Lucidia Lohman

On Beaches (figuratively and literally)

On a balmy September afternoon, our little family set off from our home base in Spartanburg, SC for a long drive (Google Maps put it at 9.5 hours… the trusty, but eternally finicky GPS quoted us at 8 hours) which would eventually land us oceanside on the Outer Banks of North Carolina (Hatteras Village, to be specific) in a beautiful rental house with Granny, Popsy, and Uncle Malachi. Yes, the Lohmans invited us to share the renewal of their OBX-in-September tradition, which, after the beautiful week we had (suspense = over), we hope will continue, at least until Lulu’s in Kindergarten! (more…)

A Long Overdue Update for Seven Months

Well now, it has been quite awhile since we’ve updated, now hasn’t it? Lulu’s six-month birthday has come and gone (as has another trip to Pennsylvania and my first extended leave from my girls–SIX DAYS is far too many!) and, as you’ll notice in her Flickr photostream, the little mushy thing that we brought home in December 2008 is neither very mushy or little anymore. At her most recent immunization appointment (7/15/09), she weighed in at 19 lbs and some ounces, towered over her former self at 28 and three-quarters inches, and took her third round of vaccines like a champ, crying briefly then sleeping sweetly for the duration of the afternoon.

Instead of lamenting our lack of updates (or delivering yet another acknowledgment that this site needs some freshening up [maybe for her one-year birthday!!]), I’ll take the next few days to recap the last couple months in as few words as possible. (more…)

Mommy Means…

In anticipation of Kelly’s first Mother’s Day (and hoping to avoid the traditional platitude-laden greeting card-type blog post that accompanies these sappy holidays), I had a conversation with my beautiful daughter this morning–a conversation that I’ve had with her whenever we’ve had a few minutes of “daddy-daughter time.” As she stared up at me with her magnificant exploding suns (her mother says she gets them from me) just oozing with consciousness and self-awareness, I asked her to encapsulate everything her mother represents to her. Between cascades of glistening drool and outbreaks of semi-productive coughs (little bugger has a cold), this is what she babbled to me. (more…)

Visit from Granny and Popsy

We’re still awaiting the site updates I promised back on the 30th (sigh). It seems that having a baby severely detracts from one’s ability to keep the baby’s web site current… c’est la vis… it’s a welcome diversion. I will keep plugging away at the updates, and hope to have them before she is old enough to tell me to get my hands off of *her* web site:)

Lulu is in the midst of a visit from Granny and Popsy, who drove down from PA to see her (for Popsy, it was the first time). She had a great time being bored to sleep by Popsy’s stories (just kidding, Popsy) and seems very relaxed and comfortable with her grandparents (which is good news for mom and dad). I’m sure many fun times await Lulu and her family.

Mom and dad are still nursing a nasty cold that they developed last week (luckily Lulu has been unfazed, save for a stuffy nose and some sneezes), but we’re having the time of our lives getting to know our little munchkin.

Check back later for more. I’m committing to writing more in this blog–we’d not want to miss any major updates, would we?

Love you kid.

Update Coming Soon. (promise!)

I know that many folks have been here looking for updates about the Lulumeister and, truth be told, we’ve been too busy oooh-ing and ahhh-ing and listening to the various coos and observing the newborn mannerisms and, and, and…

We’re starting to come to terms with the fact that we need to keep this blog updated, especially now that the little stinker (and I do mean stinker… she’s topped 10 diapers a day now… TMI, I know) is on the outside.

Mommy is going to take the half-birth-story that Daddy wrote at the hospital prior to all hell breaking loose (i.e., the wicked contractions, pitocin drip, epidural, and c-section) and finish it up so that y’all can relive the moment(s) leading up to and closely following her birth.

Daddy is going to revisit the site design (don’t worry, he’s still digging the nursery-themed color palate) to incorporate more of the kiddo herself, get the RSS stuff squared away, and work on some other odds and ends.

Thanks to everyone who comes by to check up on the little miracle who is currently feeding like there’s no tomorrow. Be sure to check Lucidia’s Flickr photostream (also available by clicking the link in the right-most column above the photo tiles) and Lucidia’s YouTube channel often, as we’re still in the “take-a-million-pictures-per-day” phase.

Here’s the kiddo, about to go shopping last night:

Lucidia has arrived

As many of those who routinely read this blog know, Lucidia Rose Lohman was born on Thursday, December 18th, 2008 at 8:59 PM by Cesarean section at Mary Black Memorial Hospital in Spartanburg, SC (quite a few details there, huh?). She was 8 lbs. and 6.6oz at birth and 19.75 inches long (with a big head and “shoulders like a linebacker,” according to the doctor. Despite quite the deviation from our planned birth due to Mom’s elevated heart rate and blood pressure, Mommy and Baby Lulu are doing great, resting in our room until discharge, planned for tomorrow morning (Sunday). Grandma and Pop Pop (Mommy’s Mommy and Daddy) have arrived, and visited with Lulu earlier tonight. Mommy and Daddy are tired, but can’t wait to bring home our little Lulubean.

MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH more to come soon… in the mean time, check out Lulu’s Flickr Photostream and her YouTube videos!

Too-doo-lulululululu!

We’re Off To See The Wizard…

… the wonderful wizard of L&D!

Yes, Kelly’s blood pressure is elevated once again, and Dr. Awesome (one of the few OBs that she can tolerate without the onset of acid reflux) has sentenced us to return to L&D, where Kelly’ll again be poked and prodded. Hopefully, however, this time will be different, and the little reclusive kiddo will finally make her appearance.

This time tomorrow, my fatherhood visa will likely be stamped and official-ized.

Lulu’s Definitely Coming… Maybe Tomorrow

L&D was a bust.

Just a bunch of waiting, tons of unrequited photo ops of Kel in her ill-fitting hospital gown (though we did snag a video of Kel imitating the kindly blood tech [cool word for labbie who drew some blood] and his lisp to end all lisps), and a few disorganized contractions. Turns out Dr. Boob (as Kelly calls him) overreacted to a pee-stick result showing +infinity protein and sent our mom-in-waiting to be induced. While Dr. WHY-AT was not much help at all (gruff codger that he is), the nurse that assumed our room (368) on evening rounds explained things in a bit more depth. Kel’s tests were OK, save for her blood pressure and protein… nothing we can’t ride out at home.

For now, we watch the Eagles on MNF, hoping that our daughter, having had a brush with the lovely sterility that is Mary Black Memorial Hospital, is interested in finally making her appearance before Haley’s comet makes its return.

Due Date: T+1

Just as I expected, our little cookie/bean/tweeter/daughter is determined to stay put within the confines of Kelly’s “baby box.” Perhaps accustomed—even marginally addicted—to the long nights spent chatting it up with innards (ya know, pancreas… liver… small AND large intestine), relishing the odd vitamin or nutrient that is delivered via umboCord, and generally having the time of her young life, Lulu knows not the allure of the bright lights and the big city (Spartanburg… pffft… for now at least… tomorrow, the world!), and not much that her mom or dad can try to call through the layer of skin, muscle, and liquid shock absorption (”bag of waterzzz”) will do much to change her mind. Nope. Only a full-fledged eee-vic-tee-own will do now, and Kelly has assured me that she’s quite in tune with that (she has the Sheriff on speed dial and has already contacted the IUD locksmithery services to handle that part of the transition).

Still… I’m really looking forward to hearing that cry for the first time, and this waiting stuff is getting maddening.

(more…)

The Phils Take Care of Their End… Now It’s Lulu’s Turn!

Lulu, Kelly, and I are utterly psyched right now because the Philadelphia Phillies are the 2008 World Champions, having finally finished Game 5 tonight with a 4–3 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays.

For anyone that hasn’t been subjected to the superstitious diatribe, I was born near Philadelphia (Norristown) in November 1980, less than a month following the Phillies (then) only World Championship. They made it back to the World Series in 1983, losing to the Baltimore Orioles (I was then living in Pasadena, MD, about 10 miles from Baltimore). When my folks and I moved back to PA in 1993, there were the Phillies, again in the World Series, this time losing to the Blue Jays in 6 games.

It seems only fitting that a birth be the catalyst to a successful World Championship run. We can’t wait for your arrival, Lulu. You’re sure to hear a much more detailed (and, of course, exaggerated) version of this story every year on your birthday!

Love you, kiddo!