Eli Paul Alba

The baby formally known as Merlin is now Eli Paul Alba. Say hi!

Happy Birthday Baby Boy!

June 25, 2010

3:13pm

8 pounds, 6 ounces

20 inches

Name and details to follow . . .

Birth Update

Hi All. This is Adam.

We pulled up to the hospital this morning around 1:45 am. Andrea had been having regular contractions since about 5:00 pm yesterday afternoon and decided that it was time to see the doctor. Sure enough, Andrea was dilated to a 3, and the baby had moved down. At around 3:30 am Andrea decided it was time for the epidural. The anesthesiologist was terrific; Andrea said the catheter hurt more than the epidural!

Nurses and doctor think he'll be here this afternoon! She's currently dilated 9 cm and may even be 10 cm. We're mostly waiting for him to drop into her pelvis so she can start pushing. We'll keep you posted!

I'm a 1!

I'm still here (at 4 days overdue), but wanted to give you all an update. I went into my doctor's office yesterday for fetal monitoring. They hooked me up to a machine and monitored the baby's heart beat, movements, and my contractions for almost an hour. He was a stubborn little devil and kept rolling away from them every time they got a good heart beat. It took forever for them to get the readings that they needed, but the good news is that he passed with flying colors. He doesn't seem too stressed out in there. He is still happy hanging out for awhile longer!

The good news is that I've FINALLY made a little progress. I am 1 cm dilated and 60% effaced. The bad news is that Merlin still hasn't descended at all. He is sitting at a -3 station, which is the measurement of how far down he is in the pelvis. He is still what they calling "floating."

I also had some good, strong contractions during the night, which was encouraging. Personally, I don't think I'm going to make it all the way until my induction on Tuesday. We shall see....

Happy 1st Father's Day

I was really hoping to give this guy a baby boy for Father's Day,

but I guess the tie and socks will have to do.

I can't wait to see him as a father and know he'll be awesome.

40 Weeks Pregnant

It's D-Day! Today marks the official end of my pregnancy, although I don't think Merl got the memo. At my doctor's appointment this past week, I hadn't made any progress whatsoever. No dilation, no effacement, no contractions, and no dropping from the little guy. I guess he is content with making everyone wait, even though we're all getting anxious to meet him. The little stinker! I'm trying really hard to not be mad at him, but it's hard to not be impatient when I've already waited 40 long weeks to see his sweet little face.

At my appointment this coming week, my doctor is going to hook me up to the electronic fetal monitoring machine to make sure that the baby isn't too stressed out in there. She'll listen for decelerations in heart rate, rapid or slowed down movement, or anything else that seems irregular. If everything looks good, she's going to continue to try let things happen naturally. If nothing has happened by the 29th, I'll go in for my induction.

I am still working. Even though it's uncomfortable to sit at my desk for 8 hours, it's helping me keep busy and keep my mind off the fact that I have an overdue baby. I'm so grateful that I'm still feeling really great. My only complaint is that my ankles and legs are extremely swollen. Besides looking hideous, I've been having shooting pains running down my shins and calves. I try to keep my feet propped up at work and every few hours, I go outside and take a quick walk to get the blood flowing again.

I am retaining water like MAD! According to my weigh in at my doctor's office, I gained 6 pounds in one week. Ha! It's horrifying, but like Adam keeps reminding me, it's physically impossible to gain that much weight that quickly unless I'm eating thousands of extra calories every day. It's all just water weight that I hope will just come right off after the delivery.

We are getting more and more excited and anxious over here every day! Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers this week.

Fat Babies are the Coolest

I sincerely hope that our son will be as fat as Adam was.

Just maybe not right when he comes out...

Diaper Bag Help Needed!

I bought a diaper bag a few weeks ago, and in typical girl fashion, think I might have changed my mind about it already! I loaded it up with some baby stuff that I thought I’d be carrying around with me on a typical outing, but it seems like it’s too small to fit everything I need. But I don’t know! I have no experience! What do you need to take with you when you go out?

It’s totally last minute, I know, but I haven’t really gotten any advice about diaper bags yet. Can all of you wonderful, experienced, knowledgeable moms impart your wisdom to me?

• What size of bag do you recommend?
• What brand do you love?
• Is it worth it to spend a lot on a really nice one or will any bag do?
• What are the features of a diaper bag that you can’t live without?
• Should I have 2? A small one for quick trips out and a big one for days when I’m going to be out all day?
• Do I need to get a totally sassy bag so that other moms won’t judge me and think I’m a lame-o mom?

Help a sista out!

Our Swaddle Model

This little guy served us well this weekend as we practiced our swaddling skills.

We're total pros now, thanks to Happiest Baby on the Block & Aden & Anais Swaddling Blankets!

39 Weeks Pregnant

This has been a really long week. Time has seemed to go by more slowly than I ever thought possible. It’s been filled with anxiety about when the baby is going to come and how he’s going to make his appearance. Part of me hopes that he will show up today and the other part of me wants him to hang out for a few more weeks because I don’t feel ready to be a mom yet.

At my appointment this week, my doctor told me (again) that I haven’t made any progress. She scheduled me for an induction on June 29th, 9 days after my due date (and well into my 42nd week of pregnancy). I left my appointment feeling discouraged. I can’t imagine having to go 9 days past my due date! I guess I need to think of it as a worst-case-scenario and hope that Merlin decides to come on his own before then. The late induction is a blessing, really, because I feel really strongly about not wanting to be induced.

I keep trying to tell myself to stay positive and that it doesn’t matter when or how he comes. All that matters is that he’s coming! The fact that we are even having this baby is the biggest miracle that’s ever occurred in our lives. Plus, I know I don’t have a right to complain about anything because my pregnancy has been so easy, it’s ridiculous. Even at 39 weeks pregnant, I feel great!

Adam and I went on a tour of the hospital this week. It was nice to see the actual rooms that I am going to deliver and recover in. It made us so excited! The best part was watching a nurse give a baby that was only a few hours old his first bath. It was the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen. He was so mad! His chin quivered the entire time and his skin was bright red with fury. She used a soft sponge and soapy water to clean between every one of his little fat rolls. When she was done, she wrapped him in a blanket, put a little hat on him, and stuck him under the warmer, just like french fries at McDonald’s. He immediately fell asleep. He was exhausted from putting up such a stink! Watching it turned my heart into mush.

I’ve started having completely irrational fears this week about the baby. I mean, crazy, impossible, laughable fears. Like when the doctor sees him, he’s going to announce that he is actually a puppy, or that his brain is made of Jell-o, or that he doesn’t have any bones. Part of me wouldn’t even be that surprised if any of this were true. I lie awake at night worrying about these crazy things that couldn't possibly happen. I don't know why.

I have really, really, really loved being pregnant and am going to miss it! Anyway, I'm planning on posting a lot of updates as soon as anything starts happening!

The Best of Washington DC: Food Edition

I’m totally freaky about food. I love it. I think about it all the time. I literally dream about food at night and as soon as I wake up, I get excited planning what I’m going to eat that day. I’ve been like this since I was little. My family always made fun of me because I’d always ask my mom what we were having for dinner before I even left for school. I can’t help it! Food makes me so happy!

We by no means eat out as often I would like (read: every night) because we have no monies, but during the past 3 years that we’ve lived in Washington, we’ve managed to make it to some pretty yummy places. I know a lot of you won’t care, but for those of you that live in the area or are planning on visiting and are looking for somewhere yummy to eat, here is a list of my very favorites.

• Market Lunch: Oh, yum. This is one of my very favorites in DC. It’s a little grill in the corner of Eastern Market. It’s really inexpensive ($5-7 for a meal) which makes me love it even more. I’ve only been there for breakfast, but their eggs benedict, bluebuck pancakes, and french toast are all to die for. The downsides to this place are the extremely long lines (think 45 minutes to an hour on a Saturday morning) and the cash only policy.
• Carlyle Grand Café: This restaurant is on the fancy/pricey side, but everything about this place is wonderful. The food, décor, service are all fabulous. Every single thing that has entered my mouth while eating there was roll-your-eyes-back-in-your-head-and-moan delicious! It is owned by a local restaurant group called The Great American Restaurant Group.
• Ben’s Chili Bowl: This place is a landmark restaurant that you can’t miss out on. It has been a part of the city’s history since it opened in 1958. Everyone who’s anyone in Washington eats here. Pictures of celebrities and politicians line the walls. Bill Cosby and Michelle, Sasha, and Malia Obama are the only ones that eat free- President Obama has to pay, according to the sign posted inside. The “half-smoke” hot dog is delicious, as are the chili cheese fries. The staff is really friendly and they sing while they’re making your food. Eating there is a lot of fun!
• Sweetwater Tavern: This is another restaurant in the Great American Restaurant Group. It is equally as delicious as Carlyle Grand, but I don’t like the décor quite as much. It feels a little crowded in there. We went there for our Valentine’s Day dinner this year. In the basket of bread, they bring these little fried balls of dough that are warm and rolled in cinnamon and sugar. They are AMAZING! After tasting these babies, I was tempted to cancel my entrée order and ask the waiter to just bring me a big basket of them instead.
• Good Stuff Eatery: Best burgers in DC, in my opinion. This burger joint is located on Capitol Hill and *SURPRISE!* the lines are always long. The burgers are juicy, the cheese is good quality, the buns are soft, the fries are crispy, and the milkshakes are thicker and creamier than you’ve ever tasted. My mouth is watering just thinking about it all!
• El Pollo Rico: This place serves the best Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken I’ve ever eaten in my life. I’ve tried a few Peruvian places in the area, but they all pale in comparison. The chicken cooks on spits for hours and is bursting with juice. They serve it with fries, coleslaw, and little containers of sauce that is like liquid gold. The best past is that it’s dirt cheap. I crave this stuff all the time (especially during my pregnancy!). The only downside: cash only (I never carry cash).
• Whitlow’s on Wilson: This place is an Arlington classic. Adam and I like to go there for their Monday night special. Big juicy burgers and fries for ½ price. Our bill ends up being like $8 or $9 for both of us. You can’t beat a deal like that! The burgers aren’t the best you’ve ever eaten, but for half price, they’re great.
• 2 Amy’s: People argue that 2 Amy’s has the best pizza in D.C. Apparently, they make it according to the Italian government’s specifications, so it’s supposed to be really authentic. The crust is chewy and some of the best I’ve ever had. Last time we went, the waiter accidentally dropped our leftovers on the floor as she was boxing it up so she had the kitchen make us a fresh pizza to-go. Sweet!
• Ray’s Hell Burger: Second best burgers in D.C., but BEWARE- they are huge! Way, way, way too big. They are literally ¾ pound each. Adam and I always split one because I cannot in good-conscience eat one entirely by myself. The downside to this place is that french fries aren’t even on the menu, but they make up for it with little nuggets of fried mashed potatoes. Weird, I know, but delicious. They also have killer mac & cheese.
• Five Guys: Good, but kind of overrated. There is a Five Guys on every corner here. We don’t eat there very often because we think there are way better burgers out there.
• Best Buns Bakery: This bakery makes the bread for all of the restaurants in the Great American Restaurant Group. If you’re a carb-lover like me, you’ll feel as if you’ve died and gone to heaven in here. They’ve got every kind of bread you could imagine, cookies, cupcakes, brownies, sandwiches, salads, etc. It’s conveniently located right next to the library, so every time I go to get or return a book, I stop in for their ham and havarti sandwich on rosemary bread. I dare say it’s my very favorite sandwich.
• Founding Farmers: Adam and I tried this restaurant for the first time last weekend. The food was delicious, but to be honest, we were kind of put off by some of the snooty things about it. For example, Adam ordered a Diet Coke thinking that it would be free refills (like any normal American restaurant), but what they brought him was a warm 8 oz. glass bottle and a cup of ice. They charged him $3.50 for it and of course, there were no free refills. Also, the jug of water they brought us was also room temperature and they didn’t serve it with ice. Weird. But at least the food was good. The portions were a little on the small side. I don’t know if we’ll be going back.
• Red Mei: Asian take-out in Old Town Alexandria that is made fresh-to-order. They claim that their food is healthier than other Asian food because everything is steamed, not fried. They have a big selection of yummy dishes, and all entrees are served with rice and are only $5.95.
• Mia’s Pizza: Adam and I both think that Mia’s has the best pizza in D.C. We recently tried it after reading about it in the Rachel Ray magazine. The owner used to work at 2 Amy’s but left to start her own gig. She came up to our table during our meal and was very nice. The pizza is woodfire style with chewy crust, not a lot of sauce, and lots of good quality cheese. It’s located pretty close to the temple so if you’re in that area anyway, you might as well make a fun date out of it.
• Panera: I know this is a chain, but it is one of my absolute favorite places to eat. I try to order something new every time I go, and I’ve never once been disappointed. I like to order the ½ sandwich and cup of soup, but if I’m feeling particularly naughty, I replace the soup with a cup of their creamy, tangy mac & cheese. Holy cow, it’s good. I love buying a baguette to-go and eating it for dinner with butter, cheese slices, and avacado. Yum!
• Breadline: This little deli is located close to the law school and is only open during lunch hours. The bread is crispy on the outside and oh-so-soft on the inside. The thing I love most about this place is that the sandwich meat is shredded and fresh (like leftover Thanksgiving turkey), not slices of slimy, pressed “meat.” They have awesome pasta salads too.
• Georgetown Cupcake: Cupcakes are a big deal in this city (and are becoming a big deal everywhere), but I think Georgetown Cupcake is the best of the best. I wish they were bigger (especially at $3.75 a pop), but every bite is pure heaven. I love all of the flavors they have. Downsides: no parking whatsoever and ridiculously long lines, especially on weekends.
• Clyde’s: Awesome food. This is your typical American-style restaurant, but you can’t deny how good everything is there. Their chili is to die for. They have a few locations around the DC area. My office had its Christmas party there, and it was a blast.
• Bertucci’s: Good Olive Gardenish type Italian food. They have great pizza and pasta. Our favorite part about it though is the hot rolls and olive oil they bring out when you sit down. In my book, you can’t beat a restaurant the serves free all-you-can-eat bread!
• Popeye’s: The KFC of the South, and oh, so delicious. Adam and I love to go there when we feel like pigging out on fried food. I like to clog my arteries with their crispy strips dipped in honey mustard, Cajun-seasoned fries, and biscuits. This place makes KFC want to hide in the corner, embarrassed.

Our Restaurant Bucket List:

• Pedro & Vinny’s Burrito Cart
• Bob & Edith’s Diner
• Lost Dog Café
• Pizzeria Paradisio
• Mike’s American Grill
• The Dairy Godmother
• Hard Times Café

Sorry for this. I told you I was a freak.

38 Weeks Pregnant

Only 2 weeks left! I can’t believe it! Honestly, I am still feeling so awesome that it’s ridiculous. I never thought it would be possible to say this at this point in my pregnancy, but I still forget that I’m pregnant sometimes! I’m sleeping great and don’t have heartburn, back pain, or swelling. I have my moments, but overall, I don’t even feel that huge. I don’t even think I’ve had any real Braxton Hicks contractions yet, but then again, I'm inexperienced and don't know what they feel like.

At my doctor’s appointment this week, I still hadn’t made any progress. Everything was exactly as it had been at my appointment the week before. No dilation, no effacement, no “dropping.” I asked my doctor if she could predict when he’d come and she replied, “not early!” I don’t mind it at all if he wants to stay in there until 40 or 41 weeks because I’m still so comfortable. My doctor induces her patient before they start their 42nd week because she thinks that the risks outweigh the benefits, so I know he’ll be here by June 26th at the latest. My plan is to keep working up until the last second possible because we could really use the income. I want to drive to the hospital straight from the office!

I only got one mean comment from a co-worker this week. Yay! “I just noticed how bad your skin looks lately! You are really breaking out!” What do you even say to that? “Yep, thanks for noticing and pointing it out! I wasn't self-conscious enough about it on my own!”

Merlin and I had a “tender moment” the other morning. We held hands. The sun was just starting to come in through the blinds in our bedroom and I woke up to a little poke. I put my hand on my belly and was surprised to feel a tiny lump that was sticking at least in inch out of my belly. When he usually pokes out that far, it’s just for a few seconds, but this time, he kept his little part there for almost a whole minute. He gave me a good opportunity to gently poke it and try to figure out what it was. After a few seconds, I knew that it was his little hand. It couldn’t have been anything else. I rested my hand on his and we held hands for awhile. It was sweet. I almost woke Adam up so that he could hold hands with him too but didn’t when I remembered that Adam tends to be crabby when he gets wakened up.

Adam and I have been growing increasingly baby hungry as time passes. We saw like 5 baby boys at Costco yesterday. We sat there and stared at them for as long as was socially acceptable before their parents started to get creeped out by the strangers oogling over their baby. And you should have heard us as we washed and folded all of his little baby clothes last weekend. We squealed over each and every tiny baby item as we folded it and talked about seeing his little torso in the onesie, his little thighs poking out of the impossibly small booty shorts, and little feet in his socks. An outsider would have thought we were so pathetic if they’d been eavesdropping.

I’ll keep you all updated as soon as anything exciting happens!

Baby Showers

I was lucky enough to have 5 baby showers thrown for me during the past few months. I hesitate to post about them because I don't want to come across as spoiled or snooty or like I'm bragging. But I honestly just want to show you all of the hard work that went into each one of these showers and acknowledge all of the wonderful people that threw them and attended. They were so beautiful and so much time and money went into each one. I thought it would be a shame to not share photos with you all and tell you about them.

I had 3 showers during my trip to Utah in April and 2 here in Virginia in May. I have way too many pictures to put in one blog post, so I made a few collages instead. If you’re interested, you can click on them to blow them up and see them in better detail.

St. George, UT Shower

My first shower was thrown for me by my 2 younger sisters Rachelle and Lauren at my parent’s house. They were so sweet to do it because let’s be honest- they really didn’t have time. They were right in the middle of finals and had to drive all the way down from Salt Lake and go back on the same day. It was so much fun when we saw each other because it was the first time they’d seen me pregnant. There was lots of girly shrieking and hugging that went on.

At the shower, I got to see some friends from high school that I hadn’t seen for ages, and also a bunch of the women from the neighborhood that I hadn’t seen in a long time either. It was so good to catch up with old friends. We pigged out on mini raspberry cheesecakes, orange cupcakes, chocolate covered strawberries, fruit salad, and croissants. It was a blast!

Centerville, UT Shower

My sweet mother-in-law Janie and 2 sisters-in-law Michelle and Trisha threw me an adorable circus-themed shower at their house in Centerville. This shower was for the Alba side of the family. I got to see all of Adam's aunts and cousins along with a few women from the neighborhood. The girls really went all out with the circus theme. I absolutely loved it! We had a brunch of crepes with peaches and strawberries, different spreads, a bunch of different kinds of muffins, and orange juice. They also did the cutest circus-themed party favors- popcorn in the actual paper popcorn boxes, chocolate-covered peanuts in peanut bags, and caramel popcorn. The girls had made adorable strings of felt circles that they strung around the tables. They added such a cute touch to the rooms.


We played a really fun baby shower game that I’d never seen before. They said a phrase that was baby related and we had to guess the candy bar that went along with it. For example, “Twin Boys” was Mike & Ike’s, “The Anesthesiologist” was Lifesavers, “A Lullaby” was Symphony, “Naming a Baby” was Watchamacallit, and “Triplets” was 3 Musketeers. Even though my brothers-in-law weren’t technically invited to the shower, I was really glad I got to see them too, even though it was just for a few minutes before and after the shower started. I sure miss those guys!

Salt Lake City, UT Shower

My older sister Jessica and friends Hayley and Kirsten threw a shower for me in Salt Lake. This shower was for the Doxey side of the family and my friends living in the Salt Lake area. It was held at the clubhouse in Kirsten’s housing complex and it worked out perfectly. There was plenty of room to fit everyone.

We had quite the spread of pasta salad, Caprese salad, green salad, chips and dip, brownies, and a delicious strawberry chocolate trifle. The decorations were darling, too. Kirsten made a string of flags to hang on the mantle. We played some fun games and had a blast opening presents and laughing. I got so many cute things for the baby! He is going to be one stylish kid! I was so grateful for everyone that had to drive long distances to see me.

Arlington, VA Shower

My good friend Sarah threw me my shower here in Arlington. Sarah, Sarah, Sarah. What can I even say about Sarah? She is absolutely amazing at throwing parties and really went ALL OUT for this shower. She basically did it all herself (okay, I have to acknowledge her equally talented husband Ryan who helped out a ton). Basically, there ain’t no party like a Peterson party. Everyone who gets an invitation to a Peterson party automatically clears their schedule to make it, no matter what they had on their calendar.

We dined on bacon wrapped asparagus, pesto filled puff pastry rolls, crudité, spinach & artichoke dip with pita chips, bacon wrapped potatoes with a sour cream dipping sauce, homemade sugar cookies stamped with the words “Merlin” and “It’s A Boy!,” two different kinds of homemade cupcakes (chocolate and lemon), and sparkling French drinks that had been chilled on ice. Holy cow, it was all so good!

Sarah had also made darling puffy balls out of tissue paper to string around the ceiling. She strung streamers from the center of the room outward to make her living room look like a circus tent. She had vases full of bright colored fresh flowers and bunches of balloons everywhere. For party favors, she had glass jars filled with different kinds of hard candies and little turquoise to-go boxes with elephants on them. Cute! The pillows on her couch even matched so perfectly that when I walked in I was like, “Please tell me you didn’t buy throw pillows to match my baby shower décor.” She assured me that she already had the pillows and that it was just a coincidence that they matched perfectly. I breathed a big sigh of relief!

Alexandria, VA Shower

My last shower was thrown for me at work by a few of my lovely co-workers. They did a catered luncheon from one of my all-time favorites, Alexandria Pastry Shop. We ate in one of the conference rooms during lunchtime. We had an assortment of sandwiches, salad, and a layered lemon-raspberry cake. Delish!

One of my co-workers, Monica, took it upon herself to gather money from over 30 people in the office for group gifts. She recently had a baby herself and thought the best gifts at her own showers were the bigger gifts. She really wanted to get me some of the bigger items off my registry that I still needed like a stroller, a swing, a set of bottles, and a diaper genie. I couldn't believe how generous everyone was! We basically got the last few things we needed off of our list.

Thank you so, so, so, so, so much to everyone that threw my showers and to everyone that attended. I literally cried at the end of each shower because I felt so overwhelmed by the kindness that was shown to me. I hope that someday I can make a pregnant girl feel as loved and spoiled as people made me feel. Everyone has been so generous, and Adam and I are so thankful.

And I’m sure Merlin is thankful too!

Graduation Picnic

The day before Adam graduated, I threw a little picnic to celebrate and honor him. Our parents were in town and it was so much fun to be able to introduce them to some of our friends that we've made during the past 3 years. The weather couldn't have been more perfect. It was sunny and warm, but not too warm and not humid at all. The park we held it at was beautiful and we had such a great time.

We loved having our parents here.

Adam with some of his friends from law school.

Kim looking barely pregnant and gorgeous, and me looking extremely pregnant and huge.

Costco sheet cake rocks. Adam and I were lucky enough to enjoy leftovers for 2 solid weeks afterwards. Yum!

The Doxey's and Alba's.

We adore Hiram and Janie!

We had so much fun! Thanks to everyone that came!