'Twinkle'
Ragone's Homepage
Updates:
Mom's
Tummy at 37 weeks and 1 day!
Mom and Dad's hospital
visits!
Twinkle's Now Has a
Bedroom
Mom's Tummy at 33 weeks
and Carlson Thanksgiving shower!
Mom's Tummy at 30 weeks
and Birthing classes!
!!
Update - Ultrasound #2 !!
Tara's
Tummy at 22 weeks and one day!
First
Trimester || Second Trimester
|| Third Trimester
First
Trimester
This
picture was taken on Wednesday, June 14, 2000. The doctor
says that Twinkle is 9 weeks and 4 days old and is due on
January 13, 2001.
June
14, 2000 - Mom and Dad had a wonderful visit and after
getting the OK to have ice cream (on occasion), we celebrated
with a Haagen Dazs Banana Split. We proceeded to Rite Aid
for vitamins and then home to relax a little bit. We are now
heading out to get a birthday gift for Alex's brother, Andrew,
and Twinkle's first gift!
Well,
we're back from shopping. We bought a wiggleworm and a onesie
for Twinkle. We also went for a walk to see the hospital.
It's only six blocks from home! Mom and Dad also stopped at
Buddies
Burritos. Mom and I didn't like the burrito very much. Too
spicy -- Dad ate the leftovers! Well, we're off to bed!
Between
the first and second visit: We're adjusting... We told
our parents over Father's Day weekend. We told Alex's Mom
and brothers first. We met for breakfast on 
Saturday
the 17th of July (Alex was going to a Callan family party
and Tara to Aunt Peggy's Wedding Shower that afternoon). We
began by trying to joke that Alex had something in his eye
and Tara was going to say it was a twinkle (hence 'Twinkle'
as a 
nickname).
But
after a failed attempt (a mix of Tara choking and Sean calling
the Ragone household at the same time), we went for plan two
- giving Mom a photo album with a picture of the above ultrasound
in it. What a reaction... First her jaw dropped. After a stunned
moment of silence, she started to tear, pointed towards Tara,
and said, "You?... I'm going to be a grandmother!"
What
a wonderful
reaction. Then Danny, Grethe, and Andrew figured it out and
everyone was very happy. Andrew was especially excited! Sean
picked Tara up from the Ragones' so we could get Gram Adams
for the shower. Just as he did 5 years ago (i.e., regarding
our engagement), Danny told Sean before Tara figured out the
perfect way. Don't ever say we're a family without traditions!
Tara's
parents were a whole other story. Our initial plan was to
tell Tara's parents on Father's Day morning at her Grandparent's
shore house, but Tara's mom was too busy to get down there.
So after unsuccessfully trying all kinds of guilt, Tara, Ryan
and Alex drove down to the beach Saturday night and back on
Sunday morning (because of rain). We ended up at an impromptu
Father's Day party at the Dolan Grandparent's Jersey City
house
(i.e., so we were still not alone with Tara's parents). We
made Dad Adams angry because we refused to go from the party
straight to the train (i.e., he didn't want us to come back
to his house because then he'd have to get up again to drive
us to the train, but he couldn't get rid of us so easily).
After getting everyone annoyed with us and finally getting
our parents and Ryan alone, we had to watch our normally stoic
Dad take tons of time to open every Father's Day present.
He tried stuff on,
looked for batteries-- all of the emotional and interested
reactions we normally want and rarely get when we give him
gifts. Waiting was making us batty. Finally it was our turn.
He opened his present (the same picture album with the ultrasound)
and Dad's jaw really dropped (he was so cute!). Mom thought
it was a blown up picture of one of Dad's notorious scopes
(he's fascinated with his innards and we often get the pleasure
of seeing them after his doctor's visits).
When she realized that this was Twinkle and not Dad's stomach
lining, she covered her mouth and shrilled in delight. Ryan
smiled, but was a bit reserved (remember, he's a cool 14 --
almost 15). In true Mom style, she disappeared for a few minutes
and returned with gifts: a pregnancy journal for Tara and
an Elmo crib toy for Alex! And in true Dad style, he told
us to move next door into the neighbor's vacant downstairs
apartment (for the 60th time -- easily)!! Definitely a good
day!
We've
both been having some crazy dreams about Twinkle and other things...
More to come here!
July
6, 2000 - Mom and Dad went back to the OB/GYN for another
visit. After a (VERY LONG [Dad's a nervous, overprotective Dad
already! It wasn't so bad!]) 30-60 seconds of searching for
Twinkle's heartbeat, the doctor found it. What an amazing sound.
We spent the day (well, we're actually still doing it) trying
to reproduce the 'whoosh whooooshing' of Twinkle's heartbeat!
Such a wonderful tune! And we couldn't think of a better 4th
anniversary present!!!! Already a thoughtful child!
In
between these two dates, Dad talked to his employer and is
going to work half days from January to June so that Mom can
finish up work and Twinkle won't have to go into day care
any earlier than necessary. Yeah!
First
Trimester || Second Trimester
|| Third Trimester
by
Alex and Tara!
Last
Updated November 26, 2000