While visiting last week, Charlie's Grandpa Spike was inspired to rewrite the lyrics to the old Ronnie & the Daytonas song "Little GTO". The result is as follows...
"Little Charlie Jo"
My little Charlie Jo,
You're really lookin' fine.
Three diapers and a wet wipe,
she'll be ready on time.
Listen to her winding up now,
listen to her whine-yine-yine.
C'mon & turn it on, fill her pants, blow it OUT,
Charlie Joooooo.
Wah wahhhh - wah wah wah wah wah whahhhhh... (& so on)
You oughta see her on the big bed,
jumpin' up and down.
This certified clown-clown,
has got plenty of sound.
She's a gasser and a wail job,
she really drives me 'round (the bend).
C'mon and, wind her up, throw a fit, blow it up,
Charlie Jooooooo.
Wah wahhhh - wah wah wah wah wah whahhhhh... (& so on)
--- instrumental break (while we change a diaper)
Gonna spend all my money,
on my Charlie Jo.
Lots of clothes and a cool car,
and she'll be ready to go.
Gonna pay for her college,
until I'm old - yeah yeah.
But she's the cutest girl around.
Gonna wipe away all my frowns.
When she turns it on, gives a smile, then a laugh,
Charlie Joooooo.
Wah wahhhh - wah wah wah wah wah whahhhhh... (& so on)
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Peter update - 2 weeks old
Peter took his first big step toward growing up yesterday afternoon -- he lost his umbilical cord stump! Hey, when you're stuck at home with a newborn for 8 weeks (the doctor recommended we keep Peter away from the general public until the flu and RSV seasons were over), this is what passes for excitement around here.
The little guy is doing great. He is getting closer to exclusively breastfeeding (which is my preference -- I hate washing bottles and absolutely detest pumping), and he's filling the right amount of diapers (which indicates he's getting enough to eat since we can't exactly keep track of how many ounces he is getting when he nurses). Like all of the other newborns we know, he has rolled over from his back to his front a couple of times, but we're guessing that he will also "forget" how to do this before long.
Peter had his two week appointment on Wednesday (a little early because of the holidays) and the doctor said he is doing very well. He weighed in at 7 lbs., 6 oz., which is fabulous because most babies don't regain their birth weights (Peter's was 7 lbs., 1 oz.) until they are two weeks old (which is today). Peter had not only regained his birthweight, but he had surpassed it by five ounces. He has also grown by half an inch and measured in at 20 inches long. What little jaundice he had is gone and he's developing nicely.
Peter had a very nice Christmas, but he slept through most of it. That's okay - he will probably make up for it next year. Here are some shots of him that his Grandma JoJo took over the past few days.
And finally, a shot of Charlie Jo doing her new favorite thing -- holding her little brother. He was throwing a fit while she held him on Christmas Eve, so we told her to stick her thumb in his mouth. He loved it and quieted right down. Charlie Jo grinned, then took her thumb out and wiped it carefully on the chair.
The little guy is doing great. He is getting closer to exclusively breastfeeding (which is my preference -- I hate washing bottles and absolutely detest pumping), and he's filling the right amount of diapers (which indicates he's getting enough to eat since we can't exactly keep track of how many ounces he is getting when he nurses). Like all of the other newborns we know, he has rolled over from his back to his front a couple of times, but we're guessing that he will also "forget" how to do this before long.
Peter had his two week appointment on Wednesday (a little early because of the holidays) and the doctor said he is doing very well. He weighed in at 7 lbs., 6 oz., which is fabulous because most babies don't regain their birth weights (Peter's was 7 lbs., 1 oz.) until they are two weeks old (which is today). Peter had not only regained his birthweight, but he had surpassed it by five ounces. He has also grown by half an inch and measured in at 20 inches long. What little jaundice he had is gone and he's developing nicely.
Peter had a very nice Christmas, but he slept through most of it. That's okay - he will probably make up for it next year. Here are some shots of him that his Grandma JoJo took over the past few days.
And finally, a shot of Charlie Jo doing her new favorite thing -- holding her little brother. He was throwing a fit while she held him on Christmas Eve, so we told her to stick her thumb in his mouth. He loved it and quieted right down. Charlie Jo grinned, then took her thumb out and wiped it carefully on the chair.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Not a creature was stirring . . .
Merry Christmas from Tennessee.
Toddlers, in-laws, infants, Mommies, canines, and felines are all sleeping soundly while the wind rages outside. It is 1:00 in the morning. The sky is clear, the stars are bright, and the lights of the neighborhood below us are twinkling. Santa should have no problem finding his way tonight.
Santa has already visited us in Tennessee, and told us he has already visited Pennsylvania and Michigan and will be headed west to Texas next. Cookies and a glass of Cheerwine were consumed by Santa on his visit. This was my first time meeting Santa, (a privilege of being a father, no doubt). He's a great guy, with some surprisingly bawdy stories. Santa left Grandpa Spike and me a toy to assemble for Charlie Jo (he is outsourcing, now). It took us 3 solid hours to assemble. That is 6 manhours, and we weren't fooling around! Hard work being an elf.
Momma and I took Charlie Jo to the 6:00 Christmas Eve service at Epworth Methodist Church here in Franklin. Wonderful service. We did skip out at the homily, as we had been there an hour already and were concerned about Charlie Jo's attention span. We did not want to push our luck. Our little toddler wore her green Christmas dress and her hair in pigtails and charmed all she met. We sat in a pew full of Cannonwooders (the Andersons and the Perretts).
Peter had a busy day yesterday, what with all the eating and the sleeping, and the being awake and looking around. I can't believe he is going on 2 weeks old. What a beautiful kid.
Christmas, like Thanksgiving, is a good time to sit back and take stock. Our annual celebration of Christ's birth is a great time to think about who we are, who we would like to be, and what we would like to do as time rolls by. Niki and I are very thankful for our children, for each other, for our families, and for our friends. We are really lucky to have you and each other, and we know it. We hope that going forward, we can be as good as family members and friends to you as you are to us.
Merry Christmas.
The TN Stringers
Toddlers, in-laws, infants, Mommies, canines, and felines are all sleeping soundly while the wind rages outside. It is 1:00 in the morning. The sky is clear, the stars are bright, and the lights of the neighborhood below us are twinkling. Santa should have no problem finding his way tonight.
Santa has already visited us in Tennessee, and told us he has already visited Pennsylvania and Michigan and will be headed west to Texas next. Cookies and a glass of Cheerwine were consumed by Santa on his visit. This was my first time meeting Santa, (a privilege of being a father, no doubt). He's a great guy, with some surprisingly bawdy stories. Santa left Grandpa Spike and me a toy to assemble for Charlie Jo (he is outsourcing, now). It took us 3 solid hours to assemble. That is 6 manhours, and we weren't fooling around! Hard work being an elf.
Momma and I took Charlie Jo to the 6:00 Christmas Eve service at Epworth Methodist Church here in Franklin. Wonderful service. We did skip out at the homily, as we had been there an hour already and were concerned about Charlie Jo's attention span. We did not want to push our luck. Our little toddler wore her green Christmas dress and her hair in pigtails and charmed all she met. We sat in a pew full of Cannonwooders (the Andersons and the Perretts).
Peter had a busy day yesterday, what with all the eating and the sleeping, and the being awake and looking around. I can't believe he is going on 2 weeks old. What a beautiful kid.
Christmas, like Thanksgiving, is a good time to sit back and take stock. Our annual celebration of Christ's birth is a great time to think about who we are, who we would like to be, and what we would like to do as time rolls by. Niki and I are very thankful for our children, for each other, for our families, and for our friends. We are really lucky to have you and each other, and we know it. We hope that going forward, we can be as good as family members and friends to you as you are to us.
Merry Christmas.
The TN Stringers
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Whoops!
In a few hours, little Peter will be one week old. We haven't done a lot of posting due to lack of energy, but trust me -- he's getting cuter every day. Witness:
Sunday, December 13, 2009
My new favorite photo
Peter came home today! We have been busy wrangling Charlie Jo and getting Peter introduced to his new home, but things have been going very smoothly (or so we tell ourselves). I'll post photos of the grand homecoming (which his big sister slept through, unfortunately or fortunately -- depending on how you look at it) later, but first I just want to share my new favorite photo of Peter the Great.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Do they look alike?
Peter:
Charlie:
Peter:
Charlie:
Charlie and NanaB - March 10, 2008:
Charlie and NanaB - December 12, 2009:
Charlie:
Peter:
Charlie:
Charlie and NanaB - March 10, 2008:
Charlie and NanaB - December 12, 2009:
More Peter Pix From Day One
Sucking on Momma's finger.
Dr. Eia and Peter.
Skyping with the Malahowskis for the first time. Even Bobo and Margie came online to meet Peter.
Joslyne and Demetri, Kate and Christopher, and Zoey baked us some cookies, and Joslyne and Demetri stopped by to meet Peter.
Skyping with Quinn, his bear, and the rest of the Minnesota Sandersons.
Our first picture as a family of four.
Charlie and NanaB leave for home.
Niki and Peter with Beth and Nancy, our delivery and night nurses.
Dr. Eia and Peter.
Skyping with the Malahowskis for the first time. Even Bobo and Margie came online to meet Peter.
Joslyne and Demetri, Kate and Christopher, and Zoey baked us some cookies, and Joslyne and Demetri stopped by to meet Peter.
Skyping with Quinn, his bear, and the rest of the Minnesota Sandersons.
Our first picture as a family of four.
Charlie and NanaB leave for home.
Niki and Peter with Beth and Nancy, our delivery and night nurses.
More Pix of Peter and Friends
Alicia and Dan came to visit...
As did Charlie Jo's new Peter Rabbit doll...
Peter even Skyped with Grandma JoJo and Grandpa Spike in California!
As did Charlie Jo's new Peter Rabbit doll...
Peter even Skyped with Grandma JoJo and Grandpa Spike in California!
CJ meet PJ, PJ meet CJ
Guess who stopped by for a visit? Charlie Jo pointed out all of Peter's facial features and then sang him a little song. It was the sweetest meeting ever! NanaB met PJ as well, and she declared him to be a very sweet boy.
Here, CJ yawned along with PJ...
Here, CJ yawned along with PJ...
Peter is here!
Peter James joined our family this morning at 2:05 AM. He is a healthy baby boy, 7 lbs, 1 oz, and 19.5 inches long.
Momma and Peter are doing great.
We are gonna have so much fun!
Momma and Peter are doing great.
We are gonna have so much fun!
Revised Time Estimate
Dr. Bell has broken Niki's water. She projects 2:30 AM for Peter. Niki is at 8 cm and 90%. We're getting there.
Soon, soon, soon.
Soon, soon, soon.
Quick quick quick
Dr. Bell has been called, and will be here in 15 minutes to break Niki's water. Once that happens, people predict things to happen quickly!
Peter Rabbit
12:30 check puts Niki at 7 cm and 90%. The attending anesthesiologist predicted 3:20 AM. Niki's moving much quicker than she was with Charlie.
Baby before daybreak?
Also - we have two very fun, funny, perky nurses - Beth and Nancy. Dr. Bell (now Dr. Eia) will deliver. Peter will be born into a room of very fun, happy people. We couldn't ask for more.
Baby before daybreak?
Also - we have two very fun, funny, perky nurses - Beth and Nancy. Dr. Bell (now Dr. Eia) will deliver. Peter will be born into a room of very fun, happy people. We couldn't ask for more.
Progress
When we checked in the hospital at about 11:00, Niki was at 5 cm and 80% effaced. The epidural (sp?) is in, and Niki is resting. We're ready for Peter.
We were having a very nice evening. Charlie was in bed, and Niki had finished baking a loaf of banana bread. We had been watching Public Enemies with NanaB, when Niki asked me to start timing the contractions. When we got to 3 minutes, we fired up the Mustang to warm it up, loaded the car, and left for the 2 minute drive to the hospital. Niki tried to take the banana bread - NanaB reminded her she was carrying it around when we were on the way out the door.
We'll keep you posted. Think good thoughts for Niki and Peter.
We were having a very nice evening. Charlie was in bed, and Niki had finished baking a loaf of banana bread. We had been watching Public Enemies with NanaB, when Niki asked me to start timing the contractions. When we got to 3 minutes, we fired up the Mustang to warm it up, loaded the car, and left for the 2 minute drive to the hospital. Niki tried to take the banana bread - NanaB reminded her she was carrying it around when we were on the way out the door.
We'll keep you posted. Think good thoughts for Niki and Peter.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
A little suspicious
Despite calling him "grandpa" repeatedly, Charlie Jo was a little suspicious of this big bearded guy in the red suit...
Of course, she has always been a little suspicious of Mr. Claus...
No photo will be taken of Peter on Santa's lap this year (it is recommended that you don't take newborns out in flu season until they are a little older than Peter will be by Christmas), but maybe we could add him digitally?
Of course, she has always been a little suspicious of Mr. Claus...
No photo will be taken of Peter on Santa's lap this year (it is recommended that you don't take newborns out in flu season until they are a little older than Peter will be by Christmas), but maybe we could add him digitally?
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Ready for Peter to come
The hospital bag is almost all packed, I'm pre-registered at the hospital for admission when I go into labor, and we have all sorts of contingency plans for Charlotte's care when that occurs. My next appointment with my OB is on Thursday. Last time I was one to two centimeters dilated and 50% effaced, so we'll see if I have made any progress then. Charlotte is getting very good at putting her baby dolls "night night", but her diapering technique leaves a lot to be desired. We'll need to kick her training into high gear over these next two weeks!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Thankful for cousins
Since I am not exactly supposed to be traveling so close to my due date, Erin, Andrew, and Sonia drove down from Illinois to cook us a gourmet Thanksgiving dinner. Charlotte and Sonia are becoming good buddies now (or at least we would like to think so), and it was really funny to see them interacting. Here are just a smattering of the ridiculously cute photos we took this weekend:
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