She's Finally Arrived!

Well, the big day arrived this week. Callie Alexis Bowes arrived at 5:56am on Wednesday, October 3rd, and her parents could not be happier. She was a robust 6 lbs. 15 oz. and measures 20 3/4 inches. Right now we are still in the hospital but get to go home in about 24 hours. We have a few pictures to share and some stories to tell.


Here is Callie, our little burrito of good times. She does love being swaddled. And she also apparently enjoys keeping her eyes open. In the first 24 hours of life she may have slept 4 hours all told. I seem to remember someone saying that newborns would sleep quite a bit on the first day. Interesting.



And here is our first family picture. Sarah looks fantastic, which is especially impressive since this picture comes after 25 hours of labor. That's right, Callie, your mom dealt with 23 hours of contractions and 2 hours of pushing. And after all of that work, this family moment was a brief time together before the doctors had to take Callie away for observation. Callie's umbilical cord was wrapped around her neck at birth, which made her head a dark shade of purple and her doctors and parents a bit nervous. And she did not get to our room in the hospital until about five hours after the birth. Not so much fun for Mom and Dad, but it was all for a good reason.


Mom has had some quality time with Callie throughout the first 24 hours of her life. Sarah is an absolutely amazing mom, and she has been tending to Callie's needs with tremendous amounts of patience and love. And it should also be said, Sarah is tough. This comes as no surprise to most who know her, but I figured I would point it out again. I could not have done what she did over the past 72 hours, much less the past nine months. Wow.


Finally, here I am with Callie. I have the easy job. Indeed, I got more sleep last night than Sarah and Callie combined. Granted it was 3 hours and then 2 hours later on, but that is a good night's work in our new world. I just sit back and watch in awe as both Callie and Sarah do their thing. And I just want to add a quick shout out to the folks at Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington. If our families on both coasts are worried about us, no need. We are being taken care of extremely well by the nurses and doctors here. If you happen to be in labor in Lexington, you could not choose a better place than Central Baptist.

So there are the first of many pictures. We have been snapping away, trying to capture Callie when her eyes are open and when she does not look moody. Obviously we think she is the cutest thing ever. More to come.

Final Preparations for Nutterbutter's Arrival

Here we are on the night of September 25th, or as we might call it, Nutterbutter Eve. Tomorrow is the official due date for her arrival. No signs of labor yet. But below, as you will see, the house is ready. And we are ready too. The excitement level around here is pretty amazing.


We start with an assortment of clothes, almost all of it the result of the incredible generosity of family and friends. We cannot put into words how much we appreciate it all. And John finds it difficult to think about how all of these clothes will no longer fit by spring. Unreal.



And here we have a picture of the three items that John will constantly put on Nutterbutter. Do you really need all of those clothes when you have a Mets t-shirt, a Who onesie, and a Yale onesie? I mean, really.




And no blog post would be complete without some good old fashioned belly photos. For those of you (John included) who might have thought the belly could only stretch so far, here we have proof of the wonder of the human body. Sarah's belly is a constant source of movement and joy. Apparently it is also a source of heartburn, or at least that is the explanation given for the late night runs to Dairy Queen for blizzards.


Sarah's size is one thing, but last week when we visited the doctor and got our final ultrasound, Nutterbutter's weight was estimated at 7 lbs 9 oz. And apparently she will gain another pound in the last week. Holy mackerel! This is a great excuse for the belly size, but a scary thought when it comes to the actual delivery.


Has there been a demand for pictures of John's belly? No. But really, all of those pictures of Sarah's belly over the past months have made it necessary to give at least some time to the other belly in the house. No significant difference over the last nine months. And as you will see, no six-pack either.



We have the clothes and we've got the bodies, but do we have the room? That is the question on everyone's mind, right? Well, it may not have been keeping you up at night, but it has certainly been a big concern here. The baby's room needed to be painted, furniture needed to be assembled, and everything needed to be properly arranged. Much to John's surprise, much of this involved baskets. Who knew?


Our first photo shows the alcove in Nutter's room. The first item that should draw your eye rests in the right corner. It is a beautiful Moses basket that Sarah's Mom made. The white ruffle you see is actually taken from Sarah's wedding dress. Grandma Gayle is also waiting for word of Nutter's actual name so she can finish the tooth fairy pillows, also made from the wedding dress. Needless to say, we are all very impressed with and thankful for Grandma Gayle's handiwork.


The second picture also represents skilled handiwork. And no, this is not another reference to how we put together the crib. Take a close look at the crib bumper and bedskirt. Those items are the work of Nutter's Great Aunt Teri.




Here's a closer look at the bumper. Great Aunt Teri didn't stop there, however. There's also a quilt and a cute pillow that matches. Sarah and John love it all, and are happy with the way it has all come together. And John is excited that part of this process included finding where all the great quilting stores in Lexington are located.


And the last picture highlights the place that we expect to spend a lot of time with Nutterbutter, reading her stories and rocking her to sleep. Don't worry, all visitors will have the opportunity to sit in this chair. It is very comfortable and rocks very smoothly. And in case you haven't already noticed, the walls have changed color since last they were on the blog. John was able to get this room painted once school started. That means one less room left to paint in the house. Good times.

So there it is, the last post before Nutter's arrival. We are very excited and can't wait to share her arrival with our family and friends!

Nutterbutter at Week 32

Hello everyone. On the morning of August 1, hours before we headed off to a last vacation on Cape Cod, we once again visited the world of ultrasound to catch a glimpse of not so little Nutterbutter. John was kind of hoping the pictures would show her sitting in the lotus position and reading a newspaper...oh well.

If you take a close look at the pictures below, you won't notice the newspapers. But you will see quite a few cool images, especially of her face. And once again we have chosen to leave out the picture in which the technician helpfully confirmed the fact that Nutterbutter is a girl. No need for us to return anything pink.







It may seem hard to believe, but the next pictures of Nutterbutter you will see will not be in black and white. They will be in color and she won't be hanging out upside down in a tight space. Less than seven weeks left!!! Crazy.

Cape Cod 2007

August means many things to people. In Kentucky, it apparently means intense heat with little break. Fortunately, August also means Cape Cod to the Bowes clan, and we were able to make it to the Cape for about five days this year. Everyone in the family was there, nine people enjoying fun in the sun and each other's company.

There really isn't enough time or space to talk about all that went on during our visit, but the pictures below should give a little glimpse into all the good times. The show begins with the whale watch we went on out of Provincetown. Just so you know, we have not included any pictures of whales, just people.

Good times number one. On the ride out to watch a few whales, make sure you are well hydrated. Here Suzy demonstrates proper hydration while Sarah illustrates how friends can help friends stay hydrated. It's in the giving that we receive.



Brendan, Chris, and Michael had a good time as well. Here they show us all that, once hydrated, you should stay up front and keep your eyes out for the spouts of the humpbacks. And they were definitely kept busy, because we saw quite a few whales and a couple of pods of dolphins. Some of the whales breached, some of them flipped over, and just about all of them showed off their flukes.


Life's not just a whale watch...sometimes it's a beach. Here Suzy, Katie, Taffy, and Jay soak in the sun at Coast Guard Beach at the National Seashore. Water temperature was about 58 degrees and full of seaweed. Just the way Sarah likes it.



It's always good to have a picture taken as a couple. It would be even better if John didn't smile like a jackal. From this point on, when John is in the sun and a picture is being taken, someone give him some sunglasses. Truly, the squinting is impressive. Click on the picture, blow it up, and take a closer look.


If John had his way, much of the Cape experience would revolve around mini-golf. This picture came after the annual affair.
The size of the group now requires us to play in two parties. And the course, as always, is Poits. They have lengthened the par 4 holes over the years to accommodate the new putters, but it is still a course the whole family can enjoy.

Dinner preparation for nine is not an easy affair, but one night Chris and Katie put together an impressive lobster dinner for the entire crew. Tasty, tasty, tasty. The steamers right before dinner hit the spot as well.




Now for the artistic part of this entry. It's called, "Sarah at sunset." As you know from previous entries and just from knowing her in general, Sarah is always up for trying new ways of illustrating her growing belly. So this picture is both artistic and informative. Notice also how calm the bay side is. Harder to notice is that the water is much warmer. Very nice.





When you go to the Cape, you can watch the sun rise over the ocean and then catch it set over the bay. And the bay is just a short walk from the place we stay. It's a beautiful sight.



So thank you to the whole family. And a special thanks to Chris for picking us up at the airport at midnight. We had such a great time and it passed by too quickly. And that was the last big trip before Nutterbutter hits the scene. Hard to believe.

California Baby Shower

As promised, here are some pictures of the festivities. I [Sarah] can't tell you how much fun it was to spend the weekend with the old crew. It was wonderful to have my Mom and Rachel fly down from Sacramento and Louise drive down from Monrovia. You might not be able to tell from the pictures, but we spent the morning getting truly pampered with massages, facials, soaking baths, and pedicures.


Having Rachel and Jen there was invaluable on the baby advice front. Although she's not in the picture, Jen's baby Mara made an appearance as well and dazzled everyone with her cuteness. This picture does show us enjoying the fine food provided for the occasion. The girls thought of everything!


The group that threw the baby shower was known as the Mystery Team. They can be found amongst the people in the picture below. As usual, they completely outdid themselves, thinking of every detail and showing overwhelming generosity toward little Nutterbutter. We knew before that she was going to have the best California aunties ever, but the aunties just continue amaze us.



Finally, as you can see in the picture below, the pampering continued with fun, fluffy spa slippers for everyone. Thank you again Mystery Team for an unforgettable day, and thank you for everyone who came. It wouldn't have been the same without you all.

LA, Baby, LA

Just last weekend we made a trip to Los Angeles to spend some quality time with folks we don't get to see often enough. It's been three years since John lived in Los Angeles, and about two and a half years for Sarah. We don't miss the craziness that is LAX, but we do miss our friends. Surprisingly enough, we are not the only ones who are starting a family. Who knew?

Family number one is represented here. JP and Lauren celebrated their one-year anniversary as a married couple and are the proud owners of a rescue Weimaraner named Colby. Although they are going through the terrible twos with Colby, it certainly looks to us like all of their hard work and training is paying off. Colby is quite a wonderful dog, and, according to John, can run five miles without any obvious effort. Oh, Lauren and JP are wonderful too. They are great hosts, and Lauren even took us to In N' Out straight from the airport.


We first must note that the drink in Sarah's hand in the picture to the right is non-alcoholic. But yes, we were in a bar, living up the South Bay nightlife. It was great to have the Hermosa crew back together again, and to everyone's delight Rachel flew down from Sacramento to join the fun. Sarah's weekend was full of much needed time with her girlfriends and a significant amount of pampering. This included pedicure, manicure, waxing, and spa time.


For John, the weekend included big breakfasts every morning at favorite locations, runs on the strand, and a few Coronas with good friends. Two of those friends, Tyler and Ryan, are pictured to the left. Unfortunately, Stephanie Leshney eluded the cameras. And yes, let it be clear, the breakfasts are important to mention. Anyone who visits the South Bay must go to the Local Yolk in Manhattan Beach. John recommends Al's El Porto, or if you are really hungry, the Raider's Revenge.


One of the last events of the weekend was an outdoor concert at Pollywog Park in Manhattan Beach. It's a big park that John didn't know existed in the three years he lived there. In the picture here we have an appearance from little Josh, who made Sarah's weekend. He had a few questions for Sarah about the baby. "What does she eat? Well, Josh everything I eat. Oh, when I was in my Mommy's tummy she ate candy, that's why I really like candy. Is she wearing any clothes? Does she have any toys in there to play with?" His cuteness was almost too much for Sarah to take. And for anyone interested, if Josh has his way, Nutterbutter will be named Coco.


And there is another family to take into consideration. On our last day in LA, we were lucky enough to have breakfast(yes, at the Local Yolk) with our friends, Thomas, Amy, and little Santiago. It was great catching up and seeing how natural they are as parents. It certainly gives us hope. And Santiago was so tiny and fun to hold. It's too bad we didn't get more time with them, but now we will get to see them whenever we go to visit Suzy in Denver.


Now, just in case you are worried that Sarah is always running around, here is evidence that she finds the time to relax and have a grape or two. Nutterbutter is already helping out the cause by providing a good surface on which to balance the bowl. Fiona, if this isn't a good enough belly picture for you, you'll have to wait until next month. Besides, you'll be back in Lexington soon enough. Frankly, we can't wait.



There is definitely more to come. When we were in LA the Hermosa girls threw Sarah a fabulous baby shower. Nutterbutter was definitely spoiled by her California aunties. And Sarah's Mom, soon to be Grandma Gayle for the second time, flew down for the day to join the party. Pictures and stories coming soon to a blog near you.

Is it July already?

Apparently the first June update was the only one. Sorry about that. We'll be better this month. Really we will. And we can make that promise because a lot has already happened and there is more fun to come. But let's start by talking about the wonderful visitors we had right after the 4th of July.

We were lucky enough to have Sarah's Uncle Ronnie, Aunt Teri, and Bride-to-be Haley Rae stop by Lexington at the tail end of their whirlwind trip throughout North America. Seriously, we were the stop after Cancun and Utica. They don't kid around. Oh wait, they do.

Exhibit number one is the picture below. They don't always travel this way, but were kind enough to bring a baby shower with them. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and so we will keep the description to a minimum. But we cannot thank them enough for the fun they brought to Lexington. And we must admit that because of them little Nutterbutter is on her way to being the most fashionable girl on the block.




We don't have pictures of everything we did that weekend. That means, no pictures of Sarah, Haley, and Teri visiting quilting stores, visiting baby boutiques, and picking out colors for the baby's room. And no pictures of Ron and John watching golf and Apocalypto. But there is a picture of the five of us taken right before we had one of the best meals of the visit. Wow, was it good. If you are ever in Lexington, we will definitely take you to Murray's on Harrodsburg Road. Sarah wants to make sure you know that it is a big farmhouse turned into a restaurant. John wants to make sure you understand just how tasty the mussels are. So tasty. And if you ever go to Murray's with Haley, make sure you order two pieces of carrot cake or else she will just eat yours. Apparently it is just that good.




And yet the food was not as good as the company. The visit was short, but full of good times. And it goes without saying that Haley and Teri did a lot of belly rubbing while they were in town. They felt Nutterbutter kick and move all around.




So thanks again to the three of them for taking the time to visit us here in the Bluegrass. We had a great time and cannot wait to see them again in late October for Haley and Ryan's wedding. It is going to be a blast.

We were so inspired by all the baby talk and room decor selections that we decided to open the box that had been sitting in the baby's room for a couple of weeks. We prepared ourselves mentally and physically for the arduous task ahead. That's right, we decided to put together the crib.

Exhibits one and two below show John at the early stages of crib construction. Those who know John know that he has a low threshold for tasks such as this. He figured it was only a matter of time before he would be cussing like a sailor and wondering why Nutterbutter couldn't just sleep in a drawer.


First we have the opening of the box. Nothing too rough here. Just a few pieces of tape and a couple of styrofoam pads. So far so good. At this point, John simply hopes that nothing is damaged so that we don't have to take the darn thing back.



Part two. Construction is well underway and things are going almost too well. Could it be that companies are finally making these things relatively easy to put together? Are the four steps outlined in the directions really enough to make this thing work?



Well, as you can see, it turns out that this crib wasn't so tough after all. It was put together in under an hour, there were no extra pieces, and it is positioned in the room in such a way that John is in no danger of bumping his head on the angled wall. Isn't life swell? By the way, it is also important to note that Sarah also put together the crib. However, she apparently was a bit camera shy during this particular portion of the day. Go figure.



Now we have two and a half months to prepare the rest of the room. That is something that future visitors should keep in mind. That's right, we're talking about you - Gayle, Zac, and Keith. You could be building the next piece of furniture, painting, or constructing a tree house. You just never know. Seriously, we can't wait to get you guys out here next month. The patio at Murray's awaits!!!