Barefoot (and Pregnant) Contessa
Angie has turned a new leaf in the bid to keep herself well fed and happy at home. Robert is the resident cook in the house, but Angie has taken over the kitchen in the past week or so. She's been baking her way to food bliss with: blueberry muffins, coffeecake muffins, pecan pie, chocolate soufflé and chocolate chip cookies. But the best was yet to come, a night of Ropa Vieja and tostones capped off a great weekend of indulgence. Best leftovers ever.

Back To School
This week we started our Lamaze® Prepared Childbirth classes at Memorial Herman Hospital, where Angie will eventually be giving birth (hopefully before 2008...as of today, if you ask our pollsters, 44% say he'll come less than a week before his due date.)

In our class is a diverse group of parents, if we remember correctly there was a 6-3 expecting a boy to expecting a girl ratio. We were the first to introduce ourselves and held firm to keeping his name a secret, but all the other parents were more than happy to divulge the names they'd chosen. Among them are: Ella, Kason, Luke and Gabriella. There were some worried parents and some prepared parents but all of our classmates, like us, were expecting their first. Angie had the latest due-date of all (December 26th) and the earliest was October 27th! Not long! Next week, we may place bets on if that couple will make it to our last class on October 25th.

It was a good experience, its fun to share this time with others in the same situations. And since we're last on the due date list we can count on our classmates to help us along as the time goes by and they get a little closer than us to the big day. It was a great night for Angie, we practiced massage techniques and relaxation methods. But if you ask me, the women were more happy about the bathroom breaks and the free snacks.

Heisman (1994-2007)
Today is a very sad day. Its difficult to find the words to describe the way I feel about the people and animals who have touched my life so soon after they're gone. But Heisman has a very special place in my heart and I will miss him very much.

Please read this touching Eulogy.

Sleeping Softly
Updated Pillows-In-The-Bed Count: 7

Please Don't Tap The Glass
Pregnancy is fun! At least it seems fun apart from the backaches, swelling, nausea and bladder pressures. Last night was a very cool moment that I wanted to share. We were doing some quiet reading and Angie began to feel some kicking and punching from within. I'm always up for getting kicked, so I turned to her and got my hand close only to see a distinct vertical movement toward the belly button, like a fist under a shirt. Just a brief ripple only lasting a split second...we were watching him move inside the womb! Wonders never cease, and we're loving it. Angie was keen to see more movement and was lightly tapping away at her belly for the next few minutes!

Something Funny About Kids
When our friends Keith and Holly stopped by over Labor Day weekend we had the time of our lives. They have the nicest and most fun-loving children. Sydney, Robert's new best friend, is as sweet as they come. Jack is a curious and hilarious!
When we said goodbye it was a sad day, and when the house was cleaned up of all of the toys and crayons the house seemed so empty. So empty, in fact, that Robert misplaced his watch. Living without a watch is no big ask for Robert so he passed it off as 'its been fun, nice runs and all but its gone.' But fighting a cold over the last few weeks has reaped its benefits, and once the last tissue was pulled from the box...voilá! There was the watch!
Fitting things into appropriately proportioned areas is a skill these two kids have mastered! They found a perfectly great place for a watch, and we found that letting go is essential to truly appreciating something. Welcome back, watch!

B-u-r-g-e-r
I know that I'm probably not the only person out there that find pregnant women utterly hilarious at times. Angie is taking pregnancy in stride and has a good laugh at herself and her new body every once in a while, but since I've mentioned the eating thing a few times before I thought I'd share a story with you.

Trigger (above) has been around for over a decade, and he's picked up some good bits of English along the way. He knows just what "dinner" is, "toy", "lay-down", "speak", all the usual stuff. But unless you want to commit yourself to some time outside walking around the neighborhood, don't say "outside", and definitely steer clear of "walk". These are are amongst the words we casually use between ourselves by spelling them when in the presence of Trigger. Luckily he's none the wiser when we're not in the mood.

Angie, now that she's eating for two and getting some cravings for America's finest, has adopted similar traits. Say "burger" and its pretty certain that's what's for dinner. Too bad she can spell, I'm getting over-burgered. Gotta go...Fuddrucker's Takeout tonight.

On Freaking Out
In her Interview, Angie said "I'm not as freaked out as I probably should be." And while these thoughts of parenthood become closer and closer to becoming a reality, we're breathing a collective sigh of relief that we're in this thing together and are prepared for, above all, not being prepared. The fundamental piece of parenting advice, from mothers and friends and strangers alike, is that anything can happen. All of the reading we're doing, all of the child-like curiosity that we're throwing upon our parents can do nothing to prepare us for being a parent. Going from having the freedom to read ourselves to sleep about parenting to having bouts with sleep deprivation isn't something that is taught, it seems as though parenting is thrust upon you.
We're steadily biding our time in the frying pan as the fire churns within Angie, and we will, in any case, be ready for anything.

Into The Home Stretch
Today is the first day of the rest of the pregnancy, the third trimester! The shoes are getting a bit tighter, the belly is definitely getting bigger, and the anticipation is palpable!

The Cina-Tragedy
Pregnant woman sleeps. She dreams of breakfast. Mmmmm, its only a matter of time before I sink my teeth into those cinnamon rolls topped with that sugary goodness.
Lesson: Ensure that your oven is not set to 'broil'

The Angie Interview, 10 Burning Questions
13 September 2007

1. Angie, thanks for sitting down with us for this in-depth interview about how you and your pregnancy is going. You're now in Week 25, how is everything so far? Is it what you expected?

Angie: I'm glad to contribute, there's a first time for everything!! Everything is great here...I was never really scared of the pregnancy part, just the whole baby part :)

2. As far as preparation for delivery and the getting ready to be a Mom, what has been the biggest thing for you to try and achieve prior to giving birth?

Angie: To read as much as possible, and harass my mom about what to do about this and that.

3. How has Robert been throughout this process? Is he an active participant in your pregnancy?

Angie: He's been great!! I can't imagine having to do all of this alone. Once the baby is born, I know Robert will be there to really help out so I'm not as freaked out as I probably should be.

4. You are far enough into the pregnancy now to have experienced some highs and some lows. What has been your favorite thing about being pregnant?

Angie: The movements :) It feels like he moves all the time: it's pretty cool!

5. And your least favorite?

Angie: Having to sleep on my sides instead of my back :( It really sucks!!

6. Have you had any embarrassing moments at home or at work when it comes to adjusting to your new body?

Angie: Not really other than burning my belly when reaching over a hot pan last weekend; not real used to the protrusion.

7. You and Robert have decided to keep the name of the baby a secret. What's your motivation and have you kept your secret safe?

Angie: Well we have to have some surprises left! And yes, I've had a minor slip up....it's funny how a good dessert has pretty much the same effect as alcohol these days :)

8. And his name is?

Angie: Hahaha.

9. One last question. You and Robert are big soccer fans. Who do you think your son will support? Leeds United or Liverpool?

Angie: He's a winner, and will naturally support a winner....besides I'm sure he'll look great in red :)

10. Any final words for our 4 readers out there?

Angie: Thanks for reading, we have a great time putting this blog together so its nice to know you're reading and that you're interested! Keep checking in!

Random Ramblings: Taking Back Tradition
Has America gone soft? I can't remember the last time I saw a house and its trees covered in toilet paper. With a child on the way, 'Wrapping' or 'TPing' houses is something I look forward to doing again. Flaming bags of dog mess is one thing, egging homes is a no-no, but throwing rolls of toilet paper into trees will make a comeback! It was a fun way of saying 'we got you' or even 'I like you' to a secret crush. No one understood it but the kids, but I've kept that understanding over the years and now the tide has turned! Hahaha! Time for a comeback!
So look out neighborhood, see you in 2015!

24 Weeks And Counting

Best Play Date Ever
We had the great pleasure of hosting our good friends Keith and Holly and their kids Jack and Sydney (pictured above) this weekend. We had an absolute blast with these two and find ourselves a bit empty without the gang here. We had a full weekend of activity that started off with Georgia Tech's defeat of Notre Dame to kick off the college football season and continued with a Houston Dynamo night match that ended in a 1-1 draw. Sunday was a day out at the Whole Hog Brewery with Brew Master Jeffray. Our plans for a swim were washed out, but we managed brewed up a nice wheat beer and had a nice dinner together. Monday was a travel day and we reluctantly said goodbye to our friends as they headed home to Baton Rouge. But wouldn't you know it, they may have left a bit behind to remember them by...we think we're both catching a cold! Small price to pay for such an enjoyable experience.

We miss you guys! Come back soon!