Elizabeth, Scott and Scotty Wilder

And it's a...........

A little friend for Ms. Wilder.
Elizabeth just won her on eBay and we expect her to arrive in a week or so...

'Cavewoman in the Crib'

Read a fascinating article about 'Caveman in the Crib' -- meaning that kids have some primitive qualities and need to be tamed -- and that the best way to tame them is a combination of 'tight swaddling, loud shushing and swinging.'

The article states toddlers are not even small people -- they are like uncivilized beasts. Therefore, if you want to calm a toddler down, you have to get on his level and communicate with him on his terms. You need to use lots of repetition, using the same words as the kid, make sure your tone reflects his and even show the same facial expressions.

This sounds like 'active listening' to me.. This is what many corporate coaches say you should do with your co-workers. 

So how should I communicate with Snoops now?  Should I make bubble sounds? Should I mimic her behavior and push her back when she pushes into Elizabeth's sides? And how do I get ready for this?

Big Daddy feels a flutter

Finally, I felt the flutter. This am -- around 6:26 am, which is the time I was born -- I felt Snoops move.

As Elizabeth pointed out, it feels as if fish tapped my hand while my hand was under water. Or better yet -- maybe it is just Snoopy reaching for my hand.... (just like it will be someday when I teach her how to swim)

Last night's dream:

I gathered different pearls from the ocean floor and left them on Elizabeth's pillow the day Snoops was born.

Daddy's little girl

Last Wednesday, we found out that it's going to be a Snoop-ette.

Yes, we are having a baby girl. Looks like all the Tibet myths and old (wo)man wise tales were wrong. But that doesn't matter. You know how Daddy feels about his little girl.

Last Wednesday we had our sonogram -- both the regular and the 3D one and could see all parts of the body and even her little face. (Yes, she looks like Elizabeth).

Last Wednesday we had a really nice nurse, Reme, who did the Sonogram and shared with us a whole new world.

For me, fatherhood just became real. At night, when I put my hand on my wife's belly, I now can imagine a baby girl kicking inside.

Sounds of silence

Ladies and Gentlemen---

We think there's movement.

Early, early this am, Elizabeth felt some a rippling feelings.... and lots of gurgling, which I heard too.

I placed my ear to her stomach .. and heard some noise...it sounded like someone (probably a boy) was blowing bubbles underwater...

Click on the image below, shut your eyes and imagine Snoops swimming away..

If you do keep your eyes open... then you will see what he will look in 15 years

One more thing -- Elizabeth dreamed that Snoopy was a girl.

16 Going On 17

Most people prepare for the transition from 2007 to 2008.

We prepare, however, for the big change from 16 weeks to 17 weeks, when we might start feeling Snoops move. Unfortunately for me, Mom will get to feel the first movement (they call this first mover advantage) before me. I have to make sure that my ego isn't impacted.

Big changes in week 17 include.. the baby starts to grow fat.... and his/her reflexes are in place so it can suck, swallow and blink (important for everyone, not just babies!)

Even though we haven't gotten Baby Mozart music for the kid yet, we do have a little special song that we will play for him this weekend.

Sweet 16

In honor of hitting 16 weeks, I was exposed to a new word today: Quickening, which of course was music to my ears, especially cause I am an Intuit employee. Quickening basically means ‘feeling the baby move.’ Quickening refers to “the stage of pregnancy at which the child first shows any sign of life."

But the other biggest 'sign of life' is that he has discovered his first toy (the umbilical cord which I am told he will enjoy pulling and playing with) and first game (tug-of-war with himself.... or just treat it like a lasso)

Lasso Wilder

First day at the beach

Well, Snoops and the folks (Elizabeth and I) played in the surf this am. In the surf in Puerto Rico.

(Hard for dad to imagine that one can play at the beach on xmas day. .. . I am used to cold snowy December days in NYC).

Today, we all floated togther in the salty water.

Again, there is very little advice for pregnant ladies at the beach ---  I guess this is another subject for a book.

Questions I thought about while the Mrs. was in the surf.

1. Is it ok if the water is cold? (don't want the little guy to freeze)
2. Does it matter if the water is too salty (the ocean water here in Puerto Rico is salty)?
3. Is it ok for the mom to suntan her stomach --- can the stomach get too warm? (Maybe Snoops felt like he was in a suana)
4. Is it ok for Elizabeth to lie on her belly in the water (and of course, on the beach!)?
5. What about doing flips and turns and more flips in the water?

FYI. Mom got stung by a bee or bumblebee and now her shoulder is all red and swollen. It could have been worse, but I dashed to her side to rescue her and pull out the stinger.

Since I am a typical dad to be.. I envision the little guy being the stud on the beach (see photo).. impressing all the ladies!  (and if it is a girl... I do not want her impressing all the guys :  )

Baby Santa Snoopy

Snoopy already got his first Christmas gift, which is waiting for us in California.

A note for my mother and my mother in law

I know that this has nothing to do with the pregnancy, but thought you would be interested in the latest news (no, it does not have anything to do with the baby : ) Here it is:

Starting in early January, Intuit is offering Quicken personal financial software on the iPhone. Nice!!!

I can just see Mrs. Wilder now..