The baby boy...John has most of the pix on his computer, so I'll have to get him to post some...

THE BIRTH STORY

So it has been a few months since we updated...just a few!

I'll have to have John update and tell about his job and the FSM class he's auditing, since I'm sure folks would like to hear his perspective from time to time!
I started at the Forerunner Music Academy in late August and have been enjoying the two classes I'm taking, (Choir and Freshman Seminar.) We're also in a small group with other married couples in FMA; we're excited about the opportunity to build relationships and really like the leaders. (Unfortunately, we've only been able to go once due to baby!)

Mostly, John thought I should share Bastian's birthstory in this post. Since it was such a major life event for both of us, I know this will be long!

I should prologue first...
The last month of pregnancy was hard for all of us. I developed an incredibly itchy rash that started on my belly and spread all over. Evidently only 1% of pregnant women get it. (My mom had it with my older sister.) Good news is that it usually only happens with first baby's so there's hope for the next pregnancy.
It really was torture. I could only sleep for about 30 minutes at a time and was making myself bleed I was scratching so hard. John had to endure me being hysterical - he did an amazing job and blessed me so much with his patience. Eventually I was able to get a medicated lotion and a drug to help me sleep. I still never slept for more then two hours at a time, though, so I seriously descended into realms of insanity during those last few weeks.
My older sister seriously saved me. She came out a week before my duedate, (September 10th), and cooked and cleaned for us...I was so incredibly swollen it was really hard for me to do anything. She also became my activities director, thinking up loads of ways for me to distract myself from the itching :) Since I itched the worse at night, we developed a crazy backwards routine. We'd play cards until about 2am, watch a movie, then do paint by number or x-box until 5ish. I'd cat nap until John got up, then try and sleep a little in the morning.

We were all pretty desperate to have the baby by the time September 10th rolled around!
A lot of women who have PUPP, (the rash) tend to induce early or schedule a c-section, it's just that bad. But I was able to hang in there, thanks to John and Arielle, Hannah and my amazing doula Melanie. Everyone kept encouraging me and blessing me and cheering me on and it made all the difference in the world.

After the duedate, each day passing was so hard. I started having fairly regular contractions, so we knew it was going to be sometime soon...but WHEN?! Each day with the rash was a little bit harder and I had this urgent, urgent feeling that the baby needed to be born as soon as possible. We tried caulophyllum in a gentle homeopathic form, but it wasn't enough to induce naturally. We considered our natural options and were hoping that the midwives would let us try castor oil.
I had an appointment with them on the 17th and they nixed that idea. I had been almost totally effaced for 2 weeks and we were hoping I had started dilating...but I hadn't and I actually wasn't done effacing! This was so discouraging for all of us.
I felt that NOW in my spirit so we considered our options. My midwife thought cervidel (a cervical softener) would be the best idea to start with, since it was the least interventive and would give us options. (Either I'd spontaneously go into labor - which is rare - and then they could possibly break my water, or I would finish effacing and we could consider pitocin...which i REALLY did not want to do.)
Even deciding to do the cervidel was kind of a big deal - we were so hoping for a non-interventive water birth. I didn't want to compromise our desires, but I had so much peace about every choice we made...the promptings of the Holy Spirit and my body were so clear.

The cervidel actually worked and I went into labor Tuesday morning. There was probably about an hour of nice little contractions and then BOOM...suddenly my body was doing contractions every 1 - 2 minutes and they were SO POWERFUL. Oh my god...it was like my uterus went crazy. I hung in there for a long time; we tried so many positions. I made SO much noise. It was like being in transition from the get-go. I started vomiting from the pain and couldn't seem to stop.
My instincts were telling me I needed to get that baby out soon - didn't know why - but my uterus was working way too hard. Everyone was so positive and encouraging, but I was slowly becoming undone. I was in such incredible pain and my gut was telling me the contractions weren't that productive and were stressing out the baby as much as they were stressing out me. Everyone kept encouraging me and telling me I was doing it, but I just kept saying, "I'm not!" Which they didn't like, of course, but I knew it was true :) The other problem was that my whole body tensed with each contraction - I worked so hard to stay loose, but the pain was incredible.
After hours and hours of this, they checked me and I hadn't dilated a bit...pretty natural with first time moms, but too much for an already sleep deprived person! I tried the shower for a while, but having transition like contractions every minute for HOURS had totally exhausted me. At that point I asked for something to let me sleep...I was so tired and in so much pain. My body was squeezing the heck out of the baby and not giving me any breaks.
Again, like with the cervidel, I didn't even hesitate to ask for a narcotic...and I have been SO committed to a natural birth. I just knew, deep down, that there was something going on and I needed to follow my first instincts and quickly.
At that point I really broke down...just hung onto John and we both wept and wept. The pain was so bad I was screaming at that point. But it was one of my favorite moments of labor - I felt like John and I were being pulled into a Oneness that was beyond any realm we've ever experienced before. It was so precious.

I slept for a good three hours after they gave me the drug...evidently I was hallucinating and saying hilarious things :) My doula tells me that I woke up with every contraction and worked through it, though I have no memory of that! I was so exhausted.

The narcotic helped to slow my contractions down enough to a more regular level, for a little while...but after the drug wore off they they returned to their 1 minute interval with SUCH INTENSITY. I tried to hang in there again...but everything in me was telling me I needed help - serious help.

I felt so bad, because I knew I just must have seemed like a crazy first time mother abandoing her desire for a natural birth because she couldn't handle the pain :) But the force of my clarity was so strong I didn't care.

I asked for an epidural at that point...I was screaming again and shaking...John was just in agony watching...the intensity of the labor was so uncontrollable...it wasn't something I could ride...it was like my body was trying to expel the baby NOW in a way I couldn't handle...
The put me on the monitor and that's when things started getting interesting...my labor was distressing the baby. At 42 weeks he couldn't handle being squeezed constantly. My midwife checked me before the epidural, found out I was 3cm and the baby was absolutely SWIMMING in meconium...I mean, TONS of poop and there was very little amniotic fluid left. His cord was being pinched and evidently he was not in a good position - so his head hitting me at a bad angle had been part of the cause of my pain.
Suddenly, there's people running into the room and the attending doctor is being called and the anesthesioligst is flying in...(after we delivered we also found out the placenta was really tired and had we waited a day longer, I probably would have needed a c-section because the baby couldn't have tolerated the labor...)

They threw John scrubs, (I'm lying there thinking, oh god, of all the things I did not want, it was a c-section...I just cried and cried...) and did a quick consult. But we were SO lucky- we had an amazing staff.
They put an internal monitor on the baby, and decided to let me try and dilate with the epidural...as long as the baby stayed stable.
Waiting for the epidural was so hard...the baby was seriously freaking out, so I had to lay on my side. This made it really hard for the anesthesioligst to get the needle in the right spot...took him almost a half an hour and I had some horrible contractions during that period of him sticking my back over and over...
But once the epidural kicked in I fell into a deep sleep. My body totally relaxed.
I had some special moments with all of my birth team...I was so glad they were all there...and oh, John was amazing. He was 100% there and loved me and cried with me when I didn't think I could bear the pain any longer.
They checked me some time around 8pm and I was 7cms...we were incredibly encouraged, but the attending physician was still keeping a really close eye on things and warned us that we were walking a thin line.

Following my strange (contrary to birth plan!) instincts was the best thing I could have done.
I don't think I ever would have dilated without the epidural...and the baby needed to be monitored...which might not have happened so soon had I not asked for the epidural. There were some rough and scary moments even then...his heart rate was not good and they had to keep switching me from side to side as they realized his cord was being VERY pinched.
Every little while they had to re-evaluate whether it was safe to let me continue...when I was 7 they were seriously considering whether or not to section.
I just lay there and thought, "Lord, I know you're going to let me do this, I trust you." And then I began to talk to the baby, telling him he needed to push fast with his little head and get where he needed to be.
I fell asleep and around 30 minutes later I woke up feeling incredible pressure...I mentioned this and my midwife checked me and I was COMPLETE! And the baby was in a better position.
Next thing I know they're flipping me over and getting the stirrups out and I just wanted to howl with laughter...because I've been so resolved to deliver naturally, without narcotics or an epidural and ABSOLUTELY NOT ON MY BACK!
They called the doctor in, because it was looking like I was going to need forceps...but the doc, who is amazing, was able to turn the baby during one of my contractions. We were so lucky to have him there.
It was hard work, and so painful, but I only pushed for about 30 minutes. We ended up with an episiotomy but being able to avoid a c-section was the most amazing triumph for us at that point. It seemed like all of the odds were against us...at every turn it felt like the labor became more impossible. But we were flexible. John and my doula trusted me that I was really listening to my body and not just flipping out.

Bastian was born sometime around 9:30, 7pounds 8.6 oz, 22inches long....crazy long fingers and toes! The kid was SO covered in poop and full of poop...they just kept pumping and pumping and pumping! And he was still throwing up poop in the middle of the night :) That's my boy :) It took the nurse FOREVER to scrub him clean :)

He seems to have Johns chin and forehead and legs and feet, my eyes and lips and face shape, and a mix of family noses. He is beautiful and unbelievably calm and sweet and patient. And has SO much dark black hair!
My PUPP is slowly getting better. We made it. I can't believe we made it.
Never have I been through something so hard and so incredibly worthwhile. I am so proud that I hung in there and so thankful I was allowed to.
We are smitten with our delightful son and can't believe he's finally here.
I know there's a reason things went differently then we'd planned - but God was so faithful and there was so much peace in that delivery room.
During the pushing I just wanted to laugh...Hannah was bouncing up and down, running back and forth going, "I see him!" Arielle was WEEPING. Melanie was rubbing my leg telling me how amazing I was doing. And John was holding onto me, peering over my legs saying, "Just poop him out, Kristi! You're doing awesome! Just poop him out!"
And I was thinking, "These people are crazy!"

Arielle, Hannah, and Melanie were amazing and John deserves an award :)
It was wonderful to have Mark and Susan (John's parents) with us that last week and then at the hospital, interceding that whole day, and now my mom is here to help take care of us and let me recover. We are so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends. Everyone gave up a lot to support us and we are so grateful.

So now we're on a new adventure...and he's here! The depths and lengths of learning this new little eternal soul are unfathomable. To look in his eyes and see the person who came from such small beginnings and lived inside of me for so long...it's mind boggling. Truly mind boggling.

love to all,
John, Kristianna, and Bastian Daley

Well guys, I found some pix on Johns computer that I thought everyone might enjoy :)
There is an enormous post before this one, as well...don't get distracted by the pix :)

First of all, we have Johns First Fathers Day
I couldn't find wrapping paper ANYWHERE, so I improvised and cut up some brown grocery bags :) John got work gloves, old man slippers (requested, so he'll stop wearing mine!), and a badmitton set...it was a good Sunday.





And here we have a few pix from our NC trip. Of course, we were very lax in taking photos, so mostly we have the random car shot, a few scenic pix, and the ever many Mikey shot :) Someday we'll have to learn to take pictures of family and friends! We were delighted with our little beach condo...it made the trip worth it. And we had a great time with Heather, mom and Jo. We ate out the first night...yummy seafood...








And finally, this is what I'm talking about...THE SWELLING! (Now imagine my knees and hips being similarily swollen...)

Well, the dashboard informs me that our last post was June 11th. Wow. That was a long time ago! I guess the whole having a job, being pregnant, getting ready for baby, and traveling stuff sort of changes the way we spend our time. The basic, necessary stuff often barely gets done these days. And I think sometimes it definitely wouldn't get done...if it weren't for my House Elf...I mean, My Joanna!!!
Yes, we are delighted to have her back here, in KC; "it's better here." Fo sho. We are delighted in her company, grateful for her help, and sad she'll have to go...but there's always fall break, right?

So, what have we been up to these days?
Well. John is still loving his job. They finished the kitchen job they were working on and are probably going to be starting a bathroom remodel this week. Jim Leonard, (John's boss,) has lent John several remodeling/design magazines...it's so funny to see him lounging around reading them, instead of reading his car mags. (Which he still does, but not quite as often.)

John got tons done (on the house) the week I was in NC/PA after he left...said he gets more done when I'm not around telling him what to do...uhhuh. Because of all the prep work John did, Joanna is in the finishing stages of painting trim...yay! The baby room is looking awesome. The bathroom is almost done. The den is really shaping up...we took dad's advice and put John's barn pix up on the wall. The blue frame does look amazing against the green walls. We put up a few black and whites and I ordered a blue slipcover for the dog-chewed couch. (I mean, the Brae Leigh chewed couch :) I think the room is going to look awesome finished...very contemporary, but kind of barnsy and Johnish.
The front room still needs the trim to be painted and some stuff put up on the walls, but we're loving our rug and the Ikea chairs I got in PA. It's nice to have something besides folding chairs around the table!

We're still hoping to finish the basement, but we're having a flooding problem. During "torrential" rains we'll get just a few inches of seepage...don't know where it's coming from exactly, so we have to figure that out before we can figure out if we can fix it or not! John is now fantasizing about a deck...but I don't think we should commit to that unless we can't finish the basement.

Garden update? Well...I learned something this summer. Actually, I learned a few things. First of all, I CAN NOT EAT THINGS GROWN IN MY BACKYARD. They taste horrible. The other thing I learned was that the biggest common predator of flowers and vegetable isn't, in fact, rabbits. No, it's my husband. That's right guys. Between the birds eating all of my flower seeds and John accidentally mowing down 1. morning glories 2. sunflowers 3. moonflowers and weed wacking 1. a tomato plant 2. my only surviving squash, my hard work pretty much was for naught this year.
I learned valuable info, so I'm grateful for that. Next year I'll probably grow a few vegetables and herbs in big pots containing soil NOT from the backyard. And I'll start my flower seeds indoors...and THEN plant them. And, mostly, I WILL TELL JOHN MANY, MANY, MANY, MANY times where I've planted things. (I still have no idea how he could have mistaken three perfectly symmetrical rows of four inch sunflowers for weeds...)
He's just so goal oriented. When the man is mowing, THE MAN IS MOWING.
But I never would have learned all that if I hadn't tried. (Oh yes, and rhodedendrons die in my soil, along with mock orange bushes.) Hyacinths seem to do well, though.

I am READY to have this baby. VERY VERY VERY READY. The swelling and joint pain and peeing constantly have done me in. Months without more then 2hrs sleep at a time have turned me into quazi-zombie girl. I had two days of strong contractions (probably due to the full moon and working too hard) and am now having bad round ligament pain...evidently I need to get one of those belly support belts. The little guy is sagging low and my muscles can't take it anymore :) So I'm going to try and rest...though I'm ancy for things to do. This baby needs to stay inside for at least another 3 weeks or so. Wow....yay! yay! yay!

John is getting very excited to meet the little guy...I am too, but I think I'm so focused on "LET'S GET THIS BABY OUT!" that I'm distracted from feeling mushy and gooey concerning the imminent approach of the birth of our first baby.

We really enjoyed seeing family and friends back in NC, at the beginning of the month. We were delighted to be there for wedding anniversary celebrations! We definitely did too much, but it was our first attempt at visiting after becoming official residents of Missouri. It takes a while to figure these things out.
I had a good time in Pennsylvania, but it was waaaay too much driving....I'm so grateful to Hannah for being willing to make the trip and help with the driving...she and Joanna and I (and Mikey!) had quite a ride from PA to MO. We were READY to get out of the car!!! I took a pix of my feet all swollen up...I'll have to find it...

IHOP is continually delish, as Jo might say. Our hearts are being tugged back to where they're supposed to be. It's a slow process, but the kindness of God is overwhelming; His grace enables us to make righteous choices and CHANGE! Again and again I find my heart wooed out of numbness, as I sit at home listening to EGS or FCF online. The Spirit moves me and I am filled with overwhelming longing and desire for this God-man. I know John feels the same. We feel our immaturity in our daily walks...growing frustrated with ourselves for the small things we let pass each day...but I see our sight deepening and sharpening, and my heart is given peace and hope that we can push delete at the end of everyday and start again tomorrow. We'll get there. He delights in us today and sees the 'yes' in our hearts. We're in this for the long haul.

As to pictures, we haven't really been taking that many lately.

Here's John assembling the play-pen. We got one of the ones that have a bassinet/changing table you can set in the top. That's what we're planning to use in our room until we move the baby to his room. (AHHH! We're having a BABY!)




He didn't read the directions until absolutely necessary...I tried to help, but I had trouble finding the directions in English. I love how confused/bemused Brae Leigh looks. We got a lot done that day...cleaned out a bunch of closets, too...we're getting there!


And here's our carseat, picked out and put together by John.


And this is the robe I made for (mainly) while I'm in the hospital with the baby. I didn't expect it to fit right now, but evidently I added ample material for the belly. Ample material.


So maybe sometime I'll try and get John to actually post something, since I've been doing most of the posting. And maybe we'll actually post with more frequency, so we can move past catching up on mundane details and move towards deeper discussions...like the Sufferns...who always, amazingly, have the time to say intelligent things :)

love,
the Daleys

A few pix of recent goings on.

Here are John, Joanna, and I on the day of her departure from Kansas City. It was a sad day. But, she is returning!



So Jo and I went thrifting one day, searching for a little table to put a lamp on. We found this guy...pretty happy with it. I'm not sure if it's going to stay there, though. We still need more light over by the stove. I'm still thinking about pictures and such...gotta touch up the paint that peeled off the wall above this chair. (Came off on the back of the bookcases!)



So John and I had a good weekend of quality time...and visiting the Sholar contingent that was in town for the conference at the HOP. I've been keeping an eye out for a rug for this part of the living room. It just really needed one. I've never bought a real rug before, so I was a bit surprised at the prices :) Hannah alerted us to a sale, so we checked it out and found this gorgeous rug...the real deal...it's an investment buy :) I don't think I'll ever part with this thing...and it makes the room feel amazing. The store we got it at was very stylin'. Two guys from El Salvador were the main business owners, I think. They were fascinating and incredibly good salespeople.



This is a closeup of the rug...picture doesn't really do it justice! The colors are beutiful and so rich and it's soooo soft.



John and I also checked out this store called "Latin American Imports" that I've been eyeing for months. I have a new favorite store ever :) It is so cool. Run by a husband and wife who remind me SO much of Ashley and Tait Yoder :) It had a great vibe and was filled with things from all of their explorations into the southern part of the continent...so much tile and bright colors and pottery and beads. The proprietors were talkative and kind, clad in loose fitting clothing with very chicana embroidery. We found this sun there and thought it was perfect for whatever I end up doing on the wall in the dining area...



And here is a closeup of the sun.



Lastly, here's a pix of the kitchen John is working on right now. I know you can't tell much from the shot, but he'll take more as they go so you can see the progress.



Baby is well...I'm going to see the midwives Wednesday, so we'll get the word on his size then. I've still been feeling pretty good, but am sleeping a lot less at night due to growing discomforts EVERYWHERE :)
The baby is big enough that we can see, as well as feel, my stomach moving from the outside :) Pretty weird! The little pokes are fun to watch but the long rolls are downright creepy :) Amazing to think of a little person rolling around in there.
Thankyou for all your prayers!

blessings,
John and Kristianna

Pictures, as promised below :)

Here is our new brown couch that resides in the den. Extremely comfortable.



This is the new red couch living in the living area...still slightly awkward furniture arrangement, but John and I sealed the fate of that room when we put a corner stove in!!! You live, you learn :) I'm still hunting for pix and rugs and another lamp....



Here is a shot of our birthing class. The woman in the middle is my friend and piano teacher, (since last fall,)and her husband. (He's on staff at IHOP and their baby is due in about 3 weeks.)



And this is how I felt most of the month.



When I was in PA in March, my grandma gave me these slippers for wearing around their house. Well...John likes to "borrow" them! Silliest thing I ever saw...



Here is the delectable (and very rich) cheesecake I made for Joanna's birthday. Yummy...I want more...


We'll have to take more interesting pictures :)

I had trouble with blogger posting pictures in the post below, so I'll have to try later!!!!

Well, dear family and friends and the random passer by...
Summer has definitely come to the greater Kansas City area. We've had some peculiar weather the past few months. Late snows. Floods. Really hot days followed by really cold days. But now I think things have evened out.
After living in NC most of my life, I have come to appreciate the slow Missouri spring. NC can be cold one day and 80 degrees the next, so it's nice to have long weeks of 60-70's to sort of prepare you for the coming months of humidity and mugginess and mosquitos and HOT. (Especially if you are going to be rather large and pregnant during this season!)

It's been a busy couple of months.
Joanna's time here with us is drawing to a close. Mostly I'm in denial about it and just pretending it isn't happening. She's been a gift from God her whole visit. A great friend, companion, and uncomplaining bondservant! I think she's had a pretty good time, too, doesn't really want to leave. I'm hoping we can get her back for a few weeks before her classes start...I'll just be so large then, it would be awesome to not be on my feet all day. Anyways. I don't know what I'll do without her. She'll be much missed. (For a while we weren't sure we'd even take her to the airport :)

Dad visited a few weeks ago. We had a great time and he did a BEAUTIFUL job of getting the crown molding up in the living area, den, and baby's room. Exquisite work, of course. He got to do EGS and FCF and had some prayer room time to boot. We also went down to the plaza and had a good time checking out the amazing architecture...if he sends me some pix I'll post 'em up. Oh yes, and he got to eat some CHING CHING CHINESE :)

Erin Gubitz visited Jo just over this last weekend. We enjoyed her company very much and I think she had a good time :) It was great that Jo had a friend here for her birthday...which was like an ongoing celebration - in good Cutrara style :) I'm so old. My baby sister is 18. (Not to mention John and I are coming up on our third year anniversary and are having a BABY! That'll make you feel like a grown up :)

The Dells moved from one street over and up to just across the street :) The back of their house is on one of the big field/play areas in our neighborhood, so we basically now just walk down the street and cut through the grass and there we are. How hilarious is that! It was a month earlier then they'd planned on moving, (due to some Izzy miscommunication!) but Hannah was amazing and packed the house in no time and everybody pitched in and got them moved. (Well, except me. I watched Mikey and made food :)

Johns job is going well. He's enjoyed it, though there are definitely days he comes home tired. Right now they're remodeling a kitchen; when they're finished we'll post up some pix. I think he pretty much learns a new skill every day, whether it be putting up sheet-rock or some fine aspect of wiring. God and His plans are so sneaky.

John and I graduated from our birthing class last night :) We had a good time and learned a lot. (Yes, despite my voracious reading of birthing books over the past months, I too learned a lot :) You can always learn more! We've hired the doula who taught the class and are really excited about that. She rocks and will be such amazing labor support. And John will too; he's completely taken to heart my desire for him to be present, engaged, and involved...I think we're about as prepared as you can be to have this baby. I know he'll remember the comfort measures we learned, and if he forgets, that's why we have the doula!
Actually, on the way home last night, we both started talking about doing a home birth. I'd planned on having the rest of our kids at home, after seeing how this labor went, but I don't see how being in a hospital is going to make my body labor any better for this first one. (Hospitals, statistically speaking, cause terrible labors.) We'll pray about it and see if our midwives can legally attend the birth in Missouri.

Speaking of the baby, two days ago I saw the midwives and I measured about a month behind in terms of size. From what they could feel, the baby also felt small. Which is a little odd, because I've been right on target or above average in terms of weight. (Then again, I wanted to say "I was a small baby and, well, have you seen my husband?!") They sent me home with instructions to amp up the protein and come back in two weeks. If I haven't gained enough weight to make them happy, they want to do a sonogram. The past month has been hard...I've been exhausted constantly and no matter how much I eat (which is TONS) I still feel tired. It seemed like maybe my body has been having trouble absorbing nutrients. Well, mom and Arielle have been praying and I went to the pre-natal prayer at IHOP yesterday morning...I'd rather God fix this now! So far, A GOOD REPORT! Yesterday I felt great and only ate about five solid meals...as opposed to seven or eight. The difference was that I felt like the food actually LASTED in my body and gave me strength. (Yay!) Also, I only got up about five times last night (instead of 7 or 8) and I actually slept a stretch of 3 1/2 hours this morning!!!!!! That is so amazing for me! (I usually sleep no more then 2 hours at a time due to having to pee or my hips aching or being uncomfortable.) So anyways. Keep praying and praise God!

We're finishing up the little things here and there around the house and I think we'll be getting the garage doors replaced soon. It wasn't a project we wanted to do, but the doors are so busted and dysfunctional we don't have much of a choice. (I almost got my head chopped off by them the other day.) I think we'll have the house finished by the time our johnbaby arrives, but we'll see! My garden is doing ok...growing things here is a whole different world then NC.

My Forerunner Music Academy audition is next Thursday...prayer appreciated :) After meeting with a voice teacher I feel pretty good about it, but it's still been a while since I've sung in front of people. So we'll see how that goes and what happens after!

Things are moving here. Not at the rate we'd like, but they're moving. God has us where He intended for us to be and what He does with us while we're here is up to Him. We are grateful, despite how ancy or hemmed in we might sometime feel :)

love to all,
Kristianna, John, and johnbaby

As if the post isn't long enough...PICTURES!!!!

Mikey in his cuteness.


Joanna in her birthday outfit. (The cape is a gift from Izzy...powerpuff girls, I think. A beachtowel he never used or something :) She wore it all day...and to the movie theater to see "Shrek3"



Here is a small piece of the ongoing, ALMOST finished amazing Joart wall in the baby's room.



And here we have a common sight in the morning between the hours of 8-12...

Family and Friends, we are proud to present the long awaited unveiling of "Baby Daley in-utero!"
(Don't get too weepy, you guys :)

The sonogram was definitely a crazy experience. Our little guy was just chilling in there, taking a little nap, totally unaware of the waves of emotional hysteria he was creating just a few feet away :) Watching him turn his head was amazing. Seeing his little skeleton face and eyes was absoutely surreal. And watching his heart beat was off the charts :) For a while we didn't think we'd be able to know the gender...he was sitting with his long skinny legs tucked up to his chin, (JUST LIKE JOHN!) and no matter how much the technician poked my belly and shook it, the little guy just wouldn't move! He seemed to be being slightly modest for his first viewing by family and friends; (he had the umbilical cord neatly tucked between his legs :) Well, finally he decided to take a long stretch and we
were able to get a clear shot.
I don't think we were surprised to discover we were having a boy...just sort of amazed it was really a little human in there!
So, without further adieu, our little Cutrara-Daley offspring....

Here is a shot of his little face...I think he looks slightly startled! It's amazing how clearly you can see his eyes.





Here was the big stretch, (his head is on the right) that helped us to finally determine the gender. BTW, this is John's favorite shot of the baby...I think he likes the chill way the little guy is just sort of leaning back. Very John.




This is probably my favorite one :) (Kristi) I love the long skinny legs (on the left) and the big feet. You can totally see his eye, nose, lips and chin, if you look at his face on the right.




And finally, It's a boy! (The picture is labeled, which helps...but to orient you, the baby is horizontal and his foot and leg are sort of in the foreground.)



Pretty exciting!
We were bummed that our vhs didn't turn out - we were going to make dvd's of it and send it to everybody. So, you'll just have to satisfy yourselves with the pix until the little guy makes his appearance in September! (or August...whenever he decides to show up!) Yay baby!

love to you all,
John and Kristianna

For those who don't do Myspace, etc, here are a few Preggo pictures.
Familial updates will follow later :)
I'm 19 weeks and...well...kind of large.