Happy Halloween!

Delivered dish

Not to brag, although clearly in typing that I am indeed bragging, but I think we've managed quite well with food since Henry was born. The freezer food has been most excellent. Okay, the chocolate in the chocolate chip cookies we thawed was a bit hard - nothing a quick zap in the microwave couldn't handle - but the pasta sauce wasn't runny (as Darr feared it might be), the manicotti in a bag was as good as it was the day I prepared the dish, and the soup was perfect served with some bread we grabbed at our local Grand Central Bakery. On the days we haven't pulled dinner from the freezer, we've managed to find simple meals to throw together. This has been relatively easy since we are still getting our fresh vegetables from the farm and we managed to get to the store a few times to buy essentials like milk, cat litter, and lamb sausages. Mmmm...lamb...

Anyway, last night was our first dinner out since Henry's arrival, although "out" doesn't accurately describe it since we placed our order online and then had a meal delivered to our door from one of our favorite haunts, Bread and Ink Cafe. Never heard of this before? Me neither, until Darr brought home a gift certificate to Delivered Dish. This gift was most appreciated because last night even taking something out of the freezer to prepare seemed like too much work. (It was my first half day alone with lil' Henry as Darr went into work to review e-mails and start playing catch up for having been out the last two weeks.) This service is fantastic and now that I know it exists I hope to be able to gift it to others to help spread the word. Our most fabulous meal started with the Grilled Gulf Shrimp (large Mexican gulf shrimp marinated in olive oil with shallots, basil, oregano, garlic, and a touch of red pepper). Then I consumed the majority of a small side salad while Darr tackled the Grilled Pear and Hazelnut Bleu Cheese Mousse salad. For the main course, I ordered the Risotto Special (chanterelle mushroom risotto - yum!) and Darr ordered the Entree Special (filet mignon with bourbon and bacon sauce - everything tastes better with bacon, right?) It was TASTY. I highly recommend this service to anyone interested in providing their family with a good meal from a local restaurant without having to leave the comforts of their home.

Smells Like Baby, Tastes Like Chicken

* No actual babies were harmed during the creation of this blog entry

Week One

Yeah, we're going to have to find t-shirts with the Oh Henry! logo on 'em because we're just crazy enough to wear them. Note to trick-or-treaters, there are Oh Henry! candy bars in our bucket should you swing by our house on Halloween in honor of our little one. I had my first one ever the other day and can vouch for their high level of tasty goodness.

For the most part, Henry is a really great baby. He sleeps a lot, which we hear will change but enjoy very much right now as it affords some opportunity to play catch up on housework, sleep, etc. He cries when he has a specific need that must be addressed, such as a dirty diaper or hunger pangs. There is a small window in the late evening when he is generally fussy but this does not last long and is followed by the first shift of night sleeping that lasts around three to four hours.

To celebrate Henry's first week on the planet, I baked a cranberry apple pie. We didn't actually get to eat it until shortly after midnight, which was the eighth day of life for the little guy, but it tasted just as good. And, hey, for the rest of the weekend this means we have pie leftovers - woohoo!

Henry had his first bath, which he seemed oddly happy with but confused by. Here's a tip we got from our lactation specialist - warm the bath towel in the dryer beforehand. And for picture-taking fun, fashion the baby's hair into a baby mohawk.

Intentional co-sleepers and proud of it

The New York Times has an article about co-sleeping with your baby. In it there are three types of co-sleepers described: the intentional co-sleeper, the reactive co-sleeper, and the circumstantial co-sleeper. We are intentional co-sleepers and proud of it. I originally was in the 'put the kid in a crib and call it good' category so it surprised me when, after much reading, I was swayed by the arguments enough to join Darren in co-sleeping land. I am happy to report that things are going smoothly so far. Lil' Henry is a great co-sleeper. Sure, there is some residual baby spit on the sheets and the risk of him experiencing a bout of CDF (Catastrophic Diaper Failure) that ends up damaging our mattress and has us racing to Sleep Country USA is always present but it is one we happily assume. 'Cuz he's just too darn cute to hide in another room across the condo.

Do/did you co-sleep? If so, what was your experience like and would you recommend the practice to new parents?

Baby Dancing

So, when the baby gets a little active we like to dance. Groove. Swing. Strut. Tango. We boogaloo till we puke. In this short time we've developed a number of fancy moves, and, I think gentle readers, that it's time to share the wealth.

The most important thing is to grasp your baby securely with one hand supporting the neck and the other under his or her lower back or bum. Keep the baby upright and secure at all times. Any good beat will do; we used "Canned Heat" by jamiroquai.

Now, the moves:

1. The Shovel: from a level position, swing baby slightly back, with the posterior at a 15 degree angle (see photo at right). Simultaneously start a forward slide, and a swing of the baby forward. Transition the baby so that at the end of your motion the baby has a 15 degree anterior rise. A slight kick (or short arresting motion) towards the end of the swing can add character to the move.
2. The Fish: start from the level position, and slide or shuffle forward. Swing the baby's posterior laterally with short, balanced motion. Baby should make one complete left right sequence every one-half beat.
3. The Boat: start from the level position and start dropping the posterior end (baby's not yours) 10 degrees down and 15 degrees towards you, Slide the baby forward while it is at the transverse and then swing the baby up to chest level. At the top of the swing, reverse direction, bringing the baby back across your and chest. Circle the baby down, returning to the starting position.

Henry and I will be working on more moves, suggestions and criticism are encouraged. After a good dance session, your baby should look like this. (Note the 70's power pose.)

First Work / First Restaurant / First Shopping

We introduced little Henry to the glories of Bertie Lou's today. Papa had the Ranch Benedict, which is really just a heart attack on a plate, but hey, what's a brother gonna do? Mum had the classic American Breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon (yum!) and potatoes.

After that we headed up to work to introduce the little man around. Christie mentioned on the way out: wow, you work with some really nice people. I said "yep!". C-ya all in a week or so. Or thereabouts. Something in that range. Around that time. C'est possible. He's pretty frickin' cute over here.

After that we headed over to Henny Penny and Hanna Andersson and spent some money. Apparently it's important to introduce your children to to the glories of consumerism as early as possible. So they say.

A big day of firsts for Henry!

Damn it feels good to be a gangsta

So, we're looking over the baby pics (of which there are many -- I'm not kidding you, we are going crazy up in here with the camera) and I run across this gem ... wait for it ...
Christie says it reminds her of: "Head, move! -- That's one huuuge nogin! It's a virtual planetoid, like an orange on a toothpick! I'm na kiddin'! That head's like Sputnik - spherical but quite pointy in parts!"

Me, I think we should audition him for the new Biggie Smalls picture.

In that, spirit, check this out:
But, lest we think this is some strange Henry-only aberration, the McMillers have seen this too.

Misshapen Baby Syndrome

Our friends at the McMiller household discovered their baby exhibits certain behavior when at her most happy and content - FBS, otherwise known as Floppy Baby Syndrome. We had the opportunity to capture Misshapen Baby Syndrome (MBS) earlier today.
Does your baby exhibit MBS?

The first doc visit

Henry Finn is a breastfeeding super champ and has already gained back the four ounces he lost his first day on the planet. He's doing so well, in fact, that our doc has told us it is okay to let him sleep a little longer between feedings during the night. Woohoo!

All systems go

The first 24 hours of life for lil' Henry were a wee bit rough but it's all systems go now. He's furping and barting like a pro, and has, since Saturday, been introducing us to the various types of poo that come out of newborn babies. Who knew there was such variety, eh?

On the breastfeeding front, milk has landed at Life at the condo and oh holy Zeus are these jugs ginormous! I have read that the boobs should adjust in size once Henry establishes a routine, a point in time we are rapidly approaching. As for using the manual pump, it took two attempts to get it to work and it was worth it. How do I spell "relief"? A-V-E-N-T I-S-I-S M-A-N-U-A-L P-U-M-P. (And yes, I do realize I am dating myself with the reference to the old Rolaids commercial.)

Daily photo at Flickr

We sort of knew we were going to be absolutely crazy with the picture taking once Henry arrived and now we have a plethora of photos that we can share. So, we decided we're going to upload a daily photo of Henry. We'll see how long this lasts in the face of 2am feedings.

Dad and diaper changing

Overheard Sunday morning...

Darr: Okay, kid, ready to cry?
<insert removal of Henry's onesie here>
Henry: WAH! WAH! WAH! WAH!
Darr: There you go.

Saturday Morning

Somebody gets some rest

New Henry Pictures

We have the first set of pictures posted. Mostly from the hospital. We'll try to post them here, but you can always visit our Flickr page. (link at right)

Starring Henry Finn Gilroy as Himself

Here's Henry!

It'll be a while

Our doc mentioned needing to discuss birth control now that the baby is here and my body is ready to resume normal female activity.

Birth control.

I responded to his bringing up the topic by stating something like "It'll be a while before we need that," which my doc took to mean I thought I couldn't get pregnant because I was going to breastfeed. The nurse quickly clarified the situation for him by explaining I was going to take full advantage of the four to six week reprieve that is extended as recovery time to women after labor. The discussion about birth control can wait...because there isn't going to be any sex for some time.

Day one

So far, so good. The kid is alive, although still nameless, and we are managing to get some sleep in between bouts of staring at the baby and marveling at how perfect he is. As parents, we really are quite smitten.

Our first twenty-four hours have been spent cuddling with the baby, trying to decide on a name, practicing nursing (the lil' guy is having a hard time figuring out how to latch on and suck and breathe all at the same time), and changing the occasional diaper.

Pope John Paul, as I've taken to calling him since the hat we brought for him is too big and resembles the hat worn by PJ II (as seen here), is adorable and patient with his new parents. He hasn't cried too much, responds well to being swaddled, and can gaze quietly around the room once his basic needs are met. He had a hearing test earlier, which he passed (yay!).

One of the nurses in the Mom & Baby Unit at OHSU has taught me a second way to bundle the baby in blankets called the Pea Pod. It works great and is slightly easier to construct than the regular swaddle technique I learned.

Our little guy snorts quite often. I don't believe he's trying to be funny but the end result is that we laugh at him because it's so darn cute.

His stats are good, although his temperature tends to run a little cool so we have to keep him bundled and dressed, using socks and a hat to help him retain more of his heat. He lost four ounces his first day (down to 6lbs, 10oz). We hear this is normal so we aren't concerned. His eye color has appeared to be dark brown and a steely gray color. Since we know this can change for some time before finally settling on what the color will be, it's hard to say where he'll fall. He's got a head of dark brown hair right now. The nurses were kind enough to style it in mohawk fashion à la Noodle after his first bath.

Pictures will be coming soon.

And so he's here

No name yet, but a little boy. And he's really cute.

Born at 1:50am, 6lbs 14oz, 19 1/2 inches.

wow.

P.S. We have pics, but not the energy to get them up here.

And so it continues

Contractions were fine until they weren't. The little buggers were hitting me about every two minutes and the pain was registering in the nine to ten range. OUCH.

Had an epidural, feeling much better. WHEW!

And so it begins

Well, we're at the hospital. Soon we'll transition from "with child" to "have child". Yikes!

Congrats to the new parents

We want to send our congrats to new parents Ashleigh and Brian and to welcome little Erin Beatrix to the world.

The stats are as follows:
hours in labor - 28
baby weight - 8lbs, 2 oz
baby length - 21 in.

Late

The Resident Alien did not make an appearance today so I did what any soon-to-be-mom would do, I baked a pie. Cranberry and apple, to be exact. I took it out of the oven about an hour and twenty minutes ago. Darr thinks we should partake of the freshly baked pie goodness at midnight after the pie has cooled a sufficient amount of time to cut into it.

More books

This morning I went for what will likely be my last trip to Powell's pre-baby. I leisurely perused the aisles in the blue literature section and hit the sale racks by the front door and came home with seven books that cost me just over $50. Some are obviously girl books meant for pure entertainment (hopefully) that Darren will not touch but there are a few in the stack that even he, with his discriminating book tastes, might enjoy. They are as follows:

Slow Man by J. M. Coetzee
Salem Falls by Jodi Picoult
The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard
Astonishing Splashes of Colour by Clare Morrall
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
Pincher Martin by William Golding

What we're packing

We heard we should pack snacks because hospital food might not meet our culinary needs. What we don't bring with us - for instance, pizza from Blind Onion - we will be able to get later on. Our snacks include the following:

Lu Le Chocolatier
Garden of Eatin' Yellow Corn Chips
Jolly Rancher Hard Candy
Life Savers Wild Berries
Yogurt-covered raisins (bulk from New Seasons)

To distract my mind from the happenings in the hospital room, we're bringing audio/visual stimulation in the form of magazines, music, and t.v. shows. We are still considering whether or not to bring the laptop, which will allow us to watch The Sopranos, 'cause nothing says "Hey, we're giving birth here!" like watching Mr. Gandolfini mafia-style.

US Weekly (so I don't have to think)
Brain, Child (so I can think if I want to)
iPod nano (recently purchased and loaded with music and t.v. shows)

Other essentials for Darr and I:

clothes
toiletries
camera (battery fully charged)
Tylenol (the hospital charges an arm and a leg for these)

And for the Resident Alien:

diaper bag (well, classic messenger bag)
turtle rattle
swaddling blanket
take home outfit with matching hat
burp cloth
car seat

The Mysterious Edge of the Heroic World

My first foray into young adult literature in years was pretty successful but I've decided not to give this book a rating since using the current ratings system it would be competing against the likes of Gabriel Garcia Márquez and Richard Russo and John Updike and Cormac McCarthy. And as enjoyable as the book was, it just doesn't seem fair to compare it using the same scale as I did for the aforementioned authors. Anyway, I hope to occasionally pick up a book that will be added to the Resident Alien's library that I can easily enjoy while caring for my newborn. E.L. Konigsburg, you might recognize her from From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, weaves the tale of rich, young Amedeo Kaplan who befriends an aging neighbor and is taken on a historical journey to personal revelation. This book joins Hoot and Holes. Three books down, a gazillion more to go.

I have many leather bound books

So, we watched Ron Burgundy based on this recommendation. Children, it was pretty good. I think it needs a second showing to absorb. It sort of went like this:

• Will Ferrel in red undies: must look away
• Will Ferrel doing bicep curls with his shirt off: must look away
• Will Ferrel playing the flute: must look away
• Supporting actor in whitey tighties (not only in the 'proper place'): must look away
• Yet another actor in, I can only call it as I see it, a banana hammock: must look away

So friends, I think this is an ideal drinking movie. Just take a shot every time you see somebody in their underwear.

Untitled

We've got one hour and thirty one minutes before the official 24-hour due date period begins and still NO NAME. I just don't think Resident Alien has the kind of carryover capabilities we're looking for, although Darren continues to tell me that according to Freakonomics authors Stephen Dubner and Steven Levitt the name we pick won't have an impact on our kid. Choosing a name has more to do with us, i.e., the parents, than the actual child. If our friends like the name we select, we get positive feedback. If they don't, we hear the negative stuff.

Much to my dismay I couldn't sell Darren on the name D'Artagnan. And while we love Proscuitto, we just can't bring ourselves to name the kid after a pork product, even if it is Italian with a high level of salty goodness.

There are currently six names on the list of possible suspects. We are trying to be mindful of the initials so we don't inadvertently end up naming our kid something like Harrison Olivier Gilroy, which shortens nicely into H.O.G. I'm sure you can see how this might be problematic for a lil' kid. And the Sex & the City scene where Samantha is discussing life with her recovering alcoholic boy-toy Smith Jerrod is never far from the back of our minds:

Samantha: Your parents named you Jerry Jerrod?
Smith: <shakes head> Yeah.
Samantha: No wonder you drank.

Family gambling

My family is betting on when the Resident Alien will arrive. I had hoped it would be today but, alas, it doesn't look like that is going to happen so I've already lost my $2. Here are the guesses -

13 Oct. - me (a.k.a. mom)
15 Oct. - Darren (a.k.a. dad)
17 Oct. - grandma
18 Oct. - Aunt Amy
19 Oct. - Aunt Megan
20 Oct. - grandpa
25 Oct. - Aunt Laurie
31 Oct. - Uncle Nick (who has requested we name our kid Michael Myers if he is born on Halloween)

Tag - It's my turn

I was tagged by Cathy at Mine to tell you five interesting things about moi. Yeah, let's put a disclaimer on this that the items I convey might not actually be interesting, but rather things about me you may not have known...until now.

1. I almost didn't get my degree. When reviewing my transcripts, the folks that determine whether or not you met the requirements for the degree decided not to accept my Geology credits to satisfy the science requirements. An appeal got me nowhere. I had to take an additional class at a local community college during my final semester to get the credits needed in order to graduate.

2. I have to sleep with a blanket or sheet on me, doesn't matter how hot it is in our room. In extreme temperatures, the blanket or sheet will usually end up pushed down to my ankles but at least one body part must be covered in order for me to get to sleep.

3. I once went an entire weekend (Friday night to Monday morning) consuming nothing but Mt. Dew just to see if I could. Yes, this did wreak havoc on my system. I would not recommend trying this.

4. My first cat I meant to name Ruffles but I didn't know how to spell and I ended up naming him Ruffless. (My spelling has since improved.)

5. My left boob is slightly larger than my right. This oddity has become more pronounced since I started growing a human.

So now I'll tag...um...the Noodle (or her mom) and Trina.

Care-a-mel vs Car-mul

Christie: Yum. Those caramels are good. I'm going to have to teach the kid how to say it.

Darren: It's care-a-mel. It has three "A's".

Christie: Three "A's," huh?

<insert pause here>

Darren: Two "A's" and one "E".

Recipe Corner: Tomato Tart

Are you sick of tomatoes yet? Apparently, I'm not. Today's recipe was selected solely because it would allow me to use the remaining stash of Roma tomatoes that have been sitting on our counter all week. Well, that and because the recipe appeared to be as close to pizza as it can be without actually being pizza. We added proscuitto - splurge and get the imported Italian stuff if you decide to do the same - but this recipe is originally a vegetarian meal. Wait, there is cheese. Do vegetarians eat cheese?

Ingredients:
flour for work surface
1 1.1 pound box frozen puff pastry (Pepperidge Farm), thawed in box in refrigerator overnight
1 large egg, beaten
2 oz finely grated Parmesan cheese (about 1 cup)
1 pound Roma tomatoes (about 3-4 medium) cored, and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch thick slices
salt
2 medium garlic cloves, minced
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
ground black pepper
8 oz low-moisture whole-milk mozzarella, shredded (approx. 2 cups)
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh basil leaves

Directions:
Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees. Dust work surface with flour and unfold the puff pastry. Overlap the first sheet of dough with the second sheet of dough by one inch and press to seal pieces together. With rolling pin, smooth out seam. Dough should measure about 18 by 9 inches. Trim edges straight. Cut two 1-inch strips from the long side of dough. Cut two 1-inch strips from the short side of dough. Transfer pieces of dough to parchment-lined baking sheet and brush with egg. Gently press long strips of dough onto each long edge of dough and brush with egg. Gently press short strips of dough onto each short edge of dough and brush with egg. Trim excess dough from corners. Sprinkle Parmesan evenly over shell; using fork poke holes in shell. Bake 13-15 minutes, then reduce oven temperature to 350 degrees; continue to bake until golden brown and crisp, 13 to 15 minutes longer. Transfer to wire rack; increase oven temperature to 425 degrees.

While shell bakes, place tomato slices in single layer on double layer paper towels and sprinkle evenly with 1/2 teaspoon salt; let stand 30 minutes. Place second double layer paper towels on top of tomatoes and press firmly to dry tomatoes. Combine garlic, olive oil, and pinch of salt and pepper in small bowl; set aside.

Sprinkle mozzarella evenly over warm (or cool, if made ahead) baked shell. If using proscuitto, add proscuitto layer on top of the mozzarella before adding the tomato slices. Layer tomato slices on top of cheese (about 4 slices per row); brush tomatoes with garlic oil. Bake until shell is deep golden brown and cheese is melted, 15-17 minutes. Cool on wire rack 5 minutes, sprinkle with basil, slide onto cutting board or serving platter, cut into pieces, and serve.

Serves 6-8

The Attachment Parenting Book

I've just finished what will probably be the last book I have time to read on parenting before the Resident Alien arrives. Whew. If studying for the bar is anything like this, I should kick ass. I feel supercharged as a mom, like I'm well armed to go into battle. But I'm also a realist, fairly certain the first time I get my baby's arm stuck when I'm trying to dress him - I did this exact thing to my niece when she was only a month old - or the first time he wails that blood-curdling cry that causes his baby face to go all red and angry, I'll lose all confidence and turn to Darr to fix it. ("It" being the situation, not the baby.)

The book explains the seven Baby B's -

• bonding
• breastfeeding
• babywearing
• balance
• bedding close to baby
• belief in the signal value of baby's cry
• beware of baby trainers

Why they are important, what they do, how you can use them to create a trusting relationship with your child, etc. It has some good info that coincides with a lot of what I read in The Happiest Baby on the Block. Apparently I am turning into a bit of a tree-hugging hippie. Who knew? If I stop eating steak, somebody had better proceed with an intervention.

Recipe Corner: Roasted Tomato Sauce

Once again we had a plethora of tomatoes and had to find a recipe so that we could use them before they went bad. We came across this most excellent tomato sauce that is relatively easy to make and has a unique, smoky flavor. The perfect pasta dish to serve on a fall evening.

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 teaspoons minced fresh thyme leaves
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
3 pounds vine-ripened tomatoes (9-12 medium), cored and halved pole to pole
6 medium garlic cloves, peeled
1 small onion, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch rounds
1 teaspoon red wine vinegar (may substitute with red wine or real lemon juice)
granulated sugar to taste
2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil leaves

Directions:
Line a baking sheet with tinfoil and place a cooling rack on top. Place a small square of foil (approx. four inches) in the center of the rack. Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 475 degrees. Combine the tomato paste, half the olive oil, thyme, pepper flakes, salt and pepper in a large bowl. Toss tomatoes, onion, and garlic in the tomato paste mixture until evenly coated. Place the onion and garlic on the small square in the middle of the rack. Arrange the tomatoes, cut side down, around the garlic and onion.

Roast until the vegetables are soft and tomato skins are well charred, 45 to 55 minutes. Let cool for five minutes. Transfer garlic and onion to a food processor and pulse until finely chopped, about five 1-second pulses. Remove the charred skin from the tomatoes. Add tomatoes, vinegar, and remaining olive oil to the food processor. Pulse until broken down but still chunky, about five 1-second pulses. Scrape down the side of the bowl. Season with salt, pepper, and sugar to taste. Continue to process sauce until slightly chunky. Stir in basil.

Makes 3 to 31/2 cups (enough to sauce one pound of pasta)

This sauce goes well with short pasta shapes. Sprinkle with parmesan and serve with fresh bread.

More absolutely necessary purchases for the baby

After much indecision and research I decided to buy the Diaper Dekor Plus diaper pail. According to Consumer Reports, it has the same odor fighting control as the Diaper Genie System II but is slightly easier to use. Sounds good to me. Not all of today's purchases were absolutely necessary but the diaper pail was so it was imperative I get to the store to buy it as the kid should be here soon and shortly after the need to dispose of diapers. The fact that I walked out of the store with two additional outfits is a bonus for the kid, right? And could I help it that Darr and I needed chocolates, which basically forced me to go to See's Chocolates at Washington Square where there just happens to be a few baby stores I had to visit? How could I not buy the traditional "Baby's First Christmas" ornament? Or pick up the outfit that was obviously made to accompany the pumpkin hat the R.A. received from grandma?

Sunday morning conversation

While watching the latest from Netflix - The Upside of Anger...

Me: You aren't going to leave me for your secretary, are you?
Darr: What?
Me: You aren't going to leave me for your secretary, are you?
Darr: <insert short pause here>Depends how hot she is.

Ah, husband, when I'm pregnant-fat and getting ready to deliver your child into the world these are comforting words. Thank you.

Name that food

Whilst perusing our iPhoto library last night we came across a pic of a thwarted attempt at making this particular tasty item.
It occurred to us that it would be somewhat challenging, given our level of failure, for folks to identify what it was that we were in the process of preparing for human consumption. Hence, we bring your our first very exciting round of Name that Food. A game where you, dear readers, try to do just that - review the photo, try to figure out what the hell we were attempting to make, and name that food. The first person to submit the correct answer as a comment gets a prize.

Some things money can't buy

Current pregnancy stats

• There are nine days until my due date (October 14).
• 97% of my pregnancy has passed, there is 3% left to go.
• I am approximately 80% effaced with zero cervical dilation.
  
• The Resident Alien is approximately 20 inches and weighs approximately 6-7 pounds.
  
• This week our kid is continuing to grow, but the vast majority of his organs are mature and fully functioning.
  

10 days

We've got ten days to go and it's like we're stuck in this holding pattern. Around a week ago, Darr turned to me and said "It's like we're just waiting for the kid." And we are.

Just waiting.

For the kid.

Despite various efforts to prod the R.A. to get a move on, he doesn't seem ready to leave yet. At this point I can only think that the longer he stays in, the bigger he'll get, and the bigger he gets...well, that doesn't bode well for me and one of my two thousand body parts.

Embers

This book gets a rating of 2.25. I have only awe for authors that can successfully pull off writing an entire novel -- and keep it interesting -- when the setting for the majority of it takes place in a 24-hour period. Usually, when I pick books up that have this noted on the back cover description I expect there will be some aspect to the story that I'll hate, mainly because I haven't come across too many writers that can do this well. Sándor Márai is one of the gifted who can. If you like dialogue, this conversational novel is the book for you. What makes it more impressive a feat, the majority of the conversation is held by one man. A man who has waited 41 years to address his former friend in his search for the truth.

Embers is a thought-provoking journey into the tangled relationships we survive from youth until our death. It is about love and betrayal, integrity and honor, and hatred. It is about discovering the truth and patience. It is beautifully written, with a rich tapestry of detail - made more clear to me because Darr and I recently went to Vienna and I was able to recognize the various streets and landmarks mentioned in the beginning chapters as places I had visited while there.

What's your vision of peace?

My parents revere John F. Kennedy. I'm not sure I understood why until I heard part of his American University Commencement Address (delivered 10 June 1963) this morning on Air America. (Is it any real surprise I listen to liberal media?) You can listen to it or read the entire text by clicking here, although I've included large chunks of the speech below - minus the majority of the sections that deal exclusively with the Soviet Union and communism.

"I have, therefore, chosen this time and place to discuss a topic on which ignorance too often abounds and the truth too rarely perceived. And that is the most important topic on earth: peace. What kind of peace do I mean and what kind of a peace do we seek? Not a Pax Americana enforced on the world by American weapons of war. Not the peace of the grave or the security of the slave. I am talking about genuine peace, the kind of peace that makes life on earth worth living, and the kind that enables men and nations to grow, and to hope, and build a better life for their children -- not merely peace for Americans but peace for all men and women, not merely peace in our time but peace in all time.

I speak of peace because of the new face of war. Total war makes no sense in an age where great powers can maintain large and relatively invulnerable nuclear forces and refuse to surrender without resort to those forces. It makes no sense in an age where a single nuclear weapon contains almost ten times the explosive force delivered by all the allied air forces in the Second World War. It makes no sense in an age when the deadly poisons produced by a nuclear exchange would be carried by wind and water and soil and seed to the far corners of the globe and to generations yet unborn.

Today the expenditure of billions of dollars every year on weapons acquired for the purpose of making sure we never need them is essential to the keeping of peace. But surely the acquisition of such idle stockpiles -- which can only destroy and never create -- is not the only, much less the most efficient, means of assuring peace. I speak of peace, therefore, as the necessary, rational end of rational men. I realize the pursuit of peace is not as dramatic as the pursuit of war, and frequently the words of the pursuers fall on deaf ears. But we have no more urgent task.

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First examine our attitude towards peace itself. Too many of us think it is impossible. Too many think it is unreal. But that is a dangerous, defeatist belief. It leads to the conclusion that war is inevitable, that mankind is doomed, that we are gripped by forces we cannot control. We need not accept that view. Our problems are manmade; therefore, they can be solved by man. And man can be as big as he wants. No problem of human destiny is beyond human beings. Man's reason and spirit have often solved the seemingly unsolvable, and we believe they can do it again. I am not referring to the absolute, infinite concept of universal peace and good will of which some fantasies and fanatics dream. I do not deny the value of hopes and dreams but we merely invite discouragement and incredulity by making that our only and immediate goal.

Let us focus instead on a more practical, more attainable peace, based not on a sudden revolution in human nature but on a gradual evolution in human institutions -- on a series of concrete actions and effective agreements which are in the interest of all concerned. There is no single, simple key to this peace; no grand or magic formula to be adopted by one or two powers. Genuine peace must be the product of many nations, the sum of many acts. It must be dynamic, not static, changing to meet the challenge of each new generation. For peace is a process -- a way of solving problems.

With such a peace, there will still be quarrels and conflicting interests, as there are within families and nations. World peace, like community peace, does not require that each man love his neighbor, it requires only that they live together in mutual tolerance, submitting their disputes to a just and peaceful settlement. And history teaches us that enmities between nations, as between individuals, do not last forever. However fixed our likes and dislikes may seem, the tide of time and events will often bring surprising changes in the relations between nations and neighbors. So let us persevere. Peace need not be impracticable, and war need not be inevitable. By defining our goal more clearly, by making it seem more manageable and less remote, we can help all people to see it, to draw hope from it, and to move irresistibly towards it.

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No government or social system is so evil that its people must be considered as lacking in virtue.

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Today, should total war ever break out again -- no matter how -- our two countries will be the primary target. It is an ironic but accurate fact that the two strongest powers are the two in the most danger of devastation. All we have built, all we have worked for, would be destroyed in the first 24 hours. And even in the cold war, which brings burdens and dangers to so many countries, including this Nation's closest allies, our two countries bear the heaviest burdens. For we are both devoting massive sums of money to weapons that could be better devoted to combat ignorance, poverty, and disease. We are both caught up in a vicious and dangerous cycle, with suspicion on one side breeding suspicion on the other, and new weapons begetting counter-weapons. In short, both the United States and its allies, and the Soviet Union and its allies, have a mutually deep interest in a just and genuine peace and in halting the arms race. Agreements to this end are in the interests of the Soviet Union as well as ours. And even the most hostile nations can be relied upon to accept and keep those treaty obligations, and only those treaty obligations, which are in their own interest.

So let us not be blind to our differences, but let us also direct attention to our common interests and the means by which those differences can be resolved. And if we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. For in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's futures. And we are all mortal.

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And above all, while defending our own vital interests, nuclear powers must avert those confrontations which bring an adversary to a choice of either a humiliating retreat or a nuclear war. To adopt that kind of course in the nuclear age would be evidence only of the bankruptcy of our policy -- or of a collective death-wish for the world.

To secure these ends, America's weapons are nonprovocative, carefully controlled, designed to deter, and capable of selective use. Our military forces are committed to peace and disciplined in self-restraint. Our diplomats are instructed to avoid unnecessary irritants and purely rhetorical hostility. For we can seek a relaxation of tensions without relaxing our guard. And, for our part, we do not need to use threats to prove we are resolute. We do not need to jam foreign broadcasts out of fear our faith will be eroded. We are unwilling to impose our system on any unwilling people, but we are willing and able to engage in peaceful competition with any people on earth.

Meanwhile, we seek to strengthen the United Nations, to help solve its financial problems, to make it a more effective instrument for peace, to develop it into a genuine world security system -- a system capable of resolving disputes on the basis of law, of insuring the security of the large and the small, and of creating conditions under which arms can finally be abolished.

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Finally, my fellow Americans, let us examine our attitude towards peace and freedom here at home. The quality and spirit of our own society must justify and support our efforts abroad. We must show it in the dedication of our own lives -- as many of you who are graduating today will have an opportunity to do, by serving without pay in the Peace Corps abroad or in the proposed National Service Corps here at home. But wherever we are, we must all, in our daily lives, live up to the age-old faith that peace and freedom walk together. In too many of our cities today, the peace is not secure because freedom is incomplete. It is the responsibility of the executive branch at all levels of government -- local, State, and National -- to provide and protect that freedom for all of our citizens by all means within our authority. It is the responsibility of the legislative branch at all levels, wherever the authority is not now adequate, to make it adequate. And it is the responsibility of all citizens in all sections of this country to respect the rights of others and respect the law of the land.

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While we proceed to safeguard our national interests, let us also safeguard human interests. And the elimination of war and arms is clearly in the interest of both. No treaty, however much it may be to the advantage of all, however tightly it may be worded, can provide absolute security against the risks of deception and evasion. But it can, if it is sufficiently effective in its enforcement, and it is sufficiently in the interests of its signers, offer far more security and far fewer risks than an unabated, uncontrolled, unpredictable arms race.

The United States, as the world knows, will never start a war. We do not want a war. We do not now expect a war. This generation of Americans has already had enough -- more than enough -- of war and hate and oppression.

We shall be prepared if others wish it. We shall be alert to try to stop it. But we shall also do our part to build a world of peace where the weak are safe and the strong are just. We are not helpless before that task or hopeless of its success. Confident and unafraid, we must labor on--not towards a strategy of annihilation but towards a strategy of peace."