Weeks 2-4

After celebrating Thanksgiving at Uncle Kit and Aunt Heidy's house, we brought Will home to Clayton Street. We're still "moving in" after having our house under renovation for so long, but he seems to be taking it in stride. When you can only see about a foot in front of you the boxes don't look so bad!

Will's favorite song is "The Itsy Bitsy Spider," complete with various hand motions and patting him up and down as the spider goes "up the water spout" and "down comes the rain." It doesn't sound quite as exciting in writing. Clearly, we need to get this on video. He also likes Simon and Garfunkel's 59th Street Bridge Song (aka Feelin' Groovy). Mom likes singing him these lyrics, in particular:

"I've got no deeds to do
No promises to keep
I'm dappled and drowsy and ready to sleep
Let the morningtime drop all its petals on me...
Life, I love you,
All is groovy..."

Will also enjoys tummy time. He attempts to shuffle around and he looks like he's doing it commando-style, since his head and shoulders are much larger than the rest of him!

Below are some photos from the past few weeks:

Will's Birth and First Week

We've had a wonderful first week getting to know Will! Here are some of our recent photos:



We've also included a slideshow with a few photos from his birth. With one minute to go, the cesarean team allowed Jason to start snapping photos. He had a very steady hand! There's nothing too revealing in here, but it is surgery, so if watching ER makes you squirm, you might want to skip this one. Click the green triangle to start the slideshow.

Announcing Willard Samuel "Will" Misner

We are thrilled to announce the arrival of Willard Samuel Misner, weighing in at 8 pounds, 13 ounces and measuring 19.5 inches long.

Named in honor of our dads, baby Will arrived at 10:39 am on November 17, 2008.

Thank you for all of your love and support on our way to becoming new parents. We'll keep the pictures coming!

Mini-Moving

One of my favorite things to experience throughout pregnancy has been to feel and watch Mini-Misner moving. He's always been a mover and shaker, but the past month or so has been particularly entertaining. This is a quick video from Saturday the 15th. I am holding my breath, so what you see is the baby. It might take it a minute to download.

One Last Look

I had my last checkup/non-stress test this afternoon and they did a quick sonogram to measure amniotic fluid; since Mini-Misner is breech, you can actually still see his face. They made a printout of him. He looked so peaceful. I'm sure that's the last time I'll be saying that for a few years! It made me really want to meet him, though. I felt like I could touch him.

Yes We Can

It's been quite a week! On Monday, we attempted the version, or turning, where Mini-Misner's obstetrician attempted to move him out of breech position into proper (head down) position. The doctor was able to move his rear end out of the La-Z-Boy recliner otherwise known as Elizabeth's pelvis, but they couldn't move his head to turn him around. Some have said that we have a headstrong baby; others have said that we have a little boy who already knows how to hold his ground. We're running with the latter assessment!

What this means is that we'll be having a scheduled c-section. Mini-Misner's birthday is expected to be November 17th, Uncle Kit's birthday! This is about a week before his actual due date in order to avoid going into labor beforehand. However, there's always the chance that he could decide to come earlier than the 17th, so your vote (at right) still counts. November 17th is now considered the "on time" benchmark.

Speaking of voting, Mini-Misner kicked the entire time as we watched the election on Tuesday night until the end of the concession and acceptance speeches. Perhaps he could feel our anticipation of the outcome and was responding to that. Whatever your political leanings or feelings about the election outcome, it's impossible to deny the tangible sense of optimism we are witnessing around the globe. At a time that is otherwise filled with the reality of the uncertainty about the future of our economy, education and health care systems, environment, and geopolitics; when we know so many people in our own country and around the world who are facing challenges with everyday needs like putting food on the table; and when expectations are weighty and the stakes are high, it does still feel like the nature of the game has changed for the better. We are grounded but hopeful about the world into which we will be bringing our son.

In the microcosm of new parenthood that we will be entering, we know that we have our own immediate great expectations and that there will be more challenges and more corresponding fulfillment and love than we can possibly imagine right now. We have taken to heart the advice from so many of you that outlook and attitude (and the occasional Guinness and glass of good wine!) are crucial to getting through these next few weeks and months, and - let's be real - years. The words, "Yes We Can" will be repeated often yet at an entirely different scale in our little world, even as they open doors of opportunity and start conversations in the world around us.

Countdown

Let the countdown begin! This edition of the belly shot (Mini-Misner is now at about 37 weeks) is being taken from Uncle Kit's and Aunt Heidy's deck, where we are staying temporarily. We're finishing some renovations at our house and sure are enjoying living in their fully-furnished, dust-free home! They better be careful, as we might not ever leave...when they come home from being away on their respective business trips, they may discover that Elizabeth is "nesting" in their home, while Jason has been busy putting together the stroller and installing the car seat. Their house is also in our old neighborhood, so we've been having fun saying hello to former neighbors and visiting favorite eateries, including the original Swensen's ice cream parlor, opened in 1948 (we've now been there more than once, that's for sure!).

The latest on Mini-Misner is that his tush is nestled right on Elizabeth's pelvis, instead of his head. He's in the frank breech position, which you can learn more about, here, if you're curious. The obstetrician is going to try to nudge him into proper position next week and we'll see what happens! Elizabeth was also a breech baby - apparently, what goes around comes around! :)

Otherwise, this is such a time of incredible anticipation! It's hard to imagine that we'll be seeing our baby so soon after all this time. We can't wait to meet him!

P.S. Earlier this month, we also visited Elizabeth's Great Aunt Bobbie, who lives in Santa Rosa, CA. She is excited to add to her growing brood of grandchildren and great-grandchildren/nieces/nephews!

A Picnic in the Park

On Saturday, September 27th, we were treated to a fabulous picnic in Golden Gate Park with friends and family, hosted by our dear friends Michele Byrnes and Jaime Shean. It was a perfect afternoon - the sun was shining on us and we were so happy to be able to have the chance to kick back and spend time with people we care about.

An event highlight was The Diaper Olympics, a relay race to see which team could diaper (and re-diaper) a flour "baby" with a cloth diaper! As you'll see from the slideshow, enthusiasm ran high and the competition was fierce!

Thank you to everyone near and far who has supported us the past few months - we can't wait to introduce you to Mini-Misner!

31 Weeks, 4 Days

Weighing in at approximately 4 pounds, Mini-Misner is now about the size Jason was when he was born (Jason is a twin, and was born a few weeks early)! Look how big Dad grew up to be! What is also significant about this weight and the number of weeks (almost 32 weeks) is that, while he'd have to spend some extra time in the hospital, if he decided to come early, Mini-Misner would have the same chance as a full-term baby of turning out just fine. Having said that, we're reminding him regularly that Mom's tummy is much more comfortable than the real world for now. Especially since we're still finishing up our condo renovations!

At this ultrasound, the doctor also included a video on the CD that he gave us, so we're showing it off here. What you are seeing is Mini-Misner's abdominal area (spine on top); in truth, it's not all that exciting, especially compared to the other times we've seen him flipping all over the place. As babies get bigger, there's a little less action since there's not so much room to move around! Mom still feels him kicking like crazy though.



Here are two other quick peeks at the (not-so-) little guy. On the 3-D one, as always, you'll need to use a little imagination, but that's his face with one hand up near his left eye/ear on the right side of the image.

Travels with Mini-Misner

We got in some travel during August and early September in anticipation of laying low the next few months. Elizabeth went to New York on business and added in a visit to DC for fun. Friends and family got a glimpse of the "Buddah belly," including Liz W., Jen and Allen H., Alexis, Bill and Aiden G., Jenny B., and Aunt Betsy, Aunt Karissa, and Jason's parents. Elizabeth and our friends Kevin and Jennie got a kick - literally - out of Mini-Misner and their brand new baby boy, Jackson, meeting each other: when Elizabeth was holding Jackson, his little tummy was pressing on the belly while he was breathing and apparently invading Mini-Misner's space - Mini kicked every time Jackson took a breath!

We also went to one of our favorite places, Bozeman, Montana. This edition of the belly shot is from Bozeman, and we can't wait for all the incredible adventures we'll have with Mini-Misner in Montana in years to come!








On the way home from Montana, we attended our friends Josh and Rosy's wedding in LA. We're proud to say that we were the last ones on the dance floor, dancing the night away to their fabulous band (NB, Dad's-to-Be: one benefit of having have a default designated driver is that you and your better half don't have to leave early to take the shuttle back to the hotel at weddings!). That said, we were not quite so energized come Sunday morning.




However, before heading to the airport, we did stop by for a visit with our friends Chris and Keli and met their new baby boy, Logan. Chris and Kevin (mentioned above) are friends of Jason's from UVA - we have a feeling this new generation of buddies is going to have a helluva time together!

26 Weeks, 5 Days

We got to take another look at Mini-Misner last Friday. He's weighing it at a little over two pounds and growing by the day! We haven't typically been a fan of the 3D images (recall the lumpy gummy bear post), but we got a kick - literally - out of this one. One of his favorite things to do is to throw his feet up over his head and do a backflip (he's had a few extra ultrasounds for some heart monitoring - good news, all is just fine - so we've gotten to see him in action a little more than is typical and have witnessed this move a number of times). In this image, you can see his little feet in the upper left as he prepares to make his move, and if you use your imagination a bit you'll see one of his hands just underneath his chin.

Elizabeth also took a trip to New York and Washington D.C. last week, so stay tuned for an updated post about that and a few more pics.

A Visit from Aunt Lin

Mini-Misner had a great weekend with some of his future aunts and Uncle Kit in San Francisco - Aunt Lin was visiting all the way from India! Perhaps inspired by Wimbledon (see previous post), we decided to don our "whites" (well, sort of!) and headed out to the lawn bowling greens at nearby Golden Gate Park. At left are Jason, Elizabeth/Mini-Misner, Aunt Lin and Uncle Kit with our fearless instructor, Bill. Lawn bowling is similar to bocce; more than you ever wanted to know about it is available, here. But do read up, as you might be fielding a team the next time you visit! Word on the street is that Jason and Elizabeth/Mini-Misner are the team to beat! Perhaps it was just good pregnancy luck for Elizabeth, as Aunt Lin and Uncle Kit sported the best form, while Jason came through with the clutch shots.

Aunt Heidy was also able to join us for a delicious barbecue at her and Uncle Kit's house. We enjoyed grilled peaches with fresh mint (if you have not tried grilling peaches or nectarines before, this is a must do), fresh salmon and tuna, followed by Chocolate Lava Volcano Cake - yum!

It's a...

...boy! While the poll was approaching the statistically predictable 50/50 mark, the 60% of you girl voters will have to bide your time until the next one! We are just thrilled about our little fella, who is now a whopping 1 pound. The rest of today's anatomy check went well - all fingers, toes and vital organs are accounted for.

Last Sunday, we stopped by one of our fave burrito joints, Papalote, with friends Nicholas and Anna and then watched the historic Nadal-Federer Wimbledon final (complete with a healthy serving - or three - of fresh strawberries and cream). It's never to early to start preparing Mini-Misner for a lifetime of both burrito-eating and tennis!

Included in this post is the first "belly shot," as promised. That belly now seems to be growing so fast that you can almost watch it happen in real-time.

Lastly, as if confirming the gender weren't exciting enough for one day, Jason was able to feel Mini-Misner kicking last night! I have been feeling some rolling and tumbling the past few weeks, but now Jason is in on the action. So far, the kicks mostly feel like little nudges, but I know that will change as Mini-Misner continues to grow. I've already gotten whacked a time or two as a preview of things to come.

Those first few kicks were incredible. And really, who am I kidding, they are still incredible. I wasn't sure if Mini-Misner was kicking at first or if my intestines had just been relocated to a new spot thanks to this growing baby. But the way that I know for sure is that every time I'm nudged, I feel a flutter in my heart. I definitely have a new love interest! Now Jason can start falling in love with him, too!

Baby Acrobatics

We had our latest ultrasound today. Mini-Misner was flipping around like a gymnast! As a result, while we got to see lots of neat things like hands and feet, we didn't confirm the gender 100%. So we'll be patient and wait a bit longer to verify and let you readers who are so inspired continue to vote in the poll (at right). Despite all the activity going on in there, Mom can't feel a thing yet. Mini-Misner actually responds to the ultrasound though, which is pretty cute. When the doctor presses around for too long, the baby will reach up and cover its eyes or turn to the side.

The bones are much more developed than last time and you can see the spinal column and fingers and toes. The baby has graduated from the "crown to rump" measurement gauge, but the doctor is guessing that Mini-Misner is weighing in at around 6-7 ounces based on the measurements of various bones. In the photo with the spine, Mini-Misner is curled up into a ball and nestled into the placenta, which apparently is much more soft and comfy than that annoying ultrasound machine poking and prodding around!

Several people have asked about the first "belly shot." Mom is coming around to the idea, so despite simply looking like she's had one too many boxes of mac 'n cheese rather than actually looking pregnant, yes, this will be posted in the near future.

12 Weeks, 4 Days

Jason joined in the fun for our latest ultrasound. Mini-Misner is about 7 cm, or about 3 inches long. It's amazing how much you can see in the photos! The baby has already developed most of its parts at this early stage; now it's time to get growing!

The ultrasound technician also asked us if we wanted to see a "3D" version of Mini-Misner. Of course we enthusiastically said, "Yes," but when we saw the baby, it looked like a lumpy gummy bear! Apparently this is normal, but we think we'll wait on doing that again!

We don't know what the gender is yet, but we're planning to find out. Our scheduled anatomy check isn't until 20 weeks, but we hope to get a sneak peek at 16 weeks. Unti then, another one of those exercises in patience!

Still Our Little Secret!

We paid a visit to Great-Aunt Bobbie and almost spilled the beans...

...although when we went winetasting afterwards, the winemaker figured it out. Here's a photo of the bottom of wine he gave Elizabeth (NB: this photo was actually taken in December 2008!)

 












But we kept our secret to ourselves celebrating our (dating) anniversary with our annual trip to Vino. Here's a picture with the owner, "Professor" Castro Ascarrunz, holding our postcard of the original location on Union Street in San Francisco.

It's Official - Baby's Got Beat!

Elizabeth went for baby's first appointment today. It's official - Mini-Misner showed up on the ultrasound, complete with a heartbeat! The heartbeat looked like a little twinkle...our little star is forming!

We're Pregnant!

Here's the + sign - we're on our way! Our first exercise in patience has begun: waiting to tell friends and family the big news!