Guinn Stewart Family

Family Trip to Florida

2010-04-22T02:48:00.001-07:00

IMG_2631, originally uploaded by jonny stu.

Family Trip to Florida in March

our first trip to florida - colder than we had hoped for but still a nice break visiting friends we haven't seen in a long, long time. Shelby loved it all - baby lexi, the dog, bicycle trips around the neighborhood, day at the beach, trip to the aquarium. All lots of fun stuff.

Did I tell you? I'm Two!!

2009-10-03T05:56:00.000-07:00

Shelby threw a great turning two birthday party, complete with Elmo cake and all of her good friends from school. She also survived her 2 year old check up:
27 pounds, which puts her in the 50th % for weight
over 34 inches tall, landing her in the 93rd % for height

All is good in terms of developmental mile stones, other than the ongoing problem of not enough sleep. Her pediatrician had the nerve to tell us to try waking her 30 minutes BEFORE she normally gets up - as a way to try to restart her sleep clock...are you kidding me? That would put us starting the day at about 3:45 am! Yes, the 4:15 am wake ups continue to haunt our household. Other than that, all is good with Shelby. She is currently loving Curious George and The Little Mermaid - which are basically all she is allowed to watch other than Elmo so it's not too surprising. She is way into puzzles, trains, and her new Mr. Potato Head as well. She has decided to start picking out her own outfits which is a major stresser for mom! Yikes.

Cape Cod

2009-08-13T14:24:00.000-07:00

Spent a few days out on the cape - it was beautiful, relaxing, and lots of fun for the whole family. We stayed in Wellfleet, which is about 25 minutes from Provincetown at the tip of the cape. Wellfleet was the quaint Cape Cod town I had hoped for. We had some friends who are summer locals who diverted us from the major ponds full of lots of people. Instead we hiked back a mile to a great pond with no people, lots of frogs, and good swimming. Of course Jon tried to get a rope swing going, but that didn't work out! Regardless, we enjoyed our first trip out to the cape and hope we'll have many more trips in the years to come.

Heading Home

2009-07-26T06:56:00.001-07:00

Fun with the Cousins

2009-07-26T06:51:00.000-07:00

California Fun

2009-07-26T06:44:00.000-07:00

Summer Jams

2009-06-23T05:54:00.001-07:00

The 4 weeks of rain have been kind of a drag. So in hopes for sunnier days, I made a summer BBQ playlist inspired by HBO's Entourage. Check it out and let me know if it rocks your party.

My Rhapsody Playlist

Back in Action

2009-06-13T16:00:00.001-07:00

Guinn Stewarts have been MIA due to end of school year craziness. We have finally had time to take pictures, do laundry, and drop off two bags of dry cleaning, among other very unexciting things. We enjoyed what was the first really nice day in over a month and went to the Gaspee Days Parade in our little town - what a trip. It was great - it will be completed with a re-enactment of the burning of the Gaspee ship tomorrow in our little harbor. Apparently it was one of the first acts of aggression leading up to the American Revolution. Check out the pics - Shelby loved it, even the shooting of the muskets! The town paints the stripes on the road red, white, and blue for this event...a big deal and lots of fun to see everyone out and about. Summer is officially upon us.

Trip to the Zoo

2009-04-26T02:45:00.000-07:00

Shelby had a fabulous first trip to the zoo when grandma and grandpa stewart came to visit before Easter. Her favorites: the elephant and the giraffe. The zoo is a few minute drive from our house at the Roger Williams Park. Now that New England has finally warmed up a bit and feels more like spring I think we'll be making more zoo visits in the future. She did learn to say "baaa" after seeing the sheep, but she wasn't too into the petting part of the petting zoo!

Who Really Needs a Dining Room Table?

2009-03-28T11:57:00.001-07:00

When you can have a jumper instead! Shelby discovered the castle jumper while in CA thanks to my old friend Courtney, and since we can't really afford a dining room table anyways....well, enough to say that Shelby LOVES the dining room right now.

Sutter Creek Visit

2009-03-28T11:55:00.001-07:00

Got to visit Sutter Creek on our trip too. Shelby and Tanta Wanda really hit it off. Grandma and Grandpa were a hit too, but of course we didn't take all the pics we should have. I am hoping grandma will be sending some pictures my way soon.

California Dreamin'

2009-03-28T04:36:00.000-07:00

Shelby had a great time visiting California and showing off her belly to anyone who would look. She made lots of new friends too! Each visit she made some new friends - of course, we weren't great at taking many pictures, but here are a few to show just how much Shelby made her way through the Bay Area. We miss it already. Notice the short sleeves and no coat look - it was a nice change for us.

Snow Day Fun

2009-03-02T12:58:00.001-08:00

MVI_1751
Originally uploaded by jonny stu

After hours of shoveling we finally had some fun today. Shelby is just getting used to the snow and is finally having some fun.

House-bound

2009-02-08T06:23:00.001-08:00

We pretty much spent the month of January in doors. It has been a month of snow and cold temps - a hard winter for Rhode Island we've been told. Shelby has been creative about her indoor play, finding new items to empty and crawl into. Notice the hair - it is finally growing. We think she might actually need a bang trim by her 2nd birthday!

Oops!

2009-02-08T06:14:00.000-08:00

This is why it is important to follow the directions of the baby products - when it says they are too big for the toy there is a reason you should take that advice seriously. Her bouncy chair was only out because we were actually bringing it downstairs to retire to the basement due to the fact that she had been climbing and jumping on it! Well, the video shows it all really. She survived, although with a small bump on the side of her head. You'd think as first time parents we'd be better at the supervision. We learned our lesson.

Holiday Dresses

2008-12-20T13:43:00.000-08:00

The best part of the holidays is getting to dress Shelby up in cute dresses! Here she is all dolled up for the Lower School Holiday Sing which she enjoyed because of all of the singing and all of the kids. She's got a few more cute outfits for the holidays which I'll be sure to post sometime soon. Hopefully mom will have some time to get a cute holiday dress or two as well. We are missing all of our friends and family back home. Hope to hear from all of you soon - blog, email, call. Happy holidays everyone!

Snow Day!!

2008-12-20T09:01:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was my first snow day, and it turned out to be quite a snow by this morning. Shelby was less than impressed and threw a major fit after about 5 minutes outside. Jon spent some serious time shoveling our rather long driveway last night and again this morning. It is still snowing lightly at around noon on Saturday. Jon is taking me out for my first driving lesson this afternoon! I must admit that it is odd to look outside our house and see snow, especially considering that we aren't on vacation somewhere but actually live in a place where it snows. It'll take some getting used to, but the snow day yesterday was a first!

Shelby's First Snow

2008-12-20T08:56:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago we had our first snow - just a little snow overnight...enough to allow us to drag Shelby out into it for a few minutes and let her walk around. She actually wasn't too into being out in the snow but loved looking at it from inside! Guess she takes after her mom.

Thanksgiving with the Merediths

2008-12-20T08:50:00.000-08:00

The Guinn-Stewarts enjoyed a great meal and great company on our very first New England Thanksgiving. Stacey, third grade teacher at Moses Brown, was kind enough to invite us to join her family at Thanksgiving. Shelby loved every minute of it because she got lots of attention, especially from Stacey's two girls.

November Rain

2008-11-16T14:17:00.000-08:00

Well, it is certainly more gloomy here in Cranston than in Sunny CA. But that isn't getting Shelby down!

A Walk in the Woods

2008-10-26T16:33:00.000-07:00

We finally managed to make it out of our neighborhood and begin exploring New England. We took a short hike on a trail near Lincoln Woods just north of Providence. Many of the leaves have already fallen but it was still beautiful. We hiked by a pond that still was surrounded by trees with all shades of colors. Shelby hung in the backpack til the end - at which point she could stand it no longer and demanded freedom! Of course she doesn't follow the path nor does she follow directions so this resulted in some crying followed by dad carrying her the rest of the way. Overall, she loved the trip as she is our little tree hugger and LOVES leaves and trees of all kinds. She has since she was just an infant. Our struggle will be to keep her tied down so we can actually walk rather than deal with managing her eating leaves, dirt, rocks and whatever else she can manage to find. We are hoping to get in a few more short day trips before it gets too rainy and cold.

Host Family to English Soccer Boys

2008-10-26T16:25:00.000-07:00

One of the great things about being at a school like Moses Brown is all of the events going on with the older kids. We offered to help host a boys soccer team visiting from England for a weekend. 2 high school soccer players stayed at our house and had to deal with Shelby staring at them the entire time. She was so excited to have older boys in the house she really didn't know how to react. By the end she was playing with them and smiling but it took some warming up on her part and theirs. On the last day 2 more players staying at another MB home one block away came over to watch a soccer match on TV. No one was as excited as Jon, who finally had someone besides Shelby to kick the ball around with. They talked soccer the entire weekend. It was a good time, and Ollie and Will were sweet kids.

Fall is Here

2008-10-26T16:21:00.000-07:00

The New England fall is amazing and nothing like we have back in Cali. The mornings are cold (last week's low am temp was 34 degrees!), but by afternoon it is sunny, beautiful and in the 60s. And the leaves are so beautiful - Shelby loves to collect and hand to Jon and I.

Uncle Jeff Visits

2008-10-26T16:13:00.000-07:00

Uncle Jeff came to visit! We had lots of fun showing him our favorite hang outs. Shelby loves her Uncle Jeff and loved going upstairs to wake him up in the mornings - she never gets to go upstairs so this was a special treat. Of course, Jeff's visit made us miss the rest of the fam. Hopefully more will come for a visit soon. More Uncle Jeff pics on the flickr link. Jeff and Jon had a Jack O Lantern carving contest - I am very sad to say that they were so great someone took it upon themselves to STEAL out pumpkins off our front porch :(

Alligators in the kitchen

2008-09-24T17:45:00.000-07:00

Watch out Shelby!

Help Arrives!

2008-09-06T06:04:00.001-07:00

When we visit Mom and Dad Stewart in Michigan, we always max out on pampering, relaxation, and fun. But when they visit the Guinn-Stewarts, we put them to work!

After Mom tackled furniture assembly/shopping duty and Dad put up 8 light fixtures, a 50 lb. mirror, 3 framed pictures, fixed our bathroom electrical and gave Abby hot water on demand, we allowed them a little time to relax.

And of course, they had to get their Shelby fix.

All in all, we had a great time, and enough people to entertain Shelby so we could make some progress.

Tiny Dancer

2008-09-01T11:06:00.001-07:00

She was a little sick and run down, so the butt shake wasn't quite in full effect.

Splashing

2008-07-30T07:52:00.001-07:00

MVI_1419
Originally uploaded by jonny stu

After 10 months, and roughly 300 baths, Shelby has finally discovered the joy of splashing. Now, fellow readers, I want to fully acknowledge that this is one of those things you only appreciate after you have kids.
Not sure that 11 months ago I would have enjoyed the splashing, but last night it provided a solid 5 minutes of hilarious entertainment for the Guinn Stewarts.

Stay tuned for more exciting adventures . . . .

Little Trouble Maker

2008-07-21T17:26:00.001-07:00

MVI_1411
Originally uploaded by jonny stu

Shelby's First Trip to Michigan

2008-07-21T17:08:00.000-07:00

We finally made it out to Michigan. Shelby got to meet her cousins Paul and Mary. Mary is only 4 weeks younger than Shelby so they had a fantastic time playing together. Shelby is just a little more mobile than Mary at this point, but Mary managed to hold her own and started crawling just days after we left. We like to think Shelby taught her.

In other news, we are surviving the heat of July in New England which is NO JOKE! Jon has spent the better part of the month installing window air conditioning units every weekend, while I continue to unload box after box. Shelby is a real trooper and is not phased too much by any of this, although she doesn't like being in the heat too long and does get a bit cranky (just like her mom). She has also inherited nose sweat bubbles like her mom and Uncle Jeff! The house is incredible and we are working on some before and in-progress shots that we'll post soon. It'll take us the year before we can post the before-after pics at the rate we are going!

The Stewarts hit the beach!

2008-07-02T06:27:00.000-07:00

Our first weekend together in Rhode Island, so we celebrated with a trip to the beach. Shelby enjoyed herself and tried to make friends with anyone passing by.

Next was a trip to downtown Newport for some Newport Storms and sea food for Mom and Dad, and formula and a couple french fries for baby Shelby.

Jane, Email Me!

2008-06-23T17:35:00.000-07:00

O.K. So in our haste to move I failed to transport my address book to my new email account. I must get in touch with my long lost friend in England, Jane...Jane, if you read this, please please email me at my new email address: abs_guinn@yahoo.com

Very excited about your news and can't access my home computer in a box somewhere for a while so I must speak w/ you. Send your phone number and I'll call you.

Shelby says her goodbyes

2008-06-11T14:21:00.000-07:00

Well, she doesn't know it yet, but Shelby has said all her goodbyes and is now ready to be a full-time Rhody. Which is a good thing, because I'm having a little trouble making friends on my own.

Actually, thats not true. I've already managed to mooch off my interior designer and new surrogate care-taker Sara (and her daughter, dog and cat) with dinners and free room and board. I have been spending my days shopping while Abby does the hard labor in packing, moving, and taking care of Shelby. I guess that's just how it works in our family.

And . . . . I already have a cocktail party lined up! I'll be BBQ'ing with all Abby's colleagues from Moses Brown without her. Does anyone think I'll embarrass myself or her?

With that, here are some highlights from Shelby's goodbye tour:

Her cousins:

Tante Wanda
Pop-Pops
Grandma
Grandma

Uncle Jeff
And her new favorite, Nick

Movin' East

2008-05-18T14:52:00.000-07:00

We are busy packing and preparing for our big move to Providence, Rhode Island. On the other end, our incredible house awaits us, in addition to the fantastic school I'll be joining as the new Head of the Lower School. Moses Brown School www.mosesbrown.org is where I'll be come July 1. These next 2 months will be exciting and incredibly busy for us - Jon leaves June 4 to sign on our new home, I finish school on June 13 and Shelby and I fly out June 14...just in time for Jon's first father's day! We will try to post updates when we can, but we might be offline for a bit while we set up life in Providence. Wish us luck - we'll need it, especially in June!!

First Swim

2008-05-18T14:49:00.000-07:00

If you can even call it a swim...She did love the water, though and especially enjoyed all of the kids in the baby pool.

8 Months Old Already

2008-05-18T14:44:00.000-07:00

We can't believe Shelby is already 8 months old. She's keeping us busy these days and is up to almost 20 lbs, has 2 teeth and 2 more coming in, and is sitting and pushing herself around. She can't crawl yet but she is working on it.

Time To Eat

2008-05-18T14:38:00.000-07:00

Shelby is an eating machine these days! Sweet Potatoes and squash are her favs right now. We trying to introduce some mashed up banana as her first "finger food" but she really wasn't into it. We'll try again soon on that one. While eating is going well, Shelby has decided that sleeping just really isn't her thing. She's taken to waking up at 4am on the dot - every morning. We are hoping this stage will pass soon.

Shelby's First Trip

2008-03-30T15:50:00.000-07:00

We spent Spring Break on the East Coast. Shelby was a great traveler and made many friends on the plane trip (although she also got the "evil eye" from a few child-haters sitting around us...I can't blame them as I used to be one of those folks - who really wants to be near the crying baby on the plane trip?) She really only cried once or twice, mostly she was just REALLY LOUD due to her overtired state. But she also managed to sleep quite a bit on both flights which gave us all some needed quiet time. Jon and I even got to watch a movie - a real treat these days! Gotta say - Jet Blue rocks for people with young babies. I highly recommend them. Shelby's favorite spot during the trip was hanging in Mom & Dad's bed at the hotel with all of her toys.

Easter in Brentwood

2008-03-30T15:42:00.001-07:00

Lots of fun with family and friends. My parents' house is beautiful this time of year. Shelby enjoyed hanging out with all of the cousins and of course the Easter Egg Hunt. She collected one egg and immediately put it in her mouth. I would've documented the adult Easter Egg Hunt, but Jon and I were busy finding eggs...we made $25 this year - not bad (yes, the adult eggs have money and it is quite the scene and a huge family tradition). While we have a fairly all for one and one for all type family, it is truly each man for himself when it comes to the annual Easter Egg Hunt!

Shelby is Busy . . .

2008-02-28T12:28:00.000-08:00

busy standing . . .

busy sitting . . .

busy playing . . .

busy body surfing . . . .

busy leaning . . . .

and busy loving . . .

We're Still Here

2008-02-03T20:21:00.000-08:00

So, life has been a little hectic since I've been back at work...no time for blogging these days. But Tammy is the Queeen Blogger and harrasses me on a regular basis to post more pics so here they are. Shelby and I on New Year's Day out and about, Shelby sporting her first fleece vest and hat - looking too cute (and she has matching mittens too, but our California weather hasn't really made it necessary to wear fleece mittens on top of hat and vest!), and finally Jon and Shelby hanging out. We'll try to post again soon! Family is recovering from multiple illnesses. The goal for February is to stay healthy and get some sleep!

Christmas in Sutter Creek

2007-12-30T19:13:00.001-08:00

We pretty much let the family have their Shelby fix up in Sutter Creek....Tanta Wanda, Papa, second cousins to Shelby Ericka and Nick and of course Grandma Janelle all had their turns. Ron was in there too, but somehow we missed a photo opp of that one. We had possibly the best Mexican Christmas dinner to date, followed by the largest dessert night ever! It was a great time. Grandma Janelle has the magic touch and pretty much never failed at putting Shelby to sleep - a real treat for Jon and I!

Christmas in Brentwood

2007-12-30T18:46:00.000-08:00

Shelby got to hang out with the entire Guinn family - and she was loving it! She especially loved getting to meet (Great) Grandma Dones and seeing all of her cousins. Cousins picture includes: Nathan and brother James, Meagan and sister Jenna, BJ and sister Guinn who are holding the youngest of the bunch, Shelby.

Christmas Eve dinner Jon and I took a break while Grandma helped Shelby join in at the kid table. This was the beginning of Shelby's discovery of her own voice - she really hasn't stopped blabbing away since then!

New Shoes

2007-12-30T14:47:00.000-08:00

Our friends Tammy & Brian managed to get ahold of perhaps the most stylin' baby shoes we've ever seen. Shelby can't wait to sport her pink plaid skater shoes!! And she loved all of the attention while opening her present as well.

Rockin' Out

2007-12-30T14:42:00.000-08:00

We had our family Christmas a little early. Shelby was pretty pumped about her presents. Guitar Hero was for Jon, but I'm sure he'll be entertaining me and Shelby with this new toy very soon....thanks Grandma and Grandpa Stewart!!

Swinging at 3 Months Old

2007-12-16T19:34:00.000-08:00

At three months old Shelby has finally "discovered" her swing. Not that we haven't put her in the swing before, but she gets really pumped up these days. It is like her own rollercoaster ride. She's interested in a lot of toys now, which is exciting for Jon and I...we were getting worried that our kid just wasn't really into much. But turns out she is. Her favorites these days, in addition to the swing, are the giraffe on her playmat, her monkey that hangs on the jogger we take walks in, and this really obnoxiously loud music playing contraption that has little bugs and butterflies hanging from it. She can gaze at it forever. While it is so loud it is actually embarrassing to turn on in public, it is great because it velcros on and off of almost anything, so we can use it at home or when we are out and about in the carseat. This was supposed to be a Christmas present, but since she was with me when I bought it and was already gazing at it, it just seemed a bit silly to wait til Christmas. That's all for now.

Go Bears!

2007-12-16T19:25:00.000-08:00

Well, even though Shelby was dressed to let everyone know she's a Cal Bear supporter, it didn't help the Bears bring home the ax. Thank goodness we only attended the tailgate-the game was a depressing end to a very disappointing season! I couldn't have handled that loss at the Stanford stadium. But we did enjoy the best fried chicken (thanks Brooke) and good company. We missed Michelle and Mike but hung out with their family - who were all wearing red this year (very unexceptable in my opinion!!). We are looking forward to the Big Game next year, where we'll be back on home ground in Berkeley, and hopefully we won't be the only ones at the tailgate in the Blue and Gold.

Daddy's Little Girl

2007-12-05T09:07:00.000-08:00

Shelby is such a daddy's girl! Not only does she look just like Jon, but she absolutely loves all of the attention he pours on her. Of course, I have to come in and remind them both when it is time to settle down - either he gets her pumped up or she gets him pumped up and then it is party time, even when it is suppposed to be bedtime or naptime. I always knew I'd be the rule-enforcer in our house, but now it has been confirmed. Notice her hair - it is turning slightly redish, kind of like Jon's beard when he doesn't shave. Red hair and blue eyes?? Guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Shelby at 11 Weeks Old

2007-11-30T07:28:00.000-08:00

She's 11 weeks old today and is starting to become interested in her toys. Her favorites are the mirror where she can look at the adorable baby (she gets that from Jon, I think...adoring herself in the mirror, that is), and her rattle that she can grasp with both hands - a very exciting development. Everyone agrees at this point that she is for sure a Stewart baby - although Jon assures me she's got my eyes and nose!

Thanksgiving

2007-11-29T19:48:00.000-08:00

We had a fabulous Thanksgiving up in Sutter Creek at my Tanta Wanda & Uncle Greg's home. It is always so beautiful up there this time of the year, and there isn't a year that goes by where we don't consider moving up there when we drive onto Main Street on Thanksgiving afternoon. Then reality hits and we realize what kind of commutes we'd have to have, not to mention the summer temperature and we think maybe we'll just have to continue our visits on Thanksgiving! Besides the food and of course seeing everyone, my next favorite tradition is me, Jon and Jeff's early morning walk downtown to get coffee at the Sutter Creek roasting company. This year Shelby joined us in the Bjorn carrier and was asleep by the time we got down the hill and into town. She was a real trooper - sleeping in her pack n' play, smiling at everyone, and overall being on her best behavior. Not that it was tough - I think the only time someone was NOT holding her was when we put her to sleep for the night! Spoiled. We are really looking forward to our trip up there again at Christmas, where we promise to remember to get pics with Tanta Wanda, Uncle Greg, and my cousins!

Yoga Class

2007-11-29T19:36:00.000-08:00

You've got to love California. Not only do we have all of the yoggies, we've got the yoggies and their baby yoggies too. Last week after Shelby's debut at the Phillips Brooks school Thanksgiving service (the students were so adorable and were totally into seeing Ms. Guinn's baby), we decided we'd try our hand at a Mommy & Baby Yoga class. Yes, I need to keep myself plenty busy - feeding and diapering just isn't quite enough for me. A little adult interaction every day is a must, so I'm constantly looking for new things to do....things that of course Shelby can be included in! Well, she was asleep when we arrived so I thought "perfect, I'll get to do yoga while she sleeps!" WRONG. How about I get to do 5 minutes of yoga, then take a 25 minute "break" to feed Shelby, then resume our yoga. The good news is that for the last half of the class Shelby seemed to enjoy the yoga - with Mommy doing some moves while looking at and singing to her. She even got to lay on my legs while I did some stretching. While I'm not a total yoga fanatic, it was fun to take a class with Shelby. I'm pretty much doing everything I can with her before I have to resume work - at which point Wednesday afternoon yoga classes just won't be possible.

Storytime

2007-11-29T19:31:00.000-08:00

Shelby has recently become interested in her books! She sits in her boppy pillow "chair" and we read together. Right now her favorites are the baby einstein mirror book, 10 little ladybugs, and Mr Brown can moo, can you. We have storytime every night right before bed. It is about the only thing she can do late at night - and by "late" I mean 5:30pm - without having a total meltdown.

Shelby's First Babysitters

2007-11-18T18:44:00.000-08:00

Our fabulous friends Brooke and Itay came and babysat Shelby so Jon and I could go to the movies on Saturday! It was great to get out into the adult world, not to mention we got to see a movie (we've been in movie withdrawl ever since Shelby joined us). We hear Shelby was very well-behaved. Itay put her to sleep and Brooke danced to the kids music channel that we apparently have on our t.v. - I had no idea about this channel, so I suppose we'll be tuning in from time to time now that Brooke has introduced Shelby to something beyond Baby Einstein's classical tunes! We so owe you, Brooke and Itay.

So Many Visitors, So Little Time

2007-11-18T18:35:00.000-08:00

We've had all kinds of visitors - which Shelby loves. She is always on her best behavior. We need to be better at documenting all of the visitors so we can post pics to the blog, but we did manage to get a few shots.

Tammy came to visit the day after Shelby had her shots, so Shelby was sleeping the entire visit with the exception of about 10 minutes. She really doesn't sleep that much!!

Pamela came for a visit as well. We think Shelby recognized her, or at least her voice. Pamela was our doula and was the one helping coax Shelby down the birth canal with lots of love, encouragement and of course making me do squats and walk the halls to bring on the contractions. Lets just say this visit with Pam was so much more relaxing.

Shelby at 2 Months Old

2007-11-18T18:29:00.001-08:00

The stats at 2 months: 12 lbs. 5 ounces, 24.5 inches long, survived her first set of shots although she did get a slight fever and was feeling less than her happy self the following day

Development: smiling all the time, taking notice of the things around her, able to check out her rattle and other toys that previously were completely nonexistent and uninteresting

Sleep: heard the saying, "2 steps forward, one step back?" well, Shelby gave us a birthday present and slept through the night on her 2 month birthday...and the following night too! Then we had the shots and she's been back to waking up 2 times a night :( But mom and dad are still excited as we at least know that it IS POSSIBLE for her (and us) to get a full night's rest. We have no idea when it'll happen again.

Shelby's First Halloween

2007-11-01T10:45:00.000-07:00

Could she really be any cuter? We managed to get her in her costume for a whole 5 minutes before she decided she wasn't having any more of it! Not bad for a first halloween. Thanks to Grandma Janelle she had a cute Baby's First Halloween outfit to wear as well. She is smiling at us now which is so exciting and makes for great pictures too. We'll keep them coming. Sorry for the lack of blogging, but Shelby's got me busy these days - busy and tired.

Ready to Play

2007-11-01T10:41:00.000-07:00

We finally got Shelby into some of her too cute outfits. Tammy thought she'd be lookin' cute in her tennis-inspired dress. No tennis yet, but she did enjoy all of the attention she got in her cute dress! Thanks Tam :)

Sporting her new shoes

2007-10-12T11:08:00.000-07:00

No, her feet really aren't that big, but we had to try them on just to see how cute she'd look in her pink converse - compliments of Grandma and Grandpa Stewart. Jon has been talking about pink converse since before she was born, so he was more than a little excited about this gift. It will be awhile before she can actually wear them, but there is no doubt she'll have plenty to match those pink shoes once she can wear them. Yesterday I put her into something green and yellow and she didn't even look like herself without any pink on. Gotta love the girl stuff. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Stewart for the pink converse.

Bathtime for Shelby

2007-10-12T10:58:00.000-07:00

Shelby apparently loves bathtime. Not only did she seem to enjoy getting into the water and being washed while mom and dad stressed out about not loosing hold of her, she had one of the best nights of sleep ever! Jon and I have decided that bathtime might need to happen frequently if this trend continues. However, based on our very limited parenting experience, there doesn't seem to be much of anything that stays predictable or routine at this point in time. But we'll give it a shot...just in case!

Date Night!

2007-10-12T10:52:00.000-07:00

Jon and I managed to go out to dinner while Grandma and Grandpa Stewart babysat. After 3 weeks of doing nothing but taking care of Shelby, it was great to rejoin the real world...O.K., so we only rejoined for about 2 hours, but hey, I'm not complaining. I even had a glass of wine, the first since before Christmas. We enjoyed dinner at one of our favorite spots, The Los Altos Grill. Shelby was fast asleep when we got home, so we considered it a successful first outing for both us and Shelby!

The Birth Story

2007-09-29T15:00:00.000-07:00

Shelby's just over 2 weeks old, and I'm finally getting around to sharing the story of her birth...I've been a little busy, to say the least! Well, things all got started on Thursday, September 13 - just 2 days before our scheduled date to induce and at about 41 1/2 weeks pregnant. By around 3pm that day I was in labor and having regular contractions. I labored at home til around 11:30pm, at which point contractions were close enough and strong enough for us to head to the hospital. We arrived at Sequoia Hospital in Redwood City by midnight and were given the unfornate news that I had not dilated at all, but I was allowed to stay through the night to see if I'd progress and have my doctor come and check me out come morning. Our doula and great friend Pamela arrived not long after we were in the hospital to help me get started with helping move the baby down. After a night of squatting, walking the halls, and intense contractions, Dr. Hoff came and announced that I had managed to dilate to 2 cm at which point I was officially admitted. We continued to labor until I could stand it no longer - I was dilated to 4 cm, having pretty intense and close contractions. That was at around 4pm on Friday. At that point the epidural was exactly what I needed, and the release of pain was welcomed. A smile returned to my face, we managed to take a few pictures, and I even took a little nap.

After the epidural things slowed down and they gave some petocin to speed things back up. This helped and the nurse and doctor both agreed with the contractions I was having I should be pushing in no time. However, a few hours later they were surprised that I was still only dilated 4 cm. At this point it was determined that my cervix was swollen and that while little Shelby had managed to descend it was unlikely I'd be able to dilate further. We made the quick decision that a c-section was what needed to happen, and within minutes I was being rolled into surgery while Jon changed into scrubs and joined me.

At 10:03pm they finally managed to pull little Shelby out, at which point I was crying at the sound of her cry on the other side of the sheet separating Jon and I from the doctor. He held Shelby up for us to see before being whisked away to get all of her tests done. Jon went with her while I was rolled to recovery. Overall, it was a crazy 31 hour experience that ended with our 8 pound, 8 ounce little girl in our arms. We named her Shelby while holding her in the recovery room as we decided she was a sassy little gal that deserved an equally sassy name!

Life with baby has been a huge adjustment that we are still getting used to, but she is wonderful, beautiful, and healthy - not much more we can ask for really! We'll try to update this blog with new pics whenever we have a moment (which isn't often, but we'll do our best!).

Shelby's One Week Old

2007-09-26T17:20:00.000-07:00

Last week we celebrated Shelby's first birthday with a little treat! She had returned to birth weight by this time, so we felt a little celebration was in order.

Shelby's first days are well documented

2007-09-19T13:38:00.000-07:00

I've posted over 250 pictures on flickr, so head on over to check them out. Thanks everyone for all the emails and calls . . . we don't have time to respond to a lot of you, but it really means a lot to Abby and me.

Main photo page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbyjon/
Slideshow: http://www.flickr.com/photos/abbyjon/show/

Welcome to the world, Shelby

2007-09-16T11:09:00.000-07:00

Shelby Guinn Stewart, the cutest baby on record at Sequoia Hospital*, joined the family at 10:03pm, September 14th at healthy 8 lbs 8 oz. Mom and Dad are weary, but excited and happy.

* no official statement on this claim from hospital staff, but you can tell they are thinking it!

First Day of School

2007-09-09T11:55:00.001-07:00

Considering that my due date was September 4th and school started at PBS on September 6th, I'd really hoped that I would be otherwise engaged on the first day of school. However, since the baby is hangin' tight and I need to keep myself busy these days, I spent the morning visiting all of my students in kindergarten through fifth grade. I must say, it was great to see them all and say hi one last time before I'm probably too tired and overwhelmed to make my way to campus. Pictures above are with a few of the baby's dearest admirers...the girls who were sure to hug and kiss my baby almost every day last school year and immediately did the same the minute they saw me on Thursday. Kids are great like that. My favorite quote of the day from a kindergartener: "Wow, Ms. Guinn! It looks like you swallowed a basketball!" They really do say it like it is.

Where's the Baby?

2007-09-09T11:23:00.000-07:00

40 Weeks, 2 Days, and Still Waiting...
You are all asking the same question we are - "Where is that baby?" Well, as the pictures do show, she's still in the belly. She is way too comfortable and seems to have no plans of joining us any time soon - at least this is what my doctor tells me given the "borderline unfavorable" status of my cervix! I'm hanging in there, but barely. For anyone who's experienced being post-40 weeks, it really does take on a life all its own. There is no more enjoying movies, ice cream, or any of the other "extravagances" that will surely end when baby arrives. All you really want is to go into labor and get the baby out!! Well, whether she realizes it or not, little Guinn Stewart will be joining us soon! In the meantime, I am watching lots of movies, reading a good book, and doing anything I feel up to (in addition to walking like a maniac in the hopes it'll help get the party started!). Jon has been the best husband ever - taking good care of me both morning and night. He even made a mommy & baby songs cd to cheer me up yesterday. I listened to it while bouncing on my birth ball and visualizing the baby moving down...

Out & About

2007-09-09T11:11:00.001-07:00

Michelle & Mike's Baby Shower in SF
At 39 weeks Jon and I managed to make it out for Michelle and Mike's baby shower. We had a great time comparing belly size - I'm obviously a bit further ahead...Michelle had nothing on my belly! The goal is for our daughters to meet at their very first Big Game in December...GO BEARS!

39 Weeks and Counting

2007-08-30T18:25:00.000-07:00

Tuesday marked 39 weeks, but Baby Guinn Stewart is showing no immediate signs of wanting to join us anytime soon. I continue to grow bigger and bigger as it gets hotter and hotter this week - the heat putting me over the edge moreso than the size of my belly. Although I must admit the belly is making some usually simple tasks a little more challenging: eating without spilling on my belly is close to impossible and turning to back the car out of any parking spot has proved super challenging. The good news is that I'm still out and about, taking walks most days if I can get out before it gets too hot. I've even managed to make it in to work and get some projects underway before the school year begins, which for us is next Thursday...at which point I'll for sure be on maternity leave. I'll try to post some pictures this week as the belly size really is worth looking at! We'll keep you all posted - perhaps I'll be in labor on labor day...

She's Growing...and so am I

2007-08-17T06:57:00.000-07:00

37 Weeks & Counting
My belly is definite proof that baby is now growing! We had our 37 week appointment on Tuesday - I'm now "full term" so she really can come whenever she feels like it at this point. Dr. Hoff informed me that there isn't too much going on, though. She is still "way up there" and there is no dialation whatsoever. Basically, she's totally comfortable hanging out where she is - at least one of us is comfortable, because it certainly isn't me anymore. As the belly gets bigger I am getting uncomfortable and am beginning to see why women have nervous breakdowns when the due date comes and goes and there's no baby - yoga exercises and massages from Jon have helped a lot. I'm happy to say I'm nowhere near the "get this baby out" point, but I can imagine in another 2 weeks or so that I might be feeling that way. Who knew my once-flat tummy could ever grow quite so much! Last night I slept on the couch in an attempt to find some way to sleep beyond one hour without experiencing pain of some kind. While the couch didn't make too much of a difference in my night of sleep, Jon awoke from bed the happiest I've seen him in a while! I think he is secretly hoping I'll stay on the couch so he can actually sleep. I figure I'll give him a night here and there....that way at least he's well-rested so he has the energy to cater to my every need. I think it's a good trade off.

Baby's Room is Ready

2007-08-05T16:08:00.000-07:00

Week 36

So, with 4 weeks to go the baby's room is all ready! The ladybug theme is so cute - we love it and we think she will too. We really did transform our once-office into a nice room for the baby with our office still residing in one corner of the room. The cute ladybugs, dragonfly, and what you can see of the flower on the wall behind the changing table/dresser were made by my friend Kim who teaches with me at Phillips Brooks. Obviously, she's the art teacher and so creative-her additions really made the room perfect we think! The biggest job of the whole project was the closet. First, this was our "everything" closet, so we literally had to comb through so much junk and reorganize other parts of our house to empty and organize this closet. Jon put the shelves together and of course I organized all of the baby stuff and found the perfect storage boxes after trips to every single organizer store in the area. Somehow my dad was able to store my old cradle for 30+ years and managed to find it in his garage at my request. It was hand-carved by my Grandpa Guinn and was what I slept in when I was just a little gal. I used it for years growing up as my toy box. It fits perfectly in the room and holds all of the toys and books we are just beginning to collect. Now all we need is the baby - but I'd be thrilled if she'd stay put for a few more weeks. We'll be sure to keep you posted and will try to put up a weekly picture of my belly as it expands beyond any measures I ever could've imagined.

Abby's Birthday

2007-08-05T15:55:00.000-07:00

Week 35

Jon and I went out to Brentwood to celebrate my birthday and my mom's birthday with all of the family. As the picture shows, my tummy is really growing now!

The two youngest of the nieces/nephews, Jenna (just over 1 year old) and James (7 months 0ld) will soon have a new cousin to join them at naptime.

35 Weeks and Counting

2007-08-01T06:52:00.000-07:00

So, I've hit the 35 week mark this week and Jon declared last night that I've "hit a new plateau." I believe he's trying to tell me nicely that pregnancy is now bearing down on me! Given that I spent most of the day lying down after my walk might have had something to do with this. Normally I give him the run-down on all of the to do's I managed to accomplish during the day, but yesterday I considered that we might want to up our NetFlix video number so I have some of "my movies" to watch - opposed to the ones he actually wants to see as well and I'm therefore not allowed to view without him! The good news is that I am still feeling quite good considering the measurement of my belly, which I can't remember off hand but I will definitely post a picture soon as it is worth a look at this point. Each night I get ready for bed and take a look in the mirror I swear it has grown...every day.

Home prep for Baby Guinn Stewart's arrival is pretty much complete - I'm working on fun stuff like decorating in the baby's room, ordering Cal Berkeley infant outfits online, and other fairly unnecessary tasks. We have our appointment tomorrow morning to get our carseat inspected - apparently 8 out of 10 people install infant carseats incorrectly, so hospitals and law enforcement agencies now offer installation appointments to check for correct installment of the carseat. Jon is convinced he will be in the 2 out of 10 stat, so I'll be sure to let you all know if we "passed" or not! My 10 year-old Corolla was not so easy to install the base, and we are less confident about this installation then Jon's car. Unfortunately, they won't check two cars at the same time so I have to go back in late August (the next available appointment!) to get my car checked as well...that is, if baby stays where she should for the next few weeks.

Will post pics soon to show you belly and home prep progress - both are impressive and exciting we think!

Chelsea vs. Club America

2007-07-25T17:07:00.001-07:00

Chelsea came to play Mexican team Club America in an exhibition game at Stanford Stadium, so Abby and I went to check it out. Soccer people love Abby's shirt that says I'm growing a future soccer star!

A word to the wise: the Southwest corner is in direct sunlight until just before sunset. We actually stood in the shaded aisle for most of the game. Anyway, it was great to see all the superstars, even if they jogged around out there for 90 minutes. Abby really hung in there . . . but I think it took a week for her to recover. The baby probably enjoyed the game as well.

Los Altos Baby Shower

2007-07-23T15:14:00.000-07:00

33 WEEKS

Had my third and last baby shower in Los Altos at my friend Jennifer's home. Brooke and Jennifer, friends from the Stanford CTE program, and my long-time friend Tammy from back home hosted the small gathering. Between Jennifer's organizing and incredible backyard set-up, Brooke's crafting and decorating, and Tammy's baking and photo album project it really was a great party! I got to see some of my friends who live locally and hear how the summer is treating them. Tammy was the only non-teacher friend, so she did well hangin' with the teachers! There were lots of laughs when I opened Jennifer's gift "the 41st week basket" full of goodies. Well, more like necessities post-delivery, but all very useful. All experienced moms in attendance agreed they were necessary, while my non-mom friends sat back with looks of horror on their faces at the sights and sounds of what follows the labor & delivery experience. And of course, I got so many cute pink items there are just too many to name. Needless to say, Jon and I are fully stocked with clothes, shoes, and receiving blankets to keep our little one looking sassy and staying warm.

As the pictures do tell, my belly continues to grow at a rapid rate. Dr. Hoff assures me that I'm looking good. And I must say, other than feeling a little large and having trouble getting up after sitting or laying down, I'm feeling great so far! The trick is to stay out of the sun and stay cool these days. Lots of inside projects are keeping me busy.

Family Baby Shower

2007-07-14T07:03:00.000-07:00

31 Weeks

My family baby shower was out at my sister Tiff's house in Antioch. It was a beautiful day - not too hot but nice enough to eat and play a hysterical game of hanging baby clothes while holding baby and talking on the phone.

I loved the fact that I had all of my moms and my grandma with me. They've been wonderful at giving me all kinds of advice on what I need, don't need, must do no matter what, and don't need to worry about doing to prepare for baby! Given that I'm a total type-A planner, I bug them all with questions. Usually I can track down one of them by cell phone while I'm out walking to quiz them on the latest things on my "To Do" list - a list that seems to get bigger as the baby nears instead of the other way around. In the picture are: mother-in-law Carol from Michigan, mom Janelle, Grandma Dones, and mom Cookie.

I was also lucky to have almost all of my sisters with me - who have also been a huge help in answering tons on mom-to-be questions. Tiff and Michelle are experts on the registry experience and knew exactly what I couldn't go without. In the picture are: Michelle, Tiffany, sister-in-law Stephanie from Michigan, and Tiff and Michelle's half-sister Cheri who - by proxy - counts as my half-sister, although it is too confusing to explain to others so let's just leave it as she's also my half-sister even though we technically have absolutely no parents in common! Sister Angie, brother Boom's wife, was out of town on a family camping trip and was totally missed, but the fact that I managed to get these 4 all there was impressive and fabulous!

Stewart Girls' Weekend

2007-07-06T17:16:00.000-07:00

Week 31

Mom and Stephanie came to visit for a real Stewart girls' weekend! Jon was supposed to be playing soccer, but his tournament got canceled so he served as driver and photographer for mom and the two pregnant gals. We had a great time getting pedicures, picking out our baby crib (thanks mom!), and going out to eat lots.

Tammy Visits

2007-07-06T17:08:00.000-07:00

Tammy met us out on Santana Row in San Jose to see the growing belly in person! I discovered my favorite pregnancy drink - a virgin mango mojito! It was the first virgin drink I was actually satisfied with, and I really have been craving it ever since. Tammy managed to get Jon to try on the fake pregnancy belly in the maternity clothing store - and I'm SO SAD I don't have that picture to post. His belly was almost as big as mine. Tammy helped me find a cute dress for my baby shower in July - we'll see if it actually fits at that point in time!

Baby's First Quilt

2007-07-06T16:58:00.000-07:00

Brooke and Johnny made us a beautiful baby quilt - and in the Cal colors no less. I must say I was a little surprised given our Stanford connection (I'm thinking they didn't really plan for the blue and gold, but thank goodness it wasn't red). Go Bears!! I told Jon we'd have to wrap her up in it come November and drag her to her first Big Game...that is, if we aren't too tired ourselves. I'm loving summer - especially the part where I get to meet friends for leisurely lunch outings up in Burlingame. And I'm especially appreciating this summer as I make my way through my third trimester.

Daddy Stewart

2007-07-06T16:51:00.000-07:00

Jon gets some practice with nephew baby James out at Tiff's place. He really is going to be a great dad!

Sand Soccer in Santa Cruz

2007-07-06T16:24:00.000-07:00

Week 30

We are officially 3/4th of the way through the pregnancy, which is amazing! This week we enjoyed Jon's soccer tournament at the beach in Santa Cruz - kind of. I must say, while I am a beach person, combining pregnancy with hot sand and a sunshade that turned out to be a great way to create an indoor sand storm was not too enjoyable! While the shade it provided was great, our sunshade purchase failed to mention in the directions that it really doesn't work if it is one bit windy and you are on the sandy beach. Oh well, we'll be taking that back for sure!

The rest of the week consisted of Jon and I tearing apart our office in order to make room for baby. It was quite the job, but by the end of the week we could finally say we felt we'd made some progress getting our tiny home ready for the expected arrival. I'm still feeling great - walking daily or doing my prenatal yoga has been a real blessing, and I've been managing to sleep a bit more these days as a result. The picture is proof that my lovely little sunflower has not yet stretched - but I'm thinking it won't be long now!

San Francisco Baby Shower

2007-07-06T16:17:00.000-07:00

Week 28

Yasi and Stephanie threw me a fabulous shower at Yasi's place in SF. Lots of friends from the Berkeley days were able to make it as well as some local SF friends. It was great to see everyone, especially a few friends who were able to make it from out of town. New haircut - VERY SHORT! But I'm getting used to it.

U.S. vs. China Soccer Game

2007-07-06T15:50:00.000-07:00

Week 27

So it's been a long time since I've updated our blog, but between school ending, Jon and I disconnecting our entire office, and me having major technical difficulties using my laptop - well, I'm finally getting around to posting some pictures from June and July! Not sure if I'm having success with posting the photos, but Jon and I had a great time in early June at the U.S. soccer game with guys from Jon's numerous soccer teams. Yes, he's on THREE teams at the moment. Basically, he's getting in as much soccer as he possibly can before the baby arrives!

Jon bought me a special t-shirt just for the soccer game - "I'm Growing a Future Soccer Star" is what it says. Do you think he'll be disappointed if she hates soccer? hmmm...

Memorial Day

2007-05-28T21:02:00.001-07:00

Week 26

Abby took her belly out to the pool. She made sure not to sun-burn the baby. But those cheeks are a little rosy!

Only 3 weeks left of school, and 2 weeks till the last trimester.

Mother's Day

2007-05-28T20:52:00.001-07:00

IMG_0185, originally uploaded by jonny stu.

23 Weeks.

A perfect day for Abby, in spite of her sickness. We went out for a nice brunch and thought about how our daughter can cook for us after this.

Babies R Us Trip, Brentwood CA

2007-05-28T20:44:00.000-07:00

Week 21

The right of passage into the Guinn Family involves the Babies R Us trip with Grandma. 3 hours later, we'd survived. But barely.

We did get some help from the cousins in testing car seat options.

Johnny and Glen's Commitment Ceremony

2007-05-28T20:33:00.000-07:00

Week 21

The pieces of cake were huge. The wedding was beautiful, and great for Abby to see her CTE friends.

Friday Harbor, San Juan

2007-05-28T20:23:00.001-07:00

Week 19

We drove and hiked the entire island in one morning. It was said that whales could be seen, but we didn't witness any marine activity. Dinner and accomodations at the Friday Harbor House were excellent. It was great to get away, shift into neutral, and recharge our batteries.

I almost went swimming. But Abby saved me after taking the picture.

Easter Weekend in Washington

2007-05-28T20:16:00.001-07:00

Week 19

We both had some business in Seattle that allowed us to take a great vacation in the Pacific Northwest. This will always be known as "the last trip together before the baby came". On Easter Sunday, on our way to the San Juan Islands, we stopped in Mt. Vernon where the tulips were blooming. Abby's t-shirt actually says "Baby Love", and not "Ab(b)y Love" as pointed out by some.

Dinner with Courtney and Alex

2007-05-28T20:10:00.001-07:00

Week 17

Abby's finally starting to show . . . we enjoyed some NCAA basketball and Patxi's pizza with friends Courtney and Alex.

The early weeks of Abby's pregnancy are far behind us. She is up to her usual tasking self and making to-do lists for Jon.

Valentine's Day at the W, San Francisco

2007-05-28T19:57:00.000-07:00

Week 12

We celebrated Valentine's Day and the end of Abby's first trimester with a trip to the W San Francisco for some relaxation and a nice dinner. We started the day with some superb massages at Therapeia.

We concluded the trip with some shopping downtown, dinner at Hawthorne Lane, and a nice walk on the waterfront the following morning. Soon after, came the end of Abby's morning sickness.