IT'S A BOY!!!!!

Do you think he resembles me yet??

1st Anniversary Recap

So I'm 48 hours into my second year of marriage right now and life is good. We had an enjoyable day for our anniversary on Monday. I did make the mistake of going into my office for what was going to be a couple of hours. Three hours later it is 11:25 AM and I've been standing in my bosses office for 20 minutes while he reviewed a brief we were to give the next day.

Have you guys seen Planes, Trains, and Automobiles? You know at the beginning when Steve Martin is in the conference room while his boss reviews some type of document. The boss looks close with his glasses, leans back in his chair, almost says something, then leans forward again to look more closely. This goes on for like 10 minutes. Well, that's all I could think of that day as it's all quiet in there and he isn't saying anything, just staring at the document I had prepared.

You see, I was supposed to meet Shelly at 12:00 in Kansas City (30 minutes away) for her monthly doctor's exam. Well, at 11:40 I finally depart. Slid into the doctor's office parking lot like I was on the set of The Duke's of Hazzard only to find Shelly still sitting in the doctor's office. Of course how were we supposed to know the doctor would be 30 minutes late.

Anyway, we heard the heartbeat once again. Very strong (in the 150s). We asked the doc a few questions and all seems to be going well. We hinted to her about doing an unscheduled ultrasound while we were there so we could find out the sex of the baby. But she pretty much led us to believe it wasn't happening that day.

If all goes well, we will find out the sex of the baby on Tuesday morning during her Level 2 ultrasound (I think that's what it's called).

We decided to go to an afternoon movie after the appointment and saw "What happens in Vegas". Very funny movie. Then we took Daphne to the park in Parkville. The sign said you're supposed to pick up your dog's poop off the ground. Well, Daphne must know how to read because she dropped a nice log up on a wooden perch leading up to a garbage dumpster. Shelly decided since she technically didn't drop it on the ground that we didn't have to clean it up. Okay, not sure whose idea it was as I recall.

We had dinner reservations at the new Bristol Seafood Grill in downtown Kansas City. We shared an appetizer of duck trap smoked salmon and their famous biscuits. Shelly had chipotle grilled shrimp enchiladas and I had almost encrusted opalaka in a mango salsa. Both meals were awesome and we finished the evening by sharing lava chocolate cake with vanilla bean ice cream (picture above).

When we got back home we both exchanged cards we had written to each other. We decided that for our anniversary we'd buy a very nice cuckoo clock while we were in Germany since a clock is the modern traditional gift for the first anniversary.

Overall, it was a very nice and relaxing anniversary. We've been on the go so much lately that it was nice to just take a day for ourselves.

Mike
Fort Leavenworth, KS

One Year Anniversary Today!!

Shelly's baby bump

This morning Shelly asked me if I knew what day it was. I always dread that question as any guy would because the only reason a girl asks that is because she believes we do not know the significance of the day. And of course 96% of the time they are right. At the second she asked me that my mind quickly darted around to possible forgetfulness. "Is it Valentines Day?" "Is her birthday today?" "Is today our anniversary instead of Monday when I was thinking it was?" "Is Christmas today even though it's 75 degrees outside?"

As I'm staring into space trying to recall the correct answer she says, "I'm 15 weeks pregnant today!" I nodded my head as to say, "Of course I knew that, I thought you were talking about something in addition to that". But even though I didn't know in reality, it just depends on who you ask as to how far along she is. One doc says she's almost 16 weeks today and our regular doc who will deliver the baby says she's 15 weeks today. So I suppose we should go with that.

Anyway, I arrived back in Kansas City late Wednesday night. Shelly had mentioned how she was showing much more in the days she left Germany. She arrived at the airport looking really cute in a little dress and I could definitely see the infamous "baby bump".

Over the last couple of days Shelly has let me touch it. Now, this is not to offend Shelly, but here's what it feels like. You know those big round watermelons you see in the store? Imagine putting some Windex on one of them and ensuring there is not more dust or particles. Now run your hand across it. That's what it feels like to me. It's a full, smooth, and somewhat slick feeling.

And here's what it looks like. You've all been on vacation and have seen Japanese people with their little fanny packs with their cameras in there right? Well, Shelly has a little pouch in her mid-region that might make folks think she has one of those fanny packs under her shirt. But the one distinct difference between Shelly and a Japanese tourist is that Shelly does not wear black socks and sandals.

Shelly and I are heading out now for western Kansas to see high school graduations for her niece and cousin. The next doctor's appointment is on Monday which is the monthly exam. I do not believe there will be a sonogram that day so we probably won't know the sex of the baby for about 2 weeks. But I'm going to at least ask Monday if they can do one. If so, stay tuned that afternoon as we will announce the baby's gender on this blog.

Enjoy your weekend.

Mike
Kansas City, MO

The strange effect of jet lag

Before I post about Shelly being at 15 weeks today, I must get something off my chest. I did something this morning I'm not real proud of and I need to clear my conscience. You see, I was downstairs waiting on Daphne to finish her business outside. The Today Show was on upstairs on the big screen. I overheard Matt Lauer introduce a band that sounded very familiar but I hadn't heard in about 20 years. That's right, New Kids on the Block. I sauntered up the stairs and saw them performing live on Times Square.

So here's where it gets a little embarrassing. After looking out my front door to ensure no one was looking, I grabbed the remote, turned it up to 26, and sang along to "Hangin' Tough". I even tried to do the little foot movements, almost breaking my ankle in the process. I think the problem was that I was trying to do the sway your arm from side to side thing at the same time as the foot shuffle. I should probably stick with doing one of those at a time until I get my 1988 bearings back.

But I certainly do recall Marcy and Mandy playing the New Kids concert on our VCR at home every day after school. I'll admit I was a bit of a fan. I remember my grandpa had this round hat. I considered seeing if he'd let me have it so I could cut the top out of it and look like Joey McIntyre.

Man, what's wrong with me today? It's like there's a link between jet lag and spouting off all kinds of embarrassing facts. I'd better stop before I lose the remaining respect some of you still have of me.

Plus, I think they are getting ready to sing "The Right Stuff"...oops!

Mike
Kansas City, MO

Time to come home

Well, after 19 days in Germany it's finally time to go back home. Shelly left about a week ago and she says she is really showing now. There is debate on whether that is because she is in her 15th week or whether it's a result of some awesome German food of meat and potatoes each night. Oh, and the occasional pizza for lunch which Shelly said was the best she ever had. Either way, we're very happy and content and things are progressing along very well. The picture is of Shelly eating her favorite European dessert, a crepe, near our hotel in Weiden. Every since having one in Heidelberg a couple of years ago, she has been on a mission to have another one.

Sorry for the delay in posting, Germany is a bit more primitive when it comes to internet access. But I'll be back in Kansas City Wednesday night and besides a trip to western Kansas then Wichita this weekend, I'll be home for about 3 weeks.

Overall, despite being busy with work every day this has been a great trip. Germany is absolutely beautiful this time of year and I've had the opportunity to spend time with friends I haven't seen in years.

Hope all is well there and we'll chat again from the other side.

Mike
Grafenwohr, Germany