One Week Old

One week and back at her birth weight. She started out at 7lb 5 oz and was down to 6lb 11oz when we left the hospital, but she has already bounced back...

Grandma and Grandpa R. were enjoying her vicelike grip.

Lulu's Greatgrandma K. got her a farm blanket and Lee thought she looked good in John Deere green.

Lee's company sent her a 1/2 bunny 1/2 blanket with her name embroidered on it. I am sure it will be one of her favorites.

A Petunia and a Burrito

It was the first picture of our two children. What do you think?

Paparazzi

I tried to take a picture, but she is already a diva. She is shunning the paparazzi.

No pictures!

Long Day

Our first full day at home...

Lulu must have gotten worn out. She took a nap on her mother and then on her father. I think her father might have snuck a quick nap in as well. At the hospital, they encouraged lots of skin-on-skin contact for bonding.

Lee was just doing his part to bond.

Baby Lulu

Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers. After much debate, we have decided to name her Lucia Louise and call her Lulu. She is sweet and loves to be cuddled. We are still at the hospital, not the flooded one :-( I will try to get some more pictures uploaded.

Also, check Aunt Kerstin's blog for some recent pictures too.

SHE'S here!

Introducing Miss Rozeboom. (name is coming...)

The happy family. For more baby updates check with Aunt Kers or Aunt Katie.

Well...

The water has broken...I guess that means the arrival of "Baby It" is imminent. I promise to update you when I can.

Still Cookin'

Still no baby. Not much else to say. I am kind of curious what floating baby widget will say on Monday and later if I haven't had the baby yet...do you think it will keep going or stay at zero?

Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. I promise to update with the big news (if it ever happens).

Not Yet

No baby yet. No inkling that it will be soon. I think the problem is that I have been entirely too nice to the little it. It likes its current living environment too much to change it. I have been too hospitable.

I think I am going to start doing everything that you aren't supposed to do while pregnant to try to make its home inhospitable. Tomorrow I am going to load up on caffienated pop and eat fish for every meal. I am also going to withhold vitamins. If those things don't work, I might have to take more drastic measures.

Maybe the problem was that I was planning on going early. Dang! I should have planned to go late and then been pleasantly surprised when it arrived on time.

Also, I am starting to get nervous about labor. Oh well, it is a little late for that now, huh?

2008 Flood

If you haven't heard, the city where I live is flooding. On Wednesday, the predicted crest was at 24.5 feet above flood stage and the previous high was 20 feet. So, I was thinking, "Yikes, that is pretty high." Now it is Friday afternoon, and the predicted crest is at 32.9 feet. 24,000 people have already been evacuated from their homes.

The picture below shows the river that divides are town east and west. The bridge at the top of the picture is the only means of crossing the river. If you look closely, you can see three of the main bridges completely submerged other than the tops of the railings. The buildings on the island are the Veterans' Memorial Building and the courthouse/jail.This is a picture of volunteers helping to sandbag the hospital I planned to deliver the baby at, but I guess I will have to switch hospitals. That is what I get for trying to plan...
Very importantly at the end of a pregnancy in June, one of the Dairy Queens is flooded. This particular DQ is one of my favorites not because of the quality of the product or the service, but because it had a drive-through. Thankfully we have a few other DQs to appease me.

Thanks for all of your thoughts and prayers. I vacillate between feeling guilty and blessed because Lee and I have fared well. Our house and neighborhood are untouched and we haven't had one drop of leaking in the roof or seepage in the basement.

Lee's building is right along the river and he is hearing that June 23rd is the earliest they will be back to normal. He is praying that I go into labor soon, so he doesn't have to use any vacation or sick days. I told him that I would do my best, but as of this morning I am not dilated at all. I think this baby is content to stay where it is.

Cankles and More

Having ankles is totally overrated. Who needs them anyway? And while I am on the subject, who needs bones anywhere in their feet? I don't apparently... I never had the most beautiful feet to start with, but I know they looked better than this. These are like paws.

My mom thought my calves looked a little swollen too, I tried to assure her that their were just "muscley." But now as I look at them, they might be a tad swollen...

At least my toes are pretty, huh?

As requested, this is our baby room which as of this morning is still empty.

We love it, but it scares us every time we walk by. I know, I know, I need to find some things for the walls, but give me time.

Change

I am not good with change. I can freely admit that. Today is the last day of school for this year (and quite possibly mine for awhile). I have students and colleagues that keep stopping in to hug me, a basket full of baby books given to us by the LA department, and a room full of memories that has to be packed up.

I know that I will absolutely love staying at home next year (and maybe the next 20). I have always known that when I had children that I want to stay home with them, but I can't help feeling sad that this chapter in my life in closing. I am getting a little depressed cleaning out my classroom.* I just finished my 7th year teaching and each thing I start to pack reminds me of certain kids and times. I haven't cried yet, but just looking at the bare walls is making me want to.

On a happy note, I had a doctor's appointment yesterday. We had an ultrasound, and they estimate it to weigh about 6lb 10oz. They said everything looked good and should be routine. I am a little scared that it is only about 2 weeks away, but we are as ready as we will ever be.

*One of my most difficult freshman students (who just finished 11th grade) stopped in while I was typing to tell me that he got 2 C's and the rest were A's and B's and that he didn't fail a class the entire school year (I assure you that was not the case in 9th grade). He also was telling me about working this summer. It made me want to hug the little brat who drove me to my limit 2 short years ago.

Tea Party Shower

Yesterday Kerstin and Laine (Lee's sister) hosted a baby shower. Everything was wonderful and every detail was perfectly planned. We chatted, ate good food, played a game that Nanny won, had a sweet devotional, opened presents, and just had a fun time.

They hosted it at a local tea room. Right when I walked in I could see the cute decorations.

LuEllyn (Lee's mom), Laine, Kerstin, Big Mama, and Nanny posing.

We dined on desserts. I was having a difficult time choosing.

This was one of the tables. Notice the cute napkins, balloons and favors (thanks to Hank for helping put them together).

The other table.

Margaret Ann and Brenda, my friends from school. I think I am going to miss working more than I had thought. I am sure the little "it" and I can walk over and visit.

Margaret Ann is one of our school's counselors. I enjoyed her couch on many occasions during the first trimester and in the past couple of months I have enjoyed her stash of peanut M&M's (hidden in a bottom drawer in a Currier & Ives tin). So, she bestowed upon me a 56oz bag of my very own; perfect for helping to get the baby weight off...

Never too old (or too big) to sit on your mom's lap, right?

Maggie and I had to rub bellies. We lived together during college and now we are having babies together. Hers is due in September. She drove a couple of hours just to attend the shower.

I think I am all showered out. I guess that means it is time to have the baby.