Greetings from Papa Sted

Beloved wife points out that ikea and I did battle again. However, spurred on by my love for our unborn babe, we were able to leave Ikea triumphant! Not more than 3 tantrums on my part, a paltry single panic attack, and no useless fruit parers, woolen rugs, or gadgets. SUCCESS!

Moreover, beloved babe has shared her first secret with me (I'll never tell). I'm earning her trust already. She also gave me a robust high five about 7 millimeters to the left of Moms belly button. Fatherhood— Here. I. Come.

THE THIRD TRIMESTER...dun dun dun dun.

So I've arrived at the final 3 month segment of this pregnancy journey. Kid Stedman is somewhere between an eggplant and a large squash in size and my tummy gets rounder and bigger by the day. Though I still have more to grow, small activities like carrying laundry up the stairs and bending over to tie my shoes have become slightly ungraceful and accompanied by quiet grunting. I know, that's not very pretty.

To celebrate the momentous 28 week mark Scott and I went to our local Brooklyn IKEA to buy the baby a dresser. Scott has a somewhat complicated relationship with IKEA and fears it will inevitably get the best of him each time he walks through those sliding glass doors- the lights, the labyrinthine pathways, those endless alleys of simulated bedrooms and workspaces. I understand his wariness. Keeping our eyes fixed on a certain HELMES style dresser and blocking out all the LACK and BILLY and the aroma of swedish meatballs we chose, purchased and cleared out of IKEA in a record 45 minutes. Veni Vidi Vici!

Putting together said dresser was not such a record breaking event. For part of Saturday and most of Sunday I sat on the floor making the dang thing. Scott deemed this project a "one man job" but jumped in for a picture (I even gave him a screwdriver to hold so it would seem like he was helping...) Scott did however, manage lots of other household projects that can no longer be handled by a pregnant wife- took the air conditioner to the storage space (good man!) and moved around the furniture in our office/baby room like a true Hercules. My hero!

We'll check back in during Thanksgiving!

27.5 weeks

27 1/2 weeks at last. Scott and I had a lovely weekend in the Berkshires complete with chilly hikes and toasty fires. Here we are walking the Benedict Pond loop. As the dark days of winter approach it's important to get outside to enjoy nature and to get the blood flowing. Lord knows that as the temperature drops, the appeal of complete hibernation becomes hard to resist. Also, on hikes like these, I like to commit to loud deep yogic breathing to purge that Brooklyn air that sits glued in the lungs all week long, this I've been told, can be quite embarrassing for my walking partner. Nevertheless, Kid Stedman felt very energized by all the outdoor activity, so much so that she continued on her own 3k that spanned the hours between 2 and 6am Sunday morning.

In other happy news, Eric and Sarah Svenson welcomed Juliet Rose Svenson to the world. We'll post a picture once we receive one. Mazel Tov!

26 Weeks

Life is good. We have a new president and the world seems delighted. Kid Stedman seems quite pleased about it too. Upon hearing the announcement on Tuesday night that Obama had been elected she set about a tumbling routine that lasted well into the night. Who can blame her? There was excitement, relief and hopefulness on the air.

And here we are three days later at the 26 week mark. The baby is about the size of an eggplant and I'm about the size of a woman who can only fit into stretchy pants and muumuus.

There was dancing in the streets...

in our Brooklyn neighborhood, throughout New York City, across the country and across the world. We did it!

We're so proud to be Americans again.

Scott, Crystalle, the Kid

A Message From Kid Stedman:

Dear Adults,

Please get out there to vote! I'm counting on you to help change the world before it's too late. Kids like me need a president that they can look up to. Thanks a whole bunch.

Love,
The Kid

In other baby news

One of my best friends in the whole world just delivered her first baby at home (my hero!). Alison and Zach welcomed Caroline Fox Feuer to the world on November 1st at 5:36 am. Congratulations guys!

Lila McSorley

Just back from Boston and I already miss my sweet little niece. Luckily before I left they had given her a beautiful name, Lila McSorley. Can't wait to see her again at Thanksgiving.