Tobi's Second Day

It's been another exciting day...lots of visitors, and check ups, and lots and lots of sleeping!  

For pics of day 2 click HERE. 

Here She Is!

Introducing: Tobren Lyse Runnion-Bareford

Pronounced: Toe-bren Lee-seh Run-ning Bare-foot

Meaning: Tobren (Nickname - Tobi) "God is good" Lyse "God's promise", "God's perfection", "God's satisfaction"

Stats: 6 lbs. 1 oz., 19 inches long

I came across the name Tobren in a book quite a few years ago. The book wasn't any award-winning piece of literature. I'm pretty sure it contained dragons, dwarves, and wizards, and that most of the people who read it lived in their parents' basements, dressed as Star Wars characters, and didn't kiss girls until they were...well, never. It was a stage, OK?! I've filed the name away since then with the plan that if, in fact, I was blessed with a little girl, she would be named Tobren, with the nickname Toby. Yeah, in my mind her nickname was spelled that way -- more on that later. Anyway, when my niece Makayla was born, just over 2 years ago, I told Shauna the name that I hoped my (future) little girl would have. Well, OUR little girl...but at that time, Shauna and I had known each other a week or so -- no need to rush things. I already was pretty sure I was going to marry her, so I didn't want to freak her out too much by discussing our children...give that a month or two at least! As it turned out, Shauna was amenable to the name; however, she thought that Tobi as a spelling would be a bit more feminine. OK, I can see that. However, if Tobi ever starts dotting the "i" in her nickname by making a heart, I'm rescinding my acquiescence.

Her middle name, Lyse, was chosen for a few reasons. First, it's Swedish, and we thought that it would be neat to give her a name that reflects anscestry on both sides. Second, it has a great meaning. Third, we think it goes with Tobren, which was somewhat of a challenge in and of itself. Finally, we feel it holds a slight edge over Helga, Aslog, Gunilla, or Fredrika. The pronunciation was really the only sticking point, as technically it is Lee-seh, rather than the commonly heard Lee-sa (Lisa). We'll see how that goes...the poor girl already has to explain the rest of her name, as it is, so let's just make it the whole thing!

For more pics of her journey thus far click HERE.

This is why I don't gamble...

I had a few issues with my laptop...again!  So I brought it to the shop for repairs.  Now mind you, I have had this computer for almost 3 years now but I have had to have it repaired at least 4 times.  Thank goodness I invested in the 3 year warranty plan which has covered some major repairs.  The last 3 times I have opted to pay the $50 to have everything backed-up just in case they had to replace the hard drive and couldn't save the information on my computer.  I've never needed it before.  Well, this time I thought...this doesn't seem like as big of an issue as last time and the last two times they replaced the logic board and all of my information was untouched.  Well, when I picked up my computer this time my heart jumped into my throat as I turned it on to see that they had indeed replaced the hard drive and reinstalled the operating system.  I actually just closed the computer and waited for Ben to help me, hoping that there was some way that all of my info. could be on there just hiding and waiting for the magic way to come and find it.  But alas...it was gone.  

On a very positive note I had backed up my hard drive about a year ago and we were able to retrieve all my pictures and music that I had stores up to last August... but there are still things that I had on there from the last year that are irreplaceable.  It was one of those moments that I knew I had done something silly to save a few bucks... if I could just go back to that one moment where I checked "No back up" - and just realize the possibilities of what could happen and say "oh what's $50 anyway"?  

Thankfully I managed to find quite a few pictures from the last year on Flickr, saved on my camera and on this blog.  Here are a few pictures from July....

Fourth of July... Sadie (3 days old) & Kayla

Me...36 1/2 weeks along

This picture does not really show it...but these are some seriously puffy feet!

A trip to the beach....not many beach days this summer but

the weather was good enough this day for a trip to Ogunquit.

To see more pics click HERE

Sadie Mae!!!

Here she is...cousin Sadie. She arrived Tuesday at 6:08pm weighing 7lbs. 10oz. and measuring 21.5 inches.  She is beautiful, healthy and so far pretty happy. 

This can only mean one thing for us...it won't be long now.  

Sadie and Auntie! (and probably her cousin was kicking her)

Family of six: Nate 5, Andy 4, Kayla (2 weeks shy of) 2,  Sadie 1 day old

Ahh...summer!

Nothing says summer to me like the beach.  It's been pretty rainy here over the past week but we have made it out to the beach once a couple weekends ago.  This was baby's first (un)official beach trip.  Plum Island is a favorite place for Ben from childhood on... and now it's a favorite for me too.  We hope this girl loves the beach as much as we do. 

Yes, I'm hiding in this picture because the one I took before this made me look like a great white beached whale! (Sorry baby...hard to tell you were even there.)

School's out...

Partially cleaned out...

All cleaned!

My old job!

One last note from some of my students...

It's been a week since I was last at school.  It is strange to think that my job is really done.  At this point it doesn't really feel much different to me than any other year since I always have a break for the summer.  So far everything seems very routine, except for the cleaning out of my classroom.  I spent quite a few hours throwing, and sorting and resorting and throwing some more.  I think I did pretty well to get a classroom full of 13 years of teaching materials down to a few boxes (a carload of boxes - but still not too bad).  It was fun and a bit sad at the same time to go through old files and be reminded of the hundreds of students I've taught over the years.  I have really had some great times and fun memories in the two schools and many classrooms I have taught in.  

We're getting closer...

31 weeks

At our birthing class last night we realized that there are a lot of things we haven't thought about...that apparently a lot of other people have thought about already.  To binky or not to binky?  To vaccinate or not?  Who will we use for a pediatrician?  Some people due after us have their "bag" for the hospital packed already!!?  I don't know, maybe it's because I have been so focused on finishing out the school year and then maybe I'll have some time to think about these things...other things I guess you just figure out a long the way.  One thing we do know after last night's class is how to swaddle a preemie cabbage patch kid with a slightly concave head in a fleece blanket 6 times the size of the baby.  Some how I don't know how applicable that will be... but if we ever should need that particular skill, we're ready!