Mardi Gras

For our friends in New Orleans, Mardi Gras means something different this year. As I overheard one New Orleanian say, it's not for the tourists.

Mardi Gras is a day, supposedly, for excess. Fat Tuesday. Come midnight, it's all over for six long weeks of Lent. This Mardi Gras, I hope that in addition to indulging one last time to whatever we are giving up, we can also remember that Lent is an oppurtunity to make great internal change. Perhaps today, we can also think of those traits which are holding us back from God (jealousy, dishonesty, arrogance, etc) and practice fasting from those things starting on Ash Wednesday.

Charlie

Charlie is our 2 year old bird dog. He really loves hunting, playing with all of the toys we had bought our beagle Gilligan that Gilligan never played with, tacos, and cuddling. He dislikes yelling, thunderstorms and cats. Charlie was rescued from a shelter by a local group called Adopt An Angel (http://www.adoptanangel.net) and went through three possible adoptions before he found his home with us. Charlie became an example for us that God brings you what you are supposed to have. It's hard to describe how Charlie has changed our lives except to say that he has made them fuller. We didn't realize he was missing until we brought him home. Now, as we prepare to bring a baby home, our days are filled with laughter as we think of Charlie imaging the crib as a giant crate and stand on his hind legs and peer down at the baby sleeping there. Jeff is fond of telling people that Charlie will be great with the baby and Gilligan will be an outside dog. Don't let this picture fool you, Charlie is very long legged and loves to run, but he does curl up very nicely next to you on the couch or bed if he is invited.

Whenever people are questioning things that are brought into their lives, I use Charlie as an example that we all get in our lives God's promises fulfilled.

(Please excuse the poor quality of this photo, it came from a camera phone.)

"What in the name of Davey Jones' locker is a sal-lad?"

That quote is from Spongebob Squarepants. It comes from an episode called "Bossy Boots" in which Spongebob's boss' daughter becomes the manager of the restuarant Spongebob works in. The restaurant is famous for the "Krabby Patty"--a hamburger. And Spongebob is a fry-cook. When the boss' daughter tells him that Krabby Patty's aren't hip and salads are, Spongebob doesn't know what a salad is.

As much as I love that cheeseburger I had at the Dixie Grill last week, I have become the salad queen lately. I liked salads before, but got burned out of them after college and hadn't been enjoying them as much. Until, again, I got pregnant. I guess there are worse things to be craving most of the time. And I can't imagine living in the world where I wouldn't have this alternative to a burger every once in a while!

Flutterbyes

This is what my close friend who is due a month before me and I use to refer to the movements we started feeling in the last few weeks. As I battled a stomach ailment, these kicks and rolls made me smile. When people screamed at me on the phone, I can get lost in a world of these little jostles. They've become one of the first rewards of being a mother.

The Best Cheeseburger

I had the best cheeseburger today with my husband. We tried a restaurant called the Dixie Grill in historic downtown Wilmington. We enjoyed bacon cheeseburgers and onion rings that were unbeatable. It's a cool little grill/diner where you can watch your lunch being cooked and there was even live music. On a Sunday morning! We really enjoyed ourselves and it's a great place to take kids! Can't beat that!

Lisa's World

I have fallen in love with the show #1 Single on E!. (Sunday nights at 10 pm.) It is the story of singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb's quest to find real love. She is 37 and looking for someone to settle down with. Her dates and experiences are just like any single woman's, except, of course, she's a public figure doing this on television. I am not a reality television buff. I hate Survivor and all the other "hits" of reality tv, but when you have one really likable person struggling with something we have all struggled with. She is a willing participant though. She meets a rabbi at her mother's advice, she borrows a dog to meet people, she goes on blind dates. And she is always a good sport!

Below is Lisa, probably on a date. Just below that is Lisa with actress Illeana Douglas and Illeana's dog (a beagle!) Lady.

(I should also mention that Jeff, who rarely likes women singer-songwriters, has loved Lisa Loeb since the beginning. And he has always told me that she's the reason he was willing to date me because we both wear glasses. Funny, I wore contacts exclusively when I met him!)

For The Person Who Asked...And Anyone Else Who Might Not Know

This is the world famous book that we are basing our nursery on. The picture right above the book cover is the hero Max and the Wild Things having a "Wild Rumpus." I am including this because I had a friend who claims to never have heard of this book (and she has sons). This book is so famous and well known that Barnes and Noble, Books-A-Million and even Target have this book in stock almost always!

July 13

Is the day our baby is due. Since Jeff was born in August and I was born in October, and we have a relative few family members born in July, I have done some researching. This is what I have found:

Our baby's birthstone will be the Ruby which signifies contentment.

The birth "flowers" for July are larkspur and the Water Lily.

Here is the Larkspur:

Here are several examples of Water Lilies:

And our baby's sign will be Cancer--symbolized by the crab:

So, for those mourning they do not know the sex of the newest Herrett or the possible names, now you know a little more!

One Week Left

One more week of Olympic Games! Here's to all the athletes who have already shown their stripes and those who will do so in the next week!

A Yummy Sweet Treat

Sunburst Lemon Bars
2 cups flour ½ cup confectioners sugar
1 cup butter, softened
4 eggs
2 cups white sugar
¼ cup flour 1 tsp baking powder
¼ cup lemon juice
1 cup confectioners sugar
2 ½ tablespoons lemon juice
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

For Crust: In a medium bowl, stir together the flour and sugar. Cut in the butter until the mixture is mealy. Press in the bottom of a 9x13 inch pan. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, until crust is light golden brown.

For Filling: While the crust is baking, in the same medium bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, flour and baking powder with an electric mixer until light, about 3 minutes. Then stir in the lemon juice. Pour the filling over the crust while it is still warm from the oven. Bake for an additional 25 to 30 minutes until the top is slightly browned. Remove from the oven and cool.

For Icing: In a small bowl, stir lemon juice into the confectioners' sugar 1 tablespoon at a time until the icing is of a spreadable consistency. Spread evenly over the cooled bars. Cut into squares.

Optional: To simplify this recipe, you can skip the icing and just dust the bars with sifted confectioners sugar when cool

****I will confess I have not tried these yet, but they look delicious. This recipe is courtesy of Danielle Bean's website: http://www.daniellebean.com/recipes

The Hamster in the Wheel

Today I felt like a hamster in the wheel. Plugging away and getting nowhere. I got almost nothing accomplished at work that I was supposed to get done. And I can honestly say it was not all my fault. We were out of this world busy. I guess this is good preparation for bringing the bambino home. I'm sure only time will tell.



By the way, I am scared to death of hamsters (and mice, rats, gerbils all of those vermin.)

Back to School

Okay, we know we need to take birthing classes. Our doctor offers them for couples in their 30th-32nd week. There are many reasons why we would prefer to go this method.
1) It's free.
2) The class times are convienient.
3) It's going to give us some "lamaze-like" techniques
4) It helps us to know that this instructor is "endorsed" by our doctor

A lot of people have been asking me about these classes and if I've signed up for anything. When I mention these classes to people, they always ask me, "Why aren't you taking real Lamaze/Bradley, etc classes?"

I usually just smile and say nothing is definite yet. What I really want to say is, "Why should I pay money for classes that are not convienient in time or location when I can get basically the same thing for free? Provided by my doctor's office."

I keep thinking, women gave birth for years without these classes, so what does it matter where I go to and when?

Swinging Back and Forth

Today I have had swings from highs to lows.

First the high of a good friend who is newly pregnant with her first child. I felt a glow inside and out as I read her email. I was touched as she revealed it was early, but she wanted to share her news with us!

A few hours later I received the devastating news that another close friend who has been battling cancer has had a major setback. My heart sank.


Just as I was ready to break down in total tears, there was my growing baby who began rolling around and moving and kicking. Through my tears I had to smile. There was that little innocent baby reminding me that miracles are happening every day and that God truly comes through for those who believe.

Remember when I said I love conversation hearts? Well, here is a special one I made all by myself! And if you are wondering who J's Girl is, that's me!

The Stars Are Out Tonight

Every family has one star. You know, the one who steals the show and has soooo much talent? Well, in our family, there are 2 of them. They are our cousin Mike's daughters Natalia (at top as Frenchy in Grease) and Salome (on bottom as ChaCha in Grease). And we are more than proud to share them with you!

One Last Link...

Morning Edition was on fire this morning. Wondering what the best gift is for your sweetheart? Click here and listen to find out:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5205337

A True Love Story

Being married to someone who is older than me by more than "a few years" has caused many people to stop and wonder. My husband and I have weathered all kinds of speculation, doubt and even criticism. It's not always easy to overcome people's assumptions. It's not always easy to love people who disagree with our marriage and be Christian about it. Maybe that's why we know it was all part of God's plan. Why should it be easy?

This Valentine's Day we should all remember love doesn't always appear in ways we expect it to. Love doesn't always have the rules we impose on it. Click here and listen to the story of a beautiful marriage:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5205352

A Baby's Gift

Think mothers are the only ones who give selflessly, think again. Our babies give us something back we don't even notice. Check out this link and listen to this story:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5195551

Shot Through the Stomach

No, this is not about violence, it is about shots I give myself twice a day. In my stomach. They are shots of heparin, a blood thinner. I have a blood clotting disorder that normally doesn't affect me at all, but I'm pregnant and pregnancy definitely makes everything stand out.

Here's the thing, everyone told me the shots would get easier over time. Well, they have actually gotten harder. And worse. I have disgusting bruises all over my stomach and the skin there toughens up in places. My doctor told me I needed to give myself the shots in the legs. Well, if I could get the needle through the skin there and didn't massively bruise myself, this might be an option.

Oh well, there is only 21 1/2 more weeks of these!

Pictures Are Worth Infinite Words

What do you see here? A mass of cells? A baby? (No, this is not my little one.)

I see a life that is being given a chance to live. Is this so graphic that Americans should not be allowed to see it? I would say its less graphic than most movie violence and television sexuality. No matter where you come down on any issue, people should be able to see the images of both sides. I have heard the heart-wrenching stories of women who chose to have abortions. We all have. So, what is so wrong with seeing this picture showing a face and hand. Things we all have? Is it because it might make some people reconsider how they view this issue?

Wild Kingdom

We decided to give our baby's nursery a theme of Where the Wild Things Are. Since we know that limiting the decoration just to the book would restrict us somewhat, we decided to expand the theme to more of a jungle theme. There are three main reactions I get to this theme.

1) We must have chosen this theme because we believe we are having a boy. (This theory is championed by my mother.)

2) We chose this theme because we don't know the sex of the baby. (A theory pioneered by my brother Mike and friend Lisa.)

3) We chose the wrong theme because it will "scare" the baby.

Here's the story, beginning, middle and end of how we chose the theme.

1) Any child of my husband's will be a "wild thing" so for our first baby, there is no other choice.

2) We felt this was an appropriate theme for not knowing the sex of our baby and also considered an oceanic theme, a celestial theme, and a "Bug's Life" theme for the same reasons.

3) We love animals and with 2 dogs, we know the baby won't have a choice but to love them.

4) Maurice Sendak's book is a classic that promotes imagination, and as huge fans of children's literature, we felt this was a theme that shows our love of kid lit.

5) Mention to any preschooler that there is a "Wild Rumpus" about to start, and that child will know exactly what you are talking about. So, it will be popular with some visitors to the nursery as well.

My mother was the first to tell me that I might have a little girl who likes pink things. My response to that was simple. I would choose this theme regardless of knowing the sex of the baby or not. And, in a few years we will have a walking, talking toddler who will have plenty of opinions of his or her own (I mean, who are we kidding, this is my child we are talking about). And no matter what theme we choose, he or she might have ideas of his or her own that clash with that theme. We could be redoing this room no matter what.

Be Mine

I love conversation hearts. I love them. They are tasty and sugary and sweet. And they always have the sweetest messages. Unless you've looked at them in the last few years. "Be Mine" and "My Girl" are still there but so is "Email Me" and "Text Me." I guess all good things must change with the times.

I guess the one thing I really found unique about conversation hearts are that they seemed to be timeless. They were a sweet treat you waited for once a year. And for legions of small school children, they were something you could eat, so no one took the messages too seriously, even if you wanted a certain someone to.

They are still nostalgic for me, but a little less so with the new messages.

In any event, I would much rather get a conversation heart from my husband than an email or text message. Even if that conversation heart has a 21st century message.

Call me old fashioned...

But I can't help saying I like the pairs in figureskating when the women wear skirts better than the pants. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for women being able to wear pants and I can't stand wearing skirts myself. It's just that some of the outfits with pants are so ugly. One Chinese pair looked okay with the pants look. The Russians in the lead, I felt like her outfit left a lot to be desired.

I remember four years ago when Jamie Sale and David Pelltier skated and she wasn't wearing a "traditional" costume. I thought she looked beautiful and very relaxed in a (gasp!) cotton top and skirt. I thought, more costumes like that would surely enhance the sport as they did not distract from the true artistry present.

I guess because the pants are so new, it's hard for designers to get them exactly right. Who knows, in four years, everyone will be pants probably.

What's In a Name? Well, a lot, actually....

When you are pregnant, you happen to find out everyone's opinion on everything.

And names seem to elicit the most strong opinions.

We are not finding out the sex of our baby before his or her birth, so we are choosing a boy and girl name. Both first and middle. Everyone has given us their opinion. Some border on awful. Some are comical. Some are impassioned pleas.

There is one lesson I have learned for certain about naming your child: don't tell anyone the actual selected name until after the baby is born and its printed on the birth certificate. Why? Someone will not like the name you have chosen and until the little one is born, they will feel it is their God-sent mission to change your mind. And some of these people will make your life as difficult as possible.

One of my friends had a family member who hated the name she had chosen for her son. Hated it with a passion. This friend had announced the name at a baby shower when she was seven months pregnant. For the rest of her pregnancy, she was bombarded with emails and phone calls on an almost daily basis with things like lists of criminals with the same name and the crimes they had committed. That is just one example of the insanity this poor woman had to go through. To her credit, she held her ground and named her son the selected name. And for the record I think this relative was way out of line and shouldn't have been surprised if she had been cut off.


Aside from that, what's in a name? Well, you wouldn't think much because names are totally arbitrary, but then you find yourself in the position of naming an infant and suddenly there are a million things you have to consider. Does this name rhyme with anything that could be used to tease your child? (ie a bodily function or animal) What does this name mean in English? What cultural image does this name conjure up? (I could never name my child Damian, remember that movie, The Omen? Same thing with Reagan. Heard of The Exorcist?) Does this name "flow" with your last name? Can you find a middle name you find suitable? Are you spelling this name in a way that people will pronounce it correctly? Is there more than one spelling of the name? (Yeah, try being named Kristen--I get every spelling possible.) One middle name? Or two? Do you want a conventional name? An unusual one? Do you want to name the baby after a family member? Are there religious considerations?

See what I mean? We've given our families a long list. We won't tell them when we cut it down. They are already going to have to wait to find out the sex... we'll see how they take waiting on a name.

The Winter of Our Content

This winter has been a great one for my husband Jeff and I. Not only will we be half-way through our pregnancy before it is over (in 2 weeks we will be at 20 weeks!) , but one of our favorite athletic events is occurring this winter. That would be the Winter Olympic Games.

Overall we are winter games fans over the summer (despite being huge fans of both gymnastics and the marathon). This morning we were up at 7am to watch the biathlon. We are looking forward to the luge and even curling in addition to our favorite hockey! I think I like all of the unusual sports at the winter games. I think my husband likes that so many of the sports are individual sports instead of team sports.

While watching the opening ceremonies last night, I was made more aware of my Italian roots (being 1/4 Italian, those roots are significant). The flames of passion reminded me not only of the passionate drive of the Olympic athletes but also of the passion with which Italians live life. (You ever wonder what it was behind all the hand gestures, the fast driving and the fantastic arguments--that's passion). I fought tears as I watched and listened to Luciano Pavorotti. Italians--people I am related to--gave the world opera.

While the games are always a moving experience for me, showing the drive and determination of the athletes and knowing that for so many getting there is the experience, this year, as I await the birth of my first child, I am reminded of my roots and which are so strong as the Italian people play host to the world and the games. Not only can I someday tell my son or daughter about the athletes that competed in these games, but how his or her people helped to show the rest of the world that we can all put aside our differences and live life in peace.