jaundiced and confused

Here's Tiz at 52 hours old. She's a little jaundiced and looks a bit puzzled in this photo, but we think she's happy to be going home today! She kept us up most of the night with what they call 'cluster feeding'... sounds like Kim and I on vacation in Paris. We'll be leaving the hospital in a few hours, so check back tonight or tommorow for all her first impressions of her new home.

Portrait

Here's a portrait. It's amazing how much she changes from hour to hour. She's about 36 hours old in this photo.

Fresh Face / Getting into Uniform

TK with Proud Papa / TK meets Granny

Tizzy Kay makes the scene...

Alright... we've survived the first night and gotten a little sleep, so here are those photos I promised.

And for those of you interested in the play-by-play, here's how it went:

* We arrived at the hospital at 7:30 Tuesday night.
* Nurses got us checked in and administered cervedil to help get things rolling.
* We both slept alright Tuesday night, then they started the pitosin to induce labor early Wednesday morning.
* Spent most of the day walking the halls together (Kim and I) with her contractions increasing in intensity throughout the day.
* By 4:00 PM her contractions were pretty severe and only a minute to two apart, so we were pretty sure we would be having a natural birth.
* Our doctor came in and did an exam and found that Kim wasn't really dialated at all, so he recommended we go C-section, and we agreed.
* At 5:07 PM little Tizzy Kay was born. She was tugged out by her head, all purple and slimy, and it was one of the most amazing sights I've ever seen.

She's healthy and peaceful, eating and sleeping well and not yet at all fussy. We are ecstatic.

She's Here!

She's here! Tizzy Kay was born on Wednesday, September 27th at 5:07 PM. She weighed 7 lbs 14 oz and was 20 inches long. I'll have some photos up this afternoon. In the mean time, click the link on the left for Carol's Blog... Aunt Carol has already posted a few photos. More to come...

out of our element

M - It's Saturday, week before, and I've finished my last day of work before Tizzy arrives. I'm actually really nervous right now. No more distractions to keep me from thinking about the enormous changes we're about to go through, not to mention the birth itself (if I'm nervous, I can't imagine how Kim feels!) and all the firsts we have in store. The first feedings... the first nap (is she still breathing???)... the terrifying first bath, punctuated by shouts of, "Be careful!!!", "Watch her head!!!", and "Don't drown her!!!" This ain't whisking the roux... It's a whole new world.

I keep trying to check myself to avoid full-on panic, asking, "How hard can it be?" I mean, people do it all the time. And it's not like we're incapable folks. We've managed to succeed in an industry known for devouring independents like us and sending once hopeful and empassioned foodies to financial ruin. We oversee a whole staff of people. We organize events for thousands of guests each and every weekend. This should be a piece of cake!

Who am I kidding... We're in way over our heads!

What's in a name?

M - This is the original Tizzy. She doesn't look that feisty, does she? Well, apparently she was. Tizzy was Kim's great-grandmother, who, in a bold move for the era, divorced her husband over his tendency to drink too much and ride the rails (honestly, it worries me somewhat that we are idolizing this lady... I mean, tossing back a few cold ones and hopping a freight car to points unknown doesn't sound to me like a terrible way to spend a weekend, but I digress). Tizzy went on to raise her 2 children alone in the midst of the great depression. Her given name was Mary Elizabeth, and her daughter, Kim's Grandmother, was Kathleen Elizabeth, another strong woman who was a great role model for all the young women who came after her. We borrowed a little from each of them and the result seems to fit our restless little girl... she's been dancing around in utero so much that it seems she's often in a tizzy. The name also worked for us because of it's versatility... Tizzy Kay is fun and playful and well suited to the pro windsurfer /artist we envision our daughter to become, and Elizabeth or any of its variations will work if, heaven forbid, she decides to be a banker or lawyer or (gasp!) some stiff-collared, corporate stooge. Anyway, what's in a name? We just can't wait to meet her.

a little gratitude

M - I am sitting in Tizzy Kay's room right now, settled into the old, orange-striped lounger that will serve as Kim's nursing chair. It's a chair that was salvaged from Kim's grandparents' house... one she played on in her earliest childhood memories that keeps them in our thoughts. Around me are more reminders of all the people that have been with us on the long journey to finally meet this little girl. There are blankets and outfits hand-knitted by Kayleen Wilber, Vilma Tarto and others. Bumper pads and a fun, Tizzy Kay banner were stiched by Carol. The quilted bear from Aunt Linda is riding the pink-hooved rocking cow sent by my Dad. Paintings by soon-to-be cousins Ellie and Simon adorn the walls. We're so thankful for all of you - there are more than I could mention here - who have been there for us and prayed for us and sent us your good energy over the past few years. We're so excited to get to know Tizzy Kay and show her so many things... but mostly to introduce her to you, the wonderful people who have offered us so much love and support. Thanks to you all.

Are we really here?

M - I can't believe we're really having a baby! We're going to call her Tizzy Kay. And since so many of our friends and family live across the country and around the globe, we've embraced this magical technology of the blog to keep you all posted on the little lady's progress. Kim's being induced on Wednesday, September 27th. That means we've only got a week left to prepare ourselves for the adventure of parenthood. I'd better get a haircut.