Introducing... (and "It's all your fault!")

...our new nephew, Ante James Starcevic!



He made his arrival on Friday morning, November 14, 2008 at 5:19 AM after putting his mom through 27 hours of labor and being delivered via C-section.




He was 22" long, 7 lbs 13 oz.


Heather is doing as well as expected but will remain in the Evanston Hospital through Tuesday. You can send her an e-mail by visiting this website www.northshore.org and clicking on the link on the left sidebar to send her a message.




When I spoke with her on Friday, she said "It's all your fault he came early!" We'd spoken with her on Wed evening, and gently suggested that, just because Ante's due-date was 11/20, that he could make his entrance at any time. She'd countered that she didn't think that wasn't likely, and we just smiled. So, she told us that it's all our fault he came early (and all my Dad's fault that he was so big).









...and now, Ante's astrology chart from HowStuffWorks.com - let's see how close it turns out to be!

November 14 Birthday Astrology

November 14 Scorpios are introspective and refuse to conform to the worldly standards of success. Of particular interest is the possibility they have healing powers or psychic talents. They have an affinity for nature. They regard themselves analytically and can make objective judgments regarding their motives and inner drives.

Ante should embrace: Insights, spiritual truth, modesty

Ante should avoid: Craftiness, immorality, unhappy heart

Friends and Lovers

November 14 people understand relationships at their most intimate level, yet it may be difficult for them to show their feelings. Because they are sensitive, they may appear aloof, even snobbish. Yet their friends know how kind and considerate they are. November 14 people have respect for commitment.

Children and Family

People born on this date have a close relationship with family, which influences their attitudes throughout life. They are liberal with their children, giving them a chance to make many decisions. Although quick to discipline, they can differentiate between innocent mistakes and disobedience.

Health

November 14 natives enjoy physical exercise because it counterbalances their exhausting mental activity. They are generally careful what they eat, though nervous energy could promote smoking or drinking caffeinated beverages -- which increases nervousness.

Career and Finances

November 14 men and women may not decide upon a career path until after they have grown into adulthood. Because they are intelligent, they often feel most comfortable in an academic setting. A casual attitude about money marks many people born on this date.

Dreams and Goals

People born on November 14 seek to find their separateness within personal relationships. If they feel that too much is being demanded of them, they are unlikely to be happy. They strive for a spiritual oneness with nature.

Auntie Katie & Uncle Yogesh

As I write this, my sister Heather is in labor in Chicago, delivering her first child. I'm so excited for her & Tommy! I'm excited for me - I get to be an Auntie! I mean, I was before to Yogesh's neices & nephews - but they're far away and it is different when I think that my neice or nephew could look (a lot) like me...or at least a lot like my 'baby' sister. I guess my baby sister isn't such a baby after all. :)

...but here's a photo from when she was. I wonder if her baby will have that same pout? Or those ears? ;-)









We spoke to her just last night, when she said she was feeling uncomfortable and waiting for the last week to be done with (a comment that Yogesh and I both smiled at - because we now know that babies come whenever they darned well please - early, late, or whatever!)

We still don't know what she's having. I just hope she's breathing and 'opening' well so the labor is as smooth and intervention-free as possible.

Will it be a boy and look like Tommy?

From Deven & Family - Professional Photos

Or a girl and look like Heather?

From Deven & Family - Professional Photos

Or a boy and look like Heather?

From Deven & Family - Professional Photos

Or a girl and look like Tommy?

From Deven & Family - Professional Photos

Waiting with bated breath here in San Francisco!

Office Shower

When I first joined my firm, I thought it was great that we have a shower in the office (oh, goodie...useful for private time and post-workout showers, not that I'll have time for the workout 1st, I thought).
Why we have one, no one's really sure - the previous tenant had it built - but it's been nice for folks who want to take a nice jog on the Embarcadero or just have a private space (I intend to use it 2x daily after returning to work next spring, for "personal time" - you get the idea).




Well, that's not the kind of shower Cupcake & I enjoyed today. My colleagues threw me a really nice party - complete with lunch (brought in b/c I still can't really walk), a gorgeous cake, a sweet card, a few gourmet chocolate candy bars, and even a gift from the office - a fab spa certificate & mattress/cover which we needed off our registry!

This cake is probably the best cake I've ever had - nicer than the Costco cupcakes we had last weekend, light, rich, and chocolate-covered-chocolate. Perfect.

I hear Helen, Bonnie, & Luke did the bulk of the work (thanks again!) - but everyone pitched in. I'm so touched, and again reminded that coming here was a great decision. :-)

...now I just have to produce some results here. Is it poor form to ask my clients for a "baby shower gift" of a contract? ;-)

History in the Making

We just learned that Deven and Cupcake will never know what it's like to grow up with people of only one narrow demographic ever having lead their country.

In ~ 10 years, when they start learning U.S. history, I hope that they also learn the lesson that "the youth vote" was part of why Barack Hussein Obama II will be the 44th President of the United States.



I hope that they also learn how this election's loser, John McCain, was gracious in defeat. In my opinion, McCain 'fought dirty' in the campaign (something I didn't agree with). However, the tone and language of his concession speech was honorable and a return to the respectable John McCain that I liked a few years back.

We still don't know whether some state / local initiatives passed - things that certainly could affect them:




- Prop 8, disallowing 2 people of the same sex the right to marry (I voted "NO" - that same-sex couples should be allowed to marry. My thought process was simple: What harm does a loving couple's marriage do to me? None? Then heck, fine w/me).

- Prop 4, limiting pro-choice rights for minors and requiring a 48-hour waiting period (I voted "NO" - and again my thought process was simple: Should I limit a woman's right to choose? No).

- Prop 1A, creating a high-speed train between northern and southern California (I voted "YES" because I think that's a great idea and much preferable over the current horrific wait-at-SFO-to-fly-to-overcrowded-LAX drag).

We had a great weekend with Naani and Auntie Sigi here in town - more photos coming, but enjoy Deven the Tiger and the other photos of Deven, Naani, and Aunti Sigi here!

Knocked up & Laid Up

...yep, that's how to describe me. Went to the doctor today, where I learned I likely broke my ankle - but he can't be 100% sure because I'm pregnant, and thus no x-rays. So, this is what my left leg now looks like:


I guess it could be worse - I could have had this injury AFTER Cupcake's arrival. As it is, the treatment is the same as for a bad sprain (wearing an ultra-sexy Bledsoe Boot, and doing "RICE" treatment - Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation).

I wasn't waddling in pregnancy before, but I sure am now! Sigh. At least everyone's being really nice. Including Deven, who already LOVES playing with the velcro on the boot...

Mom & Aunt Sigi arrived today, and Deven enjoyed the evening with his Naani and Auntie - including a bath where he got 'devil horns' - how appropo (photos coming). Looking forward to Halloween (Deven as Tiger) and a party with them this weekend!

New Cousin in the family

My cousin Melissa had her daughter, Harmony Rae Johnson, on Thursday, ~ 6:05 PM in Maryland. She (Harmony) was 8 lbs, 3 oz, 19 1/2" long.

Mama & baby:








Harmony:


Ain't she cute?

Klutzy Katie

It's a widely known fact that pregnancy makes women clumsy. Makes sense, as the average woman gains 25 - 35 lbs; and in my case I'm well beyond that (hoping to not double it, but on the way there).

...and as I was on the way to work this morning, I fell. Not your usual stumble, but a walking-fast, in-the-middle-of-the-intersection, really-bit-it and hurt myself kind of fall. Skinned the right knee, twisted the left ankle somethin' good - and almost got run over by the cars roaring by me as the light changed @ 24th & Guerrero.

I guess it wouldn't have been so bad, except that no one helped - and as I limped back up to the sidewalk, I missed the light anyway.

Here's the damage:




I can't even remember the last time I fell down; let alone just by walking. I recall falling on a lacrosse field (still inelegant as an umpire, but somewhat more understandable)

In other news, we've gotten a nice used play structure for the back yard (similar to this one), and the seller even brought it to us, for $65 (I love Craigslist!)
It's the blue-thing on the right side (view is looking down from our window...now you see the distance, and you know why we didn't used to go down to the garden very often).


Deven has used it a little bit so far; but I suspect it will be invaluable next year when #2 comes along and I want to get outside...but can't be bothered to go too far.

Toddler Terror

Deven - our firstborn, the apple of our eyes, the Muffin, the Marauder... is becoming a terror. Our nanny regaled me with stories about how he will now:

- Climb on furniture - not just the couch, but onto the table tops and other dangerous places; then smile charmingly so Daadi wants to let him stay there. Try to take him down? He screeches and throws a tantrum.

- Steal his buddy Noah's toys - in & of itself not a big deal, but roughing-up Noah in the process - while smiling sweetly. Try to stop him? You got it...screeching and tantrum-throwing ensue.

...and with a face like this, we know how he gets away with it. :-)

Hop on Pop

Deven has a new game, we call it 'Hop on Pop.'







I don't think we even have this book yet (Yogesh wasn't familiar yet anyway).







But, it's fair to say that the beloved Dr. Seuss classic will be a hit here as Deven starts to read more!





HOP POP
We like to hop.
We like to hop
on top of Pop.




STOP
You must not
hop on Pop.

This is what happens to little boys who Hop on Pop!

Business Trip with Cupcake

Taking business trips with #2 isn't very hard for me right now, but even in the course of 3 days it got harder. How? On the way out, I could still reach below my seat on the airline (Economy Plus) to get the laptop I'd left in the footwell... this was NOT the case upon the return flight! I had to get out of my seat, crouch down in the aisle, and kneel to get to the laptop. I have ~ 2+ more months of this - but luckily travel should end for me by 10/14 (my last trip).

Before I left, Deven Kissed The Baby - it's too cute to see him do this - Yogesh and I just melt - regardless of the Toddler Terror that he was beforehand.


Of course, he's also taken to tickling me - he thinks it's great fun to put his finger in my belly button and make me laugh, a la the Pillsbury Dough Boy (a character who I now bear a shocking resemblance to).

Cupcake hiccups now in utero. Deven did the same thing - and when he was out for a few weeks, too - it's quite cute. In general, I think I'm enjoying this pregnancy more. Though I'm much bigger (already look 8 mos pregnant instead of the 7 that I am) this pregnancy, I'm more relaxed - I often don't even quite recall what week I'm in (late 20's / early 30's).



All-in-all a good week; a good business trip (Philly, Atlanta, NJ/NY...I miss the east coast weather!)
I even got to see my old friend & classmate Junko - who's a hotshot M&A banker @ Morgan Stanley and looks fabulous - in NYC. Let's hope this goodness continues!