We Named Him!

Jonathan Dean Merrell

After trying and trying to name him, we decided to let Junior pick his own name. As you can see it was quite exhausting.

Ears, Hands, and Feet

Junior definitely got his mama's ears, hands, and feet. They are so cute!

Photos of Junior

Delivered 28 Jun 09, at 10:21am

(9 lbs 7 oz, 22 inches long)

Straight from Heaven!

A Baby Boy!

Caroline delivered a beautiful baby boy this morning, 28 Jun 09, at 10:21am. He is 9 lbs 7 oz and 22 inches long. Caroline and Junior are both doing really good. We have been moved from Labor and Delivery to Post-pardum and will be camping out until probably Tuesday.

Swimming and Burger King

Looks like Burger King's (Whopper Junior's) did the trick. After we went swimming, Caroline was craving a big fat hamburger. Two Whopper Jr's and some Onion Rings later she went into labor and the rest is history.

Swimming Too!

After a tough morning of shopping we decided to go for a little swim. Don't worry...I didn't take Caroline into the Pacific Ocean at 9 months 2 days pregnant. Some friends of ours live in a condo with a swimming pool so we sent swimming with them. Caroline said that the pressure of the water made it more difficult to breathe but that it was nice to float around in the water. I had a blast playing with the torpedo and the skippers. The shamoo torpedo toy actually travels 30 feet under water.

Going Shopping

No baby yet...so we are going shopping.

Con-trick-tions?

So, Doctor Amersi asked Caroline to schedule a visit to the hospital for something called a non-stress test on Junior. I guess the point is to check and see if he is doing alright inside her belly. Yeah, Junior is certainly living in a non-stress world. He has been swimming around for 9 months in a warm, safe place where he doesn't have to breathe, doesn't have to eat, doesn't have to pick himself up out of bed each morning to grind the axe day after day. I sure hope that hte could pass a non-stress test... and he did. Then I got to thinking that he might be thinking, "This is pretty stressful. I have been cramped up in this hot, wet, dark, and solitary place for over 280 days and it is getting a little ridiculous." In the end he may have a case after all.

During the non-stress test they hooked one monitor up to listen to Junior's heart beat and the other to monitor Caroline's belly. Junior passed the fitness check with flying colors and Caroline's montior indicated that she is having contractions. The catch is that she can't actually feel them. If a tree falls in the forest and nobody is there to witness, then did it really happen? That's what I thought. If Caroline can't feel her own contractions...or should I say con-trick-tions...then maybe the monitor needs a little adjusting. Or maybe the trick is on us. The monitor could be picking up all of the micro-earthquakes here in California. Or maybe its the Red Rasberry Leaf capsules that Grandma Babs recommended. Thanks Ma!

Baby Update - 26 Jun 09

No baby yet! Man we are sleeping good these days.

Officially 40 weeks!

Caroline has now officially hit the 40 week mark and is completely full term. After her doctor's visit today it appears that I will have to eat my words and possibly add more days to the poll. Maybe we will start a new poll. You can vote how many days over due you think Caroline will go...starting today. The good news is that Caroline's sister Juliette (and husband Sherman) had a baby boy this morning on Junior's due date. How jealous we are of Briggs. There are no photos of the little guy yet but check here: http://blaserfamily.blogspot.com/ for future pics of Junior's favorite cousin.

The Baby Dropped!

Don't be alarmed...that's not quite the same as saying we dropped the baby. I am also not so sure what the implications are of having the baby drop...other than being cool...and being one day closer to having a baby.

No Baby Yet!

Some have been suggesting that I add more days to the poll. Where is the faith people? The baby will come before the 25th or he will wait until July 4th.

Father's Day

Happy Dia de Padres!

The kidos in the Primary at church made me a special Father's Day tie. It was a little bitter-sweet but mostly sweet. Check out the sweet starbursts...can you count how many there are...or I should say were at this point.

Baby Update - 22 Jun 09 - Long Walks on the Beach

No baby yet.

We decided to go on a long walk on the beach yesterday. It was dreamy and romantic but didn't induce labor in the slightest.

We are just gonna keep trying the good old fashioned sit and wait technique. It seems to be the least desireable but easiest option.

Baby Update - 20 Jun 09

No baby before Father's Day. I guess I will have to wait until next year. There is always a chance that he could come tomorrow...on Father's Day. That'd be quite the rush.

On the positive side, Caroline says she is happy that she still gets to enjoy the nightly foot massages. It usually puts her right to sleep.

School's Out for the Summer

Congrats to Caroline for working through the end of the semester while being 9 months pregnant. Seven months ago the plan was for her to take off the last few weeks of school but she has been a real trooper and worked right up to the very end. She worked up to the last day of class (today) and was able to read the names of all her graduating 8th graders (in English) at their John Leichty Middle School graduation ceremony as they crossed the stage. Now it's time for some summer fun...like long walks on the beach and child bearing :)

FPCON Baby!

The other day at work someone asked me if we were at FPCON Baby. FPCON stands for Force Protection Condition and there are generally four levels Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta. Delta in hollywood terms is something like 'high alert' like where the enemies are attacking and we under serious real threat. So I guess on that spectrum there is a condition FPCON Baby where there is an imminent threat of invasion by a baby. We are almost there but not yet. We are only officially at 39 weeks and 3 days.

Baby Update - 18 Jun 09

No baby yet! Caroline went to the doctor today and he said that she is making progress. No contractions yet but he said it could be tonight or it could be 3 or 4 more days. Tomorrow is good for me. -Brian

Brian as a Baby

Here is a picture of Brian when he was just a little guy.

Another possible preview of our soon to be born baby boy.

I know, I know, you are a saying to yourselves, enough of this sentimental mumbo jumbo, what's the deal with Caroline? Nothing too exciting yet. Noone voted for the baby to come before the 17th so Caroline has been holding out. She feels great and is still teaching the kidos at the middle school full time. Only three more days of class until summer break. What a trooper.

Here is a bonus picture of Brian as a baby!

So cute!

Happy Birthday Caroline! Happy Birthday Junior?

Happy Birthday! No pun intended. It actually could be the birthday of our little one, but a few years ago on this blessed day, June 16th, a little girl was born named Caroline. What a doll!

This is a little preview of our bundle of joy coming to a blog near you.

Minature Onesies?

Grandma Shirls did us the favor of helping us wash our baby's new wardrobe. Some of the cotton onesies shrank a bit and now they are truly size 0-1 month.

We Pimped Out the Crib!

Check out our baby's new digs. It' s like a little castle or palace. He already has 4 stuffed animals as well to keep him company.

Baby Watch!

I am officially putting this household on baby watch! (brian)

No contractions yet...at least that is what Caroline says. The doctor did however say something about Caroline being a 2? Something to do with inches or centimeters or something like her dress size.

Caroline also is learning a new computer hacking skill...it's called e-ffacing. It's like turning a 300 page novel into a single thin sheet of paper.

The doc says that we have anywhere between 0 and 14 days to go. I placed a poll in the right hand side of the blog so that you can guess when Junior will be born. Go ahead and give it your best shot. Winner gets a personalized picture of Junior.

"Junior" is the nickname for our baby who still to-date will remain nameless...not because we don't want the gag reflex reaction of our families, but because we just don't have a name picked out yet. The tour guide at the hospital told us that by law in California we have 7 days to name our baby or else the hospital will register our baby by only the mother's last name. So, worst cast scenario our baby will be named "Merrell".

Interesting fact: When you name your baby you don't have to give it the last name of the mother or father. We could give our baby as many or few names as we want, and we could give it only a first name or give it the last name of somebody famous, like Bush. Maybe we will name our baby George "Junior" Bush.

Shopping at its Best

Here's a great clip of my kid sister, Karen, saving $91 on a pair of pants. Not only is she wicked smart but she's got great shopping skillz.

Video Courtesy of KSL.com

Caroline's New Trick

Cool Trick Hon!