"Christmas" Baby in SoCal

It’s winter in Southern California. This week, the weather has dipped into the low 60s, and I’ve observed many brave souls confronting the cold with wooly sweaters and heavy coats. Having lived most of our lives in four-season climates, we’ve become conditioned to expect it to get “wintery” (properly) this time of year – yes, you start with the usual reminders: presents, jingles, Christmas TV specials, shopping madness… and crisp December days, snow flurries… Wait, we obviously don't get the last two bennies over here on the Left Coast. This year is our third Christmas in SoCal and we've had to mentally prepare ourselves each time for the new December expectations out here. This year, I’ve been completely oblivious to the mounting holiday fever. I suppose the crescendo of pregnancy drama over the past 8 1/2 months has been slightly distracting. Nevertheless, it hit us with full impact the day after Thanksgiving – it’s Christmas (or Hanukkah or Festivus ["for the rest of us"] or whatever designation suits your fancy). This sudden realization produced a slight panic - "we have to get into the Christmas spirit!" Battling through the turkey food comas, we immediately put up our Christmas tree...



The result: it did make us think of Christmas but even more so, made us reminisce about recent residences with wonderful Decembers that were truly “wintery”…

London 1998-2003 (living steps away from the Albert Bridge, this illuminated structure always seem to shine brightest when needed most during the winters):



New York City 2003 (yes, that’s THE Christmas tree at Rockefeller Plaza; yes, it’s very touristy; yes, Lorraine had to drag me out of our apartment, trek into midtown through armies of people and taxis, and pay some guy $10 for this blurry Polaroid):



Now, we're looking forward to adding the following entry to our Winter's Greatest Hits list…

Newport Beach 2006 (the arrival of our Christmas baby): our OB told us in the early months that she would only allow Lauren to be one week past her due date (12/18), which placed that date as the 25th. Ever since then, she’s been our Christmas baby. So whatever the weather or day she arrives this December in Southern California, I’m sure this will be, like, the most awesome Festivus ever!

Saving Private Henry

We just received our orders from "up top" (our obstetrician): stand ready to parachute straight into the action on D(elivery)-Day, which can be any day now, and be prepared for what may come out of the Bunker. Although the initially briefed D-Day would not be for another 4 weeks, Lauren has apparently "dropped" down into Lorraine's pelvis, headfirst and already in the "ready" position - this is good news because moms usually have to push in the first stage of labor to get their babies there. The Doc was able to "feel the top of her head" during Lorraine's check up on Monday! What?! (I'll leave it up to your imagination engines to figure out how the OB was able to do this).

Seriously, for this greenhorn (um, me), my alert status has moved up a couple of levels since hearing this news. Did I pack my chute correctly? Will I forget my reserve? We're going in with two suitcases - one for labor/delivery and one for the overnight stay. Am I bringing enough equipment? Too much? This is like being back in a Rapid Deployment Unit.

Fortunately, we have long range support units (read: Lorraine's parents) arriving from Ohio on Dec 1 and staying at our barracks for 6 weeks. Until then, we have the local support unit (my parents and sister) who are an hour-long Humvee drive away to make trips back to the rear and keep the supply lines running. Thank goodness for all this support - I have a feeling we're going to need the Calvary...

Welcome to the Hotel California

Hi everyone, it's Lorraine here. Well, we painfully watched Notre Dame kill Army today. It was a rough one. Now, as we continue our day of football with OSU and Michigan battling it out, Lauren is throwing a few blocks and making a few tackles of her own inside my belly. If there was a referee here to see this, she would be penalized a “personal foul” for “unnecessary roughness." OUCH!

Though her hotel room is getting incredibly small at 36 weeks, it does not keep her from trying to make it her own comfy digs. While she’s enjoying her cozy and tranquil hotel surroundings, I’m getting socked and fluffed like an inadequate down pillow. She’s not calling for room service much but I better talk to the housekeeping staff ASAP. As for me, I’ve been searching for the ice bucket lately. I’ve developed a very bizarre affinity towards ice chips these days. I’m crunching and munching on them all the time. I suppose I’ll feel right at home in the hospital’s labor and delivery room as that’s all I get until this little munchkin decides to meet her check out time. Maybe she’ll decide to cut her trip short and check out early? Stay tuned.

Terminally Guilty

It's Henry (again). I sit here in Terminal 3 of the San Francisco Airport waiting for my flight home. I've been riddled with guilt over the past 36 hours, which was when I left home (and my 8 month pregnant wife) for a business trip up here. To make matters worse, my return flight has been delayed. The fact that it's only an hour flight away only makes me feel slightly better. Having my iPod and listening to the excellent new Snow Patrol CD, Eyes Open, only minimally provides additional relief. Thus, I thought that this confessional would lend me some pardon - it doesn't.

On a another note, a few of you have noted that my inclusion of the video in my last entry was a bit insensitive. You've unknowingly kicked a wounded man while he's down. Remedies: I'll put up a more uplifting video soon (Lorraine running on the beach or something). Also, here's one of my favorite pictures as of late...



I'll be home soon, my dear...

Lorraine's Heartfelt Feelings

Lorraine at a weak moment in San Diego hotel... (Henry) - I know that this is the same video as you clicked to see on the last entry but I'm figuring out how to embed video with text on this blog...

Truth in San Diego

This is Henry again - Lorraine and I just returned from 24 hours in San Diego. I had a business meeting and dinner with a client scheduled down there yesterday so we decided to make it a mini-break and drove down together on Fri. I felt guilty about having Lorraine persevere through the drive so I made sure we ended up in a state-of-posh environment. We stayed at the US Grant Hotel and after the long 2-hour drive to San Diego, I caught Lorraine in a semi-delirious state in our hotel room to record the following segment before I left for my meeting...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4862158057568038128

Lauren will find these "heartfelt" words from her mother very useful in a future therapy session, I'm sure.

Also, I must apologize for the poor camerawork and editing as I am still learning how to use my latest toy, our Sony DCR-S80 digital camcorder. It was originally on my 10/28 "Henry's Must-Haves Before He Can Never Have" list but I justified the purchase as one that would be for "our family" beforehand.

Seriously, now that I, er, "we" have this essential piece of equipment, you can rest assured (or uneasily) that it will be put to good use (especially for this blog). Have a great weekend, all.

CPR for Our Baby and Our Nation

Hi everyone, it's Henry. Many apologies for not being able to post an entry sooner. First of all, let me thank (and remind) you about providing "comments". We love to read them (you can click on "Comment" at the bottom of this and each entry and follow the easy instructions). We will post more of our own comments in response to yours so keep checking back!

OK, let's get started: here's Lorraine going into this week, our 34th...



Tonight, Lorraine and I attended the "Baby Savers" class at the hospital. I learned of a very interesting safety fact that I would have never considered: "Introduce your child to a fireman. Tragically, many child fire deaths occur because children run and hide from firefighters. They are found dead in closets and under beds". Yes, this is an exact quote. In fact, I'm going to stop by the local fire station myself tomorrow just make sure I'm over my own fear. All of the "watch outs" (most of which we haven't addressed yet in our own home) made us feel as if we would be providing a hazardous environment for Lauren that only Indiana Jones could safely navigate through. I'm thinking of wrapping everything we have in bubble wrap. Seriously, this class did teach us an important lesson: how to give CPR to save an infant or child.

Last night (and this morning), our nation received a series of resusitations of its own (click on each to enlarge):

The Nursery

All anxiety aside, we are certainly NOT worried about how prepared we are for Lauren’s arrival thanks to all of our family and friend's thoughtfulness and generosity. Between Henry building, hanging, and moving and my organization, we have created a beautiful little nest for Lauren once she arrives and wanted to be sure to share it with all of you. As you can see, Lauren will not only be lavished in soft pink surroundings but check out her wardrobe! She is going to be the most stylish little gal around! How about those wheels? Between her travel system given to us by my sister and friends and my dad refurbishing the old carriage that once wheeled me around when I was an infant, Lauren definitely will be cruising about in style no matter which one she’s taking a ride in. I also thought it would be a good time to share the nursery now (before baby) as I fear it will never look this tidy once our little sweetie arrives : )