Sunday, March 16, 2008
Think you're smart? Install an infant car seat.
We read the instructions, installed carefully, went to the CHP car-seat-inspection day, and got DENIED. They showed us how the seat-bases should *really* be installed, made sure that we could do it ourselves (by we I mean Michael -- I couldn't lean over and stretch and push and stuff), and made sure we understood how to insert the seat into the base, and position the baby. It was very reassuring to know that we are now safe and secure. We have a base in each of our two cars, and we have one for Mom's car that we are relatively confident we can install ourselves. All 3 cars are Toyotas, that makes it a little easier.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Farkle Queen
Justine finally won a game of Farkle! Lydia, Jen, Eric, and Eddie came over for dinner, and we played a *long* game of farkle. It ended up very close at the end, but Erv farkled and J won.
Ultrasound, and hospital tour
On Thurs 3/6 we had another ultrasound done, met the new doctor, and toured the hospital. The ultrasound showed that the baby is the absolute average in every way. The technologist measured lots of different body parts, and everything came out at the 50th percentile. The baby was 5lbs and 1 ounce, which the doc said averages out to 7 - 7 1/4 at birth. That would be nice!
The new doctor was very friendly (she is a high-risk specialist also). They do a rotation at the hospital, but she said she delivers 70% of her patients. That was good to hear, we thought it was just a toss-up whether she would deliver the baby. Also nice to hear is that they do not have any 'routine' interventions (episiotomy, etc). Each baby is different, and they don't assume anything.
We really liked the hospital (Scripps Memorial LJ). We'll be in one room for L/D/R, and then another room for 2 days of postpartum. Both rooms are private, with a shower. The LDR is very spacious, with a special birth-bed that lets you get in lots of different positions to deliver. It was reassuring to see that we'll be in a comfortable place!
The new doctor was very friendly (she is a high-risk specialist also). They do a rotation at the hospital, but she said she delivers 70% of her patients. That was good to hear, we thought it was just a toss-up whether she would deliver the baby. Also nice to hear is that they do not have any 'routine' interventions (episiotomy, etc). Each baby is different, and they don't assume anything.
We really liked the hospital (Scripps Memorial LJ). We'll be in one room for L/D/R, and then another room for 2 days of postpartum. Both rooms are private, with a shower. The LDR is very spacious, with a special birth-bed that lets you get in lots of different positions to deliver. It was reassuring to see that we'll be in a comfortable place!
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Monday, March 3, 2008
San Francisco, Jan '08
We had a great trip to SF 1/4 - 1/11/08. We flew into SF airport as the storm of the century was heading south. By the time we landed and took bart to our hotel, it was cold but dry. We walked to Mel's Diner for dinner, an old favorite of Mike and his crew, and just ~5 blocks from the hotel. Our hotel was nice and clean, with a fantastic location. The room was fairly small, but that's standard for the city. The hotel had just been renovated, so was very nice for the price, hopefully they will keep it up.
On Saturday, it was raining steadily, so we just did some window shopping, a little strolling around, and lunch, then back to the hotel for a nap before our wild night out. While strolling, we found a perfume that both of us liked (no easy task!), and while I was showering in the evening MJ snuck out and brought me back a bottle. He's the most wonderful man! That night, we met Drew, Margrethe, Martin, and Audrey at Biscuits and Blues, to hear Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, and have dinner. We had a great time -- the music was awesome, the food was delicious, and it was so much fun to catch up with our NoCal friends.
Sunday we got up late (we had stayed up way past our bed time on Sat night), and then picked up a rental car (2 blocks from hotel, so convenient). We took a beautiful drive down the coast, I got to see where MJ and Snowbourne had lived, and then we had lunch by the ocean at Half Moon Bay Brewery. Another beautiful drive to Palo Alto and we were at Martin and Audrey's house, where we had a relaxed evening talking about their wedding plans, diving, raising kids, etc. We spent the night there, and headed back to the city on Monday morning.
Monday we drove all around the city: Golden Gate Park, Legion of Honor, Coit Tower, the Sea Cliff area, the Presidio, and Lombard St. MJ pointed out all of the places that Snow liked to have his walk, which made us sad but it was nice to think about the fun they had living there. We returned the car in the afternoon, and then took the cable car (1 block from hotel!) to Fisherman's Wharf for lunch and a stroll through their aquarium (hard to beat ours, but it is a fun thing to do). We had dinner at John's Grill, which was a setting in author Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon. MJ's filet and my salmon were very very good.
Tuesday we did some shopping because we never shop at home; MJ got a fleece vest and I got nursing/sleeping bras with the gift cert that Marg gave me. It started to pour, so we went to see 'I am Legend', which was good but there were some things that bugged me (won't give them away). We had sandwiches for dinner and went to sleep early, both of us were tired!
Wednesday we took bart to Oakland to have an early lunch with MJ's friend Lei, and then took bart and a bus to GG Park. We wandered around the park a few hours, seeing the De Young museum, Japanese tea garden (my favorite), and ending up on the Haight-Ashbury side. I hadn't been to that area so we wandered there a bit (picture Ocean Beach and you're pretty much there). We had an early dinner at Gordo's, a mexican restaurant a few blocks from MJ's old house, and big favorite with the all the boys who lived there. Went back to the hotel and crashed.
Thursday we had a pub-crawl (not quite as much fun when you're pregnant, but still fun because of the new city). Took the cable car to the end of the line at Fisherman's Wharf and walked across the street to the Buena Vista, where Justine had her first legal drink on her 21st Bday (but couldn't finish it, irish coffee is *strong*!). Had a really good lunch there, and picked up a few things from their gift shop. Wandered to Tiernan's irish bar across the street (Justine really likes Tiernan for a boy's name), and then over to Jack's bar a block or so away. MJ had a great time drinking for three, and Justine got a little sip of his irish coffee (YUM). We took the cable car back, and later on had dinner at Max's Opera House Cafe, another fav of MJ's.
Friday we didn't have time to do more than get up and head to the airport, but it was SO easy with the hotel being a block from bart. An easy trip back, and it was nice to be home.
On Saturday, it was raining steadily, so we just did some window shopping, a little strolling around, and lunch, then back to the hotel for a nap before our wild night out. While strolling, we found a perfume that both of us liked (no easy task!), and while I was showering in the evening MJ snuck out and brought me back a bottle. He's the most wonderful man! That night, we met Drew, Margrethe, Martin, and Audrey at Biscuits and Blues, to hear Lavay Smith and Her Red Hot Skillet Lickers, and have dinner. We had a great time -- the music was awesome, the food was delicious, and it was so much fun to catch up with our NoCal friends. Sunday we got up late (we had stayed up way past our bed time on Sat night), and then picked up a rental car (2 blocks from hotel, so convenient). We took a beautiful drive down the coast, I got to see where MJ and Snowbourne had lived, and then we had lunch by the ocean at Half Moon Bay Brewery. Another beautiful drive to Palo Alto and we were at Martin and Audrey's house, where we had a relaxed evening talking about their wedding plans, diving, raising kids, etc. We spent the night there, and headed back to the city on Monday morning.
Monday we drove all around the city: Golden Gate Park, Legion of Honor, Coit Tower, the Sea Cliff area, the Presidio, and Lombard St. MJ pointed out all of the places that Snow liked to have his walk, which made us sad but it was nice to think about the fun they had living there. We returned the car in the afternoon, and then took the cable car (1 block from hotel!) to Fisherman's Wharf for lunch and a stroll through their aquarium (hard to beat ours, but it is a fun thing to do). We had dinner at John's Grill, which was a setting in author Dashiell Hammett's The Maltese Falcon. MJ's filet and my salmon were very very good.
Tuesday we did some shopping because we never shop at home; MJ got a fleece vest and I got nursing/sleeping bras with the gift cert that Marg gave me. It started to pour, so we went to see 'I am Legend', which was good but there were some things that bugged me (won't give them away). We had sandwiches for dinner and went to sleep early, both of us were tired!
Wednesday we took bart to Oakland to have an early lunch with MJ's friend Lei, and then took bart and a bus to GG Park. We wandered around the park a few hours, seeing the De Young museum, Japanese tea garden (my favorite), and ending up on the Haight-Ashbury side. I hadn't been to that area so we wandered there a bit (picture Ocean Beach and you're pretty much there). We had an early dinner at Gordo's, a mexican restaurant a few blocks from MJ's old house, and big favorite with the all the boys who lived there. Went back to the hotel and crashed.
Thursday we had a pub-crawl (not quite as much fun when you're pregnant, but still fun because of the new city). Took the cable car to the end of the line at Fisherman's Wharf and walked across the street to the Buena Vista, where Justine had her first legal drink on her 21st Bday (but couldn't finish it, irish coffee is *strong*!). Had a really good lunch there, and picked up a few things from their gift shop. Wandered to Tiernan's irish bar across the street (Justine really likes Tiernan for a boy's name), and then over to Jack's bar a block or so away. MJ had a great time drinking for three, and Justine got a little sip of his irish coffee (YUM). We took the cable car back, and later on had dinner at Max's Opera House Cafe, another fav of MJ's. Friday we didn't have time to do more than get up and head to the airport, but it was SO easy with the hotel being a block from bart. An easy trip back, and it was nice to be home.
Spring has sprung
The Valentines flowers that the Nagases gave us are already blooming! Seemed like they were barely breaking through the soil when they arrived, and now there are beautiful flowers! Thanks to Marg, Jack, and Joe!
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