January 2011 Archives
I have been reading The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp (sitting next to one of my trash Sci-Fi books). It's all about how the only cultures that deal with Colic in babies are western cultures. It is a VERY interesting read! The idea is that babies are born three months sooner than they are ready to but since our heads are big they have no choice but to leave the comfort that they have enjoyed inside of mom for the last nine months. He says that other cultures create through swaddling and a combination of shooshing and suckling a kind of fourth trimester and that this triggers a "calming reflex" in babies. So far its been VERY informative.
In a few weeks we will take the first of three parenting classes. We are taking these at Northwestern Hospital -
CPR & Safety: Infant & Child
Great Expectations
Newborn Baby Care: The Basics
Should be a good start for us.
Everyone has been asking "How does Amanda feel?" I guess my wife is made of pretty sturdy stuff since besides from being tired most of the time she seems quite normal. Amelie has been a busy baby in her belly. Night time push-ups and jumping jacks. Ti-bow practice at noon and such. But other than that she is pretty normal. her baby belly has popped out but she has implemented a "NO BELLY PICTURES" rule. So I can not document that for you good readers (all two of you... Hi Kate Wiswell!!!)
In other news the our crib is on the way and that is exciting!
In a few weeks we will take the first of three parenting classes. We are taking these at Northwestern Hospital -
CPR & Safety: Infant & Child
Great Expectations
Newborn Baby Care: The Basics
Should be a good start for us.
Everyone has been asking "How does Amanda feel?" I guess my wife is made of pretty sturdy stuff since besides from being tired most of the time she seems quite normal. Amelie has been a busy baby in her belly. Night time push-ups and jumping jacks. Ti-bow practice at noon and such. But other than that she is pretty normal. her baby belly has popped out but she has implemented a "NO BELLY PICTURES" rule. So I can not document that for you good readers (all two of you... Hi Kate Wiswell!!!)
In other news the our crib is on the way and that is exciting!
We are pretty happy with our choice. I have no idea how parents used to pick out cribs and strollers and such without the help of internet reviews! We did a lot of research and found this one by Stork-Craft that had great reviews and was just in our price range.
Not much else to report. Saturday will be 23 weeks!
Dear Amelie,
Hi. I'm your daddy. We have not met yet but you live in the same house with me and I hear about you all the time. not that you have been a bad neighbor! I don't have the best hearing so you can party and make all the noise you want. I won't notice.
In five months we get to meet face to face. I hope to have the house all ready for ya but we still have a chair your mom had before we got married. If you know anyone that wants a chair... I guess have them email me. I mean no pressure. I know your busy growing and you have a day full of kicking my wife. Just if you know someone that could use a chair. Oh! And it has a ottoman too. So, that's a bonus...
I hope you like your name. Your mom and I think its rather cool. (Just so you know, we did not name you after that French film. We have never seen it.) We gave you the middle name of Joy because it sounded nice paired with your first name. I thought about saying "Because you will bring the world a lot of joy" but decided that sounded corney. So yeah, Amelie is the name you got. Hope it works for you. If not when your 18 years old you can go in front of a judge and get it changed. (If you change it, can I suggest you go with something like "Chainsaw" or "Ninja" I always say GO BIG! Plus the name "Chainsaw Hawkins" is pretty cool.)
I'm really excited to show you things. I don't know what things but I feel like I will have a lot of them once your here. Amanda has told me that it might be a while before you appreciate what a Badger is or a X-Wing Fighter or my fake magic tricks. But I can wait. Trust me, you're going to LOVE my fake magic tricks! I pretend like I have a deck of cards (but I really don't.) and I ask you to choose one... Well, you get the idea.
We went shopping for you this weekend! And we got you clothing!!! I know, right??? COOL! my favorite is a brown teddy-bear suit that you can wear next winter. (We live in Chicago. I know, it gets cold.) Your teddy-bear suit has a hood with little bear ears and feet that have bear tracks on the bottom! Honestly if they made them in my size we would both have one. We also got you some groovy clothing that was on clearance for next winter. See your mom and I are good shoppers. We are very frugal and have a savings account. Which is pretty cool. Anyway, I was very excited to buy outfits for you. It never occurred to me that it would be fun. But I promise you will look VERY cute no matter which outfit you wear.
Oh, and I should tell you about Meili. She is our little Pekingese dog. Huh? No, that's a Shiatsu. A Pekingese is also a Chinese dog but a little bigger... Huh? No, that's a Pug. Anyway, you will see her when you get here. She is 13 years old so she might not be real playful but she likes kids so you guys will hit it off I'm sure.
I know you're closer to your mom right now (since you guys spend SO much time together. Its cool, I get the whole mommy-daughter deal) but I have good news! You and I will spend our days together! Yep, see I work from home and... Huh? No, I have a job. I make graphics and web pages for companies that... Well no, I don't have an office or anything. I work in our living room and... Hey, I help with the bills! No, I'm not a hippy. It's considered a "White color job"
So where was I? Oh yeah! We get to spend all day together during the week. So you will not have to go to work with your mom everyday once you get here. Cool right?
Lets see, there are your grandparents also, your Grandma Hawkins lives in sunny California with your Uncle Eric. She's pretty cool and does a lot of neat things like builds her own laptops and makes things like blankets and such. Then there are your grandma and grandpa Widmer. They are great too. Grandma is a lot of fun and puts up with grandpa and I joking around. They are all excited about meeting you too.
I guess I better let you get back to what you are doing, kicking my wife in the belly. I just wanted to tell you I love you and I hope you are having a great day! See you in five months OK?
Love, Daddy.
Hi. I'm your daddy. We have not met yet but you live in the same house with me and I hear about you all the time. not that you have been a bad neighbor! I don't have the best hearing so you can party and make all the noise you want. I won't notice.
In five months we get to meet face to face. I hope to have the house all ready for ya but we still have a chair your mom had before we got married. If you know anyone that wants a chair... I guess have them email me. I mean no pressure. I know your busy growing and you have a day full of kicking my wife. Just if you know someone that could use a chair. Oh! And it has a ottoman too. So, that's a bonus...
I hope you like your name. Your mom and I think its rather cool. (Just so you know, we did not name you after that French film. We have never seen it.) We gave you the middle name of Joy because it sounded nice paired with your first name. I thought about saying "Because you will bring the world a lot of joy" but decided that sounded corney. So yeah, Amelie is the name you got. Hope it works for you. If not when your 18 years old you can go in front of a judge and get it changed. (If you change it, can I suggest you go with something like "Chainsaw" or "Ninja" I always say GO BIG! Plus the name "Chainsaw Hawkins" is pretty cool.)
I'm really excited to show you things. I don't know what things but I feel like I will have a lot of them once your here. Amanda has told me that it might be a while before you appreciate what a Badger is or a X-Wing Fighter or my fake magic tricks. But I can wait. Trust me, you're going to LOVE my fake magic tricks! I pretend like I have a deck of cards (but I really don't.) and I ask you to choose one... Well, you get the idea.
We went shopping for you this weekend! And we got you clothing!!! I know, right??? COOL! my favorite is a brown teddy-bear suit that you can wear next winter. (We live in Chicago. I know, it gets cold.) Your teddy-bear suit has a hood with little bear ears and feet that have bear tracks on the bottom! Honestly if they made them in my size we would both have one. We also got you some groovy clothing that was on clearance for next winter. See your mom and I are good shoppers. We are very frugal and have a savings account. Which is pretty cool. Anyway, I was very excited to buy outfits for you. It never occurred to me that it would be fun. But I promise you will look VERY cute no matter which outfit you wear.
Oh, and I should tell you about Meili. She is our little Pekingese dog. Huh? No, that's a Shiatsu. A Pekingese is also a Chinese dog but a little bigger... Huh? No, that's a Pug. Anyway, you will see her when you get here. She is 13 years old so she might not be real playful but she likes kids so you guys will hit it off I'm sure.
I know you're closer to your mom right now (since you guys spend SO much time together. Its cool, I get the whole mommy-daughter deal) but I have good news! You and I will spend our days together! Yep, see I work from home and... Huh? No, I have a job. I make graphics and web pages for companies that... Well no, I don't have an office or anything. I work in our living room and... Hey, I help with the bills! No, I'm not a hippy. It's considered a "White color job"
So where was I? Oh yeah! We get to spend all day together during the week. So you will not have to go to work with your mom everyday once you get here. Cool right?
Lets see, there are your grandparents also, your Grandma Hawkins lives in sunny California with your Uncle Eric. She's pretty cool and does a lot of neat things like builds her own laptops and makes things like blankets and such. Then there are your grandma and grandpa Widmer. They are great too. Grandma is a lot of fun and puts up with grandpa and I joking around. They are all excited about meeting you too.
I guess I better let you get back to what you are doing, kicking my wife in the belly. I just wanted to tell you I love you and I hope you are having a great day! See you in five months OK?
Love, Daddy.
We are having a baby girl! our visit to the UltraSound went great and the HUGE question we have had these last few months was answered.
We were a little stressed. Someone asked Amanda today what she thought she was having and she started getting sick. I had a bad dream that the appointment was delayed another week and DID NOT want to wait that much longer.
BUT! We got in and half way through the tech said "OK, are you ready to find out???" and she showed us what was unmistakably a littler girls privets. So know we know we have a girl and her name will be Amelie Joy Hawkins! Has a nice ring to it don't you think? She is also 3 of 3 in the grand daughter Dept. My mom and Amanda's mom both had giggles and screaming fits and after we sent texts to everyone and made our calls I let it go on facebook. So far we are up to 65 very happy comments. And yes, this little girl will have us wrapped around her little finger.
We were a little stressed. Someone asked Amanda today what she thought she was having and she started getting sick. I had a bad dream that the appointment was delayed another week and DID NOT want to wait that much longer.
BUT! We got in and half way through the tech said "OK, are you ready to find out???" and she showed us what was unmistakably a littler girls privets. So know we know we have a girl and her name will be Amelie Joy Hawkins! Has a nice ring to it don't you think? She is also 3 of 3 in the grand daughter Dept. My mom and Amanda's mom both had giggles and screaming fits and after we sent texts to everyone and made our calls I let it go on facebook. So far we are up to 65 very happy comments. And yes, this little girl will have us wrapped around her little finger.
Amanda and I got a new truck this week! A Honda Certified 2007 Element. I have named it after my BIG WHEEL that I had when I was a kid THE GREEN MACHINE! My mom used to say that I would tear like heck all over Albuquerque. Once she was sitting at the kitchen table and a police car pulled up with my BIG WHEEL tied to the top. I guess I decided to ride down the side of the freeway.
Back to our new truck! Since we have a baby on the way we needed to become a two car family again. This time we needed to get something that was fuel efficient, roomy and AWD or 4WD. Not many trucks or crossovers fit that bill but Amanda suggested the Honda Element. Honestly I had never paid much attention to the Element except to make "Rolling toaster" jokes. But the more I did research on them the more I liked Amanda's idea. Now every time I found one I would call to check what it was like and if we could come to take a look at it and each time I got the same response "Yeah, we just sold that one..." it got to the point to where I gave up on finding a nice used one.
Cut to Amanda and I shopping in the suburbs for maternity clothing and a plan to stop at CarMax to see what they had. I'm not going to go into the whole story but suffice to say we will not be going back there anytime soon. On our way home we found the 07' Element in the picture. And after some haggling we managed to walk away at a price we liked and a 7 year or 120,000 bumper to bumper warranty at a price we liked. And the place we went (Schaumburg Honda) was an actual "No pressure" deal!
Now in the tradition of many married couples Amanda gets the new vehicle and the Nissan Frontier goes to me. (Which works great since I love the truck!)
Driving the Element is AWESOME! It really is like a little version of a Chevy or Ford mid sized van. Not like a mini-van or a SUV. You set up high in the seats and the visibility is good. Even though the the engine is a 4 cylinder its very peppy. And the "Real time 4WD" works well. Storage is also plentiful the seats can fold up against the wall or be removed completely. And I love the color.
Overall Amanda and I are pretty happy with our new buy.
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