Twinkle's
Third
Trimester...
Still
to Come!
First
Trimester || Second Trimester
|| Third Trimester
October
10, 2000 - Here we go!!! Twinkle's third trimester has
begun! Twinkle has been as active as ever, flipping over and
kicking like a mad person! S/He is going to be one heck of
a kid! We can't wait to meet her/him!
October
13, 2000 - THREE MONTHS TO THE DUE DATE!!! Even though
it was Friday the 13th it was a great day!
October
15, 2000 - Mom and Dad went on their third Twinkle shopping
excursion, registering for more Twinkle stuff and looking
at cribs and changing tables at Ikea! We've also signed up
for Baby Lamaze, child safety, and infant care classes during
November and December. Boy this is going fast...
October
20 and 21, 2000 - Road Trip to DC (our old stomping grounds!).
We drove down Friday night and were graciously hosted by Robert
Wone and Jason Torchinsky. They rock! They just moved into
a great place in Arlington, VA! On Saturday, we visited our
friends, Myriam and Dave and their new son Alexi (born August
6, 2000). We had a wonderful time hanging out with our great
friends and their new family member! Here are some pictures
from the day:
October
22, 2000 - Here are some pictures of Dad speaking and
reading to Twinkle!
 |
Having
a heart to heart with Twinkle! |
| Twinkle's
first exposure to Dr. Seuss |
 |
November
3, 2000 - After celebrating Aunt Erika's Birthday, we
went crib shopping with Grandma Adams. After a long decision
making process, we ordered a crib from JC Penny on-line! It's
on back order but should be delivered in early December. We'll
be ready to go for Twinkle!
November
4, 2000 - WOW! 10 Weeks to go! It's also our first day
of Birthing classes. Here are some pictures from the day.
 |
|
|
Mom's
Tummy at 30 weeks (Can you believe we have 10 weeks
to go!!!!)
|
Mom
on her way to Birthing Class. She looks so beautiful!
|
 |
Mom
wishing Aunt Danielle a Happy Birthday!
|
| Dad
demonstrating how Twinkle is going to fit through Mom's
pelvis! |
|
November
23, 2000 - Thanksgiving!!! What a wonderful day! We traveled
to see the Carlson family in Connecticut because we will not
be able to see them at Christmas this year due to travel restrictions
(with only three weeks to go until our due date!). What a
great day. The Carlsons surprised us with gifts like onesies,
health care kits, fun toys, hand-knit baby outfits, a car
seat, and a high chair. They were so generous! We also celebrated
Carl Cornell's 11th Birthday. Uncle Dan checked out Tara's
stomach and tried to hear the heartbeat with his stethoscope.
When cousin Glenn tried to listen, he said he heard the heartbeat.
Pretty amazing! A great Turkey Day!
November
24, 2000 - Here are some shots of Alex, Gran Ragone,
and the new car seat! The passenger is Alex's childhood teddy
bear - It was abused as a child! (Can you believe that poor
bear originally was white?!?)
Here
are two pictures of Alex dressing the red teddy bear from
Mindy Leon. On the left, he chose an adorable outfit from
Myriam and Dave topped off with Great-Grammy Carlson's knitted
sweater and bonnet set. On the right, we see Alex's first
diaper change (and get a glimpse of Tara's freshman suitmate
Kris Miler's warm and cuddly snowflake blanket in the background).
Great job, Dad (although wait 'til you get more than red cloth
in the diaper!)!!
November
25, 2000 - Here is an updated picture of Mom's belly at
33 weeks (how appropriate that at Thanksgiving, her belly
button popped just like the turkey timers -- but Twinkle still
has 7 weeks of baking to do!):
Sunday,
December 3, 2000 - We looked at an condo in Dan and Bridgette's
(See pictures - 2nd Trimester) apartment building in Hoboken.
It's a two bedroom, with a Dishwasher, and a Washer/Dryer
in the basement. It also has a shared back yard and it's only
on the second floor!
Monday,
December 4, 2000 - We made a bid, the owners slept on
it.
Tuesday,
December 5, 2000 - The owners countered, and we made another
counter bid. Then the owners came back with a final number
that we were VERY happy with. We took it! We are now homeowners!
Here
are some pictures:
December
14, 2000 - Dr. Perlman was able to touch Twinkle's head
today -- so Tara is a fingertip dilated and the baby's head
is down! Let the process begin!
December
16 - 18, 2000 - Pretty exciting and scary two days. We
went to a Child CPR class on Saturday the 16th and then Newborn
Care and Breastfeeding classes on Sunday the 18th. All three
classes were great, but at 4ish on Sunday, Tara started to
feel sick. By 8PM on Sunday, Tara had developed a nasty stomach
virus and could not keep anything down. We called the doctor,
and he told us to keep Tara hydrated and call him in the morning.
We tried to go to bed at 11:30, but when Tara was still vomiting
at 2AM, the doctor told Alex to head to the hospital. At that
time in the morning, we could not get a cab. So we bundled
up and made the 7 block trek to the hospital in the bitter
cold and whipping wind. The ER folks sent us right to the
maternity ward where they checked Tara's electrolyte levels
(which were totally out of whack) and put her on an IV. The
nurse put Tara on a fetal monitor and we got to listen to
the baby's heart beat and watch Tara have contractions (contractions
brought on by the dehydration). Four hours and three bags
of fluid later, Tara's electrolytes were back to normal and
she was feeling better. We walked home in the even colder
weather and plopped into bed at 6AM. Alex had to get up at
8AM to go to our condo inspection in Hoboken at 10AM and then
to work. Tara rested and was feeling better by 6PM - a true
24 hour virus.
December
20, 2000 - We had a doctor's appointment at 2PM. Tara
was 36 1/2 weeks at this point. At 37 weeks, babies are considered
full term, so we were starting to gear up for Twinkle. The
doctor said that Twinkle's head was down and Tara's cervix
was starting to soften and thin out. She was 50% effaced,
meaning that the cervix had thinned about half way. Women
have to thin before they dilate. So Tara's body was starting
to get ready for the big day!!!
Dad
had an appointment with his Teachers College (TC) advisor
and his last class that night. He spent the afternoon posting
a web page with his Masters project and then headed to TC
for his appointment. On the way to the train, he rolled his
ankle rushing down the subway stairs. After being able to
put pressure on his ankle, he chose to go to his appointment
where his advisor signed off on his Masters Project, finishing
the last requirement for his Masters degree. (YEAH!!!! WHAT
A STUD!) That gave him enough happy energy to make it through
his class. Then Alex headed to New Jersey to see Danny and
Grethe off to Norway for the holiday. When he got to his mom's
house in Lyndhurst, he took off his sock and saw his swollen
and black and blue ankle. Danny and Grethe, both EMT's in
college, suggested that Alex go to the hospital, so he and
Tara headed to the Hackensack Hospital ER, where the X-Rays
came back negative for any breaks or fractures. So the diagnosis
came back as a severe ligament tear. Crutches and a five floor
walk-up don't go very well together, so we packed up and headed
to Gran Ragone's home in New Jersey for the holiday week.
Alex is still recovering but doing better.
December
24, 2000 -
 |
 |
|
Tara's
tummy at 37 weeks, 1 day!
|
Uncle
Sean, Tara, and Aunt Erika at Christmas Eve dinner.
|
December
24-25, 2000 - We finally did Twinkle's laundry over the
Christmas holiday. We were kind of spooked when we went to
the hospital on the 18th and did not have any clean clothes
ready for Twinkle.
December
26, 2000 - We finished packing our bag for the hospital.
We're really getting ready now!
December
27, 2000 - We helped move Great-Gram Adams into her new
home. We wish her years of health and happiness there!
December
29, 2000 - We had another doctor's appointment. Twinkle
is still in position and Tara is still 50% effaced. Our next
appointment is on the 8th of January. We'll see if we make
it!
December
30, 2000 - We're snowed in and enjoying some well deserved
R&R. We ventured out into the snow to mail our condo down
payment and our mortgage forms, get a heating pad for Dad's
ankle (10 days later and it's still swollen and sore -- too
much Christmas shopping), and rent some videos. We have about
12 inches of snow and it's really beautiful. More importantly,
it's nice to know that we'll be able to walk to the hospital
even in a blizzard! Tara cooked some chili and we're spending
the afternoon updating this page and creating a phone list
to notify everyone of Twinkle's arrival!
by
Alex and Tara!
Last
Updated December 30, 2000
