Sunday, March 27, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
4 Days Past Due Date...
Well, we're now four days past our due date. Stasia is holding up remarkably well with few complaints. My only complaint is that I'm sleeping very lightly these days. Last night, Stasia blew her nose and I woke up saying, "What? Are you OK?!"
Everyone is getting anxious and excited to meet the little guy, but he's just not ready. I picture him kicking back in a hammock, sunglasses on, enjoying the attention, but not ready to show himself.
He'll be here when he gets here.
In the meantime, enjoy the following photo of Stasia and her friend:
Everyone is getting anxious and excited to meet the little guy, but he's just not ready. I picture him kicking back in a hammock, sunglasses on, enjoying the attention, but not ready to show himself.
He'll be here when he gets here.
In the meantime, enjoy the following photo of Stasia and her friend:
Saturday, March 19, 2011
2 Days Past Due Date...
Portrait of me with my exercise ball in our kitchen. We make quite a pair. I have sat on this at work for the past two months or so. I brought it home because it may come in handy for early labor and calming the baby once he is born.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Happy St. Patrick's Day!
It's my due date today, but I don't think our little guy is quite ready yet. While we are waiting, here is a bump picture...
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Seattle Baby Shower in Photos
We had a wonderful shower thrown for us in February. The hostess, our friend Tiffany, worked very hard. The event had it all....
There was fantastic decor handmade by Tiffany.
A wonderful diaper (and more) tower made by Jack's sister Molly. Jack loves "Where the Wild Things Are". Heather kept with our woodland theme and made a beautiful felt mobile.
I think that Tiffany and Heather worked on the cupcake tower, complete with woodland animal toppers.
There was a good looking group of attendees if I do say so myself.
And we even had some good looking families show up to give us a preview of what we are in for.
The three of us were spoiled, such generosity!
There were three pretty cool games, only one was a "drinking game". We discovered who could finish their beer bottle first.
It was not Jack... Josh took the honor.
Thank you so much to our hosts, Ryan and Tiffany!
Friday, March 4, 2011
This Boy's Room
Save for some minor touches--like a valance above the window--the nursery is complete and we feel pretty ready for the little guy. Well, as ready as we can be.
We went for a woodland theme and we both love how it turned out. The tree is a vinyl decal we bought off of Etsy.
As much as we love the comforter and the bumpers in the crib, we'll have to remove them for the first six (?) months or so for safety reasons.
We went for a woodland theme and we both love how it turned out. The tree is a vinyl decal we bought off of Etsy.
As much as we love the comforter and the bumpers in the crib, we'll have to remove them for the first six (?) months or so for safety reasons.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
In His Mother's Belly, His Father's Mind
It's March now. That means a few things. It means Stasia's folks have arrived--they're renting a little apartment in the Wedgwood neighborhood for the month. It means in about two weeks the world will look a little different. It means we will soon not only be a couple, but we will be parents.
Stasia is doing well. Some sore hips and sore back, but she's strong and amazing and has a great attitude even with little sleep. We've both had trouble in that department lately. Nature's way of preparing us for baby? Thank you, Nature, it's mighty thoughtful of you, but I think I speak for both of us (especially Stasia) when I say, Can you maybe back off a bit? You know, just let us get an extra few hours before the little guy arrives? Much obliged.
We've finished our birth classes. Only one Centering appointment remains (if you don't know, "Centering" is a two-hour session that includes other parents due in March and the midwives from Ballard Swedish--in lieu of standard OB checkups). We've met with Deborah, our birth doula, in our home twice ("Deborah the Doula" I call her), and Stasia has been updating her on how she's feeling every few days.
And we've been nesting like crazy.
It's funny the different forms nesting can take. Getting the nursery ready is an obvious one, but then there are others: creating this blog for instance, buying a Flip HD video camera, purging our possessions, rearranging the furniture.
As for the nursery, it's pretty much done. A few final touches to go, but I'm very proud of it. I'll get some photos up here very soon, perhaps in the next post.
It's a strange, indescribable feeling, knowing that our boy will be here in only a couple of weeks. It's a sense, a presence that's always there. It's deep in my chest and it never goes away. It's an anticipation of a major change on the horizon. Like waking up every day wondering if today will be the day the sun rises in the west.
All that said, it's still kind of hard to believe. There is no baby yet, so I can't get my head around the fact that there will be a baby. Sound nuts? Oh well. I'd be lying if I didn't admit there is some anxiety mingling with all that anticipation.
A few steps further down the rabbit hole and the only thing you'll find is a whole lot of excitement.
Stasia is doing well. Some sore hips and sore back, but she's strong and amazing and has a great attitude even with little sleep. We've both had trouble in that department lately. Nature's way of preparing us for baby? Thank you, Nature, it's mighty thoughtful of you, but I think I speak for both of us (especially Stasia) when I say, Can you maybe back off a bit? You know, just let us get an extra few hours before the little guy arrives? Much obliged.
We've finished our birth classes. Only one Centering appointment remains (if you don't know, "Centering" is a two-hour session that includes other parents due in March and the midwives from Ballard Swedish--in lieu of standard OB checkups). We've met with Deborah, our birth doula, in our home twice ("Deborah the Doula" I call her), and Stasia has been updating her on how she's feeling every few days.
And we've been nesting like crazy.
It's funny the different forms nesting can take. Getting the nursery ready is an obvious one, but then there are others: creating this blog for instance, buying a Flip HD video camera, purging our possessions, rearranging the furniture.
As for the nursery, it's pretty much done. A few final touches to go, but I'm very proud of it. I'll get some photos up here very soon, perhaps in the next post.
It's a strange, indescribable feeling, knowing that our boy will be here in only a couple of weeks. It's a sense, a presence that's always there. It's deep in my chest and it never goes away. It's an anticipation of a major change on the horizon. Like waking up every day wondering if today will be the day the sun rises in the west.
All that said, it's still kind of hard to believe. There is no baby yet, so I can't get my head around the fact that there will be a baby. Sound nuts? Oh well. I'd be lying if I didn't admit there is some anxiety mingling with all that anticipation.
A few steps further down the rabbit hole and the only thing you'll find is a whole lot of excitement.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Collection of Handmade Gifts
Baby Hollenbach has received some very special handmade gifts. I thought it would be fun to show them off.
First, a sweater and booties from craft night friend Ellen. Jack placed them in the bassinet we're borrowing from some friends.
My aunt made this cute little hat and another craft night friend, Lisa, crocheted the two rattles.
The same aunt made the softest play blanket, it has a pleated fabric edge.
I think it looks like a little grassy patch when I put this rabbit on it.
Heather crocheted two spiral bibs and knitted this tiny hat.
And I knit a gift as well. This is a small stroller blanket, the pattern is called Sprout Blanket.
And finally a tiny hat that I knit for our baby to wear home from the hospital.
First, a sweater and booties from craft night friend Ellen. Jack placed them in the bassinet we're borrowing from some friends.
My aunt made this cute little hat and another craft night friend, Lisa, crocheted the two rattles.
The same aunt made the softest play blanket, it has a pleated fabric edge.
I think it looks like a little grassy patch when I put this rabbit on it.
Heather crocheted two spiral bibs and knitted this tiny hat.
And I knit a gift as well. This is a small stroller blanket, the pattern is called Sprout Blanket.
And finally a tiny hat that I knit for our baby to wear home from the hospital.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Focus on the Nursery
Last weekend Jack and I were running around town tracking down our crib and trying to take care of various baby related errands. It's hard to believe that an interesting picture could come out of this, but we took a break at a Barnes and Noble and Jack captured this special moment:
One week later, Jack assembled the crib while I knitted a tiny hat for a friend. (No picture of the hat just yet.)
We are going for a woodland theme for the nursery, but Jack and I could not resist the canvas bins you see at the bottom of the changing table. We received the giraffe at our shower and went back to the store to buy more.
And now we are even closer to a finished nursery! (And the tiny hat is complete.)
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
It's a Boy!
At the Michigan baby shower, they had Anastasia and I cut into a cake to find out if the inside was pink or blue.
Blue!
The Reveal
On December 28, 2010, a baby shower was held for us in Michigan by Anastasia's friends and family.
As mentioned before, we'd decided not to find out the sex during our ultrasound, but rather to have the tech write the sex down on a card and seal it in an envelope. We then sent that envelope off to Stasia's parents in Michigan where the secret would be reveled to us in some fashion at the baby shower almost two months later.
Upon hearing this plan (LOTS of people asked what the sex was after the ultrasound), reactions generally fell into three camps: either "Wow, that's a really cool and unique way to find out! You guys are really cool and I feel cooler for knowing you." Or, "Really? That's weird." Or, Mouth open, head cocked sideways, eyes squinted, looking like a confused dog.
Even though I had my occasional moments of really wanting to know (Anastasia says she could have easily gone to term without ever knowing), I still loved the idea and thought it was a fun way to involve her parents since they live so far away and don't get to take part in their daughter's pregnancy as much as I imagine they'd like. And it was a perfect compromise between having it be a surprise, but also knowing a couple of months prior to delivery.
Now without further ado... HERE'S the video!
As mentioned before, we'd decided not to find out the sex during our ultrasound, but rather to have the tech write the sex down on a card and seal it in an envelope. We then sent that envelope off to Stasia's parents in Michigan where the secret would be reveled to us in some fashion at the baby shower almost two months later.
Upon hearing this plan (LOTS of people asked what the sex was after the ultrasound), reactions generally fell into three camps: either "Wow, that's a really cool and unique way to find out! You guys are really cool and I feel cooler for knowing you." Or, "Really? That's weird." Or, Mouth open, head cocked sideways, eyes squinted, looking like a confused dog.
Even though I had my occasional moments of really wanting to know (Anastasia says she could have easily gone to term without ever knowing), I still loved the idea and thought it was a fun way to involve her parents since they live so far away and don't get to take part in their daughter's pregnancy as much as I imagine they'd like. And it was a perfect compromise between having it be a surprise, but also knowing a couple of months prior to delivery.
Now without further ado... HERE'S the video!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Bloggy Blog Blog
So we've started this new blog with the idea being that it will be our family blog. The place to go for pictures, videos, news, and any other fun bits about our growing family. I imagine it being like the living room of our online house with corridors leading off to other rooms like our Flickr photo page or Anastasia's personal blog or my own personal blog (links to these also found on the right side of the page).
For a time I wondered if I should just ditch my personal blog. How many blogs does a person need anyway? But I realized, not only do I have a lot on there which I wouldn't want to lose, I also have my ruminations from time to time that are perhaps not fitting with the intended context of this page. I can have my own room to do my thinking and my tinkering. And Stasia can have her own room for her cooking, her knitting, and her many other talents. And we can open the doors to these rooms every so often when we have something to share.
For instance, a couple months ago I wrote a little about how I was coming to terms with all the changes heading my way. If you're interested, here it is. I'll hold the door open for you.
For a time I wondered if I should just ditch my personal blog. How many blogs does a person need anyway? But I realized, not only do I have a lot on there which I wouldn't want to lose, I also have my ruminations from time to time that are perhaps not fitting with the intended context of this page. I can have my own room to do my thinking and my tinkering. And Stasia can have her own room for her cooking, her knitting, and her many other talents. And we can open the doors to these rooms every so often when we have something to share.
For instance, a couple months ago I wrote a little about how I was coming to terms with all the changes heading my way. If you're interested, here it is. I'll hold the door open for you.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
24 Weeks and Nursery Progress
At 24 weeks I took this photo of Stasia in our newly painted nursery. At this time we still did not know the sex, so we painted the room a fun green color, considering that pretty gender-neutral.
Annabelle looks a bit worried about being usurped as the primary attention-getter in the house.
Annabelle looks a bit worried about being usurped as the primary attention-getter in the house.
Utrasound
On November 1st, 2010, we had our first peek at Baby Hollenbach.
Prior to the ultrasound, we asked the tech not to tell us the sex, but to write it down on a card and place this in a sealed envelope which we then sent off to Stasia's parents in Michigan. The plan was to have the sex revealed to us later during a baby shower to be held by her family when we visited them during Christmas. More on this later!
Here is the profile. We love how clear this shows the outline of the little one's face:
Foot!
Prior to the ultrasound, we asked the tech not to tell us the sex, but to write it down on a card and place this in a sealed envelope which we then sent off to Stasia's parents in Michigan. The plan was to have the sex revealed to us later during a baby shower to be held by her family when we visited them during Christmas. More on this later!
We're pregnant!
In early July, 2010, Anastasia and I learned that we are going to have a baby.
It came as kind of a shock to us both. Sure, we'd been trying, but not for more than a few months really. On a Saturday night, Anastasia took a pregnancy test. It showed a positive result, but I was skeptical. She took another test the following morning. Also positive. And still, I had a hard time accepting that this little plastic thing was telling us the truth. Eventually, reality settled over us and we were very happy and couldn't wait to share it with our families.
Later that same day, we invited Anastasia's parents in Michigan to a video chat and we broke the news. The following weekend--because we wanted to tell them in person--we had my mom, my sister and her boyfriend over for a barbecue to tell them.
It came as kind of a shock to us both. Sure, we'd been trying, but not for more than a few months really. On a Saturday night, Anastasia took a pregnancy test. It showed a positive result, but I was skeptical. She took another test the following morning. Also positive. And still, I had a hard time accepting that this little plastic thing was telling us the truth. Eventually, reality settled over us and we were very happy and couldn't wait to share it with our families.
Later that same day, we invited Anastasia's parents in Michigan to a video chat and we broke the news. The following weekend--because we wanted to tell them in person--we had my mom, my sister and her boyfriend over for a barbecue to tell them.
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