Ever Update

Verification that her feet, much like her appetite, exist in a realm called Ripley's Believe It or Not

We'll never need to invest in flippers...her's are built-in.

Ever's first bath...she hated it and to protest further, she chameleoned herself into a color reflective of her mood.

Arrrgh...me mateys! I be a hungry lass.

Snugglin.

Some more...


Headed home...sleepless, but happy.

A Status Update:
Ever has a doctor's appointment tomorrow with a Pediatric Cardiologist. The hospital ped thought it prudent to have a closer examination of a murmur he thought sounded funny. We're not overly concerned at this juncture- all babies (apparently) are born with murmurs, but we're erring on the side of caution and having it checked out. Also, like her brother, Ever is jaundiced and though her bili levels are still relatively low, we are also keeping a very close eye on the further development so as to (hopefully) avoid the mess poor Kovi had to go through.
More pictures will follow...

We Waited For-Ever

The Important Stuff:
Height- 19 3/4 inches
Weight- 7.12
Head Circumference- 13
Feet- XXL
Arrival- EXACTLY 4pm 4-26-09

A baby changes everything. Two babies- well... I'll get back with you.

Meet Ever Allison. My daughter. My beautiful, big-footed, nipple-hungry baby girl. I suspect she's already keen as to her princess-status...she's certainly got her Big Daddy's attention.

The day began with a feeling, a "I-feel-off" kind of vibe. But, I chalked it up to more Braxton Hicks and lack of sleep. I spent the day playing with Kovi, that feeling always with me. By late afternoon I sensed her debut was probably near. Evening fell and Woog was fast asleep- Big Daddy and I trudged to bed ourselves. But sleep never came- a battalion of irregular contractions did, however and at 2 am, I awoke a sleep-eyed Big Daddy and we left for the hospital. Upon arrival, the nurse verified dilation and confirmed irregular contractions and suggested we walk the floor to urge regular, stronger contractions. We did...12 trips around (over a mile!) and with good results. We were moved from the triage room to a labor and delivery room- the same one Ever's brother was born in just 14 1/2 months before. I'd joked with the nurse, telling her that we were going to write our name on the wall with hash marks denoting the number of visits (we also had the same room with Kovi's preterm episode). Contractions continued to grow stronger until about 10:30am when, after dilating to 5 centimeters, Dr. Sykes (a man associated with Carolina Women's Health, but of slender digit composition) suggested an epidural. After 7 1/2 hours of labor, I was elated at the thought! Initially, sweet tingly bliss flowed through a tiny tube and into my lower back, but alas, the numbness was too much for me and despite the inability to feel anything below my bellybutton, I was restless, my legs flailing about like frozen meat hunks. I asked for my epidural to be cut back...I wanted to feel something. It was and my legs returned from the dead. Things progressed smoothly from there... and finally at about 3:30pm, nurses confirmed complete dilation. We were prepared to push. Woo Hoo! Stir-uped and surrounded by a room full of love, Dr. Sykes gave the order to puuuuuush. After just a few short minutes, Little Miss Ta-Da made a quiet, toe-flailed, finger-splayed arrival. Perfect.

And now, just over 24 hours later, she has established her very important placement as first-born daughter...a wonderful, wonderful surprise, our FOR EVER.

Welcome to the world my beautiful little girl. I love you with all I have.

Marley and A Special Rocking Chair

"Hi, I'm Marley...and though I don't live here at Casa de Gann, I spend much of my time hanging out. I like the little human, Woog. We're pals. And the biggest human, Big Daddy... I like him too. He wrestles with me. And the Grandma human, she made me a bed for when I stop by. That's cool. I'm pretty sweet...playful and friendly. When I come over I stand by the front door window and tap at the glass until someone comes out to play- and someone ALWAYS does!"

Woog received this awesome rocking chair made by his Great Grandpa 3-G. He is still learning how to sit in it and rock without getting that 'I'm falling backward feeling.' It won't be long though, and he'll be enjoying tea with us on the porch.
Thanks Grandpa!!! We love it!

A Day of Celebrating the Earth...A Tad Early

Hooray for Earth Day!

Grandma and Puppet Woog sharing a love of the Earth.

With gully-washers coming and going throughout the day, Woog thought his muddy front yard was the perfect terrain for off-roading.


"Pretty good Dad," Woog instructs. "A smidge to the left."

The rain held back long enough for us to sneak out a plant our new tree for Earth Day. It's a little early, but we are always on-alert, waiting (impatiently?) for Little Miss to arrive. Kovi came with us while we searched for the just right Crepe Myrtle- a special and hard-to-find red one. We (read: Big Daddy) planted the little tree near the window of his office. In a few years, it will be a beautiful addition to the Springtime beauty that is South Carolina.
Next week we hope to start our organic garden...Happy Earth Day!

Play Day at the Park

Holding true to his American Indian name, Squatting Sampa Sui... and yes, he put it in his mouth.



It's a duck, no a horse... A HORK!

Our little Polish Immigrant swingy swingy...

Woog loves to be outside...and his father and I really could benefit from movement beyond chair to fridge, back to chair, reeeeeeeeach for the remote (use that pillow to whiff it over here). We picked up a sub sandwich (what, you thought food wasn't going to be involved?) and drove over to the Liberty Park for a sunny, smiley afternoon.

Kovi loved the swings...the breeze in his mullet, the tummy tummy tummy feeling. And fun for us too... I even managed to wedge my White Whale rumpus into one- I heard an audible groan from the framework above. "Moby," it death-rattled, "seek stronger metal..."

Meanwhile, we tried sending Woog down one of the smaller slides, but he's still too small and ended up looking much like a sailor sans sea legs. So, we tried the bouncy horse-duck hybrid thingy. Eh... not much interest there either.

A walk...yes! We plopped him into his Vroom Vroom (one of the only successfully purchased AND played with toys that we have gotten him) and took off for the seemingly elder-worthy/benign path around the park. Woog cocked his little arm out of the window and steered one-handed with the other, occasionally honking at the traffic. His car has a pint-sized cup holder, so he'd take libation from his new cup (it has a real straw and is SO EXCITING) while we trudged uphill like Sisyphus- only our rock was a 22lb kid sitting in a Little Tykes Push Car. In fact, the whole path was uphill... what kind of physics are represented here? Here and there, Woog would fain boredom and try to bail out of the moving (albeit slowly) vehicle... testing Big Daddy's reaction time and my bladder strength. We made it though. And the end result was achieved, we had a sleepy AND smiley baby to tote back home.

Oh Poo

Woog had a particularly difficult night last night...so much so that three capable adults were draggin ass this morning because of it. I suspected gas, but even after a dose of Mylacon, his tummy pains didn't subside. At 6 am after much rocking, I decided to put him in the tub with me thinking it would sooth his little belly.
Stinky toots abounded...even he was distracted by the smell, putting his chubby hand to his nose and breathing out.
All was going well. Woog played contentedly with his boat of Cuban refugees (a walrus, a seahorse, a couple of spoons, an octopus and cappuccino scooper/press thingy)- then, quite suddenly he stood up and came to sit in my lap. And like a Ron-Co noodle extractor, began pooing out the contents of his disagreeable bowels right into the potty-like hole of my crossed legs. Yea...I felt it.
Not quite finished, he stood and immediately began "dunking" his butt into the water so as to eliminate the poo tail he was still sporting.
PANIC.
I removed the toys and jumped up and out of the tub...heel sliding to grab my robe and a towel. In the short time it took me to cram in an arm, Woog was clawing for a floating LOG. I snagged him in time and drained the tub leaving the corny remains for Big Daddy to deal with.
Needless to say, the boy was feeling much better although, it has taken me a better part of the day to forget the feeling of poo being pooed onto my leg.
Ewe for Poo!

One More Perfect Easter Picture

Mmmmmm.... Love and Love and Love.

The Daddies

I forgot to post this up...this was taken the other day (Thursday, I think) during the Easter basket put-together extravaganza at the Beaver's Dam. Eddie Beaver (much improved in his photography skills) snapped it of the Big Daddies entertaining the babies on the porch while we Easter basketed our little hearts out. So sweet.

A Beautiful Easter Woog

We wrestled, we whined, we protested (initially) the wearing of suspenders and a bow tie, but eventually Mommy won... Woog was a dapper little wee man this Easter. Not only did he nap through most of the incredible play at TWC, Amazing Love, but he even refrained from ripping off his hat until we were in the truck headed home- obviously, the shoes and socks didn't make it. Enjoy! And Happy Easter.

Better Than A Slice of Swiss

A mouse house...er...palace? Big Daddy spent a good part of one afternoon de-neglecting the garage. Much of the mess consisted of old recyclables that hadn't made it down the street to the Recycling Center (Hooray for reducing waste...ahem...*enter soapbox* it's easy and everyone should be doing it). Over the wet winter, the pile had grown substantially.
While sweeping near the dirt bikes, BD discovered a a few wrappers poking out from under one of the metal storage racks. He tried to pry them out with the broom, but the rack was too low, the shop broom to tall...so he used a stick.
This is what, eventually, he pulled out from under the rack. Apparently, some of the friendly field mice that typically dwell in the woods decided a nice, warm, Taco Bell wrapper insulated nest was a homey upgrade.
I appreciate the collage of wrappers...very fung shui.

It Feels So Good...

This is Joy Vess Beaver's laundry room...and filling it are many many Easter baskets all tagged and ready for the little hands of the children living at the Miracle Hill Children's Home. Today Eddie Beaver, his Joy and their daughter Elizabeth (along with her husband Dean and their baby Leah) met with Justin, Kovi and I to deliver them.
Back in late February, I called Miracle Hill curious if there was anything my company (Community First Real Estate- plug, plug) might do for them... the ministry operates solely on donations. I mentioned Easter baskets to Kris, the wonderful AND up-beat volunteer coordinator. She was so excited at the idea. Then began the task of collecting donations to adequately fill 35 baskets...
Thankfully our church, Trinity Wesleyan, was able to help in providing more than half of the funds, the rest came in from various lender contacts, inspectors, family members, etc. Elizabeth, the most organized and thoughtful person I've ever met, did ALL the shopping and basket coordination. The girl is a serial organizer...and needs her own program on TLC.
Delivery day was sunny and warm...spring flowers in bloom and sweet little faces excited over the prospect of visitors. After visiting with the children, we unloaded the baskets into the office, saving them for Easter. Apparently, this is the only bit of Easter the children get.. and though I was very excited to see their little faces open them, I'd much rather they have something to look forward to.
In the future, we hope to continue with our donation efforts...it feels so good to do something selfless, especially when the recipients are adorable little kids.

Feeling Nostalgic

1. HOW DID YOU MEET YOUR SPOUSE?

The PG version...I was the DD for the standard Friday night outing to Scotty's Boat Landing- the non-DD companions were mutual friends with spouse-to-be.

2. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST DATE?

First date...first date? Can't recall, but I do remember with grasping clarity the first family date- talk about gripping fear. Not until we were en route did he bother to mention that his beloved Grandmother would be in attendance, in conjunction with Mom and Dad. I remember feeling completely under dressed, paranoid and insecure. Turned out, Grandma Jo was the epitome of perfect grandmotherlyness.

3. HOW LONG DID YOU DATE BEFORE YOU GOT ENGAGED?

We "promised" in high school...rings and all. But technically, Justin didn't get down on one knee until much....much later. End of 2003. So 7 (nearly 8) LONG years.

4. HOW DID YOUR FIANCE PROPOSE?

We were in Grand Cayman...Justin was working and I was working on an island tan that made my teeth look so white they glowed in the dark. We had a disagreement over something...can't recall and I went for a walk. He followed me and we ended up at this really tall rock wall that overlooked the Caribbean. It was surrounded by lush tropical foliage with sand underfoot. I sat on the wall, dangling my bare feet over the edge- breathing in the breath of the ocean when he got on one knee and presented me with a ring he'd fashioned from a palm leaf. I still have the ring- it is one of my most precious possessions.

5. WHAT JOBS DID YOU TWO HAVE WHILE YOU WERE ENGAGED?

He was on the road building and commissioning switches. I was in school full time.

6. HOW LONG WERE YOU ENGAGED?

We (I) started planning the wedding immediately... we were married in Dec, 2005- so about a year.

7. HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU GOT MARRIED?

I was 25. He was 26.

8. WHEN DID YOU GET MARRIED?

December 2, 2005

9. WHAT WERE YOUR COLORS?

Champagne

10. HOW MANY BRIDESMAIDS DID YOU HAVE?

Meghan covered it all...Maid of Honor, Bridesmaid... Ruby was the world's most adorable flower girl.

11. WHERE WAS THE CEREMONY?

Napili Point, Maui, HI- It was the perfect setting...a vivid contrast of ocean waves crashing into volcanic rock, green-green tropical lushness surrounding and a sunset that was hand-painted that day by God Himself. Perfect.

12. DID YOU HAVE A DJ OR BAND?

We had a traditional Hawaiian ceremony complete with a conch shell blower. After the ceremony, a Hawaiian man with a ukulele sang the Hawaiian wedding song for us to dance to while our loved ones looked on. Beautiful.

13. DID ANYTHING GO WRONG AT THE WEDDING OR RECEPTION?

The wedding was more perfect than I ever pictured...I had anticipated that something would go awry- just to be prepared, but nothing did! The entire wedding party enjoyed a WONDERFUL dinner with exceptional service at a restaurant up the beach, cake included. Afterwards, we made our way back to one of the hotel rooms for toasts and dessert. The best part was sharing the day with both Mom and Dad- a rarity. Our reception, held a week after we'd returned from Hawaii. Dad hired an awesome band and everyone helped with preparations. Even though we arrived late, we had the best time!

14. WHAT CAR DID YOU LEAVE IN AND WHAT DID IT LOOK LIKE?

We came back to the hotel in Fred's rented minivan...it was the only thing I could fit my dress into. Even then, remember not being able to see above all the tulle.

15. WHERE DID YOU GO FOR YOUR HONEYMOON?

We stayed in Maui with the family. It was the first time there for nearly all of us so we had a great time exploring.

16. WHAT WAS YOUR MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT?

I remember this moment...the waves were crashing, crashing and the sun set in the seemingly reachable distance- a palpable hue of mango and Heaven. A breeze swirled around us, my veil was dancing with the wind, swirling and dipping. I remember looking at Justin as we held hands thinking- this is the most perfect moment; this is the happiest I have ever been in my entire life.

17. WOULD YOU HAVE CHANGED ANYTHING IF YOU COULD?

I wish my Murray could have come. But beyond that...nothing.

18. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN MARRIED?

4 years in December. However...I must make mention that we have been "together" for 13+ short years.

Little Leah (aka Woog's Love Interest) Turns #1

The Birthday Princess!


Awww...Leah always ready with a hug for stingy little Woog.


Little Leah was the epitome of cuteness today... Dolled up in a specially made adorable pink frock (complete with monogrammed initials), she worked over the crowd with her usual charm and good manners. Playmates, Kovi and Naomi (an equally scrumptious tot with crooked little pigtails) all played like little angels, sharing toys and pacifiers... Food and fun were had by all. Once again, the (BVRs) Beaver/Vess'/Rosencrans' really do know how to put on a shindig. Thanks for having us... we had so much fun!

The Many Faces of Boz

He's oldish...and cranky. He whines or barks incessantly when he wants something (which is always). But he is The Boz. The first-born- once loved as much or more than my current love for Ben and Jerry's. Now, he takes second-stage to a toddling toddler, a half-brained Boston with breath like death and LuLu, the perpetual tail-bitch-slapper. Old Man Boz...we love you, even if we threaten to punt you across the pond.

Awww...look. He's quiet.

And brooding...

And looks like a rabid oppossum...

And....loved. For now. :)

Our Own Brand of Sugar

Monday's specialist appointment went well...very well. Baby Girl Gann is now 5lbs with long legs and monkey feet. The technician pointed out last visit that her second toe was longer than her big toe...not overly surprising since both BD and I suffer from the same affliction. However, on screen, there was a noticable difference- like scaling a tree with the ease of a marsupial difference. We laugh about it, we'll have to cut the tips of her shoes and socks so the second big toe can peek through... As for the long legs, I knew that. She's like a tire around my middle, reaching nearly end to end.

Since I've hit the 34 week milestone, the doctor will not stop labor should she choose to come early... slightly panicked- nothing is washed or set-up. I guess that dresser drawer is looking better and better.

A Lovely Visit from Grandma and Papa Mullins

Boz begs from Papa




We had fun together!



"Hello..." Papa and Woog play telephone.