Thursday, November 27, 2008

Happy Thanksgiving, ya'll!

We're headed up to Seattle to see the Good Rev and Family this morning and will be back on Saturday. We have 3 pies purchased from the kicking little coffee shop down the street from my work (the Bipartisan Cafe, in case you want a lovely experience and great pie).

We are also bringing some Elk roast and smoked whitefish (BP has been busy! Check out his crazy doings on his blog).

Have safe travels where ever your day may take you. I appreciate all of you and your support. Happy Thanksgiving!

Swimmingly,

Kt and Tenant

Monday, November 24, 2008

BabyHawk


Updated the "How to buy things for the Baby" section to include a custom designed BabyHawk carrier and some cute little leggings! (note...not real photo of either Brandon or baby!)

Not the most user friendly baby registry in the world, but maybe that's because they are so punk rock! Yar!

Anyway, to get to the registry click the link in the sidebar, then input either MY NAME (no hyphenated last name) or the (toofreakinglong) registry number they assigned me.

Registry number: BK408873E0

Good luck!

Swimmingly,

KT and Tenant

And the beat goes on...

It was a fun filled weekend of domestic camaraderie with T., BP and myself all headed to the Oregon Humane Society on Saturday morning and finding a couple of frisky little hairballs to come home with us. If you haven't seen the photos, BP has some of them up on his blog The Institute of Jurassic Technology. They have been in quarantine for the last 48 hours and both of them are about fed up with not being able to get out of the office.

The whole "paw under the door and meow a lot" routine is going to get them some adventure time in the red room and living room tonight when I can be home to supervise.

As I was being duly chastised and simultaneously loved-up this morning with 2 of these people on my lap, I was instantly struck by the gratitude that I am not having twins. My they were a handful! And I didn't have enough hands to go around. Not to mention there is this nagging little voice in the back of my head wondering about whether they are getting equal time, treatment, love? Is Sula, the 17 yr old battle axe who's been with me thick and thin and who's going to be pissed, getting enough attention?

It's exhausting.

I'm also glad that we didn't wait to get the kittens. They would have gotten zero attention if they would have come later on during prime baby time. This way I think they have a chance to settle in before we disrupt the calm, serene household with lots of different smells and sounds.

On a totally unrelated note, I am looking forward to going up to Seattle for Thanksgiving to see the Good Reverend, his wife and the 6 kiddos. It's been almost a year since we've physically been up there and that is WAY way too long.

Gwyndolyn (2nd oldest) informed BP on the phone last night that she like cherry or apple pie and that we were to bring one or both of those when we came up. Non-plussed about the time and distance. That's what I like. Staunch little scuppers.

I'll bring the camera up and get some chittlin' photos (perhaps with the belly for C the G).

Hopefully a little travel with shake off the last couple of days of emotional funk I've been experiencing. Perhaps a loose hormone got into some place it shouldn't be or the darkness has settled in on the psyche but I've been a bit morose.

I am sure that cherry pie is the answer. At least a slice of cherry pie with my favorite kids should do the trick!

Swimmingly,

KT and Tenant

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Co-Sleeping

Rebecca over at Girl's Gone Child wrote a very interesting article on co-sleeping and why they didn't do it with their first and why they do with their second.

The Good Reverend's Family (our Rorschach test for parenting) are big co-sleepers. We've watched the family grown from 1 baby in the bed to 6 kids in the house in multiple beds on any given night. It has been awesome to see how organically the kids come to a point where they don't want to sleep in the "big bed" any longer.

All of these kids are extremely well adjusted, articulate, smart, creative. None exhibit signs of the horror stories I have heard with kids whining about not being able to sleep with their parents when they are 8 years old or kids who have separation anxiety in spades.

Overall, my impression of co-sleeping is favorable and, frankly, something I am looking forward to.

And yet, it's another thing to have discussions with the Husband about and to come to a joint decision about when (or what age) might be appropriate to have the Tenant sleeping sans Parental units.

I must admit, I am glad there are these "Mommy blogs" out there for us up and coming parents because I am not sure where I would be asked to think about or take part in discussions about robust parenting issues issues I have never even thought of (like working mom guilt, post childbirth sex, co-sleeping and diaper preferences). Unless you have scads of folks in your community you are accessible to that have kids, these are questions that don't get asked or answered without some digging. Not everyone is comfortable discussing myriad issues like these either.

I know co-sleeping used to be more common and is making a comeback (at least here on the Left Coast). It's seems reasonable to consider it at least for the breastfeeding portion of this marathon event. We'll see if the Tenant is into it or if their Aries tendencies demand a wing of the house be built specifically to house them.

Swimmingly,

KT and Tenant

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Lions and Tigers and Baby Showers, Oh My!

I was approached this weekend by a dear friend of mine from my Spiritual community about the impending baby shower. Oh, was it impending? Well, apparently according to her, yepper...let's get it booked and thrown!

I have to admit that I hadn't given much thought to having a baby shower since there are still vast aspects of the BABY I haven't given much thought to. Suffice it to say, I am game, but was a little non-committal in the moment. I will chalk that up to having left my Crackberry (i.e. portable brain) at home inadvertently last weekend.


In thinking about a baby shower, I harken back to baby showers I have attended where we ate gross things, did stupid games and generally were just looking for an excuse to consume as much spiked punch as possible while making ourselves sick on onion dip and veggies. Not that much fun really. And during most of the showers I have gone to the child was totally irrelevant. So, when faced with the daunting task of having to organize my own, I shuddered.

Enter, my saviors, Xena Warrior Tick princess and K, both amazing strong and fearless women from my community who have willingly placed themselves in the face of oncoming indescribable danger called "A BABY SHOWER". /shudder.

THEN, of all things, Father Paul, my newly ordained Jesuit priest friend, offered to host it. (!!) Now, this is going to be a party folks! Not only will there be a meeting of most (if not all ) of my eclectic (and potentially heathen) circles of friends but it could be lousy with Catholic priests! Yahooo!!!

So, in the interest of assisting my pals, I am looking for suggestions for meaningful activities that can take up the baby shower time. Meaningful, in that, they would be easy for anyone to participate in without fear or trepidation AND might even involve or reference the baby. Novel I know.

I have to admit that despite my rowdy exterior, I am not really someone who likes to take the spot light and be the center of attention. Nor do I want to participate in anything where there is even a whiff of a roast, hazing or embarrassment. Call me crazy but I will gladly stage manage any event of any size but put me in the spotlight and I am *really* uncomfortable.

So, I am taking suggestions for how to honor or include or focus on the BABY at this baby shower, not the mama.


Feel free, however, to carry BP around in a chair (Ala the scene in Yentl) and shove spiked punch down his gullet.

Lay them on me! Suggestions for activities, foods (adult), beverages, ways to get the multi-cultural crowd mingling and involved, etc.


If you are out of town and interested in attending make sure to let me know so I can get addresses for invitations. The information will also be posted here. Everyone (boys and girls, dogs, cats, babies, chickens,) are welcome! This baby is going to have a diverse community to support it, we might as well party a bit together before the Tenant arrives.

I will say, one of the baby blogs I follow has a mama who is due any day with her 4th (!!), and she just posted this awesome photo this morning...I might have to do this.



How awesome is that?

Swimmingly,

KT and Tenant

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Week 21


Your baby now weighs about three-quarters of a pound and is approximately 10 1/2 inches long — the length of a carrot. You may soon feel like she's practicing martial arts as her initial fluttering movements turn into full-fledged kicks and nudges. You may also discover a pattern to her activity as you get to know her better. In other developments, your baby's eyebrows and lids are present now, and if you're having a girl, her vagina has begun to form as well.


There is the official party information going on in the lower apartment this week, via www.babycenter.com.

There has been some more pronounced movement in the last few days and I suspect it's just a matter of time before I start seeing a knee or elbow poking up in the belly region.

Still feeling pretty good. We have 3 weeks to the next BBdr visit for check out, but I sense that all is as it should be. Now off to research diapers!

Swimmingly,

Kt and Tenant

Monday, November 17, 2008

Automatic baby walker

You know, I own a Dewault cordless -- in fact, I have a few...



Bp

Friday, November 14, 2008

High Chairs and kid tables are wacky!


So I was perusing the Internet the other day and lo and behold, I think to myself, "Self, you might need a high chair in the near-ish future. Let's go take a look-see".

DANG! High chairs have gotten all high tech from my days of babysitting and general kid wrangling. I have no idea what kind of degree you need to get to work these gadgets but it must be expensive to acquire.

I have to give it to the Swedes, they are an inventive bunch. the model on the right is my favorite of the myriad of chairs I looked at, mostly because it can be used as a chair for a table as the child grows.

AND it looks like a combination of a spaceship and a torture device all rolled into one.

The reality of the situation is, in this household, we don't eat at a table. Ever. We are dedicated living room floor sitters and I suspect that what is going to happen will be a purchase of a low child size table and chairs that eating and crafts can be performed on. The Good Reverend's family used this technique for most of the 6 kids they have, resorting to some sort of booster / highchair idea only in the last couple of years.

Like this table...it's cute. I hate to admit my like of such a obviously child directed item, but dang, it's cute.


And the little chairs just kill me. KILL ME!

If anyone knows me well, they know I have a soft spot in my heart for wooden chairs. I don't know what it is about them but I think they are classy.

The idea of little kids in wooden chairs is JUST about as good as little kid toes, which are arguably the BEST part of little kids. Hands down...it's the toes.


There we have a pretty anti-deep thought post regarding what's been filling my brain the last couple of days.

Well...that and rocking chairs. That will be my next great research project. OH, and diaper covers. Since we are committing to cloth diapers, getting the correct diaper snuggy to cover that diaper is apparently, pretty important. We'll see how I do.

I'll put a link up in the Alternative registry when I do in case anyone has a burning desire to purchase said diaper covers.

Any suggestions from the crowd? Has anyone gone the cloth diaper route and has a diaper cover they would suggest? Gotta keep that cute little tush covered somehow!

Swimmingly,

Kt and Tenant

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Baby Names

Here's the deal with our naming of the baby. Ideally, we want to find 6 or so names for each gender that we really like before the baby comes. Then, when we meet this person, we can pick from that list.

In the sidebar, you can see the current list that we're knocking around. Those lists are going to change often, so it's worth checking back on them if you are interested in this process.

Feel free to suggest names, and give reasons/stories why you like that particular name too. We're very interested, and folks may be surprised what catches our fancy.

Thanks for your kind attentions,

Bp

Ps/Addendum: I'll cop to some attachments I hold in the name department. I love Viggo, for some reason. I also really love the idea of using Paul for the middle name of a girl. I just think it would rock -- and some of those names would be especially good paired with it (Bellis Paul, Vivian Paul -- rocking).

Why "The Tenant Sea" name?

When I decided I needed to make a blog to cover the exploits of this pregnancy (and potentially beyond), the biggest issue became what to name the silly thing.

Since I follow a few "Mommy blogs" (as they are distastefully called), I have been exposed to quite a few catchy names. Thinking one up for myself, however, was quite the challenge. It couldn't be named something cutesy or too obtuse, and I just can't really stomach the word "mommy" (or daddy for that matter) so that was out. Eventually, I fell back on BP and my weird sense of humor for salvation.

When first pregnant and not telling anyone about it, "the Tenant" became code for "the baby". Since we have a roommate, it was convenient to discussion issues the Tenant might have and just let folks come to their own conclusions. I got the whole idea of tenancy from some pseudo-authoritative "this is what your baby looks like at 4 weeks" website where the baby was referred to as "your precious little tenant", which I thought was hilarious.

Why, do you say, would I think it was hilarious? Well, years earlier the Onion ran a little piece entitled "Woman Overjoyed By Giant Uterine Parasite" which we all thought was hilarious. So, inadvertently the first nickname for the Tenant was, um...uterine parasite. Not something you want to be explaining to your kids years in the future when sensitive egos may be at stake.

Suffice it to say, the Tenant nickname stuck.

So when it came to thinking a blog name up, my brain immediately incorporated the words "the Tenant" and then started searching for closure.

I remembered back a few years to a story dear friends of ours in Seattle relayed to us. They were on kid 4 of 6 at the time (!) and the children were being informed of the baby in Mama's belly. Papa (the Good Reverend, as he is known) described him as floating in vat like the superhero Aquaman. This was misheard by the 5 year old as "Tacoman" and the 4th child was nicknamed that until delivery.

With that story rattling around in my head, I thought..."well, I'm kind of like the pool attached to apartment complex the Tenant resides in (the lower apartment of course), so...with some sort of demented pregnancy leap...it became The Tenant Sea.

Poof! There you go! Clear as mud I am sure.

Swimmingly!

Kt and Tenant

Monday, November 10, 2008

How to buy things for the baby: Tutorial

My lovely husband brought it to my attention that the alternative registry feature that I have created in lieu (for now) of a baby shower is a tad bit confusing. Here's my best attempt to make it more understandable.

So if you click on the link to the Registry (in the upper left hand corner of the blog) you will get to the homepage. FEAR NOT! This is just one step towards your journey!

Next, navigate over to the right hand side of the screen under the FIND function. If you put in our last name (NOTE: not the hyphenated last name, just BP's) into the name box it will direct you to the Baby shower registry I set up.

The name of the Registry is TEAM OUR LAST NAME(/nod to C the G). If you hit VIEW, you will get a list of the things I have added to the registry as things we would be interested in. They are NOT in any particular order of significance or importance and I am not finished adding items.

Please read the paragraph description for the items as the WANT function is a bit limited to just number of items and doesn't allow for any text in that cell. I have tried to be specific as to what things on the webstite we'd be interested in. I provided a link to the site whenever possible. If something is broken please shoot me a email or call and let me know so I can fix it.

I have NO expectations that folks are going to buy things for the baby, but if you do choose to get a little sumptin' sumptin' for the tenant, please check and see if it's on the registry and if not, (or it's a big purchase we might need to discuss specifics for) just give us a call. I don't want to dissuade anyone from purchasing that cute little teeshirt or a book or two, but just remember we are mostly a no media house. So as much as you might love that Disney stuffed toy or the DVD of kids songs, we won't use 'em.

If you are searching around on your own, feel free to look at things that either the Waldorf school system or Montessori school system endorses. Almost all of those items are Tenant friendly!

AND, while often overlooked, practical things really really would help. Baby wipes, powders, lotions, glass baby bottles, diaper service, shoes of many sizes, receiving blankets, breast pads, gently used maternity wear (for the mama) are all things that might seem "less" important compared to that pair of baby socks (and way less cute) but they add up for us monetarily.

I would, however, be psyched if anyone wanted to set up a 529 college fund for junior...but give me a call if that is actually a reality for ya'll in this economic climate.

FYI for all you folks who HAVE a packet of kids already, we are MORE that happy to take your hand me down baby clothes for any age! They grow so fast there is no way these things are worn out. I would be happy to pay shipping postage for boxes of these things.

So there you have it! If you have any problems getting into the registry or figuring out what the heck I'm trying to say just let me know! Thank you in advance for all the support.

Swimmingly,

KT and the Tenant

Sunday, November 9, 2008

Month 5

Dear Tenant,

This week you are officially 5 months into your cooking process and the state of the world seems to be as busy changing as you are. Just last week we had a historic election where the first African American man was elected to President. Simultaneously, people in several different states decided it's still ok to be bigoted and declared that same sex marriage was illegal. /sigh. It's a crazy world you have decided to be born into. I have to think it's for many amazing reasons.

5 months in and 5 months to go. I have to say that while I am excited to meet you, this winner of the incarnation lottery, I am glad that you take some time getting here. At first you were just a foggy haze that I really didn't think was true but always have known was an answer to a series of prayers made years ago. Time, dreams and a burgeoning belly have brought you more into focus out of the aether's, yet you are still only a bit wiggly and not very present in the mix yet.

This month created little grainy black and white images that are sitting in front of me as I write to you. It was enthralling to see you looking up at me from the first moment the Ultrasound was turned on. I'll show you the photo when you come out to visit. One thrilled Ultrasound technician, nervous assistant and mildly shell shocked papa later, I left the clinic with more of a feeling that you were cooking in there and I needed to get ready for something.

Leading me to thinking a lot about the idea of gestation. Not only do I NEED you to take all the time you are going to take in the downstairs apartment but I have realized that it's healthy to have time to allow all good things to come to pass when they should. I get a bit impatient and stubborn when I think I know what needs to be happening or what is good for me, but then get something totally different. Inevitably, all these things lead me, in due time, to exactly where I need to be. You and your papa and this house and my life being no exception.

So despite the surrounding swirl of chaos in the world today; the nutzo economy we have earned over the past 2 decades, the wars, the politicking, the illness and destruction, there are so many good and solid and hopeful reasons for you to be in this world. And your papa and I are looking forward to showing you as many as we can while you show us a few tricks of your own.

As a word of caution, grow that funny bone big and strong...you'll need it out here, I assure you.

Love,

Mama

(With great respect for the plagiarizing of Dooce's monthly newsletters to her daughter)

Saturday, November 8, 2008

Evil!!




I have never really been a picky eater, but just a word of warning for anyone that has joint inflammation or happens to be pregnant....they are going to force this stuff on you.

And I am here to tell you it's NASTY!

So, just be warned, the "lemon" flavor is all well and good for going down but when the COL burps (as well like to call them) get rolling 15 minutes later, there will be no lemon and all cod liver in the result.

Apparently it's good for tons of stuff, like Oh....making brains and padding joints, but it's terrible. Truly.

So, if this is the most suffering I have to endure during the pregnancy, I'll take it! Thus far, it's been smooth sailing and I intend to keep it that way.

AND to keep taking the tablespoon of vileness every morning...that I remember.

Swimmingly,

KT and Tenant

Friday, November 7, 2008

A little too little, a little too late

Bp here,

I posted this over at my blog, but it's a genuine belly picture so I thought I'd better put it up here as well. This is around the end of the first trimester/beginning of the 2nd trimester. Click on the image to read the envelope (and thus understand the title of this post) for some humor.



Ps/Addendum: The first thing The Wife noticed about the picture was the REDACTION of our address. Just a note on that -- this is a public blog so we still will be a bit dodgy about personal information since any intarweb-trolling mouth breather can get to this site. Nothing personal folks, we know at this point all of you are family. Head of Site Security, out.

BBdr Visit #3

Yesterday was BBdr visit number 3 and Team Landis is still going strong in the development and heart rate arenas.

A word about midwives/ND's.

I have chosen to have a home birth of the Tenant, so the obvious choice is to get a Midwife for the job. My old gynecologist of 10 years was thrilled when I told her I was pregnant and in the same breath stated she's not delivering babies any longer. Hrumph!

The hunt began!

She gave me a couple of numbers and I called the first only to be pleasantly surprised to have a 30 minute conversation with a very grounded woman (who would still laugh at my jokes, which IS a requirement).

After a free (/boggle) hour and a half initial consultation BP and I decided this was the one without even having a discussion. Hugs ensued.

So if your in the baby making business and live in Portland, Oregon I can't say nice enough things about Dr. Sara Ohgushi.

Back to the details.

So we are actually at 19.1 weeks (I am terrible with math) and the uterus has achieved orbit at the top of the navel. Expansion GO! Apparently the next months are all about upward and onward in the BIGGER arena. So if you are wondering if I look like some sort of pregnant lady yet, I do. (Yeah Yeah pictures...I'll get there. Can't we just all applaud me for the hyperlink above?!?)

The heart rate is a perfectly trance inducing 140 bpm and is always fascinating. If you get the chance to hear a baby in utero, do it. It's wild!

And overall, though she drew a gallon of blood for the "prenatal suite of lab tests" (that weirdly included an HIV test...good things to know I guess) it was an uneventful and successful visit. Just like I like them. We'll be back on December 4th for Visit number 4.

We informed the midwife that she would be having her picture taken with me next visit for the blog, so photos ARE in the works...I just have to figure out the digital camera / blogger connection and make it happen.

Swimmingly,

KT and Tenant

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Unintended benefits of an Obama Presidency

So I spent the evening watching election results with a gaggle of roundy 20 somethings, one of which is my very cool co-worker, The Garb. We were over at his place watching it all unfold, talking smack about ballet measures and proposition 8 and generally having a good time.

Apparently a favored drinking game throughout the race was taking a slug everytime McCain used the phrase "My friends" in a sentence. The fine tradition had begun during the debates and was upheld last night during his concession speech and, my goodness, those boys were into 9 drinks in that 10 minutes alone. I am sure that no one felt disenfranchised.

Towards the end of (my) evening, I had a very interesting discussion with a mid 20's Latino gent who had just fielded a call from his very upset father (Obama is a Socialist, ya'll....watchout) and was well into his third Red Stripe. Strikingly, here this guy was talking about his friends children who are approximately the same ages as Obama's children. His eyes misted over a bit when he made mention of the fact that this is a historic election not only for all the OTHER reasons it's historic, but because those children would grow up in a world where having an African American president ISN'T an anomoly. Their lives in politics will always have that barrier broken, like my life will always have the Berlin wall falling and my parents lives will always have the end of World War II.

I felt moved in an unexpected way.

There has been much talk of a revival of "hope" or "pride" in being an American, which I can't say I have ever felt. But standing there, steading a slightly swaying, euphoric Latino boy who is a generation younger than I am, I felt like the an unnamed and unsettled cloud of impending doom I have always felt with regard to this country had be slightly lifted.

Yesterday was exactly (mathmatically) halfway through my pregnancy (20 weeks) and felt like a turning point.

It seems like, for just the merest whispers of a second, that bringing a child into this world, at this time, wasn't such a terrible thing after all.