P is for...Production

Growing Up

Phoebe is on a pretty steep learning curve. Saturday she learned how to breath air. Today she is learning how to drink milk at a pace that doesn't cause her to choke. At this rate, she'll be swinging in no time!

The Swing

by Timothy Steele

She shrieks as she sweeps past the earth
And, rising, pumps for all she's worth;
The chains she grips almost go slack;
Then, seated skyward, she drops back.

When swept high to the rear, she sees
Below the park the harbor's quays,
Cranes, rail tracks, transit sheds, and ranks
Of broad, round, silver storage tanks.

Her father lacks such speed and sight,
Though, with a push, he launched her flight.
Now, hands in pockets, he stands by
And, for her safety, casts his eye

Over the ground, examining
The hollow underneath the swing
Where, done with aerial assault,
She'll scuff, in passing, to a halt.

Tiny Visitors

For a Tiny Phoebe

Katherine and Phoebe

Katherine, Daniel, Baby Eckhardt and Phoebe

Ella and Phoebe

Secret Twin Revealed

Just Us

thanks for the photo session, Stacy!

P is for Phoebe

Phoebe Ann popped into the world this morning at 7:57. She weighed in at 7 pounds and 6 ounces. When not squiggling, she is 20 inches long.

So far her favorite things to do are eat and sleep. We hear it is likely she'll spend a lot of time doing other things too. We can't wait!

L, M, N, Oh!!

P is on the way....won't be long now!

If you are the praying kind, please pray that the Mrs. and I will meet P soon. If you're not the praying kind, please think some nice thoughts about skilled doctors and nurses and short labor.

Status

PLL seems to have run into a work stoppage. Management and labor are at the table, but progress is sporadic. Labor seems to hold all the cards, so project completion cannot be predicted. An outside consultant is currently advising management on various negotiating strategies. We expect negotiations to continue around the clock until resolution is reached. Both parties seem well-provisioned and rested for what could be a lengthy process.

P is Potentially for Prodromal

The contraction contractors seem to be getting organized. They get down to business for a while 4-5 times an hour, then seem to get lazy. Then they get out the jack hammer a few times, then take a 20-minute smoke break. Where's the foreman on this job?

The contraction contractor consultant keeps using the word 'prodromal.' The practical translation seems to be 'patience.'

P Is Apparently for Patience

Need I say more?

P is for Prediction

Research* shows that more births happen in May than in any other month. That same research shows that more births happen on Tuesday than on any other day of the week. Separate research* shows that a full moon very definitely might have a possible effect in influencing when a birth could potentially happen. Tuesday, May 20, 2008 is slated to have a full moon. Now we come to the prediction part of the post: Project Little Luecke will be completed on Tuesday, May 20, 2008.

And if the moon doesn't do the trick, I hear elective induction is getting more popular on Tuesdays. The Mrs. thinks I'm joking.

*Google

P is for Pronounced

On my walk to the metro this morning I shared a 'hey' or a smile with most everyone I passed. Often times these passer-bys have a smirk on their face as they glance at my belly, or I get some comment like 'oh, a baby'. So, it is clear that everyone sees what I see....a belly full of P! One comment today made me laugh a little bit more than normal, I guess it was more of an announcement for everyone one else on the street.

"Wide load coming through."

I just laughed and decided to be amused by the announcement rather than upset about the fact that he was talking about my body.

I think I might miss this belly when it is gone.

Welcome Charlie!

Welcome to this world, tiny little guy.

Waiting

At this point I feel like I am waiting more for Stayden's baby than for P. But we are certainly still waiting for P.

Today P is 38 weeks. And Stayden's baby is about 41 weeks (I think). But when I take a look at the picture of the caretaker, I wonder if maybe the babe has come and they just don't have time to update us. Then I wonder if people think that about our blog...it certainly hasn't been updated in a while...not because we are too busy taking care of P but I guess just because there doesn't seem like much to say. And because we have a lot to do still before P arrives. I mean I could update you on the amount of teeny tiny socks I have folded or the cute little onsies I have been putting in drawers...but that doesn't seem all that exciting.

So, in case you were wondering P hasn't arrived yet...and we are doing our best to prepare.

Fat Envelope

Today I got home before the Mrs. did. I called her to let her know there was a big fat envelope from the people who torture architects by making them take nine crazy tests. Fearing the worst, I think, she instructed me to open the envelope before she got home.

So you're getting the results before she will:
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass

That's right...7 cumulative passes now!

She's got two left to pass, but one of those she has already taken and felt fairly good about.

It is good to be married to a smart woman! And she's a good multi-tasker too (she's been building a baby from scratch while she's been chalking up passes).

I think we'll be eating out tonight!