ok... so... yeah...
It's been quite a while. My newest goal (other than baking homemade biscuits) is to post updates/pictures at least once a week. I'm trying REALLY hard today. Every time I just about have the camera-phone pictures ready, Elizabeth needs something. She's not quite at a nap schedule (probably one of the things we need to work on) so I'm waiting for her to fall asleep to do the bulk of uploading/updating.

In short, Elizabeth is a dream come true! She is such an amazing blessing in our lives. At her 2-month visit, she was 12lbs, 6oz, and 23in. long. Her "chicken legs" have become "ham hocks" and I couldn't be more proud! :-) The rolls, the rolls, OH the rolls! Dr. Bowman says her legs are quite strong, and she could use much more upper-body work. Tummy time is NOT her favorite activity, but she's getting used to it. Elizabeth has found her hands. She loves to nom on her fists, and she hasn't quite grasped the idea of sucking her thumbs. She loves to sleep in her swing. In fact, Gerald and I call it "coma swing" just because her first LONG night of sleep -9 hours- was spent in that swing. Of course, that must have been a fluke because holycow she hasn't done it again since. Gerald has converted the 4 D-battery swing into an AC plug-in, just so we don't have to buy stock in Duracell. Necessity is the mother of invention!

In her short time here so far, Elizabeth has been to several restaurants, the church nursery, a middle school lock-in, a couple of malls, and to multiple friends' houses. She even helped some friends make soap this week! Elizabeth loves her big furbrother, Brindle, and he's doing a good job of looking after her. Elizabeth has watched Twilight THREE TIMES and has smiled and blushed at all the important parts. (She's loved Edward ever since I read to her in the bathtub, in utero. That's when I first felt her REALLY kicking in there!! My little nudger!)

So, let me go ahead and see about uploading these photos. Check our flickr page soon to see updates. http://pics.rcoon.com There's no need for the "www" at the beginning. We love you all, and I'd love to hear who is still lurking around here. Leave us a comment, and if you don't have a blogger/google account, leave one anyway! It'll post as "anonymous" and you can sign your name in the text of the comment.

Love to all!
The Three Coons
(and Brindle)

Photo update

Since it takes QUITE a while to upload pics onto the blog here, I'll just send you a link. I've mentioned that Gerald has added Elizabeth-pics to his flickr account. You could do a search for isptech151, and go that route, but it's not as accurate. Elizabeth's Papaw Coon put together a re-route that's much easier. Just type in (or click)http://pics.rcoon.com to go directly to the flickr page. Remember, when you visit, leave me a comment and let me know you were here. If you don't have a blogger account, don't worry - just sign your name so it doesn't list you as Anonymous. :-D I like to know who stops by.

Anyway, it's almost Elizabeth's lunch time. I totally brought this on myself, you know. I always said I wanted my baby girl to look like a Hobbit - the good parts, at least. Curly brown hair, big brown eyes. Not the big, furry feet, though.

Instead, God gives me Pippin in the video below:

Don't tell me God doesn't have a sense of humor.

Elizabeth Esper

Let me introduce you to the new love of my life.


Gerald has uploaded a few pictures to his flickr account - I'm not sure if there's an exact link yet. He had a bit of trouble with the website while we were still in the hospital, and I know he's planning on working with the pics some more today. As soon as we have a link, we'll share it with you. For now, though, his username is isptech151, and I think you can look him up that way.

We have our first pediatric visit today. I'm looking forward to seeing how she's developed since coming home. She's quite an eater, and we're both learning how best to feed her. I never realized how much something so natural would not come naturally to both parties. ;-) I'm in charge of baby-input, and Gerald's in charge of "output." He's great in the burping/changing department. He's actually great with everything. I'm quite the lucky girl!!

I'm sure you're wondering, "Esper?!? Huh?!" Well, we've loved the name Hope from the start - the French word "esperer" literally means "to hope." Gerald liked the idea of "Englishifying" it, and came up with Esper. I just love it! God truly gave us hope and our daughter is an answer to many prayers. Plus - it's unique!

Well, let me go rescue her from the comforts of her Boppy - she's sacked out on the couch, all swaddled and bundled and sweet. I could just eat her up. Oh, and if you stop by, please leave a comment and say hello. I'd love to know who's here.

Welcome to the World, Baby Girl

The post in which the title of this blog becomes relevant.

Greetings from the land of Parenthood. I've crossed the threshold, and I LOVE IT! I look to my right, and my sweet baby girl is resting in her bassinet, all swaddled and snug. Be still my heart. I could just post what I've typed and stare at her... forget you guys. I've got a distraction! :-)

So, just a short update. C-section was the best thing ever (other than my daughter) and I'd rather have a section than get a cavity filled at the dentist. I am totally not kidding! Elizabeth and I are recovering nicely. WakeMed Cary blocks flickr, so it's difficult to post pics directly from here, but we're posting things slowly in a roundabout way. Do a search for isptech151's photos... you'll see my beautiful girl. Our beautiful girl. She looks more like Gerald than me, I think.

Anyway, I'm on percoset, and the flurry of nurses, lactation folks, and food nazis (remind me to post about that...) will begin in just a few minutes, so I'll just sign off by saying we love you all and thank you for thinking of us. If you're reading this, be sure to leave a comment letting us know you were here.

Ginny & Elizabeth Esper

36 hours...

Hi all... We're doing well here, in Chez Coon. Gerald is off for the next couple of weeks as we adjust to life as new parents. I've come down with a wicked cold - possibly bronchitis. Yesterday, Gerald took me to the doctor and they say it could be bronchitis. Because I'm technically full-term, I'm able to take a broad spectrum antibiotic, in case it is bronchitis. If the antibiotic doesn't help, then we'll know it's just a cold virus, and we're both fighting the HELL out of our symptoms. Yes, we. Gerald's feeling a little puny, as well. We both want to be over the worst of this before our baby girl shows up. If today is any indication, I think we will be. We both slept well last night, and I feel a bit more human again after actually shaving my legs. :-) My appetite has come back with a vengeance. I've gotten plenty of rest and fluids. Just FYI - a 9-month pregnant woman should never cough unless she's on the potty. I'm just saying.

Our hospital bag is somewhat packed. (Gotta finish a bit of laundry and collect some hospital room entertainment.) Gerald's got the camera already in the laptop bag. I have to remember to bring my pillow and the Boppy. Within the next few days, we'll install the car seat base, ready for our baby girl's first car ride. My brain is in about five million places right now. I know that in 36 short hours, though, all this spinning will stop, and I'll be able to focus on such a bright spot that nothing else in the world will matter. It will be as if I'm tethered to one spot by my heartstrings for my daughter.

I know we're past Christmas. (Of course, tell that to the Nativity still on my mantle and the fully decked tree in the corner of my living room.) I know the story doesn't parallel my own, but this past holiday season has been split for me. While the whole world watched in wait for a *different* Baby to be born, my mind and heart kept getting drawn inward, to my own baby. I found myself many times focusing more on my own preparations than preparing for Jesus's birthday. Maybe it's because, as joyous as it is, I've celebrated 30 of those already. Maybe I'm celebrating God's Greatest Gift by celebrating the one He's giving to us - the one we've hoped for for so long. On Christmas Eve, our church celebrated with a live vocalist and a video much like the one you see here. I hadn't heard the song before, but the moment she opened her mouth, I began weeping tears of anticipation because I knew what she was singing about. On many levels.

I've heard it many times from many places. It can be implied in many ways, but this Christmas season I've truly learned - A Baby Changes Everything.

Baby Coon (to be) update

email or blog... email or blog...
BOTH!

I'm 37wks 3days today. Our kiddo is still frank breech. Yesterday my visit with Dr. Clayton was pretty informative. As in, she informed me, "Baby's still breech. Let's schedule the version to turn her, and see what happens."

I was admitted to Labor& Delivery @ 11am today (after fasting for over 12 hours!) to have the version done. To be verted. To turn the baby to the vertex position. Yes, we've all tried to conjugate the verb "to vert." It's been fun. Anyhoo, I was admitted into L&D room #5 - just like the one we saw on our hospital tour. Except I was handed a gown and told to go ahead and undress. It was a bit surreal. Even though there was a possibility I'd be holding my sweet daughter today, it just felt strange. (They do versions in the hospital in case the baby's heart rate drops and they have to do an emergency c-sectionj.) I was hooked up to the fetal monitor for a while, and they even set up the IV-spot, just in case. (Nurses can tell me what those thingamabobbers are called.) The drug they gave me made me quite jittery (without the wonderful coffee flavor, dangit) but relaxed my uterus enough to be able to turn the baby.

I wondered aloud to Gerald if Dr. Clayton had been on a Womens' Wrestling Team in college - I worried she'd be too strong and it would hurt. Going into this, most people gave me feedback that the experience ranged from "uncomfortable pressure" to "super-painful." I wasn't disappointed. I think, because I was mentally prepared, and motivated to do what I could to move this baby, I did well. Gerald says I've got a higher tolerance of pain than he thought I'd have. I love him! Dr. Clayton and Nurse Holly were really putting all their weight on me to turn this kid. It turns out Dr. Clayton was on the tennis team. Dang strong arms! She did pause occasionally (to catch her breath) to check the baby's heart rate, and our Tiny Dancer did just fine. Of course she did - someone was outside, playing with her. She turned for us about 45 degrees, then slipped back into her comfy-butt-first position. After about 30 minutes (I think? My eyes were clenched shut.) we called the score: Clayton 0, Baby 3.

Strapped to the baby monitor once more, we waited to make sure her heart rate/movements were stable. They were. I had a turkey sandwich, blueberry muffin, and some apple juice. Much better! Dr. Clayton checked the books and scheduled me for a c-section on 1/15 at 7:30 am. Yep. Read it again. C-section @ 7:30 am on the 15th. Granted, it could be the 14th or 16th, depending on the OR schedule. We'll keep you posted. I go back to the dr. on the 7th, and we'll see (via ultrasound) if she's turned once more, just in case. If not, we'll have a definite Birthday planned for our daughter.

I'm taking it easy today. The only "pain" to speak of is that my skin is pretty sensitive to the touch, as you'd expect. Dr. Clayton said my stomach is likely to be black and blue soon. So, if you see my belly in the next few weeks, IT'S NOT GERALD'S FAULT. :-) He's a kind and loving husband who does not punch his preggo wife in the belly. Thank you.

I know it's been a while since I posted last. We've been overrun with guests and holidays and baby stuff and a very sick dog and vet bills and holidays and now this version with a possibility of bringing a baby home today. EEK! I know you care about us and want to know what's going on. Thank you. We love you!

We can't wait for you to meet our sweet little girl. We're pretty excited, too.

Love,
Ginny, Gerald, and Tiny Dancer
(and a Brindle-boy who is feeling quite better, thankyouverymuch but that's another story)