* At first I was in denial when Ray said he thought he cried more than most babies. Ha. No longer in denial after everyone that has spent considerable time with him has commented on his fussy-butt-ness. This actually makes me feel much better because there was a time when I thought for sure Roscoe would be an only child. Now I am thinking maybe someday far, far away we might have another and gamble that our next is an easier baby.

* He is growing up and already getting less fussy every week. Makes for an all around much happier family unit and it has only been a month. Just think how happy we will all be in a couple more months! :)

* Roscoe's Grandma Bird (my mama) came to visit for a week and spoiled him rotten. He spent most of the week sleeping in her arms and having conversations with her which he loved. In fact, just this morning I Skyped my mom and Roscoe stopped everything and sat in rapt attention staring at the computer as my mom talked to him. Ray and I were able to get more sleep and even go grocery shopping by ourselves. Yay for grandparents!

* He has broken in his crib (custom made by Grandpa "Papa Top") and although he will sleep there sometimes, he prefers to have play time there and stare at the slats while kicking his legs and squawking.

* Ray and I even managed to get out for a date night to Cirque du Soleil's Ovo (Ray's work's holiday event) while Lolo and Lala Friend watched him for a few hours. Ray's dad did look a little shell shocked when we returned (the fussiness can do that) and thought maybe he was just always hungry. Thankfully they have agreed to watch him again and continue to visit and generously take turns holding him while Ray and I enjoy whatever food they brought that visit. Wonderful.


* In the span of a month, he has managed to pee on himself more times than we can count; pee on both of us; pee on his own face; have many, many poop explosions up his back; throw up in Ray's mouth when Ray kissed him; throw up on me WHILE he was eating (with only a 1 second pause); throw up on the pediatrician at his one month check up and burp VERY loudly when we visited the birth center's childbirth class to tell our birth story. Ray and I are thoroughly entertained by this. Not sure if everyone else feels the same, but that's our boy and we love him.

* He has visited 2 of his Mama's clients and managed to look cute and make sure I have a job to go back to in a couple of weeks.

* He has tried a pumped bottle (liked it, anything with food in it makes him a happy boy) and a pacifier (a tough sell, which he will sporadically take). The pacifier was one of those things we did not intend to use, but a screaming baby with an extreme sucking reflex makes one reconsider these things. He uses it maybe once every other day now, for about 1 minute to calm himself and then he is over it. We are thrilled at this victory.

* He had his first 2 doctor visits. The first one our pediatrician came to our house when he was 2 days old. The second we went to the office and he blew (breastmilk) chunks on the doctor. We also took him to the hospital for his newborn screening where they prick his foot and take 5 or 6 blood samples. Shockingly, he slept through this entirely.

* Any concern that people voiced about him not getting enough food can be laid to rest (some people presumed that is why he was so fussy and since he also spits up a lot...). I was never concerned because he can chow down and we can both tell he is getting heavier by the day. This was confirmed at his 1 month appointment when he weighed 9 lbs 8 oz. Yes, our Porker with a capital P gained 3 lbs 2 oz in one month. The doctor joked (at least I hope he was joking) that if he gained more than 2 lbs next month he would have to put him on a diet. I personally think his new double chin is pretty cute.

* He definitely takes after his Daddy in that he likes to be moving at all times. He wiggles and kicks and flails his arms and cranes his neck (looking like a turtle since his forehead is all wrinkly). If he is fussy (and not sleepy or hungry or too gassy) I can usually make him happy by having him practice sitting up and standing (obviously with a lot of Mama support). For some reason he loves this. He absolutely did not get this need to move from me. And after spending a few days with Ray cooped up in the house and watching Ray's sanity melt away until he could go for a run or something, I know he is his Daddy's son. He also loves to "Ride The Bike" when I pump his legs, loves his Tummy Time and even likes bath time.

Ok, so he didn't like his first bath...

* His doggy siblings are well adjusted to his presence already. Roscoe rarely flinches when they bark (must be used to it from in utero), but the dogs did not know what to do when Roscoe screamed. Mela usually hid under the desk and Ikaika would pace and whine looking at us like - what the hell, do something about that. Ikaika is more protective and sometimes gives up his cushy dog bed to sleep on the floor next to Roscoe in bed. He also alerts me when I leave Roscoe in his crib by sitting outside the nursery and whining and looking between Roscoe and me. Mela, true to her personality, has already snuck in a cuddle or two.


Here are some more photos of Roscoe's first month. Some of them are not the best quality because I took them on my phone.

Roscoe's First Christmas: Only 1 day old

Cuddling with Mama:

Roscoe's First Raider Game: 3 days oldBurping can wear you out...Meeting Kuya Basi:

Getting bigger:

Making faces:

There are more pics on Ray's photo site if you are interested... http://ranthonyjuachon.smugmug.com/Roscoe/RoscoePictures/10885784_VFmpk#759791852_b5JHS

Roscolito's Arrival

The lack of blog entries for a month can only mean one thing... he has arrived!

The official stats:

Roscoe Anthony J
born 12/24/2009 3:28am
6 lbs 6 oz
20 inches

For those curious about the details (warning: long and somewhat graphic):

How it started
First, let's talk about "false labor." Whoever decided to call this labor "false" has obviously never experienced it. It felt so much like real labor that I didn't know I was in labor all day until I was in active labor and was already halfway dilated. In fact, I was in labor while I wrote the last post (oh, the irony). Everyone asks me how long my labor was and it is hard to say. It could either be almost 3 weeks long (false labor contractions started 12/5/2009) or something more like 20 hours. I wasn't really paying attention to this bout of false labor because I had gone through it so many times already, but I know I woke up with contractions on the 23rd. So, the day went on pretty uneventfully. Ray went to the gym and the hardware store. I wrote a blog and was scanning photo negatives. I remember talking to Heather and saying he might as well wait a few days now so he isn't born on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day (alas). Also funny is that we had "early labor activities" planned that are supposed to help distract you and get you through the many early hours. I had been trying to save some of mine during the false labors so that I had some left when the real deal hit... haha, no need for that obviously!

When we knew we were in labor
As much as I was not aware of when labor started, I know the exact time that "active labor" hit (the hard stuff, usually begins around 5cm): 7:51pm on the 23rd. Maybe around 7pm or so I started to think "these contractions are getting pretty intense, maybe we should time a couple for the hell of it." Ray started timing a few and they were consistently like 3 or 4 minutes apart (again, nothing new). Then at 7:51 I had a contraction that immediately changed the mood. Ray said my eyes got huge and I said "holy shit." He even wrote on his pad of paper "7:51 Holy Shit." Not sure yet if that is going in the baby book. :) I felt kind of a pop and then a tearing sensation in my cervix and then a shooting pain radiate from there (after so many cervical surgeries, I know exactly where my cervix is and what it feels like to be messed with). After that everything changed. I no longer wanted to talk between contractions. I was just focused on relaxing and getting through the next one. I ended up in the bathroom and refused to leave. My preferred labor position became on my hands and knees with my head in the tub, puking. I did take a couple of hot showers, which definitely helped, but our hot water ran out after about 30 seconds each time (I am sure it was slightly longer, but didn't feel that way). I would not let Ray leave my side for even a second (to be fair the contractions were really close together and I needed him during the contractions!) He had gotten in during one of my showers so I could lean on him and then was stuck with wet boxers on. Since I wouldn't let him leave he just had to tough it out, freezing, with wet boxers on... of course, I had no idea at the time, but it makes me giggle now. Our doula, Tricia, came over and was helping press on my back during contractions. It helped me manage the pain so every time I felt a cx coming on I just yelled "Tricia, SQUEEZE... HARDER!" Ray's sister was our back up support in case we felt like we wanted more when the good stuff hit. She got called and was over timing contractions and helping Ray (heat the rice pad, bring me water, etc, since Ray wasn't allowed to move an inch). Ray was trying to keep me drinking water and eating yogurt or something, but I couldn't keep anything down. Ray had been calling back and forth with our midwife, Judi, since the Holy Shit Contraction and Judi thought I might not be as far along as I thought I was (apparently first time moms tend to think they are like 8cm when they are only 2cm). Judi said if we weren't 5cm she would send us home to labor some more because it could take a very long time to progress (early labor tends to progress slowly). I was positive that I was in very active labor, but I wasn't really communicating that to Ray. I refused to move at all (too painful), so he was thinking - if she isn't far along and we have to go back home to labor some more, how the hell am I going to get her to the birth center, back home and then back to the birth center if she won't even leave the bathroom?! Finally, I said we are going to the birth center, I am definitely over 5cm. For a moment I thought we might not even make it. I said to Ray - forget the birth center, we are driving straight to the hospital so I can get the drugs. At that point I remember thinking that everyone told me as soon as you think you can't do it anymore then you are almost done. I also had an urge to push. Urge is not even the word, it wasn't an urge, I actually did push and I couldn't have stopped it if I wanted to. Kind of like throwing up when it is inevitable. It just happens. All of this together with the back to back contractions and more throwing up and I thought - uh, oh, we are getting close and I am still in the bathroom. This was probably 11pm or so. We didn't actually arrive until 12:30am. The birth center is only about a mile from our house. First, I had to leave the bathroom, walk down the hall, down the stairs, to our car and survive the potholes while having back to back contractions. I (normally quite modest and private) was wearing an open bathrobe, slip on shoes that someone put on me and a beanie that Ray put on my head. It was midnight and I was half naked and yelling at the top of my lungs during contractions (my throat hurt for days). And, yes, there were people on the street.

The home stretch
We arrived at the birth center and I had to do a pee test - surprise, surprise I was severely dehydrated at this point. Hours of throwing up will do that to you. I got checked and I was already 10cm. Since I am Group B Strep positive I needed penicillin via IV within 4 hours of labor, which we obviously didn't have time to get going so I got a shot instead. I got in the birthing tub and even though I hadn't necessarily planned on a water birth, there was no way I was leaving once I was in there because I didn't want to move at all! I was just pushing as the urge came, a few times every contraction, but it was taking forever. The midwives later told me I "got primal" and Ray told me my eyes were doing crazy things and freaking him out a little - one was rolling back and the other moving around or something. :) I was pushing and pushing and apparently the baby was in a strange position - "sunny side up" and so they had me change position every couple of contractions. Hated that, but it worked and he turned. Judi says he did a Spin & Spit - after 2 hours of pushing he turned and flew right out. Good for him, not so good for the damage done to me... but so the parental sacrifices begin. Oh, and my water never broke. Eventually maybe an hour and a half of pushing I told them they could just break it already. Ray was able to catch him, which was pretty cool. And he came out screaming... we should have known then what was to come! :)

Roscoe's first moments
Roscoe got to hang out on my belly for a little bit and then they had to work on me, so Ray took off his shirt and had skin-to-skin bonding with Roscoe while he was super alert after the birth. It was very sweet and Roscoe still adores Ray. I had a bit of a rough time after the birth and they considered transferring me to the hospital but thankfully my vitals stablized and I felt better after a few hours. We were both healthy and we made it through, so I consider it a smashing success. And I am so glad we got to have it at the birth center how we wanted. Here are a few pics:

Mama's Boy

It's official. Our son must be a mama's boy already because he just does not want to leave his mama's belly.

He is officially one week late today. Besides the frustration of multiple bouts of "false" labor (regular painful contractions that last several hours and then eventually space out and become more mild - i.e. do not produce a baby in the end)... and having our midwife call everyday to check on us (because of said "false" labors)... and the regular pregnancy stuff I was already dealing with, it has actually been really nice having this time and spending it with Ray.

He is off work now since he had to transition all of his projects to other people and now there is not much they can give him when he may not be around the next day. That has been the best ever for me because he distracts me and keeps my spirits up and we have been having a lot of fun thinking of ways to fill our days (cleaning and other boring things we should be doing don't keep my spirits up so much). We drove up to St Helena the other day (wine country - where we went after our wedding) and just went to a good lunch spot and wandered around. Then another day we drove down the coast and got fish and chips and went back to where Ray proposed (see pics). We hung out with Ray's sister Lisa and the kids one day. We walked to one of our favorite breakfast spots. We went to our favorite dinner spot. We have watched movies. Just basically enjoying these last few days we have where it is just the two of us and we can take off at a moment's notice without packing the car/stroller full of diapers and wipes and blankets and snacks and toys and changes of clothes.

We saw our midwife yesterday and the baby still looks happy as a clam in there. They will let us go until January 2 before they evict him by force, so hopefully he does it on his own before then. We do have to go in to the hospital on Sunday for a non-stress test to monitor the contractions and the baby to check on his movement and variability of heart rate. Just to make sure the placenta is still working well and he is getting enough oxygen. I think they will also check the amniotic fluid levels. I am not that concerned because he still moves like crazy and his heart rate looked great yesterday at our appointment.

I don't know how big he is, but I am pretty sure he is still growing because I just had a growth spurt since I hit 40 weeks and I am hungry all the time. He can now pinch the nerve in my right hip, push his head against my cervix, jab his foot out of my left side and stick his butt up in my ribs all at the same time. And that is just with a little wiggle. I think I might miss the entertainment of him moving all of the time once he joins us on the outside. And yes, my belly is still growing. I told Ray yesterday when we were walking that he feels so low and heavy that I really feel like he could fall out of the front, under my belly button where my giant belly is precariously hanging over my pants. Of course Ray got some pics of said huge belly (and these were taken last week!) Obviously the choice to wear an orange shirt only made it look more like I was smuggling a giant pumpkin under there.

279 days down, 1 to go... (give or take)

When I first announced on my blog that we had a baby on the way, I had 215 days to go... and now I am due tomorrow and wondering how many "bonus" days I will get of this pregnancy. Traci told me to think of it like I finished the race and now I am doing my victory lap. :)

Since this very well might be the last pregnancy update (for this one at least), I thought I would tell you guys what has been going on. Here is the news in a nutshell:

- Baby is still head down and very low - perfect position

- I am still going to the chiropractor every week, which has helped a lot with my hip and tailbone pain. I also have 2 pinched nerves (one in right hip, one in right arm) and going to the chiro keeps that pain (mostly) manageable, so I really look forward to my appointments.

- I have been having cramping, back pain and contractions for over a week. I don't love this, but I don't hate it either if it is "productive." But we don't really know for sure what is going on so I am choosing to think that all of the "preparing" for the labor will make the real deal go more smoothly.

- Everything is as ready as it is going to be. Baby's room done. Bags packed. Books read. Laundry done. House cleaned (more or less...). Presents bought, wrapped, shipped. Work done. We are just trying to enjoy every last moment of our twosome (or foursome if you count the pups) and eat out, watch movies, putz around on our projects, etc.

Basically, we are ready. And we would be happy if the baby came tomorrow (or tonight if he so chooses), but mostly I want him to be healthy and ready himself, so I am exercising what little patience I have and letting him get the party started when it suits him. Even if he decides to be born on Christmas day (I am telling you, kid, you will regret it later).

Thank you all for your support and encouragement when I needed it. I can't wait to share the good news with you all when I have some!! :)

Ramon Bob!

We have an announcement to make (and no, it is not our own...) - we have another nephew thanks to Joel & Karen!

Ramon Robert was born Sunday, December 13, 2009

Delivery was fast and furious as it happens for Karen and mom and baby are healthy and home. Little guy decided to come face first and make it a bit harder on himself (and his mama). He managed to escape the baby conehead, but instead will have some bruising for a few days. Just some cool battle scars he can brag about to his newborn friends. Connor seems beyond excited to be a big brother...



p.s. Ramon Bob because Robert is Joel's middle name and when I was young I liked to call him Joel Bob. :)