Happy Spring!

Notice the last several posts have been "Happy" something? Well, it's been a happy year with Zuzu! Here she is enjoying her zebra quilt sewed by her Grandma.

Hanging out with Grandpa Meadows, cousin Pa, and Aunt M.

Somebody really loves bath-time!


Visiting Daddy at work, both wearing their desert cammies. (Z at 4 months old)

Stork Photo

Thanks to Lincoln Military Housing, Z was selected for a free photo session!
(Happy baby at 3 1/2 months old)

Happy Easter!

Easter in San Clemente



With Z's Grandma Meadows



Playing around with Daddy

A "Heads" Up For All New Parents

We wanted to inform you about two words you won’t hear in prenatal and birth classes: Torticollis and Plagiocephaly. Torticollis is the tightening of a muscle on one side of the neck, which pulls the head toward the shoulder. Z was born with this because her head was wedged in L's pelvis for the last trimester. Because of her torticollis, she would only sleep on one side of her head, which has now caused plagiocephaly, a flat spot on that side of her head. Although her case isn’t severe and you probably think “big deal, her hair will cover it up when she’s older,” there are actually several problems that can occur later in life such as jaw misalignment (causing TMJ or jaw problems), vision problems, and the eyes and ears will be asymmetrical. I’m not sure why this isn’t discussed in birth-prep books because it now occurs in 1 in every 30 babies (some pediatricians even estimate more like 1 in 15), especially since babies are now put to sleep on their backs to greatly reduce the chances of SIDS.

The best way to treat this: Z has to wear a custom, corrective helmet called the DOC Band (Dynamic Orthotic Cranioplasty), 23 hours a day. Because of her young age, Z will only have to wear it for about 2 months, where older babies may have to wear it for several months to even one year. We also have to do neck stretching exercises several times a day with Z, which is always accompanied with some extremely heart-wrenching cries. So far, it hasn't been easy, but we are thankful this is very fixable and doesn't require surgery.

Just thought we’d inform you all since this seems like a condition that every new parent should know about. If you’d like more info, check out: http://www.cranialtech.com/

Happy Valentine's Day!

L and Z in their fuzzy, one-piece sleepers.Nothin' is more romantic than your husband thinking you look good wearing something like this!

Happy New Year!

Our Christmas Gift

Z was born on December 18th, 2009 at 3:23 am, 7 lbs. 3.5 oz. 19 in.
Pronounced zo-ee, it means "life" in Greek, and we picked a Greek name because of A's heritage.
The proud parents with their 1-day-old daughter. Although she arrived 12 days after her due date, Z's timing was perfect, one week before Christmas.
(When L was born at Christmas time 27 years ago, she also came home from the hospital in a Christmas stocking.)

The delivery was a water birth at Best Start Birth Center in San Diego.

Pretty in pink.

A Marine Princess with her daddy.

Grandma Meadows and Yia Yia Freida.





















Four generations of Meadows'

L and her sister, M, with their babies on the San Clemente pier. Cousins P and Z are only 4 months apart.

The Final Stretch

So what else do you do while you're waiting for your baby to arrive? Participate in a 5K Turkey Trot, of course! Right before Thanksgiving (and few weeks before her due date), L power-walked in the annual 5K Run and Walk on the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. While actually running wouldn't be such a good idea, activities like this, as well as dance classes, have kept L pretty active throughout her pregnancy.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
As for A, Christmas came early this year. Here's the other baby that he waited 9 months for:
This is a California-Compliant AR15, basically the legal version of the Marine Corps' M16 service rifle. After ordering this back in March, this amazing weapon finally arrived from Utah right after Thanksgiving.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
And finally, A's performance with Marine Band San Diego at the Annual MCRD Christmas Concert.

And note: the baby has not arrived yet! Although she is technically over a week past her Dec. 5th due date, she seems quite cozy where she is. Looking forward to meeting her any day now!

Baby Business and Birthday Ball

Six weeks before her December due date, L was given a baby shower by her mom and mother-in-law, and was truly showered with many wonderful gifts for the soon-to-arrive Baby Z. Taking place in L's childhood home in San Clemente, the party was decorated in pink and zebra print, also the theme for Z's own bedroom back in San Diego.
It was quite a full and joyful party, plus always entertaining with the Greek relatives!

And what an amazing treat: the family and friends were so generous!

Here's the backside of the adorable quilt that L's mom made for the baby.

The proud parents-to-be (A made an appearance at the end of the shower).
---------------------------------------------------------------------
And just a few hours later, we dressed up and headed to the annual Marine Corps Birthday Ball to celebrate 234 years of the USMC! (Yes, this dress made it to a few functions this year :).

Happy Birthday, Marines, and remember to remain Semper Fidelis!

Fun Fall Flings

In October, A and the Brass Quintet of Marine Band San Diego got the opportunity to perform for the Commandant of the Marine Corps in Reno, Nevada. Instead of taking a commercial flight, the guys were personally flown out of MCAS Miramar in a C-130, a large, military transport aircraft. Because Marine pilots are not too concerned about the comfort of their passengers, this was a wild and bouncy ride!
During some free-time, A and his buddy Ryan decided to hike up Mt. Rose, about 10,000 feet up overlooking Lake Tahoe. Blazing their own trails through pine trees and even snow, it was quite an experience.
Satisfied after a good work-out to the top.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
And a few weeks later, A and L attended San Diego State University's Homecoming football game at Qualcomm Stadium. L even dusted off her old bass trombone and played with other band alumni in the stands and on the field with the Marching Aztecs (not bad for being 8-months pregnant!).

Also this month, we attended the beautiful, formal wedding of L's close harp friend from college, Tasha. Congrats to the happy couple!

And of course, we had to get a photo on the lovely staircase of the Westgate Hotel, the wedding location.

The months seem to pass quickly as A and  keep quite busy. In addition to keeping active in a jazz dance class, L continues to give harp lessons to young students and play at unique gigs. Here's a teacher's phone photo of L playing an educational program for teenagers at a juvenile probation center.

And as always, A continues working hard with the Marine Band, here at a Change of Command ceremony near the airstrip at Miramar (yes, they play often at other local bases).

And the fall isn't even over yet! Still more to come!

A Little East Coast/Midwest Trip

While A was gone on another recruiting tour with the Marine Brass Quintet, L decided to visit her close friends Jenny and Carlton in Newport, Rhode Island for a few days. They were super hospitable showing L around parts of Rhode Island, Connecticut, and even a day-trip to New York City! (By the way, both Jenny and L are pregnant with little girls; Jenny in the 8th month and L at 7 1/2 months in these photos).
(Above, L on the rooftop of the Metropolitan Art Museum with Central Park and Manhattan in the background.)

Here are some other photos from the trip:



Jenny and Carlton in Central Park with those cute, little, remote-controlled sailboats in the water behind them.

The Brier Rabbit in a cool sculpture.

The famous Radio City Music Hall near Times Square.

And of course, Times Square itself.


And the lovely backdrop of Connecticut. Thanks, guys, for a wonderful time!


On L's return-trip home, she stopped off in Chicago, Illinois for a few days to visit her sister and brother-in-law. Not only did Leah get to see their new, lovely house in Glen Ellyn, but most importantly, she got to meet her brand-new nephew! This little cutie is about one month old, though he's not so sure about his aunt.

Thanks, guys, for opening up your home!