Spring Break in St.Paul

Well despite the recent Nor'Easter, we made it back home last night safe and sound. It was a fine trip indeed.

Some highlights:

Not experiencing a plane crash or any other travelling distaster on Friday the 13th. Yes, I get a little superstitious about these things.

Practically announcing to my first stranger that I was pregnant, by openly reading my pregnancy magazines and books right next to him on the plane.

Being greeted by "Top Hat Guy" at the Saint Paul Hotel (if you squint you can make out the top hat in the picture).

Walking through the streets of St. Paul and appreciating the impressive architecture, and the laid-back pace at which people walked. Nate might have a different take on the pace issue.

Being able to eat lunch while sitting on a park bench in the sun without a winter coat on. And being relatively comfortable.

Happening upon Mickey's Diner after walking the streets for an hour looking specifically for a diner, since it was 10 am and we were starving and didn't want to get a muffin at Starbucks and it was too early for lunch.

Wearing his and hers Saint Paul Hotel bathrobes, because they were there.

Getting to see a great number of young couples, stroller in tow, looking like relatively normal and cool people - not too much like the haggard and hairied picture that some paint of new parenthood.

Going to the Minnesota Museum of Science and learning that Nate's wingspan is almost that of a Bald Eagle, and mine is not quite that of Turkey Vulture. And approximating that Chester is the size of a Dessert Sparrow's egg. Or thereabouts.

Of course, the "mission" of the whole trip: the Prairie Home Companion show. I get goosebumps just thinking about it. Okay, I'm actually pretty cold here at home in Maine and my afghan's not helping a whole lot. But it was a great show experience. They sell drinks in the lobby while you're waiting, and you can take them with you to enjoy during the show. ! Not to rub it in a pregnant lady's face or anything. Great music, skits, musical guests, Lake Wobegon monologue. Garrison DIDN'T read our message... I'm working on forgiving him for passing ours up in favor of very boring, not at all funny ones. Okay, there was one about a grandmother saying hello to her grandchildren and reminding them that she still has Christmas lights to come help take off her house. But that was the only funny one I remember. Anyway - I know, forgiveness takes time.


Experiencing the Mall of America, complete with in-mall aquarium and amusement park, which we availed ourselves of. This is also where Nicky was able to pay an extra $6.00 to find out that the "Extreme Trampoline" is not exactly her bag these days.

Getting the window seat from my dear husband for the last leg of our trip - the Greyhound from Boston to Augusta. Better to lean with, better to sleep with.

Riding the T from Logan to South Station. All by ourselves. Amy Whitman will appreciate that accomplishment.

Learning that we'll probably not bother with bus travel again in the future, or at least without extended layovers in between connections. Oy vey. A valuable lesson.

Realizing that we will probably not be staying in a hotel again for a very, very long time that features a Top Hat Guy and in-room bathrobes. Very. Long. Time.

Celebrating 12 years together - yes, you read that right - and being thankful to have this time together. Because as a co-worker friend of mine said today, "This shouldn't come as a surprise to you, but you're not going to get that time with just each other again for a long time!" Thanks for the insight, Vicki P. Didn't see that one coming.

Oh and one more time milestone: celebrating making it "10 weeks" on Friday the 13th... we're in the double digits now, baby. And in the 10th week, Chester has been compared in size on the BabyCenter website to, I am not making this up, a KUMQUAT.
I kind of like Dessert Sparrow egg better.
(Kumquat image not actual size.)

Look what else one gets when one Googles Kumquat images:

Miss Kumquat Festival
Melissa Marcus
24
University of Miami
Twirl/Baton-And Im Telling You
Children to Children - Making a Better Life for Children in Foster Care


People, this is straight from the Miss Florida 2005 Highlights page. I do not make this stuff up.

Do not be alarmed...

...We're just going to Minnesota for the weekend...

thus a few more blog-less days at The Sylvestieu Times.

More details upon our return, but wanted to check in before we check out.

At the moment my excitement of our upcoming trip is a little overshadowed by the fatigue of packing, but I AM quite... excited about it. (Even though, with the help of the Thesaurus, I couldn't find a suitable adjective for "excited". And I just don't have the energy to think it up. I do like "aflame" though. Anyway.) This is a trip we booked 2 days before we learned of being pregnant. It was one of those "Gotta do it while we can" kind of things.

The reason for the trip? Okay, the subtitle of this blog:
"NERD ALERT!" (read with English accent a la Austin Powers).......
We're going to see a live broadcast of A Prarie Home Companion at the Fitzgerald Theater in St.Paul. I won't go into my reasons for loving this weekly radio show at this time, but suffice it to say I love it enough to fly to Minnesota for a long weekend to see it, thus crossing off an entry from my "life list" as put by a co-worker friend of mine. And somewhere along the line, Nate became enough of a fan to humor me in this endeavor.

Tune in if you can, as they read greetings from listeners, and we've sent one hoping it will be read on air! In Maine it's on LIVE at 6pm Saturday night, and re-broadcast at noon on Sunday.
Click here to find your local station and broadcast times. Click here to find out how to listen live online.

Okay, are you asleep yet??

Tune in for all the “exciting” stories we get from this trip, as well as maybe, just maybe, some updated pictures of us…

--Nicky and Nate

9 weeks 5 days, otherwise known as

2 weeks 2 days until 12 weeks

or, “about a quarter of the way through this thing” as a co-worker of Nate’s pointed out recently. To which Nate said, “That’s a freaky way to think of it”

Nicky's Perfect Pregnant Friday Night

Friday was one of my tired days.
Luckily, I knew that this weekend was, for the most part, unspoken for in the way of plans. I also knew that Nate was planning on going to The Liberal Cup with co-workers after work, which I wasn't interested in due to the fact that it's a brew pub and I, alas, cannot drink The Beer. And no, I didn't feel like having a ginger ale while trying not to fall asleep and offering lame chuckles while listening to office stories. I was more than fine having a night to myself.

So, to help make up for my unfulfilled craving for Crab Rangoons last Friday night (Nate brazenly questioned if it was a true "craving" and said that "I just wanted them" but that we didn't have time to order them, pick them up, etc. in time to make it to our social engagement. I said it would have been worth showing up a little late if we were bearing Crab Rangoons as an appetizer for everyone to share. Anyway.) So, with no one to answer to but my tired self, I called Lucky Garden on the way home from work (pulled over on the side of the road, of course, grandparents) and ordered Crab Rangoons and Chicken Lo Mein. I'm not a HUGE fan of Lo Mein but it was the only thing I could think of without the menu in front of me, in an attempt to make this more of a "balanced" meal. My midwife did say that protein is extra-important in pregnancy.

I only ate ONE Rangoon on my .55 mile ride home, and three quarters of another one before changing into the accomodating fleece pants with elastic waist.
I curled up on the couch, complete with afghan, slippers and flannel shirt and put in a movie that I had rented the night before in anticipation of this alone time: Happy Feet , or as Nate called it, "The one where a bunch of penguins dance around or something." I figured this way, I could watch it in peace and not have him make fun of me for watching an animated movie made for 7-year-olds.

LITTLE DID I KNOW, the whole REASON why the main character is born "special" (skip to the next paragraph if you do not want this surprise ruined) is because the daddy penguin, while on egg-holding duty for months while the mommy is out fishing for the family, DROPS THE EGG, exposing it to the freezing Arctic temperatures for a few brief moments, but long enough for him to privately blame himself when he sees that his son is born different from the other baby penguins. Yes, little Mumble goes on to get the girl anyway, make other cool friends, and saves the Emperor Penguin population, but STILL. Not the best movie for a pregnant lady to see.

Oh and I haven't even mentioned the extra-special part of Nicky's Perfect Pregnant Friday Night: that I could cry at random parts of the movie - When the penguins sing, dance, talk, swim, almost get eaten by leopard seals, you know, touching stuff like that. Yup, it was just what I needed.

Went up to bed at about 7:15, somehow stayed awake to read until 8:04, then submitted to the weight of my heavy eyelids and turned out the light. Ahhhhh.... heaven.

Nicky and Nate
9 weeks 1 day, Baby

Pregnant Brain + Early Morning = Idiot

Even though this is embarrassing, I realize that it is really too good to keep to myself.

This vignette starts with the fact that we got a snow storm last night - so I woke up a little off-kilter in the first place: April 5th, with 8+ inches of snow on the ground as I'm looking out the window. I stayed in bed as long as possible, but finally dragged my butt out with just enough time to get the basics done and arrive at work presentable, somewhat on time.

My main incentive to get in the shower was the thought of "warm water, warm water - that will feel good, Nicky - you can do it."

So I get into the shower, and the water was not that warm. Beginning to panic, I adjust the levers - turning the right handle WAY on - and the water only grew colder - FAST.

At this point I'm wide awake, freezing, panicked, and pissed that I am mostly wet from cold water, including half of my hair.

I dry off, hope that my hair isn't too greasy for work, and wonder if I should brave the alternative of washing it in the sink with cold water... and head downstairs to tell Nate that "WE DON'T HAVE HOT WATER!!!" Like he should do something about it. "Well that's not good" he says, all worked-up like (not really - come on now) and heads downstairs to check the water heater that we JUST got replaced this summer.

I'm in a little in disbelief myself. So while he's downstairs checking the water heater, I turn on the kitchen faucet and the lukewarm water gets WAY hot WAY fast. "Ummm... I think we're all set" I say sheepishly. "Let me go try it again."

Back upstairs, back in the shower, turn on the water, RIGHT = COLD, LEFT = HOT.
PRESTO CHANGE-O... HOT WATER!!!

So, have I ever done this before in my life? No. Have I ever been pregnant before in my life? No. Coincidence? We'll let the blog jury decide.

Hey, Where’s My Free Personal Razor?

So I’m reporting back with the latest regarding today’s prenatal visit, AKA:

“The Successful Midwife Appointment”!

I’ll spare you the transcript-length account of my hour-and-a-half visit with her (yes, you read that right, and yes, you’re welcome) but suffice it to say I’ve determined that this is the practice for me/us.

One thing I’m still trying to figure out: if it’s possible to have fallen in love with a medical practice.

I also got to visit the hospital that they deliver at and was impressed with the maternity department as well.

I received a bag of “free stuff” at the end of this appointment as well, but it was all reading material vs. formula and diaper coupons and personal and household cleaning accessories.

I think the best part about this practice is that there are 2 midwives and 2 OBGyns, all who work together and encourage patients to figure out the best fit for them. I would say I’m in the category of women who aren’t quite sure yet if they’ll be a better “midwife patient” or a “doc patient”. So at least this way I have flexibility and time to decide.

Recent dreams:

* I had to start up, fly, and land a plane myself, without knowing anything about how to do any of these things to start with. Oh, and landing had to be in the middle of Augusta, vs. an actual runway. (Hmm, am I feeling a little overwhelmed by the idea of having to “figure out” some upcoming life challenge?? As my mom used to say, “You girls didn’t come with an instruction book! I’m figuring this out as I go!” Yes, Mom, I was paying attention, sometimes…)

* I learned to “swaddle” our baby… make that babies – there were two infants, one in pink and one in blue, and I had to swaddle them together. I figured it out with a surprising amount of ease and was quite proud of myself.

There have seriously been multiple dreams, every night. Probably another reason why I’m so tired – my brain is still busy processing stuff, even while I’m sleeping!

Okay, I know, this entry has rated pretty low on the humor scale. Do not despair. I will end with Nate’s birthday card to his dad this weekend, as promised.

(front)

This year for your birthday, our gift to you is one (1) grandson.

(inside)

Grandson to be redeemed sometime in November 2007.

Grandson availability subject to change, in which case cardholder may redeem for one (1) granddaughter.

Feel the love

Since people are sending their words of congratulations directly to us via e-mail or snail mail vs. posting comments on the blog for all to read, I need to share a few more gems, besides the now famous "Chester" card from Aunt Jane.

Our friend Preston - yes, the one of our nine "best men" who was too ill to stand for extended periods of time at our wedding, which we all thought was quite hilarious - e-mailed us today. I enjoyed a hearty laugh from reading his thoughts to us, and felt they were too good to keep to ourselves. The entire contents of his e-mail are below:

Congratulations on finally making people. I know you have been trying for a while, and I am happy for you both. I can't wait to find out who the father is.
P.S. I know the enthusiasm is supposed to be saved until after the twelfth week, but "I'm not quite happy for you yet," didn't sound right.

Thanks, Preston. You're right - there's probably a reason why Hallmark doesn't make a card of that genre.


And, we received a beautiful card with a picture of a stroller on it from our friend Sturk. Inside she had written "A poem for the new baby" which is included in full text below.

Dear Baby Chester,
How long we've waited for you,
Everyone can now rejoice,
The Sylvestieus will be singing "goo-goo"

My hopes and visions are simple,
After the laughs and giggles you bring,
A promise of your dad's big nose
And your very own beading talent
to make a festive nose ring!


Followed by an e-mail from my Grampa, who also felt moved to compose a few lines:


He said "it could be a Rap Song"
Chester Sylvester

Like his Dad

Is a jester........................

AHHH feel the love.
Thanks everyone :)

I'm also including a sweet picture of us taken last summer to demonstrate that the odds might be stacked against Chester in the nose department. I think I have my own contribution to make!

Okay - we're headed to have dinner with my FMILAFGOOB and FFILAFGOOB for FF's birthday. Once we give the card that Nate made for his father, I'll include the text in the next post. It's precious. A Nate classic.

Nicky and Nate
8 weeks 2 days
not that we're counting

"Baby Alert!"

This was the title of an e-mail from my Aunt Barbara today saying that her daughter, my cousin Jess, is pregnant too!!! She found out the day after we told our parents a few weeks ago, so we are within a week or two of each other in terms of due dates. SSSSOOOOOOO exciting. I called her tonight and we shared our symptoms, and lack thereof, with each other - the main missing symptom being morning sickness which we're both VERY fine with. I hope I didn't just jinx us by putting it in writing...



Can I also just say I'm so glad Nate picked such a flattering picture of "us" (read: "me") to post. We definitely have lightened up on the pictures in the past year or two... I guess we were just saving up for the picture-heavy parenting years ahead of us.



Okay - a FRACTION of my dreams in the past few days:

* My sister Leigh told me she was pregnant; that she got pregnant right around when I did but didn't want to say anything "to take away from my special time". I remember wondering, but knowing it would be rude to ask, "What happened to you guys not planning on having kids? Were you trying?" So I just exclaimed that it was exciting, big news.

* My sister Emi's wedding day had come, and there was so much that still needed to be done that she was paralyzed and speechless, unable to speak to give directions for those of us who were asking what we could do to help. (I did send her an e-mail the next day to ask if there was anything I could do to help. She has since shared quite the extensive list of completed and well-under-way wedding tasks and projects - so rest assured it's under control in real life!)

* My family, friends and hundreds of neighbors had been rounded up and herded into a gymnasium during some kind of war-time conflict in which Jews and people of French heritage were to be executed. A few of us devised an escape plan, which consisted of excusing ourselves to the guards at the doors, telling them we had been mistaken for Jews or French people, but that we were in fact neither, and planned on them taking our word for it. It worked, but then my dad realized he forgot a camera case to a new camera he had just gotten himself for Christmas (See? That rules out Jewish!), and said he needed to go back in to get it. I figured that I, an innocent looking young pregnant woman, would be less likely to get questioned by the guards. So I told him that I would go in and get it - HOWEVER I had no intention of going that far. I was just going to pretend that I looked for it, and tell my father that I couldn't find it, knowing that in the end, he'd be more thankful that we were all alive vs. someone dying over the camera case.

* I should state that the subtitle for any of my dream postings should be: "I Couldn't Make This Stuff Up if I Tried".

And don't worry, other friends and family - you will at some point be included in my dreams as well. It's just a matter of time.



Okay back to pregnancy - "We'll" be 8 weeks tomorrow - image included.
Yes, people, those are webbed-paddle type appendages, and alien-looking eyes. Aren't they adorable??

I had an appointment with the OBGyn office on Wednesday - got a bag of free stuff - coupons for all the things we MUST have to be good parents, and Clorox wipes for all of those scary germs out there just waiting to infect our little Chester. And, I am not making this up, a personal razor for women with the shaving gel included in the handle of the device - because, presumably, moms don't have time to pick up a shaving gel bottle, take the lid off, squirt the gel onto their legs, and THEN shave. But it's enough of a priority to this company, and my doctor's office, that I still shave my legs, no matter how sleep deprived I may be. Well, I guess an OBGyn sees a lot of legs.... etc....


Oh yeah - the doctor's appointment. So I peed in a cup and had blood drawn to make sure I don't have syphilis, etc. Keep your fingers crossed on that one!

Did you feel the personal connection in that re-counting of my first prenatal appointment? No, me neither. Which is why I still consider myself to be shopping around for a provider. I had an appointment scheduled with a midwife that day as well, but she had to reschedule due to attending a labor. I guess I'll forgive her - goes with the territory. So, I'll see her next week instead.


Okay - I don't know why I thought for a second that I would maybe, just MAYBE, keep this entry shorter than the last one.... but for anyone who knows me, you know that short on words is just not my style. Just be glad this isn't a phone message on your answering machine. I'm the first to admit - I'm bad. I'm wordy. I'm out of control. I apologize to those of you who have been affected by my condition.

But hey, I mentioned earlier that I'm in "making-the-most-out-of-pre-baby-life" mode... and even a non-parent like me can see the writing on the wall (or the computer screen - groan) to know that I should not anticipate the amount of free time it takes to write blog entries of this length once I have little Chester attached to a mammary or asking for an eleventeenth bedtime story...


So - look away if reading these entries will be too painful for you. But for those of you who are intrigued enough to check in with the Sylvestieu Times, I think it's a realistic prediction that my entries will not be daily, but they will be comprehensive once they are posted - maybe once a week.

And as for Nate... well, he had the idea of starting a blog in the first place, did so, posted the ultrasound picture, and showed me how to make posts. I'm sure he's just holding back because once he gets started expressing his thoughts and feelings on such life-changing events as the one we'll be going through - you just can't stop him. Talk about flood gates.

I'm estimating that approximately 87% of you knew that that last statement was 100% sarcasm.


Okay, it's 8:16 and time for this pregnant lady to hit the hay.
Hope you got some chuckles.

Slow News Day

In case you haven't talked with us in awhile.... there is a bun in the proverbial oven.

Everything IS still going along as hoped.
However I think it’s safe to say that I, at least, have been in a “breath-holding mode”. Just counting down the days till the 12-week mark, when the risk of miscarriage greatly decreases. I know no one likes to hear a newly pregnant woman verbalizing these thoughts, and Nate was asking, “Why would we be any more likely than someone else to go through that?” For a while that logic comforted me, but after going through more than two years to get to this point, I’d say I have the “Infertility Complex” which is what often plagues women who went through a range of difficulties getting pregnant. Once it finally happens, you just can’t believe it. So, I’m definitely not taking one moment of this for granted.

I’m also in “enjoying-pre-baby-life-to-the-fullest mode”.
We hosted a dinner party Saturday night, then slept WAY in Sunday morning. I chalk that up to perhaps (I don’t think it’s my imagination) feeling more tired than usual – a common early pregnancy symptom. The thought of having another pregnancy symptom comforts me and helps it feel more real.

I also have another upcoming Girls’ Day/Night Beading Getaway next weekend. A few of us have gotten together a couple of times so far in 2007 for an overnight estrogen-extravaganza… a total indulgence, I know. So far they’ve been hosted by Amy Whitman and Leigh Mathieu, but the next one is going to be at a hotel in Freeport, and will feature beading galore, as we hooked over 3 new beaders to the addictive (and dirt-cheap – NOT) hobby. So, I have that to look forward to as well.

Nate just finished his 4th class through Penn State on-line, so he now has a certificate in GIS (Geographical Information Systems). He’s taking some time to think about whether or not he wants to get his masters.

We received a card of congratulations from Nate’s Aunt Jane and Uncle Jim, advising us to stay away from names for Baby Sylvester like: Chester, Lester, Esther… I crack up every time I think of those names… and now think of our raspberry-sized, tail-sporting, “Chester” and smile.

And speaking of funny names, in an e-mail recently from my mother-in-law (or “MIL”) Debbie, she referred to me as her “favorite daughter-in-law-and-future-daughter-of-her-grandbaby”. Aww shucks. In my e-mail response, I referred to her as my “favorite mother-in-law-and-future-grandmother-of-our-baby”, and then had a good laugh when I spelled out that acronym, which is FMILAFGOOB. Of course I couldn’t help but to include my astute observation in my e-mail to her. I think she thought it was funny too. :J

My already active dream-life has been on overdrive in the past few weeks. I don’t even know where I would begin with that one. That could be a whole other blog! For those of you who know how detailed and colorful my pre-pregnancy dream life has been, I’m sure you can only imagine. Expect to be entertained in future posts by this sub-theme of the effects of pregnancy.

I’ll end with a partial list of things that, no, we still don’t know about:

What we’ll do about work, daycare, etc.
Baby names
My last name
Names for grandparents
Midwife vs. OBGyn
Cloth vs. disposable diapers
Whether or not we’ll find out the sex before the birth
How many and what type of drugs I’ll want for the delivery. (Good lord I still can’t wrap my mind around that one.)


We’re just taking it one day at a time and trying to enjoy the ride.
Thanks everyone, as always, for your love and support!
Until next time,

Nicky and Nate