1. At 29 weeks, Baby Jeneric most resembles a:
a. Baby. We've posted several ultrasound photos - do you need your eyes examined?
2. At 29 weeks, the activity of Baby Jeneric could be summarized as:
a. A one-person polo match, complete with horses.
3. Jenni’s belly button has:
b. Not popped.
4. The life vest:
a. Fits.
c. Who cares? I already lost out on this contest anyway.
In a show of sympathy, depending on who you are, we would accept either of these answers.
5. Eric enjoys talking to the baby. The baby responds by:
b. Going crazy and stomping all over the place.
For those of you who chose other answers, let us introduce ourselves. We are Wily Jeneric with a genetic disposition to read that will only grow stronger in our offspring. The baby loves books! (trivia: first book read to Baby Jeneric was… Lost in the Woods.)
6. Is Baby Jeneric’s room ready?
d. Hah! There are things that Wily Jeneric has no control over and the room will be finished who-knows-when.
The closet is on track to be completed within the week. What we are missing is a crib and changing table. Ahem. They were ordered in June (so it’s not like we just forgot about it!).
7. There are a lot of things Jenni can’t do, now that she’s 29 weeks pregnant. What does she miss the most?
d. Seeing her ankles. Yes, she can bend over that far, but the swelling has been pretty constant since month 5. The doctor says it’s normal but that’s hardly comforting. Will they ever return??
8. There are a lot things Eric has to do, now that Jenni’s 29 weeks pregnant. What new task does he enjoy the most?
c. Gardening. Eric has a new-found love for pulling clover. We hear this might be genetic.
9. Wily Jeneric has two cats. How do they feel about the impending new human?
a. They don’t know and don’t care.
Seriously. Jenni might be a little clumsier, with a big belly, but for the most part they are supremely oblivious.
10. Which blog comment has disturbed us the most?
a. Are groundhogs red meat?
b. I’m not sure about groundhogs, but squirrel meat is like pork in color.
c. I think this situation calls for landmines.
d. You should eat the groundhog.
All of the above. Who are you people? And why the fascination with eating and/or blowing up groundhogs? Wily Jeneric will have to be careful where we eat.
Bonus Question
When Wily Jeneric told friends and family of the impending Baby, the reactions were varied. Who had the best reaction?
e. Friend Nina who thought the first ultrasound photos were obviously faked and wouldn’t believe Jenni until a third party confirmed the story.
While all of the reactions were fabulous (and will be told to Baby Jeneric repeatedly until they say, aw, Mom/Dad, I’ve heard that a zillion times), Nina reigns supreme as being the only person to require confirmation from an independent source.
And the high score was earned by:
Priscilla, with Bruce coming in a close second. However, as an educator, I must point out that with a high score of 50%, none of you passed (this isn’t organic chemistry where a 42 is an A). Tsk, tsk. No prizes this round. Try harder next time!
Friday, August 25, 2006
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
News Flash!
Hi ho, all, Jenni the frog here, reporting from Wily Jeneric’s backyard with some astounding news.
In an unexpected twist of fate, it has become alarmingly clear that mosquitoes do in fact like to prey on pregnant women. Early rising mosquitoes (those that emerge around 7 pm – well before the usual mosquito hunting time) are by far the most fiendish, munching happily on the pregnant Jenni. Later emerging mosquitoes, however, continue to ignore Jenni and preferentially feed on Eric (this could be due, in part, to the fact that the early mosquito breed drives Jenni indoors and she has yet to stay outside long enough to find out if the later mosquitoes will bite).
In unrelated news, quiz taking continues. There is as yet, no perfect store. Keep burning the midnight oil and we’ll be sure to post the answers real soon!
UPDATE: A little internet research reveals that we are not crazy! This mosquito that seems to love Jenni is a non-native species (Aedes albopictus) imported from Japan via stagnant water in used tires. It was first found in Houston, Texas in 1985. It has since migrated to 26 states in the continental US (it had already been found in Hawaii). Most importantly, this Asian mosquito is... a DAYTIME FEEDER. Peak feeding for this bug are in the early morning and late afternoon.
In an unexpected twist of fate, it has become alarmingly clear that mosquitoes do in fact like to prey on pregnant women. Early rising mosquitoes (those that emerge around 7 pm – well before the usual mosquito hunting time) are by far the most fiendish, munching happily on the pregnant Jenni. Later emerging mosquitoes, however, continue to ignore Jenni and preferentially feed on Eric (this could be due, in part, to the fact that the early mosquito breed drives Jenni indoors and she has yet to stay outside long enough to find out if the later mosquitoes will bite).
In unrelated news, quiz taking continues. There is as yet, no perfect store. Keep burning the midnight oil and we’ll be sure to post the answers real soon!
UPDATE: A little internet research reveals that we are not crazy! This mosquito that seems to love Jenni is a non-native species (Aedes albopictus) imported from Japan via stagnant water in used tires. It was first found in Houston, Texas in 1985. It has since migrated to 26 states in the continental US (it had already been found in Hawaii). Most importantly, this Asian mosquito is... a DAYTIME FEEDER. Peak feeding for this bug are in the early morning and late afternoon.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Pop Quiz!
Break out your trusty number 2 pencils! It’s time for a Baby Jeneric quiz. Don’t worry – it’s multiple-choice. You have 10 minutes – go!
1. At 29 weeks, Baby Jeneric most resembles a:
a. Baby.
b. Kangaroo.
c. Midget alien with 63 feet.
d. Yellow squash.
2. At 29 weeks, the activity of Baby Jeneric could be summarized as:
a. A one-person polo match, complete with horses.
b. Dancing with the stars auditions.
c. An episode of Murder, She Wrote.
d. All of the above.
e. None of the above.
f. Choice a and b.
g. Choice b and c.
h. Choice a and c.
3. Jenni’s belly button has:
a. Popped.
b. Not popped.
c. Disappeared completely, making us wonder if she is an alien being.
4. The life vest:
a. Fits.
b. Does not fit.
c. Who cares? I already lost out on this contest anyway.
5. Eric enjoys talking to the baby. The baby responds by:
a. Ignoring Eric and continuing to sleep.
b. Going crazy and stomping all over the place.
c. Panicking and crying.
6. Is Baby Jeneric’s room ready?
a. Yes, of course!
b. Are you kidding? Have they even figured out which room is for the baby?
c. No, but it’s close. A few final touches is all that’s left.
d. Hah! There are things that Wily Jeneric has no control over and the room will be finished who-knows-when.
7. There are a lot of things Jenni can’t do, now that she’s 29 weeks pregnant. What does she miss the most?
a. Cleaning the house. Really, who knew you could miss not being able to lug a vacuum up and down stairs?
b. Cleaning the kitty litter.
c. Gardening. To be fair, Jenni can garden, but she has to wear gloves, which she hates to do.
d. Seeing her ankles. Yes, she can bend over that far, but the swelling has been pretty constant since month 5.
8. There are a lot things Eric has to do, now that Jenni’s 29 weeks pregnant. What new task does he enjoy the most?
a. Cleaning the house. Vacuuming can be so liberating.
b. Cleaning the kitty litter. The cats have started to love Eric the most.
c. Gardening. Eric has a new-found love for pulling clover. We hear this might be genetic.
d. Grocery shopping. Between morning sickness and swollen ankles, Eric’s come to know and love our local Wegman’s. Can you say free-sample Sundays?
9. Wily Jeneric has two cats. How do they feel about the impending new human?
a. They don’t know and don’t care.
b. They are alarmed at how Jenni’s belly moves and don’t enjoy being kicked by an unknown entity.
c. A new human? Will they give us milk??
d. A new human? Will it let us outside??
10. Which blog comment has disturbed us the most?
a. Are groundhogs red meat?
b. I’m not sure about groundhogs, but squirrel meat is like pork in color.
c. I think this situation calls for landmines.
d. You should eat the groundhog.
Bonus Question
When Wily Jeneric told friends and family of the impending Baby, the reactions were varied. Who had the best reaction?
a. Jenni’s Mom, who didn’t understand and couldn’t believe what we were saying, but cried anyway.
b. Eric’s Mom, who first guessed that the thing she wanted most was a trip to Hawaii, then realized a grandchild would be better and burst into tears.
c. Friend Mark, who thought Jenni had visited an alien museum and was using souvenirs to pull a prank on him.
d. Friend Greg who immediately asked that the baby be named after him.
e. Friend Nina who thought the first ultrasound photos were obviously faked and wouldn’t believe Jenni until a third party confirmed the story.
1. At 29 weeks, Baby Jeneric most resembles a:
a. Baby.
b. Kangaroo.
c. Midget alien with 63 feet.
d. Yellow squash.
2. At 29 weeks, the activity of Baby Jeneric could be summarized as:
a. A one-person polo match, complete with horses.
b. Dancing with the stars auditions.
c. An episode of Murder, She Wrote.
d. All of the above.
e. None of the above.
f. Choice a and b.
g. Choice b and c.
h. Choice a and c.
3. Jenni’s belly button has:
a. Popped.
b. Not popped.
c. Disappeared completely, making us wonder if she is an alien being.
4. The life vest:
a. Fits.
b. Does not fit.
c. Who cares? I already lost out on this contest anyway.
5. Eric enjoys talking to the baby. The baby responds by:
a. Ignoring Eric and continuing to sleep.
b. Going crazy and stomping all over the place.
c. Panicking and crying.
6. Is Baby Jeneric’s room ready?
a. Yes, of course!
b. Are you kidding? Have they even figured out which room is for the baby?
c. No, but it’s close. A few final touches is all that’s left.
d. Hah! There are things that Wily Jeneric has no control over and the room will be finished who-knows-when.
7. There are a lot of things Jenni can’t do, now that she’s 29 weeks pregnant. What does she miss the most?
a. Cleaning the house. Really, who knew you could miss not being able to lug a vacuum up and down stairs?
b. Cleaning the kitty litter.
c. Gardening. To be fair, Jenni can garden, but she has to wear gloves, which she hates to do.
d. Seeing her ankles. Yes, she can bend over that far, but the swelling has been pretty constant since month 5.
8. There are a lot things Eric has to do, now that Jenni’s 29 weeks pregnant. What new task does he enjoy the most?
a. Cleaning the house. Vacuuming can be so liberating.
b. Cleaning the kitty litter. The cats have started to love Eric the most.
c. Gardening. Eric has a new-found love for pulling clover. We hear this might be genetic.
d. Grocery shopping. Between morning sickness and swollen ankles, Eric’s come to know and love our local Wegman’s. Can you say free-sample Sundays?
9. Wily Jeneric has two cats. How do they feel about the impending new human?
a. They don’t know and don’t care.
b. They are alarmed at how Jenni’s belly moves and don’t enjoy being kicked by an unknown entity.
c. A new human? Will they give us milk??
d. A new human? Will it let us outside??
10. Which blog comment has disturbed us the most?
a. Are groundhogs red meat?
b. I’m not sure about groundhogs, but squirrel meat is like pork in color.
c. I think this situation calls for landmines.
d. You should eat the groundhog.
Bonus Question
When Wily Jeneric told friends and family of the impending Baby, the reactions were varied. Who had the best reaction?
a. Jenni’s Mom, who didn’t understand and couldn’t believe what we were saying, but cried anyway.
b. Eric’s Mom, who first guessed that the thing she wanted most was a trip to Hawaii, then realized a grandchild would be better and burst into tears.
c. Friend Mark, who thought Jenni had visited an alien museum and was using souvenirs to pull a prank on him.
d. Friend Greg who immediately asked that the baby be named after him.
e. Friend Nina who thought the first ultrasound photos were obviously faked and wouldn’t believe Jenni until a third party confirmed the story.
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Gus: 4; Wily Jeneric: 1???
We have learned something important about the species Marmota monax: they are opportunists who never take vacations. While we were relaxing in southern Minnesota, Gus (or a Gus imposter) was making his way across treacherous highways, through random backyards in order to return to his beloved home with Wily Jeneric. Or so we think.
See, we haven’t actually seen Gus (or his imposter) nor have we seen much evidence of his presence. The cucumbers continue to grow (even though we know they will not bloom for a harvest this year), the broccoli still looks crummy (despite such a promising start!), the leeks have not been touched, in short – the garden looks pretty darn good.
We do know that someone has taken up residence (yet again) under our house.
Is it Gus? A friend of Gus? Perhaps a skunk or possum? Whoever it is, rest assured that the battle will begin, just as soon as we figure out who we’re battling.
Until then, Baby Jeneric will have to rely on local farm markets for fresh vegetables (see the link between Gus and Baby Jeneric? Gus was literally taking food from the mouths of babes).
See, we haven’t actually seen Gus (or his imposter) nor have we seen much evidence of his presence. The cucumbers continue to grow (even though we know they will not bloom for a harvest this year), the broccoli still looks crummy (despite such a promising start!), the leeks have not been touched, in short – the garden looks pretty darn good.
We do know that someone has taken up residence (yet again) under our house.
Is it Gus? A friend of Gus? Perhaps a skunk or possum? Whoever it is, rest assured that the battle will begin, just as soon as we figure out who we’re battling.
Until then, Baby Jeneric will have to rely on local farm markets for fresh vegetables (see the link between Gus and Baby Jeneric? Gus was literally taking food from the mouths of babes).
Friday, August 11, 2006
Heirloomed
We just returned from visiting family and friends in Minnesota, where the weather was cooler (80 °F not 100+!).
Eric’s Mom is an amazing saver of family heirlooms – including baby items. Pictured below, we have Eric’s baby blanket made for him by his (great) Aunt Eileen. It was clearly well-loved, as we need to do some minor repair work around the edges. The plaid blanket belonged to Eric’s Mom. She remembers sledding with it – wonder if we can recreate that picture here in New Jersey (global warming not withstanding)? The third blanket was used by all three Momsen children – and is in amazing shape for that kind of use!
We also have an assortment of baby socks, hand-knit booties, a pair of mittens, and a pair of booties that Eric’s Mom wore – how cute are they?
The piece de resistance? A sleeper knit by Eric’s Grandmother Margaret.
Finally, it is clear the baby will inherit Wily Jeneric’s love of books.
Eric’s brother and his fiancée found this photographic gem for Baby Jeneric. Merci!
Eric’s Mom is an amazing saver of family heirlooms – including baby items. Pictured below, we have Eric’s baby blanket made for him by his (great) Aunt Eileen. It was clearly well-loved, as we need to do some minor repair work around the edges. The plaid blanket belonged to Eric’s Mom. She remembers sledding with it – wonder if we can recreate that picture here in New Jersey (global warming not withstanding)? The third blanket was used by all three Momsen children – and is in amazing shape for that kind of use!
We also have an assortment of baby socks, hand-knit booties, a pair of mittens, and a pair of booties that Eric’s Mom wore – how cute are they?
The piece de resistance? A sleeper knit by Eric’s Grandmother Margaret.
Finally, it is clear the baby will inherit Wily Jeneric’s love of books.
Eric’s brother and his fiancée found this photographic gem for Baby Jeneric. Merci!
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
A traveler’s education, the sarcastic edition*
When you travel while 6/7 months pregnant, you tend to notice all the kids surrounding you in the airport and on the plane. And you notice how they behave. And how their parents behave. Things we learned traveling to and from Minnesota this past week:
1. If your 9-month-old baby is tired, keep them awake for the 3-hour flight and 1 hour on the runway. It’s important to disrupt your child’s schedule so he/she will sleep when you arrive at your final destination so you can enjoy some ‘alone’ time with your spouse.
2. Do not bring engaging activities to occupy your child for 3+ hours. Instead, entertain them by singing until you go hoarse.
3. Do not teach your children plane etiquette. Kicking the back of the chair, screaming and crying are perfectly acceptable plane activities.
4. Ignore all airline guidelines for carry-on items. Be sure to pack everything from your nursery to safely make the trip from New Jersey to Minnesota.
On a related note, we noticed that while traveling and being obviously pregnant, it is clearly okay to:
1. Not give up your seat on the train for the obviously pregnant woman (OPW) standing next to you. Instead, look down, out the window, anywhere but at her (yes, I could have asked for a seat, but I was fine with standing. It was, however, amusing to watch everyone look anywhere but at me).
2. Push past the OPW walking through the airport. Her balance is keen, much like a drunken gymnast.
3. Get huffy at the OPW for taking the last table in the shade at the airport food court. There are plenty of tables in the sun that are about 10 °F warmer that would be just fine for the red-cheeked OPW who’s guzzling water like a camel.
*Honestly, we know we have a lot to learn about the whole parenting gig, but we hope to have enough common sense to avoid making the same mistakes.
1. If your 9-month-old baby is tired, keep them awake for the 3-hour flight and 1 hour on the runway. It’s important to disrupt your child’s schedule so he/she will sleep when you arrive at your final destination so you can enjoy some ‘alone’ time with your spouse.
2. Do not bring engaging activities to occupy your child for 3+ hours. Instead, entertain them by singing until you go hoarse.
3. Do not teach your children plane etiquette. Kicking the back of the chair, screaming and crying are perfectly acceptable plane activities.
4. Ignore all airline guidelines for carry-on items. Be sure to pack everything from your nursery to safely make the trip from New Jersey to Minnesota.
On a related note, we noticed that while traveling and being obviously pregnant, it is clearly okay to:
1. Not give up your seat on the train for the obviously pregnant woman (OPW) standing next to you. Instead, look down, out the window, anywhere but at her (yes, I could have asked for a seat, but I was fine with standing. It was, however, amusing to watch everyone look anywhere but at me).
2. Push past the OPW walking through the airport. Her balance is keen, much like a drunken gymnast.
3. Get huffy at the OPW for taking the last table in the shade at the airport food court. There are plenty of tables in the sun that are about 10 °F warmer that would be just fine for the red-cheeked OPW who’s guzzling water like a camel.
*Honestly, we know we have a lot to learn about the whole parenting gig, but we hope to have enough common sense to avoid making the same mistakes.
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Pregnancy Myth #2?
Much like a pop-up timer on a turkey, pregnant women are supposed to come equipped with a malfunctioning timer – their belly button. I have been told that it is inevitable that an ‘innie’ belly button will, during the 6th month of pregnancy, pop out.
This is my belly button at 27 weeks (just shy of the seventh month). I will readily admit that my belly button is now higher than it used to be (due to my swelling belly) but it does not appear very close to popping up. A little research shows that a few women get to keep their innie belly button. There’s hope for me yet! That same research also revealed that you can keep your belly button piercing during pregnancy. They even make special jewelry for pregnant women!
This is my belly button at 27 weeks (just shy of the seventh month). I will readily admit that my belly button is now higher than it used to be (due to my swelling belly) but it does not appear very close to popping up. A little research shows that a few women get to keep their innie belly button. There’s hope for me yet! That same research also revealed that you can keep your belly button piercing during pregnancy. They even make special jewelry for pregnant women!
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
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