Complementary Angles

Eight Days!

2012-01-28T23:08:00.000-05:00

That "8 days left" really jarred me - very exciting!

The Greatest Power Of All

2012-01-28T21:28:00.005-05:00

We are watching 30 Rock, and this made us laugh:

Jack Donaghy: "But, and I will never say this again: you have a power that I don't."

Liz Lemon: "Besides the greatest power of all, the ability to gestate life?"

Jack Donaghy: "Of course, Lemon. That's why the president is always a new mom."

Happy Pork Day

2012-01-24T18:51:00.003-05:00

The pork loin we are having for dinner is ready. Chip's responses:

"I heard the pork chops here are really good."

and then:

"When will Jesus bring the pork chops?"
[the latter is a book in our library that isn't technically ours]

The Calm Before The Storm

2012-01-21T11:24:00.000-05:00

After M and G left the breakfast table this morning, I lingered for a while, watching the trees in the back yard. The sun never quite made it out of bed today, but the birds seem very happy and everything is peaceful. We are under a tornado watch, and the radar shows red all over the place. I know that soon, the trees will be swaying and it will be pouring rain, probably even thundering and flashing lightning.

I wonder how scared Chip will be when it really starts storming. I wonder if any of our trees will fall over (it's happened before!). But I am also excited, because it's Saturday and we don't have anywhere else to be. We can enjoy the excitement, and we really do need the rain. Besides, rain at the end of January means that it's pretty warm out there, and we are lucky for that.

I realized, staring out at the woods, that I feel kind of the same way about the baby. My energy level and appetite have both dropped drastically in the past few days, and I know that my body is preparing to go through a pretty intense but brief "storm." I'll have many of the same questions as I do today: will G do well with the changes? will my body stand up to the challenge? will things ever quiet down again?

It's funny how before it storms, all you think about is the storm. During the storm, all you think about is the storm. But it always does quiet down, doesn't it? And because of the rain, we get blooming trees, healthy soil, happy birds and squirrels, and once in a while we even get a rainbow. And really, the calm before the storm doesn't have to be ominous; it can be a time to appreciate the moment.

Family Force

2012-01-02T12:25:00.000-05:00

The Wolfgangs gave us this frame for Christmas, and Angie took the perfect photo for it. Actually, we made her take it. She certainly thinks we are nuts for posing like this.

From One Great Year To Another

2012-01-01T20:16:00.003-05:00

Happy New Year, everyone! We have to say that 2011 was a really, really great year. We haven't felt that way about some of the last few years, but this past year has brought us many blessings. We know that the next year will bring more - one, in particular - and we are having a great start so far.

In 2011, the biggest news was our pregnancy with our second son. And no, you aren't getting his name out of us just yet! After three years of trying, we were actually shocked and elated when we realized that he was on his way. It hasn't been all smooth sailing; a subchorionic hemmorhage at 11 weeks forced us to be extra cautious this time through. This little one is tough, though, and we found out that these things are very common. After a few weeks of not-quite-bed-rest, we were able to get exercise again and live normally. I have had many more aches and pains this time, especially in the hips, but it's all normal stuff and absolutely nothing to complain about. Besides, I have the best caretaker in Matt. He does absolutely everything for me and never complains. Even G has been helpful, bringing me blankets and stuffed animals to help me nap.

We have a fantastic birth team. We took Bradley classes again and have read lots of books, research, and web sites to help us prepare for a natural water birth. We have a great chiropractic team who helped us turn this little one head down when he got himself stuck sideways, and who help me with my aches and pains. We joined Intown Midwifery and have the best midwives in the state and beyond (did you see them on 20/20 a few weeks ago?). Our doula is such a great source of knowledge, strength, and calm, and has already been a tremendous support to us. The baby couldn't be more cared for! Really. I think we have found every resource known to man.

So we wait.

The other big change that affected our lives last year was something that most people probably haven't noticed as much as we have. The Chipster has matured tremendously - in his sense of humor, his responsibility, academically, creatively, emotionally, and culinarily (!). He makes us laugh more than ever, and he understands jokes that we tell him. He has the responsibility of not one, but two expensive electronic devices and one very precious stuffed animal and always keeps them where they are supposed to be. He never loses track of them or forgets where he put them. He has also learned to accept limits on the use of certain devices and truly understands that those limits are for his own good.

His grades are the equivalent of straight As, and I witnessed him in class a couple of weeks ago not only finishing two books, but asking to take a test and then asking to go to the library. This boy, our son who claimed to "hate" reading a couple of months ago (and to tell the truth, it's still last on his list at home). He is the youngest kid in his class but reading at the 97th-99th percentile of his grade level, according to one assessment. His math skills are progressing well, too. He is frequently jotting down math problems and trying to solve them, which pleases his nerd parents to no end.

Creatively, G makes a lot of connections in the most interesting places. We were having a Beyblade battle yesterday, and when his Bey jumped out of the stadium, he said it was like the duck in Peter and the Wolf (his favorite thing to listen to on the iPod Santa brought him as he falls asleep). His drawings are minimalist, because he refuses to part from his artistic vision when illustrating. He has amazed us with his ability to creatively solve problems in video games - and to help us solve problems.

This year, G has grown so much emotionally. For the first time in his life, he likes to cuddle with us, and you better believe Mommy is taking full advantage of that! He has also shown empathy, as he has tucked me into naps more than once and frequently offers us parts of his desserts rather than keeping them all for himself.

Perhaps one of Chip's greatest accomplishments, at least as far as his food-obsessed parents are concerned, is the fact that he has not only tried sushi, but he asked for it on Friday when we were at lunch at Thaicoon. You may recall that this is the child who ate nothing but oatmeal, peanut butter sandwiches, and chicken tenders for at least a year of his life. We could not be prouder of the beautiful young boy that he has become, and we try every day to be deserving of the privilege we were given in being his parents.

In his Parish School of Religion class and at home, G has been busy preparing for both his first reconciliation and first communion. Individually, these are huge events in his life, but to have them both in the same year means a lot of work and then a lot of celebration. We are so excited for both events and are really enjoying helping him learn all about his Catholic faith.

So it was a great year for Chipdip.

As for the two of us parental folks, well, we're just chugging right along. Work for Matthew has been a place of change. The last F-22 was rolled out a couple of weeks ago, so he found a position working on the C-130. Not the flashy fighter jet he's used to, but a beautiful bird with interesting new features and challenges. He has been very nervous about the changes, especially since it comes with new coworkers, but the first couple of days have gone well and he is positive that this will be a good experience for him.

I just finished my last semester teaching before the baby is born. Overall, it was the best term yet in my two years of teaching at this college. I had fantastic students, both academically and in terms of work ethic and attitude, and probably the best grades yet. I also organized my courses so that the entire semester is mapped out for the future, should I return once the bambino gets his bearings in our household. I will go back to tutor until the baby is born, and then we will wait and see how things go to determine what I should do next.

One more notable thing - we apparently have become case studies for the conservation of mass principle. As I gain baby weight, my gorgeous husband is losing it. He looks better than ever and has a great disposition to go with it. His self-control has been impressive, as mine has gone right down the drain! I am so proud of him.

So as we begin the new year of 2012, one job ends, another begins, one child grows in so many ways and another is born. It seems like a lot of change, but it is all good change - and it definitely won't be a boring year!

Happy New Year's Eve!

2011-12-31T09:12:00.001-05:00

Seeing this on our phone just made it seem more real that we are about to begin a new year.

Lopsided At 34 Weeks

2011-12-27T02:04:00.001-05:00

This little one loves to stay scrunched up in my lower left side, but he just decided to curl up - and out - even more. I can't tell if he is head up or down today, but it seems as though he is facing my back, which is good. We have a midwife appointment tomorrow afternoon, and we will, hopefully, have a better idea of his position.

'Twas The Week Before Christmas

2011-12-18T23:55:00.002-05:00

It is the week before Christmas, and we are in full holiday bustle. Last week, we visited the Sleepy Hollow Christmas Tree Farm so we could choose our tree for this year. We quickly found the perfect tree, but G also found our perfect tree for a year or two hence. We have to wait for it to grow up a little, but we think it is going to be a beautiful tree for us one year.

Chip with his favorite tree.

This year, he can touch the top with help. We'll see how much it grows this year.

Our perfect tree for this year.

The lumberjacks.

Two little cuties getting ready for the annual family Christmas photo.

On Friday night, we had our annual Christmas celebration with our great friends the Whaleys and the Soergel-Harrises. All of the kids had a great time together and enjoyed the privilege of staying up very late - and the Blueberry got his very first Christmas gift from the Whaleys!

Five little ones who are sure to be on the Good List.

The littlest one's first-ever Christmas gift - adorable soccer star pajamas that say, "Mommy's Champ."

On Saturday, we celebrated the holiday with the bell choir. I couldn't find the perfect gift, so I decided to make my own. I went to Pinterest and found an idea under the heading, "25 Handmade Gifts Under $5." While thinking about how to go about creating coasters, I happened to turn on the television in the kitchen to an interview with the actress who played Zuzu in "It's A Wonderful Life." At the end of the interview, they asked her to say her famous quote, and I thought that would make a wonderful start. Here are the coasters I created:

Maybe next year I can make a 2012 version.

The famous quote from "It's A Wonderful Life."

Our church.

Another beautiful quote I found.

All bundled up and ready to gift. Thanks to M for the beautiful photography.

After mass today, we visited Santa in Marietta Square. It was quite a long wait - just shy of two hours - but as G declared afterward, "It was totally worth it." Chip was able to ask Santa for the few things he wants this year - an archery set with target, a skateboard, the Pokemon Leaf Green game, the Pokemon Emerald game, and the Lego Star Wars Slave I set.

The Good boy with Santa Claus.

When we got home, Bun and Papa came over. My dad helped M build the baby's crib, which turned out beautifully. We'll share pics when a little more of the nursery is completed. My mom came over to decorate cookies with me and Chip. Everything came out tasting delicious!

The fruit triangles and the gingerbread men. The one on the left with the "Mr. Bill" mouth is only a head. G had stories behind a few of these cookies.

The peanut butter and sugar cookies. Notice the one miniature cookie on the left. Those sugar cookies were cute little Star Wars pressed cookies that expanded just a little!

So now, we are in the home stretch before Christmas and wrapping up (no pun intended, but we kind of like it) a few last minute loose ends for the big day. We hope you are having a wonderful week of preparation!

Hard At Work

2011-12-11T19:06:00.001-05:00

G is keeping me company while I work. He is very good company.

(see full image)

Sent from my iPhone

All From One Junk Drawer

2011-12-08T22:34:00.001-05:00

I found all of these in the drawer under the coffee pot while looking for a paper clip. I didn't pull out all the pencils, but that is a pretty impressive collection, as well.

(see full image)

Never Waste A Perfectly Good Day

2011-12-05T17:26:00.001-05:00

Today was a wonderfully warm Monday, so Chip and I decided to postpone homework for a while so we could enjoy the fresh air. We headed over to our local park, where G wanted to visit the little playground for a while. He quickly found a friend who wanted to play ball with him. After a while, we wanted to see what was happening on the big playground, so we went over and found a school friend there.

Around 5:00, it started getting dark and cold, so we came home. G is now diligently completing his homework, and we're about to sit down for the beef stew I made this morning in the crock pot.

Special Delivery, Extra Special Boy

2011-11-30T14:43:00.001-05:00

Now, here's what you want to see when you open a package!

It's actually the Tiffany china we ordered for the baby. Matt's grandpa sent us a "congratulations" gift a while back, and we wanted to use it on something that would be a keepsake for the baby. We are so happy with our decision and can't wait to see the little guy eating Cheerios out of that bowl.

In other news, the Chipster has been working very hard on his behavior lately. On Sunday, we both left the kitchen after breakfast, and I heard the sound of dishes. I went into the kitchen to find that G had cleared the breakfast table. He put all of the dishes in the sink, put the family plate of pastries away, had washed the table, and was drying the table and washing the light over the table. Sometimes, he is really, really wonderful.

A Very Pink Tradition

2011-11-25T22:02:00.001-05:00

This is the third year that we've attended ridden the Pink Pig. It has become a tradition with the Soergel-Harris clan, and this year we were lucky to have Wowo with us, as well. There was no line for the ride, so we had time to shop a little (Hello, Godiva Candy Cane truffle!) before we headed out to dinner. We even had time to stop by Tiffany at Phipps Plaza to order a very special gift for our son-in-tummy:

This year, dinner was at Maggiano's in the Buckhead section of Atlanta. The food was so delicious, and we all had a great time. We had a large round table in front of the piano player, who was very talented and even played the Charlie Brown theme song when the kids gave him tips. Since I am trying to minimize my contact with alcohol during pregnancy and nursing, the waiter was kind enough to bring me a taste of chianti as a treat, which I really appreciated. All of the others around us smiled a lot at our table's three kidlets, so they must have behaved themselves well.

As we have misplaced our digital camera, we decided to give the Nikon P7000 a try. Thanks to our Amazon Prime trial membership, we ordered the camera on Wednesday and it arrived today. Although it looks and feels like it's cheaply made, we are really impressed so far with its performance and capabilities. Actually, we should say that its performance will be really great when we figure out how to use it! Here are some pics from today:

First pic with the new camera. These flowers were actually in shade, and I didn't use a flash.

The pinkest tent in the world.

I hadn't yet figured out how to use the flash, but I think this one turned out pretty great.

Matty and Wowo.

Dani and Lindsay, with the Chipster in the background.

Making faces at themselves in the mirror tunnel.

Happy riders!

Three little piglets.

I believe he had just said, "Quincy, this is a serious picture!" G with his ice cream.

What a crew.

We are looking forward to next year already! We hope that you are also getting into the Christmas spirit already, and that you are finding ways to make this season extra special.

Cool

2011-11-24T20:52:00.001-05:00

(see full image)

Sent from my iPhone

Thanksgiving "Breakfast"

2011-11-24T10:47:00.001-05:00

Matthew has a theory that we will get the most out of our Thanksgiving dinner if we stretch our stomachs at breakfast. Ever the obedient wife, I am doing my best to allow him to test his theory [by the way, I used that word the other day and G blurted out, "hypothesis.". That kid, I tell ya.]. I made the blueberry one yesterday and cranberry orange and chocolate muffins and cinnamon rolls today.

The turkey is brining, and the old-fashioned apple tart is in progress. The chocolate marvel pie is next. We are watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on TV and having a great morning. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

First Literary Reference

2011-11-20T20:01:00.001-05:00

We are so proud. G just made his first literary reference. While playing Cuponk with his Daddy, he said, "You see, Saxonberg, I just moved my cup." He was referencing From The Mixed Up Files Of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler.

That Time Of Year

2011-11-20T17:55:00.001-05:00

Well, this year I have been banned from hanging the Christmas lights, what with my "condition" and all. However, the show must go on, so Matthew is hanging the lights for our annual lighting on Thanksgiving this Thursday. We can't believe how quickly Christmas is approaching.

First Real Game Of Scrabble

2011-11-19T20:19:00.001-05:00

Chip and I just played "real" Scrabble, although we didn't keep score, for the first time. Yes, I helped him with the word at the bottom. Hey, a point is a point!

Star Student

2011-11-14T07:13:00.001-05:00

This week, G is the star student in his class. He will get extra privileges, like lunch in the classroom with a friend on Tuesday. We hope that he feels special all week long!

Corkscrews And Canvas

2011-11-10T22:22:00.001-05:00

Last night, I went with some friends to make a Christmas painting at Corkscrews And Canvas. I thought that it was a difficult painting, but since G's reaction this morning was, "Woah! Cool painting!" I guess I did okay.

Calm

2011-11-10T21:57:00.001-05:00

On Sunday, I found G meditating in the shower to calm himself down. He said that he likes the sound of the water because it's "quiet". After his shower, he told me about some of the benefits of meditation. For example, "When you are trying to figure out a math problem, you just meditate, and it helps you find the answer."

Time Change

2011-11-09T07:41:00.000-05:00

With the time change, it is now light at the morning bus stop again. It's amazing how energetic the kids are at 6:58 am, with just a little light to wake them. Here they are playing football. Most of the kids are to the left of the frame, running around like maniacs.

Rewarded

2011-11-06T16:46:00.000-05:00

After a day of FANTASTIC behavior, G earned a trip to Stars And Strikes. As it turns out, he is a fantastic bowler! Maybe all that practice on Wii Sports Result helps!

Happy Halloween 2011!

2011-11-03T22:19:00.002-05:00

Here are some photos from Halloween. This year, we had a little Ewok. His little brother was "dressed" as the Death Star blowing up Alderaan.

We carved our pumpkins before we went trick-or-treating. G designed both pumpkins and helped to cut them; the first one says "Monsters are scary" and the smaller one has fangs.

When it was time to go down to the annual neighbor get-together, G took the Star Wars pillowcase off of his bed to use for a candy bag. When the sun set, he hit every house in the neighborhood with a group of other kids and had a great time. Bun handed out candy at our house so we could both go walk the neighborhood with the Ewok.

Angry Pumpkins

2011-11-03T22:05:00.001-05:00

Halloween began this year when I helped Chip's class create their entry in the school pumpkin competition. The class worked together so well to create these Angry Birds pumpkins:

Movie Night

2011-10-08T09:31:00.000-05:00

Our school had a movie night on the lawn last night. We watched Rio and had a great time.

First School Project - The Chattahoochee River

2011-10-03T07:38:00.001-05:00

Today was the due date for G's first ever school project. For the past three weeks, he's worked very hard on this. He did research both on the internet and in print. He learned how to cut and paste using Microsoft Word, and he kept a Word file with his research. He created categories for his research, like "science and nature," "safety," and "fun." He chose a poster board and title letters at Target. He designed a layout for his project, and drew his illustrations first, including a very accurate map of Georgia and the Chattahoochee River. He decided how to put his facts in his own words and used his very best handwriting to write out each fact.

He wanted to stay up all night on Saturday to finish it, because he was having so much fun working on this, but we only allowed him an extra two hours. With Mommy overseeing the spelling and Daddy popping popcorn, we had a pretty great time watching him work. He said that he loves doing projects and that for some reason, and he can't explain it, he found it relaxing to stay up all night. He put the finishing touches on yesterday evening, et voila!

One of our favorite things about this is how he drew trees in autumn and layered them, one behind the other, on each side of the river bank. He did so much work on this - from research, to planning, to carefully forming each written letter, to erasing pencil lines and reglueing loose edges of title letters - that he really surprised and impressed us. It's amazing what our kids can do!

Les Artists

2011-10-01T17:30:00.000-05:00

Lisa and I did a charity painting event today at Paint-N-Party. We had a blast and contributed to a local church's mission trip to Romania.

Growing Boy

2011-09-28T16:58:00.000-05:00

Look at all of this food, and look at who is behind most of it.

On Our Eighth Anniversary, Eight Reasons I Love Matty

2011-09-20T06:43:00.000-05:00

20 September 2003, Ann Arbor, Michigan - just married

14 August 2011, Tybee Island, Georgia - with 7-year-old son and another on the way

He fixes the fitted sheet on my side of the bed when it comes untucked.
He makes me the best coffee drinks, even though he doesn't drink coffee.
He always asks if I need anything when he leaves the room.
He brings me silly magazines from the grocery store as a treat.
He encourages me to sit and knit when there are chores to be done, and better yet, he joins me to work on his airplane models.
He never complains about anything.
He always chooses me. Not work, not our son, not his hobbies, but me.
He thinks I look beautiful, no matter how messy my hair is or how flabby I feel.
(like there would only be eight!) He is really, really cute.

A Sweater Is Born

2011-09-10T21:51:00.002-05:00

Near the New Year 2010, I asked my mom to choose a sweater for me to make for her, and she chose the Classic Lines Cardigan, from Knit Picks. We ordered the yarn, which I rewound. I contemplated the project for a while, intimidated by the work that lie ahead. I cast on one of the sleeves, really with no idea of what I was doing, but I forged ahead anyway. There were months at a time when I set the project down because I got to a point where a decision had to be made and I froze with indecision.

Finally, earlier this year, I decided to tackle this project in earnest. By August, I was getting pretty far along and decided that I could have it done for my mom in time for her birthday on September 6. Well, with the exhaustion induced by going back to work combined with pregnancy, I felt like I slowed down a little bit, but I was able to complete the sweater by the evening of September 7 and delivered it to its owner the morning of the 8th. Since I made it to her measurements, I think it fits my mom perfectly, and she seems happy with it.

Now that this is finished, I feel like I can knit anything! I started on a pair of socks, but the gauge was wrong (despite knitting a swatch), so I had to order smaller needles. Today, I ordered the yarn for a beautiful sweater for the new baby, so hopefully I'll have two new projects on the needles by the end of the week.

I traced the sweater to make sure it stayed true to size after I washed it.

It gets a wash before I block it to the right shape and size.

Soak is a knitter's best friend.

I stitched every single stitch on both sides of the cut line and marked the cut line with stitch markers.

I thought the hem turned out beautifully.

The hand-stitching is hardly noticable, although this part will be covered up in the finished garment.

The stitching on the right side of the sweater.

Knitting the very last stitch on the sweater - the button band - after cutting it into a cardigan.

My mom wearing the sweater that was sized, shaped, and handmade just for her.

Swiss Victory

2011-09-10T21:32:00.000-05:00

Today, Chip played his first soccer game as a member of Team Switzerland. They did very well; they won the first game 10-1 and the second game somewhere around 8-1. G scored a spectacular goal in the second game, sending the ball over the heads of players and goalie, into the sweet spot in the top right corner of the net.

The ball didn't make it anywhere near the goal while he was goalie in the first game.

Ready for action.

Happy to be back on the pitch.

No Bed Too Big

2011-09-09T20:37:00.000-05:00

He sure likes to take up all of his bed space when he sleeps, doesn't he? This was taken around midnight a couple of days ago, and he is head-to-foot with the bed. It really was dark in the room; my iPhone just has a really great flash. We thought it was funny how he was sprawled out. Every night he assumes a different pose. Sometimes, we pull him back over to the pillow; others, we just throw a blanket over him and leave him where he is. This night, it was the latter.

Adventures With Arthur

2011-08-30T16:17:00.001-05:00

G is reading everything in sight! Here he is after school today.

A Portrait Of The Birthday Boy

2011-08-27T18:42:00.001-05:00

... at Osteria Del Figo.

Birthday Fun, Old School Style

2011-08-27T17:27:00.000-05:00

We went to Mountasia for part of Matt's birthdaystravaganzatacular 2011. We are all having a great day.

Beginning Of Birthday Season 2011

2011-08-20T22:58:00.001-05:00

Although his birthday isn't for another week, we started M's celebration early. Tonight, I took him to a Neko Case concert, and we had great seats.

Afterwards, we went to Pinkberry to see what all the fuss is about. Although it would be easy to create a healthy dessert here, which is probably why it's so popular, we decided to go nuts (and fruit, and brownie pieces...).

Tomorrow will be my dad's celebration, and we'll go out to dinner. Birthday season 2011 has officially begun!

At The Show

2011-08-20T18:16:00.001-05:00

We are at Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre to see Neko Case for Matt's birthday. Great seats, great weather, great times!

A Random Act Of Kindness

2011-08-17T18:49:00.001-05:00

Wasn't this so kind of the developer at Walgreens?

Action Hero

2011-08-16T06:09:00.001-05:00

Looking cool in new school gear!

The Super Second Grader!

2011-08-15T20:53:00.003-05:00

Ready For Second Grade!

2011-08-15T06:34:00.002-05:00

After a fun-filled summer, full of fun trips and video games, it is time to start another school year. We took summer vacation to the last second, almost literally, because we got home from Tybee Island last night not long before 11pm. Hopefully, excitement will get Chip through the day, and he can relax all evening at home. Here are some pics from this morning:

ready to go with his brand new rolling Boba Fett backpack

with James and Tommy at the bus stop

first to the bus stop, last on the bus

...and away they go!

Disney World, Days 6 and 7

2011-08-12T11:42:00.000-05:00

After taking too many stairs at Blizzard Beach, I was not feeling well enough to visit Hollywood Studios the next morning. Laura stayed with me at the resort, while the boys went to the park. Their focus, of course, was anything Star Wars-related.

G is the sorcerer!

Riding a speeder bike with the other Scout Troopers

They were accidentally shrunken and found themselves in a back yard, but G found an ant to help him fight his way out of the yard

They came back in the afternoon for a swim, and then we all went back to Hollywood Studios.

Chip discovered the fun of water slides

Water slides are fun for everyone!

Our baby's first no-jito. I'd been drinking them every day, and he really wanted to try one.

Different year, same picture - down to the overjoyed expression on Chip's face. He was happy - just being silly.

The Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectaular! was, well, spectacular.

G was truly captivated and entertained

Future stuntman?

On Endor, we found Luke Skywalker preparing to fight Darth Vader.

That says "Departures," for those of you who don't read Galactic Basic Standard.

C-3PO and R2D2, and a commercial advertising Star Tours with a Nanny Droid

The star tourists after their return from Endor, Cruscant, and Mustafar (pregnant ladies don't make good galactic travelers)

A crate at Muppet*Vision 3D

"In Space, No One Can Find Their Shoes"

Matt on the Rock 'n' Roller Coaster

Walk This Way!

Rock On!

Inside the entrance to our resort

G asked to take a photo with Daddy in the lobby. I love this one.

A beautiful light fixture at the end of the lobby, in front of the savanna window. Begins at the bottom with roots in the soil and ends at the top with an ostrich egg surrounded by ostriches.

A very clever African ladder

The morning of our departure, G took each of his stuffed animals outside on the balcony with him so that each of them could have some special time viewing the animals on the savanna. He is such a kind and caring boy; we were really touched to watch him that morning.

Charkie's turn

This was the perfect place for us to stay

Even the patio chairs were beautifully detailed

We think that we will return to this lodge. It was really special, in that it was relaxing, entertaining, and educational. They really make a lot of effort to present different aspects of culture, geography, ecology, and society in the African countries so that guests can truly learn while they're there. We liked the fact that it wasn't a cartoon version of the continent; it was genuine. The "cast members" (employees) are actually African residents who have lots to share about their countries. From a drum lesson one night, to a zoology lesson another night, to guides orienting us to the animals on the savannas outside, we really left with a new appreciation for Africa in general, but I think Botswana in particular (that was the zoology lesson).

G is not the type to take part in the organized poolside activities, but he did want to play ping pong, use the water slides, and play monkey in the middle with anyone who was around. He also loved sitting out on the balcony and watching the animals on the savanna. And any parent can tell you, if the child's happy, everyone's happy!

We are not a "Disney family" in the sense that we are obsessed with the movies and characters, but we have definitely become appreciative of the quality that they put into their lodges and parks, and we are fans of the efforts they make toward good stewardship of the planet. We had such a nice trip, and we are so glad that Laura was there with us. Angle Vacation 2011 was a success!

Baby's First Diapers!

2011-08-11T13:04:00.000-05:00

We received our first two diapers in the mail today. We ordered BumGenius elemental (organic) all-in-ones. We chose two that would be gender-neutral. Maybe next Friday we'll be able to order gender-specific colors! Aren't they cute?

Images Of Our Little Blueberry!

2011-08-09T21:14:00.002-05:00

Today was our monthly checkup, but we didn't have an ultrasound done. We did hear the baby's heart beat, which we'll post once we've processed it, and it was a perfect 162 bpm.

We have finally gotten around to scanning in the ultrasound pics from our perinatalogist appointment from 29 July. You can see that the baby is measuring a full week taller than expected, so he or she is perfectly healthy. You can also see a few other things if you care to look, like the nuchal translucency measurement and my "bruise" (from the subchorionic hemorrhage). But we like to focus on the beautiful little blueberry, who has become more of a peach.

As I type, the peach has lodge himself or herself firmly into my far left side. My tummy looks very funny right now - very lopsided. I think this one's going to be a cuddler!

Back view, measuring crown-to-rump length

Side view - he or she was practicing moving those cute little jaws!

Side view, showing legs and tummy (dark area)

Close-up, measuring nuchal (back of neck) fold - but look at that cute little nose!

What a pose! Reclining like royalty. Look at those toesies!

3D image, showing perfect little arms and legs

Go Go Go Cart!

2011-08-08T21:05:00.001-05:00

We're at the birthday party of Chip's friend Maddox, at Mountasia. G has finally gotten to try the bumper boats and go-carts, and he also got to play video games and miniature golf, both of which he's done before. Usually, we just go there for mini golf, so it was a special treat to have a pass to do everything. The temperature at this evening hour is very pleasant, and it rained a few drops so all of the kids got a pass to come back again! We all had a great time.

Sonic Booms

2011-08-06T12:42:00.000-05:00

Our first morning in Florida, we awoke well before 6 am so that we could go out on the balcony and listen for the space shuttle's sonic booms on reentry. We weren't sure whether we would hear a quiet "pop pop" or nothing at all. Well, what we heard truly shocked all three of us! It rattled the doors of our room, which you can hear, and even woke up G for a moment.

Because it was dark, we couldn't drive to Cape Canaveral to see it fly overhead; it doesn't have position lights like an airplane. Being the last mission of the space shuttle program, it was extremely important for P to be a part of it in some way, so we took a big chance on staying at our resort near Orlando without 100% certainty that we could hear the booms. Feeling that wave pass through our bodies, we definitely do feel as though we were a part of this landing.

Now we've seen both a space shuttle launch (STS-131) and landing (STS-135). Please pardon the language in the video; we were truly in shock!

Sleepover

2011-08-05T16:19:00.001-05:00

G is ready for a fun filled night at Bun and Papa's! Wowo has a great night planned.

Disney World, Days 3 Through 5

2011-08-03T20:57:00.000-05:00

On Day Three of our vacation, we visited Typhoon Lagoon, one of the two Disney water parks.

G and Wowo with Lagoona Gator

Poor, poor Chip

What in the world could have made such an interesting trail?

Why, it's G! During the rain, when the attractions closed, the adults huddled under shelters while G found two other kids to play with in the sand. The one on the right is Phil, and he's British.

Making a sand angel. The rain didn't slow him down one bit!

Getting ready to swim in the coral reef with SCUBA tanks

I made her hold my hand until I stopped being terrified. Yes, there were sharks and sting rays, but it was the fish that freak me out!

We all got caught!

That evening, we arrived back "home" to find a beautiful sunset. We spent the next day lounging around the lodge.

Beautiful sunset over the savanna

Ping-pong at the Kidani Village pool at our resort

A drum lesson in the Sunset Savanna Lounge

The most giraffes (three) we had at our feeder at once, along with a zebra grazing in the background

Big Boy checks in for his second evening in Simba's Cubhouse

On our date at Sanaa restaurant, a giraffe wandered by the window. Our room is in the building you can see across the savanna.

Happy to have some alone time on Saturday night with fantastic food and great scenery at Sanaa.

The entry to Kidani Village had this beautiful candelabra, along with the quote, "One who goes back to his home does not consider the night too dark. He knows his way. --Uganda". We think it is beautiful.

The three of us played Pictureka in one of the lobby sections...

while G watched Disney cartoons with lots of other kids in an adjacent section.

We played Human Pictureka in the lobby on the bridge: can you spot a Chipster?

Always ladylike, Laura sips her Chenin Blanc by the pool

At the Animal Kingdom Lodge, even the drains around the pool are decorated to look like pretty suns

Typical camera face in front of our room

On Sunday, we went to Downtown Disney to see if Disney Quest, the indoor interactive gaming center, looked like fun. It was so hot, and since one of us couldn't interact with much of anything due to a pregnancy complication, we decided to ditch Downtown and head for Blizzard Beach.

Of course, we had to visit the Lego store. Chip made this guy in the play area and ended up buying him and two others, since you can only buy your own minifigures in multiples of three. Mainly, he just wanted the hair for Luke Skywalker.

G found the most creative "hidden Mickey" of the trip - in the floor mat at the exit of the Lego store.

One of G's favorite places on Earth, if not THE favorite

Think we used enough sunscreen on top?

Nothing says "hot summer day" like a sleigh ride in your bathing suit!

Two more days of vacation photos to come. Stay tuned!

What Does A Jedi Dream?

2011-07-25T14:53:00.001-05:00

One of the best parts of vacation is sleeping in the same room with G. We think he is beautiful when he sleeps, especially cuddled with Charkie and his pillow, Dolphie.

Disney World!

2011-07-21T23:58:00.000-05:00

We are in our first full day at Disney World. We woke up before 6:00 am so that we could hear the space shuttle's twin sonic booms, and boy did we ever hear them! We'll post that once we have the chance to edit it into a format that we can post.

We are staying at Animal Kingdom Resort, and this place is amazing. There are things to learn, see, and do everywhere, and we have zebras, giraffes, crowned cranes, and many other things right outside our room!

When the others went back to sleep after the shuttle landing, I stayed up to watch the sunrise. The animals were beautiful, and I took some photos.

A giraffe and zebras outside our balcony at breakfast-time.

Sharing their breakfast - aren't they sweet?

Beautiful from every angle.

At the Star Wars section of the Lego store, he was in his glory.

We got to sit in the ice cave at the T-Rex Cafe.

Still celebrating his birthday.

Do you think he knows what's coming up behind him?

Making his Darth Maul light saber at Once Upon A Toy.

Striking a pose with his new light saber.

Breeze At The Top

2011-07-14T18:10:00.002-05:00

Exercising the baby, Wowo and I have climbed Kennesaw Mountain and are taking a break on our favorite rocks. There is a slight but nice breeze. It is very hazy looking out over Atlanta in one direction and Kennesaw in the other. We saw one beautiful red fawn on the way up, and the birds are chirping. There is an insect that looks like a bee taking multiple orders of take-out to his hole in the sandy ground between the rocks, and some small creature is nestling in the tall grass behind us. This is a nice way to spend the early evening.

Our Heartbeats, Together

2011-07-14T17:13:00.010-05:00

We had a "first" OB appointment today. Despite being relatively early, our doc had no trouble finding a good strong heartbeat. You can actually hear both of our heartbeats together: mine sounds like an average heartbeat, and Blueberry's sounds very fast, about twice the speed of mine. Have a listen!

We also have a new due date, based upon our last ultrasound. It's February 5th, just one day later than the date we'd had until today.

Doc said that I can ride water slides and roller coasters while we are in Disney World, because of my gestational age. He said that he knows how cautious I am and that if I want to have a little fun, I should go ahead. He's very low-stress, low-worry, and that makes us happy.

Locks Of Even More Love

2011-07-12T22:00:00.000-05:00

I have been growing my hair for several years, so I could donate to Locks Of Love again. After hemming and hawing for a few weeks about the perfect time to do it, I finally decided that pregnancy is the perfect time and made my appointment for today. I think that darker is better for short hair, and we put in some beautiful highlights. I've already been playing around with it, so it's little messy, but at least you can get the idea:

before - with glasses

after - with glasses

before - no glasses

after - no glasses

Found A Good Photo

2011-07-10T21:51:00.000-05:00

Today was a low-key but busy day. We went to church, lunch at a Mexican place called Laredo's (P's stomach decided that it would be better to bring lunch home in a box and eat it later), and came home. While P and her mom worked on hemming a couple of pairs of pants for a Winnwood resident, M put another coat of paint on our master bathroom. It's almost finished! Just a little touchup and a couple of coats of paint behind the loo, and we can put all the fixtures back up.

P also worked on the soaker (diaper cover) she began yesterday, and that is also nearly finished. A couple of legbands, and we'll be ready for our little pooper! At least, we'll be ready for one day of pooping.

Looking through the photos we had tagged for our blog, we found a good one from our Cloudland Canyon hike in April that we would like to share. It's a good family portrait:

Summer On The Lake

2011-07-10T00:57:00.000-05:00

This was on 29 May, so I suppose it was spring, but this has been one of our favorite places to go this summer. It has been so wonderful to see Matt get some quality time with his dad.

Ten Weeks Update

2011-07-08T22:30:00.000-05:00

Today we are ten weeks along, and I'm feeling pretty well. The nausea is practically gone, and I'm only tired. It's really not a bad problem to have. I can usually rest when I need to, and I've been laying low, knitting and reading. Baby A is now over an inch long, according to what we've found online, and is moving around like crazy. No more tail! We'll have another ultrasound in three weeks, and we'll post pictures then.

Chip is addicted to his Nintendo DSi. He has a new Pokemon game that he can't stop playing, unless I tempt him with a trip to a pool or Target (where he invariably wants Pokemon cards). He is still obsessed with Star Wars and his Star Wars Lego figures, as well. He hasn't been sleeping enough, probably because he's had the sniffles, but his manners have never been better. He holds open the door wherever we go and always says, "Thank you."

Matt is doing well at work, despite a little sagging morale due to the end of the F-22 program. He continues to do his very best and isn't bringing any work stress home with him.

I am really enjoying these couple of months off work, and really feel like I have needed it to rest and gestate. We don't have much planned this weekend, but G's birthday is coming up soon, and then we'll travel to Florida for a week-long vacation. While we're there, we plan to see the space shuttle Atlantis land and do a lot of swimming in the pool at our resort.

We will try to update this blog more often, especially with pregnancy developments and photos when possible.

Cars!

2011-06-24T18:44:00.001-05:00

After years of waiting, Cars 2 is finally in theaters. We went right away and give it eight thumbs up (at least we think the little one has thumbs by now). We expect to own this one when it is released on home video. Matt realized that this is the first movie that he and G have ever seen together! Ka-chow!

A Father's Day Gift

2011-06-19T21:47:00.000-05:00

We know that we have been incredibly blessed with our dear Gabriel, and for a long time we really just wanted to focus on him. We wanted to be the best parents we could be, and we wanted him to grow up feeling special and confident. Whether or not we've done just that, when Gabriel was closing in on four years old, we all began to feel as though our family could be even fuller. Thus began our obsession.

Many of you know that the past three years have been very difficult for us in that we have been praying, trying, and yearning for a second child. Gabriel has been asking and praying for a baby sister or brother for even longer than that. Add in lots of fertility testing, a miscarriage, and the beautiful children born to seemingly everyone we know, and it would be fair to say that a large part of our hearts has been occupied with the dream of a fuller family.

Well, our dear family and friends, the wait is over! Gabriel has gotten his wish and is a big brother. By early next February, we will have another son or daughter. Patty is seven weeks along, feeling great aside from a nagging but oh-so-welcome nausea. Our little Blueberry has a very strong heart beat and looks great. We could not be happier.

We have had two ultrasounds already, and because Patty has passed that milestone thirty-fifth birthday, we will have an extra opportunity or two to see great pictures of our baby. At the first ultrasound, we were at six weeks, and Blueberry's heart rate was 104. Last Friday, it was up to 132, which is right where we want it to be. Our baby's size is perfect, and we could see arms and legs, or at least their beginnings. His or her "tail" should be gone any time now! B measured 8 mm on Friday, which is over 1/4 inch from crown to rump. Friday was also the first time Patty has worn maternity clothes this time around. It has been amazing how quickly the body changes the second time.

Our baby at 6 weeks

Our baby at 7 weeks

So, it's a great time. We hope that you will share in the happiness of our good news and celebrate with us. Here's to big bellies and healthy babies! And Happy Father's Day to all dads, veteran and rookie!

Food, Glorious Food

2011-06-12T21:16:00.000-05:00

We attended a "forever party" today, which is a celebration of a child's adoption - she now has a "forever home." When we left, we needed to explain what the foster care system is all about. One of the examples we chose to use is when a child isn't getting fed. We said, "There are parents who don't feed their kids enough." The response from the back seat: "Tell me about it!"

Later, while I was napping and M was working on an airplane model, G was getting bored. He said to Matt, "Daddy, don't you know the most important thing is entertaining your son?"

He is getting funnier every day.

Always Entertained

2011-06-08T17:33:00.001-05:00

Including our son, we see four kids playing game systems. How many do you see?

Hot!

2011-06-08T14:15:00.001-05:00

In the time it took to attach that photo, it has gone up to 103! The glue holding my parking brake has melted and I had to push the thing back together. Nuts!

Pass The Kool-Aid!

2011-06-01T17:34:00.001-05:00

...at 6:34 pm.

Long Day At The Lake

2011-05-29T18:08:00.001-05:00

We just spent the day at Lake Hartwell, at Granddad's and Grandma Gail's house.

In Marietta Square

2011-05-28T19:55:00.001-05:00

Listening to the Georgia Symphony Orchestra playing America, The Beautiful.

A Good Sight To Wake Up To

2011-05-28T08:37:00.001-05:00

I look forward to the mornings he wakes me up.

Treehouse

2011-05-24T22:17:00.000-05:00

We have been building a treehouse for Chip in the backyard. Rather, we are assisting my dad. It is nearly finished. Here are a couple of photos I took this afternoon.

We have been building a treehouse for Chip in the backyard. Rather, we are assisting my dad. It is nearly finished. Here are some progress photos.

Back To School

2011-05-24T09:31:00.001-05:00

G decided to go back to school today, and his classmates were so glad to see him.

2011-05-24T09:21:00.001-05:00

Warrior In A MINI

2011-05-15T17:13:00.001-05:00

Muddy warrior driving a MINI Cooper through the North Georgia mountains.

Mountains

2011-05-15T12:41:00.001-05:00

Pretty drive up to Mountain City for the Warrior Dash.

Aaaaand... Dessert!

2011-05-13T11:47:00.000-05:00

A little shortcake in a jar from Bake Shop, with a double espresso.

Hot Summer In The City

2011-05-13T10:44:00.000-05:00

At Noodle. Cheers!

Water Fight At The OK Corral

2011-05-05T18:07:00.001-05:00

Last soccer practice of the year.

First Field Trip

2011-04-22T22:21:00.000-05:00

Today was Chip's first school field trip, and I was able to go chaperone. We also had his two closest school friends, Jon and Finn, in our group, and they were all hyped beyond belief to be there.

Finn, G, and Jon, ready to enter the zoo.

The lion didn't mind.

The real Komodo dragon wasn't on exhibit.

We got to see Po, the fine-month-old panda!

Efficiency at the petting zoo.

We were first in line for the train, so they chose the best seats on the train. Chip really wanted to sit backwards "so I can dangle my feet over the edge," but I thought all seats faced forward. Imagine the boys' excitement when they found this waiting for them at the caboose!

We are very, very proud of G for conquering his fear of heights today. He made it over halfway up the wall!

This occurrence of red-eye is just too cool.

See anything interesting?

Kelly is a beauty, isn't she?

G was enthralled by this elephant. He asked lots of questions and watching her for about half an hour.

Taller than a giraffe!

This mama giraffe has a very tall ten-month-old baby!

Roooooooooooar!

We had the great fortune of watching these researchers study Kelly. They wanted to find out how well Kelly used her sense of hearing to determine which of two barrels held more carrots. She chose correctly every time.

So the trip was a resounding success. We stayed all day (even after the rest of the class went back to school), and G was interested in everything he saw. His favorites were not only the elephants, but also the meerkats, which he watched for about fifteen minutes without moving or speaking. All three boys in my group behaved perfectly, which was both a surprise and a delight to me.

To top off a very special day, we went to dinner at Kuroshio with Bun and Papa; my mom tried raw sushi for the first time and loved it - even the octopus! Between the zoo, the dinner, and the fact that we came home to a clean house, it was a really great day, from start to finish.

Cloudland Canyon #6

2011-04-10T16:30:00.001-05:00

Aaaaaaand... we're done!

Cloudland Canyon #5

2011-04-10T16:15:00.001-05:00

Almost done! We are crossing back over the river that forms the main waterfall and formed the gorge.

Cloudland Canyon #4

2011-04-10T15:19:00.001-05:00

We are finally within view of the interpretive center where we parked, up there on the ridge behind G. We have gone a little over three tough miles, and we still have nearly two to go.

Cloudland Canyon #3

2011-04-10T14:40:00.001-05:00

We are at the point of the "peninsula" that juts out over the valley.

Cloudland Canyon #2

2011-04-10T13:22:00.001-05:00

Now we are on the other side, above the waterfall.

Cloudland Canyon #1

2011-04-10T12:46:00.001-05:00

See the waterfall? We are about to hike to the end of that peninsula and around the other side, then back. It is a long, beautiful hike we haven't taken since B.G. (before G).

Feeding The Ducks

2011-04-07T16:54:00.001-05:00

A Short Hike

2011-04-07T15:22:00.001-05:00

We are at Red Top Mountain State Park with our friends Terry, Derek, and Ryan. It's a beautiful day, and we are making the most of Spring Break.

Lookie Lookie

2011-04-05T13:12:00.001-05:00

One of the residents at Winnwood just brought me some Vernor's! What a treat! Apparently they sell it at a Publix here.

Amazing Find

2011-04-03T20:11:00.001-05:00

We just stopped at a Zaxby's for dinner on our way home from Hilton Head Island, after we failed to find the barbeque joint we were looking for. After dinner, while waiting for the lads to use the restroom, I inspected the many wall decorations. As I looked closely at one print, I spotted a familiar building out of the corner of my eye.

This print is the old Lost Mountain grocery store on the nearest main intersection to our house. We are about three hours away from home, in Metter, and definitely not anywhere we would expect to see such a local, non-famous landmark (which is now a small bank, by the way). But the building still looks the same, and the gas pump is still out front.

This painting is signed by John Zed King, so we might like to find out more about him.

Breakfast Of Champions

2011-04-03T07:57:00.001-05:00

Hullo! From Hilton Head Island

2011-04-02T17:35:00.001-05:00

Gabriel and I rode a tandem bike to the beach today and met M there... swam in the pool and walked on the beach... took a private dolphin cruise and made a dolphin friend... heading out to dinner for burgers and back for more fun... Weather is great, wish you were here!

Breakfast On The Back Deck

2011-04-02T08:08:00.001-05:00

We are enjoying Hilton Head Island. Gabriel has already made new friends, as have we, and we are going to play with them later. G is trying to decide whether to go to the movies without us later, or stay for extra play time. We are going to take a dolphin tour at 3, and it is supposed to be a beautiful ride even apart from the dolphins.

Nap Time On The Mountain

2011-03-16T16:54:00.001-05:00

We're like lizards. We found a nice comfy, sunny rock to rest on.

Any Day Is A Good Day

2011-03-16T16:34:00.001-05:00

to climb a mountain.

Flex Sigmoidoscopy

2011-03-11T13:58:00.001-05:00

You have got to be kidding me.

Commercials Can Make Anything Look Good

2011-03-10T06:52:00.000-05:00

"Mommy, when I'm a grown-up, and I need to lose weight, can I get Sensa? It looks cool... You just sprinkle it on your food."

Warm Days Ahead

2011-02-22T14:45:00.001-05:00

We thought it was a good day for ice cream, so we stopped at Sarah Jean's in the Square after the playgound.

Only In Paulding County, Georgia...

2011-02-18T15:56:00.001-05:00

Could you see this: two Waffle Houses next to each other. (Actually, they are just moving from one building to the other, but it still looks pretty funny!)

Henri Cartier-Bresson

2011-02-18T11:50:00.000-05:00

We are at the members' preview for the Henri Cartier-Bresson photography exhibit. It was very expansive, covered so many places and historical events, and sparked much conversation.

Aladdin And The Arabian Nights

2011-02-13T16:41:00.001-05:00

We have brought G to the symphony for the first time ever. Wish us luck!

Geishaed

2011-02-05T21:10:00.001-05:00

Post-meal, pre-dessert.

Geisha House

2011-02-05T21:01:00.001-05:00

It's About The Climb

2011-02-05T17:28:00.001-05:00

A long, long time ago (7 years!), in a city far, far away (20 miles!), Matt and I used to go to a climbing gym every chance we got. Along came a cute little kid, and into the basement went the climbing bag. We have busted out the bag and climbed our hearts out today.