Gift box from Auntie Karen

We're all set for the Brolin reunion in Newport, OR this year...we are ready for all things crab! I'd like to highlight the onesie embroidered with "Captain Adorable." Check out Curious George in the back, what a great surprise!!

Loosing my line of sight

[caption id="attachment_1987" align="alignnone" width="300"] The belly is starting to be in the way, keeping me at an awkward distance from my work when seated, an awkward position when I tuck it under my work bench, and knocking things off my table when I'm above .[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2000" align="alignnone" width="300"] Now you see it..[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2003" align="alignnone" width="300"] Now you don't, try not to trip on the trombone![/caption]

video of bouncy baby bjorn-our new Ebay find

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUWrsW_eqeM

We just got one of these on Ebay.  I love this thing, it has super reviews and the babies seem to love it....and it's so simple. The previous owner sent in it's original box which has a Swedish flag on it and pictures of really cool looking parents: Dad wearing linen pants rolled up and  a super model chest. Mom is in the kitchen background with a bouquet of roses, it's a lot of pressure to live up to with our new gear.

Partially packed

These pink Craftsman tool boxes are on Clearance at Sears (half the price of red or black). I got it 2 weeks ago to start separating my personal tools and gear from the store-owned tools so my precious tools don't get taken or misplaced by anyone while I'm gone. I pack it up every evening....just in case. I could throw together a bag of stuff for the hospital in about 10 minutes, but my tools, no one's touching!

P.S. We got a new camera at Costco last week, time to retire our 10 yr old one to make way for some nicer baby pictures..here's just a fun effect it has.

Call me Crazy

[caption id="attachment_1877" align="alignnone" width="309"] Pre-fold diapers and covers[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1882" align="alignnone" width="300"] G Brand diaper, with reusable insert and velcro..very Daddy friendly[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1887" align="alignnone" width="225"] Wells Fargo horse modeling cloth diaper with "Snappy" fastener.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1897" align="alignnone" width="225"] Potty Pail and diaper sprayer[/caption]

We're dong mostly cloth diapering we've decided, not at the very start- we have disposables for the first couple weeks. It is a bit more work, but the new cloth diapers are easier than the safety pins of 30 years ago and the waterproof covers are less leaky...and really cute. Blah blah eco-friendly, less expensive in the long run blah blah. We watched the DVD that came with one type of diaper system (DVDs with everything now, it's silly) it was totally worth it to watch Doug's face when they demonstrated the "liquid poo fold".

Jenny at Seven Months!

Here is a new photo of Jenny. We are trying to get a decent picture at least every month, so here is month seven! Yesterday morning we had an epic string of doctor's appointments. We left the house at 6:45 am to go to Stamford Hospital for them to do a blood draw and then to inject her with a shot of Rhogam. This is the drug that will keep her body from producing antibodies to positive type blood. If the baby has positive blood, like mine, then there could be problems if we were to have another baby. I don't really understand all the details... Anyway, we had to wait for an hour for some reason between those two things, and then we had an hour to kill before we saw the ObGyn, so we went to Starbucks, then had our second appointment with Dr. Zino. According to her, everything about the pregnancy is going "perfectly" except for that Jenny is gaining weight too fast and will go over our target of 35 lbs. by the time the baby is delivered. We're both a bit amazed that the doctor told Jenny to "back off on the carbs" because we don't feel she's overeating at all. We've been eating pretty healthy, so I guess we'll just keep doing that and hope for the best.

I think that's all for now, but keep checking back! - Doug

It's all the same right?

So, after consultation with my cousin, Sarah, I decided to risk buying a breast pump second hand. I've read up on the types and brands and how long they last, etc...also absorbed the shock of how much they can cost! Anyhow, they are all over Ebay, many only slightly used or still in packaging. I heard one warning about them being only durable enough to be intended to make it through 1 baby, but Sarah used her sister's, spanning about 11 yrs between 4 cousins and this one pump...the brand I got. Tonight was my first testing and sterilizing session of all things bottle/ nursing related. The good news is, it was a good buy. It's in fine shape and I saved a bunch of money. The pamphlet doesn't have assembly/ cleaning instructions, just product accessories and pats on the back for breast-feeding. I eventually found a handy youtube video showing me exactly what I needed to know, but really when it comes down to it, the foreign-looking assembly is just like cleaning and assembling the old Surge brand Milkers. In fact the pamphlet from Surge was much more informative:)

[caption id="attachment_1717" align="aligncenter" width="300"] It comes self-contained in this sleek tote bag..tremendously quieter than the old parlor milking system[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1724" align="alignnone" width="300"] Very informative[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_1727" align="alignright" width="300"] Brewing bottles and things[/caption]