Grab a seat and enjoy the ride. :)
Thursday, December 10, at 9:45pm. Carla is on the couch with her back with butt up in the air and is doing everything she can to get Mr. Burns to turn. We felt his head and it was up near her ribs. Carla says, "Alright Mr. Burns... time to turn! Help us out." We headed off to bed and were not all that excited to see the doctor on Friday afternoon.
Friday, December 11, at 2:47am. Andy is awaken with a smack of Carla's right arm and a scream that comes out of her like her arm has been ripped off. I instantly wake up and look over at Carla. Andy is thinking... "what the hell is going on!!!" I looked over at Carla and she is wide-eyed as if she saw a ghost and was about to run through a wall to get out of the room. Carla was on her back with her belly in the air... Andy says "are you OK?? what is wrong??" Carla instantly falls back asleep. Andy thinks... "what just happened... do I wake Carla? dude, it is 2:47 in the morning, go back to sleep."
Friday, December 11 at 8:05am. Andy says to Carla, "How are you doing today?" "Fine" she says. He replies, "do we need to talk about what happen last night? do you remember what happened at 2:47am?" she says, "huh? what are you talking about?" "um... smacking me and screaming... do you not remember?" he answers. Carla gives Andy that spouse look that says 'you are completely crazy and you need to stop using drugs.... ' Andy says, "Alright, I am out of here, see you at the doctor appointment at 3:10. Love you."
Friday, December 11, at 2:55pm. Carla calls Andy and says, "I am stuck on the express lane headed north on I-5. I am going to be a about 30 minutes late. Can you headed down and get me a Jamba Juice?" Andy let's the front desk know that Carla will be late and the good news is our doctor is on call and is running about an hour behind. Andy thinks... 'Perfect timing.' Andy heads down to Jamba Juice and grabs a couple meals in a cup.
Friday, December 11, at 3:30pm. Carla arrives at the doctors office and get starts drinking her Jamba Juice. Andy says, "do you honestly not remember what happened last night at 2:47am???" Carla says, "what are you talking about?" Andy describes his experience at 2:47am and Carla still has no remembrance of the event. We laugh about it and our name is called. Time to see the doctor.
Friday, December 11, at 4:15pm. We head into the appointment room and the standard check up starts, blood pressure, listening to the heart beat, and measuring the stomach. Dr. H starts asking how Carla is feeling and so forth... then she suddenly remembered that she needed to check the position of Mr. Burns. So, Carla lays back and Dr. H starts feeling around... she says, "that doesn't feel like a head.... nope.. that feels like a butt... that is a leg... where is his head??" She continues to feel around and moves to the bottom of her stomach... and Dr. H says, "there is his HEAD! he has turned!!!!" Lots of rejoicing and smiles! :) :) :)
Friday, December 11, at 4:30pm. We head back down the elevator and into the parking garage. We start talking about how weird it was that Thursday night Mr. Burns felt like his head was under her ribcage. Then Friday afternoon he was turned and ready to go! Then, the light-bulb went off... Mr. Burns decided to turn at 2:47am!!!!!
So, Mr. Burns has turned. We have 30 days left until our due date. January 16 is coming. Yeah! Mr. Burns has turned! Maybe we should name him 2:47???
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
A few more showers and a chair.
We have had a couple more showers.
One Themed in CHICAGO BEARS!!!!! Awesome! Thank you Erin and Greg for hosting! It was GREAT. We ate, drank beer, chatted, laughed, and opened some presents.
Here are some pictures:
Andy's office threw a baby shower as well. This theme... SEATTLE SOUNDERS!!! We played some games that involved pictures of parents or children, a baby knowledge quiz, and nursery rhyme fill in the blanks. Along with great food and lots of laughs.
Here are some pictures:
No more showers planned until Mr. Burns comes out. The nursery has a bunch of stuff in it. It has the BEST, more COMFORTABLE chair... EVER! Excellent find goes to Carla! Here is the picture.
We plan to have the baby room done and ready to go by Christmas. Carla still thinks Mr. Burns is coming out December 29, 2009, but... I think... still January 20, 2010.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
The coolest stroller EVER!
Here is the coolest stroller / car seat / baby carrier EVER! Thank you to Andy's parents, Grandpa & Grandma Anderson, Gran, and Aunt Pat & Uncle Gene!
This is AWESOME!
Showers... Baby room... and more!
It has been awhile since posting. So, here are some highlights and pictures over the last few weeks.
Some new pictures of the baby room. Put some curtains up, it is coming together!
Carla had a shower where everyone got manicures and pedicures... Ali was a great host and from the pictures, everything looked like a blast! I am sure that Jeremy and Dustin had the most fun out of all of the girls.
Here are some pictures from the event:
http://suttles.smugmug.com/Events/Carlas-Baby-Shower/10137683_XLWsr/1/696984664_ya2Pz#696984664_ya2Pz
http://suttles.smugmug.com/Events/Carlas-Baby-Shower/10137683_XLWsr/1/696984664_ya2Pz#696984664_ya2Pz
Some of the gifts that our friends gave to Mr. Burns from that pedi/mani shower:
Probably one of the best books... EVER!!!!! thanks Dustin and Jeremy!
Some new pictures of the baby room. Put some curtains up, it is coming together!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Carla and Baby Room pictures
Not much to report, but we wanted to share some pictures with you.
A few more pictures of the new closet and storage unit from IKEA.
A couple of Carla with Mr. Burns.
A few more pictures of the new closet and storage unit from IKEA.
And a few more pictures of the baby room slowly coming together!
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Baby room is starting to look like a baby room.
It has been a month since our last update... but really not a ton to share.
We have had a couple doctor visits and all is progressing as should be. Our next visit is the glucose test... yep, drinking a bottle of high sugar mixture and blood to be drawn. I am sure Carla will pass with flying colors. :)
Mr. Burns is still kicking. the food craving for the last week: Pineapple... lots of pineapple.... and more pineapple.
We started the baby room transition in the last month. Here is our starting point:
Then... the crib and changing table/dresser arrived (THANK YOU SU!!!!):
So, Andy started to build the changing table / dresser:
After the changing table / dresser got built, it was time to start the crib. So, here are a couple pictures of the finished crib (THANK YOU SU!!!):
so, that is update for now. All is well and hopefully we can get a couple more pregnant pictures of Carla posted in the near future.
We have had a couple doctor visits and all is progressing as should be. Our next visit is the glucose test... yep, drinking a bottle of high sugar mixture and blood to be drawn. I am sure Carla will pass with flying colors. :)
Mr. Burns is still kicking. the food craving for the last week: Pineapple... lots of pineapple.... and more pineapple.
We started the baby room transition in the last month. Here is our starting point:
Then... the crib and changing table/dresser arrived (THANK YOU SU!!!!):
So, Andy started to build the changing table / dresser:
After the changing table / dresser got built, it was time to start the crib. So, here are a couple pictures of the finished crib (THANK YOU SU!!!):
so, that is update for now. All is well and hopefully we can get a couple more pregnant pictures of Carla posted in the near future.
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Mr. Burn's... quite the swimmer!
It has been pretty exciting to tell friends and family that we are having a boy. Lots of responses of happiness and excitement! There are many responses like... "dang, what is Andy going to teach this boy..." I look forward to having some fun with my son. :)
As for names, We are still throwing around first names. We have his middle and last name decided upon... but, we still have 4 months to firm it up. :)
This last week Carla passed 21 weeks and check out the belly!!!
She is VERY excited to move past the "I look fat" stage and into the "I am showing/pregnant" stage.
Baby room: coming together... slowly. By next weekend, the baby room should be clean and ready for furniture. Once we the room is ready, we can move ALL of the baby stuff that our friends and family have already given to us. Thank you everyone! books... clothes... decor... small shoes... tons!
In our last OB appointment, she was trying to find a steady heart beat, but... Mr. Burns was moving like a fish! We heard plenty of small beats, but nothing regular, then... a regular heart beat, then nothing... then something... then nothing. It was like fishing! We got a bite... then it got away....then a bite... The OB was very confident that all was well and Mr. Burns is an active baby! :) She asked if Carla was feeling Mr. Burns and at that time... nothing.
Wednesday, September 2:
The email subject from Carla to Andy: "Pretty sure Mr. Burns just kicked me...."
The email content from Carla to Andy: "So I am a little freaked out because it is just a SUPER weird thought that Mr. Burns is now big enough to kick me. I thought it was supposed to feel like 'butterfly kisses'... baloney. I feel a fish flopping in me. WEIRD! Not sure I like this. Can I be done now? Maybe it is just REALLY weird feeling gas."
Carla has spent the last few days "enjoying" this new movement from inside her belly... Mr Burns and her have poking contests and he doesn't want to lose... :) I can't feel or see anything, but I am told that he is quite active. As Carla continues to teach voice lessons, Mr Burns has been quite active when a student isn't singing correctly! Mr Burns starts kicking, as to say, "sing correctly, you are killing me in here!"
Four months to go. Anybody up for a little baby pool to predict the date that Mr. Burns comes into this crazy world???
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
17 weeks!!! Boy or Girl??
It has been a bit since posting. Not much happening... Carla is feeling a billion times better! She hasn't taken the anti-nausea pills for a little over 2 weeks and... EVERYTHING is stay down! :) YEAH!!! The second trimester is here...
Saturday, August 8:
We headed down to Portland for Carla's cousin's wedding and her step-dad is radiologist... so he offered to give us an ultrasound to see if we could identify the gender. Carla is all for as many ultrasounds as possible, so we took them up on their kind offer.
So, here is one scan: (side face profile)
and another.... (this is a face shot, see the smile)
and... last shot:
IT IS A BOY!!!!
We have been throwing around a few names, but we aren't sharing yet. Of course, if you want to suggest something... you can.
We have a future Chicago Bears and Seattle Sounders FC fan!!! Maybe we should name him... Ditka!!!!!!!
We started a registry with Babies'R'us and amazon.com. Registering was pretty cool! Especially since Carla knew what she really wanted. Bottles, toys, wipes, furniture, bedding, etc.... it made the process very easy. The hardest part was the stinking car seat, stroller, carrier stuff. We probably spent a good 45 minutes looking between individual items and the all-in-one travel system. Who knew how difficult it would be!!!!?!?!??! Anyways, we must have looked pretty frustrated and a couple with their baby walked by and said... you want that one. Period end of story. So, we registered for the all-in-one travel system by Chicco. We had a quick conversation with them and said our many thanks to them! We continued on our registering (with the scanner gun)... and by the end, we were EXHAUSTED!
Saturday, August 8:
We headed down to Portland for Carla's cousin's wedding and her step-dad is radiologist... so he offered to give us an ultrasound to see if we could identify the gender. Carla is all for as many ultrasounds as possible, so we took them up on their kind offer.
So, here is one scan: (side face profile)
and another.... (this is a face shot, see the smile)
and... last shot:
IT IS A BOY!!!!
We have been throwing around a few names, but we aren't sharing yet. Of course, if you want to suggest something... you can.
We have a future Chicago Bears and Seattle Sounders FC fan!!! Maybe we should name him... Ditka!!!!!!!
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Mr. Burn's in the house?? (simpson's)
Another ultrasound today to check for genetic issues... and... well... more PICTURES!!!!
Due date as of today: January 16, 2010.
Everything looked good. Two hands, two feet, heart activity... and LOTS OF MOVEMENT. Mr. Burns was a regular model today.
Enjoy the pictures of Mr. Burns!
Legs working out... step, step, step, step...
The hand is saying... "Yo!"
"you are tickling my feet!"
"Just relaxing... ahhhhh!"
Due date as of today: January 16, 2010.
Everything looked good. Two hands, two feet, heart activity... and LOTS OF MOVEMENT. Mr. Burns was a regular model today.
Enjoy the pictures of Mr. Burns!
Legs working out... step, step, step, step...
The hand is saying... "Yo!"
"you are tickling my feet!"
"Just relaxing... ahhhhh!"
Sunday, July 5, 2009
The mutant blob swims….
Thursday, July 2… back to the doctor for the monthly check up and ultrasound... the mutant blob is swimming around in there… apparently the pool party has started! Can you hear the Marco-Polo call and response?? Lots of arm and leg movement is happening! Could this be the reason that Carla is sooooooooooo exhausted? The mutant blob is taking her energy as well? Anyways, this appointment went as planned and all looks right on track.
This upcoming week is the first of two appointments to do some genetic testing. We aren’t terribly worried about our genetics since we don’t have anybody in our family with CF, Down syndrome, etc. but this is our first, so… well… why not. Plus, it can’t hurt to have a couple more ultrasounds of the mutant blob.
Carla health update: she is eating… and holding down food… with the help of wonderful medication! So, her all day sickness has been stopped due to medication. But, every now and then, the morning comes and well, breakfast comes up as well. She hasn’t gained a ton of weight from her starting point, but she is showing. Maternity clothes from now on. :) Her energy level has been sooooo low. Naps in the middle of the day and falling asleep on the couch at 8pm (when she isn’t at rehearsal). It is rumored that during her 2nd trimester she gets her second wind of activity. Let’s hope so!
Last night was the fourth of July and lots of fireworks around the neighborhood. Molly was a wreck!!! I was up with her until almost 3am last night… and woke up at 7:30 to head off to breakfast today (Crystal [step sister-in-law] came up for the awesome GREEN DAY concert) and I am TIRED! Is this what our future holds for us… 4 hours of sleep a night? Luckily, it is Sunday so I can take a nap or two. Going to work on 4 hours sleep could be a little tricky… but, other parents do it, so I am sure we will survive as well.
Some of you may wonder if we are going to find out the sex… the answer is: OF COURSE!!! It will make our lives easier and be able to plan much more efficient. The baby room will be gender neutral, but it will help our friends and family who are eagerly waiting to make something. The house transition will start in August… We will be moving our TV room back into the living room and the current TV room will become the baby’s room. We will need to get some curtains, better shades, and most importantly, put up a door.
Additionally, we will need to train molly to go out the front door and back to the backyard when bathroom breaks are necessary. We aren’t sure how molly will handle this transition since she won’t be able to sit on her pillow and keep the birds, squirrels, and humans in check! We hope that this transition will dampen the barking as well…
Lots coming up in the next couple month and we really hope that Carla can stop the medication and hold down some food!!!
This upcoming week is the first of two appointments to do some genetic testing. We aren’t terribly worried about our genetics since we don’t have anybody in our family with CF, Down syndrome, etc. but this is our first, so… well… why not. Plus, it can’t hurt to have a couple more ultrasounds of the mutant blob.
Carla health update: she is eating… and holding down food… with the help of wonderful medication! So, her all day sickness has been stopped due to medication. But, every now and then, the morning comes and well, breakfast comes up as well. She hasn’t gained a ton of weight from her starting point, but she is showing. Maternity clothes from now on. :) Her energy level has been sooooo low. Naps in the middle of the day and falling asleep on the couch at 8pm (when she isn’t at rehearsal). It is rumored that during her 2nd trimester she gets her second wind of activity. Let’s hope so!
Last night was the fourth of July and lots of fireworks around the neighborhood. Molly was a wreck!!! I was up with her until almost 3am last night… and woke up at 7:30 to head off to breakfast today (Crystal [step sister-in-law] came up for the awesome GREEN DAY concert) and I am TIRED! Is this what our future holds for us… 4 hours of sleep a night? Luckily, it is Sunday so I can take a nap or two. Going to work on 4 hours sleep could be a little tricky… but, other parents do it, so I am sure we will survive as well.
Some of you may wonder if we are going to find out the sex… the answer is: OF COURSE!!! It will make our lives easier and be able to plan much more efficient. The baby room will be gender neutral, but it will help our friends and family who are eagerly waiting to make something. The house transition will start in August… We will be moving our TV room back into the living room and the current TV room will become the baby’s room. We will need to get some curtains, better shades, and most importantly, put up a door.
Additionally, we will need to train molly to go out the front door and back to the backyard when bathroom breaks are necessary. We aren’t sure how molly will handle this transition since she won’t be able to sit on her pillow and keep the birds, squirrels, and humans in check! We hope that this transition will dampen the barking as well…
Lots coming up in the next couple month and we really hope that Carla can stop the medication and hold down some food!!!
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
She must feel better!
It appears that Carla is feeling much better! It has been 96 hours since her last "morning" sickness episode. YEAH! She also appears to have her appetite again... yikes... can't get enough food inside of her at times. "Potato skins now" or "bread immediately"!!!! :) These last three days is how I thought pregnancy would work. She eats, tries to relax, and complains about ugly maternity clothes. LOL! Apparently ugly maternity clothes are numerous out on the web. :) i am hoping for 7 days of no morning sickness! Friday night... please come soon!
Saturday, June 13, 2009
The Last Eight Weeks
The Last Eight Weeks
8 weeks ago: We know… and well, time to start looking at baby room décor… Carla is doing all of the work and sending me links to look at. Some are awful (who buys this crap) and some is pretty cool… Animals seem to get my vote.
7 weeks ago: How many baby books do we need? It feels like 5 different ones show up each day. Don’t they all say the same thing?
6 weeks ago: I get a book from Doug “My boys can swim” by Ian Davis… awesome. Totally recommend for us future fathers. Easy read… and hilarious! Carla isn’t sick yet, phew!!! She starts complaining about tight pants… really? 3 weeks in, and your pants feel different? Alright... if you say so.
5 weeks ago: More books, people start to figure out. Probably should mention something to parents and my brother.
4 weeks ago: Tell my parents and brother… Brother is all excited! I start to think back to all of the ‘cool’ aunt and uncle gifts we gave to Matt, Natalie, and Toni…. And well, Carla and I are in trouble. Big trouble in the future!!! I am sure that Tim and Michelle are already plotting revenge gifts. I think my parents were completely shocked. I am pretty sure they didn’t know how to react verbally. I know they were excited to be grandparents again, but they weren’t expecting it from Andy and Carla. We make the doctor’s appointment and wait.
3 weeks ago: Status quo… nothing out of the ordinary. Lots of excitement from those who find out. I think… is this real? Yep… awesome!
2 weeks ago: the first ultrasound is coming up… what happens?
Last week: Carla is soooooooo sick. There is no way this is morning sickness. Off to the doctor. The result… Influenza A. Quarantine… Tamiflu…yep, you got it, Swine Flu, seriously. How the heck does Carla catch Swine Flu… it had to be one of those kids… I am feeling fine and am taking great care of her! We are both worried about how the Tamiflu will affect peanut Anderbrand? The research does prove or disprove that it is harmful…. Being the optimist, I have no worries.
Monday 6/8: Carla is coughing soooooo hard and soooooo often. The ‘morning’ sickness is really all day sickness. This all day sickness has been around since Saturday. I feel awful for her. It has to be miserable to be in her skin.
Tuesday 6/9: Carla has ‘recovered’ from her swine flu, mostly. That is quite a cough that continues to linger… anyways, our first ultrasound… I am very excited, but part of me is worried about peanut Anderbrand since Swine Flu was just last week, but… overall, I am thinking how awesome is this??!?! The picture comes up… and… a beating heart and a mutant blob.
Wednesday 6/10: Thank God the doctor prescribed some anti-nausea medicine!!! Carla is holding down some food…
Thursday 6/11: Food is staying inside! I think we are on the mend! I really hope that Carla can enjoy this pregnancy.
Friday 6/12: Carla almost made it 48 hours with out all day sickness…. Almost! What a two weeks!!!
I am sure that I won’t drop a note every day… but… after these this post and the previous year, it might have caught everyone up to a point.
7 more months…
8 weeks ago: We know… and well, time to start looking at baby room décor… Carla is doing all of the work and sending me links to look at. Some are awful (who buys this crap) and some is pretty cool… Animals seem to get my vote.
7 weeks ago: How many baby books do we need? It feels like 5 different ones show up each day. Don’t they all say the same thing?
6 weeks ago: I get a book from Doug “My boys can swim” by Ian Davis… awesome. Totally recommend for us future fathers. Easy read… and hilarious! Carla isn’t sick yet, phew!!! She starts complaining about tight pants… really? 3 weeks in, and your pants feel different? Alright... if you say so.
5 weeks ago: More books, people start to figure out. Probably should mention something to parents and my brother.
4 weeks ago: Tell my parents and brother… Brother is all excited! I start to think back to all of the ‘cool’ aunt and uncle gifts we gave to Matt, Natalie, and Toni…. And well, Carla and I are in trouble. Big trouble in the future!!! I am sure that Tim and Michelle are already plotting revenge gifts. I think my parents were completely shocked. I am pretty sure they didn’t know how to react verbally. I know they were excited to be grandparents again, but they weren’t expecting it from Andy and Carla. We make the doctor’s appointment and wait.
3 weeks ago: Status quo… nothing out of the ordinary. Lots of excitement from those who find out. I think… is this real? Yep… awesome!
2 weeks ago: the first ultrasound is coming up… what happens?
Last week: Carla is soooooooo sick. There is no way this is morning sickness. Off to the doctor. The result… Influenza A. Quarantine… Tamiflu…yep, you got it, Swine Flu, seriously. How the heck does Carla catch Swine Flu… it had to be one of those kids… I am feeling fine and am taking great care of her! We are both worried about how the Tamiflu will affect peanut Anderbrand? The research does prove or disprove that it is harmful…. Being the optimist, I have no worries.
Monday 6/8: Carla is coughing soooooo hard and soooooo often. The ‘morning’ sickness is really all day sickness. This all day sickness has been around since Saturday. I feel awful for her. It has to be miserable to be in her skin.
Tuesday 6/9: Carla has ‘recovered’ from her swine flu, mostly. That is quite a cough that continues to linger… anyways, our first ultrasound… I am very excited, but part of me is worried about peanut Anderbrand since Swine Flu was just last week, but… overall, I am thinking how awesome is this??!?! The picture comes up… and… a beating heart and a mutant blob.
Wednesday 6/10: Thank God the doctor prescribed some anti-nausea medicine!!! Carla is holding down some food…
Thursday 6/11: Food is staying inside! I think we are on the mend! I really hope that Carla can enjoy this pregnancy.
Friday 6/12: Carla almost made it 48 hours with out all day sickness…. Almost! What a two weeks!!!
I am sure that I won’t drop a note every day… but… after these this post and the previous year, it might have caught everyone up to a point.
7 more months…
Friday, June 12, 2009
The Last Year (Andy’s perspective)
About 12 months ago:
Carla comes home and talks about how much fun she is having and how much River is growing and has quite a personality. The first time I hear the question, “We should have a baby, what do you think?” My answer, “ok, but something has got to give. You can’t teach private voice, nanny, audition every other weekend in New York, Chicago and San Francisco, and consider the possibility of moving to Germany for two or three years.” Carla would reply, “Whatever, we would make it work.” I think to myself, how serious is she about having a baby?
About 11 months ago:
I continue to hear about awesome River and how much fun Carla has watching all of her verbal and motor skills develop. Carla performs with Gilbert and Sullivan and her day is completely packed and there are a couple mentions about babies, but not much.
About 10 months ago:
Carla turns 27 for the 3rd time… and we are heavy into filling out applications for the New York, Chicago, and San Francisco audition junket that is coming up. Not a lot of baby talk but it comes up every now and then…
About 9 months ago:
We start to receive letter informing her of auditions granted across the country. We start planning her travel schedule, housing, etc… I start a class for my doctoral degree. There really isn’t any baby talk and I really don’t think about it much.
About 8 months ago:
Carla is flying around the country auditioning, coming home teaching voice and nanny, and driving up to Bellingham for rehearsals. I have no idea how she is remaining sane! I really haven’t thought about babies in awhile since the school year has started and I am working and taking a class.
About 7 months ago:
Carla is heavy into audition season and I am doing status quo working and taking a class. On a few phone calls home she mentions how much she misses River and feels bad for being away from her for so long. She says, “We should have a baby, what do you think?” I reply, “Ok, but I something has got to give. You can’t teach private voice, nanny, audition every other weekend in New York, Chicago and San Francisco, and consider the possibility of moving to Germany for two or three years. Oh yeah, BTW, there might be a job opening in the country of Oman for me… what do you think about moving?” We start looking into the culture of Oman. We find out that the Royal Opera House is building an opera house to be open in 2010… interesting?!?! We start talking about having a baby in Oman and we both think how cool would that be!?!??! J
About 6 months ago:
Carla is in New York for 2 or 3 weeks for auditions and we continue to talk about moving to Oman and just how awesome that would be. I am working with a contact, which has a contact, who is working with someone at the university. We have many conversations about Oman and babies in December. I finish my class and get a break from reading and writing papers. As we continue to talk on the phone, it feels to me that we are talking about babies more and more. I am thinking, there is no way she is serious about having a baby. When she asks about having a baby, I reply with… “you can’t do everything you are doing, you have to stop something.” She replies back to me, “you know I am not going to stop performing,” and I say, “I would never expect and want you to stop performing.” She finally returns from her many, many auditions.
The last five months:
January – I start another doctoral class and Carla returns back to a ‘normal’ busy schedule. Things are back to normal in the Anderbrand household, but we start to have some real serious conversation about having a baby. Where would we put a baby in our house? What fears do we have? What would be the perfect time for a baby to be born? Is it better to have summer or winter maturity clothes?
February – We start planning that August would be a good time to get pregnant, right after she is done with Gilbert and Sullivan. I haven’t heard back from the Oman folk, so that is off the table… I am getting excited about the baby, but trying to keep things to as planned. After our many baby conversations, I am convinced that Carla is completely serious about getting pregnant. I start thinking… August? Really… that far away? Yeah… that will work. Then, we start talking about July, and then it becomes June…
March – Carla cuts back on her nanny hours and gets a part-time job teaching music to pre-schoolers and infants. Things are getting serious in the Anderbrand household… June became May and we are both really happy about this decision. I finish my class; she is back on a ‘normal’ busy schedule. We appear to have a household baby plan in place… May? Really? May?
April - F$^& it! Let’s get this train moving. What difference does 30 days make? The test comes back pregnant and well… the deed is done! Didn’t take nearly as long as I thought it would. I started thinking… can I tell people? Who do I tell first? Do I need to tell certain people? What the heck are the ‘rules’? J
May – We start telling certain people and a few people find out at parties via a very obvious educated guess.
So, there is the last year… probably way more information than you wanted to know.
Carla comes home and talks about how much fun she is having and how much River is growing and has quite a personality. The first time I hear the question, “We should have a baby, what do you think?” My answer, “ok, but something has got to give. You can’t teach private voice, nanny, audition every other weekend in New York, Chicago and San Francisco, and consider the possibility of moving to Germany for two or three years.” Carla would reply, “Whatever, we would make it work.” I think to myself, how serious is she about having a baby?
About 11 months ago:
I continue to hear about awesome River and how much fun Carla has watching all of her verbal and motor skills develop. Carla performs with Gilbert and Sullivan and her day is completely packed and there are a couple mentions about babies, but not much.
About 10 months ago:
Carla turns 27 for the 3rd time… and we are heavy into filling out applications for the New York, Chicago, and San Francisco audition junket that is coming up. Not a lot of baby talk but it comes up every now and then…
About 9 months ago:
We start to receive letter informing her of auditions granted across the country. We start planning her travel schedule, housing, etc… I start a class for my doctoral degree. There really isn’t any baby talk and I really don’t think about it much.
About 8 months ago:
Carla is flying around the country auditioning, coming home teaching voice and nanny, and driving up to Bellingham for rehearsals. I have no idea how she is remaining sane! I really haven’t thought about babies in awhile since the school year has started and I am working and taking a class.
About 7 months ago:
Carla is heavy into audition season and I am doing status quo working and taking a class. On a few phone calls home she mentions how much she misses River and feels bad for being away from her for so long. She says, “We should have a baby, what do you think?” I reply, “Ok, but I something has got to give. You can’t teach private voice, nanny, audition every other weekend in New York, Chicago and San Francisco, and consider the possibility of moving to Germany for two or three years. Oh yeah, BTW, there might be a job opening in the country of Oman for me… what do you think about moving?” We start looking into the culture of Oman. We find out that the Royal Opera House is building an opera house to be open in 2010… interesting?!?! We start talking about having a baby in Oman and we both think how cool would that be!?!??! J
About 6 months ago:
Carla is in New York for 2 or 3 weeks for auditions and we continue to talk about moving to Oman and just how awesome that would be. I am working with a contact, which has a contact, who is working with someone at the university. We have many conversations about Oman and babies in December. I finish my class and get a break from reading and writing papers. As we continue to talk on the phone, it feels to me that we are talking about babies more and more. I am thinking, there is no way she is serious about having a baby. When she asks about having a baby, I reply with… “you can’t do everything you are doing, you have to stop something.” She replies back to me, “you know I am not going to stop performing,” and I say, “I would never expect and want you to stop performing.” She finally returns from her many, many auditions.
The last five months:
January – I start another doctoral class and Carla returns back to a ‘normal’ busy schedule. Things are back to normal in the Anderbrand household, but we start to have some real serious conversation about having a baby. Where would we put a baby in our house? What fears do we have? What would be the perfect time for a baby to be born? Is it better to have summer or winter maturity clothes?
February – We start planning that August would be a good time to get pregnant, right after she is done with Gilbert and Sullivan. I haven’t heard back from the Oman folk, so that is off the table… I am getting excited about the baby, but trying to keep things to as planned. After our many baby conversations, I am convinced that Carla is completely serious about getting pregnant. I start thinking… August? Really… that far away? Yeah… that will work. Then, we start talking about July, and then it becomes June…
March – Carla cuts back on her nanny hours and gets a part-time job teaching music to pre-schoolers and infants. Things are getting serious in the Anderbrand household… June became May and we are both really happy about this decision. I finish my class; she is back on a ‘normal’ busy schedule. We appear to have a household baby plan in place… May? Really? May?
April - F$^& it! Let’s get this train moving. What difference does 30 days make? The test comes back pregnant and well… the deed is done! Didn’t take nearly as long as I thought it would. I started thinking… can I tell people? Who do I tell first? Do I need to tell certain people? What the heck are the ‘rules’? J
May – We start telling certain people and a few people find out at parties via a very obvious educated guess.
So, there is the last year… probably way more information than you wanted to know.
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
The Mutant Blob
It is official... 8 weeks pregnant... due January 2010... The third Anderbrand (insert scary music)!
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