Happy Day!

Look who made it to the Midwest!

For months I have been anxiously awaiting two monumental arrivals. While I am still waiting on a certain someone's arrival into the world (any day now...so people keep assuring me), the other BIG arrival finally happened this weekend! Mami and Papi Zakisauce made it to Minnesota! Through a major assist from my awesome brother, they were able to make the journey safely and relatively easily. (Thanks awesome brother!)

Minneapolis delivered on a lovely today which gave us an opportunity for a nice walk to the Farmer's Market and a quick tour of the neighborhood before awesome brother had to hop on a plane back to the West Coast. 

Now that Mami and Papi have made it here, I gave Tiny Long permission to arrive this week...wishful thinking...

Don't Break the Baby.

It's a perfect day outside! 72 degrees, nice breeze, and sunny skies. Of course, that means that I am currently obsessing about what it's going to be like in the Winter.

We know it gets really, ridiculously cold here in Minneapolis. Factor in the latest prediction from the Farmer's Almanac that it's going to be a particularly rough winter for us this year and I'm not so sure Abuelo and Abuelita are going to want to extend their stay very long.

I've spent the last hour researching the internet in one window and browsing Amazon in another window to figure out what I should be adding to my baby shopping list. How on earth do you "winterproof" a newborn who is unable to regulate their own temperature? I hear/read layers...super-warm car seat cover...hats...but is that enough for a Minnesota-rough winter? Also, is pajamas + sleep sack enough for baby not to be cold at night when he can't use blankets? Will it be too hot?

As California natives, Man Boo and I are totally ill-prepared for our first Minnesota winter as parents. Help us Mid-Western and East Coast friends...advice requested!

The big silver-lining here is that we recently insulated our main floor (no more frost on the inside of the front door!) and the presence of tiny human means that Man Boo will allow me to turn the thermostat up past 55 degrees. I made sure he heard the nurse when she said that newborns need room temperatures between 65 and 72.

Minnesotan.

Last winter, people assured me that it was unusually cold.  "The coldest winter in my lifetime!" they said.  "If you can make it through this, you'll be a true Minnesotan!"  I smiled and wrapped my new winter coat tighter around myself knowing that this was simply a "trial by ice".  The spring finally did come and it was followed by a really glorious summer.  I felt good about surviving my first winter in Minnesota and felt even better knowing that this upcoming winter wouldn't be as bad...

What the eff, Minneapolis???

So maybe it's been cold all over the U.S.  In fact, for the first time in many decades all 50 (!!!) states went below freezing last night.  And, the rumor is that it is actually going to be a pretty mild winter this year.  It's just getting all of the cold stuff out of the way early.  So we hope.

In the meantime, here is a video from yesterday of the puppies to warm your heart.  They're getting so big at two weeks now!