Blazer time!

Yesterday was the home opener of the Trailblazers. Zane wanted to celebrate in style with his Blazers onesie so mom and dad had to follow suit! The team spirit worked out and they won! Woo-Hoo! (Zane's not crying he's cheering)

Speaking of Blazer spirit, I forgot to mention that during my family's visit my brother gifted Mason with an early Christmas present of a basketball signed by the entire 2008-09 team! Pretty sweet Adam, thanks!

Sorry for the lack of photos lately. Neither mom nor dad is feeling particularly photogenic these days, and Zane's puffy eyelid is now infected and his baby acne is running it's course. We'll post more when everyone is feeling and looking a little better. Aside from that, we're all doing really well and enjoying our family time!

No Doubt

In case anyone is on the fence about who Zane looks like, which I'm guessing is doubtful, here's is proof that he is his father's son! We found a baby picture of Mason and it's almost identical to Zane's. Mason is on the top.

This weekend is Mason's first full weekend back at the plant with me being at home by myself. I'm glad it's cold and rainy outside so Zane and I can snuggle up and watch movies! We tried to let Daddy sleep last night since he's going to have a long weekend. So Daddy got rest, but Momma is going to sneak as many naps in today as possible. Zane has decided that 1-3am is an excellent time to be alert. We're trying Grandma Judy's suggestion of not turning the light on when he wakes and using a nightlight instead. It worked really well the first night, but I think last night he was still worked up from his visit to the doctor's office. Plus..he's only 2 weeks old! He's letting us know it's too early for schedules.

Lueder visit

It was so great to have my mom and brother out here to help out for the past few days. They flew in from Iowa on Thursday night and left yesterday afternoon. We were very sorry that Adam's wife, Erica, and their kids, Nick and Mackenzie, couldn't make the trip but we appreciate them not bringing the flu bug into the house. We look forward to the spring and another visit from the whole troop! Aside from the one outing to Rogue and REI (how Portland!) we sat around staring at Zane, played some Scrabble and Boggle, and watched bits and pieces of movies when little man would allow it. My brother couldn't stop reminiscing about when his kids were that small...it was cute :)

For once it didn't rain the entire time my mom was in town, so we enjoyed our back patio for a little while. Mom really likes the "queenie chair". It's amazing how well Zane sleeps after being outside for only a short while...Mason and I may have to implement nightly walks!

My gorgeous boys!!

My sister-in-law Erica is a master knitter and made little man this sleep sack. Not only did she knit it, she spun and dyed the yarn herself!! He looked so cute in it that I'm sort of hoping it gets a lot colder out so we can put him in it more often.

She also made him this vest, which I like to call "chain mail" because it makes him look like a little knight.

After my family left we loaded little man into the stroller for our first family walk around Columbia Park. Our first attempt was thwarted by an unhappy baby so we had to turn back, but after a good feeding and some snuggly time he was ready to go. Our friend Jeremy from VT was in town and walked Virgil for us so Mason and I could concentrate on Zane. Thanks Jeremy!

Hangin' out with Zane

Our days are spent hanging out staring at Zane pretty much. Occasionally we eat, but mostly he eats and we change him. His ever changing facial expressions are our new entertainment. He's an awesome baby and gives us fairly large breaks where we can catch naps during the day and at night.

The little smiles are hard to capture, but we're working on it.

Zane likes his vibrating bouncy chair, or nap bucket (so appropriately named by Brad and Annie)
The elusive eyes.

Virgil still isn't sure what to think. He's still a little hurt that he's not #1 anymore, but does attempt to sniff and lick Zane.

Our first outing yesterday was to the Rogue Brewery in the Pearl District with my mom and brother. Zane slept the entire time! I'll post morer pics from the family visit soon.

He was all tuckered out after his outing.

Photos a la Brad

Our awesome friends Brad and Annie came to visit us in the hospital the day after little Z man was born and took some photos. By pure coincidence we were in the same recovery room that they were in 3 months prior for the birth of their adorable little Maggie. Thanks for leaving behind such good mojo guys! :)

Zane has an amazing cowlick right on the front of his forhead!

Look at these huge paws!

Doesn't he look a lot like the baby on the brochure?

Ladies and gentlemen...Zane Rippey is here!

A day after our due date little man decided it was time! As his Unkie Matt put it: Like a typical Rippey, he woke up and realized he was late for an appointment and had to get there in a hurry. I started having contractions around 4:30am on Friday, and we decided Mason should probably not go to work. We hung out, played some Scrabble, got our bags together and by 10:30am the contractions were coming about 5 min. apart so we headed to the hospital. We were checked in and checked over, and told that I was only at 3cm and to start walking the halls. On about the 7th lap my water broke and from there we progressed to 8cm in 2 hours. The nurse, who was amazing, called our doctor to let him know of the fast rate and instructed some other nurses to prep the room for delivery just in case. Good thing she did because he wasn't waiting! I pushed for only 20 intense minutes and then ZANE MASON RIPPEY came into the world!! He is completely healthy, adorable, and a mirror image of his father.

Zane was born on 10.9.09 at 2:30pm at 9 pounds 2 ounces and 21 inches. A big boy!! I wanted a natural birth and got exactly that. No drugs were administered at all, and it happened so fast there wasn't even time to put in an IV for fluids just in case. All is well with me though; you're usual post-delivery aches and pains, but nothing some ibuprophen can't take care of!

We had a great stay in the hospital, and learned as much as we could from all the knowledgable nurses. Today we got home around noon, and we've been getting accustomed to being a family of three (plus Virgil, of course). We are so grateful for everyone's love and support, and feel so lucky to have our little Zane.

More photos to come very soon....

Due date...and still waiting

Today is the 40 week mark and apparently little man isn't ready to make his worldly debut just yet. We had a regular doc's appointment this morning and though things are underway, they're not nearly as far along as I personally would like at this point! We're so eager to meet him!! Plus I'm looking forward to some restful sleep...even if it does come in half hour intervals, it would still be of higher quality than the 'sleep' I'm getting now.

You'll notice in the photo that I'm not wearing any shoes. That's because bending has become too much of a chore. But I do still manage to motivate enough in the mornings to put socks on 1) because it's getting colder and 2) to hide my cankles.

I believe I heard Mason mention a trip to get ice cream later to alleviate my crankiness. He knows me so well :)

I'm told the hospital has WiFi so we'll do our best to update as soon as possible...but baby and sleep will be our first priorities!!