Week 3

Week 3 was very exciting. Tia Maria came to visit and meet Elena. They had quite a bit of quality bonding time:





Mick and Jimmie bonded with Maria as well:



Elena had her first social smiles:



And spent quality time with her parents (including a trip to daddy's work for lunch):








We also had a visit for the Acevedo-Schiesels. Jimmie and Gabriel have known each other their whole lives. Families vacationed together. We expect adorable Daniela (age 4 months and 1 week) and Elena to be best friends.




The daily faces of Ellie:

WEEK 2

tender moments with family:







Week 2 also brought a few visitors. Terry, Anita and 7 week old Ani came to visit. We visited Ani when she was 2 weeks old. I don't think either Ani or Elena liked sharing the limelight:


College buddies Terry and Mick, with their girls:


Generations:
Soth Men and baby (Grandpa,Uncle Tom, Daddy and Elena):


Andrews Family (Daddy, Gran, Elena and Great Grandma):


New toy from Uncle Tom. She was initially unsure if she liked it. Verdict is in. She likes it on her own terms:



Mommy and Elena (and her super cool WB-57F onesie)

Elena's first week

Labor is hard...on Mick:


Elena's first photo:


Daddy and Ellie:





Grandparents on parade:






Tio Tom:


Visitors:
The Acevedos...only Tia Mavy got to hold the baby as she wouldn't share


Newly married Gannet and Ian..with their daughter Ocean


more Elena






We need to get pictures of mommy and baby as there doesn't seem to be any...at least on my camera

Until next time

She's Here

So I lied in my last blog. I started contractions the next night.

Elena Cristina Soth Lopez was born on her due date (July 23rd) at 17:14, weighing in at 8 lbs 1 oz, and 19.5 inches.

Just a couple things to note:

1. if you think your labor pains are really bad, and go to the hospital, they will send you home (twice), if you are only 1 cm dilated both times. even though t hey are separated by 12 hours and excruciating pain.

2. If you can walk around downtown Palo ALto during labor even if you have to stop and hug a pole every block due to the pain...contractions aren't really strong enough to go to the hospital.

3. If after 12 hours more, your contractions still aren't 5 minutes apart, they will send you home again. It doesn't matter that hey are 6 minutes apart and lasting over 2 minutes a piece and have been doing this for 6 hours

4. No matter what the doctor says, do not take an Ambien sleeping pill when in labor. It pretty much guarantees your water will break within 5 minutes and you will be too drugged out to understand what is going on....but you still feel pain.

5. Epidurals RULE...when they don't wear out right when you have to push and the anesthesiologist is nowhere to be found.

6 Stitches hurt a lot when there isn't any pain killer down there

Not that I would know anything about the above points. Just hypothetical, of course.

This what labor looks like in Palo Alto...notice mick's watch and the fact that he is not paying attention to me:




Mick read the Harry Potter book during my labor...it was charming

Not going anywhere

With 5 days before my due date, yesterday at my doctor's appointment, I was 0% effaced, 0 cm dilated. And haven't really dropped yet. No contractions yet. Haven't even felt the Braxton Hicks contractions.

looks like she ain't going anywhere

Week 37 and counting

Someday I will see my feet properly again

Life has been busy since I last wrote. To begin with, we threw a going away backyard bbq for some friends that are going to Switzerland for one year. We had about 50 people show up. I was 34 weeks pregnant. Unfortunately, I don't have any photos because somehow they got erased off my camera. Either way, I think everyone had a good time. We will miss you guys, Matt, Marzia and Abigail



The following week, our friends Laura, Jen and Darlene gave us a co-ed baby shower. We got lots of great gifts and good times were had by all. We may have even made a love connection between Samuel and Abby. Abby is an older woman so she was a bit more aggressive than Samuel was used to. He must be bragging at the park now!

The following weekend (pregnancy week 36) we drove down to Southern California for Jimmie's friends Mads and Janna's wedding. When arriving in LA at about 11:30 pm on a Friday night, Mick remembered why he hated Southern California....the TRAFFIC. we were stuck in traffic forever! Mick got a bit a road rage. We finally arrived in Orange close to 1:00 am where we were staying with our good friends Frank, Cris, Mike and Meg. Next morning, we got up early and drove down to San Diego (traffic AGAIN) to see Mick's college buddy, Terry and his wife Anita. They just had a baby girl (Ani) 2 weeks prior. Ani behaved beautifully during our short 2 hour visit. We hope to have one that well behaved!

We then drove back North to San Clemente to attend the wedding. The actual cerermony was at a small park in a residential neighborhood overlooking the ocean. It was beautiful. Janna's brother performed the ceremony so it was quite personal and moving. Everyone teared up (except for mick who is dead inside). Friends Laura and Jeff also came down from Northern California for the wedding. We tried taking a picture of us together. Everyone looks crappy except jeff, who is Mr GQ in every photo we have.

This is unfortunately the only photo we have of the happy couple...I really need to learn to take better pictures. The reception was in San Juan Capistrano at Janna's uncle's house. It was beautiful as well. The reception had all sorts of weird Danish traditions. Mads socks got cut off, Janna got kissed by all teh men at the wedding, songs were sung, and lots of toasts were made. When we left the wedding, mick said "I don't know Mads and Janna very well but this wedding makes me want to know them better". I think that is quite a testament to how lovely the wedding really was.

Beyond that, Life has just been chugging along. I am a bit over 37 weeks pregnant. baby hasn't dropped. She seems quite content to remain inside. i am ok with that because it is easier to take care of them when they are inside! Today we are headed to Livermore to spend the Fourth of July with the Acevedos. We will see baby Daniela there. She is about 3 months old now. We haven't seen her since she was 2 weeks old.

Have a Happy Fourth of July

jimmie