lbl-masthead.png

Place Your Baby Bets!

Posted by Pamela Vaughan

Sep 26, 2008 10:53:53 AM

[caption id="attachment_242" align="alignleft" width="296" caption=""Guess my sex, birth date and weight!""]asdfsdfa[/caption]

I have to admit - when my friend, Keith first came to me with the idea of creating a facebook group for people to place bets on my baby-to-be's birth stats, I was pretty hesitant.� However, once I realized giving him the "okay" wouldn't really mean I was pimping out my baby, I gave in.� (Plus, he promised to put two dollars of every five-dollar bet toward a baby gift for Baby Lump.� Hey, we'll always need extra diapers, right?)

The "Pam and James Baby Betting Pool!! $5 Entry!" group has only been in existence for about 24 hours, but I'm already starting to notice the potential for how much fun it could be.� It's really interesting to see what people's guesses are and wonder who will be correct (or closest to it).� I've even started making an Excel spreadsheet of the first submissions (eh - you already knew I'm a geek).� And after a chat with the group's original creator, we've decided to change a few things ...

In the spirit of the group, we've decided to eliminate monetary wagers.� This was also decided after the realization that people probably won't be sending me five-dollar bills in the mail.� (Unfortunately, facebook is lame and doesn't allow you to change the name of a group after it's already been created, so don't be deceived by the title.)� Anyway, I figured more people would post their guesses on the wall if they didn't think they had to contribute a few bucks, and I'm honestly just curious to see if anyone will guess the three stats dead-on.� Which reminds me, guesses are to be made in the form of three categories:

  1. Sex/Flavor (you know - boy or girl)

  2. Date of Birth (Month/Date)

  3. Birth Weight (in pounds and ounces format)


The official rules are posted in the group's description, including specifications for scoring and how the winner will be chosen.� So please, join the group and place your bet guess!� Just be careful not to guess the same as someone else!

While there may not be any monetary compensation for the winner, I already have a few ideas up my sleeve as far as prizes go.

And hey, even though we've gotten rid of the actual betting, if you'd still like to submit a five-dollar donation for the future purchase of diapers, by all means! :o)

I've decided to post an ongoing list of people's guesses in a separate page on this blog called "Birth Stats," which I will try to update regularly.

Oven Timer: 24 weeks, 4 days
more

Topics: contest, Polls, little baby lump, betting, guessing game, fun, facebook group, gambling

What's With My Mini Baby Bump?

Posted by Pamela Vaughan

Sep 24, 2008 3:03:58 PM

[caption id="attachment_218" align="alignright" width="199" caption="not me "]not me [/caption]

I've been getting a lot of comments lately about how small my baby bump is relative to how far along I am.� After last week's post, my friend, Keith doubted there was any way a $5 footlong from Subway could fit in my belly.� Actually, I ate one the other day, so truth is, my mini belly can actually fit two!� Take that, Keith!

Seemingly, it's some kind of phenomenon.� I mean, check out the woman on the right compared to me - no wonder people think I'm a freak.� James laughs at me because I'll look at pictures on Baby Gaga of other women with similar due dates and get what he calls "belly envy" because I'm so much tinier than they are.

What's funny is that women who have had children keep saying how lucky I am to be so small at this point in my pregnancy.� The only problem is that my paranoid self keeps worrying something is wrong with Baby Lump, even though my doctor seems to think everything is normal.

[caption id="attachment_220" align="alignleft" width="219" caption="me"]me[/caption]

I am, however, secretly hoping my lack of bump means my baby will turn out to be one of those five and a half pounders instead of one of those bowling ball-heavy babies like James was.� (He was almost 11 pounds at birth!)� James laughs at me for thinking this, too.� Hey, I can dream ...

I'm pretty confident strangers can't even tell I'm pregnant.� At least, I haven't had any random people give up their seats for me on the train or pet my belly yet.� Although I'm thinking maybe the latter is a good thing.

In developmental news, Baby Lump won't really be getting any taller this week - just chubbier.� Keep thinking $5 footlong, just ask the sandwich builder to stuff some more meat in there.� Anyway, hooray for adorable baby fat weight gain!� This week alone, he/she will be gaining half a pound, totaling 1� 1/3 lbs.� In addition, rapid bone formation is occuring and Baby Lump's brain and nervous system continue to grow in complexity.

Another major milestone is that Baby Lump is now at the point of viability, which means if Baby Lump would pop out of the womb today, he/she would actually have a fair chance of survival (30%-70%!).� If born this week, Baby Lump would look something like this.� Can you imagine?� I have to start watching for signs of premature labor.� Yikes!

Let's just hope Baby Lump decides to bake for a while longer, shall we?

Oven Timer: 24 weeks, 2 days
more

Topics: Weekly Updates, Milestones, pregnancy, baby bump, little baby lump, milestone, viability, development, 24 weeks, baby belly

Thirty-Two Years of Marriage, For The Win!

Posted by Pamela Vaughan

Sep 18, 2008 10:13:38 AM

Today is my parents' 32nd wedding anniversary.� Wowzers!� That's quite an accomplishment.� I was tempted to send them the following someecard:



Instead, I sent them one a little less sarcastic.� The one above definitely doesn't do them justice.� My sisters and I couldn't have asked for a more supportive and loving set of 'rents.� I only hope I turn out to be as wonderful a parent as mine have been to me.

Tonight, mom and dad, I will toast to your awesome accomplishment (with sparkling cider, of course).� Congratulations!

Oven Timer: 23 weeks, 3 days
more

Topics: Milestones, Announcements, little baby lump, relationship, wedding anniversary, parents, someecards, marriage

My Subway Baby

Posted by Pamela Vaughan

Sep 17, 2008 5:53:52 AM

It looks like I got so caught up rambling about leash kids yesterday that I forgot to update you on how Baby Lump is doing this week!� By the way, yesterday's post seems to have sparked some pretty heated discussion in its comments section, and I hope I didn't offend any of you former leash kids/parents.� As Kristin pointed out, "To each his own."

That said, Baby Lump is doing just great!� This week, he/she should clock in at a whole foot long and about a pound and a quarter.� Let's see, what kind of food can we compare him/her to this week?� Perhaps a $5 Footlong from Subway (stuffed with lots of meat and toppings).� Except obviously my baby is priceless and a way better deal.� Does anyone else now have that jingle stuck in their head?

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHIo4VruGZY&hl=en&fs=1]


Well, you will now.



Anyway, while Baby Lump is sans fat right now, apparently he/she will double in weight within the next four weeks.� (Let's hope I don't do the same!)� And although his/her eyelids are still sealed shut, Baby Lump is actually starting to make facial expressions such as squinting and frowning - probably when I catch James singing in the shower since now Baby Lump is capable of responding to sounds outside the womb.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go get this Subway jingle out of my head.

Oven Timer: 23 weeks, 2 days
more

Topics: Weekly Updates, little baby lump, 23 weeks, $5 Footlong, Subway

"Please Keep Your Child On A Leash"

Posted by Pamela Vaughan

Sep 16, 2008 6:43:05 AM

Today's topic of conversation: leash kids.� This is nothing new - they've been around for years.

If you're not exactly sure you know what I mean, a few seconds of logical thinking will lead you to the right conclusion (or you can just take a look at the image on the right).� That's right - kids on leashes.� Kind of like dogs on leashes, only instead if K-9s, we're talking humans here.

The reason I bring this up is because yesterday, as I was on my way to work, I got stuck behind a pack of leash kids.� It was obvious to me they were apart of some kind of daycare program.� There were about eight of them, accompanied by two adults, and some simple arithmetic will prove that some sort of organizational device was needed for this bunch of rugrats.� Two adults means only four hands for eight kids, hence the need for the Jon and Kate Plus Eight hoop-style leash I witnessed.� Now this I find acceptable, particularly because the kids weren't restrained at all, but were instead holding onto a hoop that guided them along and made them easier to herd.



I understand I'm a little naive here and that there may be a perfectly good explanation for the leash kid phenomenon.� Still, most of time when I see a child strapped up in a fluorescent harness, I feel an overwhelming sense of pity.� Why can't mom/dad/nanny just hold onto the kid's hand, particularly if there is only one kid - not eight - to keep track of?� Surely some traditional hand-holding would do the trick, as well as foster that essential, warm and fuzzy caregiver-child bond.� I mean, if you were a kid on leash, would you not feel a little confused/degraded that both you and pet Fido were toted around in the same way?

And leash kids are taken to a whole new level with the advent of Smart Target's Kiddo Keeper, which is basically the equivalent to those alarms you can buy to locate your keys or TV remote.� The Kiddo Keeper Web site, in fact, also markets the product as a way "to monitor valuable properties or pets" - see? Umm - wow.� Whatever happened to actually paying attention to your little one?� At first I got a little concerned when I read the article that led me to the product, which at one point describes the Kiddo Keeper as akin to an electric dog collar that will shock your kid if he/she wanders too far away.� Then I (once again) realized how gullible I am.

While I doubt any formal studies have been conducted on the outcome of people who were/weren't raised on leashes, I do have friends of both varieties, and they've all turned out well.� Heck, my brother-in-law was a leash kid, and I won't hesitate to say he's quite an admirable fellow.

I suppose some kids are just that rampantly wild that they must be restrained somehow.� I'm hoping Baby Lump doesn't turn out this way.� So help me if I have to resort to treating my kid like an animal, or worse - a set of keys.

Oven Timer: 23 weeks, 1 day
more

Topics: Bizarre, little baby lump, leash kids, Kiddo Keeper, Relationships, Jon and Kate Plus Eight, parenting

I'm A Hot Mom (To-Be)!

Posted by Pamela Vaughan

Sep 11, 2008 8:58:13 AM

Fellow Boston University COM alum and Twitter pal, Yianni Garcia (AKA Social Media Guy) is running a fun little contest on his blog, and I'm honored to be a part of it! That's right, apparently I'm a "Hot [Mom] on Facebook."� Haha - gotta love it.





Check out Yianni's blog post about it, and vote by submitting a comment at the bottom of the page.� The winner will be chosen based on most comment votes as of September 30.� I encourage you to vote honestly - there are quite a few pretty hot mamas in the running, so I won't blame you if you don't pick me (just remember who sent you there and how scrumdidlyumptious her brownies are) ;o).

Click here to vote!

Oven Timer: 22 weeks, 3 days
more

Topics: contest, Announcements, vote, Twitter, little baby lump, Facebook, Social Media Guy, Yianni Garcia, BU, hot mom, COM

At Last, We Are Connected!

Posted by Pamela Vaughan

Sep 10, 2008 2:06:31 PM

I FINALLY HAVE INTERNET!



Believe me, you have no idea how excited I am about this.�� I'm like a kid in a candy store again - my Firefox browser has about 12,000 tabs open; I'm uploading photos like crazy to Facebook, Flickr and Baby-Gaga; I'm tweeting my cries of rejoice like crazy on Twitter; and most importantly, I'm blogging again!� It's an all-out social media-fest over here.

I apologize for leading you to believe I'd have the InterWeb on Monday.� I swear, that was the original plan until Comcast screwed up.� I've definitely been going through Little Baby Lump blogging withdrawal, and it seems like some of you have been, too.� Case in point, my friend Tina wrote on my Facebook wall the other day imploring me to "find an Internet cafe or SOMETHING."

Well, I'm connected again and I'm back and blogging up a storm.� I've added a new tab to the upper right-hand side of my blog labeled "Our Place" - check out James and my new apartment and what will be Baby Lump's first home.� If you read the last post I wrote via Blackberry (which was not easy), you know that Baby Lump is already feeling at home.� The first night we spent in the new apartment was also the first time James felt the baby kick, and he/she has been a lot more active, dancing around noticeably, in the past week.

In the growth department, Baby Lump should be about 11 inches long and almost one pound at this point, or for all you food analogy-lovers, about as long as a package of Oreos and as heavy as a bag of tortilla chips.� Mmm - Oreos and chips.� I was also able to sign up for my natural childbirth classes at Isis Maternity in Brookline on November 9 and 16th, so now it's a reality - I'm going through the whole birth thing sans medication.� And that's my final answer.

Oven Timer: 22 weeks, 2 days
more

Topics: Weekly Updates, natural childbirth, Isis Maternity, little baby lump, 22 weeks, new apartment, social media, baby kicking

Sorry Readers - No Internet Until Monday

Posted by Pamela Vaughan

Sep 2, 2008 12:13:37 AM

Just thought I'd keep you posted: James and I have been moving into our new apartment (we love it!) the past few days, and Comcast won't be able to install cable and Internet until Monday. This means that, sadly, I'll be unable to make any real blogging updates until then (thank goodness for my Blackberry though!). If I can't make it to an Internet cafe in the meantime, you'll hear from me come Monday.

For a fun, quick, little (big) update, James was able to feel the baby kick a little bit last night! Baby Lump must truly feel at home in our new apartment!

Don't worry, there are plenty of quirky food-baby analogies to come!

Oven Timer: 21 weeks, 1 day
more

Topics: Weekly Updates, Milestones, pregnancy, little baby lump, new apartment, baby kicking

Subscribe by Email

rss   RSS Feed

Recent Posts

Popular Posts