Oma's Christening Gown

Well, the little man may not be subjected to the formality of a traditional christening, but he will have to suffer the tradition of wearing the gown. Lala got him dressed this morning while Mom was showering and unable to protest.

The gown was handmade by my great-great grandmother, Emma Gregory. My Oma and all her siblings wore the gown for their christenings, my father and his siblings all wore it, and my sister and I both wore it. It's a beautiful gown and really shows how much love and care used to go into clothes. The picture doesn't show detail of the gown, but the detail of Uli's awfully cute.

Right on with traditions.

Can you believe Papo wore that once? (11/25/07)

Toys for Christmas

So, it may be tough to get toys for Christmas for the Uli man. We just watched the news and the recommendation from several groups was to not buy any toys from China that a child under 2 would put in his mouth. Guess we're going to have to get old fashioned and buy wooden toys and paint them ourselves. Or... buy American made - does the good old USA make toys any more???

I think I'll just get him a carrier so that we can start hiking with him after Christmas.

We're also all organic now for the munchkin's clothes. Trust me, I did not make this decision, although I was probably the catalyst for my husband's newest neuroses. Baby skin is apparantly significantly thinner than adult skin, and therefore absorbs a lot more chemicals than adult skin. No chemicals for the Uli man. We didn't have a homebirth to avoid drug exposure only to allow for chemical exposure through his clothes. Oh, and just in case you were wondering, he isn't exposed to chemicals through his food either - I only eat organic foods. Only chemicals Uli man gets is from the air... considering we live in a fairly rural area, I am thinking his exposure is not too bad.

Picture of the cutie:

No caffeine in the house...

There are no caffeinated coffee beans in the house. This is a tragedy, and frankly, its dangerous to those who come into contact with me. I should put a warning sign out front to warn visitors: uncaffeinated, sleep-deprived Melanie on the loose...

Luckily, we just got a Starbucks that's a five minute walk from my front door. The world is safe for another day.

Uli and I made our coffee run this morning at about 9 am. It was near 40 degrees out. He got to wear his new Capilene. Here's how cute we were:

For tonight's entertainment...

We have the amazing Daddy!!! Not just for bath time anymore, he's now playing at changing tables near you.

Night time bath and massage (10/25/07)

I know I'm cute

Blue Steel (10/18/07)

Whatchya lookin' at? (10/18/07)

Rejuvinated

After a few looong nights with Ulric, Brian and I decided to put the wolf cub (a.k.a. monkey) back in bed with us. Mind you, he was in bed with us all this time, but we tried to put him in the SnuggleNest in order to protect him from our comforter. Uli knew the difference and would have none of it. The last two nights he's been back nestled beside me, and we are sleeping much better - about 6 hours straight last night. Go ahead and make your comments about our parenting, but this is definitely the way to go, and I know many people and many docs that encourage 'co-sleeping' or 'sleep-sharing.' Now the comforter is tucked in tight at the bottom and only comes up to our waists. Poor, skinny BDP might freeze, but Uli will be safe...



I like it best this way. The bags under my eyes may actually go away now.



On another note - I did my first yoga practice today since I had Uli. It was HARD! My balance is off and I am not as strong as I was. It's amazing what a month will do. I will probably go back to my pre-natal DVD for a while until I am feeling a little more confident, then I will head to Shawn's for a proper class.



Finally - the last bit of good news: I was able to put my pre-preggo jeans on today! They are still tight and my loose belly still folds over the waist, but at least I can get them on! PROGRESS! BDP's setting up the bike on the trainer tonight - I can't wait to take an indoor spin on the old steel monster!

Nap time on Mom's favorite pillow. (9/28/07)

I am tired...

Having a newborn is finally catching up with me - I am tired. I still think I have it better than most, as Uli is sleeping pretty well, and I am trying to take it easy while he sleeps. The interrupted sleep is finally taking its toll though, and I am barely able to keep my eyes open at this late hour (it's not even 9 pm yet).

I am not feeling quite myself yet, my body is not what it was before I got pregnant, and I am a little bummed out about that. I didn't expect to just bounce right back, but I also didn't expect to have a bruised tail bone or to have the hormonal changes keep coming in high gear. I feel very matronly right now. I like being a mom, but I could really use a day of feeling pretty again.

Anyway, enough whining. More pictures of the cutie I made. He really is wonderful. He's starting to work on holding up his head, he spends a little more time awake now and he's starting to get an attitude. I do enjoy him, and he is worth the temporary ugliness I am experiencing.

Brian as a Buddhist Monk...

So, if you've spent any time with me these last few days, you know what an advocate I am for cloth diapering, homebirth, co-sleeping, and now... the Moby Wrap. It's awesome. Probably the best invention ever. I knew I would like it before I even had Uli, and that's why my second Mom bought me one. Little did I know it would be this great. Two friends went out and got themselves one after listening to me go on and on and on...

The Moby in action... Brian likens himself to a Buddhist Monk in saffron robes (9/7/07)

A pic of me and Uli the first time I went downstairs after the birth (9/7/07)

Ulric Francis Pierce

Yes, he has a middle name. Two family names, after trying so hard to avoid them. Uli is such an old name that I am not sure it counts, but Francis is definitely still in use (Brian's father, grandfather and uncle).

Uli has been so wonderful these last 10 days... I still sometimes can't believe that I did this...

More pictures of our cute little monkey. Any thoughts on who he looks like? B thinks the milkman...

Ulric doing a happy dance after a bath... (9/11/07)

Waking up after a pretty good night! He slept for a 6 hour stretch!!! He makes this face all the time and I LOVE it. (9/14/07)

Two days old - kiss from Mom. (9/7/07)

Pics of Uli

Here are some pics from these last almost 24 hours...

FYI - Ulric is an old family name (from the Swedes) and means Power of the Wolf or Wolf Ruler. His nickname is pronounced 'Ooley.'

Uli Pierce is here!!!

I am so happy to report that my little monkey finally decided to be born!!! He was born today in a planned homebirth at 2:50 in the afternoon. I labored for abour 12 hours, with a little prelude of 2 days of mild contractions. All in all - it wasn't so bad, although the neighbors may report differently.

Ulric Pierce weighed 7 lbs, 14 oz, and measured 20.5 inches long. He has a full head of hair (his daddy did too when he was born), but it has mom's color! Ulric will indeed get a middle name soon... we'll keep everyone posted.

Pictures coming soon!!!

In labor...

Well, I started having contractions yesterday (Labor Day) at about 1:45 in the afternoon. I am still having contractions but NO BABY!!! They are about 10 minutes apart and steady. So far, they aren't too painful - hope they stay this manageable.

Hope the next post has a picture of the baby!!!

41 weeks and then some...

Yup, still preggers. Depending on how you calculate my due date, I am 4 to 9 days overdue. Brian has already decided that the monkey takes after me, since if he were to take after Brian he would have been early (Brian is always at least 15 minutes early for everything). My mother swears that if she had not been induced while pregnant with me, she would still be pregnant with me... I keep telling myself I can't be pregnant forever.

No other news of interest. I am bored out of my mind. I considered going back to work, but I talked myself out of it since they can't really give me anything to do. So, I just waddle around the house these days waiting for my son's timer to go off.

Think happy birthing thoughts for me!

Look what I made!!!

No, not a baby. He apparently still needs to cook.

In my need to nest and keep myself occupied while I am on maternity leave, I searched in the internet for diaper cover patterns that I could crochet (http://www.dandeliondreamers.com/). This was also a result of how much I love the Aristocrat wool soaker, but am too cheap to buy them. So, instead I choose to give myself carpal tunnel syndrome while I make a whole bunch of these...

for those of you new to cloth diapering, these go over the cloth diaper to keep clothes, furniture, etc. dry when babies wet the diaper

doesn't the monkey look happy?

Off to wash and lanolize the soaker now... and maybe make another!!!

No baby yet

I am still pregnant. I suppose that's okay, because technically, I am not due until tomorrow. Then again, my midwife keeps telling me to think September. Personally, I would prefer to meet the little goober now. As I have said before, I am tired of waiting. I am getting to the point where I can only do so much, just because the baby gets in the way. For example, it's become difficult to drive, as it seems the baby 'flares' and gets bigger when I get in the car. I can't turn to look around and I can't sit comfortably. I definitely waddle now when I walk, and I am sloooooowwwww...

I have no new pics to share, so I dug up a few from a while ago. One of me and Chimp Daddy, and a few I finally poached from Jen from my shower...

Brian needed to be up on a block for this one. We'll blame the photographer - he should know better by now...

Brian is so very excited about the G Diapers and his practice monkey.

All the cool kids sat on one side of the yard: (L to R) Kate, Dee, Melissa, Michelle and La-La

Okay I lied, here's one from yesterday. AZ and Virg post-breakfast in front of Pud's Palace.

Studio Time

As we all know, my husband is a very talented photographer. He really takes awesome pics of bike races, and has quite the flair for getting the 'poop' shots of racers. He also seems to always get the most amazing photos of the Pud, and survey shows that the Pud is BDP's favorite subject matter. I, it seems, rank low on the subject matter scale.

I have been pregnant for over 9 lunar months now, and despite being married to a photographer, it has been difficult to get pictures of my baby belly (something to do with needing better lighting, I guess my blinding white swedish belly is a little too harsh in photos). I finally kidnapped my husband and took him to a friend's studio so that he could take some artsy photos of me. Here are the results:

38 weeks and counting... back on the bike soon! I am already dreaming of riding the new roadie bike!!!

Tired of Waiting

So, Brian and I went to Mt. Snow for the MTB National Race last weekend, and apparently, he took quite a few pictures of me in my pregnant state. I have yet to see them, and frankly, I am tired of waiting for them. So, here are two not so professional or well lit photos of me at 37 weeks (my favorite is the spooky headless photo).

I also finally dug up some photos I took of the nursery right after the baby shower. Here they are:

I have been 'nesting' a bit, so the nursery is far more tidy now than it was then. We finally have a little rug and all the clothes have been washed and put away. I finally got all of the diaper supplies I think I need (we are using cloth diapers, and probably g-diapers for travel), but I am in a bit of a neurotic state about this because I am still not convinced I have enough of everything. Guess I will find out soon enough.

We now have all the supplies for our homebirth, and Brian has been briefed on where everything lives. I will make sure to brief my mother as well. I am really excited about this whole thing, but I admit that I am nervous about my high stress little dog. He's developed a new form of Nemo-speech, and is barking in a very peculiar way. I hope he's as in love with the monkey as he is with me. I don't know what I will do if he's not!

Finally, I am indeed tired of waiting to have the baby. I never thought I would feel this way, but I do! I don't feel like I can really complain, because I am not as big as a lot of women, and I have had a very wonderful pregnancy. BUT - it's hot, and my back is really suffering for carrying all this weight. AND, I just want to ride my bike! (To top it off, my old training partner flaunted her Crested Butte trip recently with amazing photos of my favorite rides. How rude. We'd be there right now if I weren't preggo!)

Last comment of the day: I was sincerly disappointed in my fellow cyclists recently. The TDF is the biggest bike race in the world, and its been ripped apart by doping scandals. I hate that this wonderful sport has to be tainted by doping the way all of the other big sports have been too. It's not as pure as I once naively thought. Makes me glad I don't race.

Getting Anxious!

I recently had the opportunity to meet my friend's newborn son, Lochlan. He was a long time coming, and Miss Melissa was quite anxious to meet him, as he was a bit overdue according to most calculations. He is just the most precious thing in the world - he even has red hair like his Momma. I just love babies...

Lochlan: planned homebirths make happy babies...

Meeting Lochlan sent me into a little tailspin this week, as I started to get nervous that I am not ready for our birth! I spent quite a bit of time late last week ordering most of the stuff I will need for the birth, and now I am picking the diaper supplies off the list slowly. The last on the list are the new clothes I will need in order to nurse my little guy. I think I have a little resistance building on that one, even though I fully intend to nurse.

My dogs seem especially needy these days. Nemo has developed a new form of speech beyond his typical muted bark, which seems incredibly dramatic and desperate. Lady needs more of my attention as well, which is out of character for her. Maybe they can sense that the time is coming soon?

Preview to this weekend - BDP on top of the podium! (Brialee First Place)

Chimp Daddy and I are headed to Mt. Snow, Vermont this weekend for the Mountain Bike Nationals Race. Should be a good time. Vermont is going to be uncharacteristically cool this weekend, which should add a different edge to this race. Can't wait to watch. Hopefully we'll get some good pics of the race (and maybe of me, too), so look for another update soon!

Baby Shower: Barrel of Monkeys!

My baby shower went off without a hitch yesterday at noon. My girly-friend Jen (a.k.a. Virg) out did herself yet again with a beautifully thought out spread. The tables were beautiful, with awesome Monkey Bread favors, monkey napkins, awesome flower arrangements, and great food. My mother decorated the neighborhood with balloons, my loving husband finished some last minute yard clean up, and Virg's polish husband negotiated tight corners and got all the gifts out into the yard (whew!!!). Here are some pics of the shower that my mom took, I expect to be getting some photos that Jen took shortly (as I plan to shamelessly promote her Event Planning busy-ness).

Enjoy!

Papa Monkey taking photos before he bailed for a bike ride. Too much estrogen for him...

AZ Chick and Virgilbullit pre-party. I am not supposed to be around, but I snuck back after yoga...

Final table prep before the guests arrive.

...and just in case you hadn't figured out that the theme here is Monkey's, here's your last clue: most inventive gift went to Marty and Vera for 'Monkey on a Bike.'

It's really Nemo's Blog...

Brian felt I was not giving Nemo enough of the spotlight in the last post, so here are two new pics of Le Pud...