Davis Matthew Hall

He has finally arrived and by the weight and height of him not a moment to soon!  Davis Matthew Hall was born on Monday August 25th at 6:43 p.m.  After an entire day of contractions, he was not moving any lower into my pelvis. Davis was so happy curled up near my ribs the Dr. told me I had 2 choices either deliver Davis via my nostrils or have a c-section.  Well obviously my first choice was c-section so into the O.R. we went.  For the first time since this journey started I was actually petrified.  I will spare the details of the surgery, but lets just say there is something very unsettling about people cutting into your abdomen while you are wide awake.  Thank goodness they went that route though because at 21 inches and 8 lbs. 11 oz.  I am sure that is the only way he was going to fit!  What a looker though!  I know this is his mother speaking here but really he is a handsome devil.  Not sure the pics do it justice but his dirty blond hair has highlights and he has dark blue eyes.  

As for me I am healing well and happy to have the bugger at home!  Thank you everyone for the visits and phone calls.  We are looking forward to getting him out in public and showing him off to family and friends shortly.  FYI.. it is difficult for us to get to cell phones in a timely manner these days so feel free to call the house line to talk to us.  732-383-7366.  Look for email pics to come from Eric or I soon.

I have to say for someone that was not much of a kid person or has never even held a newborn before I love this little guy!

Oh yeah also the contest.  The winner is Erica Lebow!  Just FYI the fewest amount of points wins just like golf.  Go to http://expectnet.com/games/davisarrival to view the results.

The Incredible Hulk

So had my weekly Dr's exam this week, and guess what? I am giving birth to the incredible hulk! Apparently I am measuring about 4cm larger in the belly than the average pregnant woman at my stage of pregnancy. Also even though Davis is in the right position (head down) he is not moving into the pelvic area which is a bit of a concern. I did get a great tip though in Lamaze. I am to do a squat and hold it for a minute once and hour, and when someone asks me what the heck am I doing I should tell them, "I am showing the baby the door." I thought it was hilarious when the instructor first said it, but at this point I am willing to do anything. Just saying giving birth is scary enough, giving birth to the Incredible Hulk TERRIFYING!

More thank yous

So last weekend was my NJ baby shower. Thank you to all who were there and all the lovely gifts we recieved. I was most surprised by the arts and crafts talent of my friends and family. For instance the hand knit blankets and pillows, the hand sown biibs and the toy bucket. Why am I shocked you ask? Well as you may know I can come up with all this crafty handy ideas, cutesie themes etc. but as for execution I leave a lot to be desired. I can not draw, tried to teach myself to knit recently but got frustrated very quickly when I could not figure out how to finish off my very large square!

Well I am 9 months pregnant now. Why am I not having the baby yet you ask. Basically the whole 9 month thing is a myth. You got it just a nasty rumor. We are getting baby ready however, and car seat installement is this weekend. Lucky for us I have these instructions to follow:

Man what would I do if someone had not shown that to me. Installing the car seat odes mean a trip to Babies R Us to pick up a few more of the necessaties, and the people there are nice enough to install the car seat for you to be sure it is done properly.

Thanks again to everyone for all the lovely gifts. Also if you haven't already register your guess for Davis' arrival at http://www.expectnet.com/games/Davisarrival

Nursery is ready but are we?

The much anticipated nursery photos are here. We got it all set up this week and other than having to wash a lot of really tiny clothes I think it is all ready to go! Can't you just tell by the look on Eric's face...


From Sandy and Lauren we got these really cute wall decals of the animals in the theme to go with all the bedding from Grammie. Now if I wasn't so honest I would tell people "Didn't you know that I was such a great painter? As long as you pick a mural from a Babies R Us Nursery theme and leave your house for 2 hours I will go to work for you. Give you a friend rate while I am at it.... "

We are looking forward to having our first house guests this weekend. Lucky for them we have furniture now. Still no kitchen so I will not be showing off my culinary skills, but I think we will survive.

Also on a side note, We were at Lamaze last night and the instructor informed us that we are having a really large boy. I looked at her in my puzzled yet slightly annoyed look, and said thanks a lot. If you been reading you will remember the phase where I was having total strangers tell me that I was having a big boy and I took it as " You are huge!!! What are you eating?" She went on to say "20 years as a labor and delivery nurse I know you are having a big kid trust me" Great..... Any chance I just look this way because I have a small torso?

I'm Back!

It has been a while since I have been posting and for that I apologize to all my loyal readers. 

We have been very busy getting ready for  Davis to arrive.  Now that I am a  commuter, (I would say bridge and tunnel as New Yorker's like to call it, but since I take the boat and use neither of those and refused to call myself that) it has been difficult finding energy to do this when I get home.  

To keep you updated on the development of Davis, he is moving a ton constantly 

stretching into my ribs and punching my bladder all at the same time.  Today I think I got a kidney punch!  It hurt like crazy.  I am pretty sure he was just hungry because the minute I had my mid afternoon sugar break he stopped.  According to the websites he is 18 inches long and weighs 4.5 pounds.  Also making me look like I s

wallowed a beach ball more and more everyday which also makes it that much more difficult to move around.  These last weeks are going to be just wonderful!

In other news we have the nursery furniture together and going to hang the themed decorations this weekend.  They have starting painting the house and the colors look great very calm and soothing which is what I need right now since the house has seemed like a diaster zone since we moved in with all the constructions and what not going on.  Living out of two rooms 

has not been easy.  We also got Davis' tree planted and are doing everything we can to keep it alive and get it to take to its new grounds during this heat wave.  Mid next week we should have a lot more of the house done and will be sending an email around with some before and after photos for you all to enjoy.  

*Remember even with my sledge hammer like swollen feet we love to have visitors so feel free to come by anytime!

Fish in a Fish Bowl

Sorry for the lack of updates but with the recent move it has been difficult to find spare time. I will be posting updated photos of the hows and how the reno is going shortly as well. As for mom and baby we are doing all right. Getting a bit uncomfortable at night but I can deal. What is the strangest part is the new types of movements I am feeling. Maybe it is the new commute on a boat but it really feels like a fish swimming around in my stomach. no real strong kicks or punches more of somersaults and pushes against the ribs. yesterday he must have been doing back flips because I could feel him slide down all my ribs thru the underside of my belly! It scared the heck out of me let me tell you. I was not a big fan of that feeling at all. It is all pretty cool though!

Those Clothes Are So Tiny!

This past weekend was my baby shower with Eric's family.  It was very nicely, some good food and Cake and lots of tiny clothes! We had  a bit of a s.n.a.f.u. getting up there which in case you haven't heard about involved being re-ended  and a 4 hour trip to the hospital.  Thankfully mom and baby are fine and it was just a precautionary trip, though I can't say the same thing for our new car.  We are going to be needing a new bumper already jeez.  Here is a tip you may or may not have learned in driving school (obviously the man that hit us skipped this part) don't bend down looking for a tissue while in stop and go traffic on I-95 because you will hit the car in front of you especially if you are moving and they are stopped.  We made it up there Friday night in plenty of time for the shower on Saturday were I am pleased to say I knew what all the gifts were for even if someone is going to have to show me how to use them.  Thanks to everyone that came and for all the wonderful gifts and books!  Davis is going to have a great library.

Moving Along

So we have just about finished with the upstairs of the new home. Well at least the major work of it. Left is a bathroom to paint and to find a mirror for another, assemble some nursery furniture. I forgot while I was there to take some up date photos of all the progress so be sure to tune in next week for those. We officially move in on Monday June 30th! We are very excited and strangely calm about it all considering we have not packed a thing yet. We have started to throw stuff out though that we will not be needing. Thanks to these instructional photos I realize keeping Sadie's old dog crate to house little Davis, or hiring the bum from the corner of Canal Street, while we are trying to take care of errands and grab some shut eye is not a good idea. Oh well back to the drawing board!

Did You Really Just Say That to Me?!?!?

Ok so over this past week I have been told by numerous people including 4 strangers that I look huge.  They may try and be more polite about it, but still pretty rude I think.  The conversation generally goes something like this:

Stranger:  Oh, when are you do and do you know what you are having?

Me:  Well, we are having a boy and I am due beginning of September.

Stranger with a very surprised look:  Really, all the way in September with the heat?  I would have thought you were due right around the corner looking at you. That is going to be one BIG BOY!  Good Luck...

Ok, seriously!  Good Luck?  One big boy?  By the looks of you... Are you kidding me! Of all things to keep to yourself!  I am hot, need a hand to get up most of the time, constantly feel like I have to pee, and by the end of the day I have ankles so swollen I look like Wilma Flinstone!  So please really keep the comment about me being huge to yourself mister!

Baby Gordon Arrives

Mia Catherine Gordon was born Saturday, May 31st at 12:40 p.m. Congratulations Jess and John she is beautiful. Happy to hear everyone is happy and healthy!

Baby kicks

So Davis is starting to move quite a bit these days. Mostly at my ribs, but at times has a way of kicking straight down and hitting my bladder which is just wonderful let me tell you. Especially, since getting up and down is oh-so-easy these days! He has figured out the difference between Eric and I feeling the kicks and other people. Seems to be whenever some one else is near and wants to feel the kung-fo moves he stops immediately. Guess he won't be much of a show-off. Thought the video was pretty cool though my stomach does not look like that just yet I am sure it will soon!

Things Pregers Can't Do

We all know some of the basics that pregnant woman can't do such as ski dive, lift heavy things, paint, or eat raw fish. Well here is a list of things I can't do that still shock me...

1. Eat coldcuts... Man what I would do for an italian hero from the deli.

2. Salads made with mayo at the Deli i.e. tuna or chicken salad... Aparently they are stored to close to the cold cuts.

3. Soft cheeses a big no no. I have had to say good bye to feta, goat and blue cheeses as well as well as imported cheese such as mozzarella at an Italian restaurant. Tear :(

4. Shoot a gun! Tried to get Indiana Jones with it this weekend in PA apparently preggers not allowed on the range has something to do with the kick back I think. Very upset after waiting 20 mins in line to be told that I can't shoot the sniper riffle or the glock.

5. Balance. No this is not a restriction but with all this extra weight in the front I am bit more wobbly than ever before. We all know I was never the graceful one before this.

6. Make decisions. I am incapable of deciding what I want or when I want. When I do decide on something I usually change my mind with in 5 minutes.

7. Misc. outdoor activities for risk of injury to little one i.e. white water rafting, tubing, hiking up mountains, horseback riding, all things we could have been doing in PA this weekend!

Don't feel to bad for me though I can still sleep, sun bath, and bet on the Ponies!

Welcoming Donald Joseph to the World

Congrats to my good friend Jody and her hubby Donnie! They had the first child on Monday May 19th. Little DJ (Donald Joseph). He is happy and healthy, though I haven't seen him in person yet I can't wait! Congratulations guys!

Daddy's New Whip

We are very suburban these days. We officially own 2 cars now! Although mom's ride is not as slick as dad's. Since I will only be going back in forth to the boat in my car the 2001 Buick Regal will be here for a while. But, check out our new extremely safe family and earth friendly ride. Ford Escape Hybrid. It is pretty sweet. On a side note it is quite comfy and easy for preggers to get in and out of!

Rub the Buddha

We have been very busy getting the house ready for us to move in and more importantly the nursery ready for the arrival of Davis!  Check out that buddha.  Davis is really starting to grow and take up some room.  I have been stretching in all sorts of directions lately.  Moving around is starting to get to be a lot more difficult as well.  I am starting to wonder if my belly button is going to pop or is it going to be in this constant state of pain.  Feels like I have bruise right on  it.  It is still an innie and no sign if it busting out anytime soon.  Maybe I need another month or so then it will be saying "Turkey is done".  I have a feeling that from one of my surgeries there is some scar tissue that is holding it in place.  If that is the case thank goodness.  Never been a real fan of outties (sorry to any of you outties out there).  Well here is your first picture of the buddha and it is in our nursery.  There is still carpeting to be changed and molding to be put up so stay tuned for updated photos.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all you Mom's and Mom's - to - be out there! It was a good day for me. We were out at the house and I measured rooms and picked out paint for the nursery, and Eric fixed the fence so the doggies could run around in the yard when we are finally all settled in. Also, rumor has it there is Giant's onsie on the way. Can't wait. Since Davis is due on the Giants home open where they will be presented with their rings and the banner is hung, I think that may have to be his homecoming outfit. Also, I was given a Japanese Maple for our front yard as a mother's day/ house warming present. It has aplty been named by my parents as Davis' tree and every birthday he needs to take a picture in front of it. It is beautiful and will be the perfect center piece to our front lawn! Thank you!

Bottle or Boob?

I have been doing my research on breast feeding, how long you should do it for, pro's con's, etc. I am a little apprehensive about it to say the least. It weirds me out. Well there are some pretty graphic descriptions out there that I will spare you. If you are or have breastfed you know what I am talking about. Lots of words like colustrum, inverted, chaffing. From looking at this picture does not look like Eric will be as much help as I thought. Darn it! Will have to keep exploring my options I suppose.

Missing: My Mind! Have you seen it lately?

It is true when you are pregnant you start to lose your mind. As in my case I have completely lost it. I used to be the one that found things in the house, knew where Eric's keys were, or that the missing sock was under the bed, where we parked the car last. But now, no such luck. I am a total gonner. To give you an example: Yesterday I am in the pet store standing in the dog food aisle. The owner Tracy starts to talk to me ask me how I am feeling etc. As I answer her I suddenly realize I have no idea why I am in the store. I peak my head around the corner and look at her she says "You need to pick up wet food for Sadie." She knew that I got completely lost as to why I was in the pet store standing in the dog food aisle in case that wasn't completely obvious. To make it worse, I get to the cash register put the food down get out my wallet, put it on the counter, she rings me up I start searching in my bag for my wallet. I look up to say I must have left it at work, sorry. She picks it up off the counter in front of me and hands it to me! Seriously, I need a new brain for real! In any case, I got a real kick out of this picture above generally what I look like after 7 p.m. every night.

It's Official!

After handing over one of the biggest checks I have ever seen and signed our names a hundred times we are officially HOME OWNERS!  AHHHHHHHH!!!! Have to admit some what of a strange feeling.  I think more so, that we are not moving in right away.  So far I have several phone calls to make tomorrow, contractors, lawn service (since we will not be living there right away to take care of it), many more trips to Direct Buy... My head is still spinning from it all.  However starting in July visitors welcome.  We have a spare bedroom with your name on it.  On a side note the Mayor of Fair Haven lives 4 doors down from us and has spent some time on the Cape being that his dad has lived there for the last 20 years.  He was at our closing today and giving us some of the low down.  We are making friends in the right (or maybe wrong depending on how you look at it) places already.

Let the shopping begin...

So today was a big day for us.  We made our first major baby purchase aside from clothes.  We purchased nursery furniture.  Crib, dresser/changing station, wardrobe.  The only thing left to add is a nice comfy glider for mommy to be.  I guess being more than half way there we really needed to get on the ball.  Look for a baby belly debut in the next few days on the site! 

Monkey's are cute!

This past weekend we were up visiting Eric's mom and family in MA. It was such a beautiful weekend out, had some time out shopping, and getting practice hanging out with little Kyla chasing her around. Well should I say watching her run from us! On my second trip to baby world We have decided monkeys are really cute. Have couple of ideas. Above is one of them. I am telling they are just to darn cute. When did I turn so mushy?

Dad's Say The Darndest Things!

So, I thought it would be cute to give Eric a Boston Red Sox onesie as part of his anniversary present.  Don't get your hopes up New Englanders!  Homeboy will be sporting Giants gear come September.  After all, they did beat the ONCE un-defeated Patriots 17 - 14 to be one of the biggest upsets in sports history. Lucky for me I am not an Yankees fan because losing a 3-0 lead in the playoffs is almost as pitiful.  Call if you would like me to recap Tyree's helmet catch or Plax's wide open trip to the end zone to win it.  Back to onesies... So I come home from work and Eric had opened his gift (it was a few days late on back order) and says to me I have only one question for you.  "Why don't they have adult size onesies? "  I thought "Hey you have a zipper just as easy. Right?" But, what do I know?

Baby stuff?

So, I was at my 2nd shower in 2 weeks this weekend. Both very nice, everything you expect. Good food, gifts, and lots of women gossipping. At Jody's shower I felt a little better about myself since this time I knew what the majority of the gifts were. That is until she opened a baby wipe warmer! Yes a baby wipe warmer. Have you heard of these? Essentially you put your box of baby wipes in this contraption that I can only describe as a tissue box cover, and it keeps your wipes warm. Now a few questions I had...

1. After you go to the bathroom wouldn't you prefer something cool and soothing on your bum than something that is warm?

2. If your child has diaper rash or heat rash won't the wet warm wipe spread it or contain more germs? Bacteria likes dark warm places right... Just Saying.

3. How did our parents survive without all these inventions?

Just add it to the list of things I am clueless about!

On a brighter note I went to take my first look at furniture and nursery themes this weekend. I found a rocker glider that I think I need right this second never mind for when the baby comes!

More Fun House photos

OK... So I think I have it all figured out.  Becoming the blog queen over here.  Just home from the gym making sure homeboy comes out healthy and strong and have some energy, so I thought I would add some more picks of the house for you all.  This weekend I will start to look for nursery themes and furniture.  I think that is about all I can handle right now.  I was at a baby shower this past weekend and had no idea what half the stuff was!  That is an adventure for another day though.  Wish us luck.  To see more pics of the house, click here

It's A...

Ok so April 8th was our 2 year anniversary. The traditional gifts for our 2 years together is cotton. Think tee-shirts, socks, boxers, etc. Who cares you ask. You do of course. Cotton is also used to make paper and what is printed on paper but pictures. In fact, just like the pictures you see here. One is of the profile of our new BOUNCING BABY BOY! The other is of his arm (kind of like Popeye don't you think) waving hello to you all! So we are officially upgrading from homeslice to homeboy! Well homeboy we are all very excited to meet you, but the questions is... Are you ready to meet us?

Future Home.

Ok so Eric is in Toronto to see the Red Sox and I am going to catch up on some much needed sleep this weekend. This ever growing buddah of mine requires more sleep than you can imagine. Seeing as I loved to get my naps in and go to bed early before all this you would not believe how few hours a day I am actually awake! Here is a picture of the new house. Sort of reminds me of a life size doll house.. We will most likely be moving the end of June begining of July to Fair Haven, NJ. Visitors welcome!

p.s.  Trying to figure out how to add a slide show to this and having a hard time.  Any with suggestions on how to do this from flickr let me know thanks!

First Baby Photos

Ok so we have not really been good about sending pics out to everyone but here you can see the growing Lil' Homeslice from the first visit to the doctor (see the lil white dot inside of the black circle) to the 8 week pick where it actually looks like a baby with a giant head. Lil' Picachu was quite active at that visit doing all sorts of flips for the camera. We can only hope baby is more athletic than mama! The last photo is the 12 week mark were they took some measurement put my due date at September 5th 2008 and found out that little one seemed healthy as can be. In about one week we will make another trip to the doctor for the 20 week sonogram. As long as everybody cooperates we will be able to find out the sex. Look forward to those pics and let the guessing begin! Check back in this week. Even though it is a baby blog we will throw in some pics of the future abode.