My Very Hungry Caterpillar!

Sometimes, I really like the photos I capture on my phone’s camera. I just wish it took better photos

Jana at 7 weeks 6 days!

The start of EC’ing

I know this isn’t very exciting to all, however, amongst much cheering and excitement this morning, Jana took her first poo in the toilet! Hurray for Elimination Communication!

Her signals have been clear from the start, but now that her digestive system is a little more mature and she isn’t giving us so many dirty nappies in one day. We were able to see a couple minutes ahead of time, that yes, we should sit her over the toilet.

One less dirty nappy to flush (we’re using gDiapers, the flushable nappy). It’s a first step, here’s to future successes!

2009 Year in Review

(better late than never, belated posting)

What a year we have had! Most of which dominated by one event. At the beginning of January, we decided to “pull the pin on that grenade” and go ahead and have a baby. In what seemed to be the longest pregnancy ever, starting with the twenty two weeks of nausea and vomiting, I eventually really enjoyed being pregnant. Epsilon got to be a very well traveled fetus, starting in Barcelona and making three trips to France, not too mention the day to day mundanity of flitting about England. Jana arrived two weeks late in December, a fantastic way to end the year.

I participated in making a video for an exhibit in the new Darwin Center. Capping off my tour of duty at the NHM before going on maternity leave by meeting Prince William and participating in the opening of the Darwin Center.

Jana’s arrival completely overshadowed our three year anniversary of moving to England (December 1st). This will be our fourth winter here. It still feels like we’ve only just arrived. That first walk down the footpath behind our house is so fresh in my mind. But that may be because I/we walk on it so much.

Jana is the best souvenir we could be bringing home from our time spent living here.

Two Weeks Old!

Jana is two weeks old today and she got to experience her first real snow! This is only the sixth day of snow we have seen in England in the four winters we have lived here. Jana is bundled up warm in the blanket Mammam (her great grandmother) knit for her and the hat I knit for her from the same bamboo yarn:

International Visitors

Jana has had her first international visitors, her grandparents Z, my parents, are visiting from the U.S. just to see her! We have had a lovely visit and Jana has enjoyed many snuggles (10 days old):

Introducing Jana Elise!

Jana Elise Denovich!

8:00 am GMT, 8.3 lbs via c-section (long story to come). She’s healthy, perfect and just beautiful!

Thursday, December 3.

T plus 13 days. Alright Epsilon, we either load up our packs and make the ascent on our own in the next couple of hours or we are left to take the ski lift.

Wednesday, December 2.

T plus 12 days. nope. No baby yet. Still holed up at base camp. The grandparents to be have arrived. Their original travel plans would have had them returning home today!

Tuesday, December 1.

T plus 11 days. There you go Epsilon, it’s after midnight, you are going to be a December baby. A Decemberist?

Monday, November 30.

T plus 10 days. After another sherpa visit, we were inching up the mountain, but progress has stalled. Will try setting a baited trap of pierogies to coerce her out.

Log addendum: It’s still November, Epsilon, we still have time to have our chance of planting our flag at the peak this month. I know base camp is cozy, but let’s go already!

Sunday, November 29.

T plus 9 days. Seriously Epsilon, what’s your plan here? Are you going to be a December baby? Are you going to be three weeks younger than your buddy Finn?!

Alternate log entry c/o Mark: “This could be our last night together, just the two of us,” we say to each other just before bed for the fifteenth consecutive night.

Saturday, November 28.

T plus 8 days. Alright Epsilon, our sherpa tells us we’ve made a little bit of progress up to the mountain peak, but you still don’t seem to want to leave the confines of the comfy accomodations at base camp. I’m starting to get a bit of cabin fever myself.

Friday, November 27.

T plus 7 days. We’ve been climbing this mountain for 41 weeks, Epsilon, and stuck in at the summit base camp for several of them. Our sherpa was helping another climber yesterday, so we wait for her arrival this morning. Hopefully with news that conditions are ripe for the final ascent!

Thursday, November 26.

T plus 6 days. It’s Thanksgiving. Would be nice to have Epsilon join us today. Have a meeting with the Sherpa later today. Will probably talk ascent strategy for the coming week. Baked and already partook of some pumpkin pie last night.

Wednesday, November 25.

T plus 5 days. Provisions for both an easy and full Thanksgiving arrive today, in case Epsilon decides to make an appearance, we’ll be ready. The sun is actually out, I lost track of how many dark, rainy, windy days we’ve had keeping us hunkered down at base camp.

log addendum: It’s the afternoon and still no sign of labour. Starting in on the cooking getting the cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie out of the way.

Tuesday, November 24.

T plus 4 days. Yep. Still pregnant. Actually slept well last night, well, after I fell asleep after four this morning (after having sushi at 2am and pineapple at 3am). We’re still solidly stuck in at base camp. Hoping desperately we don’t make it to our next sherpa visit on Thursday.

Monday, November 23.

T plus 3 days. As much as I enjoy backrubs and hot chocolate at 3:30 in the morning, base camp would be a happier and more comfortable place if Epsilon would join us on the outside.

Sunday, November 22.

T plus 2 days. Watching favorite movie last night didn’t inspire Epsilon, was hoping the “Flight of the Valkyries” scene of Apocalypse Now would have got her moving. Nope, she’s still as snug as a bug in a rug at base camp.

Saturday, November 21.

T plus 1 day. Up late listening to foxes yelping and what I can only guess was a Lapwing calling right outside my window. Epsilon showing no signs of budging from base camp today. Hopefully the grey lifts before sundown for a vigorous constitutional down the wooded trail and back.

Saturday, November 21.

T plus 1 day. It’s after midnight. I’m officially overdue despite my efforts to convince Epsilon otherwise.

D-Day.

T = 0 days. Here we are, Epsilon and I are still hunkered down. Starting to lose track of days, it’s grey and dark again. Armed with fresh supplies, we may just camp out on the ball or take another nap.

log addendum: at least the sun made an appearance today.

Thursday, November 19th.

T minus 1 day. Another grey day at base camp. Attacked in the night by a ravenous white ermine. Caught in the glow of my flashlight while pirating cheese. The Sherpa should arrive by noon. Hopefully we’ll make some progress on the ascent.

log addendum: Laying in supplies at base camp. Sherpa feels we may still be here a while. Conditions not favorable for ascent yet.

Wednesday, November 18th.

T minus 2 days. Grey and windy day. Epsilon and I are still sat at base camp. Dreamt last night that Mark told me she arrived while I was sleeping. The Sherpa visits tomorrow, will the ascent be made possible?

Tuesday, November 17th.

T minus 3 days. Still pregnant. Raspberry leaf tea supplies running low. Hope to reach summit by weeks end.