Ultrasound news

Thanks to everyone who voted in our "guess the baby's weight" poll. Here are the poll results:
5.5 to 6 lbs - 8%
6 to 6.5 lbs - 4%
6.5 to 7 lbs - 16%
7 to 7.5 lbs - 50%
7.5 to 8 lbs - 20%

Looks like everyone shared my thoughts that the baby would be measuring really big! But, he was actually only measuring a few days ahead and the estimated weight (at 36.5 weeks) was 6 pounds, 12 ounces. So, if he gains the typical 0.5 lbs a week until my due date (Oct. 22), then he'd be right at 8.5 to 9 lbs. I can handle that, so I'm not going to schedule an induction at this point. And with Uncle Erik's and Aunt Chelsea's big wedding on the 12th, we're not in THAT big of a hurry to get him out.

Oh, and by the way... we have another great u/s photo that confirms that he is "still" a boy. (Poor guy - not even born yet, and we have 2 shots of his genitals. Actually, hopefully those are the only shots of the genitals that we take now that I think of it!)

These are not the stories I need to hear 3 weeks before my due date....

BARNAUL, Russia - A Siberian woman who gave birth to her 12th child — doing more than her fair share to stem Russia’s population decline — was stunned to find that little Nadia weighed in at a massive 17 pounds, 1 ounce.

The Guinness World Records lists a 22 pound, 4 ounce baby boy born in Italy in 1955, and a 23 pound, 8 ounce baby boy who was born in the United States in 1879 but died 11 hours later.

The average weight for most healthy newborn babies is around 7 pounds, 6 ounces, according to World Health Organization figures.

Reading with Maddie

Someone put a quarter in her today. I don't think she stopped talking. This is usually where Nathan would insert a comment like "well, she is YOUR daughter." But, it's fun. She was in a great mood and just talked about her whole world today.

That even extends to quiet time. Reading to Madeline requires so much patience. She asks a million questions, repeats everything that you say, and always wants to go back to a different page to comment on a previous picture. Here are some excerpts from our latest reading time:

1) Daddy: Buzz Lightyear says "To infinite and beyond."
Maddie: I don't like "beyond."
Daddy: Ok, then, "to infinite and around the corner."
Maddie: I don't like "around the corner."
Daddy: How about "To infinite"?
Maddie: I don't like "infinny." I like cowboy [Woody].

2) Mommy: Cows can't fly.
Madeline: Cows not can fly. (like she was correcting me or something.)

Ready for grandma and grandpa's house

Nathan and Madeline went to Grandma and Grandpa Knutson's house this past weekend, while I stayed at home and "nested." I painted our 1/2 bath (which is in the process of getting a quick upgrade), deep cleaned our bathrooms, and got a headstart to making the baby announcements. I can't remember the last time I had 24 hours completely to myself - it was fantastic!

Maddie was more than excited to visit her grandparents, as you can see. She even did her own hair by putting on her headband like a crown. Beautiful, huh?

Enjoying the fire

Poor Sully doesn't get much attention these days, so thought I'd include him on a post. We had a week of some cold weather and had to turn on our little gas fireplace to warm up the living room. Sully was a happy pup....

Madeline taking discipline

On our evening walk to the park, Madeline had a tough time sitting nicely in her stroller. Here's the dialogue at the end of the walk:

Big Daddy: Madeline, you need to be a good listener. Mommy said to sit down nicely.
Madeline: Daddy, I am a listener.
Big Daddy: If you don't sit down, I am going to give you a spanking on your butt.
Madeline: No, Daddy, it's your bottom.

As you can see, she was really shaking in her pants at our best efforts of being firm.

Congrats to the new papa

Nathan made sure that he welcomed Albie into the rite of fatherhood with some brandy and a cigar. Here is the official handshake and congratulations. This has turned into an annoyingly long and smelly 2 hour tradition during each trip to meet the new niece or nephew. Let's see how warm it is in November or December for them when we all get together to introduce our son to them!