The Frantzens

We Can't Believe It Either :: Chase at 1 Year

2010-03-05T21:01:00.009-05:00

Amazing what happens to your expendable time when you have a kid-- you no longer have the time to update your blog. And before you know it, you find yourself as a one-year veteran of this whole "parenting" gig. Life is funny.

The Rookie is doing, well, wonderful. The winter has been filled with crawling, gabbing, eating, pooping, and cuddling. He's got 4 teeth now (2 on top, and 2 on the bottom), with more on the way... hopefully very soon. He uses said teeth to gnaw his way through Cheerios, puffs, veggies, meatballs, chicken nuggets, and anything else he can pick up and shove clumsily into his mouth. His favorite food, in fact, has shifted from apple sauce to... Italian. His daily regimen of formula has been replaced by whole milk, juice, and water. Yep, Chase eats what we eat, and his diaper tells the tale.

The winter also gave us a scare. Namely, Christmas Eve. What was supposed to be his first annual Frantzen Family Christmas Eve celebration, instead was a day in the hospital recovering from RSV (it's a lung virus, and a particularly nasty one at that). As parents, we were beside ourselves. Chase? Well, Chase was just annoyed. Luckily, Christmas Day (the annual Boer family party), and Christmas Eve Pt.2 (the 26th with Mum-mum and Pop-pop) went quite smoothly with the aid of Pedialyte and a lot of held breathe. Since then, he's bounced back like a champ. He's good at that.

Last month, Chase decided it was time for us to get a new house, so off we went a-house-hunting. After a short search, we all agreed on one. And, by April, Chase will have a new room, and a new play area. He will not, however, chip in for the mortgage payment. Freeloader...

And, well, that's all there is to tell. He's starting to show glimmers of wanting to stand up and walk, but then he realizes that it takes work, and he sits back down. He's developed quite a personality, which includes his raspy little laugh, his insistence on wearing only ONE sock, his fondness for pointing at things with his middle finger (this is fun), and his fiery temper and stubbornness (no idea where that came from). He and Layla are best buddies, and their friendship gets stronger with every Cheerio that Chase knocks on the floor. The Rookie is not a little baby anymore -- he's a little boy through and through. And that, all at once, makes us very happy and a little sad.

Of course, once he starts walking, we won't have time to be sad...

Happy birthday, Chase-- Love, Mommy, Daddy, & Layla.

Roaring Through the Fall :: Chase at 8 Months

2009-11-22T19:46:00.010-05:00

In month #8, with the onset of Chase's new-found love for crawling and cruising, we find ourselves putting more and more furniture in the basement, and chasing the Rookie all over the place. His toys have taken-over 1/3rd of the living room, and he has drooled on every inch of carpet on the floor.

The adventures of Chase found him celebrating the change of seasons with a big smile the whole way. He continues to charm the pants off of every person he can, of course. In addition, he went pumpkin-picking with his Grammy and Grandpa (and Mommy and Daddy), which yielded exactly one pumpkin, two happy grandparents, and dozens of photographs.

He also experienced his first Halloween, and his first time out trick-or-treating. Chase went out with his cousins Ella and Sofia, his Aunt Becky (Uncle Kris hung back to give out candy),Mommy and Daddy, and Mum-mum and Pop-pop. Sofia went as Little Bo Peep, and her little sister Ella went as, well, her sheep. But when we went to peoples' doors, and explained who the girls were, the reaction was "And the Tiger?" "The tiger's here to eat the sheep." Everyone had a great time, even when the skies opened-up and drenched all of us.

So as the official holiday season approaches, we look forward to more embarrassing outfits, more relatives spoiling the bejesus out of him, and more drool. Much more drool.

Halloween at Chase's Daycare::Pictures!

2009-10-30T10:21:00.003-04:00

Cage the Baby! :: Chase at 7 Months

2009-10-06T20:30:00.005-04:00

As evidenced by the prior post, the Rookie is now among the world of the mobile, albeit clumsy and mobile. Since then, it's been full steam ahead. Crawling across the living room, the couch, the changing table, the crib, even the tub. You name it, he attempt to climb it. And failing that, he'll fall face down on it, hence leaving his "calling card" of drool and boogersnots, and crawl-on to the next obstacle.

The weaning days of the summer found Chase meeting more new friends, more aunts and uncles, and discovering noises and strengths he never knew he had before. He continues to amaze and charm his teachers with his energy and spirit, and has even created artwork (it's a turkey and he MEANT it to look like that). We celebrated Labor Day with family and friends, and the Rookie hung-in like a champ. He survived opening day of his first ever season of football (he has yet to decide on a team, thank you), and he loves to watch it with his mom and dad. Although, he seems very infatuated with the GREEN of the field...

We're looking forward to pumpkin-picking, more adventures, more laughs, and more discoveries. And, yes, we look forward to more chasing... Chase.

Wait For It....

2009-09-23T20:46:00.002-04:00

He crawls now. Life will never be the same. *Gulp.*

Sand, School, and Boogersnots :: Chase at 6 Months

2009-09-08T20:53:00.014-04:00

The Rookie has been a busy man. Size-wise, he is now a modest 28 inches long, and a rugged 22 pounds, both of which are staggering compared to how he started-out. Those stats pale in comparison, though, to the leaps and bounds he's made in his development, and the new adventures he's been on.

In his 6th month, Chase experienced the Jersey Shore for the first time-- a must for any Frantzen/Boer offspring. "Well, if he loved the pool, he must've loved the ocean." Wrong. Now, the ocean wasn't that big of an issue-- in fact, he was nonplussed by it. No, it was the combination of sun (which, as we know, is not a friend of Chase) and sand (fun to play with-- not fun to put in your mouth) that sent him whining and grunting his way back up to the safety of Aunt Kris's deck. All was well though, because he had plenty of company in his cousin Ella (who taught him just how much trouble crawling can get you into... also how fun it is), his cousin Sofia, his Uncle Kris and Aunt Becky, and, of course, Mum-mum and Pop-pop. Yessir, outside of the dastardly sun and just plain unappetizing sand, Chase had a great vacation.

The Rookie also started "school" when Justine went back to work, and, all things considered, his parents had a tougher time transitioning than him. His teachers have fallen prey to his charms, and he's making new friends, and spreading more and more of his drool everyday. Of course, where there's other babies, there's germs.

And that's the tough part. Chase has had not one, but two colds in his 6th month. He's soldiering through them very well, but it breaks our hearts to see him cough, or sneeze, or sniffle. We just have to tough it out, and make sure we have enough bibs and rags to deal with his seemingly endless supply of boogers and drool. Disgusting? Sure. But it's amazing how quickly one can become so desensitized to gross bodily fluids when they come out of your own son. I haven't had a day of work in a long time without a small to large drool/vomit/booger stain. That's life.

Other than that, Chase is just becoming less and less of a baby, and more and more of a little boy every single day. He sits up on his own without help and he rocks back-and-forth on his hands and knees, threatening his nervous parents with becoming a mobile menace. His days are filled with flirting with everyone from the daycare to the grocery store, and his weekends are filled with visits with Grammy and Grandpa, Mum-mum and Pop-pop, and his many, many aunts and uncles. Not a bad life, if you ask me. Here's to another great half-a-year!

The Rookie Figures It Out :: Chase at 5 Months

2009-08-07T20:57:00.011-04:00

Drool. It's an artform. And, at 5 months, Chase is a regular Picasso. But it's a welcome inconvenience in light of what he's given his mommy and daddy. "What's that?," you ask? Sleep. Glorious, wonderful sleep. He loves it too, it turns out. No longer in the swaddler, little man props himself on his side, finds that ever-elusive thumb, and drifts-off to dreamland to dream about large black dogs and gigantic exersaucers.

And that's where we find ourselves 5 months into this adventure. Chase is starting to get the hang of things. He's started to eat regular food (if you consider a mixture of cereal, milk, and banana/carrots/apple sauce "regular"). He's starting to really recongnize people other than his mom and pop. He's starting to *gulp* learn how to move. Granted, it's slow movement -- mainly slithering while leaving a trail of drool, toys, and grunts-- but movement, nonetheless. He's growing from being just a little tiny baby to a rough-and-tumble little boy. Move over Layla, Drew and Justine have a new best friend.

Month five was a month of new experiences. The first of which was his first time in the pool. A baby pool at first, but then on to Grammy and Grandpas for a REAL swim. The verdict? Well, just like his parents, Chase is amphibious.

And, much to his parents delight, Chase experienced his first live concert at Musikfest in Bethlehem. He had an absolute blast! It'll be the first of many, many, many live shows.

So, as we head towards a half of a year, the Rookie is thriving as a happy, curious little boy. We're looking forward to introducing him to football, pumpkin patches, and cool autumn days, but we'll take all the summer we can get!

18 Pounds of Awesome :: Chase at 4 months

2009-07-11T21:11:00.010-04:00

It seems like all we ever hear anymore is "Oh my, he's a big boy!," or "I bet he has a healthy appetite!" Tell us about it. Chase, at a mere 4 months, is already in the 90th percentile for weight (18 lbs.), height (26 in.), and head circumference (17 in.). To be clear though-- he's not fat. He's just... big.

As for development in other areas, the Rookie is hitting all of his milestones on time (if not early). He's rolling over (usually to see the TV), sitting up for moments at a time (in order to catch a better view of the TV), and talking up a storm (probably reacting to the TV). Oh, he likes TV. Whether it be on or off (for the record, the TV is usually off), Chase loves the boob-tube. We're gotta work on that...

His personality is also becoming more and more prevalent. He knows what he likes, and, to a much greater extent, what he dislikes. He likes "zerberts" (also known as "raspberries" in some circles). He dislikes anything that happens after 8pm, as it falls after his self-designated bedtime. He likes walks around the town in his new jogging stroller. He dislikes if his neighborhood stroll isn't met with the exact amount of sunshine he desires (not on the face, please). But he's amazingly happy and smart, which makes our lives easier.

The adventures are really just beginning for little man. In the coming months, he's due for his first time in the pool, first baseball game, first time at the beach, and many more visits to his extended family in both PA and Jersey. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. To watch him grow and learn, you can just see that he's discovering all sorts of new things. It's exhilarating to watch his little mind get blown by, say, discovering that he has toes, for instance.

In the meantime, we'll just keep rotating in bigger and bigger outfits.

Man On The Move :: Chase at Three Months

2009-06-11T10:22:00.011-04:00

It is no wonder that Chase's favorite song is "On the Road Again" (performed by Daddy, of course). He is a little boy who loves nothing more than to get up and go. For those of you who have visited lately, you are well aware that the days of sitting and holding the little guy are long gone- Chase needs to move. His days are filled with regular stroller rides to the park with his buddy Layla, dance parties, tours of the house and back yard, and very regular visits to Target or anywhere else he can look around and explore the world! Lucky for him, he had a busy month. He attended his first birthday party to help cousin Sofia celebrate turning four. He hosted his first group play date this month and hung out with his buddies Cole, Mason, Brooke and Hailey. After that he headed down to meet his new buddy Alex, followed by a visit with Mum-mum & Pop-pop. Then finally, in need of some relaxation, he retreated to Grammy & Grandpa's for a sleepover.

Every morning it seems like he has grown, greeting us with that big smile, ready to tackle the day. Chase is already 17 lbs and moved into 6-month clothes this week. I think he is trying to catch up to daddy and all of his uncles! He's becoming quite a happy and curious little man, whose wonder is only matched by his extreme appetite.

Learning How To Smile :: Chase at Two Months

2009-05-06T21:31:00.018-04:00

The days are growing longer, the trees are growing new leaves, and Chase is growing from the small, fragile newborn he was into the very big baby we all assumed he would become. He goes for his two-month-checkup tomorrow, so we won't know for sure until then, but I'd put his weight at anywhere between 13 and 120 lbs., and his length at anywhere from 22 inches to 3 feet. Just kidding. But it does seem that he grows another inch every night when he sleeps. He's already wearing 3-6 month clothes. At this rate, he'll be borrowing clothes from his dad by October.

And get this: We are actually all beginning to sleep more now! I can't believe it either. I mean, in reality, it's still a crap-shoot, but it's marginally better. At best, we get a good 5-hour stretch at night, which, all things considered, is fantastic. Some nights are better than others, but really, all it takes is a good lullabye to get him off to dreamland. Fortunately, his mommy actually knows traditional lullabyes. His dad? Well, last night, Chase fell asleep to his father's stirring rendition of Springsteen's "Thunder Road." I'll have to work on that.

Every day, it seems like he becomes more and more of a person, with his own personality, likes, dislikes, expressions, etc.. And, after the long wait, our little guy finally gave us the smile we've been waiting for. He also learned how to stick out his tongue, which we weren't necessarily waiting for per se, but it's pretty cute, so we'll take it.

All in all, he's still the best thing since sliced bread, and the cutest creature on earth. We're looking forward to a great summer, and many great summers to follow.

Oh, and as an added treat, we've posted a short video of him playing on his mat. Why? Just because. Enjoy!

Eat. Cry. Poop. :: Chase at One Month

2009-04-08T20:35:00.011-04:00

It's amazing how one month can change your entire life. And as much as Chase is learning something new everyday, his mom and dad are scrambling to learn the fine art of "Chase." It's exhausting, frustrating, and ultimately, the most wonderful experience in the world. Did I mention it was exhausting?

The Rookie's personality reveals itself a little more every day. He's very curious, very stubborn, and VERY strong, which is a dangerous combination. He hates being naked, unless it is to either, a. pee on us, or, b. get partially submerged in gloriously warm water, while being bathed in lavender soap. Not bad, eh? He loves bouncing, hates sleeping, and can put down a bottle like no one's business.

While I'm certain that Justine and I are his favorite people on earth (*fingers crossed*), we simply cannot compare to Chase's grandparents. Grammy and Grandpa (Justine's parents) are the comforters: when Chase is around them, he falls into a peaceful slumber; a perfect angel. Mom-mom and Pop-pop (Drew's parents) are the entertainers: when Chase is around them, he is awake and alert (without wailing for food), happy as can be. Pop-pop even got (what we think was) his first giggle.

The weekends are chocked-full of meeting new people, experiencing new things, and hanging with his bodyguard, Layla. We go on family walks and family car trips, both of which he falls asleep for, with many more to follow.

Finally, we cannot thank all of the folks who have lavished Chase with love, well-wishes, prayers, and gifts. They have meant the world to us, and we will make sure Chase thanks every one of you in person... when he can finally talk. He looks forward to seeing you all, and meeting the many new friends he still has yet to meet.

Chase- Week One

2009-03-11T14:59:00.012-04:00

After a few sleepless nights in the hospital, it was time for us to bring our little man home for the first time. Justine (who had been relegated to a hospital bed that looks comfortable at first glance-- not so much after several days) and myself (who was relegated to a pull-out that would only pass for a bed in third-world countries) were happy to get home to our comfy furniture, familiar surroundings, and, yes, Layla.

Layla and Chase get along famously. Chase is nonplussed by her being around, and Layla sees Chase as the new little creature that she has to protect (even from his own mom and dad).

Chase's grammy was a saint, and came to stay with the new family for a few days to help us with cleaning, cooking, etc., which was real godsend. Especially, seeing as how we had to take our little man to the doctor's 3 days in a row.

Yep, for having a father whose appetite is surpassed only by his waistline, Chase had lost a little more weight than he should've, and was pretty jaundiced. We had to put him on the bottle with both formula and milk, and, after a little scare, Chase is doing just fine. Actually, fine is an understatement. If the amount of, ahem, "stuff" in his diaper is any gauge, Chase is doing fantastic.

As for sleep, well, let's just say that the Rookie may have his days and nights mixed-up. For instance, when the doctor says that he should be fed every 2 hours, you don't immediately assume that the 3:30 a.m. feeding will end 15 minutes before the 5:30 feeding. But, we steal shut-eye when we can, and, to be honest, it's amazing how far a one hour nap can go.

It's quite an experience so far, and completely rewarding at that. He makes us laugh and smile and giggle every day. As each day passes, his personality comes out more and more. It's tough to decipher whether or not he actually enjoys peeing on his mom when she changes him, or keeping his father awake for as long as humanly possible because sleep isn't "the cool thing to do" at 4 a.m., but we take it in stride. It's what makes Chase... Chase.

Chase Erik Frantzen

2009-03-06T07:59:00.004-05:00

The Rookie is here. First the facts: he's a 7 lb. 5.5 oz., 19-in. long, strong little boy. 10 fingers, 10 toes, and he's possibly the most beautiful creature on the planet.

Now, the story. Justine and I went in to the hospital at 12 am on Thursday morning, so that Justine could be induced. With the gestational diabetes, the doctors didn't want to take any risks. So, at around 2 am Thursday morning, she began the intitial steps to induction.

Around 5 hours later, the doctors began giving her the drug that essentially starts labor. Justine began having contractions, but after many, many hours, the Rookie was still not budging. Then, the dreaded "Plan B."

At around 5:30 pm, the doctors and nurses got us ready to go into the Operating Room for a C-Section. She was scared, and in a ton of pain, but Justine was a champ. And, at around 6:53 pm, on March 5th, 2009, we got to meet our son for the first time.

Mother and baby are just fine. Justine is sore, and very hungry, but recovering quite well, given the circumstances. We'll be in the hospital until Sunday, and then the fun-filled adventure begins.

Thanks for all of the well-wishes, and we will post more (many, many more) pictures very soon.

--The Proud Papa

Tick, tock, tick, tock...

2009-02-28T21:36:00.003-05:00

Here we are at just about 39 weeks. The rookie will be here any second now. Justine, being the planner that she is, has already packed her bags and booked a kennel for Layla. I, on the other hand, have yet to do that. (I swear-- I'm all over that tomorrow)

We're ready to welcome the Rookie into the world. Not just to meet this little, mysterious kicking-machine, but also so that Justine can stop being so... uncomfortable. Needless to say, the last few weeks of her pregnancy have not been a picnic. But right now, we're eager to meet the little man.

3 Weeks Left

2009-02-17T21:23:00.003-05:00

So, here we are in the homestretch. Justine is trucking right along, dealing with fatigue, arm numbness, etc., and she's more beautiful than ever. The Rookie is running out of room, but growing like a champ. (I'm amazed that he has a head of hair, by the way... Maybe more so that the ultrasound could pick up hair).

The nursery is ready. The carseat is in the Kia (even if it doesn't seem quite right...). Justine is done work next Friday. Layla has been sufficiently warned that her rule of the roost is coming to an end. All that's missing is our little boy.

He'll be here before we know it...

Mommy & Grandpa.

2009-02-15T14:31:00.002-05:00

Classic.

The Home Stretch

2009-02-12T16:27:00.024-05:00

At work each day, the first thing I do is write the date on the board. It really hit me when I realized we are now less than a month away from meeting our little boy. Thank you so much to everyone who planned, came to, and gave so generously at our shower. We were both just truly overwhelmed with how blessed we are. Our son is definitely entering a world filled with people who will love him to pieces...not to mention spoil him rotten!! Below are some pics from the shower...yes, there were six pregnant ladies there and we are all due in either March, April, or May.

The last few weeks have been quite busy. We have been working hard to get our house in order and the doctor appointments are still two times a week. As of Monday, February 9th the rookie is an estimated 5 lbs. 15 oz, which again puts him around the 45th percentile in growth...just where we want him! As for me, I am still feeling good, just really tired and incredibly huge.

The nursery is finally ready to go. The furniture from Grammy and Grandpa looks extra special now that everything has been set up and found its place. Drew's paint job matches the bedding perfectly! Here's to the last few weeks of waiting!

Week 33

2009-01-23T22:11:00.003-05:00

Time flies when you have a bun in the oven. We've now officially been certified care-givers to the Rookie, as we've now completed our childcare course at LVH. We learned all sorts of tidbits of very useful information that I am almost 100% certain we will forget when the Rookie is screaming bloody murder at 3am. We also mastered traditional swaddling techniques right before the instructor told us about a much easier solution. Go figure.

Anyway, the Rookie is about 4 lbs. now, and growing nicely. Justine goes to the doctor twice a week so they can monitor the guy, which he doesn't like one bit. He does his best Jean Claude Van Damme when the wand gets into his "comfort zone," which, at this point, makes up the entirety of Justine's belly. Good part is he's passing all of his tests like the grade A student we all know he will be, and Justine is happy and healthy (albeit a little tired and sore).

So, with 7 weeks to go, all's going just peachy.

Ella Hope Frantzen

2009-01-17T10:22:00.005-05:00

Very early on Friday morning, the family got one more member, as our brother and sister-in-law, Kris & Becky, gave birth to their second daughter, Ella. Ella came into the world at 6"7 oz., and it was a blessedly quick delivery for Becky. She's absolutely adorable, and her big sis, Sofia, is ready for the challenge of both protecting, and picking-on her new sis.

So, with 52 days left in our adventure, it looks like the Rookie has his first playmate!

The Weekend of the Nursery

2009-01-05T19:14:00.013-05:00

On New Year's Day, we began the initial steps of creating the Rookie's habitat, or, as some call it, a nursery. The goal: Finish the room with breathtaking results and, more importantly, our sanity intact. So, we brought up the selected paint (a light blue, a rust color, and something called "Aviary Nest"), moved the furniture to the basement (where the new "guest room" will be located), and taped-off the doors, window, trim and ceiling. What fun... The process was underway.

Day One. We go through the task of drawing perfect lines on the wall with a level and a yard stick to divide the walls into the blue/rust/Aviary Nest areas that we have decided on. This would be simple to do with: a. More adequate equipment other than a level and a yard stick; and b. walls and floors that were level to begin with. No matter-- we got the lines to where we want them.

At this point, I ushered Justine out of the process for the most part (this is something I wanted to do myself-- besides, she ultimately has the lion's share of the work, what with carrying the child, giving him nourishment, dealing with the stress on her body and mind that go along with carrying a baby, and, you know, the whole giving birth thing). The music went on-- mainly the odd assortment of crap that I like (Steve Winwood(!), Prince, The Gaslight Anthem, Bon Iver) and stuff that Justine and both like (the new Pink album-- quite good actually). The plastic drop cloth went down, which was not easy, considering every time the heat would kick-on, the floor vent would create a cloudlike surface of thin plastic. Fun to look at, not fun to paint on. The first coats of the blue and Aviary Nest went up. Not bad. They got another coat shortly thereafter. So far, so good.

And, we got a new picture of Justine in front of the Christmas tree.

Day Two. Stripe Day. The nice man at the paint counter at Home Depot said the rust was going to go on thin. Nobody will ever accuse him of being a liar. 4 coats. Four. Ah, but first, I had to find the thin pencil lines Justine and I made to denote the area where the rust stripe was going. Under 2 coats of paint. Not happening. New lines needed to be drawn, which, all things considered was pretty easy. So was the taping for the rust stripe, where I expertly recycled some tape from the ceiling. And, while the paint was thin, four coats did the trick. Once again, things went surprisingly un-Drew-like.

Day Three. Move that bus! But not until after the tape was removed, and, oh yeah-- the first two pieces of furniture were built.

First, the tape needed to come off. Sure enough, my sister-in-law's expert painter boyfriend came through with the tip that allowed the rust stripe to come out pretty darn perfect. We owe him a beer.

On to the crib. For being a convertible day-bed/crib, it was easier than I thought it was going to be. All the parts were included, the directions were thorough (and in English), and I didn't need any foreign tools to complete the task.

Finally, on to the dresser. Substantially more complicated. About 30 parts. About 160 various screws. Ugh. After a few hours of blood (not really), sweat (plenty of it), and tears (mostly sweat actually), the dresser was complete. Justine loved the room basically put together. Layla was confused. And I, in very un-Drew-like fashion, managed to do my part without screwing anything up. Mission (for the most part) Accomplished.

And the best is yet to come.

The Great 2 lb. Ninja

2008-12-08T20:55:00.000-05:00

And here we are at week 27. The days are getting shorter, the temperature is heading south, and, as Justine's belly continues to grow, so does our anticipation.

Oh, and our son is a ninja.

It's TRUE! And it's more than just him kicking Justine (quite a bit). I thought it was just me at first-- I would put my head next to her stomach, and he would kick me. I thought it was a coincidence, but it keeps happening. He even made sure to give us a demonstration this morning. I couldn't be prouder.

So, here's our little ninja, and his beautiful mommy.

Belly

2008-11-06T20:26:00.000-05:00

Ok- here they are. Since it is the first time in my life that I can attribute my growing belly to something other than Miller Lite- I will share some pics. On the left is 20 weeks and the right is 22 weeks. Everything is going well- we are having fun enjoying the kicking show every night after dinner.

Our Energetic Little One

2008-10-25T20:11:00.000-04:00

It's a boy!!!!! Without a doubt our little one was happy to show his goods! Within a minute of the tech beginning the exam it was quite clear we would be joining team blue. Of course we are so excited! Drew is still very worried about how our little boy will choose a football team to cheer for...but we'll deal with that when we get there:) We have now been told by two ultrasound techs and a pre-natal doctor that we have quite the energetic little child- so we are now actively trying to get as much sleep as possible before March gets here! For those of you who knew Justine as a child, you will not be surprised to see that our boy already has his thumb in his mouth!! At 20 weeks, we are at the half way point. All tests have been going great and the gestational diabetes is being managed by diet and exercise, so we couldn't be more excited.

Oh, and one more thing...

2008-10-22T20:29:00.001-04:00

2 Days Until We Know...

2008-10-22T20:05:00.000-04:00

If it's gonna be a doll or a truck, a pony or a baseball glove, Strawberry Shortcake or G.I. Joe... Friday is the big day. Hopefully.

Sometimes with these things, the kid's legs could be crossed, or it could be flipped on the wrong side. But we're keeping our fingers crossed.

We have polled family and friends, and so far, the spread seems to be 60% GIRL, %40 BOY. Justine and I think it's a boy. Who knows. And, really, we don't care. Just so long as it's healthy.

In the meantime, we went to the Volkswagon site, where you find out in an entirely non-scientific manner, what the kid will look like. So, while we wait, we present you with our rookie.

I REALLY hope the kid's cuter than this.

Stay tuned, gang.

The Case For a Coooool Baby.

2008-09-23T20:46:00.000-04:00

As a future responsible parent, I know that we can't go spending crazy cash on awesome baby clothes. Really, I get it. Truth be told, when the baby is just chillin' with his/her parents, he/she will be mostly in discount onesies, or swaddling clothes, or whatever babies wear (cut me some slack here-- I can barely dress myself).

That being said, I can't help but look for clothes that I would wear if I had the kind of awareness I have now (or lack-there-of). See Obama-Rama at the top. Awesome.

Exhibit A for instance. It's a toddler Bruce Springsteen shirt. That's right. Now, by the time the kid is ready to go to concerts, I would assume the great E Street Band will be long off the road, but I said the same about the Stones. Let's move on.

Now, The Clash may be a bit too "I'm So Punk," and the Willie shirt may be too "I'm a Country Boy/Girl," but I'm showing extremes here. The point is... well, there is no point. There are hundreds of these kinds of shirts flooding the marketplace. Sure, they're all around $18, but, still.

Another consideration is sports teams. We have no idea what teams the child will root for. I am an ardent Phillies/Sixers/Eagles/Flyers fan, while Justine champions the Yankees/Giants demographic. Now, we can hope that the youngin' will root for one, or all of our respective sports franchises, but there is a chance the kid could grow up to be something strange like a Rams/Red Sox/Maple Leafs/Suns fan. So, how cool would it be to sway the odds in our favor at a very, very early age. See below.

I know, "Awwwww," right? C'mon, what baby would NOT want to fall asleep staring up at a mobile of Eagles mysteriously circling their head... Umm, nevermind.

Now, do we (I) actually WANT these items? No. But I had to go out onto the internet for myself to see that there is a universe of baby apparel that isn't geared to the "cute pink bunnies" and "adorable blue teddy bear" crowd. The process of "window-shopping" is satisfaction enough for me.

For Now.

All the best-- Papa Frantzen.

Here we go

2008-09-21T16:28:00.000-04:00

Time seems to be flying by as we run from appointment to appointment and work on reading all of our mommy & daddy-to be books. We thought we would set up an easy way to show everyone how things are changing for us here. Our goal is to share with everyone the fun we are having getting ready to welcome our little one in March.

Thanks so much to everyone for your well-wishes. As always we feel so loved and supported. Please stop back regularly as we plan to update as often as we can.

Below are two of our ultrasound pics from week 11 and week 14.