Gretel @ 25 Weeks!!!!

New BAby Bump Photos! So exciting!!!!!

Rodents and Marsupials R Us!

Here are some photos of the latest addition to our eclectic family. He has now joined the ranks with the the silver back gorilla, the possum in the yard, the chipmunks in the ceiling, the giant rat under the dog house, the mice downstairs. Apparently we are Philly"s Ark ;)

More NewFys and FaIrMounT PArK

New Baby-Belly photos

Swiming in Schuylkill

We thought we'd see him do some swimin' on his own today so we went to Fairmount Park! Clearly he hated every second of it.. poor thing!

New Penn Delaware Club -Water Rescue Training!

We took Atticus to Blue Mash Lake to the training day for the newfs water rescue to see what it was all about and see if he would act interested.. He DID! He got so excited and panicked anytime any of the trainers would call for help, he would bark nonstop and try to get into the water to help. He watched every dog take their turn, not so patienly, with total focus and seemed he knew what his job was. He did not actually do any of the training but did get to swim some and now were are sure this dog needs to take some water rescue courses of his own!

It's a BOY!!

Sorry, I have been lazy but now I have added some markers and some explanations to the latest ultrasounds. Maybe it will help to make a little more sense out of what you are looking at. This first picture shows a great front view of the baby, his head at the top and yes he is smiling!
The arrows on this picture show where his legs are, he is sitting legs folded. The red mark shows..well..why he is a he!
This is a side shot of his head and the arrow marks the babies hand, it looks like he is sucking his thumb.

13 Weeks and COUNTING!

Okay, here are some pictures of my growing belly. Its seems more so the past three or four days. In three more days..long days..we head back to Dr. Bailey and with any luck we will know the sex!

10 Week 3 Days!!

The ultrasounds are getting so exciting, lots of movement and definition. The doctor also told us that in three more weeks he will be able to tell us the sex.. WOW, this will be a long three weeks!

HaPPy BiRtHDaY tO AttICuS!!!!!!

It's true, Sir Atticus of Ainslie turns two today! Atticus, as I am sure many of you know, is my velcro. The second we got Atticus, we were smitten (me probably a little more...with "a little" being an understatement). A little bear cub that hated us for two days until finally feeling comfortable enough to roll over onto his back and snore. Little did we know this combination would soon become his trademark (Snoring and sleeping © of Atticus Industires). He has grown into a beautiful animal (sometimes resembling a bear and others a silver back gorilla...others a pain in the ...) and over the course of two years Atticus has become my partner in crime, my amigo, and aside form Gretel, my best friend. He is a constant companion, albeit a filthy, shedding companioin, but literally one that keeps me sane in an otherwise insane Philadelphia. Now that Atticus is two and Gretel is pregnant, he has made the sacred journey into manhood. He is gentle giant with Gretel (although I am still fair game for a little roughing up), and has begun to guard our house with pride, something he has never done until Gretel became prgnant. We are not sure if he would ever do anything, but let me tell you...it is a frightening sight if he doesn't approve of you approach to the house. As Lord Byran brilliantly stated about his Newfoundland, Atticus too is "Beauty without Vanity,Strength with out Insolence,Courage without Ferocity,And all the Virtues of Man without his Vices." So Happy birthday Handsome!! We love you and would be lost without you!!!!!

oNe YeAr DoWn. Woo Hoo!!!

It seem as if yesterday we moved to Philly, went to sleep, and woke up a year later. Time is literally moving at the speed of light. The first semester was a little rough (a little being a huge understatement), but this past semester was a blast! I absolutely adore my cohort...I really think I have made some life long friends here. My teaching assignments have been fantastic and I am happy with my academic performance as well. However, there will be one big change next year (as you know from the previous post). We will have a baby! Now I know having a baby during comprehensive exams may not have been the best plan, but we are thrilled!

One down and one to GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!