New Baby, New Farmhouse

So, Josh and I are moving to the country! We'll be living in a beautiful farmhouse over the winter on 20 acres! We're very excited to hunker down and focus on what's really important in life. We're thrilled that the baby will spend her early months in a quiet, peaceful setting--where her mom is with her every day!!!! (and dad, too, of course). Come visit! We're at 31 weeks now and the baby is really a mover and a shaker (my lack of sleep attests to this fact). Maybe she can take over my childhood nickname of "squirm the worm." We can't wait for her to be with us. I am having to learn patience!!!!! Not my strong suit.

Meeting My Belle

I saw Bella in my dream last night for the first time. Not that I haven't had dreams about her, but this time she was born and fully part of my family. And I can now confirm, for all those who are wondering, that yes, she is the most beautiful baby ever to be.

The description: she had brown hair (and a good deal of it), big eyes (hard to tell the color...sorry, maybe next dream), and very full lips. Definitely had some chubby check action going on.

Can't believe I have to wait until February!!!!!!

The Beginnings of a Nursery

We put together Bella's crib this weekend. With everything in the world so expensive, we are SO BLESSED to be using Nick and Andi's old crib (thank you!) It's a beautiful crib and it matches the wood in the room perfectly. The room is definitely a bright, bright green, but we're going to keep it that way. It seems very happy and makes me smile whenever I walk in there. I think we're going to try and put together the rest of the nursery with used things...it's just silly what people pay to put together a nursery...when really, we know that the things Bella needs we already have in abundance. And the rest of the "stuff" is not that important. We'll make it all work! And besides, I don't think she'll be using the room too much early on...she's too cute and we want to keep her next to us!!!!!!

Berkshire Babies

We went to the Berkshires for the long weekend. We took a drive up to Vermont on Saturday to see the fall foliage and on Sunday we took a boat ride out on Twin Lakes right over the border in Connecticut. It was beautiful. We spent lots of time watching Jaimie and little Nicholas, which is fun and entertaining, but also very tiring! I know it's good practice, but we got off the plane this morning completely drained and exhausted (the 6 a.m. flight likely didn't help nor the fact that I am not feeling well). Not enough sleep I guess.

Another very special part of the weekend was meeting the newest addition to our "extended family." Maria, Nathaniel and Maddie's baby was born on Friday morning! How fortuitous that we were home! Sonja Claire Rundle is PERFECT and beautiful. She is so serene and calm...you just want to hold her all day (and if you are me, you want to steal her!) It made me wish Bella were here already because, as most of you know, I REALLY like babies and would like one of my own to squeeze. Well, I do have one of my own, but I can't squeeze her too well just yet. She mostly just wiggles around and tickles me. It was fun to see a tiny newborn and imagine what February will bring. Maria is a goddess and an inspiration and I just hope I can be as strong as her!

There are two pictures I'll be adding shortly (have to get them off the camera!) One is baby Bella's first boat ride! The other is little Serene Sonja!!!!

Can't wait to see how both of them have grown when we go back home for Thanksgiving!

She sucks her thumb!!!

Today we had our medical ultrasound and everything looks perfect. We saw close-up shots of the baby's little heart beating, all her organs and all 20 little fingers and toes. It was remarkable...and attached is a picture of her sucking her thumb!!!!! She's so beautiful...you can tell from some of the profile shots that she has beautiful lips!!!!

Tomorrow we have our "official" medical ultrasound, which will survey the baby's anatomy--hard to imagine that we're just about at 20 weeks (this Sunday). All of the baby's organs are fully formed, and now they just need time to mature and grow. Hopefully we'll get some more pictures to put up there for all to appreciate!

As for life, we are *slowly* adjusting to DC. It's a brave new world here, very different from our peaceful, sunny, farmer's market-filled life in California. I can't say we love it here, but we're doing our best to make it our home.

Check back tomorrow!!!!!

Here she is....

She's still a bit shy and wouldn't show us her face, but we were very excited to see her sleepy little profile. Looks comfy in there!

And as you can plainly see, such a delicate, demure beauty deserves a sobriquet more becoming than Chi-Chi. So we'll have to come up with something new. Sweet Pea, perhaps?

Here's some news...little Sweet Pea sleeps by day but parties by night! Holly can feel her moving in the wee hours, practicing her flips and tumbles and pretty much rocking the house!

Beautiful Baby GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's the view from down under...it clearly takes a trained eye to differentiate these things. It is, however, official: we're having a beautiful baby girl...who we think we'll call Bella (still thinking on that one though...). Josh is going to scan the latest ultrasound pictures today and we'll add those to the blog.

EXCITING!!!!!!!

The Bits

Sunday we are going for our second ultrasound--it's a "4-D ultrasound" (but we're not exactly sure what that 4th dimension is). Everyone start sending the Chi good vibes so s/he will humor us with a look at those itty, bitty, baby bits! Sunday we'll be 18 weeks, which is hard to imagine. It's also the earliest point that they can determine the baby's sex (but there's no guarantee we'll be able to tell). That said, because our little Chi is likely an overachiever just like his/her mama, I'm thinking we've got it in the bag. Our ultrasound is outside Baltimore, so we might take our little Chi to the Orioles/Twins game afterward--just to celebrate his or her newfound gendered identity. Not to fear though, there is no chance this baby will be, as they say, "perinatally pinked." No stereotypes allowed. No pink frills or forced truck/train/tool decor here. Stay tuned for the big news!!!!!!

We are now conducting a VOTE of our loyal readers: IS IT A GIRL OR A BOY??????? Tell us!!!!

16 Candles (well, weeks...)

Can you believe this is an image of a 16-week old baby? CAH-RAZ-EEEE. We'll add some tummy shots soon!

The Chi vs the Chinese in 2026

Well, we're going through Olympics withdrawal here at Chi-Chi Industries, Inc. And it occurs to us now that, in our dotage, the sun may be setting on the Olympic dreams of Mama and Papa Bear. Sure, Mama Bear was once a collegiate rower with a mean spike on the volleyball court. And yes, Papa Bear is tall. But while he may believe he can do pretty much anything he sees on TV (Olympic trampoline can't be all that hard!) the bitter truth is that Papa Bear old. And bald. And thin. And not in a good way, like beach volleyball gold medalist Phil "The Thin Beast" Dalhausser.

So we recognize that our only hope now lies with the Chi-Chi. Little Chi, what Olympic glory will you bring to our household, and in what arena? Water polo or weightlifting? Shotput or sculling? Whatever path you take to the gold medal stand, we shall root you on with love. So start swimming laps now, Little Chi, and practice your tucks and pikes and backward two-and-a-half twists. Don't forget to stick the landing, because it's never too early to start training. Hey, you're already nearly as old as the Chinese women's gymnastics team.

And if Olympic gold isn't your thing, Chi-Chi, don't worry. You can always be a major league baseball player! (Preferably for the Minnesota Twins or the Boston Red Sox.)

The Nation's Cradle Is Now Chi-Chi's Cradle

Greetings from D.C.! We have successfully moved all the way across the country...I think it was around 3200 miles. We are settling in to our new home (pics to come shortly). After three attempts, IKEA finally delivered a bed for us to sleep on (all previous delivery attempts resulted in a mangled bed showing up at our door...I think the delivery men have a party in the truck en route to their delivery...what else besides exuberant dancing could explain finding bootprints all over your furniture?) We have one cooking pan (which is a wok) and we are slowly mustering up the courage to go grocery shopping (trust us, it's truly NOT that fun to go once you see the produce here...it PALES in comparison to our beloved California). We feel the loss of the avocado. It's like the death of a beloved pet.

I have started work, which is beyond frightening. I'm not sure I'm smart enough and I look around some days and wonder how on earth I even got myself into this gig...hopefully I'll settle in and manage to do an okay job. In the meantime, it is a humbling and awe-some feeling (in that it leaves me in awe) to work in this environment on these kinds of cases.

We had our first appointment with the midwives here in D.C. and I am in love with them and think they are best thing EVER. What smart ladies! Yay to be free from the established medical juggernaut!!! It's like I've been released from prison. Everything looks A-ok with the baby and we are at 13.5 weeks! The severe bouts of morning sickness have passed (thanks be to all that is good and holy) and I now only vomit occasionally. The baby has a room at our house which very conveniently came with green walls! A happy, happy green. It looks like spring grass. That said, if we only live in the house a year, I don't know how often the baby would end up in the room. I think we'll just keep the Chi with us--who doesn't want a cute baby in their bed?

Many apologies for abandoning the blog. We've been without internet, and then we were without energy. But we're back! And there is much more to come...

Close-Up

Does anyone see arms here? It does look like there might be an arm with some fingers. Anyway the photo on the left is a cropped version of just the baby. On the right is a 3-D version of a 9-week old baby from the web. Enjoy!

Say Hello To Our Little Friend!

The moment everyone has been waiting for: the grand unveiling of the baby! Today we had our first ultrasound and the doctor gave us a due date of Valentine's Day. Everything is looking A-ok, very healthy. Prognosis: perfect. At first the doctor said "there's a lot of amniotic fluid" and then he proceeded to look for more than one baby...but in the end, there's just one little babe (I was torn between relief that it was one and sadness that there weren't two...but in the end, I think we can make do with the one.) Officially, we are 8 weeks and 3 days pregnant. I, however, think we might be about a week further along than that (just based on knowing my body and when I started 'feeling' pregnant).

For those of you who need googlemaps to understand this little picture, the baby is the "double-blob" in the upper left hand corner. It's head is actually the blob to the right (baby is chillin' upside down), and it's rump is to the left. The crown to rump length is 19mm. For those of you who prefer your measurements American-style (aka: freedom measurements), the baby is about three-quarters of an inch and growing!

Little Baby, We Dub Thee...

Okay, so there has been a request that I not channel large, furry, woodland animals whilst posting to the blog. (Papa Bear sad now.) Apparently I may have creeped out one or two of our few diligent readers, and for that I do sincerely apologize. (Growl!)

Moving right along, we have decided upon a temporary moniker for our little cub -- I mean baby. That's right little baby boo, we now dub thee "Chi-Chi." We have given you this name not in honor of legendary golfer Chi-Chi Rodriguez, but rather after a particularly memorable meal that your daddy ate one fateful evening in the fall of 1993.

You see, little Chi-Chi, I was a young man of 18 back then, on my way to college in a small Minnesota town. The whole family was along to see me off, and, seeking nourishment in an unfamiliar land, we stopped for a Mexican dinner at a strip mall off I-494, not far from the Mall of America. Now coming from the West, we were well-schooled in the way of the enchilada, but never before had we dined at Chi-Chi's, a distinctly Mid-Western establishment.

That fact, however, did not stop me and your Uncle Matthew from ordering the "El-Presidente" special. Tacos, enchiladas, possibly a taquito or two, rice, refried beans. The Prez had it all, and it was all covered in lots and lots of cheese. Good eating, indeed. That is, until about until six hours later when El Presidente rode back into town, seeking his bilious revenge.

I will spare you the details, dear little Chi-Chi. But suffice it to say that my brief encounter with your Minnesotan namesake is the nearest I can imagine to the bodily upset that you are now visiting upon your poor, precious mother.

And so, until the time comes when your innocent development dispenses with all its digestive displeasure, we shall call you Chi-Chi. And when that happy day arrives, we'll call you Henry...or Bella...

Me Papa Bear!

Me Papa Bear! Me like little baby bear in Mama Bear's tummy. Growl! Writing hard. Honey good. Berries yummy. Our little cubbie very, berry good. GROWL!

Morning Sickness Really Means All-day Sickness

So sorry that the blog has been left unattended. Unfortunately, I have not been feeling very well. Finding my appetite, and then eating, and then keeping it all down has been a real challenge. It really helps to be in the fresh air--being by the ocean is especially good. But my office seems to be the absolute worst place for it (stuffy air with no circulation). The good news is that morning sickness is supposed to mean the baby's thriving and asserting itself as a strong presence. We have our first ultrasound in less than two weeks, so keep looking for those pictures!!!!!!!!

First Heartbeat on our First Father's Day

Today the baby's heart started beating. What a beautiful Father's Day. This is what the baby looks like now--super cute already (maybe a little alien-ish). I've definitely felt pregnant the last few days--the lovely symptoms have started, but I'm thrilled about it all. After spending a few years nauseous already, I can say with all honesty that this baby is worth all the nausea in the world. We recently returned to our baby name conversation. Now that he or she is actually in existence, we think we should keep looking and listening to all options; after all, there's a lot in a name. We have most likely settled on Bella Reese if it's a girl (maybe Isabella Reese) and Henry if it's a boy. Henry's middle name is up in the air...what do you all think of Henry Elijah? Josh originally like "Wood" which is his middle name, but I think he wants the baby to have a name that is 100% his own, just like Bella would.

Hands and Feet!

The baby's limb buds are noticeable now. We can't wait to see them. We have our first ultrasound on July 8th. We'll be in our 9th week then, and the baby will really "look" like a baby by then (and less like a tadpole). THRILLING! Josh recently went up to Portland for work and also visited his mom (soon-to-be Grandma Luan...but we need to think of a better name than that). Luan saved Josh's old baby blanket and Josh took some pictures. We'll post those soon! Makes you wonder if baby will look like mommy or daddy? Or a beautiful combination of both.

Mommy and Baby Day

Today was a great day even though we missed daddy. The baby and I relaxed at home and read. We made lots of good food and ate tons of salad! We also drank more water than I thought possible while trying to beat the heat (100 degrees today!) We definitely miss daddy and appreciate everything he does for us--cooking dinner and cleaning and watering flowers and taking out trash--he sure does most everything. We also just miss his smile and laugh. We're mighty lucky.

First Day Without Daddy

Josh/Daddy was called away to Portland until Thursday for work, so me and the baby are just hanging out by ourselves. Today we are at 5 weeks and feeling great! Only one more week until the heart starts beating, which is the most exciting thing in the world. Hopefully we'll get to have an ultrasound in the next two weeks! So far, I feel great--obviously I have the best baby in the world!!!!!!! We miss you daddy!

Take (Baby) Out To The Ballgame

We've decided to expand our baby's cultural horizons early. Last night, we went to see Indiana Jones. Of course, Josh wanted to see some boring documentary, but I never let Josh stand in the way of a good action flick (too bad it was terrible)! This afternoon, the baby attended an Oakland A's game! Yay for the baby's first baseball game! Very exciting! Of course, it wasn't a Red Sox or Twinkies game, but still, it was baseball and hopefully some of our love of the game was absorbed via osmosis. GO SOX!!!!!!

We're Positive!!!!!!!!

We're having a baby! Who knew that we'd be so lucky! According to our best calculations, the baby was conceived in a fit of afternoon passion on May 19th, which means our baby is due around February 10th (but apparently only 5% of babies are actually born on their due date). Already the baby's nerve development has begun and tomorrow our "blastocyst" will officially become an embryo! Josh thinks we should have a party--and it does seem like quite an accomplishment. You go little blasto! Check back for future developments!!!!!!