Grandma Rita lulls Baby D to sleep.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Man of the Hour
Ben had some bonding time with Dylan while Jamie got some rest.
Will and Lauren Coyne and Christian and Melissa Budde stopped in for a visit and helped break up the monotony of the day.
27 Hours Old
Dylan is now just 27 hours old and already he's learning that Mom and Dad need their rest. He slept for 5 hours straight last night (if only sleeping through the night was as habit-forming as illicit drugs) and all of us are very refreshed.
...Getting comfortable with his romantic troubadour legacy.
Dylan after his late night weigh-in. He lost a few ounces during the day, but now he is a one man buffet-destroyer and Jamie is his smörgåsbord. Look out.
Watch out, Jan, I think Grandma Rita has a new stud in her life.
Lastly, a link to a video of Dylan checking out his world.
Friday, June 29, 2007
Introducing Dylan Moran Rifkin
Both Jamie and Dylan are doing very well.
Mothers are the most amazing people I know.
PS. This pic was shot with my phone, more images to follow shortly.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Fetal Monitoring
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
40 Weeks...
Can you imagine the anticipation?
We can hear the several ticks and tocks of the clock as they count down the moment of a new person's entry into this world, our new person's birth. In my office, a promotional SkiNet clock ticks incessantly between 11:03:33 and 11:03:34, toying with my patience. Add to this high-90 degree temperatures, Jamie's burgeoning belly and subtle twinges of anxiety, and you can imagine this is the first time either of us has so desperately wanted to visit the hospital.
To my knowledge at least 90% of the people who read this blog have been through the near-maternity ward wringer at least once. You don't need to imagine our anticipation. You have it stowed away in the back of your mind, resting on a purposefully dusty shelf somewhere between the awkward middle school years and the taste of brussel sprouts.
This entry isn't for you. It's for the 10% who have not experienced this particular waiting game.
Jamie is at full term, 2 days shy to be exact. Her belly has gone global. With all the activity inside, our baby is sure to come out vying for a world title in mixed martial arts, though we won't sign the consent form for another few years, lest the Good and Great Grandmas and -pas fret. Her energy levels are slowly depleting, though a 3-sale week last week has put a little more pluck in her step. We're starting to implement all the natural labor inducers we can think of: long walks, habanero eating contests, mechanical bull rides, pogo sticking, hip hop dancing, cherry picking, baking, procreation and acupressure. (If anyone has suggestions, we're listening.) The bases for our car seat are installed in each of our cars and the nursery is assembled, awaiting its tenant. Our hospital bag is packed complete with contraband snacks and "Music to Have Your Baby By." Rita arrived last night and is as anxious for Baby Benjamie as we are.
Work seems to take our minds off the waiting. Jamie should be closing another deal today and I'm sending out orders and inquiries with my left hand as quickly as my right can write them. Rita is finishing a book and practicing her putting in our living room. Mother Nature herself plans to invite Jamie's labor with a respite from the hot temps for the next day or two - 75 seems the perfect temperature for dilating, effacing and pushing.
Stay tuned.
We can hear the several ticks and tocks of the clock as they count down the moment of a new person's entry into this world, our new person's birth. In my office, a promotional SkiNet clock ticks incessantly between 11:03:33 and 11:03:34, toying with my patience. Add to this high-90 degree temperatures, Jamie's burgeoning belly and subtle twinges of anxiety, and you can imagine this is the first time either of us has so desperately wanted to visit the hospital.
To my knowledge at least 90% of the people who read this blog have been through the near-maternity ward wringer at least once. You don't need to imagine our anticipation. You have it stowed away in the back of your mind, resting on a purposefully dusty shelf somewhere between the awkward middle school years and the taste of brussel sprouts.
This entry isn't for you. It's for the 10% who have not experienced this particular waiting game.
Jamie is at full term, 2 days shy to be exact. Her belly has gone global. With all the activity inside, our baby is sure to come out vying for a world title in mixed martial arts, though we won't sign the consent form for another few years, lest the Good and Great Grandmas and -pas fret. Her energy levels are slowly depleting, though a 3-sale week last week has put a little more pluck in her step. We're starting to implement all the natural labor inducers we can think of: long walks, habanero eating contests, mechanical bull rides, pogo sticking, hip hop dancing, cherry picking, baking, procreation and acupressure. (If anyone has suggestions, we're listening.) The bases for our car seat are installed in each of our cars and the nursery is assembled, awaiting its tenant. Our hospital bag is packed complete with contraband snacks and "Music to Have Your Baby By." Rita arrived last night and is as anxious for Baby Benjamie as we are.
Work seems to take our minds off the waiting. Jamie should be closing another deal today and I'm sending out orders and inquiries with my left hand as quickly as my right can write them. Rita is finishing a book and practicing her putting in our living room. Mother Nature herself plans to invite Jamie's labor with a respite from the hot temps for the next day or two - 75 seems the perfect temperature for dilating, effacing and pushing.
Stay tuned.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
36 Weeks - Getting Close!
The past couple weeks have been busy for us. Ben went to SF for some business and a little debauchery with the boys for the 96th Annual Bay to Breakers race, then Steve came to visit us and we had a tremendously busy and fun 36 hours. We spent Memorial Weekend (post-Steve) adding some landscaping to the yard after an inspirational visit to the Denver Botanic Gardens, all of which was promptly damaged by a freak thunder/hail storm.
Steve and Jamie in front of Coors Field. We met a very informative and talkative gentleman who regaled us with stories of Coors' past and birth stories for each of his siblings (somehow, his mother went into labor at a ballpark with all of them!). We walked all over LoDo in Denver, from Union Station and the ballpark all the way up to the Capital building. We had a superb lunch/brunch at Rioja (don't miss it if you are in Denver).
A poppie in the Denver Botanic Gardens. The colors were fantastic!
This was our first visit to the gardens...
...as evinced by Ben and Steve getting lost near the Japanese Gardens.
Beside beautiful flowers of all varieties, there were incredible insect sculptures scattered and integrated throughout the gardens. This ant was one of our favorites - it was probably 15 feet tall and 40 feet long.
After the garden we stopped home for a quick rest and then went to Dick's Sporting Goods Park for an MLS game between the Colorado Rapids and the LA Galaxy.
We were part of a record crowd and the Rapids controlled most of the game, winning 1-0. Oh, we should mention our seats: we were in the first row, just off the field at the top of the goal box. Amazing!
We ended our day with dinner at Cafe Brazil, which is always a sensory journey and a pleasure.
This past week flew by and culminated in a Friday evening and Saturday all day attending a birthing class at Rose Medical Center. We learned a few things and had a tour of the labor and recovery rooms at the hospital. Should be a pretty posh stay...
The nursery is almost ready. We received the crib and dresser this week, bought a mattress and are just waiting for our car seat/stroller. Now all we need is a baby...
As a special inclusion to this entry, check out a video of the baby kicking.
Ben is going to NYC for a few days at the end of this week to attend an online advertising conference and Jamie promises not to go into labor!
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