Apr 30 2007
Big News!
Something happened during our 5 month ultrasound which I failed to mention in my previous post on that subject. Through a fairly comic series of misunderstandings, we discovered the gender of our baby, and…it’s a GIRL! The first Riddell girl, in fact, since my Aunt Sherry, and she is sure to spoiled rotten.
Here’s how it went down. The ultrasound machine has a series of information fields that are filled out on screen by the technician. Well, despite the Tech’s best efforts to keep us in the dark, even making us turn away when she peered at the more sensitive regions, Tina noticed that one field on the information screen indicated “female.” Naturally, she figured that was the gender of our child, because why note the gender of the mother? Shouldn’t that be obvious? On the way to the car, she told me what she’d seen. Clearly, we were both just ecstatic that the baby is healthy, and we were thrilled to know that Bouncey is a girl, but Tina’s wish to keep it a secret had been spoiled…until we looked at the ultrasound at home, and noticing the field indicating gender was near Tina’s name and date of birth, and because the technician had told us about all of the other uses for ultrasound — including on men — I realized that it was TINA’s gender after all. Dr. Silverman confirmed my suspicion. It’s silly, but it’s a default field they have to fill in before they begin the ultrasound.
But we’d celebrated with a rainy day breakfast at Toast. We talked girl stuff all the way home and even bought two dresses at target (one reading, “I love Daddy”). So…we asked Dr. S to tell us the truth once and for all. Turns out we were right already. And we couldn’t be happier. You shoulda heard my grandmother squeal!
Little Bouncey has a first name, already, too. It’s Sophia. Her middle name will hopefully be the only surprise remaining in this grand adventure.
Congratulations!!!! Very exciting stuff…I can’t wait to meet this little Tina-Brad baby girl! Love you both, Gooch
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Alright already! Another girl to join my ranks in the family. Let me tell ya, it’s been a tough road being the only girl in the Riddell family…trying to carry the Riddell name on with dignity that is! When I saw the previous ultrasound, I just knew that would be the most beautiful little baby girl to enter the Riddell dynasty! So you think Aunt Sherry has been spoiled..you guys ain’t seen nuttin yet, get ready for complete mayhem and a little girl who will really be spoiled rotten! I’m gonna be part of that verbage and proud to do so! Gotta go little girl shopping so bye and love to you all…especially my little great niece SOPHIA!
Didn’t mean to imply that you were spoiled, Sher. Only that I’m sure our little one will be. Thanks for all your love and support through this journey. Sophia will be blessed to have you in her life.
It has been a few years since there’s been a baby girl so I think Brad and I better prepare ourselves for the “pink explosion” !!
I\’m so excited for you two! I love any babies, but girls are so much prissy fun. I can\’t wait to finally buy pink clothes!!!!!
CONGRATS!!!! Another girl to our Lambda Chi family…we have so few…girls that is. Now Paige has someone to play with at the beach. I am sure that Sophia will be very spoiled by the time Chandra and Amy get done with her.
Congrats again. See you soon.
Good news indeed! I nominate Bouncey for the middle name. It’s catchy.
I’m pumped too. Sophie and Sawyer, BFF. Is it a coincidence that Gene Simmon’s daughter is named Sophie, i think not. I can’t wait to meet her. Actually, i can wait three more months or so but not much longer. Saw can’t wait to meet you guys. Thats the first time i’ve tried that as nickname. We’ll see if it takes off.
Dexter: ruff ruff ruff. ruff ruff. ruff ruff ruff.
Brian: Dexter says he\’s super excited about meeting and licking the faces of his little cousins. I say: (a) Sophia Brianna Riddell rolls off the tongue and I can\’t wait to see her pretty little face, and (b) Slur (Sawyer Lewis Riddell) is one of the cutest babies I have ever seen (and I\’m not just saying that b/c I\’m his uncle).
What a fun story…Sophia, the world is waiting for you! warmly, -melanie-
Sophia Leonidas Riddell. I tried Sawyer Leonidas Riddell but it was shot down.
Congrats to you both and given that pink is my favorite color, watch out Brad & Tina! Just kidding, but she will be Aunt T-Fab’s Gal!
“This… is… VAN NUYS!!!”
I should probably do this closer to the delivery date but i will do it now while things are still clear in my head. I hope you will be able to check back periodically and i wll post new tips as my little fellow progresses through infancy.
1. You will be tired alot. Suck it up. Although, it’s a different kind of tired. It’s a happy tired. Every time she squeeks you will be up and springing into action like a fireman on a four alarm fire.
2. DDay, Delivery Day, will not go as planned. There are bumps in the road. Like a 19 hour delivery that suddenly, and i mean suddenly, turns into a Csection. Or Mandee peeing on the doctor. That was funny. It was like a urine grenade going off. I nearly got hit by the shrapnel 7 feet away. Ask questions. Often times the doctors and nurses do routine things that you do not understand. It helps to ask and find out whats going on.
3. You will be nervous, you will be unsure. But all that goes out the window when you hear the first scream. THERE IS NOTHING IN THE WORLD LIKE HOLDING YOUR NEW LITTLE PERSON FOR THE FIRST TIME.
4. Baby tips are like assholes, everybody has one. Take them as you will but remember every baby is different. She’ll tell you when she’s hungry, she’ll tell you when she needs changed, that’s about all you need to know for the first couple months.
5. Diaper changing is a very technical exercise. Speed is the key. Don’t stand there and look at your gorgeous naked baby. You will get wet, and so will the wall and surrounding decor. Speed i tell you, be quick.
6. Sometimes babies don’t want to eat, and sometimes babies don’t want to sleep. However, eventually they will want to eat, and eventually they will want to sleep. Just wait it out. It may not be when you want them to but it doesn’t really matter. Babies are kinda selfish, they do what they want when they want and it doesn’t really matter what you want.
7. Sometimes babies just want to be held by there mommies, don’t get alarmed Brad, they are just used to mommy. She toted her around for nine months and you didn’t really do anything. But if you get upset, read tip 8.
8. Sometimes babies just want to be help by there daddies.
9. Burp, Burp, Burp. I sometimes feel like i should call social services on myself because i feel like Tommy Lee doing a solo on his back. It helps though.
10. Sometimes babies tummies hurt. It happens alot. Mylocon drops are the answer. They work about 40 percent of the time which is alot better than it sounds. Holding them works about 60 percent of the time. Doing the math would make you think that using drops and holding them will always work. It doesn’t, but the tummy ache will pass.
11. Don’t even think about a schedule for the first two months. It would be like picking G.W. to be your schools representative for the spelling bee. It just doesn’t work out.
12. It’s not gas, it really is a smile, and it’s the next greatest day in your life.
13. Work in shifts. One stay up for 5-6 hours, then the next shift comes in. 5 hours of sleep will feel like a 10 day vacation in hawaii.
My little man is now telling me he is hungry. It’s a very unmistakable, WAAH, WAHH, GURGLE GURGLE, WAAH WAAH. I really can’t do the decible level justice but believe me, it’s loud. I’ll be back soon with some more tips. Sorry for the spelling errors if there are any, the cry i am hearing is like a ice pick thru the brain. I don’t have time for proof reading.
Tina and Brad
Much comes to mind, but I think I can express it all in one short message.
THANK YOU !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!