Now on to current news:
In case you haven’t seen the belly update from 12/23/06 here or here … It’s getting apparent that, even with a January 29th due date, there are not very many days left. [In my best Scotty voice] “She can’t take much more of this Captain!”

With that in mind… and because I think the gifts are just about all done anyone checking in here should move on over to the “Cornell Baby Log“. You can sign up to have emails sent when that is updated and the idea is that we will be posting pictures to that from the hospital (strictly PG stuff).

And that’s pretty much going to be THE baby announcement. If you can’t wait the one hour it will take for my mother to call everyone in the world then you can get you info straight from the source.

On to the merchandise!

Kristin (Davis) Grice has a littun’ of her own so this present comes with some recent mothering experience. This is a baby einstein play mat with a suspended mobile thingee-majiggy. The hanging pictures of single subjects and bright colors offer lots of pre-frontal cortex and visual cortex stimulation responses which can make kids crazy smart. Since there are suspended objects too there’s probably even some inferior temporal gyrus activity which means that baby going to have some mad ball-handling skills. We won’t have to worry about paying for college because scouting violations by big time universities will take care of all that.

I wish I didn’t buy into this marketing scheme that Baby Einstein has developed but, boy oh boy there stuff works. They need an infomercial with some dumb babies that watch their videos and use their toys for a week and then get smarter and happier. They just need to find some guy with a British/Australian accent to make the pitch - unfortunately I can’t imagine there are any of those left unemployed.
Thanks Kristin.

If it looks like Mariel is holding the shipping slip with a tentative look - that’s because it’s a great picture.

Sarah Lyne… from Newton? That’s just a few miles away… who do we know that’s unlucky enough to be burdened with a shower gift invitation!?

Ahhh…Rob Hawke’s girlfriend, Sarah! We’re so friendly with our Newton neighbors that I don’t the formality of exchanging surnames ever even came up.

She sent along these great changing pads that will help to keep contain any little accidents from being BIG accidents.
Thanks Sarah.

One of the cards is for Mariel… and that’s good because she has some great taste.  But the other one is what makes me smile a little more then usual. It’s for Dexter!

Special instructions are for Dexter to pick out what HE wants for the baby. Now granted it will be tough to give him a subtle parental mental nudge away from the 4-year-old gifts for the newborn… but a great idea.

Thanks Jen.

Dexter is in the picture for a sense of proportion:

Look at how scared she is of this belly…. it is a healthy fear

I say that it will wipe away our better judgment because when we’ve just washed our new baby and wrapped it up…. we are going to think it’s so cute and clean and smiley that we will forget to Diaper Up (the less popular alternative to the redsox theme “Cowboy Up”). Playing bare-ass roulette a couple times too many and that will be the end of that game.

These hoodie towels are cute enough so that even though I know what’s coming I won’t be able to stop it.

Thanks Joanne.

More Gifts! This thing is a knit sweater from Lydia Holmes. This right here is a very strong contender in the ‘hand-made’ gift competition. I’m not sure if Lydia made it or not but it is cute, hand-made looking, warm and tag free.

Thank you Lydia.

Was anyone else buys during the week before Christmas? No? Human condition told me that I was the only one running around crazy.

First up is (at least and probably more then) a cute plush toy and  some diapers from Dan and Carrie Lopano. I think it’s Lamaze or something. Thanks Dan and Carrie.

To be honest all the descriptions for this days presents are going to be fuzzy at best because it’s just what I can remember. Hopefully Mariel did a much better job in the thank you notes. There is video coverage too - so if anyone is offended or needs more credit just drop me a line and I’ll do a video replay and review the ruling on the field.

Quick note… these next two are from the Demore clan progeny and they are special gifts because: a) it’s been ages since I’ve seen them and it’s great to know they remember me   and b) I know they’ve had a couple kids and we haven’t contributed yet to their “moving expenses” so we’ll try to send some retaliatory gifts in the future to balance up the karma. Thanks Kris and Bill.
On to the merchandise - Next up is a thermometer from Kristin (Demore)  Jospeh. This unit is choice.  Four years ago we got the previous generation of these for Dexter. It was really handy but unfortunately it would require 4-5 readings before we had the good sample. I had no idea why that was until I saw some of the new features on this bad boy of technology. It warms up the tip of plastic guard on the end to closer to body temp so that the readings are more accurate. Score one for science!

Thanks Kristin

Bill and Gretchen Demore’s gift showed up on the same day (good timing) and it was one of my favorite tips of material possessions: Books.  When Dexter was a baby he would sit and turn pages all the time. We did (and do) nightly readings to him to try and prevent him inheriting too much stupid from Matt and try and nurture all those brains he got from Mariel.

Thanks Bill and Gretchen.

These steaks might not have been intended for her but she was so happy that I didn’t dare speak up. Being supportive and quiet is a skill that should be nurtured now that we get closer to the D-day.

Even with all those choices Dex still had his eye on this Warm Blankie sent by Maureen Sheeran. It’s also got all the stuff that makes Mariel happiest: bunnies, pastel colors, and covered with sleep softness.

Thanks Maureen.