Tom at 26 weeks
08 June 2009
04 June 2009
Learning a new code
Yay for vacation days and for mini-vacations. With the economy in a downturn, the baby on the way and the house that's still ours in Chicago we're being a little more inventive with our time away. We've taken a few weekends to go visit state parks and get some camping in (and bonding with ticks, which is yucky) This weekend we're heading down to Springfield, Illinois to visit some friends of ours from Chicago who moved roughly the same time we did and still have their house on the market. Note : If any of you readers wants a house about an hour north of Chicago I know of two where you might get a good deal! We haven't seen them in a while and they have a new baby (sorry AK and BK, you know that Amanda is coming for JHK (aka the baby)).
Minneapolis to Springfield is about 8.5 hours or so, we decided to split it up into smaller chunks for the way down, why not, it's our mini-vacation! We are spending the night in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where they had a great big flood last year (we can commiserate). 400 blocks of downtown were under water and they're still recovering. While it's not New Orleans / Katrina we did see FEMA trailers on the way in and many of the doors in the first floor of the hotel we're in are still warped. Water is damaging.
As we were driving into downtown I caught a whiff of oatmeal. Oatmeal is super yummy in general and I figured they must mill oats here. Lo and behold the main Quaker Oats plant is located right down the street from the hotel! Maybe we'll head over there when we wake up tomorrow morning! (If we don't head over to a little bakery in the Czech village area)
Tomorrow we head the rest of the way, should be a fun weekend!
Minneapolis to Springfield is about 8.5 hours or so, we decided to split it up into smaller chunks for the way down, why not, it's our mini-vacation! We are spending the night in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where they had a great big flood last year (we can commiserate). 400 blocks of downtown were under water and they're still recovering. While it's not New Orleans / Katrina we did see FEMA trailers on the way in and many of the doors in the first floor of the hotel we're in are still warped. Water is damaging.
As we were driving into downtown I caught a whiff of oatmeal. Oatmeal is super yummy in general and I figured they must mill oats here. Lo and behold the main Quaker Oats plant is located right down the street from the hotel! Maybe we'll head over there when we wake up tomorrow morning! (If we don't head over to a little bakery in the Czech village area)
Tomorrow we head the rest of the way, should be a fun weekend!
Bradley and Me
On Tuesday we went to our first of twelve Bradley classes. Bradley focuses on giving the mom the tools to go through with natural birth (no drugs, no caesarean) by teaching good nutrition, targeted exercise, and perhaps most importantly by training the dad in how to support both through the pregnancy and through the delivery. Twelve weeks of watching babies being born and getting prepped and ready to go. After our twelve weeks is up it's just about time for baby "Jill" to arrive!
We learned in this first class that babies, especially first babies, are typically late. Will the stork bring her on my birthday (4 days past due date)?
We also learned in this first class the beginnings of proper nutrition (more to come next week we're told). First and foremost 80-100 grams of protein a day. I'm in trouble if Amanda doesn't meet the goal. We were told of a website online that helps you track what you eat and you're recommended daily calorie consumption (based on age, height, weight, goals). Apparently I need about 3300 calories a day. When Amanda signed up she noticed that they didn't have a distinction between pregnant and not pregnant females so she wasn't sure how much she needed for the baby. I tricked the system though, I entered into the calculator an age of 0, height of 16 inches, weight of 1.5lbs with a goal of gaining 1 lb a week (which in reality should be about 0.5lbs a week but they didn't have that option. Tada, baby "Jill" needs 979 calories a day.
We learned in this first class that babies, especially first babies, are typically late. Will the stork bring her on my birthday (4 days past due date)?
We also learned in this first class the beginnings of proper nutrition (more to come next week we're told). First and foremost 80-100 grams of protein a day. I'm in trouble if Amanda doesn't meet the goal. We were told of a website online that helps you track what you eat and you're recommended daily calorie consumption (based on age, height, weight, goals). Apparently I need about 3300 calories a day. When Amanda signed up she noticed that they didn't have a distinction between pregnant and not pregnant females so she wasn't sure how much she needed for the baby. I tricked the system though, I entered into the calculator an age of 0, height of 16 inches, weight of 1.5lbs with a goal of gaining 1 lb a week (which in reality should be about 0.5lbs a week but they didn't have that option. Tada, baby "Jill" needs 979 calories a day.
02 June 2009
3D
I'm not very good about making a big deal about birthdays and anniversaries and the like (I don't forget them, I just don't usually make a big deal about them). This past Mother's Day was Amanda's first as a mom so I had to try and find something fun and exciting to give her. After hours of searching and searching I narrowed it down to two options: 1) Playing "Pin the carrot on the snowman" or 2) Getting a 3D ultrasound of baby "Jill".
I took the leap and gave her a gift certificate to the 3D ultrasound (sorry Amanda, hope you didn't have your heart set on the carrot/snowman game). Incidentally, Amanda and I don't actually give the gift certificates/cards to each other, we just free up that much $$ to spend, that way we can't lose the card, it doesn't expire, we can transfer it to a different store, etc.
Yesterday was the big day of the ultrasound. 25 weeks, 62.5% complete. 15 weeks, 37.5% to go. Little "Jill" is almost 2/3rds baked, which is 1/6th more than I'm baked!
In the last ultrasound we had "Jill" didn't want anything to do with showing us her face. She either would turn so we see the back of her head or put her hands over her face. She started this ultrasound in much the same way. I think she's camera shy. After about 15 minutes of prodding "Jill" did turn and look at the camera which caused both Amanda and the technician to giggle. Well worth the price of admission!
In the last ultrasound we had "Jill" didn't want anything to do with showing us her face. She either would turn so we see the back of her head or put her hands over her face. She started this ultrasound in much the same way. I think she's camera shy. After about 15 minutes of prodding "Jill" did turn and look at the camera which caused both Amanda and the technician to giggle. Well worth the price of admission!
Ever since Amanda introduced me to the concept of 3D ultrasounds I've thought they made the baby look like aliens. Perhaps it's a guy thing as a coworker had the same lament. I think most girls just giggle at the pictures. After seeing my own munchkin in the 3D pictures I'll amend and now think that the 3D pictures make other peoples babies look like aliens. They make mine look like .... marshmallows? ...
Countdown is still going strong. Tonight we start the first of the "Bradley" classes. Fun times?
29 May 2009
Where did those muscles come from?
This week has been a good week in terms of working out, have varied my routine a bit and am sore because of it. No pain no gain? I'm not sore because of anything being broken (except for a patch of skin on my elbow that was rubbed raw as I landed making a sweet catch in ultimate frisbee) but I am sore from using muscles that have been hiding for a long time.
Working backwards from yesterday:
Went climbing at Vertical Endeavors, my second time climbing ever (unless you include the one stint ice climbing, which makes this my third go and unless you include a couple of bouldering attempts at my buddy Isaac's which makes this my fourth/fifth go). I climbed a 5.7 route, which is pretty much akin to walking up the stairs for actual climbers but for me was a good starting point. That was my first run and despite my efforts I only made it about half way up on other runs. I suppose a year of incessant running and biking hasn't done anything to strengthen my forearms. Interestingly my forearms are good to go today but my triceps ache, I didn't know I was using them that much!
On Wednesday I was finally able to make it out to play some Ultimate frisbee. The weather was perfect (about 60, overcast and a slight breeze). We had a good turnout, which is always nice, and it was a decently clean game. The game got more interesting when, about 15 minutes into it, the sprinklers went on all over the field. We played through the sprinklers and in some cases they seemed to act as additional defenders. We played for about an hour, which wasn't near enough, but according to my pedometer this hour provided 8,094 steps (which accounts to about 4 miles if the google search results indicating 2,000 steps to a mile is correct).
On Tuesday I stepped up my interval training. I did the "Extreme HR" routine on the treadmill which cycles you through levels of difficulty such that you peak at about 85% of your max HR (which is a function of age) for a length of time and valley at 55% of your max HR. I'm still tweaking this routine as it takes such a long time for me to reach the initial HR target (has me climbing at a 9.5% interval at 3.8 mph for 6 minutes or so before it switches me to the next zone). Once I'm at the point where my HR is good to go for the computer then the going gets fun. I put on some Pillar or POD or Thousand Foot Krutch and get rockin'.
On Monday I did my normal video game while walking 3 miles but then worked my abs on the "Ab Ripper X" routine, I just don't have the right muscles to do some of the moves, one day?
On Sunday I took off biking while Amanda took a nap, zigged and zagged on about 10 miles of pathway, not too far but enough to get a little pink!
That's it for now, still addicted to the natural endorphins, and to Amanda's home-made brownies.
Amanda's at almost 25 weeks (monday) which equates to 62.5%!
Working backwards from yesterday:
Went climbing at Vertical Endeavors, my second time climbing ever (unless you include the one stint ice climbing, which makes this my third go and unless you include a couple of bouldering attempts at my buddy Isaac's which makes this my fourth/fifth go). I climbed a 5.7 route, which is pretty much akin to walking up the stairs for actual climbers but for me was a good starting point. That was my first run and despite my efforts I only made it about half way up on other runs. I suppose a year of incessant running and biking hasn't done anything to strengthen my forearms. Interestingly my forearms are good to go today but my triceps ache, I didn't know I was using them that much!
On Wednesday I was finally able to make it out to play some Ultimate frisbee. The weather was perfect (about 60, overcast and a slight breeze). We had a good turnout, which is always nice, and it was a decently clean game. The game got more interesting when, about 15 minutes into it, the sprinklers went on all over the field. We played through the sprinklers and in some cases they seemed to act as additional defenders. We played for about an hour, which wasn't near enough, but according to my pedometer this hour provided 8,094 steps (which accounts to about 4 miles if the google search results indicating 2,000 steps to a mile is correct).
On Tuesday I stepped up my interval training. I did the "Extreme HR" routine on the treadmill which cycles you through levels of difficulty such that you peak at about 85% of your max HR (which is a function of age) for a length of time and valley at 55% of your max HR. I'm still tweaking this routine as it takes such a long time for me to reach the initial HR target (has me climbing at a 9.5% interval at 3.8 mph for 6 minutes or so before it switches me to the next zone). Once I'm at the point where my HR is good to go for the computer then the going gets fun. I put on some Pillar or POD or Thousand Foot Krutch and get rockin'.
On Monday I did my normal video game while walking 3 miles but then worked my abs on the "Ab Ripper X" routine, I just don't have the right muscles to do some of the moves, one day?
On Sunday I took off biking while Amanda took a nap, zigged and zagged on about 10 miles of pathway, not too far but enough to get a little pink!
That's it for now, still addicted to the natural endorphins, and to Amanda's home-made brownies.
Amanda's at almost 25 weeks (monday) which equates to 62.5%!
27 May 2009
Maserati
I'm sitting here reading the Wall Street Journal to kick off my work day and what to my wondering eyes should appear but an add for a Maserati Quattroporte, available for you to lease for only $1999/month for 42 months with $8,894 due at lease signing. This qualifies you for 10,000 miles per year of driving.
Who's going to split the costs with me? (By split I mean I'll pay the $9/month if you'll cover the rest)
I would really only use it for those days when the sky is spitting down pellets of ice or flashes of lightning, on all of the other days I'm just pedal away on my bicycle (or on Amanda's while mine is waiting for some fixing), even if my pants cuffs get caught in the chain like they did this morning.
Who's going to split the costs with me? (By split I mean I'll pay the $9/month if you'll cover the rest)
I would really only use it for those days when the sky is spitting down pellets of ice or flashes of lightning, on all of the other days I'm just pedal away on my bicycle (or on Amanda's while mine is waiting for some fixing), even if my pants cuffs get caught in the chain like they did this morning.
24 May 2009
Endorphin Addict?
A friend from Church asked Amanda today why I was addicted to exercise and have I always been? This got me to thinking, ...I have gotten back on the bandwagon of actually exercising rather than just moving while watching the NBA playoffs or playing playstation. I've held at a steady weight since the beginning of the year but now it's time to get going and start "bringing it". This doesn't answer the "why" question though. I do have a few theories:
1) I'm addicted to the endorphins
2) I want to be in shape enough to be able to stick around for Amanda and our kids for as long as God will let me (which really it'll be in His timing anyways, so maybe I'm just trying to ensure the quality of life rather than the quantity of life)
3) I'm competitive and I want to be able to hold my own no matter what physical task/adventure I'm undertaking (I have a bit longer way on some tasks/adventures than on others)
4) I'm vain?
Anyways, yesterday I walked a few miles and went through most of the Ab Ripper X routine. Today I worked arms and did a half hour of interval training (though since I let my treadmill guide me I didn't get as ramped up as I intended to).
We'll see how all of this works out!
Update : Another half hour of interval training, this time set to "Extreme HR" instead of "Heart Rate Interval" -- Much better!
1) I'm addicted to the endorphins
2) I want to be in shape enough to be able to stick around for Amanda and our kids for as long as God will let me (which really it'll be in His timing anyways, so maybe I'm just trying to ensure the quality of life rather than the quantity of life)
3) I'm competitive and I want to be able to hold my own no matter what physical task/adventure I'm undertaking (I have a bit longer way on some tasks/adventures than on others)
4) I'm vain?
Anyways, yesterday I walked a few miles and went through most of the Ab Ripper X routine. Today I worked arms and did a half hour of interval training (though since I let my treadmill guide me I didn't get as ramped up as I intended to).
We'll see how all of this works out!
Update : Another half hour of interval training, this time set to "Extreme HR" instead of "Heart Rate Interval" -- Much better!
23 May 2009
Metro Cool
Today Amanda and I were metro cool. Chic, suave, sophisticated, cool. We started off the day by going to the employee garage sale at Midwest Mountaineering (aka, another place where we may find outdoor junkie gear at a discount). Last year when we went to this sale they opened the back door first and of course we were waiting at the front door. We were wiser this time, right? Waited by the back door, were entertained by a guy practicing yoga amidst the other gear junkies, and wouldn't you know, they opened the front door first.
The garage sale was in the basement and it got very crowded. They set up a number of tables in an order that presumably encourages one specific traffic pattern ... doesn't work. People take their time looking at a particular item, people back up, people turn around and the area becomes like a traffic jam to the point where everyone is waiting for the next person to make a move before they can make their own move. Amanda quickly headed upstairs for fear of not being able to squeeze "Jill" through the paths. I think it was a wise move.
There were some Sorel Intrepid Expedition -100F boots that looked interesting, even in my size! $99, didn't seem to bad but they weren't crampon compatible, so they'd just be approach boots ... I ultimately didn't get them. Nothing else really piqued my interest except for a white water kayak but that was labeled at $400, or approximately $300 more than I was interested in spending today.
After the garage sale we headed to the Guthrie Theater for a dose of "Caroline, or Change". This past Christmas my work gave me a gift certificate for the theater (or is it theatre?) and today seemed to be a good day to use it up. The show started at 1:00 but we got to the area around 10:40. Thankfully there was entertainment in the form of the Mill City Market and of course lunch. We hung around at the market for a while where Amanda looked a little bit at cloth diapers and I looked around a little bit at Mango Lassi and Yak meat.
We ate at a Thai food restaurant, tasty enough, though I think i could make it just as tasty.
Baby "Jill" started grooving while we were watching the musical, apparently she really got into it when the baritone started singing. Is she already boy crazy? I hope not! We have 3 older brothers for her in our Church group, they can help me fend off the icky boys!
Tomorrow is Church and Monday is Yak burger. Tasty!
The garage sale was in the basement and it got very crowded. They set up a number of tables in an order that presumably encourages one specific traffic pattern ... doesn't work. People take their time looking at a particular item, people back up, people turn around and the area becomes like a traffic jam to the point where everyone is waiting for the next person to make a move before they can make their own move. Amanda quickly headed upstairs for fear of not being able to squeeze "Jill" through the paths. I think it was a wise move.
There were some Sorel Intrepid Expedition -100F boots that looked interesting, even in my size! $99, didn't seem to bad but they weren't crampon compatible, so they'd just be approach boots ... I ultimately didn't get them. Nothing else really piqued my interest except for a white water kayak but that was labeled at $400, or approximately $300 more than I was interested in spending today.
After the garage sale we headed to the Guthrie Theater for a dose of "Caroline, or Change". This past Christmas my work gave me a gift certificate for the theater (or is it theatre?) and today seemed to be a good day to use it up. The show started at 1:00 but we got to the area around 10:40. Thankfully there was entertainment in the form of the Mill City Market and of course lunch. We hung around at the market for a while where Amanda looked a little bit at cloth diapers and I looked around a little bit at Mango Lassi and Yak meat.
We ate at a Thai food restaurant, tasty enough, though I think i could make it just as tasty.
Baby "Jill" started grooving while we were watching the musical, apparently she really got into it when the baritone started singing. Is she already boy crazy? I hope not! We have 3 older brothers for her in our Church group, they can help me fend off the icky boys!
Tomorrow is Church and Monday is Yak burger. Tasty!
22 May 2009
At the shooting range
We registered today for all things baby related by shooting all of the barcodes. All sorts of things without which the baby won't survive. It's a tough tough world out there don'tcha know? (Minnesota is taking over my speech) I'm actually pretty shocked that I made it to see 30 considering I didn't have most of the absolute necessities.
Now it's time to register for the fun things that are way too expensive for people to really give as presents (but there's always the chance, just like when you buy a lottery ticket).
Amanda will fill you all in (or at least the people she wants to fill in) on where we're registered. In the meantime happy hunting!
Now it's time to register for the fun things that are way too expensive for people to really give as presents (but there's always the chance, just like when you buy a lottery ticket).
Amanda will fill you all in (or at least the people she wants to fill in) on where we're registered. In the meantime happy hunting!
21 May 2009
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