Shelly's new "mommy-mobile"

After months of pondering, debate, research, and mini-van ridiculing from many of you, allow me to introduce you to Shelly's "mommy-mobile", a Range Rover. Yes, it was a tough decision but we decided her Audi A4 just wasn't going to be big enough to haul our little boy and his associated stuff around. So this past Saturday afternoon, we traded the Audi in for the Range Rover.

While researching, safety was very important as well as more room, decent gas mileage, low miles, and I must admit that a sweet looking vehicle would be nice. And this Range Rover has it all. We plan to pick it up Thursday afternoon once we return from Boston.

So we believe this will at least get us through the first few years, until we outgrow this or have the need for DVD screens in the back. And what's up with needing movies in vehicles to keep kids occupied these days? Heck, when I was a kid we were perfectly content playing a little "I spy", "Singalong" songs, "Slug Bug", or "spotting different license plates". And even the occasional spanking was entertaining when it wasn't me. But I suppose times have changed and I'm sure we'll pop in "Finding Nemo" a couple of thousand times also.

Having a great time in Boston this week. We saw a Red Sox game at Fenway Park tonight and going to see the Eagles in concert tomorrow night at the Boston Garden.

Mike
Boston, Massachusetts

My disturbing chick flick trend

I've begun to notice an alarming trend in my life since this pregnancy began. I now watch chick flicks on what could now be referred to as a regular basis. As I attempt to evaluate myself and identify the source I've come to this conclusion. It's because of those darn books guys are supposed to read while their wife is pregnant. I've read at least 3 books for men saying all the things I should be doing while Shelly is pregnant. I'm supposed to comfort her, attend all doctor's appointments, spend quality time together, and there may be times I need to do things I wouldn't normally do. That's where I think the chick flick epidemic came from. Now while I enjoy doing all of things anyway, I think guys make a special effort while their spouse is pregnant. So if Shelly hints about seeing a chick flick, I now readily volunteer.

So we saw "Mamma Mia" the other day. That morning I was listening to the Johnny Dare Morning Show and he was bashing all these guys who had seen "Mamma Mia" over the weekend instead of "The Dark Knight". So when Shelly said she wanted to see "Mamma Mia", I was a bit hesitant. But I'm supposed to do things like this so I said "the heck with it, let's go".

We get there just a few minutes before the previews begin so there were quite a few people there already. As I scanned the crowd, I quickly noticed I was one of the only guys in there. We started walking up the stairs to our seat and I tried to look only at the ground, careful not to make eye contact with all the women in there likely snickering. I pretended to check my watch, glance at my cell phone, adjust my shoelaces, anything to not have to stare out into the mass of women.

When we reached our row I went ahead and looked out to the people. I then saw about 6 guys in there, already hunkering down in their seats in order to not draw attention to themselves. I made eye contact with a couple of them, exchanging the obligatory head nod that men do, AKA the distant hand shake. We would slightly grin to each other and sort of shrug our shoulders.

Unfortunately, since the theater was pretty full, all the aisle seats were taken. You know what that means right? Yep, we have to walk through an entire half row of girls to get to our seats in the middle. So my plan to be incognito was destroyed as each girl now has to get up and allow me to pass, wondering to themselves if I thought something else was playing in this theater, or wondering if I really am what a meterosexual looks like in person.

While waiting for the movie to start I tried to count the crowd and get an approximate guy to girl ratio. There were 14 rows of 16 people in the upper area making 224. Then there were several down at the bottom near the screen. So I'd say there were 250 people in there total. Then I counted the guys. In the end I think there were 242 girls and 8 guys. In many other settings this would be nice but not this time.

Luckily, the theater went dark and the movie began. I will say this though. I did enjoy the movie. Maybe because I like Abba's music and I thought the acting was good. It was odd though to see Remington Steele and 007 (Pierce Brosnan) singing gay Abba songs. After the movie ended, I got up and began to walk out. Of course all the girls stayed in their seats enjoying the closing credits and the music. So again, I have to walk down a complete row of girls in order to get out as I had to pee like crazy and could not delay any longer.

We're going to see "Step Brothers" after lunch today. Maybe that will even me out a little bit.

Well, better get back to watching "Steel Magnolias". And make sure we have "Hope Floats" ready to go for tonight.

Mike

Fort Leavenworth, KS

Feeling the baby kick

So I finally felt the baby move! Shelly started feeling it a few weeks ago but we could never time it right for me to feel it. I recall one time when he was very active and Shelly put my hand on her belly. Problem was it was halfway through the movie "Hancock" and it was hard to feel anything except the thump of the movie sounds. Other times when she felt it she would put my hand there and I would almost suffocate waiting to feel it. You know how you hear a sound in another room or outside and you stop breathing so you can concentrate all your senses to try and hear it or feel something? Well, I would put my hand there and stop breathing for like 75 seconds waiting. Once my face would turn blue I would pull away and attempt to begin breathing again, disgruntled in my failure to feel anything.

But at my parents house in Oklahoma this past weekend I finally felt it. Not sure what I was expecting but I don't think that was it. I guess I thought it would be similar to feeling someone's stomach when their belly was growling. Maybe just a dull rolling feeling. Instead, this little punk kicked my hand off like he I was disturbing him. And I've had the opportunity to feel it a few times since then and I actually saw it this morning. I think this kid wants outta there. He always measures bigger than normal at this point and I think he's irritated he has to stay in there for a few more weeks. I still have thoughts of him stepping out of Shelly's uterus 3 months from now and saying, "Man, it is hot as crap in there. Glad you guys finally let me out!". And from all that kicking, I'm thinking he may be a soccer player. Or as Posh Spice calls it, "Futbol".


In unrelated news, Shelly won second place in the Porter Peach Festival dessert contest this past weekend in my hometown. Unwavered by her fourth place finish last year, Shelly was determined to put forth an awarding winning product. She named her entry "Cresthaven Crisp". My sister Marcy* won first place. The * is there because the amount of effort she actually put into the creation of the dessert is still under investigation by Shelly and my other sister, Mandy. I believe Marcy put some ingredients in a bowl. But word has it my mom took over from there, mixed it, poured it into the pan, and ensured it was in the oven the proper amount of time. And I actually ended up taking it to town that day and entering it under Marcy's name. Nevertheless, Marcy is the grand prize winner and has bragging rights for another year.


The pic above is of Daphne on the drive down to Porter. She had just gotten back into the car after a lunch break at Dairy Queen for us and a potty break for her. She was so hot she got into the floor and laid there by the vent, prompting me to switch some cool air down there to the floor. Oh, and beside her is what is left (nothing) of a hot fudge sundae. Shelly let her lick the bottom of the cup. With some cool air on her and some ice cream in her gut, she laid back and took a nice long snooze.

Mike
Kansas City, MO

Picture update

These two pics are from our visit a couple of weeks ago to the Lake of the Ozarks. We stayed with our friends Bill and Jackie in their houseboat. Does Shelly look cute in her maternity swimsuit?



These are from our 4th of July family get together at my parents house in Porter, OK. This was from our annual whiffle game prior to a huge fireworks celebration. Oh, and that is Lila the llama, a new addition at mom and dad's farm. She was giving me some pre-game advice. I was going to tease Shelly about everyone in the field with their hands on their hips or arms crossed while she was batting. But then I noticed that on my pic, although it was a sweet looking swing and great form, I think I whiffed it as you can still see the ball continuing its flight toward the catcher.







23 week ultrasound pic. 19 ounces and growing!



Mike
Kansas City, MO

Rumbling along at 23 weeks

Yes, I know it's been like 2 weeks since I've posted. It's not like I've been that busy. I haven't been on a plane in 3 weeks and I think that's a record for me over the past 4 years. I guess I could use the excuse that I've been trying to make the most of actually being home and Shelly and I have been able to spend some fun times together.

We got back from Alaska 3 weeks ago and I haven't been too busy at work since then. So at home we've seen plenty of movies, have taken Daphne on lots of walks, we've attended a few Royals games, and have continued to keep the house looking nice since it's still on the market.

Shelly will be 23 weeks this Friday. In guy terms, that's just under 6 months. On June 30th, while driving down to Lake of the Ozarks, Shelly felt the baby move for the first time. Since then, she's been having rumblings in her belly pretty regularly. Usually when I have rumblings in my gut, it means a "Code Brown" is imminent and I must find a bathroom pretty quickly. But apparently, these movements feel different. Of course every time Shelly puts my hand there, he stops moving. It's like the little fella is playing tricks on me already. But all is well. She had a Level 2 ultrasound yesterday and everything is perfect. He weighs 19 ounces, a gain of 8 ounces over the past 2 weeks.

Having some problems posting pics today so I'll try again tomorrow. We've spent time at the lake with our friends, Bill and Jackie. We went to Oklahoma for the 4th where we met my parents' new llama and played our annual whiffle ball game. I have pics of all those as well as the Level 2 ultrasound I'll post as soon as it works again.

Heading to see Poison, Dokken, and Sebastian Bach (Skid Row) tonight. For those who thought Shelly wasn't showing much at the beginning, she most certainly is now. So fitting into those black leather pants tonight is absolutely out of the question. But I asked her anyway.

Mike
Kansas City, MO