Posted by: Cal
It's only a few days away till Stacia and I come home to the Tri-Cities to celebrate the forthcoming TamDam with our families and friends. Man I'm excited, and here's why: I love parties. I LOVE them. But moreso, I love parties like these.
With most parties, you invite some friends, you have some food, you have some drinks, you listen to music, etc. etc. And usually these friends are friends you see enough to entail being invited to your party.
But special events like this one (and weddings, etc.) are great, because you get the chance to see people you haven't seen in a long time, and the people at the party get a chance to see people they haven't seen in a long time, or to meet new people.
Sometimes merging your friends can be bad news (my hippie friends don't always get along with my hipster friends, which is funny because those two words or so similar). But in cases like this people do get along. Maybe it's because you aren't just eating, drinking, and being merry; you're celebrating something. And I'm looking forward to celebrating with you.
I'm looking forward to seeing my family, Stacia's family, my friends, and Stacia's friends all come together in one place. It's going to be a fun day, and I can't wait.
So here's some reminders/notes about this party:
1) Brunch will be served, no need to bring anything edible.
2) Please bring a bottle of champagne, if you'd like, to throw into the memosa mix
3) There will also be kid friendly/non-drinker beverages
4) Kids are welcome to come.
5) This is a Co-Ed party, so Greg, Wayne, etc., don't be scared to attend. The Ledbetter brothers, as well as many other men will be there, so don't be nervous that you'll be the only dude, 'cause you won't.
6) Baby Ledbetter is registered at Target.
7) The address on the invite is residential, so look for the house with the balloons out front.
See ya there!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Sunday, August 24, 2008
What's in a name?
Posted by: Cal
Yesterday Stacia and I attended the wedding of her cousin out in the San Juan Islands. Many of Stacia's family attended, including her hip, no-panyhose-wearing Grandma--little Tammy Damascas' Great Grandma. Great Grandma Gwen referred to Tammy as TamDam much in the same way we refer to Jennifer Lopez as J.Lo. I thought this was hillarious. As most know, we don't know the sex of the baby, which will be a surprise till it pops out to say Hello. So for now we've taken our two pre-birth names, Tammy Wynette and Damascas Pinkerton, International Spy and combined them to Tammy Damascas. Or, now, TamDam. Much like the sex of the child will be a surprise, so will be the name. We have a short list for either sex, which gets shorter as time goes by, which we're at this point keeping a secret.
Yesterday, though, while chatting with Stacia's distant cousins, we learned he'd named his daughter Naomi. This was a short-list name, so now that list has become shorter. Not that we're looking for our kid's name to be so unique that no one else can share it, we felt, though, that two Naomis in the family would be too much.
So here's a question I pose to you, dear readers:
What is the best name you can think of for TamDam, and what is the worst?
I'm keeping my best a secret, but I'll tell you my worst I came up with...
I love the name Ophelia. It has that classic, old-time feel. Ophelia is a character in Shakespeare's Hamlet, and is also referenced in the great song "Who Are You" by Tom Waits ("Now Ophelia wants to know where she should turn."). Then my friend Margaret points out to me that Ophelia is too easy of a target for school-yard prodding since the name sounds like Oh Feel Ya.
Nope. That ended that. No one will be talking about Oh Feelin' TamDam, that's for tamdamn sure.
So comment to this blog with a good name, a bad name, or both.
Yesterday Stacia and I attended the wedding of her cousin out in the San Juan Islands. Many of Stacia's family attended, including her hip, no-panyhose-wearing Grandma--little Tammy Damascas' Great Grandma. Great Grandma Gwen referred to Tammy as TamDam much in the same way we refer to Jennifer Lopez as J.Lo. I thought this was hillarious. As most know, we don't know the sex of the baby, which will be a surprise till it pops out to say Hello. So for now we've taken our two pre-birth names, Tammy Wynette and Damascas Pinkerton, International Spy and combined them to Tammy Damascas. Or, now, TamDam. Much like the sex of the child will be a surprise, so will be the name. We have a short list for either sex, which gets shorter as time goes by, which we're at this point keeping a secret.
Yesterday, though, while chatting with Stacia's distant cousins, we learned he'd named his daughter Naomi. This was a short-list name, so now that list has become shorter. Not that we're looking for our kid's name to be so unique that no one else can share it, we felt, though, that two Naomis in the family would be too much.
So here's a question I pose to you, dear readers:
What is the best name you can think of for TamDam, and what is the worst?
I'm keeping my best a secret, but I'll tell you my worst I came up with...
I love the name Ophelia. It has that classic, old-time feel. Ophelia is a character in Shakespeare's Hamlet, and is also referenced in the great song "Who Are You" by Tom Waits ("Now Ophelia wants to know where she should turn."). Then my friend Margaret points out to me that Ophelia is too easy of a target for school-yard prodding since the name sounds like Oh Feel Ya.
Nope. That ended that. No one will be talking about Oh Feelin' TamDam, that's for tamdamn sure.
So comment to this blog with a good name, a bad name, or both.
Friday, August 22, 2008
It's getting closer...
We are now at 27 weeks, and officially less than three months away from Tammy Damascus' due-date. So far this pregnancy thing has gone quite smoothly, and I feel very blessed and grateful for that fact. Please, oh please, let my pregnancy continue this way!
I've always anticipated that I would enjoy pregnancy. It's like the greatest science experiment ever - and you don't have to compete with a lab partner to see all the good stuff. I'm my own test tube. As exciting as this is, there are some very surreal moments to pregnancy.
It's hard to articulate the feelings of being pregnant - beyond the obvious physical symptoms. On one hand, my body is supporting this new life, but on the other hand, this baby isn't a part of me. It's a new life and already has it's own whims.
As of late I've been reminded of this while sitting in meetings. Baby is now large enough that when excited, all the swims and kicks make my belly jump. I've found myself covering my stomach with my hands or papers when chatting with colleagues to hide this activity - as at work, I am still me and need to be on task and professional. Baby apparently is not interested in my professionalism and perhaps is already interested in the limelight? Or software development and/or marketing? Clearly, we already have a lot in common.
Another strange thing about pregnancy: I think I had a slight idea that baby would know what I was thinking while in the womb. Yes, I realize this sounds ridiculous. It is as though I somehow thought that we would be able to communicate telepathically while connected via the umbilical cord. Not for real, but just sort of... I was not crazy enough to think that I would hear baby's thoughts, but that baby would mysteriously hear/receive mine and understand what I meant. Again, I didn't really literally think this was true/would happen - I think it was just floating in the back of my mind as a maybe. I frequently find myself talking to baby in my mind. While I am very sure this type of communication works as prayer, I have to keep reminding myself that baby can hear - my voice, not my thoughts. If I want to talk to baby, I have to talk out loud.
Certainly, talking out loud when no one is around is what actually makes you crazy.
Dilemma?
I've always anticipated that I would enjoy pregnancy. It's like the greatest science experiment ever - and you don't have to compete with a lab partner to see all the good stuff. I'm my own test tube. As exciting as this is, there are some very surreal moments to pregnancy.
It's hard to articulate the feelings of being pregnant - beyond the obvious physical symptoms. On one hand, my body is supporting this new life, but on the other hand, this baby isn't a part of me. It's a new life and already has it's own whims.
As of late I've been reminded of this while sitting in meetings. Baby is now large enough that when excited, all the swims and kicks make my belly jump. I've found myself covering my stomach with my hands or papers when chatting with colleagues to hide this activity - as at work, I am still me and need to be on task and professional. Baby apparently is not interested in my professionalism and perhaps is already interested in the limelight? Or software development and/or marketing? Clearly, we already have a lot in common.
Another strange thing about pregnancy: I think I had a slight idea that baby would know what I was thinking while in the womb. Yes, I realize this sounds ridiculous. It is as though I somehow thought that we would be able to communicate telepathically while connected via the umbilical cord. Not for real, but just sort of... I was not crazy enough to think that I would hear baby's thoughts, but that baby would mysteriously hear/receive mine and understand what I meant. Again, I didn't really literally think this was true/would happen - I think it was just floating in the back of my mind as a maybe. I frequently find myself talking to baby in my mind. While I am very sure this type of communication works as prayer, I have to keep reminding myself that baby can hear - my voice, not my thoughts. If I want to talk to baby, I have to talk out loud.
Certainly, talking out loud when no one is around is what actually makes you crazy.
Dilemma?
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Over the hill...
Posted by: Stacia
As of today baby is at 22 weeks of development. That is officially two weeks more than half way through an "ideal" pregnancy. It's both exciting and scary to know that we're on the short side of the waiting game now.
Last night Cal told me that he's glad he doesn't feel fully prepared to have Tammy Damascus join us yet, because if he had all the ducks in a row, he wouldn't be able to stand the last few months ahead. Cal's least favorite things in the world, (excepting aliens and dead/living rodents or birds) are waiting and surprises. Since our little one is requiring both of us, this should be an antsy time.
Note to future Tammy Damascus: You think you've got us where you want us now. Crazed with curiosity and anticipation. Not knowing your next move. But don't think you can pull these kinds of secrecy tricks once you come out! We're your parents. We're older and smarter (at least for now), and we'll know all about your wily ways.
As of today baby is at 22 weeks of development. That is officially two weeks more than half way through an "ideal" pregnancy. It's both exciting and scary to know that we're on the short side of the waiting game now.
Last night Cal told me that he's glad he doesn't feel fully prepared to have Tammy Damascus join us yet, because if he had all the ducks in a row, he wouldn't be able to stand the last few months ahead. Cal's least favorite things in the world, (excepting aliens and dead/living rodents or birds) are waiting and surprises. Since our little one is requiring both of us, this should be an antsy time.
Note to future Tammy Damascus: You think you've got us where you want us now. Crazed with curiosity and anticipation. Not knowing your next move. But don't think you can pull these kinds of secrecy tricks once you come out! We're your parents. We're older and smarter (at least for now), and we'll know all about your wily ways.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Photos
I have a new camera. I got it with the intention of taking lots of baby photos. Here are a couple of Stacia...
Stacia's baby-craving food is popsicles and cherries. And cherry popsicles.
She's showing! And the baby's kicking.
Registries and quandries
Posted by: Cal
Yesterday Stacia begged me to drive out to Bellevue to register for baby gifts for our two baby parties. More about these in the near future. Instead, Stacia and I spent the day cleaning the house, but, this morning Stacia wakes me up with a smile plastered on her face which I know means she wants to roll out to Bellevue to click that laser gun at products for our baby. This to me sounds a) boring--breast pumps and bath tubs = not fun. b) necessary--we need a stroller, crib, etc. And c) fun (to an extent)--I like to imagine what my baby will wear, even if it is only shitting in it.
So we venture out to Babies R Us in Bellevue. Stacia does the deciding, I do the shooting. It all works. I follow her leads. I shoot the Baby Bjorn (apparently we need it). I shoot the elaborate breast pump system (apparently women breast feed up to one year. Who knew?), and I shoot the towels, rags, diapers, etc. that come with having a child.
But then comes the hard part, and the fun part. The hard part is hard because 1) we don't know what we're having, 2) we have particular ideas of gifts, and 3) we have particular tastes, especially when it comes to branding.
First, we had to stay neutral. This is because we don't know if we're having a girl or a boy, and, well, we don't like the idea of "boy is blue" and "girl is pink." Not that we think boys should have pink things to make a point. Quite the opposite. We don't think either should be swallowed by pink, or blue for that matter. So we scan some green/blue/yellow towels.
Second, neither Stacia nor I like adornments. We're shopping for a bassinet. There's one with palm trees. Stacia says no. There's one with animals. I say no. There's one with pink hearts. We both say No way! Stacia and I decide on the plain brown one. Then we head down to the strollers. Why is there Winnie the Pooh all over a stroller? Why Dora the Explorer on a stroller? the kid can't see these designs, and strangers don't need the cartoons to be able to guess what's inside the stroller? So why do it? The answer is so companies can make money from you purchasing the Dora the Explorer stroller. Stacia and I go with the plain one.
Stacia and I go through the furniture. This was fun. There's this awesome bed. We learned about it from our friends who had a kid a few months back. This bed is a crib. But when the kid gets older, it folds out to a toddler bed, but, then, when the kid's older, it becomes the frame for a full-size mattress that can be used through the teen years. How cool is that?
Then we get to the clothes. I like this 'cause I like to imagine my little tike in the little socks, the little hats and shirts. But here's a real pet peeve of mine: cutesy sayings on clothes. As we look through the onesies, it's so strange to me how everything has to say something, especially since the baby can't even read what it's apparently trying to convey. I see a onesie, I hold it up for Stacia. It says on the front, "I like hugs." I say to Stacia, "But what if our kid doesn't like hugs?"
"Worlds Best Dad"? I don't need my kid's shirt to believe this may be true. "Too Cute 4 My Own Good"? Maybe, but my kid's clothes don't need to make him/her arrogant before he/she can even speak. "I Want Candy?" So what? You're getting milk again, kid.
I can't put my finger on why I don't like "message" clothes, I just don't like it. I don't like it when adults do it either. You know those girls who wear sweat pants that say "Sassy" across their ass? Is that not weird to anyone else?
Anyway, I digress.
Although we were trying to be neutral, I couldn't resist this little dress for my (maybe) daughter. So I had to also scan some overalls for my (maybe) son. We'll see.
All in all it was a fun and interesting day.
We're planning a couple parties. One will be here in Seattle. The other will be in the Tri-Cities. Both parties will NOT be typical showers, but rather get-togethers for both guys and gals. These are Stacia's wishes. So don't think shower, guys, think Party. It's gonna be fun.
Yesterday Stacia begged me to drive out to Bellevue to register for baby gifts for our two baby parties. More about these in the near future. Instead, Stacia and I spent the day cleaning the house, but, this morning Stacia wakes me up with a smile plastered on her face which I know means she wants to roll out to Bellevue to click that laser gun at products for our baby. This to me sounds a) boring--breast pumps and bath tubs = not fun. b) necessary--we need a stroller, crib, etc. And c) fun (to an extent)--I like to imagine what my baby will wear, even if it is only shitting in it.
So we venture out to Babies R Us in Bellevue. Stacia does the deciding, I do the shooting. It all works. I follow her leads. I shoot the Baby Bjorn (apparently we need it). I shoot the elaborate breast pump system (apparently women breast feed up to one year. Who knew?), and I shoot the towels, rags, diapers, etc. that come with having a child.
But then comes the hard part, and the fun part. The hard part is hard because 1) we don't know what we're having, 2) we have particular ideas of gifts, and 3) we have particular tastes, especially when it comes to branding.
First, we had to stay neutral. This is because we don't know if we're having a girl or a boy, and, well, we don't like the idea of "boy is blue" and "girl is pink." Not that we think boys should have pink things to make a point. Quite the opposite. We don't think either should be swallowed by pink, or blue for that matter. So we scan some green/blue/yellow towels.
Second, neither Stacia nor I like adornments. We're shopping for a bassinet. There's one with palm trees. Stacia says no. There's one with animals. I say no. There's one with pink hearts. We both say No way! Stacia and I decide on the plain brown one. Then we head down to the strollers. Why is there Winnie the Pooh all over a stroller? Why Dora the Explorer on a stroller? the kid can't see these designs, and strangers don't need the cartoons to be able to guess what's inside the stroller? So why do it? The answer is so companies can make money from you purchasing the Dora the Explorer stroller. Stacia and I go with the plain one.
Stacia and I go through the furniture. This was fun. There's this awesome bed. We learned about it from our friends who had a kid a few months back. This bed is a crib. But when the kid gets older, it folds out to a toddler bed, but, then, when the kid's older, it becomes the frame for a full-size mattress that can be used through the teen years. How cool is that?
Then we get to the clothes. I like this 'cause I like to imagine my little tike in the little socks, the little hats and shirts. But here's a real pet peeve of mine: cutesy sayings on clothes. As we look through the onesies, it's so strange to me how everything has to say something, especially since the baby can't even read what it's apparently trying to convey. I see a onesie, I hold it up for Stacia. It says on the front, "I like hugs." I say to Stacia, "But what if our kid doesn't like hugs?"
"Worlds Best Dad"? I don't need my kid's shirt to believe this may be true. "Too Cute 4 My Own Good"? Maybe, but my kid's clothes don't need to make him/her arrogant before he/she can even speak. "I Want Candy?" So what? You're getting milk again, kid.
I can't put my finger on why I don't like "message" clothes, I just don't like it. I don't like it when adults do it either. You know those girls who wear sweat pants that say "Sassy" across their ass? Is that not weird to anyone else?
Anyway, I digress.
Although we were trying to be neutral, I couldn't resist this little dress for my (maybe) daughter. So I had to also scan some overalls for my (maybe) son. We'll see.
All in all it was a fun and interesting day.
We're planning a couple parties. One will be here in Seattle. The other will be in the Tri-Cities. Both parties will NOT be typical showers, but rather get-togethers for both guys and gals. These are Stacia's wishes. So don't think shower, guys, think Party. It's gonna be fun.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
A Paragon of Virtue
posted by: Stacia
Yesterday we participated in the long-awaited ultrasound event. We'd been holding out on many things for this day - namely confirming our fetus name (see prior post) and registering for the sweet baby items to fill our baby nest.
After a long wait in the aptly named waiting room, we were ushered into the darkened room of baby viewing magic-machinery.
We were then treated to an hour and a half of baby viewing enjoyment. Highlights included the confirmation of the appropriate number of appendages (2 arms, 2 legs) and head (thankfully, just 1), along with the appropriate number of hands and fingers. The toes were being kicked about and I wasn't able to eye them as closely, however, I didn't observe any "tense-face" on the nice woman administering the ultrasound, so I'm guessing they are ok as well. Our baby has sweet long legs (something lurking in the genetic pool that clearly skipped Cal and myself) and is growing right on schedule.
The only frustration on our part is that we discovered our baby is apparently as prude as Aunt Shaylee when it comes to public body exposure. Our sweet one kept the legs crossed the entire time. Further adding to the complication was the umbilical cord, which unhelpfully ran from baby's belly, down between those lovely long legs, creating even more difficulty in determining if we are having a lady baby or a boy baby. At one point, we did catch a brief image of the critical bits, but were unable to get a second, confirming glance. The bits we did see appeared to be lady-like, however the ultrasound administrator told us that the cord could have been there, and caused the image. She said she'd give us odds of up to 75% that we are having a lady baby, but she wasn't sure she should even do that.
Unless I develop a pregnancy complication, there will be no medical reason to require a second ultrasound - so along with you, Cal and I will anxiously await learning more about our baby until the birthday comes.
My awesome boss pointed out the bright side - surely baby's modesty is an indication of future virtue. So I'll consider this a good sign, and we'll now begin our baby registry that will be filled with lots of green.
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