2 Weeks Down, 934 to Go...

We know a measley four pictures cannot possibly hold you for very long, so here are some snapshots of our first two weeks together. A word of caution, in order to see the cuteness that is RJ you may also be subjected to looking at my new, much larger boobs. However, we're all adults and you've seen boobs before -- so a little side-boob and cleavage aren't really that exciting are they?

We spent the first 30 hours or so in the hospital. There is not a whole lot you can do in the hospital, but they do depict our first bonding moments and lots of broken sleep. There are also a few pictures of kangaroo care, skin to skin therapy, to help RJ get warmed up his first evening in the world.

Here is a rare glimpse of the kid without his essential accessory of a hat. He's got some big feet if you know what I mean.

With the concern for jaundice the doctor recommended some brief exposure to the sun.

By the fourth visit to the doctor, RJ was getting quite bored with the whole process.

RJ has hands like Hines, and some instincts clearly kick in from birth.

Screw you dad, this is my territory now.

Believe it or not but the hand down the pants and birdie shots were natural and not staged. More pictures from our first week at home:

RJ's First Trip to the Doctor

So RJ had his first doctor visit on Friday June 22. And there are pictures of our visit.



Newborns typically lose some weight before the mother's milk comes in, but RJ was just on the cusp of weight loss where they start to worry and he was a little jaundiced, so in the last few days, we've gone for multiple weigh-ins. But the good news is that since my milk came in (the day after his first visit) he's back on track with gaining. I actually have my suspicions since he was weighed on 5 different scales, that perhaps his dramatic weight loss wasn't actually as dramatic as it seemed, but since he's turning around anyway, all is good.

Here's his stats:
Birth (Scale 1, Dr. 1): 6.13
Day 1 (Scale 2, Nurse 1): 6.9
Day 3 (Scale 3, Nurse 2): 6.0
Day 4 (Scale 4, Nurse 2): 6.7
Day 6 (Scale 5, Nurse 3): 6.5
Day 8 (Scale 5, Nurse 4): 6.9

Perhaps if Scale 3 (what I see as the outlier) didn't exist we wouldn't have had to go to the doctor's office 4 times in 6 days just for weigh in and color check. But the good news is that he has started gaining, the jaundice is gone (which has coincided with our getting our breastfeeding rhythm down as well) and we have a 9 day break from the Dr. before he needs to go in for his Hep B shot and 2 week checkup late next week.

Happy Birthday Boca Chica!

On June 19, Boca Chica turned 2. And if you think this is just another silly post about the cats, think again...

In addition to this being Garfield and Paula Abdul's birthday, for Boca's Birthday present we gave him a little brother named Reed Jeremy (RJ) DeLancey.


RJ was born on June 19 at 4:24pm Pacific time (that's 7:24pm for you East Coasters).

Here are his stats: 6lbs, 13oz., 20.5 inches long.

Taking it from the top, on the morning of June 19th I woke up pretty restless, I couldn't decide what I wanted to do, and I felt a bit off and a little crampy, but I was just having slightly stronger braxton-hicks contractions. At about 8:00 AM, Lance left for work, and I almost told him that maybe he should stick around, but I didn't want to raise a false alarm, so I didn't. But I still was really restless - I couldn't decide what to eat for breakfast and so I checked some email first. Then my back hurt a little with what was still like a braxton-hicks contraction and I figured that maybe I should ask my mom if it could be a real contraction. She said it might be, so I called Lance, who was now about 15 minutes into his commute. He turned around - and in the process managed to almost exit into a truck weigh station instead of the next exit. I then ate some breakfast and took a shower. (If the contractions went away during the shower, then I would know they were braxton hicks and not the real deal - they didn't go away, in fact they got closer together - we were varying between 8 and 2 minutes apart - very irregular, but still very much there. We got some stuff together and Lance, Momma C, and I got into the car to head to the hospital. This was around 9:30 AM. Along the way we called our midwife and she said that being about 3-5 minutes apart now, that heading to the hospital was a good idea. At this point I could still talk during the contractions pretty well, although with each contraction, my back would hurt more and more -- I actually think my back was contracting more than anything else.

When we got to the hospital (it's about an hour away), we went right up to the maternity ward and into triage. They checked me and listened to the baby briefly - I was 4cm dilated, 100% effaced and at 0 station, so I was admitted and we promptly got the largest labor and delivery room on the floor.

Using the combination of jacuzzi tub, birthing ball, standing positions, and kneeling on hands and knees -- I tolerated 7 hours of back labor without medication. The last hour of pushing resulted in the delivery of a screaming baby boy.

After making a few initial calls we were directed to the post-partum suite with a gorgeous view of the city across the bay.

We were discharged after a hectic and sleepless 30 hours. We weren't sleepless because of RJ, he was an angel, but the non-stop interruptions from the nursing staff led us to turn down staying an extra day so that we could recover at home.

Want a Boy or a Girl...

From a Psychology Today article:

In comparing identical twins, Kohler found that mothers with one child are about 20 percent happier than their childless counterparts; and while fathers' happiness gains are smaller, men enjoy an almost 75 percent larger happiness boost from a firstborn son than from a firstborn daughter. The first child's sex doesn't matter to mothers...

Cute Kitty Update

So Bacardi and Boca Chica are probably going to get a lot less attention once the baby comes. Or at least they're going to hear the word, "no", a lot more. For example, "No Boca, get out of the crib" or "No Bacardi, I can't pet you now, I'm breastfeeding". And they've been getting the silent treatment on this blog, even though they're very much a part of our lives. So, since they were being cute the other day, I snapped a picture and decided to share. Now, this pose lasted long enough for me to sneak out of my chair, waddle to the hallway to get the camera and waddle back and take this from a couple of different angles. However, after I snapped a few pictures, Boca ruined it by pouncing directly on Bacardi (what else is new?).



Also, both kitties know something's up. Boca in particular loves to snuggle up to my belly at night and tends to follow me around the house. Although I think he senses a change...since he decided that attacking my legs was a good idea today, when he hasn't done that for a really long time. Although, it's also possible that he was pissed that he got his claws trimmed by me this morning...who knows?

Also, for those of you counting, Boca Chica is celebrating a birthday soon. He will be 2 years old on June 19th (yep, on my due date). We're not sure if this is ACTUALLY his birthday, but it's the birthday the vet gave him when they saw him the first time.

Belly Shot Update - 39 Weeks

Yep, still pregnant...and still huge...and still not tipped over.

My due date is Tuesday, so I'm HOPING that this will be the last of the belly shots!

My progress...

Cheryl is not the only one making progress, my STARmeter rating is up 185% since last week. I don't really know what that means, but it's cool.

Nugget's Prenatal Appointment - 39 Weeks

Both Nugget and I are doing fantastic. Everything is right on track. For those following my progress toward the birth, I am now 60% effaced (that's 10% up from last week), and still at about 1.5 cms dilated. AND Nugget has dropped. Of course, like always, this doesn't actually mean anything, these aren't indicators at all - I could still go post date or have the baby tonight, it's all a mystery, but progress is good! I'm thinking that this weekend will be a good time to start following the advice of Rachel's OB on 'Friends' in "The One Where Rachel is Late". I'm not late or anything, but it would be nice to have this baby, or at least we'll have fun trying to start labor!

For those of you who want to know what all those terms mean, read on. For those of you (like Sully) who have no desire to know what exactly is happening to my internal organs, you might want to stop here, although I don't think these descriptions are particularly gross or anything.

Dilation: This is the one that most of you probably already know. Basically this is the cervix opening up for the baby to pass through. It's measured from 0-10 centimeters. At 10 centimeters, the mother can generally start to push the baby out, although some don't get the urge immediately, usually because the baby hasn't moved down that far yet (see Station).

Effacement: The thinning out of the cervix. A cervix is usually like a cone that sticks out of the bottom of the uterus. When a woman is preparing for childbirth, the cervix starts thinning, or disappearing. It basically gets sucked up into the uterine wall or becomes part of the uterine wall. Keep in mind that the cervix can be closed and still effacing. When the cervix is effacing it also gets softer and more pliable, thus making it more able to dilate. In first time moms, most of effacement usually happens prior to dilation, although in subsequent births, they can happen simultaneously.

Station: I don't have numbers on this one yet, but it's basically how far into the pelvis/birth canal the baby is. I know that the Nugget's head is at my cervix, since the midwife could feel his/her head, and I'm guessing that Nugget's head is somewhere in my pelvis, since he/she has definitely dropped, but I don't have a station number on it. Station is measured from -3 to +3, where -3 is floating unengaged over the pelvis, 0 is reaching the ischial spines on the pelvis, which means that the widest part of the baby's head is engaged in the pelvis, and +3 is when the baby is crowning, or visable at the vaginal opening to the outside world.

(Diagrams from http://www.healthline.com/images/yodo/big/obip02-05tcg-g1.gif and http://www.healthsquare.com/fgwh/wh1c2603.jpg)

Nugget's Nursery

Nugget's nursery is officially ready for it's little occupant and we took pictures to share the end result (click on the posted pic to see the nursery from other angles). We'll eventually put more decorations on the wall, we have the Madagascar Movie Poster and a limited edition print of the characters that still need to be framed and hung, but that will all happen in time! And at some point there will be a cover for the lampshade too, but that requires me to actually make one!

Belly Shot Update - 38 Weeks

Yep, we only have another week to go 'til Nugget's Due Date! For those keeping track, I still have not toppled over, though my back and pelvis do feel like they might just let me crack in half sometimes. :)

Let's see if I make it to Saturday for another picture!

Cowboys, Gorillas and Hippies...Oh My!

We don't plan on becoming hermits once the baby arrives, but we thought we'd have a fun weekend in the California sun just in case we find ourselves busy for awhile.

On Saturday, we went to the Livermore Rodeo. Yes, in addition to being known for wine and nuclear weapons, Livermore has a very well attended annual rodeo event. Of course, we didn't actually go *in* to the rodeo since we're not rodeo people and couldn't justify the $12/person plus $8/car -- but we did see the (free) parade in downtown Livermore.



We rolled out of bed at an early hour on Sunday to go to Golden Gate Park. We didn't spend much time in the park but we did take a little stroll (err waddle) and saw the gorillas. There is a 7K race that raises money for African Gorillas, and all the runners get a gorilla costume with their registration fee. But in San Francisco it is not enough to *just* wear a gorilla costume. No, you need a costume for your costume. Anyway, it was an interesting spectacle - we might just have to do this one ourselves next year!

Finally, for some social interaction we went to Erin Medlin's appartment for her mimosa and "baked" goods brunch prior to the Haight/Ashbury Street Fair. It is the 40th anniversary of the summer of love for those keeping score. One particular highlight of this hippie scene was a local PTA tent pictured here. It might be hard to see, but yes, that is an elmo-adorned bra wearing, scantily clad woman manning the PTA's "big red yarn ball of love".

After the fair we stopped off in Pleasanton at Stacey's Cafe for a late lunch. I have recently taken up reading Scott Adam's blog. He for those not familiar is the creator of Dilbert and his daily reflections remind me of Dave Barry. Anyway, this was his restaurant that we snacked on some Grilled California Free Range Chicken Sandwiches with Avocado (the menu is quite witty).

(If you click on the pictures, you'll see more pictures from our weekend adventures).

Directions to the hospital...

We could be heading to the hospital any day now so we wanted to make sure we had directions. For those who haven't heard about it, or those who have but couldn't find any place they were interested in seeing with it -- here is the google street view of the hospital.

Mothers, make note of these directions yourself in case nugget decides to come and you find yourself needing to tell the cabbie where to go.

Nugget's Prenatal Appointment - 38 Weeks

Yesterday Nugget and I went to the midwife. Weekly appointments (which are routine at this point in pregnancy) are really a pain in the ass, but I suppose the peace of mind that everything is going along as it should is good.

So, no new news really - Nugget sounds great on the doppler and appears to be growing appropriately. I'm doing good too. For those interested in the progression toward the birth, I am about 50% effaced and about 1.5 cm dialated. Remember that this could mean that I will go into labor tomorrow or that won't go into labor for weeks. It's amazing how little we still know about what predicts birth timing! But Nugget is full-term now, so it can be any time.

Anyway, all is well and we're slowly getting ready for the big day.

Week 37 Belly Shots

Here are the links to this week's belly shots.

I also should point out that we've been labeling them by the whole week of pregnancy completed, which basically means that even though we took this picture this morning and it's labeled 37 weeks, I'm in the midst of my 38th week and actually closer to being 38 weeks pregnant, since on Tuesday, I'll have 38 weeks of pregnancy under my belt (heh...literally). This is true of all the belly shots, since we take them on the weekend.

Yes, I know, I'm huge. But, I've managed not to tip over yet, although I do wobble like a weeble. I also waddle a good amount too - I'm sure that will only get worse once the baby drops!

All work and no play has made Cheryl insane

I don't know whether it's my sudden lack of pile of portfolios, papers, and exams to grade or pregnancy hormones, but since I finished grading my last portfolio (about 10 minutes ago), I've been pretty much giggling uncontrollably with a goofy smile on my face while Lance looks at me like I'm a circus monkey.

I think it's relief. I made it through my first year as a new professor, and I managed to finish the semester BEFORE going into labor! Ah if only I could celebrate with some tequila...well in a few weeks maybe I can have a delayed celebratory sip.

Now let the nesting begin!!

Pregnancy FAQ...

Aunt Debbie sent us this forward which was quite relevant for us so I thought we could share with everybody.

Pregnancy Q & A

Q: Should I have a baby after 35?
A: No, 35 children is enough.

Q: I'm two months pregnant now. When will my baby move?
A: With any luck, right after he finishes college.

Q: What is the most reliable method to determine a baby's sex?
A: Childbirth.

Q: My wife is five months pregnant and so moody that sometimes she's borderline irrational.
A: So what's your question?

Q: My childbirth instructor says it's not pain I'll feel during labor, but pressure. Is she right?
A: Yes, in the same way that a tornado might be called an air current.

Q: When is the best time to get an epidural?
A: Right after you find out you're pregnant.

Q: Is there any reason I have to be in the delivery room while my wife is in labor?
A: Not unless the word "alimony" means anything to you.

Q: Is there anything I should avoid while recovering from childbirth?
A: Yes, pregnancy.

Q: Do I have to have a baby shower?
A: Not if you change the baby's diaper very quickly.

Q: Our baby was born last week. When will my wife begin to feel and act normal again?
A: When the kids are in college.

End of the Semester Countdown

I really really really really can't wait for this semester to end. I don't know what I was thinking teaching 4 classes rather than 3 this semester. The extra money for the 4th class will be nice once I get it (they don't pay us until the grades are in for extra courses), but it's just exhausting and stressful. This is why you haven't heard from me in a while!

But the end is near. At this point, I have 22 portfolios, 8 research papers, 33 Cognitive Development finals (which I proctor on Tuesday), and 24 Social-Emotional Development finals (which I proctor on Wednesday) still left to grade. I hope to be completely done with all my grades turned in by June 1. Then I can focus completely on nesting and Nugget's impending arrival! Or maybe I'll just rest up for birthing the little one! I certainly need it after my first year of being a professor. I'd probably need it even if I wasn't 37 weeks pregnant!

More Belly Shots and Nugget Update

There are three new weekly belly shots since I last posted and some new stuff to share.

Both Nugget and myself are still doing great . Nugget is growing right on target and his/her heartbeat sounds great. I'm doing good too. At my 34 and 35 week checkups, we found that I was 20-30% effaced and 1.5 cm dilated, and my mucous plug has started to break down and pass. This process of normal cervical changes started a little earlier than usual, but it's not really anything to worry about either, since many women walk around for weeks being even more dilated than I. The midwife basically said that my body was just preparing for childbirth and that I'm not at risk for preterm labor even with these factors and Braxton Hicks contractions. At 34 weeks, the Midwife told me that I should take it easy since my activity level can lead to labor - so I started making myself walk slow across campus to class, started taking the elevator, and started rolling my laptop around campus in a small suitcase instead of carrying my backpack. It must be working since at almost 37 weeks now, Nugget is still safe and sound and healthy in my belly and has so far let me continue working. I'll be happy as long as Nugget stays in for another week - so I can proctor my class' exams this week, finish all my grading and not have to do it while recovering from childbirth!

On Tuesday I will be at 37 weeks gestation, so technically Nugget will be considered "full-term" at that point! Although I'd still like the little one to stay put for another week or so!

Survey says...

We were fortunate to collect the opinions of 38 people in our survey. Here's what you thought.

The good news is we think there is a 50/50 chance the baby will be either a boy or a girl -- and it was a 48.6% tie on the gender question with 2 people not giving an opinion. No help there, so let's move onto names.

There is a lot riding on the name for the baby, so we asked about baby names. We already know a middle name of Wayne is a bad idea. The Social Security Administration also just recently released the popular baby names for 2006.

        Boy        Girl
1   Jacob          Emily
2   Michael        Emma
3   Joshua         Madison
4   Ethan          Isabella
5   Matthew        Ava
6   Daniel         Abigail
7   Christopher    Olivia
8   Andrew         Hannah
9   Anthony        Sophia
10  William        Samantha

Despite the obvious benefits of being able to google a unique name, there is some criticism for being too novel as reported in this Guardian article.

In his book Baby Name Report Card, UCLA psychology professor Albert Mehrabian tested a host of names to see how attractive people found them. Some names immediately aroused images of success, others of popularity or kindness. On the whole, people judged to have more traditional names such as Rachel and Robert did extremely well. More alternative names scored badly. Breeze, for example, was given 16 out of 100, while Christopher received full marks. 'A name is part of an impression package,' said Mehrabian. 'Parents who make up bizarre names for their children are ignorant, arrogant or just foolish.'

The boy name theoretically was a no brainer. It may go back even farther, but there is a pattern to boy names in my family:

  William Robert DeLancey
  Robert George DeLancey
  George Jay DeLancey
  Jayson Jeremy DeLancey

Most of you also liked Jeremy, 21.1% (or 8) in fact. The other top choices:

  18.4% 7 Reed
  13.2% 5 Logan
  13.2% 5 Benjamin
   7.9% 3 Finn
   5.3% 2 Marshall

There were a lot of other suggestions getting one vote each: Koos, Mechanic, Lupay, Deven, Noah, Gabe, Bobby, and Reece. Nobody seemed intrigued by Leif or Stone.

For girl names there was not as much of a variety to choose from. Most of you (50%, 19) picked Lily as a good name for a girl. Gabriella was second with 28.9% and Harmony receiving only 3 votes. There was also votes for Reagan, Tia, Driver, Stefanie, and Erotica Jones.

Our choice of first names come with some ambiguity in spelling. Using the baby search tool on the Social Security Administration website we have some indications. First off, in the past 15 years there are no boys named Lily or Lilly and no girls named Reed or Reid. No gender confusion, check. As for popularity in 2006, Lilly ranks 151 while Lily ranks 33. Reed comes in at 470 and Reid has a slight edge at 422. Your opinion was consistent with the overall trend.

Belly Shot Update

Yep, it's time for another belly shot update. You know the drill - click on my belly to get the rest of the belly pictures. 33 weeks and counting.