Found Mom, Lost Abby

Dad and Grandma took me to daycare together this morning. I guess he's back for good.

They came to pick me up early, and we went to a big house near the English Garden, where we found Mom. Most of her big tummy is gone, which I suppose means there's no baby in there anymore. But this "Abby" I've heard so much about is nowhere to be seen. Don't tell me they managed to lose her already?

Watch Me

My first visitor! What'd you bring me, Grandma? Ah, cuddly arms. Yeah, that'll do for now.

Back to the nursery for more oxygen observation this afternoon. They say they need to keep me until 6:30 PM, to have 24 hours of data. I think they just miss me too much, after the amazing job I did with the disco lights last night.

Sucker

I admit it — I love to suck. Even in Mom's tummy, I sucked blisters on both my wrists. But now I have much better targets: I'm working on removing the skin from Dad's pinkie, and I've put blisters on both Mom's... well, let's not go into too much detail. Suffice to say we'll all be happier when I can get more milk with less vacuum.

I slimmed down to 3250 g (7 lb, 2.5 oz) as of this morning. I actually think I look a little better, with some of the swelling starting to go down.

Now playing: Rents

It sure is weird having two parents to contend with. I was just getting into the groove of managing one, and this other one comes along. What am I supposed to do with him? He doesn't whoosh or gurgle or make any of the parent sounds I know.

Disco Dominion

At 6:30 PM, they came for me.

They wheeled me down to the newborn lab and hooked me up to sensors they watched all night long. They told Mom and Dad something about Streptococcus B and monitoring my blood oxygen level, but I think they were really using my biorhythms to control the blinky lights in their disco.

Dad went home before I left. Why do I get the feeling Mom wasn't all that disappointed not to have me disturbing her sleep for the first time in months? I still joined her for a few meals, so she wouldn't get too lonely overnight.

Never mind

Dad came skulking in just in time for supper. Can you count a pony before it hatches?

I knew it

Grandma came solo to the Krippe (that's German for daycare) this afternoon to take me home to an empty house.  Mom and Dad are definitely out of the picture. It's probably for the best: I hear Grandmas are a real soft touch when it comes to ponies.

Room Sweet Room

I was so cute at birth, the nurses carted me off for inspection and cooing after letting Mom hold me for only a couple of minutes. They brought me back to her after an hour or so, though, and I grabbed the best meal I'd ever had and some cozy chest time.

Then it was off to room 54, our home for the next few days.

Vita 34

Storing umbilical cord blood is way more common here in Munich than it was in California. Mom and Dad didn't even have to call the courier themselves. Cool! They're having my blood listed on the public donor registry, too, in case somebody else needs it and I don't. Even cooler!

Stat Block

Big day for me: I was born. It doesn't get much more life-changing than that.

I hear grownups like numbers, and that it's good to humor them so they keep giving you milk and snuggles. So here are the boring details:

• Name: Abigail Bailey
• Date/Time: November 16, 2010, 12:37 pm
• Location: Frauenklinik Dr. Geisenhofer, Munich, Germany
• Weight: 3330g; 7 lbs 5 oz
• Length: 51 cm; 20 inches

For those of you paying attention, you'll note that I'm two inches longer and more than two pounds heavier than Sadie was when she was born. Watch out, "big" sister — I'm gaining on you.

Abigail is for my mom's dad, Allan. Bailey is for Mom's Aunt Barbara, and it's also Dad's great-grandmother's maiden name. This must be that German efficiency I've heard so much about.

Like Sadie, I clawed my way out of Mom's tummy. It was pretty easy, though, since there were clear trail markers from when she took that path.

Wilkommen

My name is Abigail Bailey. Big Sis Sadie has trouble saying L's, though, so you can call me Abby.

I just joined the team today. Sadie's been having trouble keeping up with her blog posts, so the executive board brought me in to cover the current news while she backfills her post-due posts.

The Wheels on the Bus

Ever since Grandma came to visit, she's been shadowing Dad everywhere, even coming to my daycare at Dark:30 in the morning. Nobody hangs with Dad early in the morning for fun. She must be training to take over his job.