Oliver meets family and friends
Thanks to all who visited Oliver, Jacquie and I over the past few days! We're home, we finally got to leave the hospital on Tuesday. We love being back home! We're getting some sleep, sometimes 
Our dogs Savannah and Ringo have been getting along with the baby splendidly. Some photos for you, more to come soon.
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You can further view, print, share, and download all photos on Flickr.
Introducing Oliver Stefan, born May 14th!
Jacquie and I are very happy to introduce you to Oliver Stefan, born at 2:46am on Saturday May 14th, 2011, in Maple Grove, Minnesota. He was 10 days overdue but well worth the wait, we think he's perfect! He weighed 8 pounds 9 ounces and measured 21.5 inches. He's in great health and Jacquie is also making a great recovery. We're hoping to leave the hospital Tuesday, we can't wait to unite Oliver with the rest of his family, our dogs Savannah and Ringo! More photos and videos to come soon.
IOS, mobile, and other non-flash users: slideshow and photos on Flickr.
You can further view, print, share, and download all photos on Flickr.
Baby Bump
64 days until the due date, does this put the song “When I’m sixty-four” in any one else’s head? Will you still need me, will you still feed me…
Well, Steve worked his magic this weekend and he took some baby bump pictures of me that I don’t hate. It is interesting how in my head I still look like I did back in August, then I see a picture of myself and I look so different. It’s all worth it, the baby is growing as expected, I feel pretty good, and really I am barely 5’1--so this baby doesn’t have a lot of options for places to grow. It will be fun to be able to show young Mr. Engelmayer the pictures some day too!
Keeping Busy
Sorry it has been a while since the last update. I keep meaning to share a picture of me with my baby bump, but I never like the pictures, so I put it off. I will try again soon. Since the last update we have been pretty busy. Steve had a birthday, I took a trip to Florida for work, we went to the Robyn concert at First Ave, we celebrated Valentine’s Day, and we started birthing classes. I really like the birthing class. There are about 12 couples in the class, all around our age with similar careers. Last week the instructor walked us through the actual birth process, and we watched a video. Somehow this was the first time I have ever actually seen an uncensored birth, I must have missed that day in health class. That was interesting--to say the least. I was a little bummed that we didn’t get to tour the birthing center of the hospital yet, but they said that happens around the third week after we have covered everything that will happen there. This makes sense, but I am so curious to see the place because I have heard such wonderful things about it. We had a great doctor’s appointment about two weeks ago; we were supposed to have another one this week, but the doctor said we didn’t need to come in because everything looks good with me and the baby. We will be back there in two more weeks. The baby is a very active little guy; he seems to be moving around most of the time, pausing to take little naps here and there. I was sitting in a meeting last week at work and he was moving so much it was hard not to watch and giggle. Last night Steve and I both were able to feel some hard body part of his pushing on my belly. We are not sure if it was knee, or an elbow, or something else, but it was neat to feel a part of him. Oh, and in case you were wondering, my belly button is still an innie, barely!
99 Days and Counting
Wow, we are down to double digits in the countdown to baby Engelmayer’s due date! Seems like a good time for an update. We had a doctor’s appointment last week, everything looks great. He is measuring right on track and was very active. I had to do a glucose test for gestational diabetes and the sugar in the drink made him pretty hyper. When the doctor was trying to listen to his heart rate he was literally doing flips, which made me giggle! Between him doing gymnastics and me laughing the doctor really didn’t stand much of a chance at getting a long listen, but what she could hear sounded normal, so we gave up on finding the exact heart rate. The baby is strong enough that we can see his kicks and punches, rather than just feel them. He gave his daddy a solid high five last week! He is especially active right around bedtime, looks like we may have another night owl in the family...
Steve finished some more work on the nursery, he installed the window treatments and a dimmer switch for the light. Check out the pictures to see his progress, he is such a handy daddy! I think all we have left to do in there is figure out some art for the walls, maybe something nautical?!?
NLSC Gutter Regatta – Jacquie & Steve FTW
NLSC Gutter Regatta
Just wanted to share this photo of our boats. Jacquie and I cleaned up in the Northern Lights Sailing Club (NLSC) Gutter Regatta. I won, and Jacquie won cutest boat. I think you can guess which one is by who. Yay, wow! More photos/videos on Facebook below...
Northern Lights Sailing Club Website | NLSC Facebook Page
Also, since I won the Regatta, RIP Freddie!
Baby’s First Rejection?
I had a meeting last week with my HR rep to find out all about maternity leave, insurance, dependent care, etc. During this meeting I found out I was behind schedule on lining up daycare for young Mr. Engelmayer. I thought we could wait until he had actually arrived before we had to finalize where he would go when I return to work, but I guess that is not how it works. It took me a couple days but I worked up the courage to call two places near our home. Having never done this before I felt awkward and unprepared (not to mention it felt odd arranging daycare for our son who isn’t even born yet). Of the two places I called, I spoke with one person and we set up an interview for tonight where I could go see the daycare in action and talk with the caregiver. She anticipated one infant opening for next August. I felt good, this would be a great way to figure out what I am looking for, and would probably give me the push I needed to call more places. Then this morning I got a call from her saying “the position has been filled internally.” She did give me some referrals of people she recommends in our area, so my quest will continue, but I was sort of sad that we are already dealing with baby’s first denial. Oh man, motherhood is going to be interesting.
Ice Fishing on Red Lake, MN
Steve catching a Walleye!
More photos: Flickr | Slideshow
I went on an Ice Fishing trip to Red Lake, MN, over New Year's weekend with the in-laws, Dave Sr., Dave, and Mark, for the first time in my life. How was it? Awesome. We didn't catch a lot of fish (4), but it was so much fun.
Ice Fishing 2011 - Driving out the Ice House
Ice Fishing 2011 - Tour of the Ice House
Some stuff that I loved: Hanging out with Dave Sr, Dave, and Mark; beer, catching my first Walleye, games, tunes, not dying
Some stuff I didn't like that much: Going to the bathroom in the attached outhouse at -25F!
Tunes that stick out from the trip? Yeah, this one:
Happy New Year – Bleigiessen 2010/11
Happy New Year! Jacquie and I have been doing well. Here's what we did for the big holiday.
Bleigießen (pron. BLYE-ghee-sen)
"Lead pouring" (das Bleigießen) is an old practice using molten lead like tea leaves. A small amount of lead is melted in a tablespoon (by holding a flame under the spoon) and then poured into a bowl or bucket of water. The resulting pattern is interpreted to predict the coming year. For instance, if the lead forms a ball (der Ball), that means luck will roll your way. The shape of an anchor (der Anker) means help in need. But a cross (das Kreuz) signifies death. See this Web page for more about the possible meanings (in German): Silvesterbräuche - Bleigießen
It's a pretty fun tradition. Here's some instructional video filmed by us:
Our best guesses for the fortunes we came up with:
- Jacquie: Ship - Travel to the "Unknown." Whoa, scary
- Steve: Tree - "Growing as a Person" Really?
- Future Son: Hat - Good news. Indeed!
Afterwards we danced to the Blue Danube. Oh, and we watched New Kids on the Block and Backstreet Boys ring in the New Year on TV. Yeah we know, we rock.
P.S. Background music in the video: Travis - Closer (great!)
Still an ‘Innie’
Jacquie and Baby 21 weeks
Ok, my first real web post, I told Steve I would try to add something once a week so here goes.
In case you haven’t heard, I am pregnant with our first child, it’s a boy and he is due around May 4th. We are both pumped to be parents. So far the pregnancy has gone pretty well and our little guy is growing as expected. One major change in my lifestyle is that I can’t seem to stay awake past 9:30 (ok, usually 8:30) most nights. I thought that would end after the first trimester, but I was wrong. People have asked me about cravings; my biggest craving has been for carrots, I just can’t get enough of them! They can be raw, steamed, glazed, in a stir-fry, it doesn’t matter. Hmm, just realized I haven’t had carrot cake yet, that sounds awesome! I guess if you are going to crave something, carrots are pretty safe--except maybe the cake.
So, what’s on my mind? Lately I have been thinking a lot about my belly button. It is something I have never really paid much attention to before. I have always been an ‘innie’, but as the baby and my belly are growing I have noticed it is getting shallower. I have read that one day I could wake up and be an ‘outtie’. It sounds like a small thing, but it feels like a major change to me. Like waking up and having blue eyes when all my life they have been hazel, it really doesn’t change anything, and most people probably won’t notice, but to me it is big difference. As I understand it, it will go back after the baby is born, or maybe mine won’t change! The body can be so strange.
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- Northern Lights Sailing Club
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- The Knot – Our Wedding Website (tells you how long we've been married)