HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABY!

We've been celebrating non-stop around here! Last weekend, on the 22nd, Vanessa had her first birthday party with lots of relatives around. One great thing about having a birthday a few days prior to Christmas is your relatives are bound to be gathering already. How convenient!

Another great thing is that most people are thinking of shopping for gifts. This year, Nanners had quite the stash.

Granny Ernestine and Auntie Judi from Seattle came for the party. Cousin Dave and Theresa were hosting a big Christmas get-together at their house nearby, so Vanessa was able to celebrate with them and extended family.

Vanessa's playmate Grant stopped in. We met Grant's parents Liz and Paul in our birthing classes and we still get together. See two MIRACLE babies, here:

Great Aunt Betty and Uncle Wally, Cousin Dorothy, Abdoulah, Suna and Kenan, Cousin Mary and Mick (from Ireland), Abdoulah's cousin from Istanbul, and Theresa's friend from Viet Nam via Toronto were all on hand to party.

Nanners put on her party dress for dinner, then immediately fell asleep in my arms. We ate dinner without her - spinach lasagne (her late, great Uncle Michael's famous recipe) and Cousin Theresa's professional catering. After dinner, Vanessa woke up. Everyone donned a party hat and grabbed a noise maker, then we lit her lone birthday candle, and belted out the "Happy Birthday!" song at close range. I was so scared I couldn't get any good pictures, but Vanners just took it all in, the center of attention, and didn't cry at all.

She heard "Happy Birthday!" in four languages: English, Turkish, Japanese, and Vietnamese, although Theresa insists there's no true version in Vietnamese. Jack asked Mick to sing it in Gaelic, but Mick was a little shy about that.

Our little party girl loved being the Belle of the Ball. She got some great gifts, but was pretty much a novice when it came to opening them. We had to spread that out over the whole week!

Vanners was really into playing with her cousins. Ever the party girl. Made us wonder - again - if we should give her some siblings next birthday. This year she got her first baby doll, who makes her squeal and grin and babble a blue streak. It's quite a sight.

After the party our baby daughter slept like a stone. We got up the next morning, met half the cousins for breakfast out, then hit the road for our Christmas celebration in Modesto. Vanny must have been high, because she didn't sleep during the 4 hour drive, got a 30 minute cat nap, and was revved up all evening. Party girl indeed!

We saw Auntie Susan, Uncle Jimmy, Susan's Nana, Cousin Julia, Uncle Mike, Granny Ernestine, Auntie Judi, Cousin Matt and Cousin Adrienne. There was a rocking horse waiting for her under the tree - one that whinnies, gallops, nods its head and whips its tail. Woo hoo!

Vanny was a big hit, of course. She was addicted to the carpeted staircase that curved and had two big landings. She also loved the three yellow doggies and two elusive kitties. However she slept through our Christmas gift opening. Even party girls need their beauty sleep.

Oh yeah: Auntie Susan, Nana and Julia sang "Happy Birthday" to Van in Spanish, too. See Vanny clapping during pat-a-cake with Granny, (first time clapping - caught on film!) here:

After a Christmas Eve feast and gift exchange, and a Christmas Morning feast and gift exchange, we drove over the hill to Palo Alto for a Christmas Evening feast and gift exchange with Auntie Susan's sister Linda, her husband Mark, and Mark's mom Dottie. Their house is so beautiful and alluring to a baby. It was not really monkey-proofed, so our squirmy girl was quite the challenge. Vanny so wanted to play with the champagne flutes on the low coffee table and the icicles and crystal garland on the flocked Christmas tree. Ooo-ler-ler!

VH1 did sit still for the fantastic meal - especially to eat the roasted peppers and the leeks - and she thought being under the dining room table looking at ten pair of adult legs was pretty freakin' rad'. She giggled quite a bit at that discovery.

We didn't get to bed until 11 pm on Christmas. Vanny slept hard and long. It was good.

People keep warning Vanessa that her birthday will be forgotten, so close to Christmas. We think, however, that her birthday may become another family holiday.

And I almost forgot... last Friday, to begin celebrating our daughter's birth, Daddio baked three batches of brownies and we bundled up Van and took her to the hospital. We delivered brownies and hugs to the NICU staff, Vanessa's beloved OB, and the maternity nurses who took care of us before and after delivery. Here are two of the nurses who took the "most" care of me, Cathe and Wendy. Wendy nursed me back to life several times during my Hyperemesis Gravidarum admissions, and Cathe took care of me, Vanessa and Daddio after the c-section, last Christmas. It was a happy holiday reunion!

ONE YEAR AGO

It's Friday before Christmas - Vanessa was born last year on the Friday before Christmas! Today she woke up singing, very cute in her yellow duckie pyjamas.

Jack and I were laughing, recalling the circumstances of our trip to the OB's office last year. Things were still touch-and-go with the pregnancy and I had an appointment scheduled at 8:15 AM, fifteen minutes before the office even opened. I was hyped about being on time, as only a fully pregnant woman can be. At 8:00 AM, I'm standing at the door with the keys and Daddio is sitting at the kitchen table in his bathrobe, eating his oats and sipping coffee. WHAT ARE YOU DOING? came out of my mouth.

Looking back, we're not exactly sure how our communication wires got crossed. I thought I had made it clear our appointment time was 8:15 but Jack apparently heard we needed to leave at 8:15. Don't mess with a swollen, pre-eclamptic, woman. That's what Jack learned. Luckily Dr. Lickness's office is exactly 1 mile from our house, so we made it on time.

I got hooked up to the contraction monitor and they left my poor husband in the room with me while it ran. My mood swings were incredible - happy and comfortable to suddenly surly then back to happy. We learned later that I was having contractions but didn't know it. Instead of abdominal pain I felt surly. Poor Jack.

My blood pressure had risen in the beginning of the pregnancy, but still remained low. This day last year, however, it finally hit the 140/90 mark that signals preeclampsia. I was not surprised - just relieved. Dr. Lickness was not surprised either. Later, Jack took the blame for the spike in my BP, due to his dilly-dallying.

The only other memory I am relieving over and over is the feeling we got when we scheduled the c-section. We stepped out of the clinic door to go home for 2 hours before the surgery and I had to stop in my tracks to bawl on my husband's shoulder.

There has been so much grief and hope tied up in our existence these past 10 years (since Jack's dad was diagnosed with cancer) I think Vanessa's birth allowed me a humongous release. Like I'd been holding my breath all that time. That's a long time.

So this week I reviewed some old pictures from Vanessa's first week of life and found myself bawling yet again. She still represents so much hope and grief for us. We still can't believe we have a baby in our household.

Tomorrow, on the 22nd, we are having a family get-together with extended family. We'd like to be together for Christmas, but Vanessa's birthday is a bit of a family holiday. In fact, with Vanners coming home on Christmas day, we now think that's her holiday, too. The gift of a baby and the promise of new life is the theme around here, big time. Thanks, God.

LOOK WHO'S WALKING

It has been very busy around here! We've had VIP's visiting, Vanessa on the loose, and a couple of major events to celebrate. Amidst it all, Nanners started walking, although it looks more like baby frankensteining. It's adorable. What got her on her feet? She saw Daddy pull out the Baby Bjorn.

Uncle Bobby and Auntie Cindy came to visit from Nashville. They brought Granny Ernestine and we all thought it would be fun to introduce Baby Nessa to that jolly old elf, Santa. She didn't like that.

The poor dear had blown out her diaper in the 10 minute ride from our house to downtown. It was so bad we had to strip her to her birthday suit to change her - in the back of the car in the parking garage, in the dark. Vanessa cried the whole time; it was very cold and, well, embarrassing. She didn't mind that the emergency garb we had on hand were stripes and spots. See her here, letting Santa know she wants to get off his lap.

Once Vanners was snugly back in the Baby Bjorn on her Daddy's chest, she was happy as a lark the rest of the night as we hit the Farmer's Market. In fact, she gave her Nashville fans quite a tour around for a few days...

Vanners also showed them a thing or two at home, like how to explore low, unsecured places. You should see her in the pantry cupboard, and under the bathroom sink.

The fun continued when Uncle Jimmy, Auntie Susan and cousin Julia joined us on the weekend. Woo hoo! Nanners - ever the party girl - didn't stop for a minute. We had fun flying Uncle Bobby's kite on the beach, eating crepes with Uncle Jimmy, and beachcombing. Is that a verb?

All that food, fun, frolic and sand made for one dirty little baby girl. She loves the water, but was admittedly a bit tuckered out after everyone left. She played with her ducks (she calls them by name) and then hit the wall. The poor dear.

DECEMBER BABIES

This is the month! The month where we can say Vanessa is a year old! I'd like to note that Jack and I are so much more understanding of those born in the month of December. Even Daddio is resisting getting our baby daughter gifts - for either her birthday or Christmas. Poor Nanners.



To pay homage to those we know with December birthdays, I'll list them, here: cousin Corey, Uncle Mikey, Auntie Sally, "Auntie" Sandi, great uncle Terry, and the Magic Aunt. And, well, Baby Jesus (unless you subscribe to the factual historical information that says he was born in the spring). Uncle Mikey would have celebrated his 50th birthday on December 10th. Here is our Monkey Princess showing off her beautiful birthday suit.






Booger, I mean Vanessa, has a third cold. We thought she might have an ear infection, but she got a check up and they said she's doing okay with a lot of nasty inflammation, but no infection. Phew. They warned us Van's temperature could go to 104 degrees and stay there three days. Yikes! I hope not! She has graciously shared this cold with her mama. Daddio has it, too.






She's not quite walking, although she knows how. The Rascal. Daddio claims she can climb better than she can walk, and Lord knows she can throw the ball. We're hoping she grows up to be a monkey (unless she's a dishwasher).

Daddio put up the Christmas tree and Van is interested in it, although she's more enamoured with the multi-colored gingerbread house he made. If you look very closely, you might recognize the family in gingerbread...


Yesterday Vanners held her rubber ducky high in the air and shouted, "Duck!" We've been shouting it ever since. I tried to teach her how to say "Bee," and, after watching me say it over and over at close range, she laughed her tail off. She can wave bye-bye and hello, and she greets her best guy with a "Hi Daddy" and a wave now. Melts your heart.

Vanny's growth has plateaued since she started motoring about. She weighed in at 23 and a half lbs. and we're measuring her at just under 30 inches. That height/length measurement is, um, a rough estimate, since the measuring tape is unbelievably interesting to our wee toddler. She might be 27 inches. If VH1 has indeed stopped growing, there is hope she can be - unlike her parents - a gymnast.

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES

I'm fairly certain our dear little Wahkeenah is mucking up our technology. About 4 months ago, Daddio asked, out of the blue, "Do you think Vanessa has superhuman powers?" I said yes, of course I thought so. Now I am seeing evidence and am seriously considering contacting the makers of Heroes. You see, I *finally* let her play with mommy's toy - the laptop computer - and inside of 60 seconds it short-circuited and died. It's in the shop, still, and I'm blogging from a brand new laptop.

Additionally, I finally caved to her beggings and forked over our hand-held Solitaire game, at her insistence, and again, inside of 15 seconds, it was dead.

Also broken is our little digital camera - no flash. Who is the subject of the 6000 shots we've taken in the past year? Yes, yes: VanNanna. So no pics of her today, although we have been able to catch little video clips. I'll post those later, when I get a chance to download them to the new laptop.

What else? Well, the vacuum spits dirt. You may recall that one of the very few instances where I use the word "No" is when Vanners eats dirt. She loves dirt. A coincidence that the vacuum is on her side now? I think not.

Not only that, the Saab is dead in the driveway and the Explorer is in the shop. How is that Vanessa's fault? She rides in both of them. Yup. Clearly she is using her considerable powers to let us know she wants a cherry new ride. In time for her first birthday, I suppose. That rascal.

So when she's not using her superhuman powers around the house, Baby Nessa is still on the verge of walking. Yesterday she slung her arm around Milo's neck and they walked across the kitchen together. But no solo steps just yet. She does hold onto your hand and walk, though. And oh! we have shoes! It's hard to get those monkey toes into them, but she does wear shoes now.

Vanny loves to find things to open up and sort through. Here are some of her latest conquests: the diaper bag, the basket of clean laundry, Daddio's backpack, mama's wallet, the dishwasher, the kitchen drawers and cabinets, the camera (pulls it deftly from its neat little case), and the computer box. In fact, all I need to do, I think, is locate a box she's never seen before and fill it with random items for her to pull out and examine. Her baby toys are so Yesterday.

Another new trick that I taught her on the airplane is how to strum her lips as she hums. Very fetching. Her grandfather Jim would approve! Also on the plane, she learned to play "Up, Down" with the window shade: I'd put it up and she'd slam it down with flourish and a baby cackle that could be heard throughout the plane.

Unfortunately, I didn't get a video clip of Nanners playing piano, but she continues to dabble in the xylophone here at home. I think I *might* get her a toy piano for Christmas - something I always wanted myself. Nothing like getting to bang on the keys to your heart's delight without scolding.

So I'll post pics when I can. Sorry this is all prose.

Happy holidays!

THANKSGIVING IN VERMONT

We've been gone a week, Vanessa, her Daddio and I. We bundled up more gear and clothes than you can imagine and headed to Vermont, via San Francisco and Connecticut. Vanners is proving herself to be quite the little traveler, even during the crazy holiday season.

We left 85 degree weather and sunset beach walks and drove 3 hours to spend the night with Granny Ernestine in San Francisco. Vanny slept the whole drive. The next day, after an excellent night's sleep, we flew across the country. Vanny slept pretty much the whole first flight - 6 hours. We landed in Connecticut at midnight. There had been no delays, no barfing, no screaming during take-offs or landings. In fact, after the 6-hour flight, one passenger went "on and on" to Jack about how well Vanessa had done. There were several other babies on that flight - destined for Thanksgiving reunions themselves, no doubt - but they all cried. Sure, there was a monkey screech or two, but no tears. The man complimenting Van's behavior concluded with, "You are obviously very good parents." We should have invited him to Thanksgiving dinner!

We got to stay with Auntie Cyndi, Uncle David, and cousins Daniel, Matthew, Matt and Andy. They had graciously adopted a 9 week old puppy - Lorenzo - the day before we arrived. The little critter was so happy to see Vanessa he nearly wet himself, but he's already house trained, so he nipped her ears instead. Vanners felt certain she knew his language since her golden brother speaks Dog. She got down on all fours and scrounged around for 'Renzo's chew toys. He was already on all fours, so he lowered his head to the floor and barked at her, puppy tail wagging. She chortled back, and the two were clearly relieved there was *someone* at the party who they could relate to. The rest of us felt a little like outsiders, really.

I took photos of 'Renzo on Auntie Cyndi's camera - I'll ask her to email me some for the blog.

Auntie Cyndi and Uncle David rolled out the red carpet for us, gave us the honeymoon suite, made us fabulous meals, and stocked up on Number 4 diapers and wipes. Grandma Patty drove down from Vermont. Auntie Anne and Auntie Cyndi arranged for there to be a veritable Romper Room of toys for Vanners, as well as a Pack-and-Play, high chair, car seat, snow suit, giant box of board books, and even stacks of baby clothing.

It also snowed for us. How they arranged that, I'll never know.

On Monday we made a few visits to some Connecticut VIP's. First off, we went back to my hometown of Suffield to reunite with home-girls, Tara, Lisa, Wendy, and Ellen. Ellen and I have known each other since kindergarten. After 17 years of marriage, she and husband Bob had their first child, Robin. See handsome baby Robin with his mama, here.

Ellen hosted our get-together, baked us lasagna, and surely must have been to a spa for some kind of makeover before we arrived, because she looked stunning for someone who has an 8 week old baby. While we caught up on Suffield gossip, Jack thumbed through our old yearbooks, concluding that we have aged pretty well. Thank goodness he didn't come right out and say we looked like geeks in high school...

We left this reunion and headed to Hartford to visit Auntie Anne at work. You see, she changed careers and took a new job as an oncology nurse one month before I got pregnant. She happened to take a job at the same place where late great brother Michael received cancer care. Anne's coworkers love her almost as much as we do. They have been following the stories of Vanessa. Before Anne screwed up the courage to ask for a day off, they told her she was taking not one but two days around Thanksgiving. This is a very big deal for health care. Vanessa thanked them in person. I also got to thank my brother's oncologist, Stacy Neurenstone, for taking care of Michael for 13 years before he died (6 years ago). And now she's Anne's boss: What a small world we live in.

That was Monday. Tuesday we headed to Vermont with Grandma Patty in the snow - the 4 of us and all that gear jammed into her little Subaru with studded snow tires. Grandma rented a ski house for our family Thanksgiving reunion. We managed a teensy weensy bit of shopping along the way, then stopped to introduce Vanessa to Uncle Tom.

Vanessa waited in the car while I knocked on the door at Uncle Tom's. He let me in and greeted me with, "Well, let me give you a big hug! Congratulations on having a baby!" Then, as Daddio came up the front steps with Van, Uncle Tom covered his eyes until she came through the door. Then he opened his eyes with a ceremonious, "There she is!" She loved him instantly.

Unfortunately, my camera was packed tightly somewhere in the Subaru, so I can't post a photo of Uncle Tom with Baby Nessa. He got out a green plastic steam shovel and a small soccer ball, gave her a 5 dollar bill for her birthday, and let her play with his adopted teddy bear son, Snookums. I did take several pictures of Vanessa with cousin Snookums and Uncle Tom using his camera, so I hope to get copies for her baby book.

That night we met Uncle Marky and the Magic Aunt at the ski house. What a hearty reunion! Poor Vanners had picked up a souvenir cold virus her first day in New England, but she still rallied to see them. The next day, in cahoots with Daddio while I was away, they put Nesserkins in her lionessa outfit - her snow suit - and tested the sled run (and jump) Daddio had built.

Everyone arrived Wednesday. All but one Jennings cousin - Andy - was there. Des, Corey and USMC reservist Barry are college students, Abby is in high school, and Daniel and Matthew are 8 and (almost) 11. Cousin Andy couldn't be with us because he's in the Navy in San Diego, that little walrus. We missed him soooo much.

As you can see, Nessa's girl cousins have really red hair. Abby, on the far left, is Anne's daughter, and Corey is Mark's daughter. Vanessa is my daughter. Abby and Corey look like us except they have cute little noses and nice full lips. Van may get a big Jennings nose and skinny lips, but we'll still tell her she's hot.

In fact, I should report that the Baby GAP finalists have been announced and Vanessa was -shockingly - not chosen. I felt very upset by this, believing that I, as her stage mother, had surely let her down by failing to capture her charisma on film. When Jack asked me how many entries there had been (i.e., what were her odds), I had to say I didn't know, but last year there were 360,000 entries. Even so, when I told the family she didn't make the cut, they were speechless. Jaws dropped. "Did you send in a video?" someone asked. They were incredulous too.

See the finalists on the website: http://www.gap.com/

Cousin Corey brought her childhood development textbook for some light holiday reading. I found it fascinating. Daddio, who was a psychology major, looked up co-sleeping and read the textbook said 90% of the people and cultures of the world co-sleep. North Americans are in the minority for not co-sleeping. I guess we were oblivious of the odds.

Everyone - I mean everyone - played with Vanessa. Even so, her cold made her a bit more clingy than normal. She does detest the nasal aspirator and still lacks the ability to honk her horn, which makes for a truly disgusting booger face. (I got slimed, that's for sure.) Even so, Nanners had a wonderful time and co-slept great.

Here is a clip of our sweet Wahkeenah entertaining two of her most rabid and adoring fans, Uncle Marky, and Auntie Anne in the background. This is a 30 second clip. You have to click on it two times to get it to work (Mom).

Grandma Patty and the Magic Aunt hand crafted our pies (homemade crust of course), and Uncle Marky, Auntie Anne and the Magic Anne ran the kitchen on Thanksgiving Day. It was a glorious meal. Nanners sat at the table with us, because Corey figured out how to get us all in one room. Des had a stomach virus and couldn't join us, but that meant we all fit. Thanks, Des.

Uncle Tom read a poem by William Blake, Uncle Scott blessed the meal and thanked God for Vanessa, and I toasted the people we miss and the people we're thankful to be with today. Here's the poem by Blake:

TIGER, TIGER

Tiger Tiger. burning bright,

In the forests of the night;

What immortal hand or eye.

Could frame thy fearful symmetry?

In what distant deeps or skies.

Burnt the fire of thine eyes?

On what wings dare he aspire?

What the hand, dare seize the fire?

And what shoulder, & what art,

Could twist the sinews of thy heart?

And when thy heart began to beat.

What dread hand? & what dread feet?

What the hammer? what the chain,

In what furnace was thy brain?

What the anvil? what dread grasp.

Dare its deadly terrors clasp?

When the stars threw down their spears

And watered heaven with their tears:

Did he smile His work to see?

Did he who made the lamb make thee?

Tiger Tiger burning bright,

In the forests of the night:

What immortal hand or eye,

Dare frame thy fearful symmetry?

I don't know about y'all, but the Jennings family tiger is surely cancer. Thank God Vanessa somehow emerged from-with-despite cancer. Thank you, God.

On Friday after Thanksgiving (which was also Vanessa's 11th month birthday!), Grandma Patty invited relatives from far and wide to come by for an open house. Vanessa go to meet Holland and Jennings cousins. Great Aunt Carol couldn't make it after all due to radiation and chemo aftermath issues, the poor dear. Even Daddio had old friend Jeff Wall and family come by.

Last time I saw the Walls I was laid up in the hospital, preggers. Nanners was beside herself with a 2- and 4-year old around. She loves kids.

We said goodbye to everyone on Saturday morning. This time, for the first time, Vanessa could participate: she learned to wave bye-bye this week! She can also throw a ball and is dangerously close to walking. She even played the piano for everyone a little bit - she stands on the floor and has to reach over her head to tickle the ivories.

We packed up the Subaru and drove 2 hours to the aeropuerto, flew all day, and Granny Ernestine greeted us. She shepherded us to her home where we co-slept like logs. Vannerkins had been a champ on the plane - she even slept through an aborted landing. Eeek!

We are already missing our Jennings family, but have Hoyts on the horizon. Uncle Bobby and Auntie Cindy are arriving next weekend from Tennessee, and Auntie Judi is coming from Seattle a day after they leave. Woo hoo!