Thailand Part 2

Chillin' with a lemur at the night safari. They're so fluffy!



Our co-workers held a baby dedication for us during our conference


This is Fa, Wa, and Tiffany they were Nora's childcare workers during the conference. It made me so happy that their names rhymed! Just try to guess which one is Tiffany


Just because she's aNORAble. See what I did there? I am so dang clever.


Mike and a buddy at a Moi Tai boxing class.


The Eastons' woke up at 5am to go watch the superbowl. Mike dressed Nora that morning and when the Packers won he took her on a victory lap.


Nora loves Asian women. This woman worked at the breakfast buffet at the hotel - she offered to hold her for us while we got our food!


We had a great trip, but we're happy to be back in China again. Too bad we couldn't bring the nice weather with us. We all have colds, and Nora is confused cause she has to wear pants.

Scooters

I traded it for the van...straight up. I can get 40 miles to the gallon on this hog.

Shoot girl, let's groove tonight

Nora loves her some daddy dance parties

Chillin in Chiang Mai

A few pics from the first couple weeks of Nora's life. Chillin' in Chiang Mai with the rents and the kid.

Meeting grandma and grandpa Ritzman for the first time at the Chiang Mai airport


Hanging out at the Night Bazaar.

A visit to the temple

No big deal, just chillin' on an elephant

Birth Story

I know it's been a little while but here's how it all went down. At our 39 week prenatal appointment Nora weighed in at a whopping 4.13 kilos and was gaining steadily. Dr. SuperDuperchai said that if she got up to 4.5 they would automatically do a c-section and at that point there were still no signs of labor. It was a little discouraging because it sort of felt like a natural labor was pretty unlikely and like every 39 week preggo woman, I was pretty tired of being pregnant. After consulting some American nurses we decided that it was going to be best to go ahead and schedule a c-section and just get the whole thing over with.

We made the decision on a Thursday night and Friday afternoon we showed up at the hospital (without an appointment) to see the Dr. We thought that since it was a weekend we'd probably have to wait till Monday. At 2pm we talked to SuperDuperchai, who was down with the plan. When he asked us when we wanted to have it done, we said as soon as possible to which he replied, "I'm free at four today." Done and done. Mike ran home to get our stuff (which we had not packed yet - even though I'm pretty sure your supposed to do that like a month in advance). By the time he got back I had signed the consent forms, got an IV and was prepped for surgery. I saw him for about 15 minutes and then I was off to have a baby.

Everything went well. The anesthesiologist gave me an epidural during the birth. I was a little concerned that I could still move my feet, but apparently it was fine because they had already started the procedure and I didn't even know it. At one point in the surgery the anesthesiologist leaned over me and said "The baby is being boooooorn!" That was kinda awesome. I felt myself getting lighter as they lifted her out, and then I heard her cry. Which, I have to admit, made me cry a little too. I got to see her and then they took her to Mike while they knocked me out for the rest of the procedure.

Our hospital room was awesome and recovery went really well.

Baby Burrito!