tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42375674224704043092024-02-02T10:18:21.427-05:00Blogging For BabyAs we move into the next great adventure in our lives, we hope we can chronicle the progress for those who are interested. We'll keep you posted on any developments as we move towards the big date of November 12, 2008, when we welcome the newest member of our family!Gretchen.Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08954084902368654575noreply@blogger.comBlogger37125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237567422470404309.post-19307351805329770162009-01-21T17:32:00.005-05:002009-01-21T18:14:36.473-05:00A Major Milestone!Check out this video to see our latest major milestone for Teddy!<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxKKiX1_26a9n0glB_IzIaSZissqePwapN78BXgitm6iv9ePJa4hDvLq9X2Fax-BJb-ebS0bj3jKWS1EhDaLQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Gretchen.Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08954084902368654575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237567422470404309.post-23539289566827877152009-01-16T10:53:00.004-05:002009-01-16T12:07:46.438-05:00New Teddy Videos!Here are a few new videos of the baby. He's growing fast, and becoming very active. <br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyRsfCCnIwy0LBAVCHbBe7NDBK7SI43ZrPLK46qfa5y28L5xa9RFOgR4Sri6q2tYA1MoYVx-FlJgtEk4Bjdtg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />After all that playing, he's sacked out.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxa_TZgDOJogqvM13Mc3Ur7GtBWKjYe6qA8ve0T_o8-o4xs8NUdNy95AHesUafvXcwEcS6mkDb24-7Lp6yQig' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />More to come!Gretchen.Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08954084902368654575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237567422470404309.post-40162505597209116082008-12-28T23:22:00.003-05:002008-12-28T23:32:25.124-05:00Merry Christmas from the boy!Here's the boy's holiday wishes:<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwc_F6ky3cJsagduwT6IB3mnmH-3BMZ6zuO7eOaUkYVSxLH10EqonKb2db-wyPAvyVlrM6OHxIbOK9G1RK2tA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />And here's the whole family in a self-portrait on facebook style holiday video:<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwCxuUw5hSZ1JpdvaABVpaOIUBdVzGNYD_99qEC_0o5sVaigBjyAIliDAZelkCCBnOXQyzq55VnmUb6JiUbeA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17907504460894029700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237567422470404309.post-1216484592257188612008-12-28T23:11:00.004-05:002008-12-28T23:32:05.340-05:00Here's a little behind the scenes look as our star gets ready to make his holiday video for the family in California:<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxnteGoDnVy3cy_1iOHBULFNZtBlNBX7Xxg8WR2wnDqypH2kTwL7xZZXKo8f73TQky0WsGVyVyq52qZqFkOaA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br />The boy has a weird thing for the Lions, probably because he sleeps in a jungle room, he bet on them before and I only had to give him a three point spread... It was, you guessed it, like taking candy from a baby.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17907504460894029700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237567422470404309.post-19548891481960648712008-11-20T11:36:00.002-05:002008-11-20T11:39:06.702-05:00Day 2 PicsMore pictures are up at <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/tedwardm/sets/72157609379799398/">http://flickr.com/photos/tedwardm/sets/72157609379799398/</a><br /><br />I do want to call out one in particular - Baby's first completely inappropriate gift from Daddy!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGSGd1lKDuHwLVji7SrDxpDJa4lIkw5fyZ9y33rppvzrs9FFu004RRiZAhU1d4FVvYyROlG7BGE_VeznySkHJ4w5gTjw3_6UODO5QUULzTtqYDVELh77VNFvbXSVJKHLeoDaahtzIfbk/s1600-h/Baby+44.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGSGd1lKDuHwLVji7SrDxpDJa4lIkw5fyZ9y33rppvzrs9FFu004RRiZAhU1d4FVvYyROlG7BGE_VeznySkHJ4w5gTjw3_6UODO5QUULzTtqYDVELh77VNFvbXSVJKHLeoDaahtzIfbk/s320/Baby+44.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270780162146355410" border="0" /></a><br />Which also happens to be baby's first gift from Daddy. Because every child needs a tricerotops you can ride on. Fun fact - Gretchen had specifically pointed this out as something we didn't need in an earlier shopping run but I didn't put two and two together. And now the boy likes it, so we're keeping it...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17907504460894029700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237567422470404309.post-46968412230306357822008-11-18T15:30:00.005-05:002008-11-18T15:38:36.808-05:00Pirate Bear!I like monkeys. No, this isn't the start of a chain letter from the early days of the internet, its the reason that we ultimatly went with a moneky theme for Teddy's room. However, this wasn't my first idea - I was going to go with my first love:<br /><br />Pirates!<br /><br />However, its hard to find good stuff that isn't too cartoon cutesy or too scary for a baby in a pirate theme. I can't imagine why bloodthirsty buccaneers and their crimes upon the high seas aren't a more popular nursery theme.<br /><br />Upon hearing that the theme was pirates, and the child's name was Teddy, my sister immediately made a pirate teddy bear to go with our pirate teddy bear:<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqlGPnNEuktH8F08zEGtro7TOVfksxrdOvnzfD8EHktt3NcwfjpJ3fPAWYdxbhu-i61vMrRpz5nFVWkanq_9pmH_NXvNTV9eC4KxmFc183q2fFliD_z2AOCS_LtR96xM-97iRD9rmbcU/s1600-h/MartinVisit++097.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZqlGPnNEuktH8F08zEGtro7TOVfksxrdOvnzfD8EHktt3NcwfjpJ3fPAWYdxbhu-i61vMrRpz5nFVWkanq_9pmH_NXvNTV9eC4KxmFc183q2fFliD_z2AOCS_LtR96xM-97iRD9rmbcU/s320/MartinVisit++097.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270098751960664194" border="0" /></a><br />Which I think is awesome, even if I couldn't make the theme work.<br /><br />Everyone needs a one-eyed protector. Mine is named John David<br />Barret Campbell and he talked me out of giving my son four names, which I think Teddy with thank him for.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17907504460894029700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237567422470404309.post-3869985394865577492008-11-18T15:25:00.004-05:002008-11-18T15:29:51.910-05:00FlowersWe received some lovely flowers and well wishes, first a huge assortment from the Lancaster family - Jane, Anne, Gene, Eugene, Bernadette, Victoria and all the girls:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1ExeZ0mjtrbHfZ3bW2tMqHqgVgDjawU-f3zVQFKdkUCPhq66tmlpvO0ZOTAUAx11utyBk80pqHgiZ_80hCkOlBteXrYEmmrE7W7Z38LJXQFnAGWIX7ZqeDaG33lVKHVcki_rpAD0Zvg/s1600-h/MartinVisit++105.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj1ExeZ0mjtrbHfZ3bW2tMqHqgVgDjawU-f3zVQFKdkUCPhq66tmlpvO0ZOTAUAx11utyBk80pqHgiZ_80hCkOlBteXrYEmmrE7W7Z38LJXQFnAGWIX7ZqeDaG33lVKHVcki_rpAD0Zvg/s320/MartinVisit++105.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270096701287430514" border="0" /></a><br />And a bootie of roses from Uncle Had and Aunt Pat and their family<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1C93U0u2eTo3ceaiXZgYbyO2w6-K2kmAhCplgprY0-rvPLn5EYABwQR-azyIb1FUPJbXFK1wYsVK3unfB4ObozTAbvpiu8f0SUUZOAQg5lNYwmn8GN9caHFaImfXy4Ni6ujTEJRItmY/s1600-h/MartinVisit++104.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis1C93U0u2eTo3ceaiXZgYbyO2w6-K2kmAhCplgprY0-rvPLn5EYABwQR-azyIb1FUPJbXFK1wYsVK3unfB4ObozTAbvpiu8f0SUUZOAQg5lNYwmn8GN9caHFaImfXy4Ni6ujTEJRItmY/s320/MartinVisit++104.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270096543610217314" border="0" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17907504460894029700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237567422470404309.post-19752178559879072662008-11-18T15:12:00.005-05:002008-11-18T15:39:17.802-05:00Pics of the boyMore pics of Teddy can be found at: <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/tedwardm/sets/72157609379799398/">http://flickr.com/photos/tedwardm/sets/72157609379799398/</a><br /><br />Note for facebookers - the same pics are on FB and Flickr right now.<br /><br />Here are a few highlights of the boy:<br /><div style="text-align: center;">The Martin Family<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidu6Fbvs0kBGIkhugAK5JPOefxTlwosa2dCRjLDf9a82Vm1T0U3zJExCtw-wl00iHVSDM1lVT5fko71uD7OGWS9WtCqv3NEKD-wG6SzQBP5Ayq5qoaMyNIYyycTi0Qt-SAUp7Z9CveT-U/s1600-h/MartinVisit++090.jpg"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidu6Fbvs0kBGIkhugAK5JPOefxTlwosa2dCRjLDf9a82Vm1T0U3zJExCtw-wl00iHVSDM1lVT5fko71uD7OGWS9WtCqv3NEKD-wG6SzQBP5Ayq5qoaMyNIYyycTi0Qt-SAUp7Z9CveT-U/s320/MartinVisit++090.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270095839570991042" border="0" /></a>Meeting Aunt Claire<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IcuobvjVJKrKdNJc0xD6FqdEp8mTaSAA8tja97UH7I_HCaCmxXdK0DhLuHDqEZlveAItG-gg-T_edBb2hKYi0BaPOCSdgrhZ8V0MGl7hWKwf9DhtUHl_qw9ZCpAmxNfTRTUdTx5qD7E/s1600-h/MartinVisit++088.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4IcuobvjVJKrKdNJc0xD6FqdEp8mTaSAA8tja97UH7I_HCaCmxXdK0DhLuHDqEZlveAItG-gg-T_edBb2hKYi0BaPOCSdgrhZ8V0MGl7hWKwf9DhtUHl_qw9ZCpAmxNfTRTUdTx5qD7E/s320/MartinVisit++088.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270095834152604818" border="0" /></a><br />Look at elephant knees!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajqk9dDZpbTDpC-KMyCu_BCoJdy87xMngVOyKYvaO5k_2VKn0mSDFVRBeeVak28Em9FhsUsMsl3MSCX05_7b5HZCQfw4MbT4ZUe1jlR5vpzwMigzbtpWBoYrL8rytZj58G2ShYEwHE6E/s1600-h/MartinVisit++086.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjajqk9dDZpbTDpC-KMyCu_BCoJdy87xMngVOyKYvaO5k_2VKn0mSDFVRBeeVak28Em9FhsUsMsl3MSCX05_7b5HZCQfw4MbT4ZUe1jlR5vpzwMigzbtpWBoYrL8rytZj58G2ShYEwHE6E/s320/MartinVisit++086.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270095660417310050" border="0" /></a><br />Is she grammy, or up?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_e1CpArpcReb0icBRJmfHKFCDR5JxHjIuLQeEDL2esxVN49jqzEguCw9hQ2VXwsljnS7zHYCOR0A2DZyR7E-NX8Om-s4F6yzjl4ELtT4IXw21gfvN1zEobmm-x6ccpxOV59vukQQxrU/s1600-h/MartinVisit++083.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe_e1CpArpcReb0icBRJmfHKFCDR5JxHjIuLQeEDL2esxVN49jqzEguCw9hQ2VXwsljnS7zHYCOR0A2DZyR7E-NX8Om-s4F6yzjl4ELtT4IXw21gfvN1zEobmm-x6ccpxOV59vukQQxrU/s320/MartinVisit++083.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270095654474465810" border="0" /></a><br />Is she nanna, far-far, or grandmumsie?<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJXiYExIQmEvkXCzFVzQDm31SmI2LaxTYfVYZiwRtFPi7cartsSdpnM03YeaWFRIwmZT05akE7oilxvNcLfGuGQcYDGTd7pW3kyKGwuASJf3Bo5DR7h8zF6I2eij7X14tF5TiP7bVqgc/s1600-h/MartinVisit++078.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJXiYExIQmEvkXCzFVzQDm31SmI2LaxTYfVYZiwRtFPi7cartsSdpnM03YeaWFRIwmZT05akE7oilxvNcLfGuGQcYDGTd7pW3kyKGwuASJf3Bo5DR7h8zF6I2eij7X14tF5TiP7bVqgc/s320/MartinVisit++078.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270095654538171970" border="0" /></a><br />Big yawn!<br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5-YDfA2Bo3hEpviHgos6omEK1yu4zSXku-G2p1UVdZu8tE1_WBBb0VBCpUG-g2QKm0848wdPhjVAPzJq4rFfMCQI0bshEV6ir41XnYkK-E0ipV3EAkrlmzxfPaBOg-SBT-hHoiJrP_s/s1600-h/MartinVisit++076.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju5-YDfA2Bo3hEpviHgos6omEK1yu4zSXku-G2p1UVdZu8tE1_WBBb0VBCpUG-g2QKm0848wdPhjVAPzJq4rFfMCQI0bshEV6ir41XnYkK-E0ipV3EAkrlmzxfPaBOg-SBT-hHoiJrP_s/s320/MartinVisit++076.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270095648922565426" border="0" /></a><br />Happy Teddy!<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEI3jOJ7QUdKvq6EvfVzA_1otpWxGUraRRYTgD1JRYKw0aeCxlOexln7ObC98pJ0Q5uKKZzb6yMfV4_04hGIvhYqS5WGRhP7nv0TSYnUXRPSZXw9JXcNgehFFrpET-Tl8rVkiBQbwk60/s1600-h/EDWARD+THOMAS+MARTIN.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfEI3jOJ7QUdKvq6EvfVzA_1otpWxGUraRRYTgD1JRYKw0aeCxlOexln7ObC98pJ0Q5uKKZzb6yMfV4_04hGIvhYqS5WGRhP7nv0TSYnUXRPSZXw9JXcNgehFFrpET-Tl8rVkiBQbwk60/s320/EDWARD+THOMAS+MARTIN.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5270095651457220370" border="0" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17907504460894029700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237567422470404309.post-30457104360871693342008-11-17T05:03:00.001-05:002008-11-17T05:04:14.705-05:00Roll-Out!Fun fact - we've been married for 55 months today!<br /><br />We're heading in to the hospital now... Time to meet the boy!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17907504460894029700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237567422470404309.post-37844935463652043332008-11-16T12:26:00.003-05:002008-11-16T12:27:52.330-05:00Packing and getting readyWe're getting setup to head to the hospital bright and early tomorrow. I'll post pictures and stats an all here from the hospital at some point, since we're incredibly nerdy. Keep an eye open tomorrow night and Wednesday morning.<br /><br />-TedAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17907504460894029700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237567422470404309.post-87699552618153786912008-11-10T23:52:00.002-05:002008-11-10T23:55:56.676-05:00He's NEVER Coming Out!We had our last normal doctor's appointment today. The big news is that there is no news -- NO progress to speak of in four weeks. So after a brief exam, the doctor had the conversation with us about induction. So next Monday, November 17, will be the big day, unless The Intruder (his name changes as I become more hostile towards his presence) decides to exit his cocoon early (which is doubtful). Boooooooooooooooooo............. Send labor vibes our way!Gretchen.Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08954084902368654575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237567422470404309.post-87811589632243631172008-11-04T20:18:00.012-05:002008-11-04T21:01:34.904-05:00The Nursery is Finished!It's finally finished! It's been a long progression, but here it is:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tSSrARcxcbd9rjXd4PBIy9JC5WM9H0qi2qnwa9MoJlXgD1PMIKZ686KJFBR607L0pEimzktqG4OCvAb9bbLt1f4lSCAUPVX6yt75CfMeeYHkJ_ingSJw7E1hLcHM-tY5thuEI4GZBLo/s1600-h/DSC_0001.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 247px; height: 164px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0tSSrARcxcbd9rjXd4PBIy9JC5WM9H0qi2qnwa9MoJlXgD1PMIKZ686KJFBR607L0pEimzktqG4OCvAb9bbLt1f4lSCAUPVX6yt75CfMeeYHkJ_ingSJw7E1hLcHM-tY5thuEI4GZBLo/s320/DSC_0001.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264977331326701490" border="0" /></a><br />Before we painted -- it was still the Man Cave.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqq_T9pGH61FHfodB264fJqna6LzDjMo3kED7TRR9eA_MUHmo_XAG4z-I2ASXlWSQzI0Liss0UJfqVzbt96YmDrbEa0JGfZ-mSmwEwUYLMcJFlnut07_tXQOMfjGxSWWAYq-tXrZWCPKk/s1600-h/DSC_0038.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 245px; height: 163px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqq_T9pGH61FHfodB264fJqna6LzDjMo3kED7TRR9eA_MUHmo_XAG4z-I2ASXlWSQzI0Liss0UJfqVzbt96YmDrbEa0JGfZ-mSmwEwUYLMcJFlnut07_tXQOMfjGxSWWAYq-tXrZWCPKk/s320/DSC_0038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264979640779170770" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Once we painted and had some of the stuff in the room. We thought it was finished, but no, there was much more to come.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />The final product!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_8XewqfhHSqcqm4lBBaR6rTYvgbsWdaCJd0BQmx58rkwsje1NtFNvnl9C-UDNhTcUQrlOCS7Kb-zciWZAdsFNSFU4G6dtwp_v-zQkV5YSocj_YscO6pkntSOVbkKxWJoLR28cO4vSlQ/s1600-h/DSC_0044.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE_8XewqfhHSqcqm4lBBaR6rTYvgbsWdaCJd0BQmx58rkwsje1NtFNvnl9C-UDNhTcUQrlOCS7Kb-zciWZAdsFNSFU4G6dtwp_v-zQkV5YSocj_YscO6pkntSOVbkKxWJoLR28cO4vSlQ/s320/DSC_0044.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264980523997495922" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br /><br />A view of the entire room.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSRmMGyXCs1ndFh4f1cS9F7g8MVQJ1V5FLXH-LhpEFvJ_0H1OhSCyeHD2J98T65DG2ETykvrLCI5Tnfq3Xki_WTniiVANCZ3uPwuSkvJaJVdTgpmxfAs_v1x5xF3-RzBHOFfVMDiYR4g/s1600-h/DSC_0046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKSRmMGyXCs1ndFh4f1cS9F7g8MVQJ1V5FLXH-LhpEFvJ_0H1OhSCyeHD2J98T65DG2ETykvrLCI5Tnfq3Xki_WTniiVANCZ3uPwuSkvJaJVdTgpmxfAs_v1x5xF3-RzBHOFfVMDiYR4g/s320/DSC_0046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264980937911451042" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />The crib -- it's all about the Monkeys!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-eEx53zU1plwBDJ_UXFm-zrawWCIcl4kBOhlDInkChD4gBrU4t-NWuhNea1lLWO229C-Acqx-BzzN63MuJyKPrTptgelkUmauNk8Zs65nPxDK2cC7nm-9v0BTSxwHA_txxKeokMnKCU/s1600-h/DSC_0058.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo-eEx53zU1plwBDJ_UXFm-zrawWCIcl4kBOhlDInkChD4gBrU4t-NWuhNea1lLWO229C-Acqx-BzzN63MuJyKPrTptgelkUmauNk8Zs65nPxDK2cC7nm-9v0BTSxwHA_txxKeokMnKCU/s320/DSC_0058.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264981165534146322" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />The reading nook, an essential for a member of our family.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfXJLsWDxB2-VGlQEhTnde3aCudP-e8_Rep4J0BAYeQ_odJTjvqDCFzBGCvzeJF26Jksa_qTfvfSwu-CP8aFLMttDwAC1vkvy_ybdz53Si6IYBt-H6dZjVlqliFdWHkaraXbZY58v2Q4/s1600-h/DSC_0047.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMfXJLsWDxB2-VGlQEhTnde3aCudP-e8_Rep4J0BAYeQ_odJTjvqDCFzBGCvzeJF26Jksa_qTfvfSwu-CP8aFLMttDwAC1vkvy_ybdz53Si6IYBt-H6dZjVlqliFdWHkaraXbZY58v2Q4/s320/DSC_0047.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264981584240696146" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br />And my hospital bags..... If only I could use them..... Just 9 days left!!!Gretchen.Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08954084902368654575noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237567422470404309.post-19000769096748945492008-11-02T21:25:00.010-05:002008-11-04T21:02:28.080-05:00Progression of the BellyWhile I feel like a gigantic moose woman now, I realize that I couldn't have looked like this forever. Therefore, I created this sort of photo montage to show the growth of the belly over the last nine months.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEwvBbiOpmGEoHIX4CdrOmIbHGwGe6fG4beEVSU9wqbynTTPYB6WvcdZwEsZIHPWf8OeIPKqILkvwF4UrU-bKXjsYj8Q2iNZ120v3EurXse8JRqACM2VLyMYOwUMH_eHARQJuDFe2xm4/s1600-h/2446576249_36497edd48.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzEwvBbiOpmGEoHIX4CdrOmIbHGwGe6fG4beEVSU9wqbynTTPYB6WvcdZwEsZIHPWf8OeIPKqILkvwF4UrU-bKXjsYj8Q2iNZ120v3EurXse8JRqACM2VLyMYOwUMH_eHARQJuDFe2xm4/s320/2446576249_36497edd48.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264252580449942722" border="0" /></a><br />At approximately 5 weeks -- I just found out I was pregnant (and apparently already getting short of breath).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0d8GpeTQQKtC5j8ise7gQANb0K2xQwetysxhGkACspl4OFu5xyDlSfQpgPvih6hkTkANQk5W7alRXIHgWRVRuDLIY7m1rV8MzmH6yQ0zrSy3QmHgLjbbTXSK8cG7XlobLg_wpc2GYZQ8/s1600-h/DSC_1234.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0d8GpeTQQKtC5j8ise7gQANb0K2xQwetysxhGkACspl4OFu5xyDlSfQpgPvih6hkTkANQk5W7alRXIHgWRVRuDLIY7m1rV8MzmH6yQ0zrSy3QmHgLjbbTXSK8cG7XlobLg_wpc2GYZQ8/s320/DSC_1234.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264254446762919970" border="0" /></a><br />Approximately 15 weeks -- I could just be chunky.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEs6qAE3TdIflGGF1nVCZBuKvr1-U4Zd8TuPRuklp2vxK-6z-y9zCWZpZcjvtA95PNYJduwUWUGQMDJoety82J5S0_iFQa5voGK21fJd-OzbBZwpwFALNTPk_9e_h4uq80w-UIq0hQhrM/s1600-h/DSC_1331.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEs6qAE3TdIflGGF1nVCZBuKvr1-U4Zd8TuPRuklp2vxK-6z-y9zCWZpZcjvtA95PNYJduwUWUGQMDJoety82J5S0_iFQa5voGK21fJd-OzbBZwpwFALNTPk_9e_h4uq80w-UIq0hQhrM/s320/DSC_1331.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264254887246951794" border="0" /></a>About 24 weeks -- Definitely a bump!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozmBLP6Xz-srTa53zVVTqA3DqPhaVVrc87b1WhGafLzolV8l0JDKsarHb-6bzFVQ1h3k0AYkyf8pWt4ot_LIW8deoTFiLyrjYDBsF7xty2wf3m6HKeVmOGz_z-VaBT04z6otQ5Y6NR7Q/s1600-h/DSC01621.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozmBLP6Xz-srTa53zVVTqA3DqPhaVVrc87b1WhGafLzolV8l0JDKsarHb-6bzFVQ1h3k0AYkyf8pWt4ot_LIW8deoTFiLyrjYDBsF7xty2wf3m6HKeVmOGz_z-VaBT04z6otQ5Y6NR7Q/s320/DSC01621.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264255373789619010" border="0" /></a><br />At 32 weeks -- pretty big!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBsnBotLKO3RvD8CK9X9kWqC4_SSVv2IZpxtzG_RgANWdg6CvFy8W1bD-U89ONJCaEFoknZUTtzoUgQPe9c_2dm-8YrJ_okW1GfWJHNyL44gAavEa7VIyefgZnXf9csDJAUe2LSbs-n6g/s1600-h/DSC_0016.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 223px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBsnBotLKO3RvD8CK9X9kWqC4_SSVv2IZpxtzG_RgANWdg6CvFy8W1bD-U89ONJCaEFoknZUTtzoUgQPe9c_2dm-8YrJ_okW1GfWJHNyL44gAavEa7VIyefgZnXf9csDJAUe2LSbs-n6g/s320/DSC_0016.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264974220328010914" border="0" /></a><br /><br />At 38 weeks -- I'm a COW!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />Hopefully we'll add one more right before we go to the hospital!Gretchen.Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08954084902368654575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237567422470404309.post-71813611714302624862008-10-25T16:13:00.002-04:002008-10-25T16:20:15.108-04:00FULL TERM!!!I'm OFFICIALLY full term today! That means he's not considered premature or early if he's born today or later. So I no longer feel guilty for wishing that he'll get out of me NOW. Bring on the spicy food, speed bumps, hot baths, primrose oil, pineapple, glasses of wine, Chinese food, licorice, eggplant parmesan...Gretchen.Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08954084902368654575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237567422470404309.post-19343397080448630602008-10-15T22:57:00.004-04:002008-10-15T23:06:14.247-04:00Into the Home StretchI saw my doctor for my 36 week appointment today. I now am seeing her every week, which is killing my schedule (and my wallet -- stupid hospital parking fees!). While I was hoping for a, "He's ready! Let's go to labor & delivery!", I also realized that I'm not quite ready for him to show up (actually having a crib would be helpful). <br /><br />Well, my subconscious won -- While I was convinced that my baby HAD to weigh at least 9 lbs (to compensate for my sudden weight surge), he's only 6 1/2 lbs. I was concerned that since I have gestational diabetes, he would be super-big, causing me to have a difficult or perhaps premature delivery. He's measuring a little big (about 10 days ahead) and is in the 70th percentile for weight and size. The size is most likely just due to the fact that Ted and I are big people; I have my diabetes under control enough that it's not affecting bambino. <br /><br />As for the TMI section of the post -- I'm 1 cm dilated! Which means..... absolutely nothing..... I can walk around for weeks this dilated, so it could be two days or five weeks. <br /><br />There is a lousy part of the diabetes that I have to deal with (in addition to the 4 times daily finger sticks and daily insulin injections) -- starting next week, I have to go in for twice weekly fetal monitoring and ultrasounds. They check for the shrimp's heart rate and movement (TRUST ME, he's moving.....), and also for the level of amniotic fluid, which can drop low in diabetics at this point and cause complications. I'm waiting for the time when I spend more time at the hospital than I do at home.<br /><br />Is it possible to buy stock in a hospital? If so, I recommend GBMC stock.Gretchen.Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08954084902368654575noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237567422470404309.post-26059561916725056782008-10-08T10:44:00.003-04:002008-10-08T10:50:30.707-04:00Rolling in styleOver the weekend, we went up to Lancaster to see Gretchen's cousins, aunt and grandmother, since they couldn't make it to the shower. They gave the monkey a lot of great gifts, including what has to be the Maserati of strollers if not the Rolls-Royce. This thing has more style then I could hope for in a month of creative pants choices, opens itself, and even has a bug net. Plus, the wheels are big enough that I could put the bug net to good use and take it on safari, and we have some blankets that match the overall look. All in a package that's greener then my hybrid Camry.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Just the ride:<br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMgKIYelpFpJzhE-G1mp5tshEWpWi6V7pZt3T0flJyMnc981fOhrYesoSV6MHzRR-u3DIyCpHa1NqbARuEBcD86EbtW9bMtnsPkaECy8rSyg_88-UpDBy84GSmALUwohKoGFb2MccZAA/s1600-h/QuinnyBuzzSulphur.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMgKIYelpFpJzhE-G1mp5tshEWpWi6V7pZt3T0flJyMnc981fOhrYesoSV6MHzRR-u3DIyCpHa1NqbARuEBcD86EbtW9bMtnsPkaECy8rSyg_88-UpDBy84GSmALUwohKoGFb2MccZAA/s320/QuinnyBuzzSulphur.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254795198805821266" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Getting ready for the safari:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhqcThcplGIofJnV73kdl4Qc0zMIXQu5S4kawHXBUInUtoZ0JDAjTijdRYd8cZM93KjN3qBp6UJUDn6eI4VhHWdfRmGgMbJler02LXmNVy3sQlb_xqFpAEfqI9_8hDdGM0IGPJpfDHik/s1600-h/quinnyBuzzMosquiteNet.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhqcThcplGIofJnV73kdl4Qc0zMIXQu5S4kawHXBUInUtoZ0JDAjTijdRYd8cZM93KjN3qBp6UJUDn6eI4VhHWdfRmGgMbJler02LXmNVy3sQlb_xqFpAEfqI9_8hDdGM0IGPJpfDHik/s320/quinnyBuzzMosquiteNet.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254795197422341250" border="0" /></a><br /></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17907504460894029700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237567422470404309.post-13595514650955970012008-10-07T22:18:00.003-04:002008-10-07T22:39:39.016-04:00Lay this thing down, flip it and reverse itSo, we saw a huge special on Amazon on Flip Video cameras and we got one "for the baby." The theory is, we'll take this small cheap camera with us wherever we go and just slip it in a pocket or a diaper bag. That way we can get quick, cute clips of whatever <span style="font-style: italic;">the monkey</span> gets himself into. We'll still probably get a nicer camera for times that we know we have something we want to capture (birthdays etc), but this is nice for quick clips and the web.<br /><br />Gretchen wanted a memory of her pregnancy and the profound statements made by "the preggo-brain". Below, submitted for your amusement, our first flip video:<br /><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx5oNb3U5N6zKu0kt6VvYUqEmOU4TcNj-3XjJfpHZMVJv9_5XgD9F2E5NA7CY7INU3Zi-EUSs2rUZQg-SQHGw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17907504460894029700noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237567422470404309.post-88844327544830943832008-09-29T10:02:00.007-04:002008-09-29T10:12:55.924-04:00Setting up the nursery (Apparently calling it a Monkey's Nest on Facebook was confusing)Sunday, the shower fun continues... We couldn't bring Sharon's bookcase or the picture to the house on Saturday because of all the rain. On Sunday, it let up enough to get everything over, and to spend a couple of hours putting everything away and getting the room in order. This is basically what it will look like until he arrives and messes up our decorating scheme. We're still waiting for the actual crib and a glider/recliner to arrive as well - they should appear sometime mid-October. At least now we have a backup place for the baby to sleep besides my first idea - put a blanket in a drawer and let him sleep there. Apparently, a bare drawer is better, the biggest concern is the choking hazard of the blankie. Who knew?<br /><br />An interesting thing about the room color - it really changes from olive/sage to bright green depending on the light and what else is in the room. I think it came together with the blue, but it looks totally different now then it did before. Which is cool, it ties the room together, but definitly highlights the risk of big, bold color - its not what it looks like on the swatch.<br /><br />Here are the pics:<br /><br />The view from the door:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBFXHNOWx4kSMdGcwSkPJxsU6NwWsbE205ChRf4phOsJVXRPXCRUWkNn3NsYHdFoW_fHn1VLhP6nMSZbmPmSqrtARKoEi3lIELbsD43LzCVkxzWTpCZ65YI-LcwJ8AKcKpqtxFaQfowI/s1600-h/n1524990_37262979_6634.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBFXHNOWx4kSMdGcwSkPJxsU6NwWsbE205ChRf4phOsJVXRPXCRUWkNn3NsYHdFoW_fHn1VLhP6nMSZbmPmSqrtARKoEi3lIELbsD43LzCVkxzWTpCZ65YI-LcwJ8AKcKpqtxFaQfowI/s400/n1524990_37262979_6634.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251445483380910146" border="0" /></a><br />A closeup on the corner<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhuFYcb8yu0BgvqfOBnOPgQJduXgBraMoBkpRTGvy5Cz_-1awTPYDCsrVVCzvOPb1Xna50JgbOTK_D5z2GRDPofD8tneMf3XR4xBTN_Qi2LHGCqN2bFqleBsv49QyMW_Keb5X1bgGnQs/s1600-h/n1524990_37262982_7591.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhuFYcb8yu0BgvqfOBnOPgQJduXgBraMoBkpRTGvy5Cz_-1awTPYDCsrVVCzvOPb1Xna50JgbOTK_D5z2GRDPofD8tneMf3XR4xBTN_Qi2LHGCqN2bFqleBsv49QyMW_Keb5X1bgGnQs/s400/n1524990_37262982_7591.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251445564007728802" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span>Looking at the other corner (the dresser is also a changing table and now has the changing pad on it, we got it later that afternoon)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHMmFr43o7NH_X3eJ2l4fbjBUc92ciIDSUwGKtlyFP-_MVpDg9qLqM0rMwVyPPx6uTw7PRSd8WeKlogKbS1pp4HaZk-z-P3c94nRXTgSQN1Fn_plEdEl6OPJYMQzLXlUw4cD6wAxKvQ4/s1600-h/n1524990_37262980_7117.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPHMmFr43o7NH_X3eJ2l4fbjBUc92ciIDSUwGKtlyFP-_MVpDg9qLqM0rMwVyPPx6uTw7PRSd8WeKlogKbS1pp4HaZk-z-P3c94nRXTgSQN1Fn_plEdEl6OPJYMQzLXlUw4cD6wAxKvQ4/s400/n1524990_37262980_7117.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251445555048979682" border="0" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17907504460894029700noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237567422470404309.post-23648668042706385982008-09-29T09:58:00.001-04:002008-09-29T10:18:20.063-04:00But Ted, what will you guys do during the baby shower<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Gretchen had her shower this weekend, and only she could really provide details of the shower itself, so I’m going to leave that to her.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Instead, here is what I and most of the boyfriends/husbands did:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Watch the UVA/Duke game at my house while<o:p></o:p></span></p> <ul><li><span style="">Drinking some beer<o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="">Eating delicious Italian sausage and assorted chips, dips, salsas etc.<o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Unfortunately, it rained enough that grilling was going to be difficult at best. That’s why I went with sausage over say, hamburgers – I know how to cook sausage on a stove but not a lot most other things like ribs or hamburgers. This is one of many lessons for my son – cooking is best done on open flames, not crazy indoor things.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Not surprisingly, at least for our generation, the shower had a de facto mixed gender after party. Most people ended up back at my house, where we confirmed that one of our friends is still a total lightweight. I also ran into a common (for me) hosting problem – she and I have almost opposite taste, and I don’t have stuff on hand, like cranberry juice, that I once did, now that Gret isn’t imbibing. I forgot that we had limeade, and actually whipped up something out of watermelon and cherry snowball syrup that was acceptable when mixed with vodka. These are the kind of skills that I want to pass on to my child. As well as a sense of style. If you squint really hard at the pictures of the nursery, you may notice that bookshelf contains <o:p></o:p></span></p> <ul><li><span style="">Some really cute books in Spanish that Sherri gave him<o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="">The hungry hungry caterpillar, which <st1:city st="on"><st1:place st="on">Sharon</st1:place></st1:city> included when she painted the bookcase<o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="">The scrawny tawny lion – my pick<o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="">Ted Allen’s <i style="">Everything A Man Needs to Know about Style</i><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Gretchen is, how shall we say, not amused<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">The sudden influx of ladies who’d just been at a baby shower (and as Kevin put it, charge of estrogen that was suddenly interested in discussing their plumbing) lead to a vital and monumentous decision – we should go shooting. So off we went to Continental Arms (by TESSCO and the post office off McCormic/Padonia)<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">When we got there, we realized that I had some experience shooting, although mainly not in the <st1:country-region st="on"><st1:place st="on">US</st1:place></st1:country-region>, James had never shot handguns, Chris knew what he was doing and knew the range and Kevin… Once we saw him in action, I’m a little scared of the seemingly gentle Kevin and his shooting ability…<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">Given the mix of shooting experience, we mixed up our choices and rented<o:p></o:p></span></p> <ul><li><span style="">A concealed carry sized .40 (small and powerful, Kevin and Chris loved it, James and I thought it was too small)<o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="">The standard Glock 17 (tried to get James to try the side pointed fast shooting, gangster style, but he wasn’t interested)<o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="">A 1911a model .45 (My personal favorite. Huge though) and…<o:p></o:p></span></li><li><span style="">A ridiculously large .44Magnum revolver. This is the gun from Dirty Harry. It’s a wrist breaker that we had no business shooting. Kevin still put six in the x-ring on his second go. <o:p></o:p></span></li></ul> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">We then met the girls again for <st1:place st="on"><st1:placename st="on">India</st1:placename> <st1:placetype st="on">Palace</st1:placetype></st1:place>, and followed that with drinks at the house again. Given the theme of dinner, Chris and I broke into the Rangpur Gin. Highly recommended, but not quite Hendricks or Jin level.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="">All in all, a great day, and a nice mixing of traditional guy activities (Football, Beer, Guns) and getting ready for bambino.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style=""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17907504460894029700noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237567422470404309.post-91429022182428771932008-08-19T08:44:00.003-04:002008-08-19T08:52:44.071-04:00Big and Beautiful<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5i7AMmXO2InPnoZbI-ZH4slg7cTUH6T2Hx6IoDBFSaG-MQXgQWxYpxXiEtaawoYDuz9yBzu22Meag3hO5BCiEUbQ2xlhIxm1kiM99pl6oTNjVmqwqclAewmVnAACvDMarfZC_cUe4JvY/s1600-h/hotmommas__oPt.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 243px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5i7AMmXO2InPnoZbI-ZH4slg7cTUH6T2Hx6IoDBFSaG-MQXgQWxYpxXiEtaawoYDuz9yBzu22Meag3hO5BCiEUbQ2xlhIxm1kiM99pl6oTNjVmqwqclAewmVnAACvDMarfZC_cUe4JvY/s320/hotmommas__oPt.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5236209195713830194" border="0" /></a>Check out this link from Perez Hilton -- Maryland's own Christian Siriano is launching a maternity line! Too bad I won't still be pregnant in Spring of '09.<br /><br /><a href="http://perezhilton.com/2008-08-18-hot-mommas">http://perezhilton.com/2008-08-18-hot-mommas</a>Gretchen.Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08954084902368654575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237567422470404309.post-18345853703390646602008-08-05T10:58:00.002-04:002008-08-05T10:58:59.679-04:00In the single digits!As of today, I officially have less than 100 days until my due date. Wow.......Gretchen.Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08954084902368654575noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237567422470404309.post-50307570879184940762008-08-01T11:25:00.004-04:002008-08-01T11:29:12.912-04:00Help Support the Economy!Give a boost to our local economy (well, Target really isn't local, but still...) and check out our registries! Thank God for Ted's sister, because I would have been in serious trouble if she had not helped me get everything together.<br /><br />We are also baby registered at the Apple Store (baby needs an iMac) and Nordstrom's (I can use a Kate Spade as a diaper bag, right?) and Beltway Liquors (we'll need some assistance getting through the first few weeks).<br /><br />The registries are a work in progress, so check often (as of posting, only the Target registry is complete and posted!).Gretchen.Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08954084902368654575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237567422470404309.post-38330214081689301082008-07-24T15:40:00.004-04:002008-12-11T17:46:57.994-05:00What We REALLY Need for the Baby<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipna9VVGbEWy455vONjkz0QsI-wI0YRztvKPGx8-pCTPkdK4lQgDgnEg_nLGnUvhF2k1i-aS2q59FESY_l4LtZn2eKjs60uGgtrJVsjV8SQKEjofSD7mkTGpRLBZ97qbz0ZTBzNTwjn8U/s1600-h/keeper.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 118px; height: 196px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipna9VVGbEWy455vONjkz0QsI-wI0YRztvKPGx8-pCTPkdK4lQgDgnEg_nLGnUvhF2k1i-aS2q59FESY_l4LtZn2eKjs60uGgtrJVsjV8SQKEjofSD7mkTGpRLBZ97qbz0ZTBzNTwjn8U/s320/keeper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226668760047166386" border="0" /></a><br />Many new-parents-to-be suffer from anxiety about the upcoming bundle of joy; a central theme of my personal anxiety is "How can I avoid traumatizing my child to the point where he will require therapy for the rest of his life?"<br /><br />However, I love that other people have a different idea of what exactly will traumatize a child. <a href="http://www.cracked.com/article_16475_20-baby-products-great-traumatizing-infants.html">Here is a great list of potential gifts for our child that will cause minimal trauma.</a>Gretchen.Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08954084902368654575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237567422470404309.post-8799693517512379962008-07-17T10:53:00.005-04:002008-12-11T17:46:58.416-05:00First Baby PurchaseSince Ted is creating the anti-registry (see below), I have been giving serious thought to the real registry. Yes, we have purchased and/or received a few little things for the baby (including a fantastic <a href="https://store.dogfish.com/item/School_Of_Dogfish_Onesie/797/Kids_Wear/17/index.htm">Dogfish Head Brewery onesie</a>), we have yet to purchase anything of real value or use. One of the foremost concerns and major purchases is the stroller.<br /><br />As parents to be, the stroller purchase has become more important than a major car purchase. And since my car is about the size of a large golf cart, we are very limited by space concerns.<br /><br />So of course, being the snobs that we are, we find the single most expensive stroller on the market and promptly fall in love with it. Yes, the <a href="http://maclarenbaby.com/">Maclaren</a>, the Lexus of strollers, favorite of celebrities and yuppies everywhere, known for durability, small size, and <span style="font-style: italic;">style</span>. And of course, the accompanying price take that can singlehandedly give you <a href="http://www.preeclampsia.org/about.asp">preeclampsia</a>.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGusVVYxNuphlE32Yy8vmRHHNUaE-yg2nIs-ucVeKu62_unXhrGmk6fApncbpUZhzuxNQel4zZpUdlh4SGSg1V60VUzMEGFfQbSf_M4wbVCT3qVDF7ycVklvO5tIoRPhtyRsFlk3s-C8/s1600-h/Stroller+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 158px; height: 158px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTGusVVYxNuphlE32Yy8vmRHHNUaE-yg2nIs-ucVeKu62_unXhrGmk6fApncbpUZhzuxNQel4zZpUdlh4SGSg1V60VUzMEGFfQbSf_M4wbVCT3qVDF7ycVklvO5tIoRPhtyRsFlk3s-C8/s320/Stroller+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224001369027902290" border="0" /></a>But there is a cheaper option! For a fraction of the cost of the big daddy strollers you can get just the base that you snap the car seat into (a "Snap and Go"), and <span style="font-style: italic;">voila!</span> You have a stroller! The downside is that once the kid turns three to four months, you have to get a bigger<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdvbd23PMXdGsltuC-aw9bLfeCL8ke4wrQHY051uIjF7pbKsn4IxUIue-o2oRX487E4Jr_qV0rt-9iofHMe1kkST9Mn9NTXus3eqrG2wcYcGexUnj5yA5-XMRk-mxyklHLhCLRV2cI5k/s1600-h/Stroller+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtdvbd23PMXdGsltuC-aw9bLfeCL8ke4wrQHY051uIjF7pbKsn4IxUIue-o2oRX487E4Jr_qV0rt-9iofHMe1kkST9Mn9NTXus3eqrG2wcYcGexUnj5yA5-XMRk-mxyklHLhCLRV2cI5k/s320/Stroller+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224001547168286002" border="0" /></a> stroller, but the non-infant ones are significantly cheaper.<br /><br />And here is the best part -- normally the Maclaren version of this stroller runs around $90. Ted and I were in Babies 'r' Us (NEVER go here unless you have to or want to have an incentive to take extra birth control), testing out all the strollers. And yes, we were discussing turning radius, shock absorbers, upholstery, available upgrade packages-- it really is like buying a car! And then my brilliant husband saw it -- the floor model of the Maclaren version of the Snap and Go (the "Easy Traveller" -- nothing is easy when you have a baby). And here is the best part....<br /><br />IT WAS ON SALE!!!!<br /><br />So we grabbed that bad boy and wheeled it right out to the car (with a quick pit stop to pay for it, of course!).<br /><br />Next logical step -- to see if we can put the cat in it and take him for a walk.Gretchen.Martinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08954084902368654575noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4237567422470404309.post-49349006293043868552008-07-17T10:10:00.004-04:002008-07-17T10:22:08.830-04:00What not to get usI know a few people have purchased random things for the baby (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">UVa</span> bibs, drinking <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">onesies</span>, holiday themed outfits, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Baby's</span> first spotting scope, ceremonial <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">tantos</span> - it goes in, across then down, etc). However, there is one thing that we not only are not registering for, but has instead caused us to create the anti-<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">registry</span>:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3079356">The Belly Cast Kit</a><br /><br /><br /><img style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://images2.powerreviews.com/images_customers/09/34/2247434_32458_full.jpg" border="0" />Yes, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">that's</span> right, you can immortalize how big you were in paper <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">mache</span>. Reasons we're against this: <ul><li>You have to put it somewhere. Many of the reviews suggest hanging it on the wall with one <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">euphemistically</span> calling it "a conversation starter"</li><li>The cat would sleep in it</li><li>The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">nursery</span> will be crowded enough with the baby, his stuff, the cat, the dog, me and the real Gretchen all visiting. No need to add a second, statue <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Gretchen</span></li><li>Our friends would probably try to wear it (Matt)</li><li>My friends or I would make an <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">alien</span> burst through it at some point</li><li>It might get rigged to dispense beer (Phi Psi)</li><li>Gretchen would make the cat sleep in it</li></ul><p>Looking at the reviews, I can see why some people really like it. It seems like they may have had a lot of trouble getting pregnant, or that being pregnant was super important to them, and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">fufillment</span> of a dream. I think they also have more space then us, and possibly less creativity in terms of how things can get <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">misused</span>...<br /></p>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17907504460894029700noreply@blogger.com0