BabyBean

Ella's Birth Story

Written on September 29th, 2010:

Are we giving it away, ruining the surprise, if we say right off the bat it's a girl? No, we don't think so. She's showing us new surprising things every day. And we can't wait.

Today she is a month and two days old. It's been an amazing month. We see her develop every day, and we feel so very lucky we get to wake up with her every morning.

But to the beginning of the all. At 3 days overdue I firmly believed we were going to be pregnant for another month or two, it really seemed never ending. Then on Tuesday night, 8/25 we were watching TV and I was feeling this weird cramp. We continued watching our movie, and I loosely timed the cramps to about 20 minutes apart. Hrm. Jacob looks at me and says "let's go to bed and try to get some sleep". At 5:30 I woke up, not, as usual, because I had to pee, I really had no idea why I woke up. Jacob was supposed to get up to go to work, and we were talking for abit, the cramps were there, we started timing them, and they were about 4 minutes apart. Jacob said "are you in labor?" I said "I don't know." He decided to wait for an hour and not go to work to see if things progressed. Since we had a Doctors appointment at 3 pm that same day, we called and they said "you can come in now". We got there. Did the NST, the Nurse saw the chart and said "oh yeah, you are having contractions. you are in labor." At this point they weren't bad, just uncomfortable. We chatted with the Doctors, one of our OBs came by "oh, that's nothing, you can still talk!" They checked me, 2-3 cm, 70% effaced. We decided to go home and then come back in two hours to see progress. This turned out to be a day of a lot of driving for Jacob. I decided to hold out for as long as I could, (showers are MIRACULOUS )or should,without their offices closing.  so at 4 pm we went back again. We were pretty much stuck at the same progress. Dr Sukhdheo walked by when I was having a contraction, he laughed and said "that's more like it!" This whole day was a blur. The sun was shining, people were going about their every day things, walking down the street, and all I could do was breathe and try to deal with each contraction as it came.

Finally when we got home I think my water broke, the contractions got stronger, and Jacob decided he was done standing in the shower with me! He would sit outside on a chair and talk to me as I was leaning up against the wall. Eventually the water and the heat stopped helping, I started vomiting, and we decided to go to the hospital. I think Jacob spent alot of time on the phone this day too, even Wells Fargo called apparantly (he thought it was the nurses) and said "she can't talk, she's having a contraction". To this day I wonder what they wanted, because they never called back.

I "sprinted" down the stairs between contractions, and almost made it to the car before the next one started! We brought the vomit bucket with us, but I didn't have to use it in the car (THANKFULLY!) Got to LPCH and decided to park. No stinking valet parking for us, we're no sissies. I don't remember how many times I had to stop walking because the contractions were coming about every minute, to a minute and a half. We were standing about 30 yards from the doors once, and this woman was trying to give us a wheel chair, it was very nice, but I detested sitting down while I was having contractions, so we made it through the doors walking. The Security Guard took one look and said "Labor Delivery? Second floor!" Still remember the poor Chinese delivery guy in the elevator, I kept saying "I'm sorry, I can't get out of the elevator right now" *PANT*PANT* and he said "DON'T WORRY, TAKE YOUR TIME!!"

We made it. It was probably about 6:30 pm (things are quite fuzzy.) Got checked in, and shoved in an ultrasound room because there were no rooms available yet! Our nurse checked me 4-5 cm, and they put the fetal monitor on me, and gave me that really pretty night gown I got to wear for another 2.5 days (not the same ONE the whole time of course). Decided at that time between contractions and shakes that an epidural sounded like a FABULOUS idea. We finally got a labor room, and the anastesiologist (I can't spell), showed up and the epidural was done in lighthing speed time. I felt a little like I had failed, I wanted to do it natural, but I just couldn't handle the pain. At that time the nurse checked me again and I was 6-7 cm and she said "I thought you could totally have done it natural, you were doing great!" I didn't really know what she meant until a few hours later I heard this scream from some other room and thought "woah, that sounded painful". The epidural started working within 10 minutes. Then it was all cake. Jill and Tina showed up, we hung out, we chitchatted, and labor completely stopped. They left us alone for a few hours then decided to help nature along with some pitocin, so we kept chitchatting and hanging out. Our nurse Gina was great, she kept checking me, no progress, so we waited. And waited. And I think I even napped here and there for a minute or two. At around 2:45 am she checked me again, still around 8 cm. She also said "when you feel pressure that is there when you don't have a contraction, let me know". So it took about 20 minutes and I was like "woah, now I feel it". She came in and I was about 9.5 cm! They decided to "stretch" it out so I could start pushing soon. It was so exciting to see when they set up the "baby table" as we liked to call it.

Then the pushing started. Push without breathing for a 10 second count, hold it, catch your breath, then do it two more times. Then you can breathe, and wait for the next contraction. The counting helped immensely, this was all new, I had never done this before, and everyone was great! Jacob was on my left, Tina on my right, Jill the photographer, nurse, and doctor! I have to say we had a pretty good time. It was so exciting waiting for our little miracle!!! And more than anything, unreal.

After  about 45 minutes of pushing Dr Clausen said "you can feel your baby's head if you put your hand here" I said "I can't!" I was so tired, and then I decided I had to feel it anyway. A head and some peach fuss. It does make you motivated to push more for sure! At 5:10 am the Doctor said "another 20 minutes" , our nurse looked at her and the Doctor said "well, I would say 10 minutes, but then I could be overly optimistic", and she looked at me. At 5:15 am after my first push of three Dr Clausen said "ok, stop pushing! Baby is out!" I felt her slip out and they put her on my stomach. I will say her but I didn't know. "What is it, what is it?!" I yelled in the commotion, nobody was answering me, and I moved the umbilical cord and saw it, and Jacob said "it's a girl!"

Three More Days and Counting!! Oh yeah.

Weekly appointments up the wazoo. Last week, uterus at 38 cm, blood pressure, urine, bla bla ok. Lost 1.5 lbs, so we were back to 18.5 lb of total weight gain. Doctor checked progress as well, it was well, NOT a pleasant experience. Cervix at 60 % effaced, and 1 cm dilated. Did I mention it hurt like hell? What kind of sissy am I if THAT hurt?! But holy crap, things are MOVING!!!

Went swimming three times last week. There's nothing quite like swimming to make you feel NORMAL and GREAT! Maybe it's also the outdoor showers. Wow they're awesome in the sun. Hung out at Tina's all afternoon & night on Friday (I didn't have to do a thing!), then Saturday Sal & Dan & Miss Pee came over to cook Moroccan food. We have awesome friends huh??

After having a "talk" with the baby, we wanted it to come last week, or at least over the weekend. When that didn't happen I got really impatient and grumpy. The solution was to reset my expectations, so now I am hoping for it to come on 8/27. Less grumpy and happier for sure! Since "my" pool closed for the year last Saturday, found a new pool yesterday in Menlo Park. Saline water and a "BIG" pool. It was a little crowded and tons of screaming kids & teenagers, but swimming is so amazing it's worth it. Now the baby has decided that swimming is AWESOME, and it can actually do laps on the inside. It was rummaging around quite a bit  yesterday when I was swimming. It was the weirdest feeling, but it was clearly very happy to be somewhat suspended in the womb! Sort of like being on the moon maybe? Definately not thinking about actually coming out! Although as soon as we're out of the water, and it moves around trying to make more room, we say:  "Honey, if it's too crowded, come on out!!"

We also have quite the hiccuper still. Last night it started hiccuping after I drank some water with the daily vitamin pill. It was late and we were going to bed, so I rubbed a little baby back and said "it's ok honey, take it easy" and the most awesome thing was, it relaxed, stopped hiccuping so much, and in a few hiccups stopped completely.  Doubt it will be that easy when it comes out, but it was an awesome feeling.

Yesterday Arlo got two long walks, he was a happy puppy! Our new mantra is, gravity, gravity, gravity!

Today was another Doctors appointment, uterus at 40 cm (!!!), gained back the 1.5 lbs, blood pressure, urine, bla bla ok, 50-60 % effaced and 1-2 cm. Are we on the move?!! Since I was such a sissy last week, I decided to practise some PAIN meditation during the check up and it worked! Better practice when opportunity for pain presents itself. Had to schedule another appointment for next Wednesday, and also a non-stress test at that time. Hopefully we won't need it.

The Doctor said today we're in the magical plus minus four day mark. It could happen any time. As he shook our hands he said "I hope to you see you guys tomorrow!"

Any day is really good enough for us right now. Maybe the Bean is waiting for us to finally pack the Hospital Bag. Yeah, it's not packed yet.

What's the moral to this picture?

Don't iron your clothes without wearing a shirt. That's one pretty burn mark I'm sporting there.

In the crafty department, Itty Bitty Football Woolies were finished:

And we finally have a picture of the matching booties to the cardigan:

On The Home Stretch

 That's what our Doctor said today. Any day now. 2 lbs gained since last week, total now at 20 lbs; uterus measures at 37 cm, heartbeat of the baby is fine, blood pressure, yadda yadda. Next week they'll start checking if there is any dilation of the cervix. The Strep test came out fine, no need for antibiotics etc. She also said the baby looks to be around 7.5 lbs at delivery. Wow. Our own little chubber. It's difficult to wrap your head around right now.

Our little squirt is almost here. It's making a ruckus in here, but we can't decide if it's just happy and partying or if it is a "knock, knock, let me out of here!!" There is fairly constant movement, with some quiet periods of napping. 

The Doctor also said "keep swimming, right up until labor." Thank god.

Here's the ultrasound of the heartbeat from 7/28 (last week). 122 bpm. They did the ultrasound to make sure the baby is in position, and now it is (it also was at our previous visit for the first time.) We pet that little bony butt a lot.

The baby is so big all you see is either the head or the heart. There's no full view of the baby anymore.

There has been more crafting. Of course. Made another little toy for Baby Bean.

What do we have left to do? Pick a Pediatrician, pack the bag(s), fit the car seat. Did we forget anything? We have two Doctor's appointments left.

36 weeks & 3 days

Wow, in 4 days our little squirt is considered Full Term. The day is drawing near, but it gets more and more unreal. So much has happened in the last month to really bring it home to us, but it's still so surreal. We've had THREE Doctors appointments, they poke & prod you A LOT toward the end. Pretty much the same stuff each time. For our last appointment I had lost 1.5 pounds, and was back to gaining 15 lbs overall, but at our appointment today I had gained 3 lbs, so now we're at 18 lbs total, uterus size is right on track at 36 cm.

Baby Bean is kicking like MAD! It's what my friend Abigail said, in the last month you don't have a round belly anymore, it's got corners and sharp edges and it changes constantly. Very Alien-like stuff is going on in there. The Bean also hiccups A LOT. When I wake up in the morning, and especially when I drink water. We were told babies that hiccup in utero continue to hiccup when they come out. We're prepared! (Or so we'd like to think, ha ha ha.)

Tina & Jill hosted the most awesome Baby Shower EVER on July 11th.

Cool games (I know, shocker), Tea & Sandwiches & Champagne & Sweets.


It couldn't have been any better. Look how much fun we're having! Abigail, Jill & Aileen - or maybe it's the Bubbly?!



Tina & Jean are lounging with their Limey treats!



The other Pregnant Lady, Teenuh, decided to sit in the hammock, I know the feeling, COMFORT.



And we TOTALLY made out. We have the best and most generous friends, our baby will be clothed, and VERY WELL too! An entire GINORMOUS box of hand-me-down baby clothes. AN ENTIRE BOX. And TOYS. And TOWELS. And BLANKETS. It kind of brought it home a bit. To pick up all the little clothes, and the toys, and the cutsie blankets, and realize, there will be a little person to dress in all these itty bitty things. Soon. Very soon.

We also have a VERY fancy Phil & Ted stroller.

 

It's red, hello, awesome!! And a diaper bag that is all super-matchy and SWANKY. Sheets, tub, good smelly baby stuff, a Jacob Baby Bjorn Carrier, and WOW. Home made stuff, the cutest baby sweater, a little red and white REVERSIBLE jacket, even a FOOD processor and baby food cook book! And I am forgetting a gazillion things... Did I mention we have the most awesomest and bestest friends ever?!?! There are no words to really describe how great they are. We are very lucky.

The Boys had a "Man Shower". You can't really put that in a way that doesn't sound weird. Disc golf in Napa, Beer, UFC evening, more Beer, Tequila, more Beer, Pizza, more Tequila.. and thankfully we have no pictures of that evening. They had fun though, and that is what matters.

We celebrated Jacob's BIG Birthday with steak at Sundance Steakhouse in Palo Alto. It was fabulous. Then on the 4th we had a Birthday party at Rui's house, lots of dogs, Rockband, snacks, BBQ and superb Company. 

In July we also completed all the Baby classes. Cesarean Birth class, three Child birth preparation classses (stages of Labor and Breathing Techniques), Breastfeeding Class and finally Comfort Techniques in Labor (which includes a can of COLD beer. The cold part is important, for me, the beer for Jacob.) I feel much better about the actual labor process now, knowledge always helps, both what to expect, what to do, and the policies of the hospital. Can't in a million years anticipate the pain, so we'll take it as it comes.  We got tennis balls, BIRTHING (really, exercise) ball, starting the list of What To Bring To the Hospital. Yeah, it's that time soon...

After the Baby Shower we went to Babies r Us and got a car seat. It helps to have one of those if you want to bring your little squirt home. Or so we heard. After much Baby Bible reading (the Baby Bargains book has been our SAVIOR), we decided on the Chicco Keyfit 30. Can you imagine some itty bitty shoulders in this five-point-racing-harness? Woah.

We've been up to some crafty stuff too. Working on the Sea Themed Mobile. The Crew is made, and now Jacob gets to put it all together! Say hi to Sammy the Seahorse, Fred the Fish, Oscar the Octopus, and Carmen the Crab. Hopefully they'll get some use in the next few years.

Check out these super-cute drawers. Everything washed and ready.

 

Second drawer is for 3+ months...

 

Now all we do is Wait.

Is it time yet?

With a belly like this, I understand why walrusses swim a lot. It makes me feel somewhat normal, and the pool is soooooo nice!

Weekends of Wine Tasting & Designated Driving

We just had a great couple of weekends of driving around the Santa Cruz Mountains and tasting wine (smelling for me that is). The weather was not too hot, it was a tiny bit sunny, and even though for the first time I couldn't try the wine, I still had a blast!! (And so did everyone else if you measure it by the volume of the singing in the backseat!)

For once there is a picture of us together, and it actually looks good! We are at the Chaine d'Or Vineyard in Woodside, about 10 miles or so from where we live. I wish we could just live up here too...

A 9 year old told me on Saturday that, no, it doesn't look like a basketball really, more like a BEACH BALL.

The Crib is in!

In the last few weeks we have spent most of our time doing bean-related chores, I mean tasks... I mean... Well, there's A LOT of work figuring out what we need, especially when you don't have a clue. One of or friends pointed us in the direction of "Baby Bargains", a 600 something page book about what to, and what not to get, for the baby. Phewey. That is some pressure. But it's also been sort of our bible as we've gone through all the baby stuff the world has to offer. And oh yeah, there is A LOT of baby stuff out there. A LOT. Most of the time it is totally overwhelming, but also soo fun. We must have looked at a couple of hundred cribs on numerous websites, and finally settled on one! They had it in stock at Babies r Us, so we just bought it. Silly to think it would fit in the Prius, but with help from a friend we still got it home! Some reviewers complained about not finding a mattress that fit. Our first purchase was too short, more than two fingers between the crib and the mattress is not a good thing. So we measured the crib, then went back to BRU and found a mattress that did fit. (Of course it was not as cheap as the first one, but it FITS and we're happy.)

An entire evening was spent moving every piece of furniture around our tiny tiny bedroom in order to find the perfect spot for the crib. But first thing is first. We had to put it together. It was really a breeze. This is not some shoddy and rickety IKEA furniture for sure.

Musical chairs of furniture arranging began. How about here?

Or maybe next to the bed?

Or maybe on this wall?

Or here?

 

The moral of the story? There was really no need to move everything around. We ended up putting the crib where we originally had planned to put it. Typical. But at least now we know! We also got some cute red linen curtains and other stuff, but no pictures of that  yet.

Yesterday was another Doctor's visit. They are starting to be more frequent now, every two weeks, for another month, and then every week. Gained 4 lbs in 2 weeks (but seriously, I think the big lunch we had before going to the Doctor's attributed to 2 lbs probably, normally we go early in the morning. But anyway.) Baby Bean is definitely growing. Uterus is now at 33 cm, blood pressure is normal, no protein in urine, yadda, yadda, yadda. We got to hear the baby heartbeat again. Somehow it is the most tell tale sign that we do have a baby growing. Apparantly all the kicks, rolls, twirls and general wobbliness of the stomach is not enough. Hearing the heart beat is always new and amazing and wonderful. 145 beats per minute said the Doctor. Isn't there some old wives tale about predicting what the sex is when you know the heartbeat?  I asked if she could tell which way it is situated, and she poked around and said " here's the spine", poked around some more and found the baseball, I mean the head. So we were right. It prefers to hang out on my left side, it scooches its entire body up on that side, head up, and my stomach looks warped with the entire body on the left side, and nothing on the right. Silly baby. The Doctor said it has plenty of time to turn, and to turn numerous times before labor.

It is funny how used to its schedule you become, and how conditioned you are when it communicates "HEY GIVE ME MORE ROOM!" by kicking straight down. We are supposed to do "Kick Counts" now. How long does it take for the baby to kick, twirl, roll, move 10 times? It shouldn't take over an hour.  When it is awake it usually takes about 5 minutes for it to complete the kick count requirement. And it definately has a very specific schedule. This baby wakes up with us in the morning, bops around a little and then goes back to sleep. Around 10 am it is exercise time again, then nap until noonish, exercise, nap until 4 pm, and THEN it bops around until 6-7 usually, regardless of what we do, sitting on the couch, or being out and about. Sleep again until 10-11 pm, then make a ruckus when the parents are trying to go to sleep. It is really the best time to watch the Alien Belly TV though, so we don't mind.

The baby doesn't like when I switch sides either. "Imagine laying in water balloon, and then it changes direction, that has to take some readjusting", my friend said today. After switching sides last night, it looked like the butt was sticking straight up as I had turned on my right side, and it took a while for the baby to readjust. And then I had to switch again.

The funniest thing yesterday was when Jacob was dawdling getting out of bed in the morning. He felt a couple of baby kicks in his back and said "Ok, I guess the little one thinks I should get up too." This week it's supposed to be able to distinguish sounds, so I bet it heard him. This is one opinionated little squirt we have.

Bean Belly

Since so many of you have complained, here are some belly pictures. These were taken last week, wearing non-pregnant jeans, just for a comparison. It has certainly grown in the last month!

We had a Doctor's appointment last week. Gained 2 lbs in a month. (Seems to be all baby weight, these ninja punches are starting to make me flinch!) Blood pressure and all that was fine. The uterus measured 31 cm. Usually it measures in centimeters what it is in weeks, so we should be at 29, pretty nifty huh? But the Doctor just brushed it off, he said it wasn't a big deal. We asked if he could tell which way the baby is situated, he said in week 32 he can, just a couple of more! I'm pretty certain it's in breech, since I keep getting kicked in the ass every day. Multiple times a day. It looks a little like a bowling ball, huh?

Also signed up for a few baby classes, most of them in July. It's getting closer, only ten more weeks... and this is certainly not something procrastinable (that's a word right?)

The bean is as active as ever, especially right before lunch or dinner, or after I drink fruit juice, and ESPECIALLY when it's time to go to sleep. It's starting to get tough to sleep when something is having a party on the inside! Jacob can't feel sorry for me, after all, it is a GOOD thing it's active. It's nice too, and crazy when you feel something very hard and round (a head? a butt?) move across the entire stomach. It makes you wonder what is going on in there sometimes.

Oh, almost forgot! We finished Bay to Breakers! We walked the race at a pretty slow pace, it took us about 3 hrs and 20 minutes, we BARELY made it under the time! Probably an hour slower than normal. It was hot trekking up Hayes Hill, but getting into the park we started feeling the breeze from the ocean, so it was nice! (And check it out, we managed a picture with ALL of us and NO naked people! That may be more difficult than it sounds.)

 

Walking back to Footstock was tiring, but the grass was nice and soft to lie on. We walked about 10 miles that day, got maybe a little sunburnt, then went home and spent 2 hours in the pool before BBQ:ing. That was maybe the nicest. You would think with all that water on the inside, you'd float better in the pool, right? Not the case.

When We Were Young, Very Young. Part I.

Let's start with Jacob. Look at those baby blue blues! There's another picture too with his signature look, but he likes this one better because he smiles, so it goes on the blog! Adorable!

Jacob and big brother Dustin in their cute matching sailor outfits.

We still got in a picture with his signature look. This is still the look on his face when he watches TV. He doesn't hang over the couch like that anymore though.

And how cute is this? Check out those cute little shoulder blades. So adorable when he sleeps! And he still sleeps just like this.

50 % of Baby Bean genes. I think they are pretty damn cute.

Alien Belly Watching

Last Friday, on the 24th of April, we actually SAW Baby Beans little movements for the first time! And without any new-fangled fancy ass ultrasound technomology! It was a surreal Alien moment when the belly starts moving all on its own. There was some bumping, kicking and twirling. We were mesmerized. There is SOMETHING in there! Jacob was watching, and when it stopped, he poked in the same spot a little bit, and BAM BAM he got two kicks back! Feisty and opinionated little bean we got!

 Sometimes BB wakes up right when we do, and sometimes it takes another 15-20 minutes and the little kicks start. "HEY, I AM HUNGRY!" or "HEY, GIVE ME MORE ROOM!" Sometimes it bops around like crazy, and Jacob puts his hand on it, and it quiets down, if I do it, it just kicks me in the hand, wherever I put it. Hrm... Wonder what that means...

Today was our monthly appointment, we have another one on June 5th, and then they started scheduling them 2 weeks apart. Gulp. We're getting closer.

Gained 8 lbs!! That would be about 3.6 kg! Probably only time ever I will EVER be happy about gaining weight. Blood pressure was good - CHECK, no protein or sugar in urine -CHECK. We're getting used to the drill now. The Doctor measured the uterus, 25 cm I think she said (about 2-3 inches above the belly button), also showed me how to feel where it ends. It has a very distinct ridge. She listened to the heartbeat, hunted around for awhile, and then we heard *shoop*shoop*shoop*shoooooooooooop*shoooooooooooooop*shoop*shoop*. She asked if we could hear it change, we nodded, and then told us that it is completely normal for babies hearts to beat like that, and that, in fact, they make sure they can hear that change. The things you learn... She asked if I've felt it move. Ehm yeah!! And she okeyed doing the Bay to Breakers race, just to make sure I stay hydrated, and to have fun!! It's 7.6 miles (12 km),  on May 17th at 8 am. (That would be RRRREALLY early.) We're walking it, so it will probably take around 3 hours. Also did the Glucose screening test today, drank some nasty ass orange soda (which I normally like, but not this stuff, gross.) Then they drew more blood (no surprise).

We got some more books too, figured you can never read too much! "The Expectant Father" for Jacob, another "pregnancy" book, that got really good reviews, "Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy". And also some absolute cuteness to make from Amy Butler's new sewing book "Little Stitches for Little Ones"; maybe a tad too optimistic on what I will have time to make from it, but oh well. Did finally finish another baby project! The compulsory Lace Leaf Baby Cardigan! It's pretty unisex right?! (Or uni-mammal even..)

Isn't Elliott cute?! We figured he may be getting dressed by little grubby fingers eventually. Might as well get used to it. And besides, the cardigan will have more use! Started and finished a little baby bootie last night. Elliott would have none of it. Enough is enough.

Baby Avenue

We are more than mid-way at this point. Whoohoo!! The pre-registration forms sort of hit it home; and well, also the VERY ACTIVE little kicker we have, bopping around constantly right now - nesting has started officially. Or the URGE to, has anyway. We have decided to not buy anything until around month 7 or 8, but we can still look right??

So we went to Burlingame for dinner and window shopping. There are SIX baby stores on this street. Yes really, SIX. There's even a breastfeeding store (no, we didn't go in, it was a little intimidating, and I even have the boobs), did I mention it is a very snooty street? But OMG how cute were not the baby clothes?! Well, besides the $70 designer INFANT jeans, they were just obscenely expensive. Until we found the most awesome stroller. For $700.

http://www.strollermama.com/rockstar-baby-stroller.htm

No, we are not going to buy it, but it is so the silliest thing we saw!!! Jacob actually took a picture of it, so friends would believe us when they saw it, but apparantly these people are PROUD of these things. Sheesh. Not sure the lady in the store appreciated our giggling and picture taking. Oh well.

One of the other top items we found from surfing the web must be the Diaper vest.

http://www.dadgear.com/gear_main.cfm?ID=4

Are these things for real? It looks like one of those coats that pimp wear and sell fake rolexes out of. Except this one has diapers in the inside pockets (cue Jacob's Pimp impression skit. Hilarious.) Now what do you do with the dirty ones? And where are the baby wipes??  (Don't answer that one.)

A site with a lot of cool stuff is Baby Earth (and some  silly stuff too):

http://www.babyearth.com/clothing.html

Still, the Daddy sites crack me up the most, here's another one:

http://www.diaperdude.com/

Really, who comes up with these names?!

I think the hour we spent at Babiesrus was probably the most productive one. (It took us only 15 minutes or so, two Silicon Valley dorky techies, to figure out how to detach the infant car seat from the base. It had alot of orange buttons to push. At least five. Using three hands to detach it from the car just didn't seem very practical, so we kept trying. and finally found the BIG orange button to push, a one handed operation for sure. Phew. They seem to make these things very well.) There were A LOT of car seats to choose from. We checked functionality (see above), practicality (how long can it be used), butt-cushionness (I know, our Bean will have a built in one as well, but STILL), color (NO PINKS AND BLUES, even if the purple velvet pimped out one was fabulous), and of course price. It was a lot of fun.

Next baby bean appointment is on May 1st. It's certainly growing, and it's getting more and more exciting, I think especially for Jacob, who now felt it TWICE over the weekend!!! A lot of *Bop*bop*bop* each time. He is becoming a pro at figuring out if it's the baby or just weird rumblings! if I say "oh it moved" he'll come running and push my hands out of the way to feel it! Right now most of the movement is as soon as we wake up in the morning, apparently there is a daily workout scheduled. *Bop*bop*bop*. Then after breakfast, high blood sugar, yey! Food coma sets in, and the Bean naps, then lunch and dinner, and same thing. Started feeling it when we're out and about too. In the car "HEY GIVE ME MORE ROOM!", going out for dinner "HEY, STOP CROSSING YOUR LEGS, I NEED MORE ROOM!", and just sometimes standing around I get a nice kick downwards. Or angled backwards. Getting kicked in the ass from the inside is NOT a pleasant feeling. Why don't you ever read about this anywhere?! The weirdest feeling so far I think is the belly button rub, it must have been a back or a butt. And the roundhouse kick - you know, like the Chuck Norris kick. Twirl around, and *BAM* into the belly button. From the inside. Yesterday the Bean decided to scooch up on one side, so there was a big bump on the left side, and the right side of the stomach was just flat. Coolest view ever.

To see how far along we are, check out the Baby Bean Growing Meter on the top left. It's disgustingly cute!