Monday, December 29, 2003
Week 36-38: The holiday craze!
Sorry for the lack of posts recently, but we've been too busy (or me being too lazy to write up anything) due to the holiday craze. I'm so thankful that Kristen made sure we fixed up the nursery so early in the pregnancy. There would have been no way for us to get it together this last month. To sum it up: Kristen is finally looking and feeling VERY pregnant.
K's also been sleeping a lot more and a lot less. Let me explain. =) Swelling finally set in after Thanksgiving causing a five pound weight gain (12 pound gain total). With the extra weight there's alot more to carry, and a lot more to sleep with. So during the night, the comfort level is way down, and Kristen is definitely getting less sleep. That's not including all the extra trips to the bathroom during the night either. Our birthing class instructor claims the new sleep depravation routine is preparation for when the baby needs to feed at all hours of the day. "Yeah, WHATEVER," says Kristen. As for during the day, K has more baby to carry around, gets tired more quickly, and winds up taking lots and lots of naps (record so far is three hours).
We're now seeing the doctor every week, and every week the doctor has about the same thing to say, including our last visit: "You're progressing well... Nope. No dialation... Baby is measuring just right. Nope. Baby hasn't dropped yet. It could be in four days or four weeks... Any questions?... Have a nice day!" ACTUALLY, our last visit was more interesting. Our regular doctor was on vacation and we had a different doctor this time. It was soooo exciting for me! I was able to be involved in the exam and I got to push the blue button on the baby doppler (y'know, the on/off button)! I probably looked really confused through the whole "push-the-blue-button" routine so the doctor explained she was "practicing" her bedside manners with me as if I were a four year old child who was going to have a new baby sibling. Made me feel pretty special.
Anway, with the lack of progress so far Baby doesn't seem like she's going to be born anytime soon. It's now the 29th so it looks like Kristen's guess was easily premature. But there's still time for my guess to be right (31st)! Realisticly, Baby Chen will probaby come on time or a little late. It's probably best as it separates Baby's future birthdays from the crazy holiday season.
Kristen has also pried herself from work as of last week (Xmas week). She was working part-time through the first two weeks of December and should start receiving compensation by the state for short-term disability. Her coworkers were also kind enough to throw a baby shower for her as well. Baby Chen got even more cute outfits, toys, and a really beautiful crocheted blanket (it was even purple).
Okay, enough for now... I also posted the most recent picture of K's belly for your viewing pleasure. Check it out.
K's also been sleeping a lot more and a lot less. Let me explain. =) Swelling finally set in after Thanksgiving causing a five pound weight gain (12 pound gain total). With the extra weight there's alot more to carry, and a lot more to sleep with. So during the night, the comfort level is way down, and Kristen is definitely getting less sleep. That's not including all the extra trips to the bathroom during the night either. Our birthing class instructor claims the new sleep depravation routine is preparation for when the baby needs to feed at all hours of the day. "Yeah, WHATEVER," says Kristen. As for during the day, K has more baby to carry around, gets tired more quickly, and winds up taking lots and lots of naps (record so far is three hours).
We're now seeing the doctor every week, and every week the doctor has about the same thing to say, including our last visit: "You're progressing well... Nope. No dialation... Baby is measuring just right. Nope. Baby hasn't dropped yet. It could be in four days or four weeks... Any questions?... Have a nice day!" ACTUALLY, our last visit was more interesting. Our regular doctor was on vacation and we had a different doctor this time. It was soooo exciting for me! I was able to be involved in the exam and I got to push the blue button on the baby doppler (y'know, the on/off button)! I probably looked really confused through the whole "push-the-blue-button" routine so the doctor explained she was "practicing" her bedside manners with me as if I were a four year old child who was going to have a new baby sibling. Made me feel pretty special.
Anway, with the lack of progress so far Baby doesn't seem like she's going to be born anytime soon. It's now the 29th so it looks like Kristen's guess was easily premature. But there's still time for my guess to be right (31st)! Realisticly, Baby Chen will probaby come on time or a little late. It's probably best as it separates Baby's future birthdays from the crazy holiday season.
Kristen has also pried herself from work as of last week (Xmas week). She was working part-time through the first two weeks of December and should start receiving compensation by the state for short-term disability. Her coworkers were also kind enough to throw a baby shower for her as well. Baby Chen got even more cute outfits, toys, and a really beautiful crocheted blanket (it was even purple).
Okay, enough for now... I also posted the most recent picture of K's belly for your viewing pleasure. Check it out.
Saturday, December 06, 2003
The Baby Pool!
Okay, so part of the baby shower was the ever-so-popular, guess-when-the-baby-is-born game! Anyway, everyone pitched in a whole $1 each and made a reasonable (and sometimes unreasonable) guess. If you didn't get a chance to make a guess (or need to weight+length info) just post a comment and we'll include you in the pool! You'll have to pitch in the $1 to be included though! So far the pot is at a bulging nineteen dollars!!!
Anyway, see below for the offical email from Lily that summarizes the guesses so far...
------------------------------------------
Hi Everyone,
Below is the list of participants in the Chen Baby Pool sorted by the date YOU think will be the arrival date of Baby Chen, follow by the Time (T), Weight (W), Height (H). Of course the mom and dad-to-be are the optimistic ones. What's the prize? A whopp'in $19.00 (WOW!). Good luck!
Kristen and Darrin, no cheating. =)
Happy Holidays,
Lily
THE-BABY-POOL:
Dec 29
Kristen Owyang - T:9:02pm, W:7lbs 8oz, H: 19.5 in
Dec 31
Darrin Chen - T: 11:55pm, W: 7lbs 1oz, H: 17.5 in
Jan 04
Mami and Steve Owyang - W: 7lbs 12oz, H: 19 in
Jan 07
James Chen - W: 7lbs 4oz, H: 18 in
Alice Hsu - W: 7lbs 5oz, H: 20 in
Jan 08
June Owyang - W: 7lbs 9oz, H: 19.5 in
Tina Tao - W: 8lbs, H: 19 in
Jan 09
Jim Owyang - W: 7lbs 7oz, H: 18.75 in
Jan 10
Karen Yee - T: 6pm, W: 8lbs, H: 19 in
Jan 11
Jeff Wan - T: 1pm, W: 7lbs 6oz, H: 19 in
Jan 12
Qiu Zhu - T: 2pm, W: 8lbs 3oz, H: 18.7 in
Jan 13
David Chen - T: 1:23am, W: 7lbs 8oz, H: 19.1 in
Jan 15
Jon Yee - T: 3:12am, W: 8lbs 2oz, H: 19 in
Renee Kawamura - T: In the PM, W: 7lbs, H: 18 in
Chiaty Young - T: 1am, W: 8lbs 1oz, H: 19 in
Jan 17
Eleanor Chen - W: 7lbs 8oz, H: 18.5 in
Jan 20
Joe Yee - T: 8:15pm, W: 7lbs 11oz, H: 18 in
Nozomi Watanabe - T: 10pm, W: 6lbs 5oz, H: 16 in
Jeremy Yee - T: 3:50pm, 6lbs 14oz, 19 in
Anyway, see below for the offical email from Lily that summarizes the guesses so far...
------------------------------------------
Hi Everyone,
Below is the list of participants in the Chen Baby Pool sorted by the date YOU think will be the arrival date of Baby Chen, follow by the Time (T), Weight (W), Height (H). Of course the mom and dad-to-be are the optimistic ones. What's the prize? A whopp'in $19.00 (WOW!). Good luck!
Kristen and Darrin, no cheating. =)
Happy Holidays,
Lily
THE-BABY-POOL:
Dec 29
Kristen Owyang - T:9:02pm, W:7lbs 8oz, H: 19.5 in
Dec 31
Darrin Chen - T: 11:55pm, W: 7lbs 1oz, H: 17.5 in
Jan 04
Mami and Steve Owyang - W: 7lbs 12oz, H: 19 in
Jan 07
James Chen - W: 7lbs 4oz, H: 18 in
Alice Hsu - W: 7lbs 5oz, H: 20 in
Jan 08
June Owyang - W: 7lbs 9oz, H: 19.5 in
Tina Tao - W: 8lbs, H: 19 in
Jan 09
Jim Owyang - W: 7lbs 7oz, H: 18.75 in
Jan 10
Karen Yee - T: 6pm, W: 8lbs, H: 19 in
Jan 11
Jeff Wan - T: 1pm, W: 7lbs 6oz, H: 19 in
Jan 12
Qiu Zhu - T: 2pm, W: 8lbs 3oz, H: 18.7 in
Jan 13
David Chen - T: 1:23am, W: 7lbs 8oz, H: 19.1 in
Jan 15
Jon Yee - T: 3:12am, W: 8lbs 2oz, H: 19 in
Renee Kawamura - T: In the PM, W: 7lbs, H: 18 in
Chiaty Young - T: 1am, W: 8lbs 1oz, H: 19 in
Jan 17
Eleanor Chen - W: 7lbs 8oz, H: 18.5 in
Jan 20
Joe Yee - T: 8:15pm, W: 7lbs 11oz, H: 18 in
Nozomi Watanabe - T: 10pm, W: 6lbs 5oz, H: 16 in
Jeremy Yee - T: 3:50pm, 6lbs 14oz, 19 in
Baby nursery pictures posted...
I finally got around to posting two nursery pics. One is even a panoramic stitched shot (digital photography is so cool!) to give y'all a clear view of how spoiled our little baby girl will be. Find it on the Baby Chen Download page.
Week 35: Giving thanks to Baby Chen...
It's Monday after Thanksgiving and we're pooped! After the baby shower the weekend before, Thanksgiving, a cool 3D ultrasound session (more on that later), and another Thanksgiving party on Saturday, we are starting to drag our feet around the house.
But you're probably more interested in the 3D ultrasound we got, right? =) Kristen and I went down to Stockton to a place called 3DBabyVu and got a cool look at our little baby girl in 3D! Yep, GE developed a 3D ultrasound machine that can produce 3D-like images and we got a few cool snapshots, pictures, and even a video on DVD! You can find a few of the better images at our Baby Chen Download page. The ultrasound technician estimated our little girl to be 5 pounds at 34 weeks 1 day gestation which puts her right on target for the predicted January 8th due date. We also found out that she is in the head down position already like a good girl. =)
But you're probably more interested in the 3D ultrasound we got, right? =) Kristen and I went down to Stockton to a place called 3DBabyVu and got a cool look at our little baby girl in 3D! Yep, GE developed a 3D ultrasound machine that can produce 3D-like images and we got a few cool snapshots, pictures, and even a video on DVD! You can find a few of the better images at our Baby Chen Download page. The ultrasound technician estimated our little girl to be 5 pounds at 34 weeks 1 day gestation which puts her right on target for the predicted January 8th due date. We also found out that she is in the head down position already like a good girl. =)
Week 34: K & D's Excellent Baby Shower...
Wow! Thanks to all 30+ people who came to our baby shower last Sunday (Nov 23). It was great seeing everyone. It was definitely a blast thanks to some wonderful organization by our friend Lil, and my parents opening up their home and providing all the great food! The baby games, decorations, and the organized baby pool (due date, weight, and length guesses) were a lot of fun. Unfortunately, everyone seems to want Kristen to suffer an extra week after the due date as most of the guesses seemed to be a week (and sometimes two weeks) after Baby Chen's January 8th due date! And thanks to everyone for their generousity with all the wonderful gifts. We almost couldn't fit them all into the car when we packed for home since we drove grandma & grandpa Owyang down with us. After this weekend, Kristen and I are almost set for Baby Chen to arrive. She is already one spoiled little girl!
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