Happy Bidet...I mean B-day!

Today is a very happy day! It's Easter, my birthday, GG's second full day out of her mommy, and we get to go home this afternoon! She decided that since she didn't let us sleep at all two nights ago that she would give us a break last night. We all three got FIVE STRAIGHT HOURS OF SLEEP! For those of you without children, this may not sound like much, but after not sleeping for two days, it was a generous birthday present. Timeout!

Ok, I'm back! GG just left me another present...her first poop! Or, it is possible that some sort of alien lifeform infiltrated her diaper and died? That's more likely, because nothing that ugly could've come out of something so cute. Maggie graciously (note the wordplay) handed her off after noticing it in a bizarre role reversal. Do I have to do everything? Man, I hope she doesn't read my blog.

P.S. I wonder if they make bidets for babies?

P.S.S. If you don't know what a bidet is (Mom), google it. I'm gonna stop post-scripting because I can't remember what comes after P.S.S. and if I make something up, it might offend someone (Val).

Welcome to the world, Georgia Grace!

The wait is finally over! Our Georgia Grace was born (induced) on April 10, 2009 at 5:25 pm. She weighed 7 lbs. 13 oz. and 20 in. long. The "Pokey Little Puppy" was a week late, so the Dr. decided to induce. It was a bizarre and intense day for everyone involved. We went into Vanderbilt Medical Center at 8 am on Good (no, Great!) Friday for the induction. At about 10 am, Maggie was administered Cytotec (the first of two possible induction drugs on the menu that day) and began feeling her first contractions a little before noon. Several times throughout the day, GG's heart rate would dip down to half of the normal rate and 10 people would rush into the room to check on mommy and baby. Every time, it would come back up, but the nerve-racking thing was they made Maggie stay in the same position ALL DAY LONG. The theory was that Georgia was laying, punching, or choke-slamming her umbilical cord, causing the decrease in heartrate. It scared us every time, and the ob team didn't want to take any chances. At this point, Maggie was dilated to 4 cm, and at around 2 pm, they decided to break her water. Almost immediately, her contractions went from uncomfortable to very intense. After about an hour of "getting runover by a dump truck" contractions, we decided to take the epidural. The epidural, normally a 15 minute procedure, was an event in itself, serving as a "learning experience" for two lucky students. 45 minutes later, around 3:45 pm the epidural was in, Mommy was in no pain, and she was dilated to 8 cm. We relaxed and visited for a bit and at about 5 pm, they checked her cervix again...10 cm! They gathered the team of 1 nurse midwife and a couple of nurses and Maggie started pushing at 5:15 pm. She pushed 4 or 5 times and we had another scary episode of low baby heartrate. We began to worry when the ob team began rounding up what seemed like dozens of nurses, doctors, and support staff for an urgent maneuver. Within seconds, there were literally 2 resident physicians, an attending ob/gyn physician, a nurse midwife, 4 nurses, a pediatrician, 2 pediatric nurses, and a surgical tech in the room working together like a well-oiled machine. Oh, by the way, also in this single-patient room were 4 grandparents, 1 aunt, 1 uncle (sorry, Joe!), 1 cousin, 1 Mommy, 1 Daddy, and eventually, 1 very angry baby. The decision was made to get her out as fast as possible. A resident, with the guidance of the attending M.D., got to work with the forceps and 2 or 3 pushes later, out came Georgia to a crowd of 21 of her closest friends! We are sooooooo thankful to the amazing and talented staff at Vanderbilt and hate to wonder what could've happened if they had not acted so quickly and decisively. Mommy and GG are both very happy and healthy and thankful for your thoughts and prayers. As always, we don't know where we would be without our friends and family!

Missing the Lou...

Libby the Licker
Spanky, the Brat

I saw a brat today. It is a cross between a Boston Terrier and a rat terrier (like you didn't already know that, showoff). Not the biggest fan of rat terriers, but it reminded me of Libby, our Boston Terrier that went to doggy heaven this past Sunday. She was 15 human years old or Tony Randall in dog years. She was a member of our family, and it's been really hard this week without her.

This puppy's name was Spanky, and she is 11 weeks old. I saw her this afternoon at our local hardware store (the place with the helpful hardware folks), and she playfully attacked me, just like Libby-Lou used to do. I just don't see myself without a Boston Terrier for a substantial amount of time...I'd had Libby since junior high. Baby Mama* and I talked about it and decided that next Christmas we'll have to get Georgia Grace a puppy!

*is sexy

It's all wood in my hood.

So, I decided months ago that I wanted to teach myself some woodworking skills. It is taking me a while to collect the necessary tools I need to get started, but I've already started two projects: the first is a piece for the nursery (that, to this point, doesn't exist). Baby Mama bought the top piece of an old (possibly antique) china cabinet. I cut about a third off the bottom to make it into a little bookshelf that'll fit below the window. The second is an antique armoire (sp?) that my neighbor gave me the other day. It'll require some serious love, but it's solid oak and I think it'll be really nice if I can ever finish it. I'll post pics of both soon.

I thought it would be a lot easier to start with refinishing a couple pieces before I just dove in and started building stuff. The first big project I'm planning on building is a changing table. I highly recommend first-time expectant fathers consider taking up this hobby/torture method for these reasons:

• You will learn some valuable handyman skills that will earn serious brownie points.
• There is a slim possibility that some of the projects you do turn out cheaper (or ridiculously more expensive) than buying prefabricated furniture.
• The workshop is a quiet solace when pregnancy hormones try to murder you.
• Contrary to popular belief, sawdust feels really good in your eyes (and is considered, in some countries, a natural aphrodisiac).
• You'll bank some testosterone for later when your daughter and wife take over and hijack your manliness.

International Debut "Georgia Grace" a Worldwide Sensation

I saw my baby girl, Georgia Grace, yesterday, and it changed my life. From the moment I saw her just a few weeks ago (before I knew whether to call her "he" or "she"), I have been waiting to kiss her sweet head and hold her. She is perfect. Yesterday, Baby Mama and I got to see her again, but she's grown so much. We saw her hands and arms and legs and feet and kidneys and lips and nose and her sweet little heart. She was so mad that some crazy lady was shooting sound waves at her that she threw her little fists up in protest. Watch out, boys! This one's a fighter.