Important Decisions

As life becomes more complicated for us, we find that there are some decisions that need the input of those with more experience. We need your help! Here is today's poll...

Which do you suggest?
	Cloth
	Disposable
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Mark your calendar...

Bubba or Oda Mae will graduate from high school in May 2023. We will expect you all to be there. So mark your calendars.

J.

Fatherly Advice

I called my dad on his birthday and told him the good news. He seemed a little flustered at first and then the reality set in. He was very excited to be a grandpa again. He asked me how it felt to know that I was going to be a father and I told him that I didn't think it had really hit me yet. His response was that he knew when it would hit me. He said that when I was looking in at the baby through the window in the hospital, responsibility would hit me right between the eyes.
I can't wait!!! I'm going to wear a helmet just in case.

I figure it'll be something like this...

I'll be standing there in awe and wonderment looking at my new beautiful baby thinking, "I have to take that one home!"....

....."My wife is probably going to want me to help."....

and then....


BAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! On the floor.

J.

Baby Name Poll

Here is an informal poll to see what baby names you all like. No absolute decisions have been made and your opinion really doesn't matter anyway. But, it's fun to be interactive, don't you think? Feel free to write in votes via the comments button.

What's your favorite BOY name?
	Michael
	Aaron
	Gabriel
	Elliot
	Caleb
	Jimmy Jr.
	Bubba
	Big Tom
	Marshal
	Who cares? I want a girl!
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What's your favorite GIRL name?
	Jessica
	Noel
	Madeline
	Coryn
	Madison
	Brenda Jr.
	Oda Mae
	Big Cindy
	Allison
	It doesn't matter, you know it's going to be a boy.
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Everyone is sooooo excited...

Well, on Monday we had our first doctors visit. I'm just sorry I didn't bring the video camera. There was so much to see and do. I've never been to a "lady" doctor before! I was just going to see the baby on TV and man did I get my money's worth! I was trying to read a magazine just to be very nonchalant during all of the "tests", but it was a little hard to concentrate . Once we got into the sonogram room things started to pick up. I cannot even to begin to explain the feelings that came over me when I saw the shape of that little thing in there. I was fully expecting to see a clump of cells, but as you can see by the photo there is already a lot of definition. Up until now, I've known that we were pregnant, but after seeing the baby "swim" around and seeing the heart beat...I know now that we are about to experience joy and happiness like we have never experienced before.
After going to the doctor, we went to see Brenda's mom for "lunch". Brenda handed her the photo and after the realization set in you cannot even begin to imagine the excitement that ran through that lady's entire being. Watching other people find out about the pregnancy is just as fun as finding out youself. Brenda's mom works for DR. PEPPER. We got FREE soft drinks while we were there. Could this day get ANY better!!!!!!!
Brenda knew that she had to start calling some people and giving out the news before her mom got to them, so she called her dad. I wasn't there, but I'm sure that there was one very happy guy on the other side of the phone.
Then it was on to my mother's house. We thought we'd have a little fun......I told my mom that I had been working on my genealogy earlier that morning (I had indeed!!!), and that I had a picture of someone that I wanted her to identify. I handed her the sonogram photo. After an agonizing minute or two she said, "I don't know who this is." I prompted her to look at the photo more closely. When she noticed Brenda's name in the upper right hand corner it finally dawned on her who she was looking at, "Is this Bubba or Oda Mae?!!!!!" and I shook my head yes. Then she had to jump out of her chair. She was so funny to watch. She is a very happy grandma as well! When my sister came over we played the same game. The expression on her face when she finally realized what she was looking at was truly priceless. Again, I needed the video camera.
We finally went to visit Brenda's dad. He was playing things very cool. Jeanine as well. They were definitely standing a little taller and are very excited to be having a grandbaby.
Like I said before, watching other people get the news is just a much fun as finding out yourself. By the end of the day we were both exhausted. Our next appointment is in four weeks.
Stay tuned for the next exciting chapter in the beginning of the life of "Bubba" or "Oda Mae".

J.

P.S. Our FUR has some fascinating skills related to sonogram reading on his web log, check out August 24th. ROBLOG

Here is Bubba or Oda Mae at 9 weeks 4 days. There is a head and 4 "limb buds". There is a heart beat and a big cheeseburger smile! 

From my blog August 4, 2004...Call me paranoid,

but when I went to the weekly shopping trip to Wal-Mart on Monday I picked up another test for my wife. Not one of those silly things with a line that is supposed to tell you if your wife is pregnant, no crazy color test; I got the test that clearly said "Pregnant" or "Not Pregnant". So this morning she took the new test and so far...2 out of 2 aint bad. She has a doctor's appointment on the 23rd of this month. I'll happily go with her. I'm hoping to get photos of our new baby!!! Then I can proudly show them off. The problem is the 23rd is 19 days away. We can't tell anybody. So I think we should simply hibernate for the next 2 and 1/2 weeks. The past couple of days there has been some nausea, but I think I'll start feeling better soon. LOL!!!!! I'm going to start a photo blog for our new person. That way when we do tell everyone, they will be able to track our progress. How fun!!!! Yesterday I practiced quite a bit. I'm getting ready for the big Marine Band audition and Austin Symphony auditions coming up.No running yesterday. The day before made me sick. I think it's the air pollution. I'll run this morning before it gets bad.

J.

From my blog on Monday August 2, 2004

I'm back from vacation. Had a great time driving around in Ohio in my 2004 RED Mustang. When we got home, our dogs were so happy to see us. I think they really missed us. Sis said that she thought that they started missing us about Wednesday. Our cat was pretty messed up when we came home. She is pretty scared of other people so I know she didn't like Sis, Chris and their little dog Linda being here for week. Mahly finally came out on Sunday to say hello to us. Too funny!Brenda started feeling kind of squirrelly over the vacation. She didn't have much of an appetite the entire week. I was really starting to get worried about her on the way home. She tends to get a little car sick as well and all of the hills and curvy roads in Ohio didn't help. Things started getting a little weird on Friday when we went to Frisch's Big Boy for their famous burgers and Brenda ordered a Burger, Salad, (so far not too bad), and Mashed Potatoes. Mashed Potatoes???? with a burger? Okay, whatever. Then on Saturday, she didn't eat anything at all until after we got home in the afternoon. Even then she was acting super weird. I ended up going to bed pretty late Saturday night. I had planned on sleeping late, but woke up early when Brenda got up before me and was surfing the net. DUDE!!!! Brenda never wakes up early!!!!!..........So I'm laying there in bed about to get up and she comes in from the bathroom and shows me this stick thermometer thingy that has two lines on it. "I'm pregnant!", she says.Oh-My-God!!!! I'm totally going to be a father! I asked her why there were two "negative signs" and she said that one was a "test line" and that the other would be blank if you were not pregnant. Why??? they should put a + or - or something like YES or NO on these things. She is going to make an appointment this week to see a doctor and confirm everything. She thinks she is about 1-2 months along. COOL! So yesterday we both just messed around the house in shock. I'm not totally sure when it will really hit me, but for right now I'm just a little dumbfounded. I did take some pictures of her and the test stick thingy. These are the first pics of little "Bubba" or "Oda Mae". LOL! We are not going to tell anyone (except the internet world) until we are sure everything is okay. I figure nobody really reads this thing anyway.I did a bit of practicing yesterday. I'm a little out of shape, but I'll be back to normal soon. I have to win an audition soon so I can take care of my family! I'm going running today to try and lose a few of those Skyline Chili pounds. MMMMMMMmmmmm.....Skyline Chili. I also want to be in shape for my kid when he or she gets here. Everybody wants a dad that is super cool and buff!

J.

Here it is...our first photo of the baby. I know it doesn't look like much, but we love him...ummm...her...errrr, well.....it!!