Something's Coming

Growing up, one of my favorite LPs that my parents had was the West Side Story musical. I've actually never seen it in person, but I've been reminded of the lyrics to one of the songs over the past few days. Look at the photos here and see if you can tell why. Notice that Deven is literally sitting on his baby brother - and no, I don't want to hear any snotty comments about my double-chin, please...I lost the weight last time, I'll do it again!:

...
Could it be? Yes, it could.
Something's coming, something good,
If I can wait!
Something's coming, I don't know what it is,
But it is
Gonna be great!
...


Yep, on Wed evening, I even thought that Cupcake would make his entrance because of all the funny feelings I was having. As it turned out, I was just tired & slightly dehydrated; meaning I get to sit on my butt and look out the window a lot now; rather than actually helping with laundry/dishes/general housework. Last night I also had lots of 'feelings' - which my Midwife said was likely a natural effacing (this is good/normal, and yet something I don't recall feeling with Deven).


RE: housework, luckily Yogesh and Daadi are shouldering most of it so gives me time to just sit ...so life is good.
At the toddler-end of the house, Deven has recently started saying a whole bunch more words: Water, Orange (ok, just "Onnng"), "Bee" (that's "Blueberry" to those of you not versed in Deven-speak), On and Off, Cheep (that's what birds say!), Boall (that's "Ball" with a New York/Long Island-inspired toddler accent), Boo!, More, POOP (a precursor of things to come...it will be nice to have him out of diapers though I'm not expecting that soon!), and a whole host of other cute words that I've forgotten inside my very-pregnant brain.

Deven has also moved on from "Peekaboo" to just "Boo" - as he's showing here in these photos from Thanksgiving. (Thanksgiving, btw, was fabulous - Aunt Danielle made an amazing Pumpkin Curry Soup, Mushroom Gravy, and Pumpkin Pie, and the turkey & stuffing I made wasn't 1/2 bad either!)


Notice in the photo, that Deven's not sitting in his high chair any more - he's recently decided that the high chair is NOT the best seat in the house, and has insisted on climbing up into big-people chairs himself. Oh well, he stays reasonably stationary while there and hasn't yet caused a ruckus.


We're almost ready for the home birth - I don't think you ever are really prepared, but we've got all the supplies in 1 place as my Midwives insisted (yes, the list of items really DOES include a bendy-straw, a newborn cap, 2 flashlights, a low/wide bowl, a plastic bedsheet, and lots and lots of towels and tossable hospital bedpads)...if you're wondering what each piece is for, just ask).

I have absolutely NO control over when Cupcake will make his appearance, but Daadi's already called it that he's going to arrive within the week; and I've already put in a request to him to wait for @ least 7 more days. Why?
- I've got a new employee starting @ work on Tuesday
- We've got a new Nanny starting @ home on Monday (see below)
- My ankle still hurts, and 1 more week will give it time to heal before I need to NOT be worrying about that pain in labor
- I just want a December baby. Yes, I know Cupcake could wait until tomorrow for that, but I keep trying to remind him that the longer he waits inside, the more fun his birthday parties will be, because his little friends won't all be off visiting their Grandmas when we want to have a party. :-)
Longer-term question: I wonder how well I'll be able to bribe him with things like birthday parties and fun?


Finally, in Nanny news - I won't go into the drama around the old one (needless to say, she's no longer in our employ), but after looking in October for a replacement and even signing a contract with a nice, well-recommended gal from San Rafael (who subsequently bailed on us last Wednesday), we seem to have found and tentatively hired another nice gal from El Cerrito.
The new gal is also well-recommended, very calm and gentle (an influence we could use more of around this house), speaks good English and passable Hindi (perfect!) and and frankly, because she lives along the BART line, I'm more comfortable that *our* home will be a sustainable position for *her*. San Rafael is at least 60 - 75 minutes by bus & train, whereas El Cerrito is an easy 35 minute, no-transfer BART ride away.
The new gal starts on a test-run next week - Daadi and Deven both like her a lot already, so things are feeling a lot more calm than as of Wednesday. But, given our recent Nanny drama, I know to not put all our eggs in one basket...so wish us luck!

Daddy's little Sancho Panza...and happy trails, Aunt Karen

Deven has become more of a sidekick to Daddy lately - if Daddy goes to one room, Deven must follow...and when he goes to another, Deven must follow there, too. Woe be to us who try to keep Deven from following Daddy - toddler tantrum is 99% likely to ensue!

...given this, and Daddy's occasional tilting at windmills, he's taken to calling Deven Sancho Panza. It really is too cute to see them together. First photo is from Daddy's birthday 11/19, when Deven (Sancho) showed up at his characteristic 6:30am time, and grabbed Mommy's phone (or, as he calls it, Daada) and began pressing buttons.



Daadi has been feeling better lately - not only because the weather has been characteristically (sp?) San Francisco fall - all warm and sunny and mid-70's - but because we've started taking her to a chiropracter. This woman is not only helping with her posture, but also convincing Daadi to do some exercises - badly needed for a woman who leaves the house only after hours of prodding and insisting and begging and pleading. But here's a photo of Daadi having fun at Dr. Darci Kendrick's practice, exercising and feeling 'warm.'

At the park recently, Deven showed a new level of sophistication on the jungle gym - getting up one level all by himself (then screaming for help when he couldn't figure out how to get either higher...or down). So, we took a photo:


Deven has taking a liking to bags - backpacks, rollaboard suitcases, and of course, my purse. He delights in dumping it - piece-by-piece or by turning the whole thing upside down...a trick that is guaranteed to ensure I leave something of importance @ home. I'd be upset, but he giggles and laughs as he's doing it so much, that I just grin at Daddy's little Sancho.


In other news, my sis and little nephew Ante are still doing well in Chicago - my dad will join them on Tuesday for a nice Thanksgiving.

And finally...my dear friend Karen is moving to Charleston, SC. I'm thrilled for her (she wisely sold her home here for about 7-10x what she can get the same home for there), but we're sad for us! Since we've never been to Charleston, I just hope her home will be messy enough that when we go visit, our mess doesn't show up too much. :-)

"The best-laid plans of mice and men...

...often go awry." Though Steinbeck wrote that line in a decidedly no-child context (in Of Mice and Men if you were wondering) - I think the quote is supremely applicable to the birth and child rearing process.

I was most recently reminded of this today, when I learned that I tested positive for Group B Strep. This is a normally-occurring bug that lives in most people; it's not even an issue...unless you're about to have a baby.

Then, it can be very serious for the newborn (meningitis, sepsis, death - no kidding) - IF the newborn gets it - which, in my case, I am of course determined to avoid. Problem is, avoidance isn't very easy - and there are no guarantees.

I'll start on a 'probiotic cocktail' ASAP - which I'll have to keep up until birth. Then, sometime in the next coupla weeks, I'll get re-tested, and if the test is negative - great, I still get to keep up the probiotics. If I test positive...I wouldn't necessarily have to do anything in the birth; but I will likely ask for intravenous antibiotics - Penicillin, most likely.

I'm glad I'm planning a home birth. Why? Because they'd give me the same antibiotics in the hospital...but without the prior probiotics. Add to that, the unpleasant thought that bugs lurking 'round the hospital are known to be Penicillin-resistant, and the stuff in my home is most likely decidedly low-tech - e.g. Penicillin can still kill it.

Now I just have to hope/plan/assume that this baby doesn't come too early - need to give the probiotics some time to do their magic.

More nice photos of little Ante James:



In other news, my sister goes home from the hospital on Tuesday in Chicago; my mom should be there already to help her out. Looking forward to lots more photos of little "AJ" from their time together!

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!