The Calm Before the Storm

Things on the Front Range continue to develop. As mentioned in the last D.A.R.L.ing, G-Ma & G-Pa Weber arrived the other day, bearing many gifts. In exchange we have 'let' them hold Ada-Ruth non-stop, an arrangement which has made all parties pretty happy. Gramma Weber insists that Ada-Ruth herself has been smiling more so than just a brief stop in her transitory rainbow of facial expressions and Kimberly is re-learning about the outside world.

In other news, yesterday Granny Southern came up and all the girls went to High Tea. Not surprisingly, Ada-Ruth was the best dressed.

PS: Ella & Tycho remain ever vigilant. Tycho maintains a watchful gaze on the far horizon whilst Ella ensures our guests aren't about any funny business.

PPS: I think I have found my new favorite photo of my daughter...SASSY!

The "Daily" Ada-Ruth Lorraine 2008.11.23 - The other grandparents

In the news, yesterday the Southerns came up to relieve Kimberly and me so that we could see a movie. Our choice: Quantum of Solace. Our reviews weren't favorable. Since Kimberly tries not to say anything at all unless she can say something nice, her review is : "I liked the different fonts they used when they changed cities." I don't have her restraint. My review : "The term 'plot holes' suggests that there is a continuous fabric into which holes can be poked." So that was a wash.

Then today the Weber grandparents arrived and they appear to be smitten with little Miss Ada-Ruth. They, like so many before them, came bearing gifts. I won't bore you with all of them, save for the shoes. They have soles! I don't get it.

I hope that this brief missive finds you all well

"Daily" Ada-Ruth Lorraine 2008.11.21 - the first 14 days

Well, there has been yet another break from the 'Daily' schedule. We are at two weeks and this is where it all breaks down I guess. Personally I have come around to the realization that other people don't find pictures of my sleeping daughter as consistently enchanting as I do. And since Ada-Ruth has only two states, of which only one is rated 'G', I'm slowing down I guess. In any instance, she is doing very well. We're getting into a sort of a nightly routine and the big question I have is this: are we crazy for waking her up to feed her at 4am? Shouldn't we wait for her to wake us?

Anyway, today has been a somewhat quiet day. I've been working on out budget to see what we can do to prepare for Ms. Ada-Ruth's future. At this point in time, not a lot. Thank you free market!

Yesterday was far more entertaining. As I may have mentioned to some of you earlier, we have had a huge pile of branches on the driveway for a couple weeks now. Since I do not now have a pickup with which to remove said pile, I have explored a couple options. The first being hiring someone to remove it. The first (and only) quote I got was >$500. That same day my neighbor was having a tree removed and so I chatted up the arborists with their big, wonderful claw and truck. They would have done it for about $65 if they'd had the room in their truck. They assured me that they would be by again sometime the second week after Thanksgiving (too late). In any instance, the whole point of asking other people to do it was so I could spend time with Ada-Ruth, but since I'm not lactating she's not real interested in spending time with me. So I schlepped on down to Home Depot and rented a truck. Four loads later the pile was gone.

While I was driving around Longmont with this rental, I discovered a number of things. I learned that when you have a truckload of limbs piled higher than your cab, people are reluctant to tailgate you. I learned (courtesy of the radio, thank you) that twins from Longmont are in the December issue of Playboy. Perhaps it is a sign of my age that I found the beautifully restored Dodge Powerwagon I discovered far more titillating.

Once done hauling away the fruit pits of my earlier labor, I had some time to continue to organize my 'shop'. They previous owners had left some old kitchen cabinets and a pegboard. All was going great until I put up the hammer Jim had given me as a gift...

I hope all is going well with all of you. I appreciate your patience as the Daily Ada-Ruth becomes less daily....

John

PS: I know you are all desperate to know how the dogs are whiling away the days as they wait for Ada-Ruth to become ambulatory. Here is a partial answer...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSRlmRNnz1w

Daily Ada Ruth Lorraine 2008.11.19 - long days, longer nights

Not a lot to report, just livin' life over here. Ada-Ruth is enjoying longer and longer periods of being awake, and becoming increasingly expressive. Sorry to report that things are a bit too hectic for a lot of pics right now. I'll send more soon...

Daily Ada-Ruth Lorraine 2008.11.17 - poo at last

WARNING: this was a relatively graphic day. Read at your own risk.

Hello all,

This morning we enjoyed another visit from our lactation consultant and she wasn't nearly as insouciant about Ada-Ruth's lack of bowel movements as we had become. So we were given new marching orders: feed and pump every two hours. Guess what, it worked. About 6:15 mountain time I began dealing with a prodigious pile. We'd been told this morning that she was 8 pounds, 2 ounces and now I wonder how much of it was ... this.

Anyway, this and the fact that her umbilical stump finally fell off, resulted in her first bath.

All's well that ends well. Another great day with our daughter.

My best to you all,
John

PS: Here's a video from the morning where Ada-Ruth has some gorgeous, wide-open eyes and hiccups.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYJyGICGgy4

Daily Ada-Ruth Lorraine 2008.11.16.01 - The morning after

Today is the day after my birthday and has been quite pleasant. Ada-Ruth didn't allow as wonderful a night of sleep as the previous evening, but it was still pretty good. There are a couple things were are becoming increasingly apparent as time wears on. First, Ada-Ruth may be a bit retentive. It has been three days since she has had a movement. Not terribly unusual, I know, but we are first time parents (FTPs) so we are obliged to over-analyze it. Second, Ada-Ruth doesn't really belch. Or burp. If she needs to get anything out of her upper GI, she expels a fair bit of it. This has happened twice now and it's fairly dramatic, which doesn't help assuage the concerns of FTPs. She did it again last night and believe it or not, she survived! As a bonus, her mom and dad got an aerobic workout without leaving the nursery.

Today we were visited by Chad and Laura Severson, who are in Colorado to celebrate his Air Force Academy 20 year reunion. They popped by to see Ada-Ruth and share lunch with those of us who have graduated to solids. It was a real pleasure to see them again.

I have also appropriated a couple of their photos. The first is the fifth attachment, a family photo. It's a fairly self-explanatory, very nice family photo of us (thank you Chad and Laura). The second is the sixth attachment. For the uninitiated, shortly after we moved into 2937 Mountain View, our dogs quickly developed a four phase game to play in the house. Chad captured Tycho in mid-leap during phase one, the part where I dangle a chew toy just out of reach, a few feet in the air. Most typically Tycho will be the one to actually catch it and thus begins phase two: Tycho teasing Ella in the living room. Phase three begins when Ella gets a hold of it and the two have a tug of war in the living room. Phase four is when Ella frees the toy from Tycho's mincing bite and teases him by circling the center wall with it.

I am also including a couple of pictures of Ada-Ruth's feet. I think that they are rather large, but having only the one child really don't have any idea.

Daily Ada Ruth Lorraine 2008.11.15.01 - Happy birthday to me!

As you may or may not be aware, today is my birthday. I am not now, nor have I really ever been since leaving home, particularly interested in celebrating this date. It is normally just another day. But this particular anniversary is different for obvious reasons. I am grateful and euphoric and tickled by the turn my life has recently taken. And almost as though she somehow knows that today is significant for me, Ada-Ruth only woke us up once last night and let us sleep in until around 8. Trust me, that was a pretty awesome gift.

As I mentioned, Ada-Ruth slept very well last night and is quietly cuddly this morning. I don't know if it's an anomaly or she's adjusting to being out of the womb or Kimberly and I have refined our technique, but it's nice. I have to admit, hearing her cry makes me uneasy. The first thing I want to do is feed her and since Kimberly isn't always available, that isn't always an option. So I've gotten better at soothing her in other ways. Witness picture #2. Ada-Ruth, like her mother so I hear, enjoys being swung about like a football. And if you witness pic #1, laying her atop my chest is a way to get another half hour of sleep in the morning. Even when tightly swaddled she manages to scootch up to wedge her head under my chin.

Love,
John

Daily Vid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erwLCrlJTss

The Daily Ada Ruth Lorraine 2008.11.14 - second to last visit with the midwife

Well, today we had our second to last visit with our midwife. Not surprisingly it went very well. Ada Ruth is the picture of health. The big question mark remains food but it's not an especially worrisome issue.

I hope all are doing well and you will forgive me if I keep this short. The lack of sleep is catching up with me...

John

PS: new vid - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLWtnVIhSRA


Archive______________________________________
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The Daily Ada Ruth Lorraine 2008.11.12.01 - Sleep, etc

Things with the kiddo are going swimmingly. She seems to have figured out breastfeeding, which was out largest concern for awhile. The next worry has been her, ah, excretory productivity, so to speak. With her (dramatically) increased intake we were expecting a similarly increased output. Additionally during our preparatory courses we were given a sheet, a checklist actually, with which we were to record the number of feedings and poopings and wet diapers, etc. It even goes so far as to list a recommended number of movements and by that list poor Ada was behind. I'm sure you will all be relieved to hear that yesterday she caught up. Yay.

Last night was an excellent night for sleep. She devoured well over three ounces of milk just before midnight and as such we had to wake her up at four to feed her again. This child shall not go hungry.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ntu6RGVf9ec

Archive:
http://picasaweb.google.com/johnaweber/AdaRuthLorraine
http://www.youtube.com/johnaweber

The Daily Ara Ruth Lorraine 2008.11.11.01 - Changing gears

Well, we have changed gears and it's probably a good sign. Up until last night we had the luxury of scheduling Ada Ruth's feedings. I suspect that was because she was still a bit weak from the delivery and not strong enough to signal her need. That weakness has passed. Now Ada is quite capable of telling us exactly how hungry she is, which is usually 'very'. It's nice knowing (for certain) that she is hungry for a couple reasons. First of all, we know she's progressing. But secondly and perhaps nicest, last night she didn't want food as often as we'd been feeding her, so we got a nice, long 3 and a half hour sleep at one point. Of course the downside is that she has found her voice and uses it relentlessly until she gets food.

Today, in addition to a handful of pix, I am including links to a handful of videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BT4vV77RtLA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GjrcqSS4gs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mq3eiHG-6pw

Love,
John

PS: For 'old' pictures, look here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/johnaweber/AdaRuthLorraine#

PPS: Is anyone interested in creating a banner picture for the "Daily Adda Ruth Lorraine"? "D.A.R.L.ing"? I would but I have other things going on....

About A Dog(s)

Day 3 part two.

The "Lactation Consultant" has assured us that we are doing the right things. The critical tip she imparted which has made a great deal of difference, and perhaps it will sound obvious to all y'all, is making sure that Ada's lower lip is 'flanged out' and her tongue lays over her lower gums. Since learning this technique, Ada has decided that all she wants to do is breastfeed and so I have spent the morning puttering around, doing dishes, laundry and cooking (and writing more emails than I typically write in a month) while my girls play cafeteria upstairs.

In other news, not only are the dogs adjusting to Ada's presence, their behavior is changing as well. Normally when I am home they are where-ever I am. Now it would seem that their loyalties are divided. When Kimberly, Ada and I are in the bedroom, they are right at the edge of the bed. When I head downstairs, they follow about halfway, then they park themselves at the top of the stairs. I can get them to come down for food, but that's about it.

The Daily Ada Ruth Lorraine, 2008.11.10.01

Life on Mountain View continues to be interesting. Yesterday it seemed as though our final hurdle, breastfeeding, was conquered. Kimberly and Ada enjoyed a couple of very promising sessions. But then last night Ada resumed her fussy ways and we returned to the syringes. We have a "Lactation Consultant" coming over to the house in an hour and a half and are optimistic that we'll soon be able to do away with the wretched things.

That said, in the wake of a great checkup yesterday afternoon Ada Ruth remains our healthy little delight. Her crying is infrequent and almost invariably caused by one of us (she doesn't like the changing table, or changing positions, or any type of change apparently). Fortunately her life is relatively uncomplicated. She is fed and changed every three hours and sleeps the rest of the time. For the time being we have been 'napping' with her between us on the bed. It's a comfort to be able to reach over to feel her at any time. I confess that I'm doing so several times an hour, hopefully to the detriment of my sleep alone.

As you might imagine, Kimberly is quite cheerful and undeterred by Ada Ruth's breastfeeding antics. The dogs are also doing well, I think. Tycho's interest comes and goes, but when it's there he licks Ada's feet and ears ever so gently. Ella is far more intent, particularly when Ada cries or has the hiccups. In the case of the former, Ada sounds a bit like Cartman when he whines to his mom (South Park reference, sorry). In the case of the latter Ada sounds a lot like a broken squeaky toy. In either case, Ella is absolutely determined to find out what is making that noise.

Daily Ada Ruth Lorraine #2, part 2.

Kimberly and I have finally managed to get a few shots of Ada Ruth wide awake, squirming on the bed. These are the picks of the pack plus a few more.

News: we were in for our 48 hour check this afternoon and Ada Ruth checked out just fine. Most babies lose about 10% of the weight after two days, which would have put Ada at 7 pounds. But she was at 7 pounds 8 ounces. Ahead of the curve!

Also, while we were there I asked for some surgical tubing to help with feeding. They actually had something which was designed specifically for the task at hand and thus armed we were able to cut her feeding time by over three quarters. She not only stays interested, the tube allows her to suckle at her own speed ... which is quite a bit faster than I'd originally estimated.

More reports to follow... distribute these pictures as you see fit...