Here's Some Reality...

I took this right off another blog, but had to share becuase it sends such a strong message.

Tate predictions

Leave it to my creative-web-loving-husband to find a website where family and friends can make predictions on when your baby will be born and how big he'll be! I guess his competitive juices are flowing, because he's even offered a prize to whoever has the closest prediction...a gift certificate to Barnes & Noble.

So join the fun and make your own prediction for Tate's arrival. I just ask that the guesses aren't too much earlier than the due date. I still have a nursery to finish. :)

Click here and enter in the top left corner the game name: LittleManTate

Preggo!

Several have asked, so I thought I'd share my buddha belly for the entire world wide web to see. It's hard to believe that I will keep growing for the next 6 weeks...I might pop!

The Joy of Mail

I might really be going out on a limb here and exposing a strange quirk I have (one of many). Oh well, here goes...

I love getting the mail.

Is that strange? I love getting home from work and getting a fresh pile of mail to sort through. It's somewhat disappointing when it's all junk mail that is thrown away. Some of my most favorite mail items:

* Newsweek (complete geekiness here)
* the monthly checking account statement (great feeling of accomplishment to balance out the account)
* any version of a greeting card, letter, or note (it's fun even when Macy gets a birthday card from the vet!)
* the Pottery Barn catalog
* a charity direct mail piece with personalized address labels

I know that people complain every time the price of a postage stamp goes up, but you have to admit, it's still a pretty good deal to be able to send a piece of mail across the country for only 39 cents!

Ahhhh, the simple pleasures in life!

Don't Quack at Me

I think I've started waddling! I swore up and down that I wouldn't do it, but it's feeling a little unavoidable. It usually happens when getting out of bed or getting up after sitting in a meeting at work for a long time.

What a strange thing? In the just the last week or so, I feel like my stomach has become HUGE, so I guess this was bound to happen. I just hope my body doesn't get used to it, and I can walk like my normal self again afterwards.

In the meantime, no quacking sounds please! :)

Am I ready for this?

8 weeks...60 days...yikes!

Pure Genius

I'm a fan of the entire 100 Calorie snack line, but have quickly come to LOVE the 100 Calorie Cheetos. Oh my goodness are these good! It's the perfect portion size and is exactly what you need when craving that crunchy, cheesy snack. The objective side of me knows what an overpriced scam this is. The subjective side of me doesn't care, because it's awfully helpful to have the right size packaged without being tempted to overindulge. Yum!

Whoever came up with the idea for 100 calorie product line is pure genius...thanks!

Is That My Nose?

Technology is crazy! We had a 3D sonogram and got a little glimpse of Tate. Looks like he's about 3 pounds right now, so I'm sure his look will change as he doubles his weight in the next 9 weeks. So far everything seems to be progressing on track, despite that he's measuring pretty big...yikes!

The neatest part was watching him open and close his eyes and mouth and move his hand around. As excited as I am for him to be here, I also think to myself how safe and sound he is right now.

Of course I'm biased, but I think he's cute already!

Tate

It's official. He has a name. Tate. Actually, his full name will be Robert Tate, but we'll call him Tate. Wade is Robert Wade, and his father's first name is Robert as well. So the Robert tradition will continue.

I actually came up with Tate about a month or so ago. We were looking for something short, strong, and easy to spell. Poor kid, with the spelling of our last name and a middle name for a first name, we wanted to make it as easy for him as possible.

So, I saw an article with Jodie Foster and it mentioned the movie Little Man Tate. Ever since then, that has seemed to be the frontrunner in the name selection.

Some interesting info. on the name Tate:

* Depending on which name definition you use, it could be Old English, Irish, or Native American
* It means many things including: to be cheerful, a measure of land, windy, he who talks too much (hopefully this won't be too much of a self-fulfilling prophecy)
* In 2005, it ranked #378 in baby name popularity
* London's national gallery of international modern art is called the Tate Modern
* Tate Donovan is the actor that played Joshua on Friends

We're pretty excited. It's fun to be able to start calling him by name. And the nickname Tatar Tot has already started. I think that's actually pretty cute. We'll see if he still thinks so after a few years.

So to our own little man Tate, we can't wait to meet you and love you so much already!

John Madden & Pumpkins

The other day an NFL game was on TV. I realized that I have very warm and fuzzy feelings towards John Madden. Not the guy, but his voice. Don't know much about the guy at all, or if he's even a decent NFL commentator. But, I do know that his voice reminds me of football season, cooler weather, sweaters, pumpkins, and Thanksgiving. I bet he didn't know he could have that kind of effect on someone.

Today is the first day of my favorite time of the year. It is also the time of year that I wonder why I live in Texas. That's another post in itself. But, I'll pretend that we're actually going to experience a seasonal change. After all, going from 100 degrees to 80 degrees should count for something.

I am so ready for fall to be here. Or at least the very weak version of fall that us Texans call the fall. I love that feeling when the days are a little shorter and temperatures drop, all of the fall decorations are out, your feet get really cold when you wear your flip flops (remember I'm talking about TX), and La Madeleine has pumpkin pie as a featured dessert!

The kick-off is when the vendors start appearing on street corners with potted mums, pumpkins, and gourds for sale. I'm telling you, it makes me a little giddy. I will restrain a little longer this year, though. I think I bought the first potted mum from this one place last year on the first day he opened. Within a week the "woops-summer-is-back-temporarily" 95 degree day fried them all. I was very sad.

I'll start today by changing out and putting up my fall wreath on the front door! Ahhh, the simple pleasures in life. Now, let's get rid of the crazy heat and make room for some pumpkins!