Tim

Hello Eve!

Well, you're supposed to be here today or tomorrow. Talked to your Mom last night, but she said you were pretty quiet. I think it's getting kinda tense at your house, but everyone is still excited. Your Aunt Jill and Aunt Erin are waiting anxiously also. Jill and Noah went to a lake yesterday and had a picnic. We helped Erin get moved into her sorority house at OSU. She and this former hooker girl share a room that is about as big as a car. Erin got the bottom bunk though, so she was happy. You Grama got their safely, so we are all taking bets back here who will blow first, your Grama, your Dad, or your Mom. The heavy money is on your Dad right now, but the odds can change instantly, once you decide to shake everyone up a little. They painted the dining room yesterday to relieve the tension. I am thinking that if you don't get here pretty soon, that your house will be totally re-painted and probably have a new roof. No baby bed yet, though! I was thinking we might get some hay bales or corn shucks and put a blanket down on them. Anyway, tomorrow is August 1st, your due date, so get with program girl! Remind your Mom or Dad to call or send text us. We don't have any cigars yet, but we do have a new bag of charcoal. Can't wait much longer! Headed to the garage to look for a paintbrush myself. Love, Tim.

Coming to meet you!

Grama is almost ready to leave Kansas! I will see you and your mom and dad tomorrow! It is just so exciting to be coming and being with your mom right now! I want you to know that one of the first things I thought of after your mom was born was that she was going to have a baby someday - and that day is almost here! Your mom is not very emotional and I cannot wait to see you blow her away! You are a very lucky person to have so much family and love around you. Family is all you need. Try taking it easy on mom for a while, I do believe you will be keeping her hopping for the next few decades!!! I know you are safe and warm right now but this world is ready for you and it's not a bad place and your presence in it will only make it better. See you tomorrow! Love, Grama

Enough of that

Hey now, I don't appreciate being poked and prodded. This morning someone was pushing me low in to mom's pelvis and poking my head. Yes, I am here, but no, I am not coming out yet. I'm kind of enjoying myself in here. Besides, I like making mom uncomfortable and I'm going to be unpredictable like my dad. He isn't exactly concerned with time frames and neither am I. I go at my own pace. I have noticed that mom is walking a lot. She must think she can make my arrival occur sooner. Isn't she a sucker. Besides, I know as soon as I'm born, mom and dad will be trying new things like baby signs and classical music to enhance my brain development and stuff like that, so I'm just chillin out for now.

closer

Well, today I had another doctor's appointment and an exam to check my progress. I guess you are still content in my belly and I still have about a week before any real pain starts. When the doc checked your heartrate today I thought it was slower than normal and I asked the doc about it. She was shocked that I could tell, but I was, in fact, correct in my observation. Your heartrate has been consistently in the 150s, and once it was 145, but today it was 140. I felt proud to be able to distinguish the difference. Of course, the old wives tale is that girls have heart rates in the 150s and boys have heart rates in the 140s, so you may surprise us yet. I just want you to know that the exams are not very enjoyable, and since there are no open doctor's appointments next week, I get to wait until August 1 to go back in. If you decide to join us on the outside before then, it would be fine with us and I wouldn't have to go through one of those exams just for fun. Dad is really ready for you and keeps telling me to do squats. I don't know why he is in a hurry though. It seems he would want to finish your bed or furniture before your arrival. I guess not.

Grama Sortore will be here on Monday and she is excited and a little nervous as usual. Aunt Jill and Aunt E are coming out the day after grama leaves, so you will be booked up for a while. Don't you worry though, because Aunt Jill doesn't have any brain tumors (confirmed yesterday) and Aunt E found a bright strapless dress for rush, but still no shoes to match.

One of your mom's friends came out last week. Her name is Quyen (Wing) and she felt and watched you roll around in my belly. She is from Vietnam and looking for a husband so she can stay in the U.S. She did cook us authentic oriental food every night while she was here though, which tasted delicious. So if you were wondering who is was you heard talking in broken English and laughing a whole lot, it was her.

We want you to know that as soon as you decide you are ready to be born, bring it on, because we are ready too!

Tim

Hello Eve:

I haven't written for a few days because it has been sooooo very hot and nobody feels like doing anything. It's like 100 degrees everyday. And besides everyone is getting ready for your arrival. Your Grama Sortore is coming next week and I think your Aunt Jill and Erin are planning to come in mid-August. We hope to get there in the fall after you have a chance to get settled. I am trying to get my tools in order so that maybe I can help your Dad finish the baby bed. (that's a joke, I hope!) Anyway, tomorrow is your Mom's birthday. 24 big ones! Man, I remember the day she was born like it was yesterday. It was really, really hot then too. I was working on a job in Bartlesville, pretty close to the hospital that your Mom was born in. Your Grandma's sister(s) had to take her to the hospital because she went into labor while I was at work. I met everyone there and that's when the fun started. Your Mom decided she didn't want to come out yet, so she rolled around in labor for 47 hours. We sent all of the family home because we didn't think your Mom was going to be born yet (sort of). I had been working out on a jobsite, so I was really stinky and nasty. I had to sleep on the floor next your Grama until finally, two days later, your Mom was born. Finally! In all of the excitement, I forgot (sort of) to call your Grandma's family. Anyway, they had called the hospital and found out you were being born. They got there just as the nurses were bringing your Mom to the nursery for her first bath. They must have been a little hungry or something (sort of), because they weren't in very good moods. But they got over it (sort of) once they saw your Mom. Your Mom was a nasty baby at first and really did need a bath. She sure didn't like it though. She had a big 'ol bump on her head and we rubbed that 'ol knob for weeks. It finally went away. That's the story of your Mom's Birth Day (sort of). Anyway, I am sure that there will be another story or two coming in the next few weeks, so get with the program girl! We are all pretty excited to see ya'! Love, Tim.

Getting there

Well, mom was right about saying that I don't have much room. When I feel like stretching, I push out on all sides and mom always responds by rubbing her belly to make me stop. Of course, I don't. Dad keeps telling mom that I am his weapon and when she is mean to him, he says, "Get her Eve" and expects me to kick mom in the ribs or something. She has been having those practice contractions and I don't really like them. After each one is over, I celebrate with a dance party in mom's belly. I think I will be coming soon and hopefully I won't be late or anything, because otherwise I don't think I will able to fit.

I am getting better

Hello Eve-
Well you are almost here. I think we are all a little too ready for your arrival. Your grandma is getting really anxious to come to washington DC. I think she even found a sitter for her dog wilson. So I hear you are a little bigger than expected. That's okay, just don't hurt your mom too much! I think me and your Aunt Erin are going to try and come out for a few days after you are born. It will be so weird to see your little face, but I cannot wait. It only seems as if your mom has been pregnant for a short time. I think that it is because I don't get to see her very much, but we keep in touch more now than ever. I keep in touch with your dad, but in weirder ways. For example I received a box in the mail the other day that was addressed from your address and inside was no note, but a cuttlefish bone, a bag of silver, and a bag of cufflinks. I know that sounds weird, but even without a note I knew what he was saying. Oh another thing about your dad, he doesn't think dogs should be inside, so when you get old enough you need to plead for a big pit bull or something and request that it be kept inside. He turned down your mom on the request, but I doubt he turns you down. Well I better go. I hope to see you soon. Love, Aunt Jill

Tim

Hello Eve!

Well, your Mom and Dad are really examining and trying to figure out how to best take care of you after your get here and get settled. They are having the "proverbial" discussion about whether your Mom should stay home and take care of you full time or whether she should go back to work full-time or maybe part-time. It's a tough decision, but I am sure they will make the right one. If I were you, I would probably vote for your Mom going back to work. Then you could at least have a few hours each day to be a regular kid. Otherwise, they will probably start "home-schooling" immediately and believe me they will wear you out. I think you will get plenty of their influence in the mornings, evenings, and weekends, because then they will focus solely on you. Anyway, have a great day and see you soon. Love, Tim.

Tim

Hello Big 'Un!

Just kidding! I am still sticking with my original guess of 7 pounds 8 ounces and 19-1/2 inches long. I think you are simply going to be born a little earlier than expected. That would be a very pleasant surprise for your Mom and Dad, so keep that in mind. Well, your Mom and Dad decided to take your cloth diapers to the hospital. I am glad your Grama will be there, because she will probably have to show the nurses how to use them. I hope your Mom at least bought some "cool" pins to keep them on. Like maybe little skull and chain pins or something like that. I guess I am going to take a couple of days off next week. I think I'll drive over to southern Arkansas or maybe down into Mississippi. Surely, I can find you one of those ol' time bonnets and maybe some of those leather lace-up shoes. If I see an old wooden cradle, I think I'll pick that up too. Did they make wooden carriages back then? I am not sure the wheel was invented yet. And finally, if I have room, I think I'll try and find a wood stove, an animal skin blanket of some sort, and some candles. Since your baby bed probably won't be ready for quite some time, you can lay on your animal skin blanket at night in front of the fire and read in the candle light. Love, you. (PS. - Instead of having anymore baby showers, I think we ought to start a fund to buy your Mom and Dad a lawnmower. Thay actually make them with little engines on them now that spins a blade and cuts grass sort of automatically)

latest news

Well, I think the name Little Eve probably won't fit after today's doctor's appointment. I asked the doc when you would drop because I have been quite uncomfortable at times. Pretty bad indigestion and quite a bit of restriction on my lungs. She started pushing and feeling and said that your head was settled and not wiggling so you had probably already dropped into position. The reason I didn't feel much relief when you dropped is because you are large and you just don't have enough room. She didn't specify how big you'd be, but right now you are measuring a week and a half ahead of schedule. According to averages, that is about 3/4 pound above normal for your age. Now I tried to blame this all on dad, because he has such a big head, but he was a small baby as was I. The only other culprit is the Sortore gene you carry. The whole natural birth idea may turn out to be a mistake yet if you end up being like 10 pounds. Dad would enjoy it though, because he expects you will be built like a professional athlete and is looking forward to raising a basketball player or something. It seems a little strange that you will be here in about 3 weeks, but we couldn't be more excited. We have all your cloth diapers to protect your skin. Dad and I talked today about whether we should take cloth diapers to the hospital with us. We agreed that we should and dad said that he would take them home and wash them for us. That's how excited he is about using cloth diapers. It's not surprising though, since he wants everything to be the best for you.

Tim

OK Little Eve (that's Jill's intro):

I cannot believe no one else has written you a note after that! Your Aunt Jillian and Uncle Noah are not really crazy people. I know they just sent you a note about animals and their status in life, and about losing heads, etc., but that's not what they are all about! At least I hope not! Anyway, you need to know that you have a whole bunch of family that really cares about you getting here. Safe and Sound! It's hard to put your "feelings" in a basket and try to to forget them until you get here, but I know that is happening and that it's really going to be cool. Whether all of us are there or not, you will feel the power of your fam...! Promise!!!!! Tim.

Silly me

Hey little Eve-
Boy I have a lot to catch up on because silly me cannot figure out this blogger deal. What does blogger mean anyways? Beats me. I do sometimes have a little case of dumbass. So I think I have told you about my ferret Wishkah and if not you will hear plenty more of him I am sure. He has been causing a small stress on us. He has a friendly flea. We have only seen one, but it won't leave. I think they are friends or something. We have tried everything. It seems as though we may have a new pet or something. Have i ever told you about my outside cat, Queen? I don't think so. We call her The Queen, Queenie, or just Queen because she thinks she is one. Well she obviously lives outside and she is around all the time. We have moved her from our old house around the corner. She kinda just does whatever she wants. Although she hunts a lot and brings me home all kinds of things. This week was a bird although she likes to skin squirrels and rabits. One particular time she decapitated a squirrel. GROSS! And did you know that cats are the only animal, besides humans, that hunt for game. I have to go now, but maybe in the next blog I can tell you about my other outside cat I had named Scab. Talk to you later. Love, Your aunt Jill