Week 12-Prune

Squirty squirt squirt...we heard your heartbeat again this morning.  However, it took a minute for the doctor to find it and during those treacherous 60 seconds your Papa said Dr. Cabrera looked like this:

I looked like this:

and Papa looked like this:

And then there you were, fluttering and galloping like the little horse you are.  I love hearing you, it makes me all warm and giddy inside.  I feel like the luckiest girl in the world.  After that we decided to have a real heart to heart with Dr. Cabrera about our intentions for a natural birth.  It was a very revealing conversation.  Apparently he's quite conservative and old fashioned.  It became clear early on that we had very different views on childbirth.  I won't go into the details but I will illuminate the turning point, it was when I mentioned that we were speaking with a doula.  His ears flattened like the horse that bit Grandma in Mexico and he immediately straightened up and proclaimed that he would not work with a doula, that it was too adversarial of a relationship and he wasn't interested in doing that.  To his credit, his honesty was refreshing and made the decision to seek another doctor so easy for us.  He even went so far as to refer us to a doctor he knew that did work with doulas and lo and behold it was the very same Dr. Wu at Glendale Adventist Hospital that I had been hearing about on the Boobie Brigade (which is this very informative yahoo group of mothers in and around Los Angeles helping each other out.)  He told us he wouldn't be offended in the slightest if we decided to switch and would do everything he could to make it an easy transition.  We walked out of there knowing for sure that he was without a doubt not the right OGGYN for us.  Funny enough, when I got into the car there was an email from a friend who just gave birth at Glendale Memorial (where Dr. Cabrera is) strongly suggesting we seek another hospital.  That she was convinced we would not have the experience we wanted.  I really think the Universe talks to us if we are just willing to listen.  So Dr. Wu it is!  According to Doula Tracy he didn't win any awards for his bedside manner in medical school but working with him at Glendale Adventist is much better then what we had.  I had no idea this stuff could get so complicated but I truly feel in my heart that this entire experience is a rites of passage for me, and possibly most women, if they choose to look at it that way, and that finding the right doctor and hospital, fighting for what I believe in intuitively and really trying to experience the entire process of pregnancy and childbirth as natural as possible without the aid of anything synthetic is extremely important for me to go through before I become a Mom.   That birth canal you are going to travel down you don't travel alone.  I travel it with you. It's my birth too.  My birth as an empowered, confident, decisive mother.  It's time to let go of the wishy washy young woman that has plagued me.  I hate feeling like a candle in the wind, so easily swayed by others opinions and thoughts of me and everything.  This is my time to stand up and fight for what I believe in.  And I believe in this. There is something so profoundly personal, delicate, sacred, and magical about this time and since I know it's only going to happen for me once, I want to make sure I do everything I can to make it as special as possible.

Here you are right now:

and here am I:

Two little peas in a pod.

Love,

Mom

Barrio San Vicente, Riva!!

We just returned from a lovely trip down to Baja California Sur, otherwise known as Mexico, to visit your Grandma Jill for Christmas.  She lives in a magic pueblito 50 miles north of Cabo San Lucas on the Pacific side of the peninsula.  She's lived there for over 13 years and has an amazing home with a gorgeous casita on it and tons of fruit and palm trees surrounding it.  She also has her own art gallery called Galleria Logan where she sells her own art.  It's the most striking building in the town.  I can't wait for you to see it someday.  You might see it in November, if you are strong enough to travel.  It is a truly magical spot in an otherwise arid desert, an oasis they call it, Todos Santos, All Saints.  You are going to love it.  I just know it.  Because your Papa totally fell in love with it and I have to tell you, seeing the town through his eyes was such a treat for me.  I felt like I was experiencing it for the first time, all the smells and sights. He isn't jaded by past escapades so I felt I wasn't jaded anymore either. My Mom has lived there over 13 years and I've been sober for 6 so when you are old enough, you can do the math on that one. However, seeing Todos Santos with fresh new eyes was truly one of the greatest gifts your father gave me for christmas, in so many ways.

Don't let me forget to give you some of the highlights of the trip; different hikes with the dogs every day either on a beautiful mountaintop overlooking the ocean or along a gorgeous deserted beach with whales breaching in the distance, delicious food all day and night, fantastic company (Jill has a bevy of entertaining, intelligent, warm, loving and generous friends to hang out with) and the cleanest air and water we've experienced in too long.

and here is a picture of your Grandma Jill painting:

you can check out more of her work at www.jilllogan.com

and this is me with you in my belly outside of our casita:

as you can see we are starting to show!  Which is super exciting for me.  I love seeing my belly grow and I can't wait till you get bigger and bigger and bigger and then pop!  out you come.  But in total Arrowyn fashion I have decided to read every single book and piece of literature on birth I can get my grubby little hands on which has served my anxiety well.  I want to do right by you in this process, and right by me, the only problem is, that I don't know what 'right' is yet.  Everyone has an opinion and they seem very passionate about whatever that opinion is.  As of today I want a Natural Childbirth in a hospital which I am learning, is probably the most challenging way to go of all.  However, we are meeting Dr. Cabrera again tomorrow morning and you better believe we have some questions for him.  We met our Doula Tracy last week and we love her.  She has short hair like me.  She seems to think we can have the birth we want even at a less then birth friendly hospital like Glendale Memorial.  So we will see.  I keep asking you what kind of birth you want, but you haven't answered me yet.  I'll keep educating myself in the meantime.

Pregnancy updates:  the nausea has been subsiding but we've added a new component- dizziness.  Totally fun to stand up really fast and see what happens!  Never a dull moment with you Squirt!

For some more pictures of our trip go to http://gallery.me.com/tim.husom#100099

and if you are bored out of your mind and have absolutely nothing better to do with your time then watch a video Papa took with his new Flip camera he got for Christmas from yours truly then check out it out at http://vimeo.com/18231812.  


In it you will see our favorite beach, Las Palmas, where wild horses run the beach and Grandmas sometimes get bit by them.  It was too cold to swim this trip, sad face, but next time we are there, swim we shall.  The ocean and the air are so clean it's breathtaking.

Yo te amo mucho mi hija.

xx
momma squirt

What's in a Name?

Here is the most recent Squirt name list:

1. Pony
2. Peetie
3. Etty

Please leave a comment if you have one.  We encourage dialogue.

*I personally am rather fond of Etty at the moment.

xx
arrowyn

Prune- Week 10

Oh Squirt- this one might be rather short.  I'm not feeling so good the past few days and today feels especially challenging.  I feel like I constantly have a low grade stomach flu and trying to work while feeling this way is so hard for me. I wish I wasn't such a baby about it but somedays I just want to stay in bed all day and have your Papa bring me treats.  Today is one of those days.

You are a prune now.  I love prunes.  I love their squishy goodness.  And they are never too sweet, that's another nice thing about prunes.  I don't eat them enough, I should eat them more now.  They could help with the erratic constipation I'm enduring.

it's pretty amazing that a little prune and a lot of carbs can create this belly:

So today, because of this belly and bum I had to pull out my first pregnancy wardrobe trick I read about- I took a rubber band and used it instead of the top button of my Levi's.  Unfortunately my jeans were cutting into what felt like you and that made me feel very uncomfortable.  But now we are all good.  You are snug as a bug in a rug and I can breathe again.  I tried on some hopeful new pants yesterday but was too terrified to move into the 30's and kept trying on my ole 28's and then 29's refusing to face the facts and leave the 20's behind.  I will have to make that step soon though or else I'll be wearing a mumu for the rest of this pregnancy.  

You are amazing Squirt.  I love you.  Your Dad loves you. Your parents love each other.  Life is good.  Keep doing your thing and I'll see you soon.

love,

mom

Green Olive- Week 9

Okay Squirt- two major developments took place this weekend.

One-you grew about an inch and are now not only the size of a green olive, but a fetus instead of an embryo.  Fetus being the Latin word for "little one."  You don't have a tail anymore and you can move your arms and legs, which is pretty cool, I bet, for you, finally.  Getting some mobility in there.  Go nuts!!

Two- Mommy chopped off all her hair at the persuasive recommendation of your father.  He seems to like short hair mommy quite a bit.  It's terribly cute and gonna be great for hanging out with you.  I'm not one of those girls that has ever gotten along terribly well with brushes, dryers, and curlers.  Short hair certainly suits my personality and always has.  No hair farmers here!

Let's see- what else?

You've been kicking up quite the hormonal storm these past few nights and it's been pretty rough.  I'm getting through the days pretty well but seems like once the sun sets it's progesterone party time and I keep thinking I'm going to projectile vomit all over Papa.  He's so sweet though, I know he wishes he could do something for me, I can see it all over his face.  He would vomit for me if he could.  But he can't.  So he gives me arm tickles and rubs my head, which is just as good.

My belly is bigger as you'll see below.  I keep telling Dad it's most likely just fat from all the Mac n Cheese I can't stop eating but he says it's all baby.  I have to tell you, I feel like I'm fifteen again eating Mac n Cheese.  It's been that long since I've indulged and I love it.  It makes me happy for some reason.  I made a lot of mac n cheese when I was little and taking care of myself.  Not as little as  you are now, but pretty little.  I became quite the pro.  It's a perfect balance between butter and milk, not too wet and not too dry.  Kraft is the best, although these days it's Annie's Organic.  Your Dad only wants the best for you even if it is boxed pasta.

Here you are:

and here I am:

And this is all of us together someday:

We love you, olive bear.  (I just made that nickname up)

xx
mom

p.s. it hit me in the shower today that I will have a husband and a child.  Whew!  And that I will be a wife and mother!  Labels are AWESOME and make me want to cry with gratitude.

Raspberry- week 8

Oh me oh my.  I'm not quite sure what happened from Monday to Friday but somehow your tiny little raspberry sized self in my now grapefruit sized uterus has made your presence unarguably known to the outside world.  My lower abdomen suddenly began protruding beyond ordinary measures in the middle of last week and in my slightly body-dysmorphic way has forced me to change my style.  I have left the land of skinny jeans and high boots and entered the valley of layers and flats.  Some days I might look like I am still in my PJ's but I don't give a shit, because it's East Los Angeles and I can do whatever the hell I want to.  That's one of the things I love about East LA, fashion is as fashion does.  Funny enough though, I just received one of the copious baby centric emails I've subscribed to that says- "Looking good during pregnancy."  As if there is such a thing.  Although your Papa says pregnant women are the most beautiful women in the world. Can you believe he said that?  How rad is he?  We lucked out, you and I, in the Papa/Husband department.  But I'm sure you already know that because he talks to you every night.

So here we are:

+

=

I'm kind of early to be showing as much as I am and I'm not sure why that it is, but maybe I'm just so damn excited about you I want the world to know.  I walk around now with one hand instinctively covering you.  I don't even notice I'm doing it until I do, then I laugh to myself.  For the girl who wasn't sure if she was ever going to get pregnant or have a baby, I sure am diving into this head first with gust and fervor.  This might make you laugh once you know me better, I called the birthing class instructor and emailed her last week and finally talked to her yesterday.  She said that not only was I very persistent but I was also too early to take her class, that I had to wait until her April sessions but that she really appreciated my enthusiasm and that if I wanted her to, she'd send me a list of literature I could entertain myself with.  She said most of her clients don't like a lot of reading but she had a feeling I would.  I get excited about things Squirt, what can I say?  And sometimes I can become a bit myopic in my quest for knowledge but I have a feeling you are going to be the greatest teacher I have ever met.  And I want you to know that I am totally practicing patience for you.  I was working with an Autistic foster kid yesterday and it was so hard, he didn't want to work with me, he was really negative, and I had to stick with him and keep telling myself, "It's not personal.  It's not personal.  Stay Patient.  Just stay with him..."  And I did and suddenly it felt like we broke through and actually started writing a story about Pokeman together.  Unbelievable.  I felt like I'd won the triple crown.  While walking back to our cars my co-worker Jason told me how great I was doing with this group of kids, that I really kept calm and held it together when the shit would hit the fan (they have a lot of emotional and behavioral problems, these sweet foster kids) and that he really liked Pregnant Arrow.  He said I was changing and he noticed and it was cool.

That made me want to cry because I want to be calm and patient for you.  So badly.  It's not something I have ever been but I know all my life experiences up until now have been preparing me to meet you and be the best Me that I can be for you.  It's so weird how that happens- I didn't even see it coming but it makes so much sense now.  Why I started working with kids and now foster kids especially...it's like the universe knew exactly the right challenges to give me without me having to try and 'self-help' my way into it.  I love it when that happens.

I love you and won't always be perfect but I will certainly try my best to always be authentic and present with you.

Big big big huge love,

mom

Sonogram!!

Squirt!!!!  We saw you and heard you for the very first time today.  It was incredible.  Our new OBGYN John Francisco Cabrera (he's Cuban) put the slimy stuff on my belly and then rubbed the machine thing on it and next thing we knew bam!  there you were in your little chicken like self.  You had a yolk near you and a rapidly beating heart outside of you. When he pointed that out he turned on the sound- did you know that your little heart is beating about 150 beats per minute right now?  It sounded like a flutter of resonating wings.  I cried and your Dad got so excited I thought he might hug Francisco.  We like our OBGYN, we decided, mostly because he is from Cuba and therefore, well, just cool.  He has this slightly nerdy demeanor that we are convinced will lighten up once he sees how charming we are and decides we are his favorite couple EVER that he has ever assisted in his 20 years of practice. We are going to make him love us with all the latin passion he can muster if it's the last thing we do.  Once your Papa finishes making a delicious salad for us tonight, he's going to scan the photo of you so we can put it up on the blog.  So many people are going to be so excited to see you too.  You look good Squirt, keep up the good work!

He did it!  Here you are....

On another note, your Dad and I are also planning our wedding right now and I wanted you to know something, that yes, you were conceived out of wedlock but not out of love.  Some may say that it was soon that your Papa and I decided to get engaged and have you after only four months of falling in love with one another but you need to understand something, relationships, at least for me, were like trying to find the perfect Prom dress.  I was at this giant department store, totally overwhelmed and underskilled for such a task but determined nevertheless to find that perfect Prom dress. I knew it was out there, I just had no clue how to find it.  So I began by trying a bunch of them on.  It was so confusing Squirt, each dress was so different yet so similar in so many ways.  It was like I had this idea of what the dress should look like so I kept trying on different variations of the same style and it just never fully fit right.  Some would fit better then others and I'd think- yeah, okay, maybe this is the dress!  But then after wearing it around the store for a bit the zipper would come undone or it would pinch in a weird place and then suddenly I'd realize it was totally the wrong dress for me and I'd get out of that thing as fast as I could.  Eventually it got so heartbreaking looking for this damn dress that I just gave up.  I sat crying on the floor of the department store, thinking I'll never go to prom now, when suddenly a friend of mine picked out this totally different kind of dress I'd never even looked at before.  It was a completely different style than I was used to and I was not sure it would even fit me, but after some urging I decided to try it on.  What did I have to lose?  And the most amazing thing happened, I put that dress on and the first thing I noticed, before I even looked in the mirror was that it was the most comfortable thing I had ever put next to my skin.  I ran my hands along my body and I felt like me. Like the me I'd always wanted to be.  It was like my second skin.  And when I turned and looked in the mirror I almost burst out crying because I had never looked so beautiful in all my life.  This dress hugged every curve in exactly the right way, it accentuated the positive and artfully hid the negative. It made me feel like a princess. It took my breath away.  I had never thought a dress like this, so sweet, feminine, and strong would make me feel this way.  My body was singing.  And that was what falling in love with your Dad was like.  OF COURSE I would buy the dress and you damn well better believe we are going to the prom.  We are going all the way.  We were meant to meet and marry and have you.  That's just how it is.  You don't argue with fate when it wraps you in it's warm embrace.

You rock squirt.  I love you so damn much it makes me cry just thinking about it.

xx
mom and dad

p.s. after the ultrasound and blood work today for some reason I was obsessed with having a whopper with cheese.  Now Squirt, I have never before in my life ever wanted a whopper with cheese or even come within 50 feet of a Burger King, but today that all changed.  Your Daddy said I deserved it after they took all that blood and I tell you, that whopper never stood a chance once I had it in my grubby little hands.  It lasted all of 5 minutes.  Very strange moment for me.  And one I hope we don't plan on repeating because I felt pretty gross the rest of the day burping that shit up and eventually puked before yoga.  So- interesting anecdote but hopefully the first and last of it's kind.

Blueberry- end of week 7.

We meet our potential OBGYN tomorrow morning and get our first look at you through Ultrasound!  I can't wait. I am so excited I might pee myself a little.  I got a little nervous today because my nausea hasn't been as bad and I was scared that might mean you had gone away, but no worries, I looked it up on line and it's totally normal for symptoms to come and go week by week or even day by day.  And then your lovely Papa went to find me a warm gooey chocolate chip cookie I was desperately craving and all he could find on his hunt was a peanut-butter m&m cookie and a double chocolate chip brownie and just a couple of bites of each made me want to lose my lunch so I knew, yup, we still got it.  And I still don't like peanut-butter cookies or double chocolate anything.  But I do love your Papa for braving the elements, it's colder then a witches tit in December outside right now, meaning it's below 50 degrees in Los Angeles, and pretty traumatic for me.  I can't get warm no matter how hard I try.  I can't seem to do much of anything either.  I feel super lazy and needy and that's hard for me.  But Dad reminds me it's the first trimester and I need to take it easy, that it's okay to be lazy for now, for once.  He's reading a book for Dad's about pregnancy and it's really endearing to see him take such an interest in you and how you are affecting my body.  He talks to you every night before bed, gives you and update on his day and stuff, but you already knew that, I am sure.

As lazy as I am feeling I did get to exercise all weekend and I have to tell you, your parents eat extremely well.  We spend the money to.  It's super important to us that as a family we eat organic, nutritious food- sans the cookies and brownies- of course, but that is a rarety.  Your Dad is a kick ass cook too- which I am sure you will appreciate as much as I do.  Anything he makes is absolutely delicious and so good for you.  He made a bean soup to die for this weekend.  We decided we needed to budget for you coming into our lives so we are packing lunches from now on.  I have a new craving for turkey and provolone sandwiches and nobody makes a better sandwich then your Dad. He said his own Father, Grandpa Fred, is the real master.  He once told your Dad that, "the beauty about sandwiches, Squirt, is that you can eat them everyday."  Words of wisdom.

Oh!  Your Aunt Jaime gave us a great name for you that I really like-  Sailor.

What do you think?

Sailor Husom vs. Pony Husom.

It's so odd, being pregnant, Squirt.  It's like my body isn't my own anymore. It's yours.  I am merely a vessel for you.  One of the books I just finished reading about fetal development ended with this line about parenthood:

We are meeting someone we know well for the very first time.

I burst into tears.  I can't wait to meet you for the very first time. I know your Dad feels exactly the same way.

Hang in there Squirt.  We love you.

xx
mom and dad

Still a Blueberry- Week 7

Oh my.  Last night was rough.  I don't know what happened or why but there must of been a surge of hormones at about 11pm that sent me running for the bathroom and drinking coca-cola, which is something I personally loathe to do, but was, however, encouraged to for nausea from none other then my nutritionist.

The seasickness made it really difficult to fall asleep so I lay there and listened to your Daddy breathing next to me and the hard heeled boots of our downstairs neighbor as he returned from his 'gig'.  I wonder if Tim and I should buy him slippers for Christmas, do you think he would get the hint?  He's the nicest guy in the world, I wouldn't want to hurt his feelings.  But your Mom is sleep challenged and slightly neurotic, not the best combination for this situation.

I totally broke down this morning too. I couldn't help it.  I was in the shower trying to muster up some courage for the day and all I could feel and see was this body of mine changing in ways I can't control.  I guess I'm not one of those women that bask in the glow of first trimester pregnancy because the second I stepped out of the shower and your beautiful brilliant father walked up to me with that twinkle in his eye and asked me what was wrong I started crying.  He took me in his arms and told me it would be okay.  And he was right.  It is going to be okay.  Even more then okay.  I want you to know how happy I am to meet you and that I will do everything in my power to make sure you never inherit the same body issues that I have.  Growing up in Laguna Beach was a bitch, where puberty was punishment since most days revolved around surf, sand, and bikinis.  My body type was not revered. I struggled to accept myself the way I was even though I became a dancer and an actress.  Which was like putting gasoline on a fire.  I hate to admit that most of my life I have been on a diet.  I never want that life for you. The amount of time I have wasted worrying about my weight is a travesty.  No one truly knows the depth of the insanity it has taken me to.  Being a series regular on a TV show didn't help either. I was never skinny enough, pretty enough, or talented enough.  Even though I most likely was all those things.  It wasn't until I became a writer and worked with children did I find some respite from the obsession.  Yet, I still thought running a marathon would be a great idea.  Moderation is not my forte.  But I am learning and will learn for you.  Because I want you to have every opportunity to love and cherish yourself and your body as the sacred beautiful temple that it is growing right now, in my belly, to be.  I will remind you, like your Dad reminds me, every day, how beautiful, special, and wonderful you are.  Because when you are loved like that, the way your Dad loves me and will love you, everything changes and the world becomes a safer more loving place.  And I want that world for you.

I rambled a bit, I know.  I guess I just needed to.

Here is the latest pic of you:

Big love,

Mom

Blueberry- Week 6

First of all, because there has been some mixed reactions on the name Pony we bought a dictionary today that your Dad is combing through and finding all his favorite words in so he can write them all down on a very special list and hopefully create something totally adorable and unique just for you.  He's very determined and creative so I have no doubt it will be incredibly special. Although I told him, Pony is not off the table yet.

I was at your Auntie Vanessa's house the other day and my goddaughter, her daughter Mabel, who is 8 years old, gave you your first stuffed animal before I left.  It is a soft and snuggly little bear.  You have some really great Aunties that are dying to meet you and super excited I will finally be joining them in Club Motherhood.

I am very tired and  nauseous most of the time but have learned that if I eat every half hour something little then I can cope much better.  Which is great, except I am eating so much now that my pants don't fit, so we went and did a little shopping today so I can have some flowy cotton comfy clothes to wear.  I really don't mind though, because it's all for you and your Dad reminds me every day many times during the day that I am a beautiful woman to him and how much he loves the changes that are going on in my body.

I hope and pray that someday you marry a man like your Dad.  That would be my greatest wish for you.

You'll see, in time, I am certain, that all men were not created equal.

I love you I love you I love you I love you.

Mom

Three is a Magic Number - song

CLICK ME - A Song For Arrowyn and Squirt

Dodged A Bullet

I didn't want to tell you this Squirt, but I was really scared all weekend that I was going to have to deliver you in some strange hospital in China Town that I had never heard of.  I had anxiety dreams all night last night about trying to speak Chinese so they understood my birthing plan and all they offered me was green tea and bok choy.

However, the crisis has been entirely diverted and we have a new obgyn and hospital that our HMO approved.  His name is Dr. John Francisco Cabrera and you will be delivered at Glendale Memorial Hospital which has a fantastic reputation and our doctor now even has 5 stars!  The other doctor only had 2.  I almost lost it, but this is how rad your Daddy is.  He totally talked me down and reminded me we always have options, which I forget sometimes.  You have the best father in the whole wide world, Squirt and I think we are two of the luckiest girls in the world to have him in our lives.  I can't wait for you to meet him.

Anyway- I just had to tell you that because I want to run through Elysian Park laughing I am so relieved at this new twist and turn of events.  I really believe the Universe looks out for you if you believe it does.  And I do.

Lots of big love.

And by the way, the nausea can go away anytime.  I get it.  You are in there.

xx

Sunday- end of Week 5

This Sunday was an almost perfect Sunday.  We went to breakfast with your Uncle Dusty, who is my little brother that everyone in the family knows should of been the oldest, his nickname in high school was Old Man for Christ's sake, and his lovely wife Jaime and your cousin Asher, who is only two years old and probably one of the cutest two year old boys I have ever seen.  We ate at your Dad's favorite brunch restaurant in Silverlake called Dusty's (funny enough) where he always orders the Eggs Benedict with Ham because he knows it will never let him down.  Afterwards we came home and basically napped for the rest of the day while I tried to keep my brunch down.  I think my Morning Sickness has officially begun because I feel like I am on a boat most of the time and every once in a while a storm hits and then it's off to the toilet.  But I really don't mind, because in a weird way it makes me feel good. I feel like I am earning my badge of pregnancy and that it's real, you are for real, and that makes me super happy because I have never wanted anything more in my life then I want you and your Dad.

By the way- you have some rad Aunties.  Aunt Boller, an old friend of mine from way back when who knows way too many of my most embarrassing secrets, handed me down her maternity wardrobe tonight along with the nursing chair we'll be hanging out in and lots of other accessories too many to mention but when I showed your Dad made his eyes light up and bulge slightly with the realization I have while I am puking, this is real and there is no going back.

I met your Dad's older brother Todd, his wife Karen, and youngest son Keegan tonight on Skype and I have to tell you Squirt, you've got some incredibly wonderful people on both sides of this equation that you are just going to fall in love with when you meet them.  

And before I go- your Dad has a name for you.  He's been playing around with it all day,  tell us what you think:

Pony Patricia Husom.

I think it looks amazing. But it's really up to you.

Love,

Mom and Dad

wait- we are going to post pictures of the belly you will be growing in- this is the first:

Week 5- Day 4

Driving home from a horrendously bad movie that we walked out of tonight (Due Date with Robert Downey Jr. - Don't ever rent it) your brilliant papa had another one of his brilliant ideas.  He turned to me in the halo of the oncoming traffic lights and said, "Hey Honey, why don't we write a blog to squirt?"  I replied, "Genius.  Let's do it."  So here we are, at home, it's a balmy 64 degrees outside, I can't seem to get warm no matter where I am, your father just downed another bag of Nutthins and Hummus and I've had three dark chocolate covered caramels while we figured out this whole blog stuff.

Now let's get started:

Here is what we know about you at this moment from the various books we've read.  You are the size of a sesame seed and look more like a tadpole with a miniscule beating heart.  You have made my boobs grow into insane proportions and feel like alien boobs to me, but have made Dad really happy.  He appreciates you doing that.  I'm starting to find certain foods revolting, like the lovely little turkey and nut-butter brown rice tortilla wraps I once loved.  The thought of them makes me want to barf.

We can't tell you enough how excited we are to meet you one day not so far away.  We wanted you more then anything and worked extremely hard to make sure that you could come into the world and be with us.

We were going to name you October but decided it had too many syllables and no good nicknames.  No way in hell we were going to allow you to be called Toby.  We love you too much for that.

So for now you are Squirt.  But don't worry, we'll find your real name.  You just need to direct us towards it.

Your Dad wants to make sure that you know Squirt is not from Finding Nemo but from his childhood nickname given to  him by his father.  So it's all in the family.

Before we retire for the evening in our little tree house on the hill in Echo Park we want you to know something very important, that we love you and always will.

Mom and Dad