You know it's hard out here for a baby....

Look-A-Like

Does she look like the Senator or what?? :)

More talent...

My sister Ruth cross stitched this gorgeous Noah's ark pattern for Jane Ritchie. I think she began the project as soon as she found out we were expecting. If it were me, I would have given up long ago, but Ruth kept stitching and finally finished it! I hope you can see from the pictures how small these stitches are. The ark in the middle is surrounded by little animals. She said it would take her 5-6 hours just do do one of the animals!!!! It is truly amazing!

Another blog...

Jane Ritchie has made another blog! This time because of a beautiful log cabin blanket she received from our friend James' mother, Susan Krueger from Asheville, NC. Mrs. Krueger is also good friends with Jane Ritchie's great aunt Tutti. The blog is a history of this fabulous blanket!

http://bethsweetknits.blogspot.com/search/label/Log%20Cabin%204

My favorite

This is my favorite picture of Jane Ritchie from the hospital. My friend Sarah took it when she and her husband Jeff came to visit. This was a particularly good visit because they brought me a peach smoothie from Jamba Juice. I don't think I had tasted anything so good ever in my life!

First Bath

Jane Ritchie had her first sponge bath today. She was very good! See more pics at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/maryabigail808

She's Here!!

Jane Ritchie Reinhardt was born on July 11, 2007 at 5:50 a.m. Hawaii time. She is cracking us up with her funny facial expressions. Everyone says she looks like her mother. But, I can tell that she has Paul's feet and hands as well as some of his "moves". (See below.)

She had a hard time coming into the world. Special Thanks to Mom and my friend Melissa for seeing me through the whole14 hour ordeal. They got me some water when I wanted it, turned the fan toward me when I needed it and didn't touch me when I didn't want to be touched! :) Anyway, I went in for a c-section because the baby was not descending fast enough and I had been pushing for quite a while.


Once in the OR I got a terrible headache and my blood pressure went sky high. Most of this I learned from the doctor, after the fact. All I was concerned about was the horrible headache and the fact that I could still feel my belly when they were testing it!!! Apparently, the baby's blood pressure dropped and did not go back up and I was also having very long contractions, which can signal an abruption. So, they had to totally knock me out. There wasn't even time for Mom to be brought in. I'm sure she wishes there were some pictures around of her in scrubs! Anyway, once the doc got in there, everything was fine. He says he has no idea what happened to us, but I guess it doesn't really matter because we are both fine now! A medical mystery.

Our first couple of days at home have been rough because I have ended up with a crazy neck muscle spasm. (Probably from sleeping in the hospital in a position where I could still see Jane Ritchie in her bassinet!) It is hard to get around with a c-section incision so any other ailment makes it 100 times worse. Plus Jane Ritchie just didn't want to seem to eat. Both of us were taken care of today, though, so we should be getting better soon. She is on supplemental formula and loving it!!


I don't know what I would do with out grandmother May May here to help. Thanks May May! So, here are a few pics and I hope to be updating often. You can also see pics at:

http://picasaweb.google.com/maryabigail808

If you see random things at either of these places, it is because I want Paul to be able to see everything that is going on when he pulls into a port and has internet access. I have been assured that Paul got the message about the baby being born. It is a shame that we cannot communicate right now. I'm sure he is dying to know what is going on!

Looks like she has Paul's dance moves!

It has been requested that I update the blog even though nothing, and I mean, nothing is going on. My due date is Monday and still no sign of the little one's arrival. I think Grandmother May May is getting anxious. This morning we went to the dog beach with Alex because we heard that walking in the sand is good for someone 9 months pregnant. It was lovely until Alex would not stop drinking the salt water and had some serious issues. I'll spare you the details. Here are some pics!

First, Alex and Shamu.



Alex needs some Doggles.



May May and her crackberry.


Shamu takes a walk.