Baby Cantaloupe Sunset

Sorry for not getting this out until today instead of Thursday, but today was the first time I've had any sunset at all. Tis been a grey week with a blanket of clouds hiding the skies and although the daffodils are blooming, the air still has a bite to it. The sunsets have moved north again, to behind the trees -- a sure sign that spring is on its way.

From Jen's email with Baby Julianna's size descriptor for week 34:

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers – which she'll need to regulate her body temperature once she's born – are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

Jen and Mike had a photo shoot today of maternity pictures. Can't wait to see them!

Steamroller Blues

Steamroller Blues -- James Taylor -- from 1979. This is one of my favorite versions of this song -- from the Utube page:

James Taylor - Vocals, Guitar
Waddy Wachtel - Guitar
Don Grolnick - Keyboards
Danny Kortchmar - Guitar
Russ Kunkel - Drums
David Lasley - Background Vocals
Arnold McCuller - Background Vocals
David Sanborn - Saxophone
Lee Sklar - Bass

Tis some prime ear candy.

Baby Pineapple Snow

Snow falling Wednesday night on the back deck. When I woke up Thursday, a lot of it had melted off but there was still plenty of snow to look at.



The studio roof and garden still had snow along with the cape and alongside the road. Weather dood said we got around 2 inches of snow during the night.

From Jen's email with Baby Julianna's size descriptor for week 33:

This week your baby weighs a little over 4 pounds (heft a pineapple) and has passed the 17-inch mark. He's rapidly losing that wrinkled, alien look and his skeleton is hardening. The bones in his skull aren't fused together, which allows them to move and slightly overlap, thus making it easier for him to fit through the birth canal. These bones don't entirely fuse until early adulthood, so they can grow as his brain and other tissue expands during infancy and childhood.

I am so looking forward to spring -- not only will it be warmer (was 27 last night) but I get to finally meet my granddaughter. Jen had a 3D/4D ultrasound Thursday -- say howdy to Julianna Renee:

Jicama Sunset

Had sunshine today but these clouds to the west are reminding me the weather dood is forecasting snow on the coast tonight and tomorrow morning. We've had snow for the last two mornings but it has pretty much melted away by the time I get up. Sounds like we may get more than the dusting we've had the past two days.

From Jen's email with Julianna's size descriptor for week 32:

By now, your baby weighs 3.75 pounds (pick up a large jicama) and is about 16.7 inches long, taking up a lot of space in your uterus. You're gaining about a pound a week and roughly half of that goes right to your baby. In fact, she'll gain a third to half of her birth weight during the next 7 weeks as she fattens up for survival outside the womb.

Time sure seems to be speeding by -- 8 weeks (52 days) left until Jen's due date. Jen's having an ultrasound tomorrow and I am looking forward to getting another glimpse of my granddaughter before she arrives in mid-April.

The Rocky Racoon

The Beatles -- Rocky Raccoon. From the YouTube description:

If you love the Beatles, and Rocky Raccoon. You'll love this video. If you like Westerns, and Rocky Raccoon. You'll love this video. This video took about 5 days to make. 2 days to make sets and costumes, 2 days to shoot it, and 1 day to edit it. It turned out great, check it out.

Let me add if ya love little kids play-acting... I forking love this video.

Four Navel Oranges Sunset

Thursday's sunset -- before and after.

From Jen's email with this week's size descriptor for week 31:

This week, your baby measures over 16 inches long. He weighs about 3.3 pounds (try carrying four navel oranges) and is heading into a growth spurt. He can turn his head from side to side, and his arms, legs, and body are beginning to plump out as needed fat accumulates underneath his skin. He's probably moving a lot, too, so you may have trouble sleeping because your baby's kicks and somersaults keep you up. Take comfort: All this moving is a sign that your baby is active and healthy.

When we were driving back to Oregon from Jen's shower, we passed by Mt. Shasta which had a great lenticular cloud capping its peak. I snapped these two photos from the passenger seat of the truck. The first one was taken through the windshield shortly after we had passed by Lake Shasta and were approaching the town of Dunsmuir:


I took this out the passenger side window when we were about even with Shasta near the town of Weed:

As always, you can click on the pictures to enbiggen them.

Las Trampas Cabbage

While I was down in CA for Jen's baby shower, I picked up this 30 x 40 painting from my former co-worker, Sheila. Sheila and I were hired at the PD on the same day -- in addition to her other duties, she was also the forensic artist at the pd, creating sketches of bad guys from victims or witnesses. The colors are even more magnificent than this photo shows and I love, love, love that swirling sky.

Now that she is also retired, she's moved From Forensic to Fine Art. That's a link to her blog and where I first saw the painting pictured above. Sheila is a fine artist and regularly posts her work at her blog, which is on my daily must reads.

She told me when I picked up the painting of Las Trampas (a regional park) that if anyone mentioned my name, they would get a discount on any of her work. Go check out her stuff -- tis mighty fine eye candy. I'm thrilled to have this piece by her hanging on my wall.

From Jen's email with Baby Julianna's size descriptor for week 30:

Your baby's about 15.7 inches long now, and she weighs almost 3 pounds (like a head of cabbage). A pint and a half of amniotic fluid surrounds her, but that volume will decrease as she gets bigger and takes up more room in your uterus. Her eyesight continues to develop, though it's not very keen; even after she's born, she'll keep her eyes closed for a good part of the day. When she does open them, she'll respond to changes in light but will have 20/400 vision – which means she can only make out objects a few inches from her face. (Normal adult vision is 20/20.)

Jen closed her email with 10 weeks to go, on the home stretch!

More Baby Shower

I totally blew it with my last post -- I neglected to include Jessica as a co-host. Jessica is also pregnant (she's 10 weeks behind Jen) and found out the weekend of the shower that she is also having a baby girl.


Lining up for the great food. Was quite a spread of goodies to choose from and it was all delicious.


Raspberry Pink lemonade with frozen raspberries and lemon slices. Was as good as it looked and I had several refills.

Tis a better shot of the diaper cake than the close up of the flower topping I posted yesterday.

Me, Jen, and Stephanie. Sure was good to be with both my girls again. And it feels great knowing that things are ok between us.

Tomorrow, Jen will have a new size descriptor for Baby Julianna. Last week she was a butternut squash... wonder what she will be this week?

The Baby Shower

Jen had a wonderful baby shower Saturday. Her friend Meghan and her step-sister Alicia hosted the party at Meghan's house and a good time was had by all. The games were imaginative and so much fun and the food was fantastic! It was so good to see Jen with her friends -- her smile says it all. This is Jen with Meghan:


and this is Jen with Alicia:


There was a 3 tier diaper 'cake' made of newborn diapers and fresh flowers, with baby bottles inside acting as support for the tiers.


The real cake was made of cupcakes:


One of the games was to guess the song title and artist of songs with the word 'baby' in the title. There were 15 songs and we all received a cd of Julianna's Jams as a party favor. Megan had taken a copy of Julianna's ultrasound pictures and photo-shopped earphones on it for the album art. It is soooo cute:


Jen received so many cute gifts for Julianna. The bed of the pickup truck was filled with bags and bags of outfits, a stroller, car seat, etc, that I doubt we could have gotten one more little outfit inside. Stephanie got Julianna a onesie that said "This is my little black dress" and another that was a Sublime (rock band), both were black and cute as a bug. Stephanie had been shopping for months for things to give Jen at the shower and everything she got her was perfect. Jen was glowing as she was surrounded by her best friends and I could see how important those friendships are to her.

Now for my mea maxima culpa ...

I had quit smoking on Wednesday. By Friday, I was a total flaming bitch, lashing out at everyone and everything. I made Stephanie (who had flown in for the shower) cry and I'm pretty sure I totally ruined Jen's weekend. I said things I should not have said and was quick to harp on perceived insults when there were none. I lashed out at Jen for not saying anything supportive about my not smoking -- I accused her of not being supportive when I was the one who should have been being supportive of her.

There is no excuse for my behavior. I was rude, surly, and so pissed off at anything and everything that I was ready to find a flight home. Stephanie told me I was acting like a child.... and she was right. I am embarrassed to say that I was acting like a spoiled little kid who was not getting her way. I was craving cigarettes and realized that this was not the weekend to quit smoking. I was adding to everyone's stress and was not a good house guest. We were staying at Jen's dad's house and I'm sure that Bob was doubly glad that he was no longer married to me after my atrocious behavior.

I had thought initially that being in an environment where it would be difficult to smoke was the way to kick the habit. I learned that this was not the weekend to do so... that I was such a downer and my behavior was embarrassing to my girls and everyone else. I squandered my time with my girls harping and bitching and lashing out instead of the pleasant weekend they had looked forward to and deserved.

I am so sorry that I put them through that. I have so many regrets about what I said and did and how I acted -- I ruined what should have been a joyful trip with my crass behavior.

I started smoking again Friday afternoon but my behavior didn't improve until later that night. Guess it took some time for the nicotine to rise to the level my body and mind craved. Saturday, the day of the shower, was a much better day and I tried to be a kinder, gentler, and thankful person for the rest of the weekend.

I fear I have permanently damaged my relationship with both my girls. I understand why they don't want me around -- I was way out of line and there is no excuse for how I had acted. I am unable to find the words to say to them about how sorry I am.

I hope they can find it in their hearts to eventually forgive me. I know I will not be able to forgive myself and will regret my actions on this trip for the rest of my life.

Going To California

Led Zeppelin -- Going to California, from the Earls Court concert.

Am headed over the hill to Jen's and tomorrow we are going to California for her baby shower. Should be back early next week. Don't trash the place while I'm gone...

Gold To Pink Chinese Cabbage

The pictures are from Wednesday's sunset, the only day with sunshine this week (until today), and were taken shortly before and after the sunset. So far, the sunshine has been a rare sight -- today is only the 3rd day in the past two weeks where that yellow thingie has been in the sky.

From Jen's email with Baby Julianna's size descriptor for week 28:

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of her head to her heels. She can blink her eyes, which now sport lashes. With her eyesight developing, she may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. She's also developing billions of neurons in her brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world.

Jen, her sister-in-law Stacy, and I will be driving down to CA next week for Jen's baby shower on Saturday the 29th. Since the majority of Jen's family and friends are in the SF Bay Area, it is easier for us to drive down there than have them all have to make that 12 to 14 hour each way drive or fly up here. Stephanie is flying out from Colorado for the shower -- I am looking forward to being with both my girls at the same time (a rare treat).

We will be taking Mike's truck (which has a covered bed) so that we can bring the gifts back up here. I'll head over to Jen's Wednesday and spend the night so that we can leave bright and early Thursday morning. We should be back either Sunday or Monday - with me returning home to Netarts Bay Tuesday at the latest. So far, the weather appears to be cooperating for our travels with no snow or ice forecast for our travels through the mountains in southern Oregon and northern California.

Token and I met with the owner of Canine Garden Resort (a local kennel on the road to Tillamook) on Wednesday. Token will be staying there while I am gone and I am confident that he will be spoiled rotten while hanging out inside the house with Marie, the owner -- she's partial to small dogs and he's partial to people so its a good match. Bailey cat is self-sufficient, coming and going through the cat flap in the kitchen door for food etc., but Token needs to be with people, especially at night.

Cauliflower Sunset

It has been gray, wet, and windy here but I was treated to a wee bit of color at sunset on Monday. That is the picture up top.

From Jen's email with Baby Julianna's size descriptor for week 27:

This week, your baby weighs almost 2 pounds (like a head of cauliflower) and is about 14 1/2 inches long with her legs extended. She's sleeping and waking at regular intervals, opening and closing her eyes, and perhaps even sucking her fingers. With more brain tissue developing, your baby's brain is very active now. While her lungs are still immature, they would be capable of functioning — with a lot of medical help — if she were born now. Chalk up any tiny rhythmic movements you may be feeling to a case of baby hiccups, which may be common from now on. Each episode usually lasts only a few moments, and they don't bother her, so just relax and enjoy the tickle.

Jen was diagnosed with gestational diabetes yesterday. She has a meeting with both a dietitian and a gestational diabetes specialist on Tuesday and we will know more after that. She has had a very difficult pregnancy and I hope that the undiagnosed diabetes was the cause. I pray that her diabetes is easily controlled and that once controlled, the rest of her pregnancy goes much easier for her. Will know more after next week's appointments.

Cucumber Sunset

No real sun today (as evidenced by the lack of ability to clearly see the spit on the other side of the bay) but I was treated to some high clouds reflecting the sunset. Both were taken after sunset and show the color that I wudda had if it wasn't for the low clouds amassed on the other side of the spit.

From Jen's email with Baby Julianna's size descriptor for week 26:

The network of nerves in your baby's ears is better developed and more sensitive than before. He may now be able to hear both your voice and your partner's as you chat with each other. He's inhaling and exhaling small amounts of amniotic fluid, which is essential for the development of his lungs. These so-called breathing movements are also good practice for when he's born and takes that first gulp of air. And he's continuing to put on baby fat. He now weighs about a pound and two-thirds and measures 14 inches (an English hothouse cucumber) from head to heel. If you're having a boy, his testicles are beginning to descend into his scrotum — a trip that will take two to three days.

Two

Two days of sunshine! In a row! Still forking cold outside tho -- high today was in the high 40's and it is already down to the mid-30's and the temperature is still falling.

It is a very weak sun with little to no warmth but it sure is pretty after all the grey. Pictures are from just before, during, and after today's sunset.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year, everyone. May your best day of 2010 be the worst day you have in 2011.

Thank you to each of you for stopping by this wee little blog.