John's ND Football Career

Before you wonder why, after 10 straight posts about the new baby, I have thrown a seemingly random Notre Dame football post in here, I'll try to justify my brief departure. Tivo has been recording old Notre Dame football games for me over the past few years and never have I seen anyone in the Cronley family at the game. That is until this video. So, here is the video that I've been trying to get out for a while.
In 1987, ND played Michigan State early in the season. Dad and Joe sat together next to the "Rocker" while John and I got the field level seats. Mom and Patty couldn't make it because they went to see Pope John Paul at the Silverdome the very same day. Mom said the Pope came out for mass and was wearing Michigan State green. That was it. Mom just knew ND was going to lose. Well, ND didn't lose. ND scored 2 seconds into the game and routed MSU 31-8. It was an historic game because of Tim Brown's 2 punt returns for touchdowns which vaulted him to the runaway selection as the Heisman Trophy winner for 1987. In the video, John (wearing a yellow shirt and green hat) celebrates in the endzone with the ND defensive line after they force a safety of Michigan State's quarterback. And, later you see John when the camera operator focuses on the crowd. If you look closely, you can see a very excited 10 year old in the bottom right corner of the screen. Click the link below.

ND vs. MSU 1987

Noticeable Progress

Marin has had a big week. Following her successful 2-week old appointment, we had probably her crankiest day so far. We got some advice and some sleep, and Marin has return to her "perfect angel" status. Almost.
There have been lots of funny stories, occurrences, noises and "movements" over the past couple of weeks. Here are a few:

• When Marin sneezes, she often finishes them with a huge high-pitched sigh. "Ahhhh"
  
• Often, during nap in her bassinet, she will slide from the very top of the mattress to the very bottom--bunching herself up in the last quarter of the whole bed.
  
• We're not sure if her mouth is too small for the pacifier or not, but we do know that watching her accept the plug and then launch it out of her mouth is hilarious.
  

• Her hair. Or more accurately, when other people see her hair..."Did one of you mousse Marin's hair?" has been asked more than once.
  
• The instant effect that the vacuum has upon her is comical. She can be alert, active, crying, mumbling, nursing, on the changing table...no matter what she is doing, if the vacuum is turned on, she is sleeping, right away.
  

Two Week Check-up, Two Days Early

Figuring that she was going to be a little ahead of schedule on everything in life, we decided to go in for Marin's 2-week check-up a couple days early. Truthfully, she has a little "Boo-boo" on her tongue and we wanted to get it checked up, so we tied one appointment to the other and hopefully saved ourselves an extra trip to the dreaded pediatrics wing of the Naval Medical Center.
All reports are good. The "boo-boo" was nothing but dried milk stuck in the crevices of her tongue. And Marin has regained her birth weight plus an addtional 7 oz. and now weighs a whopping 7 lbs. 8oz. (She's really puttin' on the "oz's"). Additionally, she is 1/2 in. longer and if she keeps up this current pace she will grow to be over 21 feet tall by the time she is twenty. We are obviously really excited about that.
I included this picture of Marin, Tracey and her brother, "Uncle Kevin" because it is my favorite one, to date, of Marin really wailing away and you can see the concern in Tracey's eyes. Despite what you see here, Marin has been sleeping well and she only cries when she needs one of the following things:

1. Food
2. A Diaper Change
3. Food
4. A Scenery Change
   
5. A blanket wrapped around her body

Truthfully, she is a relatively quiet baby (I have sooo much experience.) Her typical day is a series of 2-1/2 to 3-1/2 hour time blocks in which she is changed, is fed, is entertained and finally is laid to rest for about an hour. Oh, what the heck, go ahead and add 2 or 3 more changings in there and at least twenty minutes of photography and video per time block.
The good news is that Marin is progressing, we're all having fun, and we're learning a lot.

Calvin's Condition

Hi everybody. Cal would like to thank each and everyone of you who has voiced concern over how he is holding up. We are happy to report that so far he seems to be coping well. He spends a bit more time sleeping on the top shelf of our closet, and he certainly makes WIDE loops around Marin when it's necessary for him to get around her, but he seems to still be himself. He feels a bit slighted that he no longer is permitted to sleep in our room, but he seems content sleeping in a little basket right outside our bedroom door and we always let him in to "supervise" the nightly feedings. Everyone else is doing well too! We just got back from Marin's first walk around the block in her bassinet stroller. It was fun, but it literally was one loop around our small city block -- I'm still too nervous! Baby steps. We hope all is well with everybody and thank you all for reading our silly blog and putting up with Boog/Tom's 7th child syndrome :)

Photos & Videos on the Blog!

Just a quick update on the way the Cronley Blog is going to be utilized. I've started a section (located on the right margin) called "Videos" from which you can find some recent video of Marin. You might wonder if any time of her life has not been recorded. Most of it has been recorded and can be viewed; the rest has been archived. Also, you can find the "Photo Slideshows" section where a link will take you to still photography. I hope you enjoy the new additions!

Marin Elaine Cronley

On Wednesday night, at 8:13, I watched as my wife gave birth to our little miracle who has been growing inside of Tracey since October of last year. And thus, the pregnancy is over and now we begin our time as The Cronley's: Three.
Statistically speaking, Marin has been right with the averages:

• 40 week, and 3 day pregnancy
  
• 7 lbs, 1 oz.
• 20 in long

But she is anything but average to us. She has amazed us with her focus and sweet smell. Her soft cry most often makes us giggle as we come to her aid. I can say unequivocally that her poop doesn't stink...yet. Most of all we are happy she is healthy and happy and so is her mom.

Thank you for all of the prayers and for tolerating the unanswered phone calls/text messages. They were not ignored...there is just a little delay right now. As our time becomes spent in other, prehaps more appropriate ways, I think that this log of our happenings remains important. Despite being so far from most of you, we feel very close. Thank you for keeping up with us and we hope everyone gets to meet our little Marin very soon.

PS Congrats to Catherine Thompson, Tracey's sister, for being the closest on the date, weight and length game. Kelly Brewer, Joe's fiancee, narrowly lost and was only 1 day off on her date guess.

Pronunciation