Nicknames

So far...  munya • lovebug • deia play-a • deia pie • mini me • mcgoo • snoopy • deia schmeia • baby love • pie • funky monkey • yummy • loco moco • coco loco moco • moco loco • little miss • fussy mussy • mcgee• 0 to 60 • schmoopy • loopy • starfish • pie • fluffy 

All Smiles!

Oh the love that smile inspires!!! She has the sweetest little dimple in the apple of her left cheek!  Deis is 8 weeks old here.

2 Months Old

Deia is now 8 weeks old, how time flies and how big her little body is getting!  She now has those yummy thunder thighs, rolls everywhere, a wrinkle in her wrists, pillow-top feet and deep dimples where her knuckles would be.  Her hands are opening up wide and her eyes are tracking everything and everyone around her. She continues to fixate on lights or anything bright.  She still seems to like staring at the angles and contrast in dark picture frames against white walls or with a light matte inside.  Best of all, she started smiling voluntarily and now grins from ear to ear when provoked, on her own accord and always for a new friendly face. And as the saying goes, one good smile does get us through the next 3 nights  :-) She laughs too!  And now she exercises an amazing vocabulary of new sounds.  She tends to have most of her conversations on her changing table with the cheetah blankie hanging on the wall, the mistletoe her daddy put up for christmas and the mask in the campodonicos guest room. She coos and screams and girgles.  Just when you think you can't fall more in love with this child....she's got you even more!  Her eyes are still very blue and her lips so so pink.  Her baby acne is gone and now she has rosy, porcelain cheeks.  And her eyelashes are growing in!  She did go from pooping at least 5-7 times a day to a little issue that has her going every couple/few days.  She struggles with the gas and the poop, mostly in the morning hours when we all wish we were sleeping.... So we have given her some baby prune juice and are hoping for the best! She tends to get her best gas out when she abruptly throws a long arm and fist into the air... a la "power to the babies" style.  She has also just discovered her hands and how yummy they taste.  ...thumb sucker in our future, perhaps...

1st Christmas

Deia's 1st Christmas was at Grammy and Wise-1's house in Kentfield.  On Christmas Eve she was overwhelmed by visitors but smiled for all who held her...and there were many open arms.  She had a special party dress and the little pink flowers matched her new rosy cheeks. Christmas Day she was showered with so many wonderful gifts and it's too bad that she slept through the entire present-opening morning! The funniest part was me taking a picture of EVERYONE taking pictures of her. I believe there were two digital cameras, a video camera and a super 8 all out at one time.  Impressive display of technology.  Deia is one well photographed baby!  It doesn't hurt that Tony got me a beautiful portrait lense. Now there is nothing that can stop me!  

1st Hannukah

Deia was 8 weeks old when we went to Grandma Tuti and Grandpa Tati's house for a Hannukah party.  Although Larkin didn't set to out knit a blue and white hat for the holiday, it worked out perfectly for the evening.  Deia performed well for all the guests, showing off her smiling skills for everyone.  

San Francisco

Deia's first trip to San Francisco was on December 22nd.  Having left LA too late, and after random pause to nurse in a shady McD's parking lot, we stopped midway and stayed at Harris Ranch.  It was perfect!  Leather rocking chair, room service and a pretty view. Right off the 5, who knew! She was able to spend time all over Marin County and the city.  She crossed the Golden Gate bridge several times and enjoyed Twin Peaks, Pacific Heights, Stow Lake in Golden Gate Park, The Mission and more.  She enjoyed the view of the bridge from atop the headlands vista point, and had a nice meal there as well :-)  

Little Zeppelin

We try to have music hour in the mornings...a little zeppelin, a little marley, a little g. love, a little bright eyes, a little bob dylan, and occasional jane's, stp and the pharcyde etc.  Though she doesn't really respond to the music or singing yet, it makes for nice background sound while she checks out the picture frames on the walls (her favorite!) and when she does her tummy time.  She just discovered herself in the mirror on the activity gym too and is starting to smile voluntarily! It melts your heart when you see her happy face deliver a huge, deliberate grin! This morning, Corey put on her Page and Plant onesie and brought her into the bedroom...speaking on her behalf, he said how much she loves me and how much she thanks me for being her food and for being such a good mommy. Well, I try.  But it's nice to be recognized ;-) What else? Her eyelashes are slowly growing in, her legs have more rolls and she is starting to have conversations.  Those quintessential, perfect baby sounds are the sweetest! 

1st Month

It's been an amazing month, eventful, confusing, exhausting, enlightening, heart-filling, recovering, awe-inspiring, trying and beautiful. Deia has given us such love and light and we are changed forever. Sleepless nights are forgiven when you wake up to see that little face.  You'll do anything for her in that moment, and always really.  The cliff notes on her first few weeks....  She was born with the sweetest disposition and continues to only cry for the basics. Unfortunately she had jaundice and we had to spend 3 days in the hospital for her light therapy. She loved the lights!  Warmth, like a tanning bed.  We called it her vacation! Because we needed to flush her out and keep her hydrated, I nursed her every 2 hours, pumped and we introduced the bottle with breast milk and also formula.  That made her a lazy breastfeeder and that made my milk supply plummet.  She was also tongue-tied so her latch, although effective, was painful. We had her little frenulum clipped and after diligent pumping and feeding schedule, my milk is plentiful and she has surpassed her birth weight.  Phew.  She had an ultrasound on her little breech hips and we shall see what comes of that.  Deia is getting her tummy time and beginning to strengthen her neck and she is smiling a ton, involuntarily of course :-)  But it's sweet to catch her mid-smirk.  For now she sleeps in our bed and has proven to be a real snuggler.  She will wiggle her way under my armpit if I leave the space open for her to nuzzle in. We are lucky that she'll sleep at least a good 4 hour stretch or two.  Her schedule is hardly predictable at 4 weeks but she is showing clear signs of becoming more awake during the day, more aware and curious.  She is 9 pounds 11 oz and is a good eater, finally! Her poops are impressive....when changing her, we call her the Repeat Offender :-) Her eyes are still saphire blue and her lips are a perfect pink. We probably over-kiss her, but who cares.  We cannot resist!

Pretty Deia

Lori Dorman photographed Deia when she was only 2 weeks old. Though it took some effort to get her "too" full and tired, she finally zonked out and Lori was able to mold and fold her as she pleased. It was so fun to dress Deia in tutu's, headbands, little hats and scarves and to swaddle her in so many different materials.  At the end of the day, her little naked body on our clean white bed was the best. We are so happy to have her earliest days documented so well.  She is growing at an exponential pace! 

1st Thanksgiving

Like father, like daughter :-)  This was Deia's first Thanksgiving and we had much to be thankful for!  At the t-day table was papi, noni, tuti, grandpa neil (who still needs to come up with his "name"), uncle alex and jen.  The food was amazing and the vibe was cheerful and easy. It was nice to have my whole family come together so that our little love has this in her book of memories. We are very grateful for it.

Perry Farrell Onesie!

1st night out for mom and dad and we, with only 150 other people (!), went to see Jane's Addiction at El Cid!!!!  Epic.  Perry Farrel is just hanging out when I tell him I have a 3 week old and ask him to sign her Jane's onesie.  With so much pleasure, he made sure his autograph was visible and added some decorative lines around it.  I was so star struck! ...looked deep into his eyes and said things like, "this is unbelievable," and "you just made a little girl named Deia very happy...and her mother too."  His response, in quintessential Perry delivery, "congratualtioonnnsss, I wish you all the best and good luuucck."  Full eye contact...burning eye contact, he's wonderfully intense but airy, and he touched my shoulder!  I was shaking for at least 20 minutes after that, and then demanded a round of tequila shots!

Diaper Time Friends

Deia is just now starting to focus on images...not necessarily color or cuteness, but the shapes of things in front of her.  She has a handful of little critters that we put by her changing table and they have been known to curb diaper time fussiness for the last couple days.  She stares at them and gurgles and coos too...I think they are talking about how successful her last bm was and whether or not she should repeat offend while we are in the middle of changing her!

Naptime

Deia's favorite place to sleep is on our chests.  Morning, noon or night she will pass out if we put her close to our hearts.  Selfishly, it's the most wonderful feeling in the world.  But one day we'll have to let her go and have her sleep in her own bed :-( She spends a little while in the co-sleeper at night, but she is only one diaper change or little cry away from snuggle time with us. It's too priceless to pass up. And she is such a good sleeper!  We are counting our blessings....

Any Given Sunday

Deia was born a true 49'ers fan.  She's fine with being one of the boys for the Sunday games, and the boys are fine with it as long as she represents in her jersey! Golden State Warriors onesie is on the way....of course.

1st Bath

Deia's umbilical cord fell out when she was 13 days old and we were so excited to give her her first real bath!  So we put her tub in the kitchen sink and had the paparazzi over to make sure the event was well documented :-) She actually seems to love it!  

1st Walk

Deia's first official walk was a short one through the neighborhood.  We walked to kinkos so Corey could take his passport pics and we decided to take hers too!  Just as the shutter clicked on her mug shot, she spit up!  As if on cue!  So her pics have a dribble of vomit exiting her mouth and down her chin. Classic.  Kinkos did not charge us for Deia's photos because they did not think the passport office would accept them. Lol.

Deia's 1st Halloween

Deia was the cutest little daisy for halloween.  It was her fourth night at St. Johns and we couldn't let her miss out on wearing her first costume! ...she was swimming in it.  Corey put on his fallopian swim team getup and rolled Deia's bassinet down the maternity floor at the hospital. It was pretty darn cute if you ask me :-) 

Her Name Is Deia...

Deia is a small coastal village on the northern ridge of the island Mallorca.  It is not well known, but some consider it 'famous' for its literary and musical inhabitants.   ...home to poets, story tellers, novelists, artists and the like. Corey and I found Deia one year ago.  We were staying in Palma and rented a car so that we could adventure around the island for our 1 year wedding anniversary. That's when we discovered Deia, the most charming and surreal sea-cliff town.  It was like a make believe place plucked out of a fairy tale, a picture only someone with an incredible imagination could paint.  It was in Deia where we also had the most romantic and most delicious dinner we have ever enjoyed, truly.  It was at El Olivo, a restaurant built in a refurbished 16th century olive press mill.  Every bite of the several course meal made our eyes close involuntarily and love was in the air.  So when looking for inspiration for our daughters name, it's no surprise that Deia came up as a memory that we hold dear and it seemed feminine and perfect for our little lady. Deia...pronounced Day-a ;-)  Clara is also the name of both of my grandmothers.  In memory of one and in honor of the other.

Welcome Deia

Little Deia was on her best behavior for all visitors.  Our friends and family came out in full force and the hospital room was buzzing with noise and laughter.  She was such an angel as she was tossed about between welcoming arms.  Among those who came to visit were, Grandpa Steve (papi), Grandma Annie (noni), Grandma Susan (tuti), Grandpa Neil, Grammy (anne), G-Unit (tony), Chelsea, Laura and Alecs on Skype (!), Steve, Susie, Pam, Leo, LJ, Mike, Aaron, Stacey, Kim, Alex, Ella, Jill, Tracy, Mike S., Keyara, Soraya, Mick and Page. We were so happy to see so much love around her and for all the well-wishes from afar too.  

DEIA CLARA CAMPODONICO!

On October 28th, 2008, Deia Clara Campodonico was born at 3:49 pm.  She was 7 pounds 9 ounces and 19 inches long!  Corey and I went in for our routine weekly checkup and upon learning that my fluid levels were incredibly low, we were told that we were not going to be leaving the hospital and that we were having a baby that same day!  Happy 2 year anniversary!!!!!!!  The timing, the shock, the adrenalin...our baby was to be born via c-section that afternoon and our emotions were all over the place.  Our nurses, specifically Lori, were so wonderful.  The anesthesiologist had us cracking up and even sang a special song about breech babies while in the OR. Dr. Thordarson came in smiling and ready to go to work.  I cannot really relay that overwhelming feeling when the tugs at your tummy subside and that baby is pulled out...to hear that first cry and to see her little face for the first time...to watch daddy cut her cord and then to have the ob grab that newborn and have her face plant me in all her glorious gookiness! I kissed her mouth as she cried so sweetly. Oh my gosh.  Life as we knew it changed in that instant.  Love like we never knew welled up.  Shock and awe took over. We were surely existing on another level, a different realm of being, thinking and feeling.  Corey and I, connected, admiring each other and our baby, that feeling of total satisfaction and purpose. All we wanted was quiet time, the three of us, in our bubble, kissing, cooing and cuddling.  

38 Weeks

So this is where we're at, barely fitting into booths!  I had to size up two other tables before we determined I would fit into this one. Not so embarrassing, but definitely funny! I'll take this opportunity to say that I haven't really pulled any/many pregnancy food requirement/ craving/aversion maneuvers throughout these 9.5 months, until now.  I may only have a few more days to indulge in this time and something just clicked. I am ravenous for certain things!  And, to be honest, as of yesterday...there has been no stopping me :-)  I am talking about pizza AFTER dinner, picking two flavors of ice cream at basking robins - leaving - and driving around the block only to return there to pick up a third, and finding coldstone creamery on gps and then having my husband ask me if I am "really going to eat that whole thing."  Whatev, I think it's fair to say that I am allowed this last weekend to go for it in a way I haven't before.  

Ultrasound #8

10/23/08 - 37.5 weeks!  That's her little profile, forehead, nose, lips and chin from the middle left down to the right.  We were lucky to get this shot of her because during the previous 2 ultrasounds she was so anti-paparazzi she had BOTH her hands and feet covering her face! She seems very content in there, comfy and strong.  This little girl has already proven her resilience.  We found out she was breech at 36 weeks, and she straight chilled through a very intense version we attempted last week.  Completely un-phased....unlike mama who feels like she was beaten up by matilda the hun!  We'll see if she decides to turn on her own within the next week.  If not, we may meet her sooner than we thought!  It will be amazing to finally hold our daughter! 

37 Weeks

37 weeks...on the left.  Lindsey Colhoun, on the right, is just a short month behind me and we decided a pair of boobs made for our perfect halloween costume! We don't know if I will actually make it to October 31st or not, so we took some photos early on to be sure we didn't miss this perfect pregnant moment.  I am feeling....as well as one does with a baby that is full term!  A little uncomfy, a little achy, a little tired, a little emotional.  BUT, still happy of course. The baby is breech right now, a matter which we are working on anecdotally and medically. Between burning moxa sticks, hanging upside down, acupuncture, flashlights, floating, headphones/music, visualization, massage, talks, etc, we are trying it all. But she is in there, very active and healthy and that is the most important thing. We will see what happens either in the version scheduled for this week or in the couple weeks thereafter.  Regardless, we cannot believe we are near the end of this journey and that there really will be a little face on a little person as a result!  

Fallopian Swim Team

Corey and Ian poised for fertilization.  This halloween costume seemed appropriate for 2008 for obvious reasons.  The Fallopian Swim Team got the gold metal for performance this year and will remain in training for future endeavors.

35 Weeks

I CAN'T SEE MY FEET!  Granted, I couldn't weeks ago, but I never bothered to look.  I was on the phone with Mandy, who actually asked me to stand up straight...look down...and tell her what I saw. Which was nothing but my big belly!  Hilarious.  It's just as well, my feet are not my own these days and there is no need to admire them. They look like they need a good juicing! All is well with the baby and we are getting the nursery ready for her arrival.  I had an incredible baby shower in LA last weekend.  50 gorgeous and very generous women made for a lovely afternoon in the garden.  I was humbled by all of the smiles and gifts.  My mom, annie, veronica f, veronica d, judy, jeannie and lindsey did such a beautiful job!  

A Bad Wrap

Nobody told us we would need to buy new bath towels...they absolutely will not wrap around my 33 week pregnant body.  Awesome.  

32 Weeks

I decided to surprise Corey and have some pregnancy photos taken.  But the photographer I found didn't just take belly shots of a happy mama, she really thought out of the box! 5 hours in the garden and studio and the outcome had Cor amazed.  We have already booked her to shoot the baby only days after she is born and we are so excited!  32 weeks when these pix were taken.  I had a pretty bad cold and a post-mexico stomach issue - fun. But the baby was fine, moving around plenty and keeping me up all night!  Corey and I have a new spin on the beastie boys track,                                                       "NO • SLEEP • TILL DUE DATE!"

Ultrasound #5

9•2•08 - 30 weeks 3 days.  After 10 long weeks we finally got to see our sweet little baby again!  We had a glimpse of her in 4D, but her little hands and feet were blocking her face most of the time...so we really only go to see her tiny nose and, what appear to be, big lips.  She was sleeping at first, so I chugged an apple juice to see if we could get her squirming. She was right on target in weight and length for her age. Dr. is happy with me and with the baby and of all things that they look for in the black and white abyss of an ultrasound.  When this image was taken she was Frank Breech with plenty of time to turn.  Actually, I went in for another ultrasound at 31.5 weeks and she had already scooted into a transverse position where her head was basically southwest and her butt northeast.  Seems like she is moving in the right direction and hopefully she'll be in delivery position sooner rather than later.  We are getting so close!  As for mama, I am feeling great (despite the aches, sleeplessness and ruthless return of the over-active bladder), loving the summer, still exercising a ton and nesting. This is a wild ride and the anticipation of what's next is incredible! 

Belly Body Shot

31 weeks in Cabo San Lucas. The little one's final flight in utero. Let's just say that it was a very different way to experience Mexico. Sans tequila, what?! Didn't even know that was possible! Corey still managed to indulge in some Pacificos and even figured out a way to do a belly body shot! Glad I could be of use :-)

30 Weeks

When did 30 weeks happen?!  10 more left, give or take a couple. Wow.  It truly is the final stretch now and we are still having so much fun with it all.  Corbet just finished painting the nursery and his nesting bug has completely set in.  I just love being pregnant during the summer. I would shoot for this season all over again, if I could determine the timeframe of the next go. Though the heat and humidity do nothing good for the swelling, it feels so good to be tan and scantily clad :-)  Flowing shirts, bikinis, cotton dresses.... ...flattering, comfy, whimsical and feminine.  Pants and I have an iffy relationship without a baby in tow and I fear the day where drawstrings have to replaced by anything with a waistband!  But nothing beats floating in water, afternoon bbq's, local weekend retreats, june weddings and dining al fresco.  LOVE being pregnant during the summer!

Campo-Cantina Hosts

Campo-Cantina 2008 was a success!  Over 100 people passing through during the day/night, margarita machine, bloody mary bar, taco bar, kegs, ping pong, bocce ball, horseshoes, headers in the pool and birthday cake.  It was a serious party! Corey was such an amazing host, always encouraging a good time for all.  He took an accidental spill into the jacuzzi and doesn't at all blame being a few margs deep.  Lol.  I was the sober one, managing through the day on a single glass of wine.  Amazing, but true.  Next year is mine!  Talk about a last social hoorah of that size before we have our little family.  What a way to do it!  Mini-Camp did just fine...she just demanded that I take a day off my feet, but only after the Radiohead concert of course ;-)  

28 Weeks

28 weeks and the belly is a full frontal protrusion! Nada on the sides, it's kinda funny how 'far out' she is.  This photo was taken right after my beautiful shower in Ross. Margie and Pollie created an enchanting afternoon in the garden.  It was so beautiful and everything was done with such thought and love.  Great women, dear friends, wonderful family.  Everyone in my life is so amazingly generous and I am forever grateful.  Little lady Campodonico is doing very well!  According to doc, she is the perfect size, incredibly active and a good iron thief.  According to mom, she is a little kung-fu panda and really good friends with my bladder.  Overall, we are both doing great.  ...despite some swelling, which went from occasional to more-often-than-not, I am still enjoying this pregnancy more than I ever could have imagined!  

26 Weeks

This photo is against the backdrop of the Badlands of South Dakota. What an authentic, raw and grounding experience and our little girl was blessed and celebrated by so many intuitive people.  Amazing.

Tahoe - 6 Months

The three of us enjoying some boulder-hopping on the Nevada shores of Lake Tahoe.  We envision so many wonderful family moments on that lake and cannot wait to show our daughter as good a time as we always have here.  Tahoe has a special place in our hearts and always will. 

24 Weeks

7.20.08 - 24 weeks and 1 day.  It's amazing how big I thought I was at 15 weeks, 18 weeks, 22 weeks....I still cannot believe how much larger I will get!  Now that she is growing about a 1/2 pound a week, mini camp is changing my body at hyper-speed!  Everything is getting a little bigger these days :-)  She continues to practice her kung-fu and Corey is now able to see her kicks from the outside.  It's wild to see my belly bounce the way it does when she does a hitch-kick!

22 Weeks

22 weeks!  More than half way there and I can feel her kicking now! She is nearing a pound, which finally has her giving me some really good slugs.  She woke me up last night, so I woke up Corey.  7/7/08 marks the date that he felt 2 of her kicks for the first time!!!!  We are so excited and are thoroughly enjoying summer sun, friends and the glory of the twosome that we are for only a few more months :-)

Ultrasound #4 - 20 weeks

Lil' Campodonico is 20 weeks and 2 days old today and we had a very long, specific and exciting ultrasound. I have not been able to feel her yet because I have an anterior placenta, which means it's in the front.  It's normal, obviously, because its placement can be anywhere and depends upon where the egg was implanted in the uterus.  Anyway, I was told that I might not feel her give me a swift one until she is about a pound.  Crazy that that is not so far away!!!!   Sure enough, she was moving around SO much!  Her ten fingers and ten toes were opening and closing, legs kicking away like crazy, her body wiggling. She is very, very active.  And she is doing great!  We were told she is on target for her weight and length.  Her bones and all major organs (which we explored at length....including the 4 chambers of the heart, bladder, stomach, brain hemispheres, kidneys etc), all look stellar as well.  She weighs somewhere between 10-12 oz and it about 7 inches long, head to bum and not including her legs.  As if the technology of the ultrasound wasn't astounding enough, the dr. flipped a switch and - voila - there was our daughter in 4D!!!!!!!!  Whoa.  Her little face was so so so cute!  Too early to tell who she looks like, of course.  I just keep hoping she has her daddy's smile :-)  

Strategic Floating

This is how I get sun on my back these days! Takes up a lot of space in the pool, but is very effective :-)  Oh, 20 weeks here and the bigger belly definitely makes me more buoyant! ...Strange you can't see my tummy in this picture, cuz it's impossible to miss!

Hot Mama?

Corey said, "Sexy...in a primal way."  Lol! 

Beach Bump

When did this happen? Sure, things were tubby around the middle for a bit, but then a hard, protruding belly made its appearance, what seemed to be, overnight!  P.S.  Objects in picture actually do appear larger than they are. Phew.

Daddy-2-B

Thought we should bring Cor into the picture here :-)  He has been more thoughtful, kind and supportive than one could ever ask for. Always mindful, always involved, always protective and always loving. These days he takes every opportunity to say sweet things to his daughter and gives her many caresses and hugs.  She is a very, very lucky little girl to have him as her daddy.

18 Weeks

She has made herself known, undeniably!

15 Weeks

New baby bump goes on a hike in Kauai!

It's A Girl!!!!!

Ultrasound #4 • 5/27/08 • 16 weeks 3 days • We found out that SHE was thriving in there!!  We snuck into this ultrasound because our tech was kind enough to offer a freebie so we could find out the sex sooner rather than later.  It was wonderful!  We saw her fingers, toes, her spine, her face, her long legs and....her private parts. We did not measure her that day, but statistically she would have been about 5 inches long from head to rump, not including the length of her outstretched legs.  So, she was about the size of a large avocado!  She should have only weighed about 3 oz at that time and had eyelashes and eyebrows and could begin to hear our voices!  It's incredible to know that "it" is a "she," a her, a daughter, a granddaughter, a great-granddaighter and a niece!  It all just became so so real.  I am feeling awesome and am trying to live it up while I am happily and easily mobile.  Prenatal yoga 3x a week, ballet 1x a week, pilates 2x a week and cardio at least 3x a week.  I intend to go go go until I can't quite go anymore!  

Ultrasound #3

4/22/08 • 11 weeks 5 days • This was a really fun ultrasound.  We did not expect our little kumquat sized white blob to look like a little baby (4.92cm long)!  Not only did we see eyes, mouth, nose, arms, legs, hands and feet, but it was bouncing around so much it already had rhythm! Luckily this gorgeous image came on the day I woke up feeling fantastic.  I didn't really know how icky I felt until I woke up that day and felt...good!  All of a sudden my energy was boundless, going to bed was difficult!  I have never known energy like I had it at that moment and continue to pray that it sticks for a looong time.  Conquering the world seems doable at this stage.  Just another couple weeks and we get to share this joy with our friends and family.  Fun!

Ultrasound #2

3/25/08 • 7 weeks 3 days • The baby is 1.21cm long, about the size of a blueberry.  This time we heard the heartbeat a healthy 150x per minute!!! It doesn't quite look like a person yet, but apparently it's growing leg and arm buds, a mouth and tongue and has its kidneys in place.  So much infrastructure in such a little grain of rice!  At this time, I was absolutely exhausted, crazy crazy tired.  I pulled off of the freeway to take a quick nap at one point!  I cried about having to replace all of our nice pump soaps with unscented ones.  I only got whoozy on an empty stomach, so all in all I feel like I had it pretty easy.  I still managed to get my butt out of bed to work out and be productive every day.  ...somehow.  Oh, the due date is now November 8, 2008!!!

Ultrasound #1

3/14/08 • 5 weeks 5 days • Is this real?  We crept into an early ultrasound.  Baby and gestational sac were in the right place and we saw the little heartbeat!!!!  It was almost too early to witness that, but the ultrasound technician said we got lucky because it may have only started as much as a few hours before our visit!  What a miracle, truly.  In the ultrasound image, the ring is the sac and the little white area with the computer marking (+----+cr;) is our baby.  The computer markings are the measurements...about 2mm.  Amazing.  Seeing this was the most inspiring assurance imaginable.  It's real!  Hopefully next time we will hear that heart beating loud and strong.  Wish we had that machine at home!

A Little Campodonico!!

March 2nd was the day that changed us forever.  It was the day we found out that 2 became 3! Sure, we were actively trying to start a family, but never imagined we would be so blessed as to conceive on the first try.  1 digital test that clearly read, "PREGNANT," did not convince us at all.  2 tests later we called the dr. for an appointment and waited impatiently for ultimate confirmation. We decided to hold off on telling our parents until pee-sticks were actually proven correct and after we digested and enjoyed the news privately.  So we decided to celebrate by camping at El Capitan Canyon for the weekend.  We spent days breathing fresh air on hikes and bikes and nights by the fire talking about the journey we were about to embark on.  Corey had his scotch, I made virgin bloody mary's.  It was there that our baby had its first s'more!  It was there that I also learned that my bladder was newly overactive...  A couple weeks later we shared the news with our immediate family, who were overjoyed, and we all agreed to revel in it quietly for the following 3 months.  It was a magical and exciting time for us, albeit the overwhelming exhaustion that comes with the first trimester.  Every week of progress was another week of a miracle.  We were in awe....a little campodonico, made from so much love.  Is there anything more beautiful?!