Proof is in the Pudding

We realize belly shots have been rather limited around here, so we present you with:

39 weeks.

Also up, the official winner of the life vest contest is Springob.

(Pardon the cropped photo; Eric was only able to take photos that made Jenni look drugged out, asleep or psychotic.)

Yes, it still fits. Holy, umm, cow?

True to our word, we are flinging a package of these towards Springob via the USPS.

Enjoy the contents! It should also be noted that Springob, despite being a supreme competitor, felt it only fair to share his bounty with the runner-up, G^2.

Sheep & Wolf, er Wool

Despite being less than 2 weeks away from our due date, Wily Jeneric had a busy weekend. On Saturday, we attended our college friend’s, Ry4an, wedding. No, we didn’t fly to MN. We merely took the train to NYC and walked about 3 blocks to the West Side Loft. Good food and friends!

Sunday morning dawned awfully early. We picked up a friend and drove 2.5 hours north to Jenni’s old stomping grounds – Rhinebeck – for the NY Sheep and Wool Festival.

Early on, we found ourselves smack in the middle of a llama & alpaca parade (thanks to Sarah for the correct identifications).

Alpaca Feet!

Llama, llama, duck! Well, Alpaca, alpaca, duck!

The llama likes Priscilla!

We then managed to find some Canadian friends that we escorted back to New Jersey for the evening. Canadians are a gentle people (not unlike llamas) and they gifted us! Check out the thoughtfulness and the amazingly fantastic sweater (there was tea, too, for the expecting Wily Jeneric).

If you pack it, s/he will come

We thought you might like to know that, in typical Wily Jeneric fashion, we have yet to pack a bag for the hospital. Some might say we are tempting fate. Others would say we’re laid back. In reality, we’re probably just lazy or consumed by work (hah! That’s so going to change!).

Really, though, it’s time for the baby to arrive and we really should pack a bag. An abbreviated list of some things we think we’ll need:

1. Watch with second hand
2. Camera (If you take a picture of me now, I will make you deliver that camera)
3. Games (anyone up for a game of Settlers?)
4. Knitting (One Christmas stocking, coming up)
5. Pillow (ah, the comforts of home in an antiseptic environment)
6. Food for Eric (but no onions!)
7. Change of clothes for Eric (What, no hospital gown for the father-to-be?)
8. Books (You just became parents! Now what are you going to do? subtitled: Not going to Disney Land!)
9. Snacks (Hospital food can only sustain a father for so long)
10. List of people to call (Thank goodness for cell phones. Eric's memory couldn't handle a task like this!)
11. Going-home outfit for baby* (The hospital generally frowns on discharging naked babies)
12. Infant car seat* (But what if you're walking home? Does the hospital still require you to have a car seat?)

*Baby not included and must be provided by the parents-to-be.

(Don't forget - guesses for Baby Jeneric's birth weight and gender are due by midnight Friday.)

A Shower Fugue

Having never been to a baby shower, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect…after being filled in a few details, here is my prognosis of how this one stacked up.

Well, I’ve been to a few baby showers so I knew what they could be. Long periods of sitting in a chair, watching someone open a mountain of gifts, perhaps the odd (and I do mean odd) game thrown in. Those who know me know I despise being the center of attention and sitting around doing nothing so I vowed to have a different shower and to make Eric squirm, too.

Normal! An amazing cake, made by Lauren. Rubber ducky was not edible, but the soap bubbles were.
Normal? A pretty cake.

Not normal! Well, the copious amount of food is normal but the presence of a male, definitely not normal.
Ditto. (Uh oh, it is now written record that I agreed with Jenni!)

Normal! Some people hate being the center of attention and express their dismay visually.
Normal! A reluctant celebrity.

Not normal! Look at the kid, the hair, the GAMES! Note that they are making up the rules to this game as they go along – simply a fantastic way to play.
Normal, right? I thought I had heard that you play games at these events…

Not normal! More kids, hair and games! This one is Killer Bunnies, which I overheard to be ‘the best game ever.’
Fun for the whole family, a good way to be starting a “new” family.

It was a swell party with friends, families, food and games. Many thanks to Priscilla, Alex and Mom Z for collaborating to throw a fun gaming party. Thanks to everyone who made it to New Jersey for the day; we’re sorry we missed folks from far away (seriously, is traveling from the other side of the continent too much to ask?!?!).

Next stop: the arrival of Baby Jeneric!
(Don’t forget to enter your guesses for the gender and weight of Baby Jeneric!)

The Weighty Issue of Sex

Several folks have asked to guess the gender and weight of Baby Jeneric and who are we to deny our readers? As for guessing the birth date, we open this post for comments on the baby’s gender and weight.

The rules:
1. You must guess both a gender and a weight.
2. You may enter only once.
3. Guesses must be left in the comments to this post.
4. Entries must be received by 11:59 pm, October 21.
5. The winner will be the guess with (1) the correct gender and (2) the weight closest to Baby Jeneric’s.

To help you with the gender question, we’ve scoured the web for old wives tales and present the answers below.

1. The extra baby weight is being carried out front.
2. The baby is carrying low.
3. My feet are not any colder or warmer than before pregnancy.
4. I prefer the heel of a loaf of bread.
5. Eric is not gaining weight along with me.
6. I had morning sickness early in my pregnancy.
7. I am looking just fine during pregnancy (at least, that’s what everyone tells me. They could be fibbing).
8. I hung a thread with a needle over my belly and the thread moved in from side to side.
9. I have been craving sweets.
10. My nose has stayed the same.
11. I have been craving fruit.
12. The baby's heart rate is above 140 beats per minute.
13. I am not having headaches.
14. My abdomen looks like a basketball.
15. The baby generally kicks low and to the left.

Knitters are (K)nice

Every Monday for the past two years, Jenni heads to a local library to hang out with some knitters. We are loud and opinionated but love to help new knitters descend into fiber madness (we addicts are all the same).

This past Monday, the group surprised Jenni with a little, impromptu shower. There was lots of food and knitting and even a few gifts. No pictures of the actual party (it was a surprise! I didn’t bring my camera!), but here’s a shot of the thoughtful gifts.

Who’s clothes are those?

Ever open “your” dryer at the Laundromat, only to find clothes you don’t recognize (three union suits in Vikings colors)?

I’m forgetful enough that occasionally I would pull the wrong door open, and stand gazing in confusion at the union suits. Today I took over the laundry from Jenni part way through the process. When I opened up the dryer door, out spilled a pile of tiny clothes. I had a brief flashback, and wondered where my clothes were. Then I tried to figure out why someone would break in to a house to do laundry.

Wonder what I’ll think the first time the baby wakes me in the night?

**Reminder! Get your guesses in for Baby Jeneric’s birth date and time by Friday, 11:59 pm EST**

Pass the, hic!, Jack Daniels, please

It’s true. Baby Jeneric is a lush.

Or maybe Jenni’s the lush?

Actually, Baby Jeneric just happens to be displaying a normal hallmark of a healthy baby exercising his or her diaphragm – hiccups. For those not pregnant, they feel like a very rhythmic pulsing, almost like an absurdly strong heartbeat. They can last anywhere from one minute to 20 or 30 (especially in the evenings).

So bring on the margaritas! It’s almost time to party.

Don't forget to get your birth date and time guesses in. Friday is the deadline!

Birthday Pool

Gambling (even on-line) is illegal. However, there has been quite the clamoring for a contest to guess Baby Jeneric’s birthday and time. With one month to go before the official due-date, we open the comments for guessing Baby Jeneric’s exact birth date and birth time.

The rules:
1. You must guess both a date and a time.
2. You may enter only once.
3. Guesses must be left in the comments to this post.
4. Entries must be received by 11:59 pm, October 14.
5. The winner will be the guess closest to the actual birth date/time. Your guess might be a day early or late – if it’s the closet in terms of absolute time, you win.
6. Winner will be the sole recipient of the ability to tell Baby Jeneric the story about how they guessed his/her birth date. And if you’re really lucky, maybe we can throw in something extra, too!