Kelly's Weblog

I spent a bunch of time updating the photo galleries on our website today. Follow www.baxtergolding.com and click on the Pictures link at the left to visit Adrian's first photo gallery. A couple of videos of AJ are also found on the Videos page. I've also put up a bunch of photos and videos of Jamie from the past few months...finally.

AJ eats well, sleeps like a dream, and hardly ever cries. I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop, but so far, we couldn't be happier. And Jamie is doing very well with the whole brand new situation.

Here's a photo of AJ taken today as he basked in the sun - we're chasing a bit of jaundice with phototherapy while waiting for his liver to kick in.

Adrian John Emory Golding and I came home from the hospital earlier today. He' arrived yesterday afternoon, and is an angel...and I'm exhausted. All is well with us. Jamie shows signs of adjusting well to being a big brother; the only problem is that he's a little too exuberantly enthusiastic about the baby.

I burst about a zillion blood vessels in my face and neck, and I look as if I have incredible freckles! Very weird. And they had to stitch me up in the nether regions somewhat. Nonetheless, it's really nice not to be (a) pregnant, or (b) recovering from major surgery!

My mother has decided to come up a day ahead of schedule, and will be arriving tomorrow afternoon. Her intuition tells her it's wisest. I feel as if it really won't be long until the fish emerges from the water, so I'll be glad of her arrival. I'll also be glad to put this watermelon down! I just had a pathetic little bath; there's no physical way I can submerge more than 2/3 of myself at any single time in a standard tub any more. I tried, somewhat half-heartedly, to find a spa of some sort that would allow soaking in big deep tubs, but it appears that that's part of Toronto's spa style, not New York's. Ah, for the Elmwood!

Cousin Ian's first birthday party was a lovely mix of adorable moments and overexcitement meltdowns, as is pretty usual for small kids' parties. Jamie had fun; he loved tearing through the house discovering Ian's toys. Colin and Jessica gave us an extremely smart little outfit for Jamie as a baby gift (she had asked me what I needed, and I answered honestly that I'm oversupplied for the new baby, but Jamie will have no fall clothes that fit him!). He hasn't written a thank-you note yet, but I'm sure he'll get to it soon. Their new place in Port Washington is great! They're barely settled in yet, but it's a house with a good feel to it, and the rooms are generous.

Paul persuaded an unhappy little boy to go to sleep tonight by crawling into bed with him - in Jamie's bed - and sleeping there for almost 45 minutes himself. Effective...but dangerous! I was afraid I'd lost him for the night! Jamie's toddler bed accommodates adult height easily, and we got him a decent mattress.

Today when Jamie and I were heading out to the park, he wanted to take the baby doll along with him, so I lugged out the new/used double stroller and we practised with it. Jamie found it amusing at first and then unworthy of further notice. I think it will work out very well; the only drawback is that it won't fit through the narrow front door of our building unless folded. Still, we'll manage, and now we're well prepared for the arrival.

I was disturbed to see that Baby Bjorn has a pending recall out on its new "Active" front carrier with lumbar support. This, as of August 23:

"Thank you for your inquiry into the pending recall to repair of the BABYBJÖRN® Baby Carrier Active. We have received a limited number of complaints that the buckle on the lumbar support may detach from the webbing on the shoulder straps."

"There have been no reported injuries. "

"BABYBJÖRN® has responded to these complaints and developed a solution; a new improved buckle and safety strap. We are currently awaiting the arrival of parts from Sweden to repair all the carriers. As a precautionary measure, we have requested all our retailers to immediately stop selling the product and return everything in stock for repair. We are also in discussions with the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC), and will work with them to inform all current consumers."

I still want one for the new baby, but I guess I'll wait until this recall has gone through; I still have Robyn and David's classic Baby Bjorn, which I'll use until the baby's too heavy for it. He's not likely to be a huge newborn, so I should have a good couple of months before my lower back starts to suffer without the lumbar strap.

It's September 7th. In theory, I only have three weeks to go...in practice, I'm hoping it's somewhat less than that. September 27-29 is my due "window" - the ultrasound folks have it as the 27th and the midwives as the 29th - but September 16 would suit me just fine. My muscles hurt! Even just walking for a couple of hours, as I did today getting some errands taken care of, wipes me out. In fact, I could use a nap right now!

I don't have much in the way of news to report at this point. We're all fine. Most things are in readiness for the new baby's arrival. Jacqueline called over the weekend to say she was packing me up a box of baby things, including some clothes I'd lent her and some stuff of hers that was suitable for little boys. Jessica has a box of Ian's baby stuff and the little things I'd lent her set aside for pickup this Sunday, when we're at Ian's first birthday party. And I must remember to take along the box of Jamie's outgrown clothing for Ian to that party...he's out of all his 1-year clothes, of course, and Ian will be about ready to start wearing them this fall.

Next week Jamie starts his new daycare program. It's at the same place, but instead of going Tuesday and Friday, he'll be going Tuesday through Thursday, 9am to 3pm. We think the continuity will be good for him. He seems to be settling in well just now; no tears when I left this morning, and when it was time to leave, he gave Lyloon a big hug! I was pleased.

Paul's just home; got to go!