Congratulations Dockerys! We are so excited for you guys!!! I finally saw the pics and she is such a tiny angel- so adorable! (and you look amazing too, KLSD!) I just can't wait to meet the first Dockery offspring. I am so seriously excited about this. It's such a crazy journey, and I can tell you that with Deacon it just gets better every day, and I'm sure your experience will be the same. Also, if you are unhappy with the way things are going one day, fear not, everything changes (which on the flip side is kind of a bummer when she's gotten into habits that you love).
One suggestion I have is to journal everything- the story of her birth and little milestones. Make it a brief and easy system, so you don't avoid sitting down to write for weeks because you don't have an hour to spare. I can tell you this first hand, because in poor Deacon's baby journal I have several really long entries, and then nothing for the last 8 months or so- bad mommy! And take the 5-10 minute breaks you have to skype or call a friend. I know it seems like you will never have a whole hour to yourself again, and nobody will expect it from you for a long time. This way you won't feel like you've lost touch. Also, you might look for a support group of other moms of newborns to meet up with, it's so comforting to know that your trials are not something you alone are experiencing, and it helps a lot to not feel isolated.
It'll be fun to see what kind of celebrity mom and baby sightings you will have in London! Playparks and farmer's markets are a goldmine of celeb sightings here in LA. Of course, I am talking to the expert, so you are probably already well aware.
Good luck with everything! We love and miss you guys and can't wait to see you- whether it's in the States or on your side of the pond (I just sent out a proposal for a project that would take me to London, so I have my fingers crossed).
Lots of love from Jill, Dan and Deacon!
Friday, February 20, 2009
And then there were three....
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Congrats Momma and Pappa Dockery!
Congratulations guys! We are so excited for you and cannot wait to meet Ziggy-Leigh (or Strawberry Dockery) when we join you guys across the pond!
Love,
Mark & Sara
Could it be Miss Ziggy-Leigh?!!!
OK miss ziggy leigh...I've got two little guys that are dying to meet an international beauty like yourself. I know there is already a line starting with Henry to win you over, but if you are looking for a slightly older guy as I know some gals look for...I've got two of them waiting for you in the states!!
KLSD and John...I can barely express the excitement that Joey and I have for you two and your new family! It will all just sound so cliche but is totally true. She will change your life in all sorts of ways-but you will never want to go back and you won't be able to imagine your life before she entered your lives. Our prayers for a healthy happy and somewhat rested Mommy and Daddy. GOD BLESS you three! We love you and can't wait to hear ALL about your birth experience.
Love, whit, joey, jb, noah, and sergio
Congrats
Kl and John,
Congratulations on the new bundle. I heard that she follows in the big-headed tradition on our side. Can't wait to see pictures!
Chris, Bill, Em and Katelynn
Congratulations and Best wishes !!! Can't wait to see pictures of your precious baby daughter and her parents!!! This is an awesome time of life and it flies by so quickly..of course there will be days you will not say that but it really does...journal as much as you can for memories as you won't remember later..there is a lot happening and changes daily..and that is just not diapers!!!!
You both will enjoy this journey of parenthood and Ziggy-Leigh is so blessed to have you as parents and mentors to life and all it holds for her!!!
Aunt Meg will keep us up on the latest news and pictures and I know you will take lots and lots .... Hugs to a family of 3 plus kitty cats!!! xxoo Nanny Wubby
Congratulations!
Dear Kara-Leigh and John,
We can't wait to meet Ziggy-Leigh! We miss you and wish you lots of love and happiness as you welcome her into the world.
Lots of love,
Katie and Ric
Happy baby shower blog wishes from DC!
Aunt Suzy and Uncle Ben here - sending you all our love from the nation's capital! I'm extremely frustrated that we have unsuccessfully attempted to post a video for the last 30 minutes. (Something was clearly wrong with the file - I'm fairly sure we were doing it correctly, it's not that complicated!) I promise you further video messages to come. But right now it's after midnight on a school night, so I gots to go to bed. Please know that we're missing you and sending you two and Ziggy-Leigh all kinds of baby love. We CAN'T WAIT to meet your gorgeous little girl and see what a fabulous combination of her amazing parents she's going to be.
And I know you two don't really know much longer your stay in London is going to be, but I'm hoping Ziggy-Leigh has a British accent....no matter where she lives by the time she starts talking. That would be awesome.
Happy Baby Shower Blog - we love all three of you!
Suzy and Ben
PS - Ziggy-Leigh would probably want to know that her Aunt Suzy saw Akon and T.I. in the Phoenix airport this afternoon (NBA all-star game). She will undoubtedly have tons of celeb sightings in her future, since her momma's the best in the biz and will train her well!
Monday, February 16, 2009
The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
Hey there kid! It's your Uncle Dan!
(Hmm ... that's gonna take some getting used to ...)
ZL, I can't wait to meet you. You parents are two of the finest people around, and so there's no question you are going to be a very, very special person yourself. From your mom, you'll likely inherit the amazing propensity to run into movie stars and other celebrities every fifteen minutes. From your dad, I hope you'll inherit his inspirational speaking ability (rather than his amazing propensity to injure himself every fifteen minutes). From both of them, I know you will inherit a great sense of humor, a strong moral compass, and tenacious will. I can't promise you that every card life will deal you will be a good one, but I know for a fact you are coming into this world with a great opening hand -- between your parents and your grandparents, you will never lack for loving, caring family to support you and care for you. And you'll also have your Uncle Dan and Aunt Sarah ... we'll always be there for you too.
Letter to Ziggy-Leigh
Dear Ziggy-Leigh,
We're all waiting to welcome you to the world! You don't know me yet, but I've been friends with your Mommy and Daddy for a long, long time. That makes me kind of an expert on the kind of people they are. And they are fantastic! Trust me. I know they're going to be the most wonderful parents you could ever hope to have.
Your Mommy is sassy and playful and curious and kind. She plans awesome adventures. She always knows the best places to go and the most fun things to do. She's generous and thoughtful and sweet and warm. She listens well and it seems like she always knows just the right thing to do or say to solve a problem. And Ziggy-Leigh, your Mommy can sing! I'm sure you'll learn that soon enough with all the lullabies she'll sing to you.
Your Daddy is quite a musician as well. He's also patient and caring and dependable. He'll teach you everything you need to know about football - and pay attention, it's important! He'll teach you other things, too, and you're lucky because he's a really good teacher. And he married your Mommy, so you know he's pretty smart. And she married your Daddy, so you know she's smart, too. And together they'll have you, and together they will know just how to take care of you and help you grow up.
Ziggy-Leigh, I am so happy you'll be arriving soon and I cannot wait to meet you!
Love,
Aunt Kat
The arrival of the newest fun person....
Hi guys! I'm so excited for the baby to come. I can't wait to see her. She is surely going to be beautiful, and without a doubt FUN. :) And she will probably think you're fun until she's about 8. But that's a whole different topic....
From baby Doc's future mother-in-law
I can't think of too many people I would invite to spend the night with me and my husband on our first night at home from the hospital! I can't think of anyone else I would rather have here with us that night! Words can't describe how truly happy I am for you guys. I can't wait to watch you both in this wonderful experience. My only wish is that her naps will coordinate with Henry's so that our daily skype time will not have to suffer!! What a lucky, funny, happy, celeb spotting, fabulously dressed little girl she will be! We love you guys!
We LOVE you!!!
John and Kara-Leigh,
Don't ever let them tell you that raising a girl isn't fun...
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Once upon a time....
Once upon a time, but not so long ago, there lived two families. Both were eagerly awaiting the arrival of a new family member. The first family, a.k.a. Toni and Chip Dockery, lived at Homestead Air Force Base, Florida, just a little bit south of Miami; while the second family, who were known as Jimmie Sue and Jim, lived in Haverfordwest, Wales (U.K. naturally.)
I wish I could be there for you!
Dear Kara-Leigh and John,
It seems like this picture was taken yesterday.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Grandparents Questionnaire for Siebolds & Dockerys
Dear Siebolds and Dockerys,
Please post the answers to these questions about Kara-Leigh and John when they were babies (from birth-3 years old). Then, I'll hide those answers and have Kara-Leigh and John fill out what they think the answers are to see how many they get correct. Keep in mind that the questions are phrased for Kara-Leigh and John to answer so please provide the answers they should give.
They did a similar questionnaire for their wedding festivites and had so much fun answering the questions so it's only appropriate to do one for their first baby! Feel free to add anecdotes and stories -- the more detail, the better! Have fun and enjoy!
- What was the name of the hospital where I was born and where was it?
- What time was I born?
- Did I cry when I was being born?
- How much did I weigh?
- What was my height in inches?
- What was my Mom's first meal after I was born?
- What would have been my name if I were a boy/girl?
- Was I baptized/christened?
- What was my first word?
- How old was I when I said my first word?
- Which one did I say first - Dada or Mama?
- Did I have any funny nonsense words in my vocabulary that meant something else?
- When did I meet my grandparents for the first time?
- What did I call my grandparents?
- Did you have any nicknames/terms of endearment that you called me?
- What did I like to wear when I was little? Or, what was my favorite piece of clothing?
- Did I take naps well?
- Did I have a favorite stuffed animal or blanket in my crib?
- What was my favorite toy?
- What was my favorite nursery rhyme or song?
- What was my favorite tv show or movie?
- When did I take my first step?
- Where was my favorite place to go in my Hometown?
- How old was I when I flew on a plane for the first time?
- Did I have a pet when I was a baby? If so, what was its name?
- What was my favorite food?
- Did I have a play mate/best friend when I was a baby? If so, what was their name?
- What was my favorite activity on the playground?
- When did I get potty trained?
- What is my favorite story of when I was a baby?
- What is my Mom's favorite story?
- What is my Dad's favorite story?
Friday, February 13, 2009
Love before first sight
So guys, speaking of Valentine's Day...
How has being pregnant changed your relationship with eachother?
KLSD, what are you hoping John gets you for Valentine's Day? (don't forget the link above for ideas ;) )
We are SO excited for you guys and cannot wait to meet the new addition! We are hoping for a happy and healthy delivery!
Love,
Abnous & James Samford
Hey guys!
Congratulations! I think Kara-Leigh's parents did a great job coming up with names. Since I like lists to be complete, I'll add a name for F, O and Q:
F: Fran
O: Onaly (I made this up, I don't know anyone by this name, but it rhymes with monali)
Q: Quance (pronouced chance =))
Okay, it's probably good news that I am not in the baby naming business.
We miss you all and you better not stay over there too much longer because it would be weird if you both had American accents and your kid talked like a Brit!!!
Arup
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Sweet little baby GATOR!
Hey Guys, it is amazing that you will be giving birth to a little GATOR fan in less than a month. I am sure you are all ready to go. So, i, being a evil step mom of three, have no sage advise for you. Hmm, and i am not creative like your other friends. So, all i can say is we miss ya here. I know you are going to be awesome in the delivery room and it should be easy when you are jamming to your delivery mix. Dont forget to throw in the GATOR fight song. (LOL) I am sure john will be the perfect "coach" during this process. The baby is going to be so beautiful. I cant wait to see photos! You both will be great parents. I have been wondering, will your baby have a British accent? Either way, I am so excited for your new addition. Love ya both!
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Sign of the times
Just saw this article from your side of the pond: http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/features/4096788.Look_who_s_talking_now/. Apparently baby sign language has become as popular in the UK as it is here. The last Zero-to-Three conference was full of sign language courses.
I'm not sure how elaborate you can really get with signing (the babies on YouTube always seem like they might be signing "More food, please, mummy,"... or they might be smearing mashed peas all over their cheeks. I guess it amounts to the same thing.) But from what I've seen, giving Ziggy-Leigh some way to communicate without throwing things or crying is all to the best.
I couldn't find any review that gave the best sign course for this, but this article on HumanHands.com seemed to have the right idea:
"The way to teach your child to sign is very simple. Just use any sign along with the verbal word every time you say it. Repeat, repeat, repeat - Keep using the same sign every single time you say the word. The child learns that this is the normal way to communicate. You don't need to use any "official" sign language - You just need a sign that is easy enough for the baby to do physically, and simple enough for you to remember. Some good early ones to start with are puckering the lips as a sign for "milk", poking out the tongue for "teething ring", and blowing air for "hot".
Once your child starts using the signs, gradually keep adding new "words", but make sure they are ones that are important to your child. Some very good ones are "more" (probably the most frequently used sign by infants), "good", "cup/drink", "bonk/ouch", "hot", "cold", and "all gone". Remember that you can use any sign at all, as long as you keep each one consistant for each word. The more obvious a sign's meaning is, the easier it will be to remember. Point to the different body parts as you name them. As your child develops, they will make up some new signs on their own.
For most parents, signing is just a temporary phase until the verbal skills develop. Repetition is the key to quicker learning, as long as you keep it fun, and don't be concerned if the signs aren't "proper" sign language. As long as you and your child are learning to communicate with each other, any sign will work. "
And if none of it works, you can always try finger puppets!
love from Sarah
A fine line between Devoted Fan and Total Moron in Kentucky...
I know this has nothing to do with Baby Dock, but it has EVERYTHING to do with Kara Leigh. I took this about 6 days after the humongo ice storm hit Kentucky. This picture was taken at the Fort Knox, KY shoppette in late afternoon. I am pretty sure this guy just totally lost any trade-in value he had for this SUV, but, I hope KL and JD get a kick out of it anyway!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Predict the date/time of Ziggy-Leigh's arrival!
In the comment section, post the date and time of when Ziggy-Leigh will officially be born.
- Only one guess per person
- Time must be in HH:MM:SS format
- Time must be marked AM or PM
- Contest ends 2/17/09
*In the event of a scheduled cesarean, contest is null and void
The closest guess either pre or post the actual date and time will win a $10 iTunes gift certificate.
Good luck!
Great Names for Ziggy-Leigh
We thought Kara-Leigh and John might like some help selecting an appropriate name for little Ziggy-Leigh. Sooooo we came up with a list of the most wonderful names we could think of to share with them. Kara-Leigh wrote back that that she really liked the name associated with the letter "X"! Feel free to add to our list.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Gifts for Baby Dockery
Kara-Leigh & John's registries are listed in the sidebar on the right side of the blog. Click the links to go directly to the sites for purchase.
Since the process to send gifts overseas is quite complicated and expensive, the Dockerys have registered for their baby necessities at UK merchants, John Lewis and Mothercare.
The Dockerys also put together a Children's Book Wish List on Amazon.com US for your perusal.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Suggestions for Delivery Room Playlist
Kara-Leigh will be putting together a few iPod playlists to inspire, calm, and/or motivate her in the delivery room. The Dockerys already have impeccable taste in music but would appreciate song suggestions from their nearest & dearest that they will rock out or chill out to on the big day.
Post your song suggestions in the comment section below.
Also, check out the Dockery Baby Mix in the Sidebar of this blog for some special music selections inspired by Ziggy-Leigh!
How to Link to a Photo Album
Here are instructions on how to link to a photo album or anyplace else on the web from a word in your post (just like Kara-Leigh does on her blog).
- Go to the blog and click on New Post in the top R corner
- Type your message
- Select a word of phrase that you want to link to the photo album. Highlight the word and click on the globe with chains icon to Insert Link. (you might have to temporarily allow scripted windows, then try it again)
- Paste the link into the pop-up box and hit OK
- Within the HTML code, look for the end quotation. In between the end quotation and the 'greater than' sign, type target="_blank"
- Hit Preview to make sure it works
- Then, either Save Draft or Publish Post
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
How to Upload a Video Message
If you have a webcam, you can record a video message to KLSD & John and post it to the blog.
To UPLOAD A VIDEO to your post:
- Within the posting window, click on the filmstrip icon to ADD VIDEO.
- A pop-up window will appear and you can upload a video file from your computer.
- Give your video a title, check the box to agree to the Upload Terms and Conditions, and click UPLOAD VIDEO.
- Let the video process. It will appear in the post window when it's finished. Be patient because sometimes it takes a little while.
- If it seems to be taking too long, delete the video and try uploading it again.
- If you'd like to preview how your post will look on the blog, click on Preview (right below Compose). A pop-up window will show the blog with your post.
- Once finished, click Publish Post.
Contact me if you have any trouble - meggy978@yahoo.com
Monday, February 2, 2009
Hello Dockery Baby Shower guests!
Hello everyone! Welcome to the official Dockery Baby Shower blog!
Since our favorite parents-to-be are currently living abroad, a traditional, conventional baby shower was not going to be possible. So, we decided the best way to get everyone together to say "Congratulations" was to create a Baby Shower Blog to share with the parents-to-be. Plus, they both have their own blogs so it seemed only logical for Ziggy-Leigh to have one too!
Here's the way it works -- you all have been granted 'Author' status on this blog, so you can contribute by posting messages, comments, pictures, videos, etc. You *must* have accepted Blogger's invitation (sent in a separate email from the Evite) to receive 'Author' status. If you did not receive this email, please let me know in the comments.
Here are some ideas:
- Post messages to John & Kara-Leigh (see instructions below)
- Upload video messages recorded with your webcam
- Give baby advice!
- Post pics of your child(ren) and tell funny stories about your kid(s)
This blog is your oyster, so get creative and make it entertaining!
On February 17th, we will send the link to John & Kara-Leigh so they can read and enjoy everyone's posts, comments, pictures, and well-wishes. THIS BLOG IS A SURPRISE UNTIL 2/17/09 SO PLEASE KEEP IT A SECRET!!!
Blogger is designed to be very user-friendly and simple. Here are instructions for BASIC POSTING:
- Click on New Post in the Top R corner of blog
- Give your post a title and type away!
- If you'd like to preview how your post will look on the blog, click on Preview (right below Compose). A pop-up window will show the blog with your post.
- Once finished, click Publish Post.
To ADD A PICTURE to your post:
- Within the posting window, click on the mountainscape icon in the toolbar to Add Image.
- A pop-up window will appear and you can upload pictures from your computer or copy & paste an image URL from the web (Blogger provides instructions)
- Choose the layout, choose the size (medium is recommended) and click Upload Image.
- Follow instructions #2 - 4 above
To EDIT YOUR POST after it has been published, click on the small pencil icon in the bottom R corner of your post.
To COMMENT ON A POST - click on the word Comments to the right of the time and the left of the pencil.
If you are having trouble posting or have an idea for additional content, please email me at meggy978@yahoo.com.
Thank you so much for your well wishes to the Parents-to-Be and HAVE FUN!
