Jackie had her four month appointment yesterday for another round of vaccines and the a weigh in. She weighed in at a very healthy 15 lbs 2 oz.
It looks like there are three teeth coming through now, and she's handling it pretty well. We've been able to tell when she's really uncomfortable and give her some teething gel to numb the gums a bit.
I'm going to try and put up a nice post on Christmas for the three or so readers of this thing. In short we had a great time, but very busy... not much relaxation, but I'm hoping for a bit more of that in the coming weekend. Due to my work schedule, I have 4 days off, and the snow made this a real short week, I stayed home on Monday to avoid the perils of post-blizzard mass transit. I wish I had taken the whole week off, as the trains are still not running on time. Yesterdays commute was a bit longer, as the PATH wasn't running between Newark and Journal Square, and we were on a weekend schedule for NJT.
Just an FYI, when NJT says Rail service is operating on a regular weekday schedule on all lines. A handful of trains (representing about one percent of the weekday schedule) will be cancelled. It is code for "your normal 6:41 train out of Bridgewater is canceled, and the 7:06 train that runs behind it will show up 4 minutes early, so you have to sprint through the icy parking, underpass, and un-shoveled platform. to get to work on time"
I found myself hoping that the car battery in the Explorer would be dead yesterday (and this morning) to give me an excuse to take the day off and get an early start on the New Years weekend.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Teething
We really can't believe how fast these teeth are coming in. We had suspected that Jackie was starting to teeth about two months ago, when the normal amount of drool we had become acustomed too turned into buckets of drool, and she was soaking through two bibs and her onesies at the same time.
For the last few weeks, it looked like there may be a tooth coming though, but now it looks like it's broken through the surface, and there may be second one popping out too.
She's actually been pretty good with all this, I've noticed that she's sleeping lighter during her naps, and having a tough time settling down, but in general aside from a few outbursts, she hasn't been much fussier, we're just so shocked and amazed at how quickly all this is happening.
We've really been scrambling to get ready for the Holidays, we had a busy month so the tree and lights didn't go up until this past weekend, and I think we've gotten most of the ornaments up. I've been baking a few batches of cookies, and Alison has been wrapping all the gifts. We made stockings, and are still putting up decorations around the house...we may actually finish before we head up to North Jersey for Christmas Eve. Between all this decorating and wrapping, Alison has been getting the Christmas cards in the mail. We've been meaning to send them out for a few years now, and finally this year, they are going out.
It's been a hectic week... but we are almost ready to celebrate our first Christmas with the baby.
For the last few weeks, it looked like there may be a tooth coming though, but now it looks like it's broken through the surface, and there may be second one popping out too.
She's actually been pretty good with all this, I've noticed that she's sleeping lighter during her naps, and having a tough time settling down, but in general aside from a few outbursts, she hasn't been much fussier, we're just so shocked and amazed at how quickly all this is happening.
We've really been scrambling to get ready for the Holidays, we had a busy month so the tree and lights didn't go up until this past weekend, and I think we've gotten most of the ornaments up. I've been baking a few batches of cookies, and Alison has been wrapping all the gifts. We made stockings, and are still putting up decorations around the house...we may actually finish before we head up to North Jersey for Christmas Eve. Between all this decorating and wrapping, Alison has been getting the Christmas cards in the mail. We've been meaning to send them out for a few years now, and finally this year, they are going out.
It's been a hectic week... but we are almost ready to celebrate our first Christmas with the baby.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
New Links
I added a few more links to the sidebar from some friends for anyone who is interested.
One is from our friends Dwight and Peggy Renshaw, who just welcomed their second child to the world, little Rebecca.
Another is from a friend in the Coast Guard, Nate Menefee writes about happenings in the Maritime world.
The last is from another KP classmate and his wife, they have also just welcomed their second child Audrey recently, they also have a very special and brave little boy named Keegan who had a heart transplant just a week after he was born. He's been going through a rough patch since Thanksgiving and could use some prayers. It's a very courageous family.
One is from our friends Dwight and Peggy Renshaw, who just welcomed their second child to the world, little Rebecca.
Another is from a friend in the Coast Guard, Nate Menefee writes about happenings in the Maritime world.
The last is from another KP classmate and his wife, they have also just welcomed their second child Audrey recently, they also have a very special and brave little boy named Keegan who had a heart transplant just a week after he was born. He's been going through a rough patch since Thanksgiving and could use some prayers. It's a very courageous family.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Work Related Post
Just as a point of interest, I wanted to take a step away from baby related posts for a moment. The Project Manager for the big transit redevelopment project at Denver Union Station that I have been working on for the last 2 1/2 years sent this nice aerial view of the job site. The photo I guess was taken by the contractor.
What we are seeing in this picture is about 1/3 of the new underground bus terminal that has been excavated, the slab and wall poured and the roof structure being erected. The holes in the middle of the facility will be skylights in the passenger concourse below. The rooms at the hammerhead shape of the facility near the top of the picture are all the mechanical and electrical equipment rooms. The larger one to the left, is where the giant exhaust system to remove the bus emissions and the smoke from a fire will be located. Above that in the picture is the new Light Rail Station which will replace the current one near the bottom, where you can see the train cars. That's scheduled to open in the spring.
The contractors are really moving along, it's been a great project for me to work on.
What we are seeing in this picture is about 1/3 of the new underground bus terminal that has been excavated, the slab and wall poured and the roof structure being erected. The holes in the middle of the facility will be skylights in the passenger concourse below. The rooms at the hammerhead shape of the facility near the top of the picture are all the mechanical and electrical equipment rooms. The larger one to the left, is where the giant exhaust system to remove the bus emissions and the smoke from a fire will be located. Above that in the picture is the new Light Rail Station which will replace the current one near the bottom, where you can see the train cars. That's scheduled to open in the spring.
The contractors are really moving along, it's been a great project for me to work on.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Success!
Alison and Jacqueline braved the crowds of the Bridgewater Commons Mall once again today, to try and see Santa.
Looks like we found the picture to include in the Christmas Cards!
Video Update
I thought she was making some cute noises, so we took a short video this evening. We were watching the Giants game on the DVR and were real excited about how things were going, I avoided all media all afternoon, so I could focus on the decorating... what a waste of time that turned out to be!
Lights...
Finally... at long last... after buying lights for the last 8 years, I have decorated the exterior of my domicile in time for the winter solstice!
Joe happily made the trip down to Bridgewater to help me this afternoon, but I must say, this was really made easy by this glorious light hanging device ! It really saved a lot of time.
I expect that now, after we've finally done this for the first time, while the start is somewhat humble, we'll be building off this from now on. Please say a prayer that we don't burn down the neighborhood at some point in the future.
Joe happily made the trip down to Bridgewater to help me this afternoon, but I must say, this was really made easy by this glorious light hanging device ! It really saved a lot of time.
I expect that now, after we've finally done this for the first time, while the start is somewhat humble, we'll be building off this from now on. Please say a prayer that we don't burn down the neighborhood at some point in the future.
Party Time !
After our disappointing attempt to see Santa on Saturday afternoon, we brought Jackie up to Fair Lawn to hang out at Grandma's annual Christmas Party.
This year, with the good weather and apparent lack of germs floating around, they seem to have had a record turnout, (or at least more people than have been showing up over the past few years), Jackie got to meet all sorts of strange new friends, or maybe they got to meet her when she was zonked out in daddy's lap down stairs?
When we first arrived, we tried to get her to show off her new moves on the living room floor....
She was her usual bashful self, and decided she liked playing on her tummy just fine... there was no reason to roll over for Grandma, Grandpa, or Uncle Joe after all. Daddy seemed to be the only one able to get her to try on the new antlers the elves left for her.
Jackie took some nice pictures with Grandma at the tree. Grandma was so happy to finally show her all the nice decorations that magically appear each year after thanksgiving... (a little birdie told me they started showing up early this year, on account of the fact that the turkey was cooked in Bridgewater on Thanksgiving)
Unfortunately for all posterity, Dad neglected to use the red eye filter so our darling daughter looks like a space alien in all the pictures.
The elves paid a visit to the basement, and set up a nice play pen, with all sorts of new toys.
After a brief visit to all her new friends upstairs, Jackie got a wee bit overwhelmed and was whisked away back to the basement as gracefully as she arrived, where she was able to take a nice little nap and spend some time with Grandma and Grandpa Walsh, Grandpa Trynosky, and Uncle Joe. Later on in the evening she was able to come back to the party, after it had died down a bit.
Uncie Joe, being a bit subversive (as we expect him to be), decided the time was right to introduce dear Jacquline to the wonders of candy...
She got a few licks in before anyone called DYFS....
After everyone left Jackie entertained everyone with tales of her crazy adventures until late in the evening
It was a fun evening for all.
This year, with the good weather and apparent lack of germs floating around, they seem to have had a record turnout, (or at least more people than have been showing up over the past few years), Jackie got to meet all sorts of strange new friends, or maybe they got to meet her when she was zonked out in daddy's lap down stairs?
When we first arrived, we tried to get her to show off her new moves on the living room floor....
Jackie took some nice pictures with Grandma at the tree. Grandma was so happy to finally show her all the nice decorations that magically appear each year after thanksgiving... (a little birdie told me they started showing up early this year, on account of the fact that the turkey was cooked in Bridgewater on Thanksgiving)
Unfortunately for all posterity, Dad neglected to use the red eye filter so our darling daughter looks like a space alien in all the pictures.
The elves paid a visit to the basement, and set up a nice play pen, with all sorts of new toys.
After a brief visit to all her new friends upstairs, Jackie got a wee bit overwhelmed and was whisked away back to the basement as gracefully as she arrived, where she was able to take a nice little nap and spend some time with Grandma and Grandpa Walsh, Grandpa Trynosky, and Uncle Joe. Later on in the evening she was able to come back to the party, after it had died down a bit.
Uncie Joe, being a bit subversive (as we expect him to be), decided the time was right to introduce dear Jacquline to the wonders of candy...
She got a few licks in before anyone called DYFS....
After everyone left Jackie entertained everyone with tales of her crazy adventures until late in the evening
It was a fun evening for all.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Santa "Returs" at 2:00
The last two days we've been planning on braving the last minute holiday rush, and heading to the mall to have Jackie's picture taken with Santa, or one of his acolytes.
Yesterday's plans were thwarted by a diaper explosion that blew through 3 layers of clothing, luckily it didn't make it to the fourth, so we put off our plans again until today.
Today we tried getting to the mall a little earlier, but were thwarted by Daddy sleeping in, from being up too late playing video games... but decided to make a go of it anyway.
We got Jackie all dolled up in her Christmas dress, and we were all set to go.
By the time we got to the mall, she was totally passed out, nothing could wake her.
We then got to see the long line, and were greeted by a sign left for us by some elves who never made it past the first grade... "Santa returs at 2:00"...so our latest plans were thwarted by a sandwich apparently.
I think we will make one more valiant attempt to meet the big guy tomorrow, or Monday. If not, I'm sure he will still leave gifts for her first Christmas here in Bridgewater and all over Northern New Jersey.
She seems a little bummed out here, when she was told we had to try another day, but it's more likely she is still sleepy.
Yesterday's plans were thwarted by a diaper explosion that blew through 3 layers of clothing, luckily it didn't make it to the fourth, so we put off our plans again until today.
Today we tried getting to the mall a little earlier, but were thwarted by Daddy sleeping in, from being up too late playing video games... but decided to make a go of it anyway.
We got Jackie all dolled up in her Christmas dress, and we were all set to go.
By the time we got to the mall, she was totally passed out, nothing could wake her.
We then got to see the long line, and were greeted by a sign left for us by some elves who never made it past the first grade... "Santa returs at 2:00"...so our latest plans were thwarted by a sandwich apparently.
I think we will make one more valiant attempt to meet the big guy tomorrow, or Monday. If not, I'm sure he will still leave gifts for her first Christmas here in Bridgewater and all over Northern New Jersey.
She seems a little bummed out here, when she was told we had to try another day, but it's more likely she is still sleepy.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Jackie meets Tim Jr.
Hi everyone this is Alison's first post. Last weekend we drove down to Virginia to spend time with Tim and Lupita Williamson and meet their new baby son Tim Jr.
It was a busy weekend. We also had a chance to spend time with Uncle Steve, Aunt Jill and Uncle Joe.
New Link
I added a new link to the side bar.
The Gillespie family, now increased by one, have started a shutterfly website for their daughter Charlotte Rose.
Here is the link if you are interested in seeing what she is up too.
Charlotte Rose Gillespie
The Gillespie family, now increased by one, have started a shutterfly website for their daughter Charlotte Rose.
Here is the link if you are interested in seeing what she is up too.
Charlotte Rose Gillespie
Rolling Over
Alison realized that Jackie didn't have any tummy time all day, so we got her down on a blanket and immediately it looked like she was finally ready to make her move...
Alison of course handed me the camera, which I fumbled with, as she headed down to the basement to change a load of laundry... Jackie took the opportunity to get the jump on us!
So no video of the first official roll over, I think we have an hour or so of video of us waiting for it over the past few weeks, and we missed the big moment. Lucky for us she was in the mood to demonstrate her new skills a few more times, we are happy to share it with you.
Alison of course handed me the camera, which I fumbled with, as she headed down to the basement to change a load of laundry... Jackie took the opportunity to get the jump on us!
So no video of the first official roll over, I think we have an hour or so of video of us waiting for it over the past few weeks, and we missed the big moment. Lucky for us she was in the mood to demonstrate her new skills a few more times, we are happy to share it with you.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
New Friends
Congratulations are in order for the Gillespie and Williamson Families.
Timothy Patrick Williamson was born November 24th, and Charlotte Rose Gillespie was born December 3rd.
All moms and babies are happy and healthy.
Jackie got to meet her new friend Charlotte on Sunday night, and we hope to meet little Tim this weekend.
Timothy Patrick Williamson was born November 24th, and Charlotte Rose Gillespie was born December 3rd.
All moms and babies are happy and healthy.
Jackie got to meet her new friend Charlotte on Sunday night, and we hope to meet little Tim this weekend.
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