Month 8 Belly Picture -- with an octopus

Here it is, the much-requested belly picture update. With the first toy we've received for the Bebbeh -- our friends Ted and Sara know us well. The octopus is awesome.



Bp

Week 34!! And the Sugar Terrorists

It's been a busy week in the Maxson-Landis household. This last week marked the beginning of overtime at work so tax season has officially bitten. We also went to the first "what to expect at a home birth" class, given by the rock star BBdr, Dr. Sara. Then yesterday was a BBdr visit.

Whew!

I fully attribute my spunkiness and alertness to the addition iron supplement that I am rubbing on my feet (in paste form-gooey!). So overtime hasn't been that terrible, yet. I am still recovering when I sleep (since I'm sleeping pretty well) but I am going to bed at about 8pm. E-A-R-L-Y!

In other news, the home birth class was a real hoot. We were there with 7 other couples (one we even knew from other circles but didn't know they were coming!). We had an informal chat about what labor looks like (or doesn't as the case maybe), the progression of labor through the stages (the biggest being dilating from 1-10ish centimeters, which is a really BIG hole to think about making) and the final "ok PUSH!" phase (the shortest).

Very enlightening and not too terrifying. Both BP and I feel like all life events leading up to the big day have really been a good precursor for this kind of trial/experience/marathon.

We then watched a video (with terrible new-age music! /shiver) of 7 home births. It's pretty amazing to watch a little dude come out of someone. What's *really* amazing is that the little dude's head looks HUGE while coming out but mere seconds after the total package is popped out the whole thing looks incredibly tiny. Baby's as superhero's with morphing powers straight out of the birth canal, dang!

The BBdr visit was easy-peasy. With the exception of my glucose being a *wee* bit high due to consumption of 5 (a MERE 5!) red vines at work (it's not my fault!), the Sugar Terrorists (ST, tm) came out in full force! Sweet (no pun intended), innocent processed sugar was torn away from me and is currently being held captive by the Sugar Terrorist's (the BBdr and BP) who refuse to allow its free consumption to roam about unmitigated.

Harrumph!

So, Ixnay on the Ugarshay. The gauntlet has been thrown. Sheesh! All hell breaks loose over 5 red vines. Did you know those things are like 3 tablespoons of white sugar each? Here I thought they were just cherry flavored wax! Humbug.

All things considered, a pretty full week.


In other news, I'm taking suggestions for the perfect rocking chair. I don't think it's legal to HAVE a child without a rocking chair, but I'm a little late in the game picking one up or asking for one at the baby shower (2 weeks! Feb 28, come come!) I'm wondering what folks like (wooden, Amish, glider, etc) and where you might find such a gem?

Bring on the rocking chair stories! And the suggestions! Thanks!

Swimmingly,

KT & Tenant

Ridiculously unfair

It's RIDICULOUSLY unfair that she brought out the toes so early. Just when you thought you weren't going to be KILLED BY THE CUTE of this baby...here come the toes.

GAH!

Toes are my favorite part of babies...tho, once I have my own I suspect the whole thing might be my favorite part. But for now...

GAH!

The TOES!

Curses woman!

Baby Shower Purchase items (should you so choose)

For those of you waiting with baited breath for me to finally decide on cloth diaper covers for the diaper service (they clean the diapers / you provide the diaper covers) well the wait is over! WHEW! (who could possibly fit into this category? *I* barely cared)

So for prospective baby shower gifts, here is the run down of items. There is no registry at Green Mountain diapers so I make a linky list, so if you want to purchase stuff just go for it. Can't have too many diaper covers or accessories, REALLY! Email BP or I (or call) for our address if you want to just ship stuff.

Green Mountain Diapers: www.greenmountaindiapers.com


Diaper Covers (You pick the colors, we're not micro-managing here!)

Bummis Super Brite:

(4) newborn
(4) small
(6) medium
(6) large

OR

Super Whisper Wraps would be an equal substitute (they have different colors)

Accessories:

(3) Mommy's Touch Wet bags
(6) Mommy's Touch Changing Pads
(1) Snugglewool 27x36 (THESE LOOK AWESOME!!)
(4) Toddlebugz baby leg warmers
(4 pkg) Premium wipes
(2 pair) Woolbooties

Also, any wool clothing that might be on sale would be great but it's a little spendy. Wool is amazing stuff however!

Thanks for checking this out. Folks have been having a hard time with the registries in the side bar so here's a list of links to where we have registered and what we'd like. We're also open to almost anything! If you have questions or need our address to ship feel free to call either of us.

We are also registered at:

Babies R Us: The full name is Katye Maxson-Landis to find the registry. Thanks to co-worker's for the suggestion to register here!

Target: all you have to do it put in Katye Landis and you'll get there.

Swaddling Clothes: It pops right up when you click the link.

Baby Hawk Carriers: Feel free to design your own if you want to get one of these...they are all totally cool! The registry code is BK408873EO for the bag I designed or you can put Katye Landis in there too.

OR

Alternative Registry: Put in Landis and select baby shower and you'll get a list of the alternative cool things I just found zipping around on line. There is an actual registry lurking behind that link if you go there.

Finally: The Diaper Service! This handy gift registry link allows you to log on and just purchase a week or 2 (or 15) easily. We'll also have a donation jar at the Shower for cash donations to the diaper service. It's approximately $18 a week!

Thank you ALL in advance for your presence in the baby's life. THAT'S the really important thing to both BP and I.

Feel free to just show up at the Shower (with 10 bucks to feed yourself all you can eat pizza!) and just hang with us. We'd love to see you all there!

Swimmingly!
KT and Tenant

Shout out to C the G and her lovely husband

It's a boy for the Seiner clan! She had her baby shower last weekend and then promptly went into labor (at 37 wks) and produced the child. Now THAT is quick turn around time!

Way to go Mama!

She, MAX HARRISON, and the proud Papa are delusional with love and lack of sleep but everyone is happy, health and home.

And the Oscar goes to Max for best impersonation of a Cabbage Patch doll in 2009:



Here also is the best supporting photo of a Papa and child:



Needless to say we are totally thrilled for them. I spoke with her the night before labor and ended up being out of town when she had him (Wednesday February 4th at 7:30 am). It was kind of unsettling to realize that babies can be born PRETTY MUCH ANY DAMN TIME THEY WANT TO, and that I was out of town, but we prevailed.

I wonder if baby showers induce labor? Hmmm...perhaps I'll have an move out notice tacked to my belly on March 2nd and then the baby and I can share a birthday!

Stay tuned true believers....just don't hold your breath!

Until later, let's all send a few well wishes and prayers to the newest Seiner on the block! He's gorgeous! Congratulations Cathrine and Jerry!

Lots love!

KT, BP and the Tenant

In case anyone's curious why we are using glass baby bottles

Here is a documentary called "The Disappearing Male" by the CBC. I'll post their own write-up below:

The Disappearing Male is a CBC documentary about one of the most important, and least publicized, issues facing the human species: the toxic threat to the male reproductive system. The last few decades have seen steady and dramatic increases in the incidence of boys and young men suffering from genital deformities, low sperm count, sperm abnormalities and testicular cancer. At the same time, boys are now far more at risk of suffering from ADHD, autism, Tourette's syndrome, cerebral palsy, and dyslexia. The Disappearing Male takes a close and disturbing look at what many doctors and researchers now suspect are responsible for many of these problems: a class of common chemicals that are ubiquitous in our world. Found in everything from shampoo, sunglasses, meat and dairy products, carpet, cosmetics and baby bottles, they are called "hormone mimicking" or "endocrine disrupting" chemicals and they may be starting to damage the most basic building blocks of human development.

Here is an online petition supporting the Kid-Safe Chemicals Act. It will only take a second.


Bp

Week 32 begins: The 2 month point.

Wow, time sure flies when you're making a baby. Is it just me or wasn't it JUST August? Crazy! Before I head off into the wild blue yonder to Medford for a few days of what my lovely husband calls "stickin' it to 'em" (Auditing work) I'll leave you with a little jicama nugget...

AAHAHAHHA...the baby as jicama. I tell ya, whoever came up with that reference ploy was really smoking something. I am sure it has spawned a thousand in-utero baby names (ooh, my little mango!)



I just think these are brilliant...call me crazy. Since I peeked going forward, I have to say I'm not nearly as excited about the watermelon one, but the pumpkin one is extremely appropriate.

Onward!



How your baby's growing:
By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb. She now has toenails, fingernails, and real hair (or at least respectable peach fuzz). Her skin is becoming soft and smooth as she plumps up in preparation for birth.

I have been feeling much better with the consumption of more iron supplements and elk. I get a topical iron supplement for the bottom of my feet when I get back. I'm trying to do everything in my power to keep recovering from working during tax season, even though my rockstar midwife isn't happy with my working schedule. We'll see how it goes. I am now under strict orders to put my feet up at least 15 minutes a day at work, that should be fun!

Other than that, I got another room painted ( the center room is now green) and we've decided on the blue for the front room. That will be my next conquest. The kittens are getting bigger and have a touch more personality. Sula is still hanging in there, mostly sleeping on the heating pad all day and making nasty faces at the kittens. Ah the love...

BP pulled up hard with a bout of food poisoning that I have to say, I am THANKFUL I didn't get. Bad news bears. Tait and I briefly contemplated the need to take him out back and put him down, but then some things, er..."moved" and he looks like he's going to make it. Bacteria are some serious shit here people! Don't just be ingesting wildly.

Apparently, (per the BBdr), Kiddo is facing the right way even at this stage of the game with a good head down, butt up, back to my stomach position that is optimal for slithering out a birth canal in a mere, oh...2 months or so. *Gulp*

And we had our first round of hiccups the other night...damn is THAT a weird sensation to experience from the inside of the inside of someone else. It took me a few long moments to figure out what was going on. It's like a small, reverberating volcanic eruption followed by some wild kicking. Dang! The BBdr assures me it's a sign of "fetal well being", so we'll run with it.

Have a nice week folks, I'll be back to spouting off this weekend sometime. I have a month 7 recap newsletter to get together.

And remember the baby shower is on FEB. 28th! If we missed getting you an invite for some reason, post us a note or give us a call and we'll get one to you!

Yours in Hiccups!

KT and Tenant

Little moments of preparation for the coming kiddo

[sounds of a cat horking in the front room]

Honey, can you bring me some paper towels?

[pause]

HEY! Don't eat that!