My daughter's name. Lest we forget.

It has been alleged that the delay in announcing Nugget's name is part of an attempt to keep people coming back to my blog. Although I've been enjoying the near-quintupling of my daily visitation, this is not the reason for the delay. 

It hasn't been easy to have a conversation with Fawn to discuss a name. Most of the time, I was occupied with Jade who, for some reason, absolutely refuses to sleep until the passing of the witching hour. When I would finally get a moment, Fawn would be trying to sleep or eat or go to the bathroom. You know, the things that need to get done in the few stolen minutes away from the newborn.

I was a little shocked when Nugget was born on Remembrance Day. Remembrance Day has always been an important day for me.

My Grandpa fought in the Second World War. It was during WWII that he met my Grandma.

My Grandpa didn't talk about the war. I know he did once, but I was too young to appreciate what he was doing. I wanted to ask him about it many, many times afterwards, but never knew how to ask. Every time a commercial for a war movie or documentary came on the television, he always looked so upset. So sad. Sometimes, his eyes would water over and he would choke it all back. I think it was from memories that he didn't want to remember. But I never asked him.

For me, Remembrance Day is a time to reflect on the human capacity to engage in something so horrible that it pained my Grandfather for the rest of his life. It is a time to reflect on all the friends he lost. It is a time to reflect on the families who lost fathers, brothers, sons, and uncles, sisters, mothers, daughters and aunts.

I lost my Grandpa a few years ago and Grandma almost two years ago. Remembrance Day was supposed to be a time for me to honour their memory.

But then Fawn went into labour and the baby was born that evening. How could I reconcile the joy of my daughter's birth with the sorrow and memory of such great loss?

Having the baby born on Remembrance Day did not make naming her any easier. None of the names that I found or heard from others seemed quite right. I don't know why.  Some of the suggestions were great suggestions, but they just didn't "fit."  I was pondering this when I was checking my e-mail. I had received a comment. It was another name suggestion. Great.  Another name suggestion.

But this name was different. When I read it, I knew it was right. The name which, in Hawaiian, means "in remembrance of loved ones" or "memorial" honours the memory of those that have sacrificed so much for us. For me. For my daughter.

I thought about it for a while and tried it a few times while looking at the Nugget. It was right. I proposed it to Fawn and, after a little discussion, we had a first name and a second name.

Halia Rose.

Halia is pronounced "ha-LEE-ah".  Thanks for the suggestion, Melissa!

The baby pool!

We may not have gotten the birthing pool ready in time for Nugget's birth, but that doesn't mean we didn't have a good little pool of another sort!  I think your guesses may have set a new "comments record" on Michael's Meanderings.

Judging the results proved to be more difficult than I anticipated.  One participant came within two minutes of correctly guessing Nugget's birth time and another participant came within one ounce of the correct birth weight.  I was hoping that I could break the tie by giving the GRAND PRIZE to the one that guessed the correct sex, but neither participant guessed the correct sex.  In fact, 73.7% of you guessed that Nugget was a boy.  Which, as we all know (now), she's not.  Don't feel too badly; I guessed that Nugget was a boy, too.

I guess it's only fair, then, to declare a tie in which the closest guessers must share the GRAND PRIZE!  I haven't figured out what the GRAND PRIZE is yet, so I'll choose something that can be shared.

Without further ado, here are the results:

	ACTUAL	CLOSEST GUESS	GUESSER
TIME	19:50	19:52	Chris
WEIGHT	7 lbs 5 oz	7 lbs 4 oz	Kara

I've also decided to give a special award to the person who guessed the highest weight.  I know that I didn't say there was a prize for this, but I was so impressed (and so very glad that my wife DIDN'T have a baby of such gargantuan proportions) that I just couldn't resist.  The "SOMEBODY CALL A PLUMBER Award" goes to Allmycke.  Allmycke's guess was a whopping 6,250g (13 lbs 12.5 oz)!!!  Is that how big them make them in Sweeden?!

Chris, I know how to get your address.  Kara, I'll try to get your prize to you at the Spruce Bog Fair.  Allmycke, I've got something special for you but I'll need you to send me your address so I can mail the "SOMEBODY CALL A PLUMBER Award".  It might come in handy in your little apartment, especially when you have your two teenagers over.

Breaking news!

Rumours are circulating that high-level officials in my family may have found a name the Nugget. 

Although details are not forthcoming at this time, when asked for comment, a thigh-level official responded, "Yeah. Dee. Emm. One."  At the time, she was pointing to a picture of a fish.

On-site observers speculate that the thigh-level official's comments had nothing to do with the naming of the Nugget and more to do with a book about numbers.

We will continue to report on this story as it unfolds.

Naming the Baby...

I have been scouring baby name websites, letter by letter, trying to find names for Nugget.

What's the deal with these websites? Why do they even bother listing some of the names they've got on there? Take the name "Kenadie", for example. My apologies to all the Kenadies out there, but apparently your name is Irish in origin and means "ugly head". What parent is going to name their kid "Ugly Head"?

"Hey! Ugly Head! Go get your brother, "Big Bum!"

Baby name websites should come with phonetic pronunciation keys. Some of the names look like there were invented by spilling the letters out of a Boggle box. I found an interesting name early on in my search: Espn.

"How do you pronounce that?" I asked myself. I clicked on the name to learn more.

The meaning of the name is "television sports network". It should be pronounced E-S-P-N.

I'd be better off calling her DM2DM2FD.


Naming a child is a huge responsibility. Whatever name we choose will help to shape our child's identity and place in this world. Names are important. Naming a child is one of those things that sounds like fun but, when you get right down to it, isn't. It's hard!

Even before we find a name that Fawn and I can both agree on, we must do our due diligence. We can't choose a name with a nasty hidden meaning or one that's easy to make fun of. It has to sound good with Nugget's last name, and it has to sound good with Nugget's middle name (and we still need to pick one of those, too).

I thought it might be easier to name Nugget after she was born. I couldn't have been more wrong! Whenever I come across a name that I think might work, I look at her and ask myself, "Are you a ___________?"

Obviously, I haven't gotten the answer I've been looking for.

I am waiting for that moment of epiphany where everything just works. Where I say a name and I know that's who Nugget was meant to be.

In the meantime, I'll keep searching.

Nugget is born!

WARNING: This posting contains graphic descriptions of child birth and links to images that might make some people squeamish. If you're a person with squeamish tendencies, too bad for you; it is what it is - the birth story of my second daughter.

WRITERS NOTE: This entry would have been made sooner, but every time I tried to write it:

• The cat got in the way, making it impossible to type;
• Jade climbed onto and squirmed all over my lap, making it impossible to type;
• The pictures wouldn't upload;
• Fawn needed something;
• I wanted to hold the baby;
• I needed to eat;
• Jade needed her meal;
• We had visitors;
• The dog needed walking;
• Jade wouldn't go to sleep;
• Jade wouldn't go to sleep;
• Jade wouldn't go to sleep; and
• You get the idea...

Nugget's Birth
The mucous plug went sometime around 6:30 in the morning. I always thought a mucous plug was something reserved for noses, but I was wrong. Fawn starting having weak contractions that she described as "small cramps" every hour or so. I was originally planning on going to the Remembrance Day ceremony and then joining some folks for a bit of snowshoeing in the afternoon. Obviously, I canceled those plans.

The morning went by. Around lunchtime, Jade and I went over to our neighbour's for a visit. When we came back, I put Jade down for her afternoon nap and went to sit on the couch. I thought Fawn was sleeping and didn't want to disturb her, but went to see how she was doing when I heard her breathing through a contraction. I joined her in bed and attempted to time the contractions. They were about ten minutes apart, but soon scaled themselves back to about twenty minutes apart.

Around dinner time, I called the midwife and left a message on her paging service. The contractions were about seven minutes apart. I was supposed to call her when the contractions were four to five minutes apart or when the water broke, but I figured I would call early. Instead of a gradual increase in the rate of contractions, I think that Fawn goes through labour exponentially.

When she wasn't using me for support, Fawn sat on an exercise ball to help work through the contractions. Jade thought that was a great idea and wanted to do the same.

Fawn's mom, Fawn, and eventually Jade, all sit on balls.

Heather, the midwife, came and started setting up the big birthing pool in the office. Almost immediately after the midwife arrived, Fawn went into full-blown labour. She said she felt like she needed to go to the bathroom, so we shuffled over during a very long contraction. She sat on the toilet and I stood in front of her so she could hang on my arms while she breathed through the contractions. I later said that we make a good team: Fawn does all the work while I just stand there.

Heather mentioned that the birthing pool wasn't going to be ready in time and asked if Fawn would like to have the baby in the bath instead. Heather started drawing the bathwater.

By now, Fawn's contractions were intense and the midwife asked her to try to slow things down. She tried, but the baby wanted out of there.

Fawn said, "Something just broke," or, "Something let go," or something else along those lines. Her water had just broken.

The midwife told Fawn to stand up. When she did, the baby's head was hanging out. Less than a second later, the rest of the baby followed the head. Heather caught the slippery baby. I like to think of it as the "$2,500 catch" (the midwife's fees because, unlike many of Canada's more enlightened provinces and territories, the Yukon does not yet have funded midwifery - but I can't complain about the rest of the system).

It was 19:50 on Remembrance Day.

Fawn sat back down on the toilet and Heather gave her the baby. Fawn looked before I even thought to. "It's a girl!" she quietly declared.

The baby was doing well. Her colour was good and she was reacting and breathing beautifully. A few minutes after things had settled down, we moved Fawn and baby to the tub where they could both stay warm. The placenta needed to be delivered and the baby was still attached by her umbilical cord.

The water in the bath turned red from the blood of childbirth. I like to think of it as a genuine "blood bath".

Fawn complained about our lousy tub. I know she was looking forward to the birthing pool, but the speed of the delivery took everyone by surprise - including the midwife.

As Fawn, baby and midwife waited for the placenta to be delivered, I went to tell Fawn's mom and Jade that the baby was a girl. They were downstairs watching Caillou. They followed me back upstairs to see.

When Jade saw Fawn and the baby sitting in the blood bath, she wanted in, too! She started shedding her pajamas in the same way that Clark Kent sheds his suit to become Superman. We encouraged her to wait until the big pool to was filled (and started filling it again) so we could all sit in there together. Then, the hot water ran out. Simultaneously, water started dripping from under the sink - possibly from the pressure of trying to pump water all the way to the office - so we had to scrap that plan. Determined to have her time in the water, Jade shed her diaper and climbed into the tub. She was thrilled with her new baby sister.

Eventually, the placenta was born and I cut the cord. I have pictures of all of this, but they all contain shots of my wife's breasts. As much as I'm an unabashed fan of my wife's breasts, I don't want them plastered all over the internet, so you're going to have to make do with the sole breast-less shot of Jade sitting in the blood bath with mom and baby sister, which you can view by clicking here.

The rest of the evening was spent getting cleaned up and dealing with those post-delivery things that need to be dealt with, like checking the placenta.

While examining the placenta, Heather commented that it didn't just tear - it exploded! She checked to to make sure that it was still intact and that it was healthy-looking. It was. If you want to see Nugget's placenta, click here.

Nugget weighed in at 7 lbs, 5oz. (3.317g) and was 19" (48.26cm) long. And NO, we still don't have a name picked out.

Nugget took to breastfeeding quickly and spend the rest of the night engaged in that same activity.

It was strange holding a newborn again. Strange and wonderful.

I was wondering how, when I have so much love for one child, I could make room for another. I now realise that it isn't a matter of trying to fit all that love into one solid room. The room expands! What a neat feeling!

And now, the moment you've all been waiting for, some pictures of Nugget...

Also a fan of my wife's breasts...

First family picture.

Mother and baby, both doing well.

Nugget! (The next day)

Sleeeeepy...

Taking a well-deserved break from pooing and breastfeeding.

Jade and Nugget get to know each other a little better.

Jade loves being a big sister.

Nap time!

"That nipple is no good. I might as well sleep."

Jade remembers her old cradle.

Nugget cries and mom thinks, "Here we go again!"

Now taking guesses...

I just realised that I never started the "Baby Pool" that I wanted to start, so here it is...

Answer these questions in the comments below.  The winner may or may not win a prize¹!

1. What will Nugget's sex be?
2. How much will Nugget weigh?
3. When will Nugget be born (date and time)?
   

You'd better guess quickly, because Fawn is in labour now!

¹The prize, if I decide to give one, will be determined at a later date.  The prize may or may not have any value.  A skill testing question may be required to claim the possible prize.  You must be willing to provide an address if I decide to issue a prize.  If a prize is issued, you hereby guarantee that you will provide a digital image to Michael's Meanderings holding said prize.  You hereby give your consent to Michael's Meanderings and its affiliates to use your online name  for content and promotional purposes for which no payment will be made.  Friends and relatives of Michael's Meanderings are welcome to participate.  Date and time of birth will be determined by whatever clock I have handy at the time of birth.  Weight will be determined in a same manner.  Sex will be determined through visual analysis.  Disputes will not be settled by a third party.  Meandering Michael reserves the right to cancel this contest at any time.

Good luck!

The BIG Update!

I haven't blogged for a few days, so you can probably guess what THAT means!

It means I didn't do anything interesting this weekend!

It means that nothing horribly tragic happened!

And, most exciting of all...

...it means that Fawn hasn't gone into labour!

But she will. I'll let you all know when it happens.

In limbo.

00:22. New Westminster, BC. My sister-in-law's house.

Fawn: Michael, wake up. ~whimper~
Michael: What's wrong?
Fawn: I've got a pain in my side.
Michael: Is it a contraction?
Fawn: ~whimper. gasp. whimper~ I don't think so. It's on my right side. ~whimper~ It think it might be my appendix.
Michael:  What does it feel like?

Fawn:  It's a dull pain. ~whimper~

Michael: Do you need to go to the hospital?
Fawn: I don't know. ~wince~
Jade stirs.
Michael: Do you need an ambulance?
Fawn: ~whimper~ I don't know. ~whimper~
Michael: Do you need an ambulance?
Fawn: ~whimper~ I don't know.
Michael: Someone needs to stay here with Jade. I'll get Nem to take you to the hospital.
Fawn: ~whimper~ OK. ~whimper~

*knock* *knock* *knock*

Nem: Come in?
Michael: I need you to do me a favour. Fawn's having pains. She needs to go to the hospital. I need to stay with Jade. Can you take her?
Nem: Of course. There's a hospital just up the road. I'll call to see if there's an emergency department.

Michael (returning to Fawn): Are you feeling nauseated?
Fawn: Yes.
Michael: Nem is going to take you to the hospital.
Fawn: ~whimper~
Michael: Do you need an ambulance?
Fawn: ~whimper~
Michael: I'm calling the ambulance.

The ambulance took way too long to arrive. Based on where Fawn showed me the dull pains were coming from, it's not her appendix.

Based on all the questions the ambulance attendants asked, they seemed to think she might be having contractions. The baby is full term, but Fawn was not having contractions. She knows what contractions feel like.

I am worried about the pain my wife is in and what might be going on with Nugget. 

Nem followed the ambulance as it drove Fawn to the hospital.

I want to be with my wife. Waiting by the phone is phone is just too hard.

It's 01:10.

Still no call.

Yes. Yes he will be busy.

Google searches for my name and the name of this blog are the most popular queries that lead people to Michael's Meanderings, but searches for "the wood guy", "propane frostbite", "obscene poetry", and "huang long restaurant edmonton" are also quite common.

Over the years, I have had some unusual queries (that I won't get into now), but I received one today that I felt needed a response. The googler asked, "if i name my child michael will he be busy".

I know a lot of Michaels, but I don't know that I would call lazy. Based on my highly advanced statistical methods, I think it's safe to say, "Yes. Yes he will be busy." I don't know if that's the answer the searcher wanted, but at least he/she will be able to make an informed decision the next time they search for an answer to that timeless question.

Nugget Pictures

If you read the much-more-readable blog my wife writes, then you know that we're expecting our second child. I don't know why I haven't announced it here until now. Maybe it's because I haven't wanted to get my hopes up.

But now I'm excited!

On Monday, we went for an ultrasound.  Here are the pictures:  

Aw, a cute little overbite!

What a cute little skull.

On Monday night, as if on cue, I felt Nugget (our nickname for the kid until he or she is born) give Fawn a good hard kick the moment after I put my hand on her belly.

Yippee!

Yup, I'm excited.

Now for some preemptive answers to questions to which I'm sure you're dying to know the answers:

 

Preemptive Answer #1:  No, we do not know if Nugget is going to be a boy or a girl.  I like the surprise.  Fawn thinks this one will be a girl, but I think it will be a boy.

Preemptive Answer #2:  No, we do not have any names picked for the child.

Preemptive Answer #3:  The baby is due in mid-November (Fawn is half way through the pregnancy).

Preemptive Answer #4:  Fawn is feeling fine, thanks for asking.