Picture Update

Yawn!

She's Here!

Alayna Josephine Linquist was born on November 20th, 2007 at 6:03am. She weighed 7 lbs. 1 oz. and was 20 1/2 inches long.

It has been almost an entire week and I am just now getting around to posting a picture of little Alayna. You know something HUGE has happened in my life when I haven't checked my email in almost a week. . .

I have MANY more pictures and videos that I plan on posting soon, but until then I wanted to at least get one picture up. Christie is doing well, she is still pretty sore and we are both a little dazed while we adjust to our new sleep deprived state of minds, but otherwise things have been great. We are both so in love with our beautiful daughter and she has already built up a huge fan club of friends and family. She is loved. . . that's for sure!

More to come soon, I promise. For now, I hear a crying baby in the background and need another cup of coffee.

What's the hold up!

I've been getting a lot of inquiries so I figured it was time to update the blog.

With only 12 days to the official due date, Christie and I are both anxiously awaiting the arrival of Little Alayna -- not to mention how anxious the grandparents have become. There are so many times through out the day and night that I wonder -- could this be the day? So far, it hasn't been, so the waiting game continues.

Christie has said many, many times in the last few days that she is DONE being pregnant. The aches and pains have increased but she is dealing with them in stride and hasn't lost her positive attitude (that's why I love her so much -- she is one strong chic). She has had a few contractions over the last few days and the hospital bags are packed. As long as she doesn't go into labor during the Ohio State game we should be good to go :)

I have a feeling that she will be here sooner then later, but the waiting game is on. I will keep everyone posted. Thanks to everyone who has been so supportive in our adventure, it's great to know that Alayna isn't even here yet and already has such a supportive group of friends and family. I'm sure she can't wait to meet you all.

Stay tuned.

Ready for Baby

The Baby Shower

The baby shower was held at Skyland Pines and turned out great! Thanks to everyone for all your support and great baby gifts. I also want to give a big thanks to Christie's mom (Grandma Marcia) and my mom (Mo Mo) for all their hard work in putting the shower together.

I showed up at the end to help with the presents (that's how I do it :) and found myself in a state of shock as I realized it would take multiple vehicles to get all the presents home. WOW! -- We are so lucky to have so many great friends and family -- and what a huge positive impact this will have as we begin our life long journey as parents. I just can't thank EVERYONE enough for being a part of this amazing experience with us!

Special thanks to Susie Linquist, Jane McHenry, and Grandma Marcia for providing the pictures.

7 More Weeks!

Life has been busy at the Linquist household. We have been working hard on finishing up our year long remodeling project in our basement as well as getting other things in order before our little one arrives. Our calendars have begun to read more like long novels then short to do lists. The nursery furniture is getting delivered on Thursday and soon we will have the baby's room ready to go! With only 7 more weeks to go (and possibly less), things have gotten pretty hectic around here -- but Christie is doing great! and we are getting more and more anxious as the days go by. She's almost here!

Baby Pool Update

Good luck to everyone who has bought squares in the online baby pool. The pool is already up to $134 -- with more money likely to be added during these last few weeks!

If you haven't already bought your squares, time is running out. . . . only 7 more weeks are left until the projected due date. There is still time to get in on the action, just go to http://linquist.babypool.com and make your picks before it's too late!

Just the three of us. . .

We are at 30 weeks now!

Here is a little slideshow I put together from our photoshoot in California when Christie was at 26 weeks.

Click here to view the slideshow.

Glider Chair

The room is painted and ready to go. We ordered the furniture and hope to have it in by the middle of next month. In the meantime, our glider chair arrived and is in place and ready to roll (or glide that is. . . )

Baby's Room

The Nursery - BEFORE


Painting is done. . now for the trim.


Almost ready!

Our Godson Liam

This is a picture of our godson Liam -- He is just like "THE GODFATHER" and is hard at work on his many websites. :)



We hope Little Liam and Baby Linquist will grow up to be friends.

A few photos from Cali

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A few pictures taken by Susie Linquist Photography out in Encinitas, California! She Rocks!

I will create a slideshow with more of the photos and add that shortly.


http://www.SusieLinquist.com

Baby Registery - From a Male Perspective

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First off. . . why did none of my good guy friends who have children give me a heads up about this?

Christie and I went to Babies-r-us to register last night and I have never felt so "out of my element" in my entire life. . . I guess it will become "my element" over time, but for now it was more foreign to me then my Honda Accord.

We walked in the store and up to the baby registry desk. As the nice lady at the desk took down our information, I slowly scanned the store for other "fathers to be". I found a few and was relieved to see that they had the same dazed and confused look on their faces as I'm sure I did.

I'm pretty sure that Babies-R-Us has spent millions researching the proper placement of the items in the store. It appeared to me that their plan was to freak me out at the start and then put me back at ease by the time we were done. The reason I believe this to be true is because the first item in the first row of the store is the breast pump with the last items being cute little baby clothes and toys.

Here is a short synopsis on how the evening went. . . from my perspective.

First stop, The breast pump. I was like a deer in headlights. . . . a deer in headlights looking at breast pumps that is. Possibly the most complicated device known to man. 10 Billion replacement pieces, each made for a specific brand. I've built custom computers, programmed dozens of web applications and databases, developed countless business models, but the breast pump. . . well, needless to say, it was no match for me. All of the years in college spent getting a degree meant nothing. . . . I was starting at ground zero. . . and I am SURE that this is only the first of MANY times I will be learning from scratch once the baby gets here. I have happily resolved with myself the fact that I know nothing. It was not the first time that I knew nothing about something. The only thing reassuring me was the fact that I felt confident that I would someday become an expert (or at least a novice) at "buying baby stuff" as I have in the past with other subjects that were new to me.

As Christie and I walked around the store I was put in charge of the scanning gun. After further thought, I'm pretty sure this was actually a carefully thought out plot to keep me from wondering aimlessly away towards the toy section. Without me next the Christie's side, nothing could be scanned. It worked. . . with tactics like that, she is going to make a great mommy!

By the end of the night, we were tired but walked out with big smiles on our faces. The task of looking at every possible baby item ever created was over. The experience was somewhat overwhelming for me at times (it did take almost 3 hours!) but to me it was the defining moment that I realized the countdown will soon be over and baby will actually be here. My smile grew larger as I glanced at my beautiful wife and then down at her belly. We are having a baby girl. It was right then that I realized I was the luckiest man on earth.

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Feel free to check out our entire registry by clicking below:

http://www.babiesrus.com/ControllerServlet?registryNumber=55119393&target=search

Online Baby Pool

Make our Windfall -- Your Windfall!

Baby Linquist just returned from Vegas (more on that later) and she loves playing the odds.

Now it's your chance to make a little cash off of your baby guessing skills through the Linquist Online Baby Pool! + And help start Baby Linquist off with a sweet little savings account while you're at it.

One lucky person will WIN CASH! -- That's a sure bet!

I know my friends love to gamble -- so here is your chance.

Simply go here: linquist.babypool.com and click on the GO TO BABY POOL button at the bottom of the page. If you have any questions be sure to send me an email.

Each slot on the baby board is $2 -- purchase as many as you'd like and cross your fingers. The person who picks the slot closest to the actual birth date and time will win 50% of the total amount collected with the remaining 50% going towards a savings bond for baby Linquist.

Slots may be purchased online through PayPal or by mailing in a check or cash.

What are you waiting for?
Reserve your slots NOW!

Getting Closer :)

Belly Snapshots

Lesson 1

Goodnight Moon

Now that our little one can hear and respond to what is going on in the outside world, Christie and I have began reading to her at night. At first it was a little strange -- laying in bed with Christie reading a children's book to her belly. But now, our little linquist has started to move around more when we begin reading to her. I think it's her way of saying she likes it and I feel more like I am reading to my little girl rather then a belly.

Karate Kid?

Christie has been feeling our little girl squirm around now for a couple of weeks. It wasn't until this last week that I felt her first kick. At first it was a slight push, but within the last few days it has turned into a full scale karate kick.

She seems to become active at night right before Christie goes to bed. We figure that through out the day she is rocked back and forth to sleep by Christie's constant movement, but come night time she is ready to party!

For me, it's an amazing feeling that she is able to respond to me as I place my hand on Christie's belly. I apply slight pressure and WHAM! -- she pushes against my hand. There is no turning back (not that I would want to if we could) -- she wants to connect with me. She responds to me. I love her already.

OFFICIAL UPDATE: It's a girl!

Christie and I went back to the doctors today for another ultrasound. The doctors were unable to get a good view of the heart last time and weren't able to tell the sex. This time they were able to get a better look and told us what we had already been feeling. . . that we no longer have to say "it" and can now begin saying "she"! We have a beautiful little girl on the way!

Just Chillin'

Ultrasound - 22 Weeks

 
 

Words of Wisdom (or something like that)

Friends and Family --

I wanted to give anyone who is interested a chance to share the great wisdom they have obtained through out the years of their own life's. . . .

With all the great knowledge and humor collectively held by our friends and family, I wanted to provide a place on this website which will allow you to leave a "life lesson" that you think our baby should know right from the start.

Have fun. Be creative. And leave your little piece of personal wisdom as a comment in this post. (click on the COMMENTS link under this post)

Ultrasound - 21 Weeks

Baby Ultrasound 7 Weeks

A new little Linquist is on the way! --