...for the belly lovers...

My beautiful wife. What a trooper. Most of us can carry a 20 weight for short while and some of us longer. This girl has been doing it for over a month and has another two to go. She is back at school teaching away and on her feet all day. She is doing a terrific job remaining positive and not letting the aches and pains bring her down. I hope all of you who are trying and who are planning, have the same optimism and positive attitude my wife is expressing. I am such a lucky guy. Thank you all for you love and support during this exciting time.

Honesty is a virtue?

After struggling to hold three chubby, swollen fingers up when describing a situation to my students, I sighed. This sigh was followed by,

"No disrespect, Miz D., but I have noticed for the past 4 or 5 days that your fingers are just fat. Have they always been that way?"

Gotta love the honest truth from a 14-year-old's mouth.

Baby Central!

We have been hard at work the last few weekends to get the nursery ready for Baby D's imminent arrival! Just a few more items to put in place and we'll be done. Check out what we've completed so far!


Last weekend, we painted and put up the shelves in the room. Chris made the shelves from scratch!


The bassinet in the corner is a family heirloom and over 90 years old!


Meet Gladys the Giraffe, Rory the Lion, Rita the Rhino, Edison the Elephant and BoBo the Bear. (We spent a lot of time in the room yesterday putting these guys up. It didn't take too long before the wallpaper glue got to us.)


Oh baby! At 29 and 1/2 weeks, I'm growing by the minute!

And So It Begins...

Three days have passed since the first day of school and it has been confirmed: 8th graders are just CONFUSED. I'm not quite sure there is any other way to describe their meandering walk, wondering eyes, nonsensical answers and just plain, general, weirdness. Apprently, I missed the day of school back in college where they told teachers to stay away from this crowd because I think I would have signed up even EARLIER to take this group on!! I love the weird and unexplainable! They are so much fun!

The past three days have been exhausting, exhilerating, funny, frustrating and every other emotion in the book. To put it simply: it has been a reminder of why I LOVE teaching! My classes are more challenging than ever before with my numbers over 30 in every class. But hey, the more the merrier, right? Just more people to laugh at my lame jokes and suffer the wrath of my obsessive compulsive organizational style. Now that's power!

My sister also entered the bizzaro world of teaching this week as she began her semester of student teaching in a 1st grade class in GR. I am SO PROUD of her!! We have already begun to trade stories of funny events that have taken place. What is even more hilarious - the similarities that exist between 1st and 8th graders. Turns out we both have a tooter extraordinaire in our class!! Gotta love those Sir Stinkalot's! :)

Chris's sister also had a hugely triumphant few days as she flew to Chicago to make a HUGE presentation that wowed one of the partner's at her firm and landed her a nice raise. With only last-minute instructions to arm her and an arsenal of web links to give her the information she needed, Lindsey pulled of her 40 minute presentation with flying colors. Way-to-go, sis! We are SO PROUD of you!!

While I have been busy setting up labs and scaring my students on the second day of class with a 200 point research project, Chris has been the best supporter ever. His job has pulled him away at the wee hours of the morning and doesn't bring him home until late - yet he still listens to me yammer away on my drive home about this student and that moment of the day. He truly is the best husband around!!! I am so lucky to have him!!

That's about it for now. It's 7:35 p.m. and my marshmellow feet and hands are calling out for elevation and sleep.

Class dismissed.

28 Down, 12 To Go

Number of ring sizes changed: 2 and 1/2 and rising

Shoe size changed: 1/2 size

Belly Button Status: Innie is almost and outie

Number of Bathroom Trips Past 9 p.m.: 3

Hours of Rehearsal by Future Drummer: 16

Odd Cravings: 1 (shredded coconut)

Pedicures by Hubby: 1 and hopefully rising :)

Days of Feet No Longer Visible: 6

Belly Rubs by Friends/Strangers per Day: 5-8

Number of Meals per Day: 4 plus snacks in between

Forgetful Moments: COUNTLESS (I forgot I drove an automatic and NOT a stick yesterday...made for a bumpy ride!)

Thoughts of Parenthood: ENDLESS!!! All these weird and crazy things have happened over the last 7 months, but oddly, I don't care! I can't wait to be a mom...HURRY UP BABY!!! :)

Viva Las Vegas

Hello everyone, what a weekend I had. Kamron, one of my good friends from Michigan, is getting married in September of this year to a beautiful and all-around sweatheart of a woman, Nicole. As so many groups of testosterone filled men do, we all met in Vegas for a bachelor party. We stayed at a suite in the Belagio which only had access through the non-marked VIP entrance off of the side of the main lobby (note view from 29th floor). While Penni and I mastered the nickle slots and quarter video poker games, some of the big rollers went to $15-$25 blackjack and poker games. Some of us broke close to even (blaming the loss of money to the bars Saturday night, aka me) and some if us lost it big (you know who you are). For only being there about 36 hours, the 16 of us make it home safe with only a few close calls. The rest of the details will not be put in print, but will remain only in memories and in the smiles and nods we exchange when when the boys get together for more weddings and group gatherings. And as it was once said, "Chris has left the building!"

Glory, Glory, Hallelujah!

DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

At 8 p.m. Sunday night, I officially turned in my LAST paper EVER for my master's degree program!! I am so excited and exhausted at the same time, I hardly know what to do. My bizarre mind has immediately jumped to "what next" mode while my body says don't move off the couch for the next week! :) We'll see what compromise takes place. While there won't be a cap and gown ceremony to provide closure for this milestone, I think I can probably talk Chris into humming "Pomp and Circumstance" while I walk across the living room instead. A definite THANK YOU must be extended to all my friends and family who have supported me during the last two and half years. I couldn't have done it without you!

A picture is worth a thousand words...

BRONCOS SUPER-FAN!!!

Yes, its true...Its that time of year again. The sweet satisfying smell of BBQs will soon fill backyards and parking lots alike. Men begin to nod and smile at each other every Sunday in silent code with the anticipation of flying pigskins, stampeding running-backs, and jeering of the zebra-striped, coke bottle wearing officials. Yes, its almost time for the greatest team sport ever played, football!
Today I went to Dove Valley, the training facility for the greatest, most prestigious team in the NFL, our DENVER BRONCOS! This Saturday was their first practice in full pads, so the fans and players were both excited to hear the sweet sound of pads crashing. It was pretty cool to see the off-seasons acquisitions from the draft, trades, and fee agent signings. I was really excited to see our new TE Tony Scheffler (number 88) from my alma-madder Western Michigan University. I got to talk with Tony for a few minutes after practice. You could tell he was still pretty excited just to be on a team and living the dream. Tony mentioned that he was pretty excited to play the hosting Detroit Lions for their first pre-season game next Friday 8/11.
I saw my favorite line backer Al Wilson (number 56) lay a few big hits on the the opposing offensive players, safety John Lynch (number 47) tackle a receiver and knock the ball out, and cornerback Champ Bailey (number 24) intercept a pass from Jake Plummer (number 16). I also saw ex-GVSU and former Detroit Lion David Kirkus (wearing 87 - former Bronco great Ed McCaffrey) pull in some great catches. All in all, it was tons of fun watching the Broncos get ready for another exciting season.

Alarm Clocks Are Overrated

5:00 a.m. Chris leaves for work

5:02 a.m. Jack slides across dresser promply knocking jewelry box over and waking up Layla

5:03 a.m. Intriqued by sliding cat, Layla investigates the situation. Jack responds by jumping over Layla's head onto bed.

5:04 a.m. Time for the races to begin. Layla takes lead, while Jack chases.

5:05 a.m. Race changes direction. Now Layla chases Jack.

5:10 a.m. Quiet. Start falling back asleep.

5:15 a.m. Layla has apprently taken up endurance training on our staircase. She is on trip number seven. Jack is soon to join.

5:30 a.m. Layla spinning in circles on the floor as she attempts to hold onto tail with mouth. Jack stares at her with absolute superiority complex.

5:31 a.m. I am officially awake.

7:48 a.m. BOTH Jack and Layla SOUND asleep on living room floor. Hmmm...revenge?