Fat and Happy

Hello there Karma, glad to meet you.
So I may have bragged a few weeks ago that I was stretch-mark free. Shoulda. Known. Better. I say that because the pregnancy gods are coming for me. In the last week, my fingers have morphed into sausages and my face looks like it did in 5th grade when my brothers so lovingly called me Pork Chop, P.C. for short. (It's OK, I wasn't too traumatized). Anyway, with 4 weeks to go and my scale afraid I might smash it if it continues with its "inaccurate" readings, I still can't complain. That's because, despite my newfound fatness, I am happy. Really happy. Sometimes I get these short little powerful bursts of happiness that wash over me. I don't know how else to describe it other than it feels like all is right with the world when they hit. Rob and I are so, so excited to meet this little girl who has called my belly home for the past 8 months. I want to know if she'll look like her mom or her dad or the mailman - I kid! It seems like all I do these days is picture her in my head, picture Rob holding her and picture her sleeping peacefully in her crib. (For those of you who are thinking how unrealistic I am, please restrain yourselves. I'm not that naive, I just don't want to picture 3 a.m. feedings, nasty blowout diaper changes or spit-up all over our new furniture). We also can't wait to read books to her, sing to her, stare at her, marvel at her and love her like only a firstborn can be loved. June 20th people...it's almost here!

My caption for the picture below comes from that story a kid tells while squeezing his face together...
"Hi. My name's Chubby. My mom's chubby. My dad's chubby. My whole family's chubby."

How bout Howie?

If you know our dog at all, you know he is an attention whore (who can't read, so won't be offended by this) and is spoiled as all hell. Seriously, he chirp-barks when all the food in his bowl goes to one side and of course one of his crazy parents comes running to fill it to the top so he can continue chomping down on Nutro (no, we couldn't just go w/ the generic pet food brand). He also does his "business" separately...wants outside to pee and then a minute after eating his treat is at the door again wanting to drop off his Tootsie rolls on the lawn. Sometimes he gets two treats...point Howie. His grandma doesn't help his cause. While on a walk this past weekend, she carried him up a hill because "he looked tired." He's a dog! OK, so he's part teddy bear too. Anyway, several people have been asking how Howie will handle it when we bring Baby Lindquist home. I speculate that he will want nothing to do w/ her until she learns to throw his turtle or has peanut butter on her hands. He'll probably give her the stink eye once in a while, but I think he'll be glad his puppy daddy and mom are not putting him in clothes, a swaddle blanket or diaper. Yes, we've done all three. Proof:

I thought he took it surprisingly well and I was equally impressed by Rob's diapering skills of a dog. I digress. No matter how Howie handles Baby Lindquist's takeover, we will still treat him like the precious pup that he is and do our best to make sure he knows how much he's loved. He'll thank us later when he has the world's cutest playmate to chase him in the backyard. Can't wait to introduce them for the first time. Yes, there will be video. 5 more weeks!

Baby L's name is...

at the end of this post.

Well, I do have some news. I'm finally done planting my garden. A special thanks to the Pendergrasses for allowing me to have their dirt. I have four types of tomatoes (six plants total), jalapenos, green beans, cucumber, and cilantro. I'm very excited about this. Not only does it give me something to do this summer (as if I won't have enough already) but it will save us money in the long run... I think. Oh, and the best part? I have a Chicago Cubs lawn gnome watching the garden. And he has a light that is solar-powered! I'm very excited. Total cost: $150. Not bad. Short sentences rock.

Because I didn't comment on it before, our garage sale rocked. The money will go to the Baby L fund (thought I was going to say her name there huh?) and will be used for good, not evil. We got rid of a lot of stuff we didn't need, or didn't have room for, and it was an overall fun day.

And last, but not least, the baby name. Yes, the baby name is a big moment. And I will let you know what it is, in approximately 7 weeks. :-) Sorry, I was born a jerk.

~Rob