The Blog Formerly Known As "The Bunty and Buck Belly Blog"

T Minus...

Well, it's official.  The countdown has begun.  For those of you participating in/running pools, you should consider the betting windows closed.

Tonight M. and I headed over to the hospital because she wasn't feeling Malcolm move very much.  We weren't terribly concerned about this as she just had an appointment the other day and everything was fine.  Regardless, being the first time parents that we are/will be, we gave the doctor a ring and all agreed that we should have things checked out, even if just for peace of mind.

So we head to the hospital and, low and behold, M. starts having contractions.  Talk about good timing.  The nurse commented that it's usually the other way around, i.e. contractions at home and nothing at the hospital.  M. had never felt "real" contractions before and the surprise clearly registered on her face.

M. and I were getting excited that this could be the beginning of Malcolm's arrival.  We started talking about going home to get our bag and other supplies, grabbing the car seat, etc.  However, Master Smith has his own ideas and, after about 45 minutes, a few more contractions, and another call to the doctor, it was determined that she was likely experiencing Braxton-Hicks contractions.  After we headed home things subsided and she's currently sleeping comfortably.  Sorry folks.  Nothing to see here.

As for Malcolm's lack of movement, as we suspected, nothing to fear.  His heart rate is regular and strong.

Tough luck for anyone with money on 9/22.

Week 39 and the Final Belly Shot

Ah, the lovely mom-to-be; resplendent in her rhinestone "Baby" t-shirt.  But why the feigned smile, you ask?  Well, truth be told, M. has never really been a big fan of the blog.  As a matter of fact, when I first suggested starting one, she was adamantly opposed to the whole idea.  Shocking, I know.  Actually, I would almost go so far as to say that she thinks it's a complete waste of time and that I've become one of the biggest dorks on the planet.

Well, darling, love of my life, mother to my unborn son, do not despair.  I will soon cease blogging about your belly.

And I will begin to blog about our baby!

However, since this is still technically a belly blog, I leave you, my (three) loyal readers, with one final parting shot of M.'s magnificent belly at 39 weeks.  Behold its splendor and glory!

Earning His Keep

Well, we may have to wait a few years but he should be able to kick in for swimming lessons and his baseball glove down the road.

Faith

For about ten years I'd been away from my religious faith.  It wasn't until M. expressed an interest in Catholicism a couple of years ago and began taking a conversion course that the spark was rekindled in me.  I attended some of the classes with M. and acted as her sponsor.

We're members of a local parish whose pastor I really like - I had my most rewarding Reconciliation experience ever with him.  Plus, there are six different Masses on Sunday to choose from.  Naturally, M. and I had been planning on raising our children in the Catholic tradition.

However, we recently came across something that has truly opened our eyes.

It is with great joy and thanks that I'm pleased to announce that M. and I have decided to join, and raise our children in, the First United Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster.  We've truly been touched by His Noodly Appendage.

Week 37

Well, folks, we're almost there.  Week 37 is upon us.  The baby is officially full term and ready to enter the world.  At this point he's just packing on the pounds.  Kinda like his dad during football season.  (Go Birds!)

In general, M.'s still feeling okay though there has been some sleep-related issues recently.  But all in all she's in good shape and good spirits.  If anything I think she's just anxious to see what's been brewing down there for the past nine months.

Party Time!

Let's see.  After M. and I ran off to Vegas and got hitched, there was no party.  Then when M. turned 28, there was no party.  My 30th birthday, and there was no party.  Finally, M.'s 29th birthday...there was no party.

Why no parties?

Because when we have one, guys like this show up!  We said, "bring diapers instead of booze", fellas, not "wear diapers instead of clothes".

Needless to say, the party was a success, if I do say so myself.  Muchos gracias to all the revelers who made sure of it.  (And to Auntie Lauren for her help setting up.)

And diaper daddies, you've definitely earned invites to the super exclusive stroller launch and test drive gala slated for April.  Well done, lads.  Well done.

Broken Belly?

No, folks, M. didn't take a spill and break her belly (or breasts for that matter).  What you see here is the latest piece of artwork to grace our household - M.'s belly cast.  Yeah, I know, it's a bit "California".  But hey, we live in California, people!

When M. said that she wanted to have a belly cast done I was all for the idea.  What a great reminder of the excitement and wonder we've experienced during M.'s pregnancy.  (Speaking of wonder, did you know that babies hiccup in the womb?  Malcolm's had a few fits recently.  Who knew?)

M. and I extend our deepest gratitude to our friend, Heidi Norbeck, for the wonderful/awesome/cool gift she's given us.  We'll proudly display and treasure it for years to come.

Birth U. Graduates

It's official.  Last week M. and I successfully completed Course 102, Infant CPR, Breastfeeding and Newborn Care, and are now fully prepared to have our child.  Uh...  Yeah.

Seriously though, Birth University was a good experience and we picked up some helpful tips.  The instructor, Sarah McMoyler, was great and the literature that we received will definitely come in handy during the next couple of months.  I'd recommend it to any couple expecting their first child.

I wouldn't be honest, though, if I didn't say that the courses made us feel more overwhelmed than before we took them.  We found ourselves worried about retaining all the information we received and concerned that we might screw something up in the first few weeks.  Lots of "what ifs" came into our minds.

Luckily we can take comfort in the fact that about 4,000,000 babies seem to find there way into the world (okay, the US) each year.  And we all made it to this point somehow, right?  I don't usually strive to be one of the crowd, but in this case, I'll take comfort in the knowledge that having and raising a child isn't exactly rocket science.  As Ms. McMoyler told me in response to a question I asked during a break, just make sure that the kid is warm and well-fed and all will be fine.  And that other part?  The love bit?  I'm sure we'll have that down pat.

Week 33

It's been a while so here's a belly pic from week 33.  Enjoy!

The Stroller Has Landed

What you are looking at, ladies and germs, is the latest in fine Dutch stroller design and technology.  Winner of the 2005 European Retailers Award for Best New Baby Product, I proudly introduce to you the Quinny Buzz.  This bad boy makes the Bugaboo Frog look like your father's Oldsmobile.  And, adding upping the cachet meter a few more notches, neither the Buzz, nor any of Quinny's most excellent products, are available for purchase in America.  Yes, I carried it back with me from my trip to London last week, pretty much ensuring that we are one of the only families in the Bay Area with this Ferrari of strollers.

What makes the Buzz so special, you ask?  How about everything-friggin'-thing!  From its killer tricycle design and height-adjustable handlebar to its five-position seat (including forwards and backwards) and pneumatic auto-unfolding mechanism (yes, I said "pneumatic") the Buzz represents the latest in stroller technology.  Oh, and this video has got to be one of the coolest stroller pitches I've ever seen.  Crank the sound up and check it out.  Seriously.  *Update - the music that used to accompany the video is now gone.  Used to be that electronica remix of Elvis's A Little Less Conversation.  Damn licensing rights.*

As some of you know, I've been obsessed with strollers since we found out that M. was pregnant.  I began looking around and quickly determined that I didn't want some run-of-the-mill Maclaren or Peg Perego from Babies 'R' Us.  No sir, not for this metrosexual dad.  If I'm going to be pushing this thing around for the next several years, I want something with real style and pizazz.  As soon as I saw the Buzz online I knew that this stroller was the real deal.

Unfortunately, I discovered that Quinny didn't have distribution in the US.  Rumors circulated on daddy blogs about Buzz availability in Canada.  With little chance of making it to Canada any time soon (sorry, GCCT) I resigned myself to a life with the Bugaboo.  I figured that I'd at least hold off until the new models, the Gecko and Cameleon, came out to replace the ubiquitous Frog.

Then, lady luck struck and I was off to London on business.  (Well, I actually don't consider it lucky to be away from M. for a week at a time but bear with me.)  As soon as I knew I was going I contacted a buddy with a large brood who lives in London and asked where I could find strollers.  After being corrected that they're called "pushchairs" (whatever) he sent me a few links to retail shops that I could check out.  Last Saturday I made my way to John Lewis and the rest is history.

I wonder if I should start a Quinny Buzz Club of San Francisco, sort of like the Ferrari Club of America.  Then again that might not work as I'm kind of hoping that I'll be the only member.