Introducing Diego Satoru Bergstrom

Thursday, 12/1/2011, 5 a.m.:  Molly woke up with contractions. We spent the day trying to keep ourselves occupied. We walked through the neighborhood (including a trip to Berkeley Bowl), spoiled Siena, and tried to get some rest. Contractions gradually increased in intensity through the day, and into the night. We didn't end up getting much sleep!

Friday, 12/2/2011: Contractions continue. Walks continue. Still no kid. Then Molly's mom came up from Monterey, and the contractions started kicking into higher gear! We ran some errands to keep us distracted, and the contractions increased in frequency. When we returned home, the contractions started to slow down. Yikes. Within a couple hours they got crazy, so we decided to start our trek out to Walnut Creek. 


We continued our distraction technique by taking a stroll through some Walnut Creek stores, perusing their handbag selections. Molly does love handbags, you know. It helped keep us walking around until the contractions were overwhelming.

We arrived at the hospital around 9:30 p.m., and by 10:30 p.m. they admitted us. 

Saturday, 12/3/2011: [Insert several hours of crazy labor], and we were finally able to hold Diego Satoru Bergstrom. 

Born: 12/3/2011, 8:05 a.m.
Weight: 7 lbs. 3 oz.
Length: 20.5 inches

Yes, if you can do math, that's 51 hours of labor. We were lucky enough to have one midwife and one nurse manage our care from admission to birth, and they were amazing. 

At birth, Diego looked like an old wrinkly Asian man. He alternates between looking like Molly and looking like Josh, and to some degree, looking like Wolverine from X-men (long nails, fur on his back).

We ended up spending two nights in the hospital with Diego, arriving home to Siena and Molly's mom on Monday, 12/5/2011.



Now we're home, adjusting to life with a newborn, and getting to know the child formerly known as the Panda. (Current nicknames include: Senor Burbujas, Grumpy Bear, Old Korean Man.)

So where did this legal name come from? 

We both really like the name Diego. It makes Josh think about Allende's book, "Zorro", a tale of young Zorro's adventures in Spanish California. And Molly just likes how it sounds.

Satoru (悟る) is Molly's grandfather's name, and it means enlightenment in Japanese. He taught Molly to appreciate ice cream, and to always be punctual (which actually means early). 

 

Still pregnant - 40 weeks

That's right. Panda Wontonio Chuy Nacho Speedy Gonzalez Bergstrom is due today. There is a reason they call it an estimated due date. No sign of labor yet.

Molly is less comfortable, but still doing well. Looking forward to aquatics tonight! Josh finished the night shift rotation. And Siena got a lovely haircut. We're in a holding pattern - trying to take it easy, get lots of rest, and enjoy eating out/going out while we wait for the Panda.


 

39 weeks of Pandamonium

Being 39 weeks pregnant is like having a 30+ lb. medicine ball strapped to your belly. Except it moves a lot. And sometimes kicks you in the ribs.

The housework has slowed down significantly. It's gone from full-on construction zone to completely functional and comfy home over the past 9 months. Just a bit of minor finishing touches left.

Things I'm looking forward to:
1. Meeting the Panda.
2. Spending time with Josh and the Panda. And Siena.
3. Sitting in a hot tub.
4. #3 + a glass of bourbon on the rocks.
5. #4 + a platter of unpasteurized goat cheeses.
 

 

A Letter to the Panda

Dear Panda,

We hope you've enjoyed your accommodations for the last 38 (almost 39) weeks. You've been so good to Molly, letting her sleep (most of the time) and not challenging her with too many pregnancy-related ailments. 

We wonder if you'll really like cereal and milk or peanut m&m's when you grow up. Molly certainly didn't like either of those snacks before you came around.

We have so many hopes and dreams for you. That you'll be happy, healthy, and successful in whatever way you define success. You'll make some mistakes, and we hope you learn from them. And we hope you'll forgive us for the mistakes we're bound to make. You will face new challenges throughout your life. Don't worry about having everything planned out and knowing what exact goal you are heading for, except the goal of experiencing new adventures with love and companionship. 

From Josh we hope you'll learn to be handy and scientific. From Molly we hope que aprendas a hablar espanol. And we're excited about all the things we'll learn from you as well.

You're already surrounded by family and friends who love you immensely, including a dog that is patient and sweet. She may sniff you and encourage you to chase her even before you're mobile, but she'll also let you lean on her and pull on her as you learn how to stand up and walk.

Thank you for not coming early - allowing us the time to get the house in the best possible shape for your arrival.

We love you.

P.S. Please be nice to Molly during labor.

37 weeks!

And we have lots to celebrate.

1. Our kitchen. It's functional and fantastic. The countertop came last week, and Josh installed the sink and dishwasher. We now officially have 3 sources of water in this house. AMAZING.

2. Floors. No, they're not in yet, but we hope to have it all in this week. We've been living on subfloor for a couple years now, so this is going to be, visually and functionally, a huge leap.

3. The Panda's room. It's about 90% done. Painted, arranged, full of clean clothes, blankets galore, and everything Panda imaginable.

4. Molly (and Panda) have reached 37 weeks, which is full term according to some (others say 38). Both are still feeling pretty good! Tired and heavy, but not awful.

5. Napping. Molly and Panda are excellent at napping. 

6. It's Molly's last week of work until the end of March. Refer to #5.

7. Josh is finishing up his night shift rotation. It's been going well, and it's actually given him more time during the day to work on the house.

8. Molly's belly button is still an innie.


9. And we're both getting really, really excited to meet the Panda.

Entering the 20th Century

In preparation for the Panda, Josh (with the help of our awesome friends & family) have been busy reconstructing our home. Last night Josh put the finishing touches on our bath. That's right. We have a place to bathe IN OUR OWN HOME! Thanks to the Windels and McCoy Wades for lending us their showers for the past, uh, two months.

Today we went for our 35 week check-up. Everything is looking good, and the Panda is already head down. I'm definitely slowing down (read: tired all the time), but still relatively comfortable. I'm working for two more weeks, and should have two weeks at home before my estimated due date. I'm looking forward to napping.

Also, go Ron Washington!

Panda Q. Bergstrom: Week 34

Panda Wonmonkeyo Speedy Gonzales Bergstrom is getting large. He and Molly are enjoying pre-natal aquatics and resting a lot. Molly is pretty tired these days, but otherwise doing really well. And they're both really loving the Major League Baseball postseason.

Josh is working the night shift as part of his training rotation at work. He's scheduled to go back to days the day the Panda is due. 

And truly amazing things are happening in our home, thanks to our awesome friends! Kitchen, bathroom, and Panda bedroom are in their final stages of remodel. It's been an incredible process, and we're looking forward to enjoying our wonderful no-longer-under-construction home.

Local Vacation, Active Panda, and Call for Volunteers

Josh and I went on a local vacation yesterday. We hopped into SF, got dinner at Farmer Brown (YUM), saw a movie (Detective Dee and the Mystery of the Phantom Flame), and stayed at the Donatello (thanks to the Nelsons/Windels). After breakfast this morning, we drove up to Point Reyes Station, got cheese and bread from the Cowgirl Creamery, and spent the afternoon at Limantour Beach. It was a really nice getaway.

Panda is 30 weeks old today. He's still active and squirmy, and overall treating me well (may it last for 18+ more years).

I'm going to put a call out for volunteers to help with our house on 10/2. Depending on how things are progressing, we'll probably need help with one of more of the following: painting walls, varnishing doors, stripping doors, assembling cabinets, installing flooring, moving heavy objects, and other things I haven't thought of yet. If you're free on 10/2 and would like to lend a hand, let me know. I promise to feed you well!

Panda Registry

Our friends & family are awesome (duh)! The Panda has already been spoiled by the generosity of many, and has tons of baby-toddler gear and clothes.

There are a few things left on his wish list. If you'd like to get him a "welcome to the world" present, here are some suggestions:

* giggle.com - Molly and Josh Bergstrom, #47854

http://www.giggle.com/eng/registry/47854

* amazon.com - Mariko and Josh Bergstrom

http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/registry.html?ie=UTF8&type=baby&id=3O1MJ4259445O

* Panda is also accepting donations towards a diaper service. We're probably going to start with Tiny Tots diaper service to see how it goes. A gift card would be much appreciated! http://store.tinytots.com/store/category/22/136/Gift-Card/

* And/or...Panda is already saving for college, and we'd gladly accept cash donations for that!

Celebrating Mom!

We spent Saturday in Monterey celebrating my mom's 70th birthday. Isn't she cute? Saturday also marked the 33rd anniversary of when she went into labor with me.


The Panda is 27 weeks old today. He's active like his dad, and clearly practicing to be a star soccer player. He even kicked his way through my prenatal massage!


Josh is doing amazing things to our home in preparation for the Panda. The best advice my mom ever gave me was to marry rich or marry handy. ;)

Pandatastic vacation and lots of demo!

Just a quick update:

Panda (and Molly) spent last weekend in New York seeing friends, walking endlessly, and eating lots of good food. Much love and thanks to our now completely Brooklyn-based crew (David, Katie, Alex, Adele, Matty, Jodi) and our travel buddy (Kim) for the fun times!

Josh (with help from his family) has been busy deconstructing our house, reframing walls in the Panda's room, the kitchen, and the bathroom. We'll make sure to save a couple projects for when the Panda is here, so he can learn to be handy like his father.

Siena has spent most of this time sleeping, alternately on the deck and in the living room.

Panda, it is!

Panda narrowly beat out Jesus Ignacio (Chuy Nacho) in the naming poll, so we'll be sticking with that for now. More name polling to come.

The Panda is becoming more active. I can feel him doing what must be jumping jacks. Or the dance Jennifer Beals does in Flashdance where she's basically running in place. Yes, I am anticipating a very active Panda.


But now on to more pressing issues. Things that really keep me up at night. What kind of diaper bag should I get? Do I want to share one with Josh? Can two Virgos keep one bag organized in the "correct" way? As a bag connoisseur, I find it totally unacceptable that I'm not well versed in diaper bags. Looking for suggestions here, people!

FAQ

I know you're all curious about the Panda. Otherwise you wouldn't be reading this. And we're really thrilled that you're so excited about him! Here are some answers to questions you might have:

Due Date & Delivery

• Yes, we know when he's due. Estimates include 11/27, 11/28, and 11/29. No, he is NOT going to be a Scorpio. No, we will most likely not be at Thanksgiving, but thank you for the invite.
• No, we don't know where he will be born. We are going to tour Kaiser Oakland and Kaiser Walnut Creek.

Pregnancy & Parenting Advice

• Yes! We'd love to know what worked/didn't work for you.
• No, we do not want to hear what we "have to" buy, read, do, or eat.
• Yes, we know the benefits of breastfeeding, and yes, that's the plan.

Names

• Yes! The names in the polls are fun. No, we're not really going to go with any of them.
• No, we're not going to tell you the name until the Panda is here.

Stuff

• Yes, we'd love to know about baby/child stuff you're looking to pass along.

Other

• Yes, we will have a meal delivery plan, coordinated by the lovely Molly & Darren Croteau. Stay tuned.
• Yes, we are taking prenatal classes, vitamins, etc.
• Yes, there is a ton of work to be done on the house before Panda gets here, and yes, we'd love your help. Projects range from major demo & remodel (bathroom) to cleaning & painting (Panda's room). Let me know if you're interested in helping with any of it!
• Yes, we will have a registry for baby gifts. But not yet.

It's a...

Panda! And not only is it a panda, it's a boy panda.

The 20 week ultrasound (pandavision) revealed a very active, squirmy, flexible, and healthy kid. 

And now we get to start seriously considering boy names. Josh's family has made some very, um, interesting suggestions. Vote for your favorite!*



* Absolutely no guarantee we'll go with the name that gets the top votes.

El Panda Or La Panda

5 days until the 20 week ultrasound. That means only 5 more days for you to look into your crystal ball, wildly guess, or place bets on the gender of the Panda.

18 weeks in...

 

Whoa! On the way home today, Molly started feeling tiny bubbles in her belly - a sure sign of Panda movement. The quickening is here! (Josh says "there can be only one.") 

Molly is certainly feeling better...though not quite convinced of the glory of the 2nd trimester. Still waiting. She played her last softball game on the 19th, yet continues to attend games (dressed up, of course, as all players on the DL should). Her last two games were amazing - clearly the Panda is going to be a great softball player.

We've received some really great advice from friends that have children. Here are the top three:

3. Sleep in. And sleep as much as you can.

2. See movies. Lots of them. You won't have an opportunity to do this for quite some time.

1. Avoid children under 10. You'll have enough time with them later.

The 20 week ultrasound is scheduled for 7/11. We are definitely going to find out if it's LA Panda or EL Panda. Molly hates surprises.

The Panda is weird

Now that I've emerged from the first trimester, I can reflect back on the many ways I know Panda is weird. Here are a few highlights:

1. I hated the taste of coffee for 6 weeks. If you know anything about me (including my early career years in the coffee roasting and coffee retail industry), you know this is just plain wrong. I love coffee. I love the taste. I love the smell. And fortunately, now that the Panda is older, I love coffee again (half caff, for those of you paying attention to my caffeine intake).


2. Tap water tasted like dirt for a month. REALLY?!?!! I love water. My friend at work is convinced I only drink coffee and water. I had to add lime or fizz the water to try to keep hydrated. But now we're back on the stuff again, straight from the tap.


3. Hand soap. We had to stop using our mildly fragrant (lemon or something) hand soap because the smell repulsed me. But wait, there is more. We had to purchase the most sickeningly sweet hand soap on the market (sugary clementine, if you have to know) and use that. Luckily we just ran out, and our normal hand soap is perfectly acceptable now.


Stay tuned for more reflections on how the Panda is taking over.

16 weeks...and very hungry!

And Molly at 15 weeks

Feeling pretty tubby, actually.

Panda at 12 weeks

Going back in time a bit - this is what Panda looked like a month ago.

Beware of the Panda

Welcome to Panda Q. Bergstrom's blog. Or rather, our account of the adventures we're having getting ready to be parents.

Molly is 16 weeks pregnant. And feeling better every day. She spent the first trimester sleeping a lot, and feeling generally queasy.

Why Panda Q. Bergstrom? We're definitely looking for a name that works well in English and Spanish, and so far Panda is the best we've come up with. And it works well for a boy or a girl. Q stands for Quapa (half a hapa).

And probably the most interesting question...what will a Japanese/Mexican/German/Norwegian baby look like? Probably like a panda. Stay tuned!