Chandler John
April 27, 2007
8:34 pm
7 lb 13 oz
20 in
I finally forced myself to install the new software for the camera I got at Christmas and download and sort through all 700+ photos taken since that time. A lot of them were junk (Joe playing with the new camera on different settings) or duplicates (20 Laguna sunsets). I told myself I would pick just a couple of photos to post, so as not to overwhelm myself and end up throwing in the towel part-way through. I know you guys want photos of the new baby. I know... I know... And of the new dog. And of the quickly growing Sydney. So I narrowed it down to 27 must-see photos (so much for keeping it simple - ALTHOUGH 27 / 718 is only about 4 percent). Anyway, enough with the yakking. May I present to you the last six months of our lives...
John, Linda C and Linda L all made it down for Christmas. We also were lucky enough to get brief visits from Janet, Brianna, and John's new sweetheart Tess. In addition, Joe was surprised (okay, not surprised - he found out by accident months ahead of time but we'll pretend he didn't) with a new black lab puppy. Gunnar Dog didn't make it home until the last of our guests was leaving (mid-January) but that was probably for the best. I forgot how similar a new puppy is to a baby in its sleep habits. I was six months pregnant, up three times a night myself and still pretty sick, so most nights I just rolled over and poked Joe "your dog needs to pee" then tried to go back to sleep. Gunnar is a quick study however, so the sleepless nights only lasted until a month or so before Chandler arrived.
Syd checks out Uncle John.
Syd offers Gunnar a drink as Joe, John and Tess look on.
Group cuddles.
Linda C reads to Sydney. Note the new haircut?
Sydney from the long end of her new tunnel.
This was Syd's first funtional Easter. By functional I mean she could participate. She seemed puzzled as to why she had to search out eggs in the yard (and curious as to what eggs are and why they come in so many colors). She was game to play though and did a great job. She broke almost every egg as she slammed dunked each one into her new basket. She loved the jelly beans.
What do I do now Daddy?
Look! Its pink!
Ummmm... Licorice Jelly Beans!
Daddy teaches Syd about guitars.
A budding artist.
And the moment you've all been waiting for...
THE BIRTH STORY
I woke up three days before Chandler was due at around 7 am. I felt fine until I sat up at which point I felt yucky crampy. Joe was on his way to work. I didn't say anything. About twenty minutes later I called him and told him I wasn't feeling well and he should be prepared. Remember, Syd arrived after 24 hours of induction, so I've never gone into labor before. I wasn't sure what signs to be looking for. Joe had a dentist appointment about an hour later and we agreed he should go to it. Within an hour of his leaving the house my contractions were 3 to 4 minutes apart. By the time he returned from the dentist around 10 am I was freaking out and crying and yelling for him to throw the $#!+ in the car because the contractions NEVER GOT ANY FURTHER APART THEN 4 MINUTES. We live about 45 minutes from the hospital and everything was happening so fast I was terrified I'd have the baby on the side of the road.
When we got to the hospital I ducked into the bathroom while Joe went to the front desk to get a wheel-chair (I was in bad shape). Joe told the receptionist his wife was in labor, was in the bathroom and needed a transport upstairs. An attendant arrived with a wheel-chair and we were on our way. Upon arriving at the baby unit, we were greeted by the site of an emergency team rushing the elevator headed downstairs with an empty gurney. I sat in the baby-lobby for about 10 minutes while Joe checked me in. About five minutes after arriving the emergency team rushed back into the lobby with an empty gurney, exasperated, muttering "We can't find her" and "How does a patient just disappear". Then they all spun around to look at me. Turns out the lady in the lobby downstairs thought Joe said his wife was in labor and having the baby in the bathroom. SO EMBARASSING. But it made for a good laugh (for everyone in the baby-lobby except me, who was on the verge of tears again). To make a long story short (or is it too late?) after 10 more hours of contractions and a dorked up epidural, Chandler John arrived in the world at 8:34 pm. The epidural story I will not share (primarily because I don't want to think about it). Suffice it to say that when they make you sign that you understand the potential complications, its for times like these. And on top of it, I felt every damn contraction anyway. The best news though (aside from having a healthy baby boy that likes to sleep) is that the morning sickness is finally gone. One final Wrrrupppp after Chandler arrived, and I was cured. I walked out of the hospital ten pounds lighter than when I got pregnant.
PS. Chandler is Joe's family name, not the guy from Friends. And John is, of course, the guy in the photos at the beginning of this entry - my twin. Syd calls Chandler Chamma, or what sounds like ChanMan. We're toying with nick-naming him Chaz but the jury is still out. He may end up being The Chan Man.
Now arriving at Gate 2413.
Daddy is smitten.
Seven days after Chandler arrived, we left for Joe's annual family reunion in Laguna Beach. We said goodbye to Dad and Janice around 9 am, furiously finished packing, and drove the ten hours to the coast. We then spent the next nine days sleeping in, watching movies, and trying to adjust to life with two children. The way we figured it, we could spend our maternity leave in our home, or in a hotel room with maid service. It worked out well.
Laguna at sunset. I never tire of this view.
After sunset. Equally mesmerizing.
Linda C teaches Syd to stomp out other children's sandcastles.
Baby bonding.
Chandler at one month.
Mama's little beefcake.
Syd immitates Mama with the baby in the front
carrier.
Syd and Chandler hang out in the backyard.
Syd chats up the Chaz.
Syd gives the little man some love.
Syd with her flower towel from Aunt Jim (Janet - she can't pronounce it).
Linda L and Syd re-plant the flowers Gunnar digs up (again and again).
