My Two Feet

Survey Question (please answer in the comments section):


1. Does this photo remind you of:

a) chicken legs
b) Daddy's legs
c) the Wicked Witch of the East's legs (minus ruby slippers!)

"What, the baby doesn't know it's in a box!"

This from the same oh-so-quotable woman who at various times has been known to say: "What, I'm holding the book!" and "His name is Andrew, Dick!" and "You're not spiritual enough to be an Institute Teacher!" and "Do you even like girls?" and "IF you get married!" and "Oh, so how was your day?" (you had to be there for that one) and "They did an experiment on my bum!" This woman is my mama, and I have her to thank for my current accommodations in a laundry basket! But, teasing aside, she's right -- I don't know, and I don't mind! In fact, I feel privileged to be following in the footsteps of my older brother, Isaac, who also spent the first part of his life sleeping in this very same laundry basket! Given the space restrictions in our small apartment, it really works out for the best -- I'm quite content!

Call me Tang... James Tang

Well, quite the debate had been raging over the past few days as to what my name should be, with suggestions ranging from Baby Gaa and Baby Bugooglio (both Isaac's suggestions), Baby Lilly II and Baby Ethan II (both Ethan's suggestions), and Baby Unnhhh (Lilly's suggestion), to more conventional names like Jacob, Joel, Jaden/Jadon, Jared/Jarett, and James. Mom and dad finally settled on a name though, and I'm just glad it's not Bugooglio Tang. Poochie IV no longer, you can call me Tang... James Tang. (And incidentally, my middle name is Courtney, after my Grandpa Bailey's first name.) Whatever you do, just don't call me Jim -- this means you, Richard "Dick" Barker!



Mom was released today from the hospital, less than 48 hours post-surgery. Hurrah, I got to go home earlier than I expected!

So, at around noon today, I was put in my oversize carseat (or maybe I'm just undersized?) and mom and I were whisked home by dad (accompanied by Ethan and Isaac). After dropping us off at home, dad promptly drove to the University to go to work for the afternoon, leaving my brothers and sister at various babysitters along the way so mom could continue recuperating in peace and quiet. Good thing, because as soon as they got home later that evening, the whole house was filled with the sounds of toddlers working their way through "the witching hour," as mom and dad call it. Noisy! Not that I noticed, honestly. In the two and a half days since I was born, dad still hasn't actually seen me awake with my eyes open (although mom assures him I can open my eyes), and even the great wailings of my brothers and sister (especially the sister) weren't enough to make a difference! I guess I just like my sleep!

Day 2

I forgot to mention yesterday that Dr. Bow had to use forceps to get my head in a position where he could take me out, so I have a couple of residual marks -- a line on my forehead and a bruised upper lip. Thought you might want to see them, but really they're no biggie.



My second day has passed fairly uneventfully. Besides eating, all I've done is slept -- in fact, I slept from midnight all the way to 8 a.m. last night! Mom wishes she could take advantage of the time to sleep, but, being in a hospital, is disturbed on a regular basis so the nurses can take her vitals, etc. etc. She's looking forward to coming home soon! Here's a picture of me in my favored state of consciousness!


Ethan, Isaac and Lilly came to visit today. Honestly, it's probably best that I was blissfully unaware of their visit -- besides taking me on a walk, they each put in their votes for naming me -- I'm sure their ideas would have put me in tears had I been awake!

HELLO WORLD!

Not super happy to be out in the real world, to be honest, but hey, those are the breaks. Guess all good things have to end at some point, eh? Happy Birthday to me (and Cousin Natalie, incidentally!).



By the Numbers:
Physician: Dr. Michael Bow
Enter OR: 1330h; Leave OR 1420h
Anesthesia Start: 1335h; Anesthesia Stop: 1346h
Time of Birth: 1352h
Height: 20"
Weight: 7 lbs. 3.2 oz.
Head Circumference: 14"
Temp: 34.1 C (one hour post partum)
First Feeding: 1451h
Name: ??

I'm A Boy!

Admittedly, I'm a month late communicating this great piece of information to you, but better late than never. Feb. 6 I had what will possibly my last ultrasound (see the photo above) and I have to tell you I think I'm quite the handsome looker. A lot like my daddy, I would say. :) In four days I will have reached the ripe old age of 37 weeks and would no longer be considered premature even if born then, although technically three weeks early. Mom wouldn't mind, I'm quite sure, because in the meantime, I am kicking and punching and getting ready to raise the ruckus I've been destined to from the moment I make my sortie!

Who Am I?

The title of this post reminds me of the Children's Encyclopedia that dad used to read when he was a kid, in which every volume featured a "Who Am I?" article -- or wait, was that "Where Am I?" Crud. He can't remember.

Anyhow that's all besides the point. Mom's OB appointment on Dec. 1 came and went, and do you think she remembered to ask the physician the one most important question on her mind? Of course not. Pregnancy seems not only to allegedly affect tooth composition, but seems also to have obvious effects on mental capacity. End result -- my gender remains a mystery, not only to everyone else, but to myself, too. ROAR.

To make matters worse, it seems I may be subject to the rigors of labor. Woe Is Me. Here I was expecting a nice, big incision to be opened for me at a scheduled time and place, and now instead I'm going to be jammed out head first down that cramped tunnel they call the birth canal. Not all hope is lost though -- mom has been offered the option of a "natural" delivery, but may opt for the C-section anyway if, ultimately, she feels the risk of complications during delivery (uterine rupture, for one) are too great. I dunno -- I just don't want a cone head!