December 7, 2015

BBBC: The Rosie Project

Don Tillman, professor of genetics, has never been on a second date. He is a man who can count all his friends on the fingers of one hand, whose lifelong difficulty with social rituals has convinced him that he is simply not wired for romance. So when an acquaintance informs him that he would make a “wonderful” husband, his first reaction is shock. Yet he must concede to the statistical probability that there is someone for everyone, and he embarks upon The Wife Project. In the orderly, evidence-based manner with which he approaches all things, Don sets out to find the perfect partner. She will be punctual and logical—most definitely not a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker, or a late-arriver.

Yet Rosie Jarman is all these things. She is also beguiling, fiery, intelligent—and on a quest of her own. She is looking for her biological father, a search that a certain DNA expert might be able to help her with. Don's Wife Project takes a back burner to the Father Project and an unlikely relationship blooms, forcing the scientifically minded geneticist to confront the spontaneous whirlwind that is Rosie—and the realization that love is not always what looks good on paper.
 
If you are on the search for a book filled with humor, then this is the book for you. The book ends on an odd note, but if you enjoy dry sarcasm and want to root for an under-dog, then you will enjoy this book.

For the month of December, Heather over at Love To Be Busy, chose the book Maybe in Another Life by Taylor Jenkins Reid.

 Now, head on over the the other Members' blogs to see what they thought about the book! 


Heather - Love To Be Busy
Stephanie - The Wonky Brow 

The Beauty Blogger Book Club began in January of 2015! We currently have 6 Members with various blog content. Each month, one of the Beauty Blogger Book Club (BBBC) members chooses a book for the Club to read. At the beginning of the following month, we each write a book report/summary for our readers to enjoy and share the book for the following month! The "Club" provides all of us bloggers an opportunity to network and read books outside of our comfort zones!

Michelyn Cynthia
 

November 28, 2015

Violet Catharina: 5 Months







Weight: 15lbs 9oz

Diaper Size:We just transitioned to 3s on Sunday, one day after turning 5 months old! We were having daily blow-outs which is always mommy's signal that it is time to size up!



Clothing Size:
Violet is quickly growing out of her 3-6/6 month jammies and pants. She fits in this size for dresses and onesies. I am truly getting a little sad that we are moving so quickly through her wardrobe. I have started cleaning 9 month jammies, and storing 3-6/6month attire. 



Eye Color: Dark Brown 
 
Adventures this Month: We are settled in with our nanny and mommy's return back to work. Mimi and Papi came for a visit. And we finally enjoy tummy time - hooray! 



Favorite Toy: Wooden teethers are Miss V's favorite. She wears her Mary & Kate teether as a bracelet and can be observed getting frustrated/irritated with the Olives & Pickles one too! She also really enjoys the Sassy Developmental Bumpy Ball, Fisher Price Kick & Play Piano, and watching anyone throw the ball with Prince. Oh, and she still is enamored with herself in the mirror. I am not sure if that will ever get old!

Violet & Prince Relationship: Prince is slowly coming around. He is certain that he and Violet should share the nanny, though we have been using him as a guinea pig during tummy time, but he is not complaining. Violet enjoys watching him play, though this enamoration is not reciprocal. Prince is still re-enacting Violet's behaviors and positions in hopes that it will bide him some attention. It's a ruff life for Prince.



Hair:Starting to curl up tighter and we have an area that is balding on the left side. Violet is a side sleeper!

Teeth: No teeth have poked out just yet, but teething is in full force!

 Eats: Violet is still exclusively breastfed. With the advent of teeth, came an increase in feeds so this momma is back to feeling like a cow! We plan to begin food introduction at 5.5 months! 

Sleeping Habits: Violet still arises a few times in the middle of the night for feeds, but then typically falls back to slumber. I would say that she is a better night sleeper than daytime napper overall. She much prefers to be held or cuddled while sleeping than sleeping solo in the crib.




Milestones: Using two hands to manipulate objects; flipping from tummy to side; getting better everyday with taking out pacifier and is working on replacing it properly; and getting more and more personality by the minute!



Looking forward to:Trip tp St. Thomas

Michelyn Cynthia
 

November 4, 2015

Beauty Blogger Book Club: I'm Back!

Eek!

So I missed a few Beauty Blogger Book Club books and reviews! I really had the best of intentions, BUT.... My 'but list' is pretty exhaustive so we will just keep trekking along!



For the month of November, Ashley has chosen The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion.

Ashley chooses this BEST books so I am truly looking forward to delving into this book while on vacation in the Virgin Islands in two weeks! Yes, the Ohio Unviersity men's basketball program is playing in the U.S. Virgin Islands Paradise Jam over Thanksgiving break!

Are you interested in learning more about the other books read? Well, head on over the other Member's blogs since I inevitably missed a few good books!

Heather - Love To Be Busy
Stephanie - The Wonky Brow 

The Beauty Blogger Book Club began in January of 2015! We currently have 6 Members with various blog content. Each month, one of the Beauty Blogger Book Club (BBBC) members chooses a book for the Club to read. At the beginning of the following month, we each write a book report/summary for our readers to enjoy and share the book for the following month! The "Club" provides all of us bloggers an opportunity to network and read books outside of our comfort zones!

Michelyn Cynthia

November 3, 2015

Getting Myself Together

Hi guys! It has been awhile, and I wholeheartedly apologize for my absence. It has truly taken me some time to adjust to my new role as stay-at-home working mommy! I really, really love the fact that I am able to stay-at-home with Violet, but also provide some financial cushioning for our family! In my books, its a win-win situation. Sure, I miss her while the nanny is here, but I am comforted with the fact that she is merely steps away!

So cheers to my return to life as a blogger! I most certainly will be starting out slow, and seeing how things progress!

Thanks for sticking around!

Michelyn Cynthia

October 20, 2015

Violet Catharina: 4 Months





Weight: 13lbs 9oz

Diaper Size:2s

Clothing Size:
3-6 Month & 6 Month




Eye Color: Dark Brown 

Adventures this Month: This month we returned to Athens whilst a growth spurt. It was not the most pleasurable return home, but we returned alive. This month has also brought some calm in our daily lives. We have been trying to work on a daily schedule since mommy returns to work later this month.




Favorite Toy: Violet enjoys her bounce around/exersaucer. She too favors Sophie the Giraffe though Prince may like her even more. And, of course, she still loves the mirror and walks/movement breaks.


Violet & Prince Relationship: Prince cherishes the times when Miss V is napping and when she goes to bed. He is getting more and more familiar with her presence, but overall desires to be the center of attention. 

Hair:Getting longer each and every day!

Teeth: We started teething, and I hear that we will be discussing this topic for some time. Violet seems to be doing well with it, she just constantly has her fingers in her mouth or mouthing toys. However, mouthing of toys and her hands means she is reaching ever more milestones! 




Eats: Violet eats every 3 hours around the clock!!!

Sleeping Habits: Well, our great sleeping came to an end once we returned to Athens. We transitioned from her bassinet to crib, and saw a decrease in continual sleep. Now, we have made some strides because there was a time in which she was absolutely terrified of being IN the crib. She now sleeps in the crib, but is struggling with putting herself to sleep during naps, specifically, and frequent mid-night feedings. I know this too shall pass, and she will be sleeping soundly in her crib like she was in the bassinet some time in the near future - how near is up to Miss Violet!

Milestones: Violet is a talking machine! It is so fun to have baby conversations with her. Like previous months, she continues to giggle but especially at her daddy! She is really good at rolling from her back to side, she even enjoys sleeping on her side and I know in the coming weeks she is going to roll all the way over. I swear she not flipping all the way over because of her distaste for tummy time. We are hoping that once she can transition from back to tummy, that maybe she will enjoy tummy-time a little better. I recently purchased a new tummy-time mat, she currently has two different mats, so this is #3. But, this last one also has a keyboard so I am hoping that will peak her interest.




Looking forward to: Ohio MBB season getting under way. 

Michelyn Cynthia

September 22, 2015

Violet Catharina: 3 Months

Hi guys! It's been quiet on the blog front. Miss V, Prince and I are thoroughly enjoying Tampa, leaving little time for blogging! It's been a week since Violet turned three months, but we still want to capture her milestones!






Weight: 12lbs 7.5 oz

Diaper Size: 2s


Clothing Size:
 Growing out of all her 3 Month attire! We've done plenty of shopping, but haven't actually worn any 3-6 Month attire just yet. 

Eye Color: Dark Brown 

Adventures this Month: Trip to Tampa. We have had a great time visiting with mommy' friends, Papi's work, shopping til Miss V passes out, and much more.





Earlier in the month, Violet had visitors - her cousins!!!





Favorite Toy: Violet STILL enjoys gazing at her reflection in the mirror! She also enjoys the car seat mobile which plays music, and is slowly enjoying tummy time - for short periods. 


Violet & Prince Relationship: Prince has been glowing since Mimi's arrival in Athens. While in Tampa, he has been sleeping in my parents room and has forgotten all about amiss V and I. It will be interesting to see how he handles our return trip and Athens without the individual attention. Interestingly, he did lick Violet's foot while I was breastfeeding a few days ago. I'm taking that as another sign of progress!

Hair: Here is a picture of myself and Violet at 3 months. As you can see, we both have/had a head full of black curls. Mimi is obsessed with combing Miss Vs hair in efforts of "training the curls!"


Teeth: All gums!

Eats:  We finally transitioned to eating every 3 hours! This momma finally feels like she's not a milk machine! 

Sleeping Habits: This month we also experienced some major strides with sleeping! Violet will sleep, most nights, from 7:30/8:00pm until her fussy period which begins around 5:00am. Violet awakens several times in the early morning hours, but is usually soothed when I place her paci back in her mouth!




Milestones: Violet enjoys hearing herself coo and babble; she's a talking machine! She loves to smile and giggle, same as last month. Though we are still not crazy about tummy-time, we do enjoy rolling from our back to side to chill! Miss V now has nearly complete head control and great attention to her surroundings. 


Looking forward to: The final week of our Tampa trip. 

September 1, 2015

BBBC: Orphan Train

Where is the mommy crying emoji? I desperately need to invent that because I can not believe that we are already in the month of September!

You know, I previously looked forward to months coming and going, especially the months that led up to basketball season. Well, now as a mommy, I must admit that time passing is not as joyous. Time passing means my little girl is getting older and I am content with keeping her little forever!

Unfortunatly, I am unable to stop the passage of time; instead, I am trying to live in the moment! So, with that, I must also apologize for the lack of posts the last few weeks. Yes, I have many excuses to give but the biggest is that I am just simply enjoying motherhood.

Nearly eighteen, Molly Ayer knows she has one last chance. Just months from "aging out" of the child welfare system, and close to being kicked out of her foster home, a community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping her out of juvie and worse.

Vivian Daly has lived a quiet life on the coast of Maine. But in her attic, hidden in trunks, are vestiges of a turbulent past. As she helps Vivian sort through her possessions and memories, Molly discovers that she and Vivian aren't as different as they seem to be. A young Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City, Vivian was put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other children whose destinies would be determined by luck and chance.

The closer Molly grows to Vivian, the more she discovers parallels to her own life. A Penobscot Indian, she, too, is an outsider being raised by strangers, and she, too, has unanswered questions about the past. As her emotional barriers begin to crumble, Molly discovers that she has the power to help Vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life - answers that will ultimately free them both.



This book was a page turner, even while on the treadmill where I did the majority of my reading. I am realizing that I truly have a liking to historical fictions. In this book, I was introduced to little pieces of history I never known about. The Orphan Train is a real movement in which many orphaned children from crowded Eastern cities were boarded onto trains and taken to rural areas of the Midwest. Families looking for servants, farm labourers, or occasionally more children would come check out the orphans and see if they wanted to take them home. The 1920s/30s part of this book tells the story of Vivian's life, being moved from one family to the next in Minnesota. In the present, she is a 91 year-old woman with an attic full of painful memories. Molly, the present day orphan, is presently dealing with many turmoils of her own. As both characters lives cross, we see how they are both transformed. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to others. 


For the month of September, Stephanie from The Wonky Brow has chosen I Was Here by Gayle Forman.

 Now, head on over the the other Members' blogs to see what they thought about the book! 

Heather - Love To Be Busy
Stephanie - The Wonky Brow 

The Beauty Blogger Book Club began in January of 2015! We currently have 6 Members with various blog content. Each month, one of the Beauty Blogger Book Club (BBBC) members chooses a book for the Club to read. At the beginning of the following month, we each write a book report/summary for our readers to enjoy and share the book for the following month! The "Club" provides all of us bloggers an opportunity to network and read books outside of our comfort zones!

Michelyn Cynthia

Question of the Day:  I am slated to chose the October book for the club! Do you have any recommendations for the club?

August 19, 2015

Violet Catharina: 2 Months

Though time seems to be moving quicker than a blink of an eye, this mommy was on blogging maternity leave when Miss V turned 1 month and do not have a post to document those milestones. If I were a stellar blogger, I would have pre-written that post before updating the worldwide web about Violet's second month of existence. But, this is real life and that first month was harder than I could have ever imagined! With that, we will move on to month #2!



Weight: 11lbs 9 oz
Diaper Size: 1s
Clothing Size: 0-3 But, I have had to put away a few sleepers in this size range!
Eye Color: Dark Brown
Adventures this Month: Trip to DC for our baby shower! It was so nice for Violet to meet so many cousins and aunts.





Favorite Toy: Violet enjoys looking at herself in the mirror! As you can see, the apple does not fall far from the tree!
Violet & Prince Relationship: Prince is slowly coming around to the idea of having a sister. For the first few weeks, Prince was very timid around her. He is still cautious but is now somewhat interested in her existence. He visits her daily to complete his check-up - a head to toe Prince smell. Violet doesn't seem to mind. She too has noticed his presence and will watch him when he accompanies us in her play area.


Hair: Miss V was born with a head of hair. I too had hair when I was born, but my mother states that mine was even thicker. Our hair is also similar in that her back bottom area is straight and the top is curly. We too started daily hair bow training!


Teeth: What are those?!?
Eats:  Overall, it is safe to say this this girl likes to eat! Violet and I are doing really well with breastfeeding. She eats every 2-3 hours, sometimes more frequently.
Sleeping Habits: Violet goes down between 7:30-8:00pm and arises between 6:30-7:30pm. The first few hours of sleep, about 4, is a pretty sound sleep. After her late night feed, she is a little more restless. She typically arises every 2-3 hours after to eat and then we have to lull her back to sleep. She is still being swaddled at night and I swear by the Halo Sleepsack Swaddle.
Milestones: Lifts and controls head independently. She coos, babbles, and smiles. Violet has been smiling since the day she was born, but she recently began smiling even larger and almost doing a smiling and giggling combo - it is too cute. 



Looking forward to: Trip to Tampa for 3 weeks!

August 7, 2015

Violet's Birth Story - From The Sidelines



Hey guys, it's Jason, or better known here as "Coach."

It's not too often that Michelyn allows me to take over her blog, but today I am. Michelyn has been blogging for a few years now and frequently runs blog posts by me before writing them. During her pregnancy, she mentioned how other bloggers typically share their birth story with their followers. After some thought, I asked Michelyn if she would let me write Violet's birth story, from my perspective, the sidelines! 

Here goes nothing!

I heard it so many times from Michelyn…Saturday we would go to Columbus to pick up her mother, Mom Darlene, and then she would deliver our daughter shortly thereafter.  For those that know my wife (the ultimate planner) that meant that we would go to Columbus, pick up my mother-in-law, shop for a while, drive straight back to the hospital in Athens and have the baby.  She was absolutely certain this would happen. 

Thursday, June 12th, 2015

2:20pm

The predicted date of delivery was the topic of conversation at our Thursday check-up.  As Michelyn explained our timeline to the doctor, we both searched for validation that this would be how it played out.  At the beginning of the appointment the doctor examined and explained that the baby was 90-95% effaced.  A 10% increase from the week before. When Michelyn asked how long it would take before labor is eminent, the doctor explained that it wouldn’t be long.  Michelyn said: “So, like through the weekend?”  The doctor shrugged her shoulders as if to say not a chance…you are ready! 

I still had thoughts of the stories of my colleagues who had been told that their wives would go into labor a few weeks early, only to wait a week or so after the due date.  I decided to be optimistic and listen to the doctor’s recommendation as well as the intuition of my wife, “the ultimate planner.”

Saturday, June 13th, 2015

Mom Darlene’s flight was to arrive in Columbus around 2:00pm.  She was arriving from a flight from London.  When we picked her up, she was exhausted from all the hard work of the previous few days.  We ultimately decided to push our reservations at Cooper’s Hawk Winery up to 4:00pm so we could return home so that everyone could get some much needed rest.  Our quick shopping included a stop at Janie and Jack (for more baby clothes) and Nordstrom's (so that I could get a shirt for our family newborn pictures).   

As we walked Easton Mall, I was lured into The Apple Store by the shiny new apple watches at the front of the store.  In very convincing fashion, I was able to convince Michelyn and Mom Darlene that having this watch is essential for a basketball coach.  Unfortunately they did not have the watch I wanted in stock and we headed home to Athens.  (I did get the watch a few weeks later!) 


As the night approached, Michelyn and I decided to try a method that we heard about from our sister-in-law, Nicole, which is claimed to bring on labor. She informed us to massage between the ankle/calf area of each leg.  We tried this for about 30 minutes thinking of it as some old midwife folklore, which would not work.  By 10:00pm we were both fast asleep after a long and productive day. 

Sunday, June 14th, 2015

12:00am-4:00am

I was awakened to wrestling to my right.  It was Michelyn, saying that she could not get comfortable no matter what she tried.  She had been having contractions on and off for the last few months of the pregnancy, but these seemed different.  She was also experiencing serious back pain.  By 3:00am, she could no longer lay down and asked if we could move to the “Man Cave” (aka tv room downstairs). 

As any man would attest, this request at three in the morning with a pregnant wife only had one answer, but as always, there was a silent follow up statement…

"This better be real”  (I said this to myself lol!)

By the time we set up shop downstairs Michelyn’s pain had intensified, but was offset by the odd chores she was accomplishing at warp speed (laundry, dishes, etc.). Michelyn had the nerve to request we go to the grocery store at 3:00am – only my wife!

By 3:30am the decision was made to wake Mom Darlene as we believed that this was it!  Mom Darlene suggested we go to the hospital, so we gathered our things and headed to O’Bleness Hospital, just as Michelyn had predicted days before. 

4:00am

Michelyn was admitted into triage for monitoring to determine if we were ready to deliver a baby, or if it was a false alarm.  The nurse measured Michelyn at 1 centimeter which is nowhere near ready to go.  We were both a little disappointed but were told to stay for an hour to see how quickly we would progress. An hour later and the pain was unbearable. 

Another measurement…. 

The nurses determined that Michelyn was somewhere between 1-2 centimeters.  At this point, the staff gave us two options. One, we could stay in triage and continue to be monitored. Or, we could return home to labor there. Michelyn decided to return home as she was unable to walk about the hospital floor to work through the contractions.

On the way home, Michelyn announced that she was craving a decaf iced coffee from an Athens original, Donkey Coffee.  As I pulled into a parallel spot, Michelyn began crying and then stated that she had to use the restroom!  I was told in a panicked tone of voice to put the pedal down and forget the coffee. LoL.

7:00am

We arrived home and Mom Darlene was up and ready for the day.  Michelyn, on the other hand, was experiencing excruciating pain again, and at 8:00am, I made the trip to Walmart to exchange the electric heating pad. See, the electric heating pad decided to stop working the day Michelyn went into labor – go figure! I arrived at Walmart only to find that exchanges/returns are only allowed during regular working hours and not during the night shift.  I explained the predicament to the staff and they kindly decided to do the exchange. As you could probably imagine, it took the manager about 20 minutes to get to the front.  I made the exchange and returned to the house. 

When I returned home, we learned that that the new heating pad did not work either! Needless to say, it has now been returned

10:00am – 1:00pm

By 10:00 in the morning, we had seen some of the signs we learned about in birthing class that made us believe that this was DEFINITELY the real thing.   We called the doctor and we were instructed to come back to the hospital immediately. 

Michelyn was again checked into triage at 10:30am and was checked to be between 1-2 centimeters…again. 

We waited an hour. 

The same nurse checked again and got the same result.  At this point, we were really getting frustrated. Michelyn’s pain was only increasing and to think that she was not dilating was frustrating. 

Right when we thought we would return home…

A more experienced nurse decided to check it out and immediately stated that Michelyn was well beyond 4 centimeters. She announced that it was time to admit us into the labor and delivery room! I called Mom Darlene and told here to head over to the hospital. 

1:00pm – 4:30pm

We spent a considerable amount of this time monitoring Michelyn’s contractions as the baby moved down the birth canal. As they became more intense, long, and frequent, the basketball coach in me allowed to quickly strategize how to support Michelyn through the intense contractions…

Instead of counting for longer than 10 seconds, I counted 10 seconds really slow.  REALLY SLOW. Her contractions were more like 20-30 seconds.  This allowed Michelyn to focus on the numbers and not the duration of the contraction.   

By the way, Michelyn doesn’t know this so don’t tell!!!

At around 2:00pm, Michelyn had reached a measurement of seven centimeters, a very impressive accomplishment considering most mothers in labor desire an epidural long before that.  After waiting for the anesthesiologist for about 30 minutes, patience for all of us started to run thin.  

Leading up to the delivery, Michelyn consulted with the anesthesiologist to put together a plan in the event she would need an epidural…when the ultimate planner is ready to tap out, the doctor MUST be ready!  

 Mom Darlene politely inquired with the nurses to see if the anesthesiologist went on lunch break since it was taking so long and Michelyn's contractions were VERY intense!

Michelyn was up to her eyeballs in pain and had her only major “freak out moment” of the delivery.  She looked toward the door and yelled “ where is the f*#kin’ anesthesiologist!?!?  

I knew that it would not be a good idea to laugh out loud, but I couldn’t help but to giggle as the anesthesiologist moseyed in and proceeded to ask Michelyn a final test’s worth of questions. 

Eventually, Michelyn got her epidural, a little later than she would have liked. Once the epidural was placed, Michelyn measured at 8 centimeters and things progressed uneventfully since she was no longer in any pain.

4:00pm - 5:28pm

By 4:00pm, Michelyn had reached 9 centimeters and the doctor made his way over to the hospital.  It was just about time to push.   

At 4:58pm the delivering doctor instructed Michelyn and I coached her on her pushing and relaxing.  About 15 minutes later I saw my daughter’s head for the first time.   

A couple intense pushes and they pulled her out, at 5:28pm.  

 I gave Michelyn the honor of telling the world our baby’s name.  



Violet Catharina Kemp.  

For so many years, it’s been just Michelyn and I.  My first instinct was to make sure my wife was ok.  I stood right by her side in excitement.  It hit me when the nurse said, “Dad, do you want to see your baby?”  I moved over by the table and was by Violet’s side to hear her first cry.  I immediately realized that I was now a husband, father, protector, and hero.  

She was born at six pounds and 13 ounces and 21 inches long.  

I waited a long time to be a dad.  Oftentimes I wondered what the big deal was when my friends who had kids immediately following college would brag about their little ones.  As I raced through my twenties I wondered when my time was coming.  Now that it’s here, I have experienced all of the emotions that being a father can bring.  Of all of them, the strongest would be how much I care for my little girl.  Here’s to Little Miss Violet!


Shout out to Mommy Michelyn for an awesome experience with carrying and delivering our first child…and for predicting the exact time Violet would be born…Well, almost. 

Coach Kemp