big

Yesterday, Alexander had his 4 week appointment with the doctor. We're happy to report he's doing great! Weighing in at 9lbs 3oz and measuring 21 inches, Alexander is a happy healthy little boy! He's graduated to larger diapers and already outgrown some of his newborn clothes! His parents, meanwhile are still looking for their lost sleep…

here's alex!

since i first started looking at items to register for, i'd decided that the best baby monitor would be a nice video streaming setup. and since i work from home there'll be times when alex needs to sleep and dad needs to work and that'll happen in different rooms. and since dad has a computer habit that includes a number of non-active computers and a couple of webcams, he's pretty sure he can make this happen. i also realized that i could make it accessible to friends and family who are out of the area and want to get their fix of alexander. and let's be clear here. really. who could possibly get their fix of this little guy?

so i've started playing with the setup and getting the system worked out. using ustream.tv and webcams i've been able to stream alexander as he watches dad work and while dad was away at work. it works great.

i've added the ustream.tv live feed to the sidebar (look to your right on the home page) and if you happen to be on the page at the right time you'll catch him online. additionally, you can click on the image and it'll take you to the permanent bookmark-able channel page at ustream.tv (which is ustream.tv/channel/alexito). a password is required to view and that password for now is bob (if it changes, i'll let y'all know).

if you're following us on twitter (twitter.com/dinaandphilip) and you've set it up to receive text messages, when alexander goes live you may receive a text as the twitter account is updated signaling the beginning of the live stream (i think you can understand how that makes more sense then me calling all of you!).

this may all change in the future or it may disappear depending on how things work out. but for now, you may catch a live view of Alexander!

down then up

after losing an expected 10% or so of his body weight, young Alexander has roared back to 7lbs 13.4oz just one day before his two week birthday! a happy healthy 13 day old newborn. Alexander has been out and about now quite a few times and has decided that the infant carrier is the perfect place to catch a snooze, letting mom and dad get some essential shopping done when needed. unfortunately, sleeping when the car is not running is not his favorite and mom and dad are still walking around in a sleep-deprived haze and short bursts of coffee-fueled clarity.

but who wouldn't go through it all for this little guy?

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7lb, 4oz. 18 inches.

Thursday November 26, 2009 at 7:12pm we welcomed Alexander Aristides Ariza to our family. It's has been a couple of crazy wonderful days, but before I post the whole story, and in this quiet time between feedings and family visiting, I wanted to get the photos up. Mom and baby are well with no problems. Dad on the other hand, needs some sleep.

Thanks to everyone for their love and support the last 9 months. Click on Alexander to see more photos.

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3 down. 7 to go.

for those of you followong along at home, we had an uncomfortable night last night as contractions finally kicked in.this morning we had our regularly scheduled appointment with the doctor. we are now about 3 cm and about 60% effaced (referring to the thining of the cervix). the doctor said she expects to hear from us in the next 24 - 36 hours!

so, we've reiterated to him that we'd prefer him to come after thanksgiving, but, it's up to him.

I'll do my best to keep posting here, but as we get closer, obviously it'll get harder.

no sleep till brooklyn, er mission hospital

last night was the first really rough night. after having minor, erratic contractions earlier in the evening, we were awakened around 1:30 am to an ongoing barage of somewhat random and short contractions until around 6 am. based on everything we know at this point we're on track and with this being the 37th week, this is probably to be expected. but man am I tired.

we have a drs appointment this morning anyway so we'll do that and then who knows. blueberry may be crashing thanksgiving, as Lawrence suggested.

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everything is ready. packed, organized and washed. now we're just waiting. the last few days the aches and pains have continued to grow and false labor continues to remind us we're close. we have another appointment tomorrow so i'm sure we'll get a better read on our progress.

party

last night we went to a surprise party for Dina's uncle. great time was had - including a little bit of dancing to help the progress along. snapped this picture while we were sitting (it's the only one i got clearance to post)

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cm

had our first weekly appointment today. best part of the appointment. we're at 1 cm.

wait. who am i kidding. i'm not anything. she's at 1 cm. i'm just standing around like a goof.

anyway - it's early still. but it's good to know we're progressing.

b-day† is around the corner.

In other news, pre-registration is complete and the dr has alerted the hospital to our impending arrival (impending being a loose term here since there's no schedule) and we have a car seat that installs and works.

so, i'd say we're just about ready.

wait. who am i kidding.

† b-day, or 'blueberry day' is the day when he'll arrive.

last page

depending on which schedule you look at we're at 4 weeks or less. either way, I turned the page to the last on Dina's pregnancy calendar this morning. i guess it's any day now! preparations continue. major home projects are done - new flooring upstairs and some plumbing work in the kitchen. the kid's room is nearly complete - mostly putting stuff away, washing clothes and getting organized. pack and play assembled and swing chair assembled. you can see the new addition to my office:

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we spent Sunday at Target and Babys R Us getting the rest of the necessities.

this week we have a doctor appointment followed by a pediatrician interview that we've gotten some good reviews on. only the best for blueberry!

not a ton left to do but wait...

showered. the third.

It's been a busy week here as we get ready! Last night we finished up our final class, exiting with a certification in CPR and AED (automatic external defibrillator) for adults, kids and infants. It's a great skill to learn and nice to know we're prepared should there be a serious emergency. Most of the people in class were soon to be parents and one couple in particular were about to have their baby any moment - she was in 'prelabor' already - the nurses thought she'd be in the delivery ward by Friday!

This weekend we finish our last big project, replacing the carpet upstairs and installing wood flooring.

And today Dina's office threw us a great shower. Good food and awesome generosity helped fill out most of blueberry's remaining needs. It was awesome and we're grateful for everyone's generosity! You can click the cake to see images from the event.

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35 down

so today is the unofficial beginning of the 35th week. depending on the pregnancy math you use which, apparently, is hard - like linear algebra hard. so while we have 35 starting today, other calculations have it starting in two days. plus or minus two days is a level of uncertainty i suppose i can live with. suffice to say it's close. i changed the countdown timer and we're now looking at 37 days - makes 5 weeks seem like nothing.

progress continues apace. the kid has become more aggressive recently - using dina's inside as his own private aerobics studio, complete with a speed bag. all in an effort, i'm sure, to be ready to come out and start laying waste to his daddy's nice electronics.

we started our last class last night - TotSaver - where we learn basic first aid and specifics to infant/child safety as well as become certified in pediatric/adult CPR. we finish this up next week and have nothing left to do after, but the final trip to the hospital.

valley of the sun

We're currently around 30,000 feet in the air as we head to Arizona and have a shower with the family out there. A short trip (we're back on Sunday) but filled with fun, I'm sure!

So far the kid's a good flyer!

UPDATE: thanks wordpress for delaying this post in limbo until today. sigh.

all quiet

just realized it has been almost two weeks since an update. hard to update when it's really really quiet (aside from the kid moving constantly!). we've been lucky and have had a really uncomplicated, quiet pregnancy with little to no problems. doctor appointments that are shorter then the wait to see the doctor and almost nothing to talk to her about. we rack our brains to come up with something to tell her, but usually don't have anything.

which is great. the more boring the better, is what i hear.

doctor's appointments are now every other week - our last was last thursday. our pre-birth class finishes tomorrow night and a new class (baby care) the following monday. the final class (totsaver) starts the week after that. around the house, the room is basically done (minus a few additions to come) and the last major home activity before the birth has been scheduled.

dina's got a few images to post yet, but i won't ruin the surprise.

reality check

dina just scheduled the remaining dr appointments through the due date. reducing the expected amount of time between now and the potential birth date to 6 appointments makes it clear exactly how long we have to go. really clear.

suddenly it really feels like there's no time left.

ready room

As promised a few images of the room. Most everything is done, minus some minor organizing (see shelves not in shelving unit) and activities like preparing the bed and hanging some artwork/wall decorations (Spirit poster drawn by Uncle Lawrence).

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There are other activities we'd love to do in other areas of the house (new flooring anyone?) but we'll see how the schedule goes. No one is really in a hurry here.