Getting Out!

Oliver has been an excellent travel buddy, letting me schlep him all over the city. Here are photos from some of our recent outings.

Our urban garden.

Soho.

Central Park.

Meeting daddy for lunch.

Summer water exhibit @ CMOM

Unsupervised Toddler

This is what happens when baby #2 comes along.

The High Line

On the 4th of July we had fun visiting the recently opened High Line trail/park/path. It was quite lovely!

Strawberry Season

I love picking berries. We made it up to Connecticut briefly one weekend to introduce Oliver to everyone and to taste some yummy strawberries!

1 Month Already!

I really can't believe it has been a month since Oliver was born; but it also feels like he's been a part of our family forever.

Some observations on Oliver:

He often smiles--and sometimes chuckles--as he drifts off to sleep.
He likes to be swaddled.
When his hands make it to his mouth they are a yummy treat.
I love it when he gives me "kisses" (aka rooting).
He sleeps well until evening when Isabella is hungry and I'm busy trying to prepare dinner.
When he cries his face turns red, his bottom lip comes out so far and he usually only lets out one sweet holler.
He makes silly sounds--like a horse breathing through its lips.
Oh, how we all love him dearly.

True Story!

Two Saturdays back I had a party scheduled for a sweet little girl. Late that morning my assistant, Allison, came by my apartment, picked up the huge duffel bag full of kids science experiments, the cooler filled with dry ice and then headed to the Upper West Side to entertain a bunch of rowdy 5 year olds.

About 15 minutes later Allison called. My mind raced, "Did I forget to give her something?" "Is she lost?"

In a panicked voice she related how she paid the cabbie, told him to open the trunk and hopped out. Then the cab took off! Fast! With all the party supplies! She chased after the cab for three blocks and almost caught him stopped at a red light, but the light changed at the wrong time and she never caught him.

Since the party was about to begin and the "show must go on" I threw a whole 'nother party together in minutes and dashed down to the UWS in record time. Fortunately the kids were occupied with a craft, the mom was mellow, and I had a few fabulous gals who got everything set up quick. After getting all the supplies ready and making sure the mom and birthday girl were happy I headed home to feed my famished newborn and rest my healing body.

As for the duffel bag and cooler...Allison spent hours on the phone shuffling through the Taxi Commision beaurocracy, filing a police report and finally finding the supplies stuck out in Queens at "Taxi Fleet Managment". Last Friday while Brian and I had a car to go to the beach we stopped by the said Queens location. I walked in and waited. Within a few minutes, a man hauled the dufflebag and cooler out from the back and handed them over without saying a word.

Spare Moment, Free Hand

This a rare moment indeed: sitting at the computer, one hand available (Oliver in the other arm). My one-handed typing skills are definitely improving again!

Brian had last Friday off of work, so we rented a zipcar and headed to the beach in the morning. We were there a few hours and left by 11:30am, right before it began raining cats and dogs. It was fantastic!

Vote Big Fish!

My super talented brother, Seth McOmber, has a submission up on Threadless. He needs your vote to win! If you've never visited Threadless it is a really fun site with lots of unique, cool designs on t-shirts and such. You do need to create an account to vote, but they won't hassle you with e-mails. He's the brother (I have five of them, if you didn't know) that created my Science Explorers logo for me. I really love his work!

Go vote!

Isabella, My Joy!

Brian put this video together last night. I watched it this morning and I loved it so much I cried all the way through! Isabella loves it too...of course! (Although she was a bit confused why I was crying.)

Oliver: Day 5

Introducing...

OLIVER JAMES CARINI
born Thursday, June 11 at 5:36pm
9 pounds, 2 ounces, 21 inches

Welcome baby boy! We are so glad you've finally come!

Here's his story:

On Thursday morning I realized I was having minor contractions so I went to the hospital and checked in at 10am. After several hours of labor I was not dilating past 5 cm, but the contractions were becoming more intense and closer together. (This is similar to Isabella's birth.) At 3pm I asked for an epidural.

Drug relief finally arrived around 4pm. (Oh, how good those drugs felt!) As soon as I began to feel relief from pain we lost the baby's heartbeat, my heart rate dropped fast and the doctors and nurses became very intense and focused. With a shot of ephedrine into my IV and oxygen mask pulled over my face I watched the nurse as she moved the monitor around my belly searching...searching...searching. Nothing...no heartbeat. I cried.

After an eternity of searching, a faint heartbeat came back onto the monitor. Luckily it came back strong. A little after 5pm my doctor arrived; her on-call shift had started! After being checked again I was finally open and the baby was moving down the birth canal. But with each contraction his heartbeat would drop. She wasn't sure what was wrong but knew he needed to get out soon. She sat at the foot of the bed, got everyone in position and had me push. I pushed and pushed and pushed. She wanted that baby out NOW!

It was the craziest, most intense moment I've ever experienced. Brian said Oliver came out deep, dark purple. The cord was wrapped completely around him. Once his head was out and the doctor saw the cord wrapped up tight (holding him hostage) she reached inside me with scissors and cut the cord so I could push him the rest of the way out. I had to push about 10 superman, do-this-or-you-will-die pushes before he was finally out.

After all post delivery tasks were taken care of, and Oliver was well, my doctor said, "That was one of the more dramatic deliveries I've ever had. I'll definitely remember that one."

I am very grateful for Dr. Bradley's skill, knowledge and expertise. Looking back, I also recognize there were many heavenly hands helping Oliver and me during those intense moments. We are so blessed all ended well in the delivery room.

Our sweet, little Oliver is such a treasure! We are so glad he has finally arrived!

While Waiting--Getting Out

Last night we went to the Museum Mile Festival on 5th Ave. I took the subway down to midtown, met Brian at Columbus Circle. Then we walked and walked and walked. It was fun to see all the performers, friends, and neighbors.

While Waiting--Simple Splurges

Oh, baby boy, why wait so long?! Even though it is fun using the excuse, "I'm overdue!" to indulge myself in some simple pleasures I would much rather indulge myself by holding you (as much as I love ice cream...).

these cherries were a bit pricey, but oh so fantastic!

I had never bought a bouquet of peonies before.
So lovely.

a whole lot of ice cream
this is Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Therapy
aptly named

taxi! taxi!

this overdue babe is costing me a fortune in taxi rides
(Sometimes it's the only way I can convince myself to get out, "I can just grab a cab home if I'm tired." And, well, I'm always tired!)

While Waiting--Walking the City

Saturday was absolutely beautiful. We left at 9:30am and got home around 6:30pm. It's been a while since we've spent the whole day out and about and I loved it! (Although my hips are aching something terrible now.) June 4th was the due date, I'm now 4 days late, and we walked about 4 miles total. And, still waiting...

Here are some photo highlights from our day in the city:

Starting off with a (silly) protein shake.

Housing Works was having huge sale: all books $1, bag full of clothes $20.
I scored some great kids books, but skipped the clothes.
This was down in Soho; Crosby & Houston Streets

Soho

Call me silly, but I'm always amazed there's actually dirt under this city of cement.

Washington Square Park
I'm so glad all the renovations are finished and the fountain is working!

Baby boy: 40 weeks +3 days
Isabella: pure joy

Union Square Greenmarket

Madison Square Park

All tuckered out.

Other highlights:

The new, carfree Broadway
(photo found on flickr)

Dogmatic--gourmet sausages in a baguette with delicious sauces. We were hesitant to try it out, but the place was busy, we took a chance and really liked it! Give it a try if you are near Union Square (26 E 17th St.)