Week Two Off to a Great Start

Monday Recap: A visit from Tucker and Meghan


Hey All,

The week got off to a great start, you've seen the bath time video and Graeme opt testing his lungs (they work just fine). That was followed up by our first visit from NALC staff, Tucker McDonald and his wife Meghan stopped by for a visit. Jenn's extedned family is the NALC, everyone has been great, but props to Tucker for making a visit. Meaghan and Steven are slated to have a fake date here later this week. Jim when are you going to make it over? Graeme wants to discuss Michigan football and the hypocrisy that is OSU sticking with Jim Tressell. Seriously, can anyone believe that OSU can say with a straight face they are committed to a clean program with him at the helm after this most recent debacle? Michigan fired Steve Fischer for not knowing the Chris Weber was getting money from a booster. That's integrity, OSU is a joke for not taking more action! Anyway, that's my rant, Jim I need you here for this one, Jenn has no interest! (I just read this to her and she interuptred me with a sarcastic, "Oh my God I love this posting!!!")

I am continuing my experimenting in Black and White photos in preparation for making our birth announcement. I am always open to suggestions, so let me know what you think.

Graeme dressed in his olive green top, with the right pair of cargo pants he'd look like a combat photographer or something. Reminded me of Heraldo Rivera or (insert your favorite 60 minutes reporter) on assignment in Colombia! Not the most colorful outfit for springtime, but Tucker and Meghan brought one of Jenn's favorites, a Rubber Ducky sleep sack. Here are Graeme's sentiments after last night in his now favorite sleep sack, "My Rubber Ducky sleep sack is the bomb!! Swaddling is for chumps and chimps, Thanks Uncle Tucker and Auntie Meghan!"

Other fun times were had Monday, Jenn, Graeme and I took a walk around the block, I cut the lawn and Kayla played fetch. Check out Lil Alex with a fresh cut and our Azalea in full bloom!

Is that a little piece of Americana or what!!! We love our Lil Alex, especially in spring when Northern Virgina is in bloom.

One last note, Janice delivered a gift from a staffer in Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's (D - NY) office, House Mouse, Senate Mouse, is Graeme's first political science book! Thanks!!

More updates to come.

Peace

Back in the Saddle

Hey All,

Jenn and I were back in the saddle yesterday as I relieved Janice so she could do her own thing while Jenn and I took Graeme to his second Dr. appointment. Continuing the trend form yesterday, yes Graeme is already trending, we had no major poop issues at the Dr. office and Graeme turned a corner and weighed in at 7 lbs 4 oz! He was up for the first time since his birth. He is still below his birth weight, but with a couple more good days of feeding he should be back at his birth weight on his way to packing on the lbs as he grows. After our trip to the Dr. I dropped Jenn and Graeme at home and headed to Safeway to pick up a few things; deli meat, cottage cheese, Metamucil, chips and dips. Yep we needed fiber, as the new Warburton has no trouble pooping the same cannot be said for the one from which he came. So we'll see how this helps. While I was at Safeway I bumped into our friend Liz, we had a little pow-wow in front of the busiest freezer section in the lower 48!! There was a run on Eggos, must be snow in the forecast. We also had the pleasure of having Liz, her mother and her sister, Cathy, over later in the afternoon. Having the Evans' clan in town is always fun, even if they are of the Ohio State persuasion. Graeme must not have have minded, he seemed to love the attention even as the discussion somehow turned to talk of a nurse at our hospital who was famous, or infamous I'm not sure, for writing, "Small Penis" on all newborn baby boys first health assessment! Clearly not the case with Graeme, but the damage may be done only time will tell.

After our visit with the Evans ladies the rest of Graeme's days was filled with a few gifts and his first lesson on Easter! Carl and Ariana Curcio sent a stuffed animal (an elephant, the mascot of the republican party delighted Graeme, Jenn would have preferred a donkey but hey we're all for an open debate), some very cool Trumpette Johnny's (we love these) and a great card which will go into Graeme's baby book. Thanks Ariana and Carl, Graeme is looking forward to meeting the Strong Island Crew.

We had a few other gifts dropped by from our neighbors. Chris and Ursala, from across the street, already had given Jenn a great pillow to help with recovery and last night they dropped by with some very nice gourmet coffee to help us during some of our late nights. From right next door, Andre, Stephanie, Little Andre (7) and Katya (5) sent over a few drawings from the kids, a nice onesie from Stephanie's trip to South Africa and a decadent Chocolate Ganache Cake. Very Yummy.

Last of the day's gifts was a book on Easter from my Grandpa Bill and Grandma Kath. Since we knew we wouldn't be able to make the Easter Service at church (We are now members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Old Town) Jenn decided to read to Graeme. I think he snoozed through it a bit, but he seemed pretty happy. Thanks Grandpa Bill and Grandma Kath!

The last stimulation for the day was a visit from Janice's partner at The Ickes Enright Group, Harold Ickes. Harold brought Fannie, his 5 yr old Golden Retriever for a little playtime with Kayla and Rugby before coming in to meet Graeme. Always good to see Harold, he is a good friend to Janice and Gary and a mentor to Jenn.

After everyone had left, I somehow ended up watching March of the Penguins, Jenn dozed and Graeme was in and out of sleep, ate a couple times and tried to escape his Miracle Blanket. We had our moments, but nothing like night one. Graeme is the coolest.

Jenn and I can't thank everyone enough for their support and gifts. Now off to Easter with the Picks

Peace

Broadway Joe Visits

Hey folks,

Well we made it out of the hospital alive! Ask Gary, they'll try to kill you in those places. I'll post about our leaving the Hospital and our first day at home in a bit. First, however, I have to back up and cover some ground from yesterday. The day got off to a great start, in large part because Jenn let me sleep at home, while Janice covered the over night shift I got too spread out with Kayla at home. Yesterday's highlight, however wasn't not having to sleep on the pull out chair, it was a visit from Joe Namath!! (just kidding). Although that would have been cool the truth is even better, Bruce and Lynn (the other half of my in-laws) made the trip from NYC, complete with a dozen or so AWESOME bagels! Thanks Bruce and Lynn. They had a great visit with Graeme, getting up close and personal, spending about 4 hours with Jenn, Graeme and I. It was great to see Graeme with his other set of Grandparents and really great see Bruce and Lynn loving on him so much. On the plus side for Jenn, Lynn brought gifts for both her and Jacqueline (Jenn's Step sister), we love getting clothes for the little guy, he is already a snappy dresser, well as snappy as you can be in a sleep sack! Bruce also brought a gift bag form his "crew" at the gym. We've never met the guys from the gym and they must have big hearts to send a gift nearly 400 miles to two people and a kid they've never met, just because they throw around the weights with Bruce. The sentiment was right on even if the gift was, well, just a bit on the dated side, we'll leave it there. Bruce, tell the guys at the gym we said thanks!, it was a very nice gesture. Like all good things, this visit had to come to an end.

We had a great visit and when it was time Bruce, Lynn and I headed back to Lil Alex for an adult beverage and then off to dinner at Columbia Firehouse. Lynn had their famous Bison Short Rib Stroganoff, Bruce the Hangar Streak and I the Pork Chop. Next time you're in old town, I suggest you check it out it's a great place, try the Onion Rings some of the best you'll ever have. I enjoyed mine with a Port City Monumental IPA and followed that with their Essential Pale Ale. About mid way through that second beer Bruce mentioned that the Rangers we up 3-0 on my Washing Capitols. It was entering hte thrid period and I figured I'd have to endure some good hearted ribbing when the Caps lost the game. However, we kept hearing this guy inthe bar belting out these, "Whoo Hoo"s and "Yes"s and wouldn't you know it, we were back in it tired at 3 at the end of regulation. We got home, watched the first overtime and then I had to give in, with the plan to com home today I knew I needed to get my rest, Graeme didn't know it but today was going to be a big day for him! If you didn't catch the final score, the Caps pulled it out with a goal 12 minutes into the second overtime period. GO CAPS!!!

Hey and how about the Tribe!

Peace