Fit for the Queen

Lene has become the queen of the household. Want proof? Here's a shot of the flagpole at her grandparent's home. The top flag is the flag of Fehmarn (the German island where they live), the next is the German flag, and of course the stars and stripes underneath that.

We are parents!

Annelena Rose was born on May 30th at 11:19 am. She's been an amazingly good baby, letting us sleep for hours at a time. Aunt Emilie is going to be so proud of how strong she is, and Aunt Erin of how strong-willed she is.

Her nickname is Lene, pronounced like the classic film star Marlene Dietrich, minus the 'Mar'.

Love to you all from the 3 of us!

31w0d

The wallpaper! The border isn't up yet as Ikea is still out of picture rails, but at least you get the idea of what it will look like.

30w3d

Nursery is now wallpapered. Picture rails have to wait as Ikea was sold out.

Photos soon.

29w5d

...1...

29w4d

...2...

29w3d

...3...

Irish law and the rights of embryos and (potential) moms and dads

Whether you are pro-choice or pro-life, this is an interesting read.

http://www.rhrealitycheck.org/blog/2010/03/18/ireland-force-women-mothers-cant-force-fathers

The dichotomy is rather astounding, eh?

27w4d

I've been bitching and moaning about the fact that I don't have a recognizable bump. Apparently, that is no longer the case.

Martin and I were babysitting a 4-year-old last night, who told me, "You look like you are going to have a baby because you have a fat tummy." Thanks for noticing, Mayzie!

27w3d

I haven't had much to post lately, as I wanted to keep this blog focused on Myrtle and she's been fine. I will post a bump photo soon - there's finally a little to see.

Other than that, I've been trying to do all of the things that I know I won't have time to do after she's here. Invitation to dinner - why, yes! Movie on Wednesday - of course! The next few weeks are packed with social activities.

We're also considering doing a small renovation in our bathroom. We have no bathtub right now, although technically the bathroom is big enough for one. The previous owner redid the bathroom with a stupid layout, so we have a few choices:

1. Redo everything into a sensible layout. Lots of work, lots of money, lots of dust involved to essentially swap the location of the toilet and the shower drain and move the washing machine connection. It would mean cracking up the floor and opening the walls. We won't be doing this.
2. Change the direction the toilet is facing (e.g. move it from one wall in the corner to the adjacent wall in the same corner), then get a 160 cm tub. This might be possible and would only involve opening the corner of the wall and possibly a few centimeters of the floor. The tank is in the wall, like this:
   
   
   This is the most likely option, depending on quotes from the plumber.
   


3. Get a 140 cm tub, but that means that Martin's knees are at his chin when he sits in there.

Also got up crazy early on Saturday morning to go to a kids' flea market way out in bufu. So worth it - I scored a €130 high chair (the one I'd been coveting) for €10 and a €70 bouncy seat for €12. Also: many clothes.

I guess I should save a little content for next time - I'll share about my mom's shopping madness soon.

24w4d

Lots of crap going on around here. Too many docs, too many stressors. Not to worry, Myrtle is fine.

Sigh. February has sucked for so many people and so many reasons.

23w2d

Hug your loved ones extra tight.

21w5d

So far (aside from her kickboxing training as I'm trying to go to sleep), Myrtle is a perfect baby. Two separate docs confirmed it at the anatomy scan today. Fingers, toes, liver, kidneys - everything right where it should be.

The next appointment is in 8 weeks. I'm used to seeing her every 2-3 weeks, but now that she's moving so much it's easier not to worry. Martin did find a doppler at the baby store over the weekend that lets you record the heartbeat - and it ended up in our basket. I talked him into shopping around a bit more (this one says it's for the 7th month and beyond) - boys and their toys.

We did take a bit of video, and if you can actually see anything from it, I might post it. Half-assed and all, don't count on it. ;-)

21w4d

Today's mood: damn skippy.

Tomorrow: anatomy ultrasound. Oh yeah.

20w3d

I forgot to add my vacation days to my maternity leave, so my last day is actually on March 31st instead of April 29th. My bosses were a bit shocked, which I can understand. I have no replacement yet, and now I'll be leaving in 2 months and 6 days (not that I'm counting).

Any English/German bilinguals with software experience out there looking for a job???

20w0d

Halfway!

I have too much to do at work today and have plans for this evening so I doubt I'll get a proper post in today (yeah, there's a reason this blog is titled the way it is), but I did want to mark this momentous day with at least a little whoop. WHOOP!

19w0d

Wow, who woulda thunk that we'd make it to 19 weeks. I went to a meeting for my ex-pat women's club last night and a few people that I don't see very often were surprised to hear that I'm pregnant. Yup, that's how little I'm showing. I suppose I should be enjoying my mobility while I can, but I also know that acquaintances think I've just been hitting the fast food a bit too much and that's why I'm thicker in the middle.

Martin got to feel Myrtle kick a few days ago. When she gets going, I really think she's learned to mosh already. They grow up so quickly.

A Time for Retrospection

A friend from a very long time ago answers a year-end list of questions every year. You can read his answers here:
http://www.blood-and-thunder.com/index.php/2010/01/05/blue-blooded-girls-of-independent-means/

I think I'm going to start doing this. I'll see if I can get around to it this weekend, but I love the idea of collecting these answers.

17w5d

Well, looks like Horst is really a Myrtle! The doctor is 80-90% sure that it's a girl.

And I think I felt her move for the first time this morning. What a fantastic day.

17w3d

Still not showing. I look like I had too many cookies chased by too many beers, but I definitely do not have a proper bump. I was a bit fluffy to begin with anyway, so I'm looking forward to having a belly instead of a spare tire.

The visit to the family was the best I can remember in a long time. I miss my family and have been weepy with the thought that they are going to miss the pregnancy and lots of Horst's first year. Have to get Skype up and functional, I guess.

For those of you not friends with me on Facebook, let me share some jeglagged wisdom with you: Air France sucks sweaty donkey balls.

16w2d:



17w3d: