Men Having Babies Dot Org...

Thanks to Jason of Stalking the Stork, Bill, Cristina and I, along with our surrogate, Mary, will be in Los Angeles sitting on a panel on May 5th for an organization appropriately named Men Having Babies. We'll be talking about our experience and long journey to become parents, which is super cool because I've always wanted to help others of during this process. Especially MEN having babies, since the task seems to be so formidable and there are so many options to get to the final product of that beautiful child of your own. We're super excited to see Mary again, and we also get to see Jason and Adrian, as well as a plethora of friends who live in the LA area.

So thanks, Jason, for thinking of us and allowing us to share our story. Hopefully it helps even one person see a little clearer how they can fulfill their dream of creating a family and becoming a father.

In other news, cute bath time photo alert!

DBCC

The Many Faces of Cristina

Less than two weeks shy of 4 months old and we have a little character on our hands. 

Loving every minute of it...

A Sleeper, Missing Cristina and Chillaxin' in the Back Yard

The past few days have been good.  I believe (said very quietly as to not jinx it) we have traction in the sleep department. Meaning this little girl has actually been sleeping through the night. She'll be 10 weeks on Friday. Of course, now that I say this she'll be raising hell all hours of the night tonight and until she's 18...but I'm celebrating the little successes here, people. The past three evenings her last feeding has been at 11 pm and the first night she slept until 5:20 am (WOO HOO!)...the second night she was fed at the same time and woke up at 4:20 am (no, we ARE NOT going backwards, Miss Cristina...I forbid it!), and then last night she did about the same (so we are ok in that department for now). The most important thing is that there isn't an overnight feeding, per se. Of course, your definition of "overnight feeding" could be different than mine, but mostly I feel that if she's not up at 1, 2 or 3 am then we're good.  I think the first night it happened Bill and I looked at each other when she started her her hungry cry at 5:20 and said "did you get up to feed her after 11????"  When we both realized she slept so long we were so proud. "She's learning!"...now let's hope she accepts this continuing education thing. It's a journey, not a destination, Cristina. Keep hittin' the books and reach for that 8-10 hour limit. And hurry. Daddy and Papa can only have so many bags under their eyes...

Of course there's always a down-side to more sleeping. For the past 9 weeks I've been getting up at 6 am to get ready for work and at this time, I've been squeezing in a feeding and some snuggle Cristina time, and then head off to work. Now that she is sleeping more and feeds some times an hour before I get up, I don't get to hang with my favorite girl before work, as Bill does that feeding.  And I don't want to go in and kiss her goodbye for fear of the evil eyes I will get from Bill if I wake her and then leave (I'm smart like that, after nearly 17 years). I guess we could juggle the feeding so I go to bed earlier and get up for the 4 or 5 am feeding but the jury is still out on that. The night owl in me is resisting...

In other news we had a wonderful Sunday in the back yard. The weather was beautiful and we all just laid around and clocked in some down time. Some photos of the day...

"I sleep anywhere. Anywhere. Even on the pokey grass in my madras flower dress."

such cute hands. couldn't resist.

Chloe the Protector

First Swings on the Hammock (didn't go so well, but eventually she loved it!)

Beautiful Chloe

Bill thinks I'm his Cabana Boy...NOT.

Sleepy doe-eyed girl

Me getting artsy with the new Snapseed App

Farmer Bill with his Beets (ok, not everyone was relaxing...But for Bill this is relaxing. Not for me)

"Yes, my eyes are blue, but that could change...so don't go telling everyone I've got blue eyes, ok?"

(PAPA:  "Shhhhh.....but I think she's gonna have blue eyes!")

Uncle Scott and Cristina and her ham hock leg

A New View

Our wonderful friend, neighbor and godmother to Cristina gave us the gift of a photo shoot for our little girl and they came out very nice.  Thanks to Joss for doing such a great job with Cristina.  As many of you know, it takes a lot of patience to work with a newborn!

I've included some of the photos in our new header...look at our little angel!! We think she's just perfect.

Our Little Tree Hugger Finds Her Voice

She sighs, and coos, and let's out cute little screams (who knew screams could be so enjoyable????).

In other news, she's tracking us a lot and likes to stare for several minutes at our ceiling fans...doesn't matter if they are running or not.  After a long gaze in to our eyes the edges of her mouth will turn up and she'll coyly smile...and sometimes she'll even blink once or twice (she's winking at us, of course).

Pooping volume has gone down but man, has the frequency gone up. We're flying through diapers like there's not tomorrow.

The newborn look has started to fade and out has come our little infant girl, Cristina.

Just this past weekend she showed off her "look, everyone....I can stand up while holding my daddy's hands!" at my brother's house.  It was quite unbelievable when she started this about 10 days ago. I don't know what is considered normal but this girl has some strong legs and neck and back on her. 

Yay for sturdy babies!

We're taking her around with us a lot, to the beach, to friends' houses, to restaurants, a walk through Waikiki...she's such a mobile little girl and we're loving it. So it's nice she's not slowing us down...too much!

Hatchback diaper change at the beach

Daddy and Cristina enjoying a day at our friends' beach house

The view from the deck...not bad!

Feeding on the fly at Kailua Beach

This video was too cute for me not to post. 

Enjoy!

Tomorrow: 2 MONTHS OLD! 

WOW!

Someone Is 6 Weeks Old

Someone is 6 weeks old today.

Someone who is the light of our life.

Today...and every day...

There still may be sleepless nights (well not for her, anyway).

 But we are having so much fun hanging out with Cristina Lei...

In the back yard...

Holding her while she sleeps (and we don't)...

...watching her while she's awake and full of wonder...

...or when she's taking naps (and we aren't)...

...or when she's exploring new worlds...

...or being awoken by the ringing bells at church...

There is truly no time we don't cherish our little girl 

(even if it's trying to coax a burp out of her at the mall)

Because holding her hand for the past 6 weeks has been one of the best gifts ever.

Happy 6 Week Birthday Cristina Lei!

xo

Papa and Daddy

Update and Photo Dump @ 3 Weeks Old

Time seems to be passing quicker and quicker these days.  This Sunday we'll have been home two weeks...but TODAY Cristina is a big 'ole THREE WEEKS OLD!

Happy Birthday Beautiful Cristina Lei. We love you more than anything!

Update:
Feedings are going really well, she takes both formula and breast milk interchangeably, approximately 3-4 ounces per feeding.  We have been feeding her only when she's hungry or cries and that is usually every 2-1/2 to 3 hours during the day (breast milk) and sometimes up to 4+ hours at night (formula). We are still not getting enough sleep but it's kind of encouraging that she is possibly moving towards sleeping longer at night. I, personally, cannot wait until this stage!  :-)

Bill has been an absolutely awesome stay-at-home-dad. He is a natural and takes her on errands to Whole Foods, Home Depot and Costco, and even takes the basinett to the back yard with Chloe and does some yard work and gardening.  I'm so lucky to have him in my life...and to take care of our daughter.  Such an incredible blessing!

She takes a binky very, very easily...I wasn't aware that some kids don't take pacifiers very well for soothing...so we consider ourselves lucky that she takes one quickly and it calms her down when she's fussy. She's even found her fingers for self-soothing.  Next she'll be juggling and doing aerials and hopefully making dinner. If only!

This Week in Photos (and a few really cute ones I forgot to add from the previous week):

Baby Burrito. 

Obviously Papa Doug swaddled her because she got her arm out...which has been happening a lot lately. Time to stop swaddling?? I hope not because it sure calms her down and she's easy to carry when she doesn't have arms and legs and a bobbly head swinging around.

In her boppy pillow sleeping.  Last night I fed and burped her and then while watching her sleep in the pillow I myself fell asleep in the rocking chair for two hours.  I woke up at 12:45 am wondering where the heck I was and who this child in my lap was. I think we are just a little tired around here.

Waiting to see her pediatrician in Hawaii for the first time.

Everything checked out great and she gained 9 ounces!

Chloe is showing Cristina the neighborhood.  Yes, I took her outside in only a diaper because 1. It was hot,  and 2. it was a feat just to get out of the house with a dog, a stroller, a baby and a cup of coffee!

"Wave your hands in the air!!"

Laying on the very cute blanket that was (surprisingly) color-coordinated with the nursery. The blanket was hand-knitted by Uncle Scott's mother in Arizona. It's perfect!

Someone's neck is getting stronger...no more bobble-head soon!

"tits up" in the basinett

Aunty Malia gave her a very "proud" two-piece bathing suit.

The gay pride-themed suit part was by accident, but we all got a very good laugh out of it.

Baby Burrito 2!

I thought I would add a photo that Uncle David in DC sent, of the collage on his refrigerator.  

I think he misses us! We'll be back!

I'm finding that the Bob Marley Pandora station is the best to soothe and rock Cristina to sleep. It's on CONSTANTLY.

Aunty Sharon, who has been soooo supportive throughout our baby-making process.

"Chicks Rock" onesie, from Aunty Shannon. 

She wears it well.

Ok...another Chloe/Cristina favorite. Actually, Bill left the room to get some coffee and Chloe relocated from the other side of the bed, to get some good snuggle time with Cristina. 

Amazingly adorable.

"It's 6 am -- please don't wake me"

Little piggie toes in the air while eating lunch!

Silly faces....

and very, very serious faces.

Finally, a video of Cristina sleeping. If you can hold out the minute and twenty seconds there's a few smiles, some rolling of her eyes...and I think possibly a little gagging?

I'm terrible...here you go:

That's it for now. Have a wonderful weekend everyone.

Big smiles,

BCD

Baby Steps

Second day of the first week back at work and all I can say is "ouch...I'm tired!"...

No, I didn't expect to NOT be tired...but when I looked at the clock at work this morning I almost fell off my chair when it read 9:30.  Last night was a rough one as Cristina didn't really go down until 2 am when she normally hits the hay at midnight. And then Bill takes the next shift (thanks honey!)

But all I wanted to say when my alarm went off at 5:45 was "OUCH!"

"Baby steps", I said to myself..."just make it to 11 and you can go home for a visit and snuggle with Cristina at lunch."

And guess what???...it worked.  

And what a happy Papa I was when she was up and alert and I got to feed her...

...only for her to go back to sleep on my shoulder (after some good gas -- wonder who she takes after?)

Evidence of my sleep deprivation (my eyes look cock-eyed!)

SO..."BABY STEPS" is the theme for getting back to work this week...and the theme just may carry over in to next week, and the next, and so on. That is, if this week is any indication of how it will be in the future. But if the trade-off is I get to hang out with my little girl (and hunky hubby -- who loves ya, baby?) I guess I can survive on minimal sleep for the time being.

In the meantime, congratulations to Jason and Adrian on their successful Delhi arrival and the discharge of Olivia and Clara!  And a HUGE, I MEAN HUGE!!! congratulations to Kevin and Jeff on the birth of their beautiful baby boy Baxter.  Cristina has lots of good birth year company out there.  Next step is to coordinate a visit.

Let's all meet in Hawaii in 2013!

Big Aloha,
BCD

OH and P.S.  Did anyone watch the Oprah interview on OWN with Neil Patrick Harris and his partner David Burtka? I loved the part where Oprah revealed her "A-ha! moment" about gays having kids, and how much it takes (emotionally, financially, etc) to have them...which really shows how much we really do WANT children.  Not saying anyone who isn't gay doesn't want their kids...but it really expressed the way I have been feeling over the past several years, big time.  Bill and I wouldn't have worked so hard to be parents if we didn't really, truly, want to have a child. We could have given up easily, but we didn't...and so, so glad we followed through.  Ok...this is a really long postscript...signing off now.