Category Archives: Uncategorized

Our new family

We’ve had a crazy couple weeks.  Of course, there’s the new baby.  We were fortunate enough to have Ericka come help out in the initial days.  She was immensely helpful in keeping our household in order, making us very comfortable and helping us get more sleep.  We tried to thank her by sending her to the US Open, but we ended up sending her to get soaked all day in the rain.  And we again came out ahead since she discovered that Wilson tennis balls sponsored the Open and she got us a cool “personalized” tennis ball shaped luggage tag for Wil!  We felt like there was a bit of chaos after she left since we had to fend for ourselves again.  We’ve had lots of help from friends but there’s nothing like a live-in caretaker!

Wil with Aunt Ericka

We spent the next week adjusting to Todd being back at work.  I got more into the mindset of tending to the baby and figuring out my day– keeping Wil happy while also trying to shower, eat and maybe even take a nap.  Fortunately for me, Todd was still leaving work early since we weren’t sure if I could handle Sam’s daycare pick-up and tend to both boys so soon after having the baby.

Last weekend we discovered that Sam had lice.  We treated his head, then decided it made sense to cut his somewhat shaggy hair to make sure we took care of it.  We spent the next several days doing many loads of laundry!  Last night we gave Sam the followup treatment so I think we can safely say we are in the clear, but the timing was horrible.

This week, Todd has become very busy at work so he’s operating on even less sleep than before.  I managed my first bedtime alone with both boys and successfully got Sam dinner and put him to bed while keeping Wil from crying for more food.  (Wil has had quite an appetite and has no tolerance for delaying feeding–he is a screamer!)  Fortunately, the night went much better than I expected and I was even able to play with Sam and read him a book with Wil in my arms.

Sam is a very proud big brother and has been very helpful.  Todd and I are a little sad by the compromises to his life that Wil has brought–Sam often asks us to come play with him when we are tied up with tending to Wil and often asks us to set Wil down (like several times a night).  We try and give Sam special time when we can and have fortunately had two kiddie birthday parties and have met friends in the park several times so he can feel like we are indulging him.  Sam has been so great throughout all this.

Posted by Kate

It was the 3rd of September*……and our second son was born.

Wilson Leon Brunner was born after a relatively fast and easy labor around 4:15 pm.  He’s 9 pounds 7 oz, 23 inches long.  The midwives were joking that he already looks like a 2-month old. We don’t yet have any great pictures of the boy, but here’s something to tide you all over:

It's Wil!

We were able to have a really wonderful labor and delivery at the Brooklyn Birthing Center, attended by two really positive and fun midwives and our very helpful doula.  We had a relaxing and homey recovery there for a little while, then spent the night back home in our own bed.   Fortunately, Wil was tired out by his adventure and we got a couple nice blocks of sleep.  Todd and I are both struggling with the reality of the sleep deprivation that is just beginning, but I know it will be easier when I’m more physically fit and can help out.  Sam checked my belly this morning and has already asked me if I can run with him again!

We were able to throw together a pretty great day for Sam last minute and it didn’t seem like he was too traumatized by us being gone.  First one of our friends took Sam and his buddy to meet some other friends at a gigantic portion of Brooklyn Bridge Park set up perfectly for toddlers–a slide area, a huge sandbox area and a splash park.  They came home, we put Sam down for his nap, and our friends Chad,  Mike and Christie hung out with Sam the rest of the day until we could make it home.  Sam seemed to love the new adult attention and they built some great Lego vehicles.

Posted by Kate

* “Papa was a Rolling Stone” by The Temptations

The earthquake was really nothing–I and all the people with me didn’t even notice it and there was really no serious damage done.   It felt like the rumbling from the subways –some of you may remember this from the regular shaking in our last apartment.

But now……Hurricane Irene is set to hit New York.  We live up on a hill (near the highest point in Brooklyn), and our windows are protected from the wind so we aren’t too worried about our apartment.  Our building doesn’t even seem to have a problem with flooding in the basement.  The problem for us could be downed trees and utility outages.  We are well stocked with food, water and flashlights, as are our neighbors. The nearest hospital’s labor and delivery is only 10 blocks away and we have lots of help within a couple blocks in the event of labor during the storm (including 2 seasoned doulas and many caretakers for Sam).  The “fight or flight” response tends to shut down labor in stressful situations so we’re banking on there being no action until after the weekend.

We’ll of course keep our friends and families posted when we can, but cell phone service is expected to be busy.  If there IS a power outage, we’ll be trying to preserve the batteries on our electronics so please don’t expect any calls or emails until this blows over.  The good news is, the forecast Monday is warm and sunny!

Posted by Kate

Somehow it seems like I’m much larger than other women I know that are pregnant.  My belly measures the right size and I have gained an okay amount of weight, but somehow the shape and position of my belly makes it seem bigger. I’m definitely ready for this baby to come!

Kate with Squishy at 37 weeks

For the brave, we also updated the bare belly shot under About Todd and Kate.

Posted by Kate

Todd and I have been reminiscing and looking back at pictures and videos of Sam to try and remember what this new baby will be like.  We’ve also been using them as a tool to prepare Sam for the newborn phase.  Last night we stumbled upon a video of us talking to Sam at dinner and trying to decipher what he’s saying and it still cracks us up.  He’s so patient as we try and figure out what he’s saying!

Click here for post of Sam chatting at dinner at about 19 months old.

The funniest part, one that didn’t come through in the post at the time, is that this is one is a series of six separate videos from this same meal, totaling about 20 minutes of footage.  The topics vary, as conversations can with a child, but each is equally hilarious.

Sam still talks nonstop when he’s in the right mood.  I took him to my midwife appointment yesterday and he was chatting with the nurse for at least 5 minutes before I finally told her she might be in for a long day if she let’s the conversation go on.  He’s started to enact situations with his toys when he plays alone, too, but we have yet to get those fabulous conversations on video.   Now that we are done with our apartment renovations and are hunkering down waiting for this baby, we’ll have more time to post about our lives again….if anyone is still reading.

Posted by Kate

It often seems like everyone likes the pregnant lady.  Strangers start up conversations all the time, and I have more people hold the elevator and offer me seats.  Unfortunately, it’s been a very hot summer in New York and I’ve found that as it’s gotten brutally hot for everyone, people are a lot less likely to give up seats on the subway.   Several times, another passenger who is standing is incensed enough to talk loudly enough about it to embarrass someone into giving me a seat.

I now haven’t ridden the subway for 2 weeks……a couple weeks ago I had “false labor”, but it sure felt like the real thing.  After about 8 hours of discomfort that I wasn’t sure was anything, I finally realized I was feeling worse and it turned to obvious contractions so I ended up in the hospital with an IV (this is most often caused by dehydration).  It was actually a very pleasant hospital–the triage “bed” was seriously uncomfortable but the doctors and nurses kept me informed brought me juice and a lunch left over from a patient that was discharged.  The problem was that I was too early to deliver at the birthing center and really didn’t want to deliver a “preemie”.  So 2 liters or fluids and about 24 hours of nearly constant laying down and the contractions slowed quite a bit.  For about a week after that, I couldn’t stand or walk for very long or I’d get more contractions, sometimes pretty close together.  I’m not prescribed bedrest (especially now that I’m at 37 weeks and considered full-term labor) but I am generally taking it easy.  I work from home a couple days a week and drive a lot more than I used to.  It would be nice if Squishy came early, but even if he doesn’t, at least I know we’re in the home stretch!

This false labor was quite a wake up call.  We didn’t have ANY clothes washed for the baby, no diapers, no bag packed for labor/recovery, Sam was not yet moved to his big bed (more on that in another post–Sam now has his own room!), we had only tentatively lined up our plan for babysitters while I’m away, and we had only basic conversations with Sam about how we might have to rush out when Squishy is ready to be born.  Now we are ready!   …..except we’re still changing our minds about Squishy’s post-birth name, but I’m okay waiting until after we get a chance to see him.  That’s how we picked Samson Thomas from our “short list” of names, too.

Posted by Kate

Just to prove Sam likes to eat with gusto, he gave me a great photo op last night:

I seriously did not encourage this at all–it’s the natural aftermath of spaghetti.

Sam turned 3 today!  We will be celebrating this weekend as a family, then again next weekend with a party for him and his friends.  More on his birthday after we’ve actually celebrated, but for a quick present to start the day, Todd made Birthday Bacon, and Sam was thrilled (this is his fake smile, but he really was excited):

For those who heard the rumor:  I DID sprain my ankle last week and have a pretty big walking boot on.  I’m doing better and expect to be boot-free after tomorrow!  I spent about 4 hours being monitored and the baby is just fine–he’s giving me some nice kicks right now!

Posted by Kate

We occasionally forget what a “good eater” Sam is.  Last month we had brunch with friends and they were surprised that Sam finished his fruit before touching the french toast with syrup.  I didn’t think it was such a big deal, but as we were talking about it I realized how many people have expressed shock at his food choices–he loves raw red pepper, raw broccoli (we call it broccoli nuggets), avocado and really any veggie.  Many months ago he ate the raw onions off our burger before the french fries!

We don’t push food, only ask him to try a bite and make sure–I can’t remember which sister or sister-in-law taught me about this “no thank you bite”, but it works!  Inevitably, Sam tries something and likes it.  He still hasn’t developed the palate for Ethiopian food but he recently ate a mildly spicy curry off my plate and enjoyed it.

Of course, he still likes junk food and has started grabbing candy and Fruit Loops off the store shelves, but he’s also accepted sweets as occasional special treats.  Strangely enough, he DOESN’T like a lot of the typical kid foods like applesauce, mac and cheese, or jelly (PB sandwiches, neat, for this kid).

This isn’t the greatest picture, but you get the idea of Sam’s zeal for eating.

Sam's gigantic plate of spaghetti

On related note, he’s having Salisbury steak for lunch at his new school tomorrow–it brought back memories just seeing that on the menu.

Posted by Kate