Time to Reconnect. . .

Zander
Hanging out at Nana's and Poppa's

Zoey and Marianne worked hard on this yard art.

Where do I start. . .

First of all THANK YOU!!!! To everyone who helped us move last weekend--whether you were carrying furniture, unpacking a box, or playing with Zoey. . .every bit is appreciated and was much needed.

Everyone in our family is doing great. As Tyler wrote last week, I developed a blood clot in my left calf last Wednesday, luckily while still in the hospital. So I am now taking injections and pills to thin my blood and get my INR number between 2 and 3. I am hoping that my INR goes up soon--I do not like giving myself injections--but I am doing it. (FYI--my current INR is 1.4)

Zander on the other hand, invited Mr. Biliruben back to the family and has been tested 6 days in a row. His numbers are finally on the way down. So he will not need any phototherapy (like Zoey did early on). YEAH!!!

Considering all the change in her life, Zoey is doing amazingly well. I am not sure if she totally understands that we are in our new house. She has asked a few time to go home--but everytime we unpack another box she finds another book or toy that she has been missing and this place feels more and more like home. I really think that once we get into our school routine and Zoey goes to daycare again, things will just settle in. She was very excited to introduce her new baby brother to her daycare family.

We are so excited to be at our new place. I love the space and am having a good time organizing and planning all the spaces. I have to remind myself that it won't happen overnight and that I need to rest.

So other than unpacking and organizing and taking car of the family, the next thing on my list of things to do is to paint Zander's room--we are planning on doing it on Friday so if anyone is free and wants to help they are more than welcome.

Godfather David and Jen brought Zoey and Zander very special t-shirts. Zoey's says that she is the big sister.

Zander's first bath in the sink.

Zoey and Zander--getting to know each other.

Zoey, Aiden, and Kiera play a fun new game called Elefun. The elephant blows butterflys out of it's trunk and the kids run around trying to catch them in their butterfly nets.

More bonding time for the new siblings.

Some mover moments

Eric and Tammy get a chance to give Zander some love after sweating through the old house and transporting a bunch of stuff to the new house.

Moving Day

Friday, July 27th, 2007. Zander spent part of the day at Nana's house resting up to go to his new home. All his blankets were in the move so here he is sporting a pillow case for a receiving blanket. He didn't care. As long as Mom was nearby he was fine. Mr Bili Ruben was hanging around as you can see by his complexion but he and mom were trying their best to keep the bili down with sunlight.

When Zoey Met Zander

We made sure to have both video and still cameras ready to go when Zoey met Zander.

As most of us know, Zoey has been looking forward to meeting "baby brother" for a very long time, and on Tuesday she finally got to meet him in person.

Zoey was very gentle and sweet, giving Zander kisses and hugs, reading to him, and telling him all about the new house. She was adamant that Zander needed his new pacifier (still in the packaging, mind you), even though he peacefully slept during her entire visit.

We are very proud of and in love with both of our children at this wonderful moment in our lives.

Here are some pictures.

Zoey, Zander and Daddy

Zoey holds Zander for the first time

Cousin Kylie joins Zoey and Zander on the kid couch

Mommy reads a new Dora book for Zoey and Zander

An open-eyed picture of Zander

p.s. a video will eventually be posted too, though it may be a week delayed. Something about a move.

Judy Update

Well, it was almost a worry-free labor and delivery.

On Tuesday evening Judy started feeling cramping pains in her left leg. They weren't major and they went away when she was laying down, but anytime she was vertical they were bothersome.

The next morning she was given an ultra-sound for her leg and the doctors discovered that she has a clot in her lower leg. Treatment is a series of blood thiners starting with a week or two's worth of injections into her stomach twice a day. Needless to say, Judy is not happy about that!

While the clotting is a concern, this is not terribly uncommon and can be treated safely. Judy will be in the hospital an extra day and now has even more reason to take it easy during our big move to North St. Paul.

Alexander Wade

Alexander Wade Livingston, who will also be known as Zander, was born at 12:03am on Tuesday, July 24th. He was 8lbs even and 21.5 inches long.

Stories to be shared at a later time. I'm uploading pictures and the basic stats for now. Then, I'm bringing big sister to meet little brother.

Blurry, but my self-portrait has to make the cut.

Waiting for Zander...and for an epidural.

The first picture of Alexander.

He cried right out of the womb and colored up very quickly.

A closeup of a 5 min old boy.

More Pictures

Waiting for Sprout

So, it has been awhile since I have posted and obviously, there is no new arrival yet, although I am getting anxious waiting around. Luckily, I have plenty to do--I just don't want to do it. We have spent a lot of the weekend packing up boxes. Zoey has been very helpful and understanding about packing up her toys and books. She has, on more than one occasion, tried to pack herself for the new house. We have taken away many of her familiar surroundings, but I think by making her a part of it and asking her to help--it has made it easier. She at least talks like she understands.


Having my mom here with me has also been a HUGE help. Zoey is loving all of the games and things that they play together and I am loving all the support I am getting. Being able to nap when I need to and just sit and relax when I need to has been wonderful. Some of the things that we have been doing to pass the time: Tuesdays at 10 at my school. We go every Tuesday to help kids check out books and keep them reading over the summer. Playdates with good friends--below is a picture of Cora, Zoey, and Henry--we went and played with them at the park last Wednesday. We all had a great time! We have played with modeling clay, played in the messy place (sandbox), gone to garage sales, worked on decorations for Baby Sprout's room--the theme of his room is Family Games. Everyone in the family was asked to tell me their favorite game/sport that they played when they were young. Now I am working on representing those games in the room. It has been a fun challenge so far.

Tyler has been passing the time away by packing, but now he is lost in his Harry Potter book. My new game is taking the book and hiding it--but he doesn't like that game.

Well, I have another doctor's appointment on Monday in the afternoon. At my last appointment, I was 3cm dilated--so progress is happening.

We are in the final countdown--5 days until the move, 7 days until the baby. Oh and FYI--the Magic 8 Ball was positive that Sprout will be here before Wednesday. So stay tuned. . .

First Haircut

I know--she didn't even have that much hair--but I couldn't get myself to trim it--so we took Zoey to Great Clips today for her very first hair cut. She has been telling me for weeks that she needed a haircut--so when we got to the store, she was more than ready to climb up on the booster seat and let the lady cut. She only flinched a little. Now, my little Zoey can see again--I just hope the curls are not lost forever.

Where did all the stuff come from???

Garage Sale activities

I can ride my bike backwards without using the pedals. Sprout is resting up for later events. Nana and Mom are waiting for customers...

Como Zoo

Today Tyler and I took Zoey to Como Park. She was very excited to see all the animals--especially the giraffes and the polar bears. We went to the Sparky Seal show and while we waited she told everyone sitting around us that we have a new house and she gets a new bedroom.
After lunch we strolled around Como Town and went on the rides. Well, Tyler and Zoey went on the rides--apparently a 1 mph train ride is too turbulent for a 9 month pregnant lady. I did a lot of watching. Zoey immediately chose the caboose to sit in and then after this ride, wanted to go on the rides by herself.

So we found all kinds of rides that she could ride by herself. Her face lit up every time the rides started up--she was so proud of herself.

I am almost 37 weeks pregnant now and here is the belly shot--and no I don't have any shirts that cover the whole belly anymore.

The World According to Zoey

Happy 4th of July!

We went over to Nana and Poppa's for the 4th of July and started with a rousing game of run through the sprinkler--a game that Zoey will eventually get used to. I am guessing that she doesn't run through sprinklers that often because she wouldn't go near the one in the backyard--and I have to admit the Waterpillar--which was a birthday gift (Thanks Rob and Nicole!)--was quite an interesting creature to watch. Everyone took turns going through the water.

Zoey's language has just exploded over the past few weeks. She is constantly talking--to everyone. Even Tammy and Eric--it usually takes her awhile to warm up to them, if she ever does at all--but yesterday she pulled out all her tricks.

Her new favorite game is playing catch with Eric. He would do funny things with the ball and make the ball disappear--it made her laugh pretty hard.


We decided to take Zoey to the park last night to watch the fireworks--debating whether or not she could stay awake--but she was so excited and had a great time. I am glad that we went. It was fun to watch her take in all the activity.


She kept saying, "More fireworks!" and "I'm tired." She really didn't know what to do--but she would never fall asleep with all the activity going on around her. It was a pretty easy bedtime last night--I must say!