Raising Brooklyn

You Tube!!

2010-12-01T11:46:00.002-05:00

Summer has come and gone....

2010-11-14T08:32:00.000-05:00

Jackson and I are getting ready for our big trip to Seattle tomorrow for Thanksgiving. Really looking forward to seeing my family, as usual. But my Dad had back surgery in September so I am super anxious to see him and see his progress!
Summer was great! It was really, really hot and seemed like it lasted forever, until it was over. I did my first sprint triathlon, we moved, we got a car....it was busy!
We also just took a trip with some friends to Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and had a blast. They also have a little boy Jackson's age and it was so great to have the boys to play with one another! All we had to do is supervise really.
Here are some photos of the past few months...

Spring has Sprung!!

2010-03-22T13:38:00.001-04:00

The East Coast enjoyed some fabulous weather in the last week. We were included! Jackson and I have been flying solo since last Wednesday and have taken advantage of the beautiful sunshine and hung out in the many parks in our neighborhood. Along with us was the entire neighborhood!! But, that made it all the more fun for Jackson as he had so many kids to play with and people to watch! I had him going both in the mornings before nap time and then again in the afternoon until it was time to take a much needed bath. We played in dirt, collected rocks, tried to climb trees, ran, ran, ran, and even pushed strollers and trikes along the way. We had a fabulous time.
Today the weather has changed....and I think we are all a little grateful for the break. Jackson has been relaxing and eating most of the morning. We are headed to the library this afternoon for some indoor fun!

This is a big tree the boys hung out at a lot this week. Many good times!!

Jackson got this hat while we were in Mexico last November. I put it on him last Wednesday and he never took it off while we were outside! What a good boy!

~crystal

Seattle Danskin Triathlon 2010

2010-03-16T12:30:00.000-04:00

Call me crazy....!
I just signed up to do the Danskin Sprint Tri in Seattle on Aug. 15th! My mom has done it the past two years and I decided to do it this year in support of my Aunt PJ, who is a breast cancer survivor and currently going through her 6 week course of radiation. It was too hard to try to do it last year with Jackson being so little, but this is the year!! I have already downloaded my 11 week sprint tri training schedule, told my personal trainer of my intentions, and am now beginning to mentally prepare for this adventure. It is finally getting nicer outside and will allow me to do some outdoor training pretty soon!! We even bought a jogging stroller so I can include Jackson in my training routine! I am so excited to do this!!!! Excited to support women, excited to support my Aunt, excited to do this with my Mom, excited to get back into decent shape, excited for all of it!!!
~crystal

Babysitting Coop night aka Xbox night

2010-03-12T23:25:00.000-05:00

I am babysitting for a another family in our neighborhood. We are a part of a babysitting coop which allows us to go out for date nights and what not without having to pay $15/hour for a sitter. Our kids are usually asleep when we leave anyways so it turns out to be a nice quiet evening for the parent doing the babysitting. I usually always go and do the sitting for our family and Anthony loves it! He started something with a couple of other dads a few sessions ago....the guys come over and play XBox! It is a win, win situation for us!! We are taking advantage of the coop on Sunday and having a date night! Possibly dinner and a movie??? We will have to see what is playing.....
Jackson is feeling pretty much back to normal, thank goodness!!
On a side note, Friday night television sucks! I mean how many channels on cable and nothing good on??? Kinda pathetic...
~crystal

Ahh....a better night!

2010-03-11T11:52:00.000-05:00

Jackson slept pretty darn good last night and is back to drinking more liquids. I think we are on the mend!! Just in time for the big rain to hit tonight...ugh!
He has a new obsession....The Starfall ABC song. We have to watch it about 100 times a day! He just sits in the chair at the desk and watches it over and over again! Too cute! He will be singing his ABC's in no time!
My congestion is getting better. But, I have to admit, I am a bit of an Afrin junkie! Don't know how I would have gotten through the past week without it! Too hard to be sick and take care of a sick baby. Use any and all weapons to combat sickness is what I say.
I am sure missing my other moms and babies this week. We really like hanging out with them and getting in some social activities. Jackson has become such a social toddler, talking up a storm. I tell him all the time that I just don't speak 'Jackson'. Thank goodness for sign language, we use it so much and makes our lives WAY less frustrating!
~crystal

Need Sleep....

2010-03-10T20:45:00.000-05:00

Jackson has been sick for the past 5 days....fever, severe congestion, all around crankiness. Sleep has been an issue for all of us as well. I kept the aerobed up in his room that Ramah used last week so that I could try to keep Jackson's cries contained and not wake up Anthony. No such luck. Not possible in this 796 square foot apartment. Yes, we had to measure for tax purposes the other day. Anyways....of course he takes a 3 hour nap today, in the middle of the day, when Anthony is at work and I have a laundry list of things to do. Showering one of them! I am so ready for bed I can hardly stand it. But I also want to see Anthony when he gets home...dilemma. I am giving it another 20 minutes and then I am calling it quits...who knows how long he will sleep??? or how many other times he is going to wake up tonight??? What is it they say....sleep when your baby sleeps!
~crystal

New Stoller!!! Ready for Spring!!

2010-03-10T20:38:00.000-05:00

So we got a new stroller....a jogging stroller! We are READY for Spring!! Can't wait for Spring!! Did I say we are ready for Spring???

~crystal

Where have the last 12 months gone?

2010-03-10T20:36:00.001-05:00

So we celebrated Jackson's first birthday, and Baylee's (my neice) eighth birthday on Dec. 20th in Arlington, Wa. It was a family affair and we all had a great time. Anthony's parents flew out from Florida and came with his Aunt Brenda and Uncle John. There were the usual suspects from my side...and we all had a great time!
We had arrived on that Friday before and just missed the first snow storm NYC was to see this winter...we have had 2 more major snow storms since so I don't feel 'left out' of the snow storms.

So then January came and went....we had our first visit to the ER for a cut above Jackon's right eye, then we all had the stomach flu. It was quite a month.
February was a whirl wind as well. We had visitors, Janelle and Ramah, went to a black tie event, all got sick with some sort of cold/flu again! Jackson is still getting over whatever he has. The doctor today says it is a 'throat infection' that no antibiotics will get rid of....just time....and mommy's love!
~crystal

Busy October

2009-10-10T17:27:00.001-04:00

Ramah came into town on Wednesday and we have had some fun! Today we left Jackson and Anthony to have some 'dude' time while we did a little shopping!!

Thanks Ray Ray!
~crystal

movin' boxes

2009-10-10T17:23:00.001-04:00

He will walk all over the place as long as he has an aid. He is busy, busy, busy!

first mess

2009-10-10T17:18:00.001-04:00

babyjackdav

2009-10-03T16:24:00.000-04:00

I entered Jackson in a Gap Casting Call....
go and vote!! You can vote once every 24 hours....let's see how many votes we can get for him!!!
~crystal

http://family.go.com/gapcastingcall/entries/babyjackdav/

Gap Casting Call

pics from Gamma's visit

2009-10-02T12:50:00.000-04:00

Time flies....

2009-10-02T12:29:00.000-04:00

My mom was here the past two weeks and boy did we have fun! She and Jackson shared a room and every morning when he woke up they would cuddle in bed for up to 45 minutes! He sure does love his Gamma. I think he truly feels like she is just an extension of me. So comfortable and never even missed me when I was gone! The next day he was pretty clingy and didn't want me to even leave the room, but while I was gone he was happy and loved.
We took several trips into the city, which tested my little guy, but he was a champ!
I love having my mom close by....
I have some photos that I will post shortly.
~crystal

2009-09-18T12:05:00.000-04:00

Jackson loves the water!! This was taken on Labor Day at a friend's house out in New Jersey. This was Jackson's second time in the pool that day....and just couldn't get enough!! Luckily the pool was heated so it was like one huge bath!!

You Tube!

2009-09-09T15:53:00.000-04:00

This is my first You Tube video!! I will use this from now on as it seems like it is the highest quality and most user friendly of all the programs thus far. Enjoy!

~crystal

Fall playgroup

2009-09-08T12:22:00.001-04:00

We have decided to join a new playgroup in the neighborhood this fall. I am worried about not having enough to do with my busy boy during the long, cold fall and winter. We won't be able to just head to the playground or park in between naps anymore. We are going to have to find things to do indoor, whether it is a playdate with one of his buddies, or an organized playgroup like the one at the Clinton Hill Coop School. We will be going 2 days a week for the fall session and if we need more I can add a day or two in the spring session. We are also going to do the fall session of Music Together. Jackson absolutely loves this and we can't wait to start the next session on Sept. 24th. I think they are having a free trial class if anyone is interested!!! I highly recommend it!!

~crystal

oH YEAH.....happy birthday Anthony!! We love you!!

Nearing Summer's End...Happy Labor Day!

2009-09-06T11:35:00.000-04:00

As we are nearing the end of another East Coast summer, we are just beginning the 1st year birthday parties. All of Jackson's friends are turning 1 in the next few months. His buddy Tenzin had his party in Fort Greene park yesterday and it was a very fun gathering of mommies, daddies, and buddies! A fellow mom and I got to talking and I fell in heart with the blanket she had for her and her little girl. I highly recommend it! Check it out for next summer maybe....Go Baby.
~crystal

Tunnel Park

2009-09-01T16:38:00.005-04:00

Since Jackson is crawling and semi-walking (hold on to my hands as I hunch over) it is necessary to get out of the apartment so he can expel some energy. We like the 'tunnel' park (corner of Waverly and Lafayette) as it has lots to crawl around on and lots of baby swings. It tends to be very busy, but worth it in the end. I took the camera with us today in hopes of catching him on the move...I was not disappointed!

The toy that isn't a toy

2009-09-01T12:45:00.001-04:00

Tupperware....plastic Gladware...anything that he can't break is great to play with in the kitchen. He thinks he is getting away with something by even being in the kitchen and is happy to just open and shut the door. It provided about 15 minutes of entertainment though and that is a long time these days.
I have set aside this cupboard just for him to get into...the others are OFF limits!
~crystal

Fall is in the air

2009-08-31T20:35:00.001-04:00

Today was the first day that really felt like fall is on its way. I actually have the windows open and the a/c off!
Jackson and I went to the 'tunnel' park this afternoon and he actually crawled all over the place and made a new friend. He is soooo social! I think he could make friends with a rock!
We had a great weekend, even with a lot of rain on Saturday. I went to brunch with a fellow mom, and friend, Karen at Olea. It was delicious. We decided to make our way to Habana Outpost for an afternoon mojito after brunch. It was a glorious day and I had hours to myself!! Jackson and Anthony had some good quality 'dude' time and everyone was in one piece and happy when I got home. So looking forward to next weekend...already!
~crystal

Better late than never!

2009-08-28T16:33:00.001-04:00

On Wednesday Jackson and I decided to try out the Clermont Pool...it was a hot day and I have been anxious to get him in a pool. It was awesome! You would have thought the kid had been in the pool every day of the summer. He was very comfortable in the water and splashed his way to a wonderful 12 hour night sleep!! We went back yesterday too even though it wasn't quite as warm out. Today it is raining out so needless to say we are not going to the pool. My friend, and fellow mom, Betsy talked me into trying it out. She is also a fellow blogger, http://mommyftw.com.
more soon....
~crystal

First game

2009-08-28T16:28:00.001-04:00

Last Sunday we took Jackson to his first baseball game! Anthony and I LOVE baseball and thought a trip to the new Citifield would be a great experience for us. He was a trooper and the ballpark is amazing! It honestly reminds me of Safeco in many, many ways. Love it!!

I am back.....

2009-08-28T16:12:00.001-04:00

I am so, so sorry. I didn't call, I didn't write, I didn't even give a reason for my extended departure. Honestly, life was busy. Not too busy, but busy. And, that darn Facebook really sucked a lot of my time. But not to worry, I am back! And I plan to write about our daily adventures!
Jackson is a very busy 8 month old! He has been crawling since July 4th and never looked back! We have been very busy making new friends....for both Jackson and myself! It has been nice to connect with other moms in the neighborhood. Our nap schedules don't always jive, but we all make a very big effort to get the boys together and have some adult conversation.
This morning/after morning nap we took the bus to Bed-Stuy and took a tour of the YMCA there. It is great!! Jackson and I are going to join with our friends Karen, Eddie, and Tenzin (hopefully Carlos, Stace, and Mateo too)!! I can't wait to start doing something for myself again. Now that Jackson can play on his own or with other kids it will be a lot easier to leave him in the child care center at the Y and go work out! We also have a goal of getting in their pool quite a bit. Gotta get ready for Mexico!!!
more soon...
~crystal

Wow...too long between posts...

2009-04-20T15:08:00.003-04:00

I am so sorry it has been so long since my last post....
We spent most of the month of March at my parent's house just north of Seattle. It was so great to spend so much time with my family and friends. Great for me, but even better for Jackson to meet and get to know my side of the family. So much love and support....very missed now that we are back in Brooklyn.
Jackson has changed so much. Today is his 4 month birthday and he is a very vocal baby! Right now he is vocalizing as he is pooing! Very funny. He has also learned how to play and smiles and laughs pretty much all day. There are only a few things that really make him angry...boredom is one of them. We are always doing something new as his attention span is about 5 to 10 minutes if we are lucky!
I will make a new slide show of pics, but most of them are up on my facebook page as well as my picassa.
http://picasaweb.google.com/cdavenport0126
Again, sorry for the long span of time between posts...I promise I will do better!
~crystal
PS...
congrats to my cousin Barb and her husband Don on their new arrival, Jillian Ruth!!! Welcome!!

All smiles!

2009-02-02T12:48:00.003-05:00

Jackson has quite a smile on him! And it makes my heart melt every time he does it!! We had a busy weekend...Friday we ventured up to the Upper West Side to hang out with some friends and their little baby girl, Sofia, who is 3 weeks older than Jackson. Saturday we had some friends over to meet our little guy, and then on Sunday Steve, Lara, Sergei, and Amanda came over to watch the Super Bowl. Jackson was very social and handled things pretty darn well.
Ramah is coming next Monday for a week long visit...she is very excited as she didn't get any Jackson time in December as he was 2 weeks late! Don't worry Auntie Ramah...you will get lots of baby time!!! She volunteered to babysit for us on Valentine's Day so Anthony and I can have some alone time and a nice sit down dinner without the little one crying in on of our ears!

Happy Monday to all...have a great week! Baby is crying so I must go....
~crystal

President Barack Obama!

2009-01-22T09:05:00.003-05:00

What a day!! Tuesday was an amazing day for America! Anthony took the day off from work to spend it with Jackson and I watching the inauguration events. We took Jackson to a friends house 2 blocks away and he was very well behaved! Our friend Stacey made an Obama onsie for him to wear along side his BFF Mateo. Mateo is about 6 weeks older than Jackson and we are sure they will be best buds.

Jackson and I took a little field trip together yesterday...we went to the bakery down the street and the grocery store. It went well as he just sleeps whenever we put him in the Moby wrap. I think we will venture out again today, I need to get out and walk a little every day as I just get too bored staying in the apartment every day now that I am feeling better. I might head into Crate and Barrel today so they can see him. It will be Jackson's first subway ride! I will try to take a photo of us traveling underground!!

~crystal

Bath time!

2009-01-19T17:28:00.003-05:00

So Jackson seems to like bath time! What a relief as we were nervous that we would have a screaming baby on our hands when it came to getting clean! He is officially 4 weeks old and we are going to his 1 month check up tomorrow. I am anxious to see how much weight he has gained...he now has quite a double chin and is starting to get some rolls in his arms and legs so I know he is eating well!

He has also learned to enjoy some alone time in his swing. I am very grateful for that!! Sleeping in his bassinet is still a bit sketchy. Sometimes he stays asleep...other times he fights it and just wants to sleep in our arms. I have decided not to fight this and hold him as I know it will be short lived. He is changing every day and I am really trying to take in every moment with him. Our days and nights are getting easier...or I am just getting used to being sleep deprived...whatever works. His restless and noisy evenings are getting better and we have found things that calm him down. Anthony hasn't had to put in his i pod while holding a screaming baby for a couple of weeks now.

I sure miss my mom though...We definitely aren't eating as well with her gone and I miss having that extra set of hands to hold him or change him. I also miss the adult conversation...i mean Jackson is a good listener, but not much of a talker!

We are all set to watch the inauguration tomorrow! We will be starting tonight I am sure watching MSNBC and their coverage of the events. I know Anthony wishes he could have been there, but we will do our best to take in as much as we can from home with our son.

~crystal

Meet Jackson Miles Davenport

2008-12-27T19:49:00.003-05:00

He was born on December 20th at 12:32 am via C-section. It was a long day...but well worth the wait!

He is perfect in every way!! Amazing how much love a mother can have for their child...it overwhelms me.

He weighed in at 7 lbs 14 oz and 20.5 inches long!! He has the longest fingers I have ever seen along with the flattest feet (thanks Dad!).

More later....must sleep....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

~crystal

19th or 20th!!

2008-12-18T16:43:00.004-05:00

I went to the doctor again today to check on my amniotic fluid levels and all is good with Jackson. He was happy and had lots of good movement during the sonogram.

Sooo.....

We will be going to the hospital either tonight or tomorrow morning for induction!! My doctor begins her on-call duty tonight and is going to call us from the hospital to let us know if we should come in tonight, if it isn't too busy and there is a bed for us, or tomorrow morning for sure at 6 am!! Either way, Jackson will be here within the next 24 hours!! We are tired of this waiting and are just going to force him out!! He just doesn't know how good it will be in the outside world yet...

Wish us luck!

~crystal

The waiting game

2008-12-13T15:39:00.003-05:00

40 weeks and 6 days....and Jackson has not made his debut. We are all running out of patience here and getting a little cabin fever. 5 people in our 2 bedroom/1 bathroom apartment is a tight squeeze, but we are making due. The moms are being very adventurous and making it into the city the last few days sans me or Anthony. Today they are with Anthony in the city going to lots of places that i just wouldn't be able to get to in my state. All four of us ladies did go for a nice walk yesterday morning to try to get me to go into labor. We walked all around our neighborhood for a bit making it 1.5 miles! I was tired after that!! But today I am exhausted after doing something everyday for the past week and just staying in the house. Took a nice nap and did some housework. Ramah is going to make her famous molasses cookies now!! Yum!!! Can't get enough dessert right now!!!

I did acupuncture 3 times in the past week and at my doctor's appointment on Wednesday I had dilated to 3!!! So he is making his way, just on his time and at his speed....just like a Davenport!! We will let you all know when he arrives just as soon as we can. Please send us all of your good, fast, healthy, labor vibes as we are well prepared and ready to go at a moments notice!

~crystal

I made it!!!

2008-12-08T17:17:00.005-05:00

It has been a long 40 weeks, but I made it! Now with my mom, Anthony's mom, and Ramah here I am ready to get this show on the road!

I have beautiful toes and nails as we just got back from getting a mani and pedi. It was a nice treat to have my hands and feet massaged!!

Yes, this is me. Ramah wanted to take some photos of my bear belly and I said I would only post something without my face.

I am going to have one more acupuncture session tomorrow morning and then that is it. No more after that. I will just have my doctor do something on Wednesday for crying out loud! But as I have been reminded, today is not over yet!! I still have until midnight to have this baby on my due date!! I am not holding my breath though...

I will keep you all posted!

~crystal

Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock....

2008-12-04T20:22:00.004-05:00

So my mom told me maybe I should measure my belly....that was incredibly depressing! I couldn't believe my eyes!! 46 inches around my belly button!!! Wowser! This kid is cooked and ready to come on out!! I had a sonogram yesterday....of course these are usually off....thank goodness! Cuz the technician proceeded to tell me that Jackson has supposedly gained 3 pounds in the last month, which puts him at 8 pounds 11 ounces!!!!!!!!!!!! What????????? Just about then I fell off the table and she backed up and said that he may only way 7 pounds 11 ounces and the measurements can be up to a pound off. Was she just trying to prepare me for the biggest baby possible?? Or is he really that big??? Talk about panic attack!!!
I left that doctor appointment and went to my weekly appointment with Dr. White where she then told me that I didn't really have much cervical change....so she stripped my membranes and I went for a long walk. She recommended acupuncture so I am doing that tomorrow morning at 10 am. I am sure I am the one holding up the show now...waiting for my mom and Ramah to get here and then all hell is going to break loose! Who knows...I don't even think Jackson knows.
We will keep you posted!!! Pun intended...

~crystal

One week to go....

2008-12-01T18:03:00.004-05:00

Wow...I can't believe it is December 1st already...time flies when you are pregnant!!! We are ready and waiting for Jackson. He seems to be on his own schedule. I just have to wait until Saturday when my mom and Ramah arrive. Then all will be right with the world and Jackson can come on out! Think I might try some acupuncture on Friday. I will see if I have made any progress on Wednesday and then I will decide what to do. These contractions have got to be making an impact! They just have to! I am having more and more all the time....inconsistent, but persistent.
We had a nice Thanksgiving weekend with Anthony's family. We went to brunch in Manhattan at a place in Lincoln Center where we could see the parade from indoors. It was a long brunch, but the food was great. We then headed back to our place to watch football and prepare dinner. I just had to warm up the food as we purchased our Thanksgiving dinner from Whole Foods this year. I just couldn't see how I was going to prepare that big of a meal for all 8 of us being 9 months pregnant. It was decent. I have really high standards when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner though....I blame my father! Next year I will get back to making my own stuffing and candied sweet potatoes....yummy!!!!
I will be spending this last week or so trying to relax and rest up as much as possible, while at the same time keeping my mind and hands busy as waiting for my mom to get here is nearly killing me!! Wish me luck....

~crystal

Boy, Oh Boy!

2008-11-20T20:41:00.003-05:00

Well, only about 2 and a half weeks to go! Starting to freak out a bit at the idea of becoming a parent...Can't really believe there is a little guy inside of me that will soon be out!! And don't get me started on that part. We took some birthing classes and a tour of the hospital this month. Both were informative and eye opening! Anthony has been practicing his massage techniques, I downloaded some meditation music, and have started to pack my hospital bag. But, with my memory these days I am sure I will forget one or more of these items.

Baby Jackson has dropped and is getting ready for his big appearance...I am not so sure I am ready, but do I have a choice?? This is all very real lately....

Got to see his face in a sonogram yesterday. It was very fuzzy and his hand was in front of it for most of the time. Maybe we have a thumb sucker!?!?

It is hard for me to believe that Thanksgiving is next week already! Time flies...when you are 8+ months pregnant and waddling down the sidewalk!

~crystal

Stuff I never knew existed...

2008-11-14T17:07:00.003-05:00

If you thought that the wedding industry was a complete racket, you can't imagine the number of ways that the baby industry can separate you from your hard-earned money. Every day I learn about a new item that I didn't know existed, but would fail miserably as a parent and human being if I didn't own two of them. Babies - the new hot accessory.

For example, they have baby wipe warmers. When I was a baby I don't think they had baby wipes, now they have warmers for the wipes. There are devices to help your child learn to walk, head and back sleep positioners (even though newborns can't actually roll over), bottle sterilizers (does it matter if the bottle is sterile if the baby is putting any and everything in their mouths?), pee pee tee pees for baby boys. The list goes on an on.

Our first trip to Babies R Us was an eye opening experience. There is an entire wall dedicated to baby slings, fancy stroller displays that resembled a new car showroom floor and every sort of gadget that I've never heard of.

Have I found the strength to fight against this? Heck no, I don't want to be a failure as a Dad, so I've got to have my baby pimped out in Adidas shoes and Tony Hawk style kneepads to protect his knees while crawling across the floor. And yes, I have already paid more for a t-shirt that the kid will probably wear once before outgrowing than I did for my last pair of shoes. So that's how it's become a $7 billion dollar a year industry!

Trick or Treat!!

2008-11-06T18:15:00.004-05:00

Well, I am not usually one to get dressed up on Halloween, but this year I had a great idea and friends to go out with. We had some friends in town from Arizona, and even though Anthony was home sick I braved the crowds of the city and hung out for a bit. It took me an hour or so to paint on my 8 ball and then an hour or so dry time. I wish I could take credit for the idea, but I found it online.

Thanks Amanda, Kelly, Sergei, and Mike for a great evening out!!!

~crystal

Crossing the color line....finally!

2008-11-05T21:40:00.004-05:00

YES WE DID!!!

Our neighborhood erupted in celebration as did the rest of America!! I was overcome with such emotion, it really surprised me. Maybe it is the idea of progress. Maybe it is the idea of equality among men. Maybe it is the FACT that our son, Jackson, will now grow up in a world where he knows now boundaries, that anything is possible. As a mother, nothing made me happier at that moment.

It took us nearly 3 hours to vote yesterday morning, but it was well worth the wait and experience. I have a horrible head cold right now and I am sure I managed the whole voting event on pure adrenaline! It was a day Anthony and I will never forget and will pass on to our son as he will be directly affected by the outcome of events of the day.

Dr. Henry Louis Gates wrote a great article that states what I feel so much more eloquently than I ever could. http://http//www.theroot.com/id/48731?GT1=38002 Thank you to all of you who made this day possible...those of older generations who struggled through the Civil Rights movement and those of today with hope for a change. Thank you, not only for me and my family, but for the future generations to come.

Enjoy!

~crystal

Busy Weekend...

2008-10-28T10:12:00.010-04:00

We had a wonderful time with family and friends this weekend. Our friends Lara and Steve hosted a baby shower for us on Saturday afternoon/evening and it was really great!! Great friends, great food, great presents.... Lara made the deliciously wonderful 'J' cookies you see above. I couldn't stop eating them!!!

Thank you to all who attended as the weather was yucky that day!! And thank you to all of you who gave us such wonderful gifts!! They are all so much appreciated!!! The clothes are adorable, the wipes are much needed, the pee pee tee-pee http://http://www.bebabean.com/products/pptp.aspx is oh so clever...thank you to all!

On Sunday we got up early to go and watch Anthony finish his 5 mile race in Central Park. The weather had cleared and it was a beautiful day. We got there just in time to see him finish and he had a great time running in the race. He loves running in Central Park! I am so proud of him! He has really worked hard at getting back into shape and it has totally paid off as he has lost weight and is very happy with his results.

~crystal

REMINDER!!!! We need CHANGE!!

2008-10-23T17:39:00.003-04:00

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE...

GO AND VOTE!!! I don't care who you vote for, well maybe a little, but go exercise your right to vote. Many of you out there are able to vote now by absentee or at the polls and you should take advantage of this extra time you are lucky enough to have. Anthony and I are ready to wait all day in line if we have to on Nov. 4th as we aren't lucky enough to have the early voting in NY.

We will be having a few friends over to watch the results come in so if any of you West Coasters want to chat with us about politics feel free to call or email us!!

~crystal

Building a Baby

2008-10-16T15:34:00.002-04:00

This morning we had our last sonogram at 32 weeks and 4 days. It was great to get confirmation that Jackson is right on track and in the right position already!! He is locked and loaded!! He is measuring perfectly at just a smidge over 4 pounds which will make him a nice and healthy 7-8 pound baby at full term. It was literally only a 5 minute appointment with the Doctor, but nice to hear the things he had to say. He even said he was in the right position for an 'easy' delivery...what is that exactly??? Is there such a thing??? I can only hope!!
~crystal

Last getaway

2008-10-13T10:44:00.003-04:00

Anthony and I ventured down to Washington DC for a few days away together before Jackson's arrival. We went to museums, memorials, and toured the DC area. On Friday night we had dinner with Sharon and Matt, who had just flown in, and our old neighbor Christina. We had a great time catching up and enjoying a nice meal in Georgetown. We ran into the wedding party and family at the same restaurant, what a coincidence!! Saturday morning Christina drove us out to Reston, VA to the home where Anthony spent 7 of his childhood years. We actually were able to meet the owners and they invited us in for a tour of the house and tea! It was really nice for Anthony to visit this home as he has the most happy childhood memories there. Saturday night was the wedding and it was FABULOUS!! Small, intimate, warm and loving.

I am very tired after an exhausting 10 days or so. I will be trying to catch up on rest this week, but as the weeks are dwindling away before Jackson's arrival, there is much to be done!!

~crystal

Baby's First Home!

2008-10-07T09:47:00.003-04:00

We made it! We moved this week and have nearly settled in completely!! It was a struggle, but together, and with movers, we made it!! We only moved about 5 or 6 blocks away and stayed in the same neighborhood...we just needed to cut some expenses and this was the biggest way to do that. We will miss all of the amenities of our old building, but we really feel this is the best for us as it will enable me to stay home longer with Jackson before finding a real job again. Home is where your heart is and our heart is here as this will be the home we first bring Jackson!!
All that is really left is putting out all of the accessories and hanging stuff on the walls. But I am one of those people that needs to stare at the blank walls for a few days and determine what would really look good there. We have this huge loft space above the kitchen that has proven to be worth its weight in gold as far as keeping baby stuff and random stuff we hardly use up and out of the way!! Eventually we will be putting a bed up there for those brave soldiers who want to climb up to the hideaway. But for now, and until Jackson is ready for his crib, we will keep our queen size bed in his bedroom for guests.
New Address:
Davenport's
506 Clinton Avenue Apt.
Brooklyn, NY 1128

~crystal

What's in a Name?

2008-10-01T17:35:00.003-04:00

So Crystal and I have decided to name our child Jackson Miles Davenport(more on that later). In the meantime I thought that I would share the wonderful name suggestions that we have received. The naming contest is over, but we'd love to hear your suggestions to add to the following list of suggested names:

Barack Obama Davenport
Magglio Sergei Chauncey Manders (Very long story)
George Bush Sucks Davenport (actually the most suggested name)
Jay-Z Hova Davenport
Jimi Hendrix Purple Haze Davenport
Miles Davis Coltrane Davenport
Jazzycougar Davenport
Thelonious Brooklyn Davenport
Any others???

How did we come up with Jackson Miles you ask? My Mother's family is a group of very wonderful individuals. They are a very spiritual, loving and family-oriented group of people. At the family reunions, there are always new 'family' members consisting of beloved neighbors and practically people that they met on the street and adopted. My Mother's maiden name? Jackson, of course. We really liked the idea of honoring the spirit of the family and hope that our son has as much love in his heart as the people he is named after. And most importantly Crystal liked the name. As far as the Miles part, those who know me can recognize the jazz God who shared this name and is among the coolest dudes to ever walk the planet Earth. I fully expect Jackson to wear dark shades inside, snap along to jazz beats and be the coolest kid around - by the time he's 2 with this name.

Nesting

2008-09-26T18:59:00.006-04:00

This is my new project...not this exact sweater as the one I am making for Jackson is a brown/green/blue yarn. But how cute is this?? A friend at work was making it in a pale yellow for her sister and I fell in love with it. And, what better time to start a nesting project than in my 3rd trimester!! I may have bitten off more than I can chew as I have not knitted anything but scarves and this is requiring me to actually watch knitting videos to learn how to cast on extra, bind off in the middle of a row, the yarn over method, and other new stitches! I will take a photo once it starts to resemble a sweater!

Jackson has sure been making his presence known in the past 4 weeks. Today's kicks and movements were felt on both sides of my belly, like he was sideways in there! Totally weird sensation!! And sometimes it takes my breath away or even tickles my sides. At my doctor visit yesterday I learned I have a very long torso with a low pelvis which means I will just carry my babies low. I also lost 1 pound!! So I have a total weight gain of only 7 pounds in nearly 7 months which thrills me!! All the easier to come off in the end and has made this pregnancy pretty easy to manage as far as aches, pains, heart burn, and so forth. Although if you were to ask me to guess how much weight I have gained it feels like 40!! The entire 7 lbs. are just so not evenly distributed...all in front which has thrown off my balance more than once. It is also harder and harder to sit up or use my stomach muscles to do much of anything. I gave up on the 'abs of steel' a long time ago!! My core exercise consists of the numerous trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night! I have a new appreciation for those childhood toys The Rollie Pollies.

~crystal

3 years and counting!!!

2008-09-25T10:36:00.003-04:00

Anthony and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary yesterday! We decided to splurge and go into Manhattan for dinner...we always worry about doing this as we have such great restaurants right here in Brooklyn, but figured it will be a while before we get to go to the city for a nice dinner sans kids. We went to Bar Americain, www.baramericain.com, a Bobby Flay establishment and it was fantastic!! It was a recommendation of one of my co-workers and worth the trip to midtown. Such delicious food...I can't wait to eat my leftovers today!!

I am off to the doctor again today...I have started going every 2 weeks now for my routine measuring as I am now well into the 3rd trimester. Yikes!!

~crystal

Our last Yankees game of 2008

2008-09-17T11:41:00.003-04:00

We went to the Yankees vs. Chicago White Sox game last night and it was bitter sweet as it was the last game we would attend at the old Yankee Stadium. It was weird walking through the corridors of the stadium knowing it would be demolished...there is so much history! But I must say, the new stadium will be so nice! Better food, better bathrooms, better corridors...I know that the Kingdome is not even in the same category as Yankee Stadium, but let me tell you how nice Safeco is in comparison!! The fans will love going to a new ballpark and new history will be made!
The evening started off in disappointment. Anthony really wanted to get to monument park and we arrived early so we could see it...well, I guess getting there at 5:30 wasn't early enough as the line was so long they had to close monument park. Then we had a nasty fan sitting right behind me and after about 45 minutes of me biting my tongue I had enough, turned around, and started arguing with this guy! Me! Yelling at a Yankee fan! I am pretty sure it was the pregnancy hormones, but I just couldn't let him get away with talking like he was about other people sitting around us, including Anthony and the others in our group of 4. This guy was so rude...My heart was beating out of my chest with anger so I switched seats with our friend Yocari to get me as far away from this guy as possible. I was really afraid of what I was going to do! Luckily I was with 3 other good sized men who had my back, but I really wanted to fight this battle myself for as long as I could. I soon let it go and asked him to do the same, which he didn't, and soon left his seats never to return!! I felt a slight sense of victory, I must say. Maybe it was also the fact that there was a young girl, probably 11 or 12, sitting right next to me listening to this guy. I just kept thinking, what if this was my child listening to this obnoxious guy?? I have always been protective of young children, but my maternal instinct has kicked into overdrive!! Welcome to the 3rd trimester I guess!!

~crystal

Birthday Wishes

2008-09-10T17:55:00.003-04:00

We had a fabulous weekend with my Aunt PJ and Uncle Lyle. We went to dinner and a show (Mama Mia!) on Saturday night, we gave them the local tour of Brooklyn on Sunday, and on Monday (Anthony's birthday) we were able to watch Frontier Bank ring the opening bell for the NASDAQ! It was really, really cool and a chance of a life time. We ended the evening with a great dinner at the infamous Peter Leuger's Steakhouse in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. It was a dining experience! Thanks PJ and Lyle for an amazing weekend!! Love you!!

~crystal

Surprise!!!

2008-09-06T08:13:00.003-04:00

We celebrated our friend Lara's birthday last night. It was a great party with lots of wine, cheese, snacks, and Cakeman Raven red velvet cake!!! YUMMMMMMM!!! She thought we were going to Quality Meats for dinner, but we all had other plans for her!! But as Steve knows his wife so well, the will be going to Quality Meats tonight as she had already selected her meal via the menu on their website!!

We are bracing here in the city for Hanna to make her way north...should bring some heavy rain and winds for the weekend. Bad timing as my Aunt PJ and Uncle Lyle are in town for the weekend as well. I am afraid we are going to get a bit wet on our way to dinner and Mama Mia! tonight.

Last weekend we had Jilly and Kyle up from DC, which was such a nice visit! They had tickets to the US Open on Sunday so they came up on Saturday and went home on Monday. Short visit, but we will see them soon for their upcoming nuptials!! Kyle is a blogger too!! Way better than me...check out his blog at http://www.informationleafblower.com/blog/

~crystal

Preggers!

2008-08-29T15:55:00.000-04:00

So this is Daniela...she is one of my dearest and closest friends who lives down in San Jose with her husband and 2.6 kids...All boys by the way! She flew up to Seattle for the baby shower we had and was able to take a few days by herself before the arrival of her 3rd son who is set to arrive in just 10 short weeks!! We are about 5 weeks apart and I can't imagine getting as big as she is in 5 weeks!! Lord help me!! It was a fantastic weekend with my gal pal and made me miss her all the more! It was such a special treat to have her visit while we were both pregnant...boy we have both come so far! Love you Dani!

(I am 25 weeks in the photo and Dani is about 30 weeks.)

~crystal

Baby Dav for President!

2008-08-29T13:22:00.004-04:00

Growing up in a house where a job within the Reagan administration paid the bills, I was born to follow politics with great interest. Unfortunately after watching so many politicians come and go, I became very cynical and couldn't ever see how electing a Republican or Democrat could ever make a large difference as they both get their money from big corporations. And then Barack Obama stepped onto a stage last night, 45 years to the day of MLK's "I Have a Dream Speech" and showed us otherwise. Nearly 40 million people watched on tv as he accepted his party's nomination for President.

Why do I bring this up? Like Barack, my child will have a Black father and a White mother. Often in this day and age children of color face many challenges to achieving their dreams. During an Obama presidency I can tell my child that he is capable of doing ANYTHING and there won't be a person in the world who can tell him otherwise. No longer will children listen to people say "you're Black and you can't do this or that" They'll say "Yes We Can".

To my unborn son, someday you'll be able to read this and I want you to know that you can achieve anything you want in life; and never listen to people say that you can't. Because you can, just like Barack Obama.

Anthony for President

2008-08-29T13:15:00.000-04:00

codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"
WIDTH="384" HEIGHT="304">

I'm Exhausted! And I hate jet lag!

2008-08-26T14:37:00.002-04:00

We arrived back in NYC this morning....EARLY!
It was such a nice visit home that I really didn't want to leave, but boy was it nice to sleep in our king size bed again this morning!! Poor Anthony had to get into work this morning after a quick power nap.
I will download some pictures as soon as I unpack the camera :) We had a very busy weekend once Anthony arrived early Friday morning with baby showers and BBQ's. It was great to see all of our friends who could make it. And we truly appreciate all of the wonderful gifts we received!! They will all go to such good use!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

~crystal

Danskin Triathlon 2008

2008-08-18T00:11:00.002-04:00

Today was the Seattle Danskin Women's Triathlon and my mom, Margaret, was a 'first-time' participant with her friend and training partner Lourea Garka. It was a perfect morning for a race and they competed and completed with smiles the whole time. Our families are oh so proud of them for their accomplishments!! I am sure they will be online looking for their next adventure in triathlons by the end of the day!!!

WAY TO GO MOM!! WE LOVE YOU AND ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU!!!

~crystal

Happy Day and pretty toes!

2008-08-15T09:44:00.007-04:00

I arrived in Seattle on Wednesday and immediately went to my Dad's office for a much needed chiropractic adujstment. It was nice to surprise my Dad with our visit as well. The flight was fine and I wasn't too uncomfortable which was nice. I watched two movies, Leatherheads (not recommended) and Ironman (highly recommended).

So on my first full day here, Thursday, we had a full day planned! We had to take my Dad's truck and Alex's car into the shop for some work on our way to get mani's and pedi's with Ramah and PJ. After our pampering we headed to Emery's for a wonderful patio lunch...All of this to celebrate, belated, Ramah's birthday which was on Sunday. We then hung out in Everett and went down to the boat that is docked and listened to live music while visiting with other family and friends. It was a perfect NW evening and made me miss this time of year here even more!!

Today we have more heat and sunsine...should be another beauty!!

~crystal

Daddy's Baby Bumb

2008-08-11T22:30:00.003-04:00

Everyone says that a pregnant woman can expect to gain up to 30 lbs during the process. With this can come the adoration of other couples, perhaps someone giving up their seat on the subway, and at the very least some smiles from strangers.

So What do I get for my baby daddy bump? 23 weeks into the pregnancy, Crystal has gained 3 lbs, while I've gained 15+ (the + is the unknown variable that I will gain once I finish this tub of Chunky Monkey ice-cream. I've read that this is extremely common along with an influx of estrogen and male morning sickness. This would explain why I've been crying during Hallmark commercials and ask if a shirt makes my belly look big. Nobody explained to me that this would happen! Here's my theory on how this came to be. Crystal gets a craving late at night for some chocolate chip cookies, but we need milk from down the street. I wasn't feeling cookies, but after going down the street and smelling them in my house, I know must have 10 or 11 of them or someone will get hurt. With some milk to wash it down of course. Repeat this show for a few weeks, and suddenly people are asking which one of you is pregnant. No, It's not me but thanks for offering your subway seat.

Creating the Next Miles Davis

2008-08-11T21:56:00.002-04:00

So we've been hearing from people that playing music to the baby in utero, can have long lasting and beneficial advantages for the tiny tot. Being a big fan of music myself, I understand the power of music and wanted to experiment with it on my firstborn. Two of our very good friends, Sergei and Amanda, bought us a contraption that wraps around the Mommy's Tummy and has a headset that places where the baby's head is (or supposed to be) and the other side hooks up into an Ipod where the greatest mix of Earth's music has been assembled for the task.

Conventional wisdom states that the baby should listen to about 10 minutes of music each day in order to help them better understand and adapt to the outside world once they join in the fun. Typically Mozart or Vivaldi is recommended. But we aren't looking for a future young Republican, we want a fun kid who controls his own universe and can crush the ideals of the weak who vote based upon fear.

So nightly we've been engaged in a quest for the best music to mold our lil bun in the oven into the next huge jazz musician. If we screw this up, he might end up listening to Yanni and John Tesh duets while discussing the best Starbucks that he's ever seen.

The first song that we played for him is John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme". If you don't know about this amazingly powerful piece, ask somebody cooler than you. Since then we've repeated it several times and noticed the baby kicking along every time. Ella Fitzgerald also has him tapping. He crosses his arms and has a think about Miles Davis. Still warming up to Stevie Wonder. Doesn't like Garth Brooks, anything on American Idol or Justin Timberlake (although we haven't tried). Next up: Public Enemy, Jimi Hendrix and Jay-Z. Any suggestions?

Rain, Rain go away!

2008-08-11T11:46:00.002-04:00

It is raining here today and really gray out. But that is okay as I am having a great day already and will be off to Seattle on Wednesday morning!!

This is my niece Baylee...she is my brother Tony's daughter and I am very excited to see her when I get to Seattle. She becomes my shadow when I am in town and I just can't get enough of her 6 year old personality and her big heart! I miss her so much and wish I was nearby so she could be close to her newly arriving cousin! We will just have to make many cross-country visits for now.

I had my 4 week check-up this morning which included the usual weigh in, blood pressure reading, and belly measurement. All 3 were great today!! I didn't gain any weight since my last visit which puts me at a total gain of 3 pounds in the last 23 weeks!! This makes me very happy as it will be that much easier during delivery and after!! So the next visit I have will be on Sept. 10th and I will take the glucose test to see if I have gestational diabetes...this is a standard test that everyone takes around the beginning of their 3rd trimester. I have to drink some yucky stuff and they pull some blood.

Feeling really great with lots of energy, compared to the previous weeks, and enjoying being pregnant. Sleep has become a challenge...getting comfy in between trips to the bathroom...and Baby Dav kicking at all hours of the night have made things difficult to say the least. I guess it is just preparing me for the sleepless nights to come!!

I will blog from Seattle starting on Wednesday...

~crystal

Beijing Olympics 8-8-08

2008-08-10T10:21:00.002-04:00

Our friends Steve and Lara hosted a little gathering of friends to watch the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. They prepared wonderful food with a Chinese theme and I provided the fortune cookies! It was a nice evening. Even though I wasn't able to make it all the way until the torch lighting, we made it home just in time to watch it! I love watching the Olympics and hate missing even a minute. Yesterday morning I learned all about hand ball! Very interesting sport...Then I watched a little badminton...this sport confused the heck out of me. This will be the last year for softball, but we have to watch two people hitting a birdie back and forth???

Working a lot this week since I will be in Seattle for 12 days starting Wednesday the 13th...so Anthony has been keeping busy with his running and hanging out with his new man friend Carlos. They are going to a soccer game in New Jersey today...should be a nice day for a futbol game!

Not much else going on this weekend...made my weekly batch of Belgian waffles today! Gotta have 'em at least once during the weekend!!

I will keep posting while in Seattle. I am sure I will have plenty of Baylee stories to tell!! I am so excited to see her. She made me a countdown and sent it to me in the mail...it is the cutest thing I have seen in such a long time! Whenever I go home she moves in with me too...she gives her mom and dad a hug and says, "see you when TT leaves!" I love her so much my heart sings...taken from her saying this about her Gamma (my mom).

~crystal

10 fingers and 10 toes!!

2008-08-05T11:46:00.003-04:00

The anatomy scan sonogram was yesterday and this is the best shot we could get of Baby Dav as he was busy napping and didn't want to turn towards us, but it gives us a nice profile of his beautiful face!!

I can't wait to see him...in just a short 18 weeks or so!!

All of his fingers, toes, eyes, ears, heart chambers, kidneys, bladder, tummy, and other vital parts were accounted for and functioning properly! We even got to see his little tooth buds forming in his jaw! Technology is truly amazing these days. He is also right on track for growth and my/his due date has not changed...still Dec. 8th.

The Seattle baby shower is coming up! Aug. 23rd for the ladies shower and the 24th for the couples shower/BBQ/s'mores party!! Let me know if you need any of the details for either one of these gatherings as we would love to see all of you when we are in town!

~crystal

belly shot! 22 weeks

2008-08-02T23:55:00.005-04:00

So here it is...the most asked for photo of the week! I almost cried when I saw it though...I think I have been in denial about the fact that I will be getting this huge belly! I will try to keep up and do a picture every 2 weeks at this point cuz I think the growing has begun!

~crystal

Registration complete!

2008-07-31T18:06:00.002-04:00

So many of you have asked where we are registered and I think I have completed Baby Dav's wish list! With the help of many, including Anthony's sister Anita, I narrowed down our list to a few different places since I found things all over the place that both Anthony and I liked. It was really difficult since we really needed to pay attention to our lack of space issue and only registered for things that we thought we would use frequently...the other part of this that made things difficult is that this is our first child and who knows what we will use and not use! Anyways, here is the list:
Babies 'R Us
Target
Babycenter.com
Land of Nod
retrobaby.com

And another request has been to post some belly pics! I swear I will have Anthony take some shots of my growing belly in the next day or so. We just really have been so busy and I usually don't get home from work until around 9:45 or so and just want to crawl into bed at that point. But I have the camera out and ready!!! So check back, maybe even tomorrow, for some pictures!

~crystal

Over half way!!!

2008-07-28T11:13:00.004-04:00

It seems hard to believe, but as of today I am officially 21 weeks and more than half way through the pregnancy!! I am sure the second half will go twice as fast as the first half....

We go in for the anatomy scan next Monday where they will measure every bit of him and make sure all of his organs are developed and working properly. We are really excited to see his growth as it has been a while since we have seen him in a sonogram. He has been very active lately too!!!

Not much else going on here...just trying to get through the hottest part of the summer without melting!! I may have only gained 3 pounds during this pregnancy thus far, but it feels like 20!!! And it is getting harder and harder to stay cool in the humidity...thank goodness it hasn't been too bad as of yet. I am hoping the hottest and worst will happen when I am in Seattle in a couple of weeks!! I am heading out for 2 weeks for some good family/friend time before the baby comes and my baby shower. My Aunt PJ and cousin Ramah will be hosting one big shower for me and I am so excited!!! Daniela is even coming up from San Jose for the weekend sans kids!! She is expecting her 3rd little boy in October and I am so thankful she is able to get away for a few days of rest and relaxation....and I feel so special that she has chosen to spend that time with ME!!!

Here is a link to some of our most recent photos....those that were not lost on our latest hard drive melt down!!

http://picasaweb.google.com/cdavenport0126/YankeesVBostonJuly52008

Water and sunscreen!

2008-07-17T10:38:00.002-04:00

Wow...the weather is changing out here this week. It is in the 90's again today and looks only to get more and more humid as the weekend approaches. I think we are heading to the beach out on Long Island on Saturday with Sergei and Amanda to escape the city heat...ahhhh!!!

I hope everyone had a fantastic 4th of July! We actually had a BBQ with about 30 people...I was exhausted by the end of the weekend to say the least! Saturday Anthony and I went to the Boston v. Yankees game and then I worked on Sunday.

Last weekend we enjoyed a nice long weekend with Anthony's parents. They came up from Florida and it was Cecelia's birthday on Monday the 14th. We took in two plays....Thurgood and Country Girl. Both I highly recommend!!

Little Baby Dav is making himself known on a daily basis lately! He is very active and likes to do some serious tumbling in my belly!! I haven't had any serious food cravings as of yet...but there was a 2 week period where I wanted nothing but Belgian waffles! Hmmmm...that sounds good right now!!! I still can't give up my morning cup of Joe so I have settled for decaf which has been great. It is such a ritual for me to drink my morning coffee and so nice that I am able to enjoy it again since the 1st trimester didn't allow me to eat or drink much of anything!!

I am in the process of registering and boy is that a process!! (Ew...big kick by the baby...hold on!) Ok, it is so overwhelming and with limited space in our apartment we have to really narrow down our choices to what is going to be vitally necessary and go from there. And with this being our first we don't even know that! I mean, there are the basics that I know from having 3 younger brothers and a 6 year old niece, but please, there is a gadget for just about every situation out there! And it is like technology...changing by the minute!!

So if there is one thing you couldn't live without as a parent, what is/was it??? And what is your favorite baby store???

I have my 4 week Dr. appointment tomorrow....just the standard weigh, measure, listen, pee appointment. I will keep you all posted.

It is hard for me to believe that as of Sunday I am officially half way through this pregnancy!! And I am really starting to enjoy the feeling of being pregnant even though I feel like my mind is in a constant hazy cloud, I enjoy my moments of clarity even more now!!!

~crystal

latest ultrasound of Baby Dav!

2008-07-01T11:10:00.005-04:00

Here are the newest photos we had taken of Baby Dav! We had an ultrasound on June 20th where we found out the sex!! HE was nice enough to give us a high 5 during the ultrasound!! HE cooperated nicely, but was very active in there! I haven't felt any of his acrobats as of yet, but I am sure I will soon!!

We are in week 17 now, which I can't believe, and will be taking photos of my belly for all to see very soon! The little guy has started to make his whereabouts known to all as of this week!

~crystal

http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-17-weeks_1106.bc?scid=mbtw_preg17:57&pe=2Uvr7dQ

http://pregnancy.baby-gaga.com/calendar/week17

Week 16

2008-06-27T10:09:00.003-04:00

This week has been great! I am feeling great and less tired than I have been in the last 15 weeks!
http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-16-weeks_1105.bc?intcmp=Nav_Global_MyBC_Stagepage&pn=BC%20Homepage

Baby Dav experienced his first Central Park picnic this week. We went to listen to the NY Philharmonic and watch the fireworks afterwards...it was a lovely evening with great weather after a quick afternoon thunderstorm. Of course I forgot the camera ... next time!

I also wanted to pass along my thoughts and prayers to little Mason Garka who was born on the 20th and is getting ready to have heart surgery this week. He and his parents have been through a lot already and will have a long road of recovery ahead of them. Keep them in your thoughts please... www.masongarka.com

Have a great weekend!!

~crystal

It's a....BOY!!!

2008-06-22T22:02:00.002-04:00

We found out on Friday morning that our little pea in the pod is a boy!! We are thrilled, but honestly just want a healthy and happy baby!! So of course we have some names on the short list, but I wonder what all of you are thinking for a name...first and middle!!

I will post the sonogram photos tomorrow when we get them scanned in. They are really cool!!

~crystal

Oh yeah...week 15

2008-06-19T19:47:00.001-04:00

Here is the link to this weeks baby progress!!! My nausea is gone and energy levels are picking up a bit...still enjoying an afternoon nap when I can though!! :)

http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-15-weeks_1104.bc?scid=mbtw_preg15:40&pe=2Uvr7dQ

Girl or boy??? What do you think???

2008-06-19T19:37:00.003-04:00

We were travelling last weekend....sorry for the lack of posts. I will be better, I swear!

We went to Lansing, Michigan to hang out with Anthony's Father's family as well as some of his Mom's family. It was a nice Father's Day and we were happy to spend the day with one of our Dear 'ol Dads.

We go in for our next Dr. appointment tomorrow morning and will hopefully be able to tell the sex of our little bambino!

Any feelings of what the sex is going to be?? I have been referring to the baby as a 'He' from the very beginning...but that might just be a subconscious reaction to the pregnancy...who knows. I did have some pretty good morning sickness and some say that means a girl??? Or was it that the baby will have a lot of hair?? Or was it that the baby will be healthy?? So many to choose from!!!

Bugaboo vs. MacLaren

2008-06-19T19:25:00.002-04:00

Our conversations these days seem to revolve around baby things....Does your baby stroller determine your social status??? The price of a Bugaboo, with all of the attachments is nearing $1000!!! Can you believe that?? But every mom that I have stopped on the street to question, yes I have done this and so has Anthony, says these strollers are the best and worth every penny. Really? Does the kid really know the difference in shocks? I have a hard time believing our kid will grow up and say, "Mommy, Daddy, why didn't you buy me a Bugaboo?" Honestly, my biggest concern is having a stroller that is easy to maneuver on the subways and streets, as well as comfortable for a newborn up to 3 years of age.

As many of our neighborhood blogs write about, there is a hate for strollers! They do take up most of the sidewalk and moms usually travel in packs so those without kids tend to hate on the strollers and the pushers of said strollers. I have to say, our neighbohood has seen a big increase in stollers sightings which might just be me being more in tune with mommies/daddies and babies!

Anyone have a stoller they just can't live without???

http://www.brownstoner.com/brownstoner/archives/2008/03/port_sleene_yea.php

It is settling in....

2008-06-06T09:52:00.002-04:00

I am beginning this blog on June 6, 2008 and look forward to communicating with everyone local and from a distance.

Well, the first trimester is nearly over and boy we are both happy about that! I struggled with all of the things that come along with pregnancy during the first trimester and Anthony had to deal with me! He has been absolutely wonderful and I have no idea how I would have made it through these last few months without his support.

So, last week we had our one and only genetic screening test, this one was for Down's Syndrome, we agreed to do. I am against any invasive testing and whatever the outcome of the test it wouldn't change the way I already feel about this baby! But this was just an ultrasound and a finger prick, so I agreed. My mom, Aunt PJ, and cousin Ramah were all in town (they surprised me with their visit) and were able to view the ultrasound as well. It was a very exciting day and I was very anxious about the results which caused me to have a tension headache for the 2 days prior to the screening....it miraculously went away as soon as the screening began! We received excellent marks on the screening and don't have any worries of DS. Yeah!!

My nausea has finally subsided and I am waiting for that burst of energy I am supposedly going to get here in the next few weeks! That will be more than welcome!!!

We have had a revolving door of visitors this Spring...very much welcomed by both of us! Our very good friends Sergei and Amanda will be moving to NYC at the end of the month and absolutely can not wait to have them so close!!

I have included a link to baby center's weekly update and will continue to do so for those interested. If you have any thoughts, ideas, opinions, tips, etc....please don't hesitate to pass those along to us as we are new parents and can get all the help we can!!

Love to all,

Crystal

http://http://www.babycenter.com/6_your-pregnancy-13-weeks_1102.bc?intcmp=Nav_Global_MyBC_Stagepage&pn=BC%20Homepage