Baby Update: Give me my space!

We had our 27 week check up last week and everything is right on track! I took my glucose tolerance test to confirm whether or not I had gestational diabetes. Think about drinking the cheapest, most stale, orange crush soda. Gulp that down in 5 minutes and let the sugar rush begin! Our test results came back and I tested normal, so Biff handled it well.

The check up was pretty routine. We got to hear his fast little heart beat again. Taylor was able to record the sound on his phone so we could enjoy it over and over! Biff didn't want to be bothered as every time they put the machine on my belly, he'd kick it off. The next morning, I was resting my Starbucks cup on my belly (yes, that happens now) and again, he wanted his space. Off went the cup. He continues to swim around, kicking and punching, all day and all night. Somehow we still find a way to sleep.

Now the real prep work begins. So far it's been fun putting his nursery together and picking out clothes, but now starts the classes, the planning, finding a pediatrician, and the list continues. We'll hit the ground running when we get back from the holidays to make sure the last few items are in order. It's hard to believe that we start our 3rd Trimester today. I'm enjoying being pregnant and having him so close, not to mention enjoying these last few months just the two of us; but, it's balanced with wanting to rush to the end so we know he's here, happy & healthy (and I can rest easy knowing the epidural actually worked).

It will be a fun few months to get ready and celebrate!

Have a wonderful holiday!

With love,
Aubree & Taylor

A bit bigger than our last bump watch pic... if you look closely you can see the Thanksgiving chub. Okay... you dont have to look that closely. Anything for you, Biff! 

Week #... Oh I don't know...

I've been on a bit of a "Helmet" blogging hiatus as I've just been sitting home getting more pregnant by the day. That, and, as I said in Week #9, now that I have the luxury of walking away from the games for a bit I usually lose my focus in November and start to get the urge again when it's December and teams are playing for their playoff livelihoods.

My husband pointed out that perhaps I should be a bit more positive in my blogging opinions about the NFL, so here is my best effort:

• I am positive it's too early to jump on the Tim Tebow train just yet. Yes, he's finding a way to win games. It's a matter of time before teams start to find a way to stop him. I'm pretty sure my father is jumping on the train after covering the Vikings / Broncos game today, so let the holiday dinner family banter begin. 
• I am positive there are too many pass interference flags being thrown. We're enabling receivers to become creatures of habit. They want to get paid the millions they do, but do not want to be touched or looked at within 5 yards of their reception. I too could be a Hall of Fame receiver if I could stand wide open and untouched in the field of play. 
• I am positive that icing your own kicker is not good play calling. See Dallas Cowboys loss to Arizona Cardinals. 
• I am positive that no one was within 10 yards of the Houston Texan's punter Brett Hartmann when he appeared to have hyperextended his knee. How does that happen? (Answer: note his position)
• I am positive that getting back to the line of scrimmage in time critical situations is part of having game awareness. The Atlanta Falcons suffered when Julio Jones was downfield and ran several seconds off the clock as they were driving to tie up the game against Houston with only seconds left on the clock. I just watched the NY Giants burn a time out in the second half (when battling from behind against the Packers no less) for similar reasons. 

Okay - so not what my husband had in mind, but that's what he gets for setting unclear expectations.

A few teams to watch over the next few weeks as they play for their post season life...

In the NFC: Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Detroit (assuming they lose to NOLA)
In the AFC - fighting for the second Wild Card spot: Jets, Cincinnati, Tennessee, Oakland / Denver

The holiday season is often not so festive for football families. I still remember having to wake up in the wee hours of the morning to open Christmas presents with my Dad before he had to go to work, if he was lucky enough to be playing at home that week. I remember the holiday meals my mom would put together and cover with foil and take it to his office so he had some taste of home on that day. I also remember the year that he was officially named a "former" head coach. We've already seen one coach face that same unfortunate reality, and several others (we could see up to 10) rumored to be on the "hot seat". The inevitable question: Will my Dad go back to coaching? As he says - they are looking for young and cheap, and he is neither. As for any inside knowledge I have, I tend to turn my head the other way and just ask that my parents send me their forwarding address so I know where to send their Christmas card.

For now - Happy Holiday prepping!

Love #3: The Beatboxing Cellist

Now that Biff can detect sounds and hear what is going on around him, we're trying to surround him with  music when we can. So far he's responding most to Eminem (sigh) - kicking away whenever he hears it. If Martha Stewart can listen to Eminem, why not Biff!

In an effort to "class it up" a bit, we've been trying to find cool alternatives. And look no further than Kevin Olusola. Olusola is currently competing on NBC's The Sing Off, but is already most known among his peers at Yale - and now around the world - for his unbelievable musical talents as a beatboxing cellist. You can't help but get into his great music - and we successfully completed our mission when we went on YouTube to find more of his work. Once we played the below link, cue the kicks from Biff!

Week #9: Hug Your Mom!

I sat down tonight to write about Week #9 and instead we're overcome with the loss of our friend.

Today we lost our dear friend Barb Timmer, sister to our "second mother" Lori Allen. Barb lost her fight with Leukemia this morning, having only been diagnosed 4 weeks ago. Barb's prognosis was good to begin - a very beatable cancer - and then things slowly started to spin out of control. To make this harder to piece our hearts back together: Barb and John's 3 daughters, one of whom delivered baby twins just 2 days ago, and another daughter who is due in just weeks. I can't imagine where you even begin.

So instead this week I say, "Screw you Cancer!" In the last year we've watched our sister battle it every day. We found out a long time family friend and a colleague (two separate individuals) both now battle brain tumors. And today, we lost Barb. It's a disease that makes me terrified to bring Biff into this world for fear that he'd have to face loss like this or worse yet have to face it himself, but it's for that same reason that we have to keep giving way to new generations as perhaps that new baby will be the one that finds the cure to cancer some day.

Life's lesson: Who cares that the Colts are the absolute worst team in the NFL... go hug your mother. Or anyone else that you love for that matter and don't ever let go.

Baby Update: Registering at it's finest...

Taylor and I took a deep breath, counted to 1-2-3, and attempted to start our baby registry today. Although I work in retail, my patience in store can some times run short. We needed to get our heads wrapped around all of the gadgets more so than presuming we'd accumulate a lot of swag throughout this process. The people at Petit Green here in our own city were so knowledgeable and helpful. Our new friend Griffin lead us through like a pro. Taylor become her fast friend and I got to sit back and let him make the decisions (I'm saving up my energy for March).

After we finished, we had some odds and ends and didn't want to end up having 6 different lists - nor have to go to 6 different places. Enter MyRegistry.com. This website is amazing! You set up your registry, adding a button to your internet browser. You can go on any website, add any item using the magic button, and it's added to your list. All tidy in one place.

Ladies (& Gents) - if you are engaged, expecting, or just throwing a party for yourself, you'll love it! You'll love it even more because the main registrant in your party won't have to drag you to 12 different store fronts. At one point in our day Taylor had to start making inappropriate jokes about (bottle) nipple sizes just to make the day interesting, so this site will save us all.

http://www.myregistry.com/

Week #7 & Week #8: Happy Halloween!

It is this time of year when men walk around dressed up in costume... and in the NFL, this year's costume of choice is a quarterback. Some have costumes more believable than others. Some are high quality, custom made (i.e. Aaron Rodgers) and others are the thrown together scraps from last year mixed with something you picked up from Halloween Town (i.e. Rex Grossman).

Quarterbacks get too much blame and too much credit. I've endured many years of turbulent quarterback play - at one point throwing a full laundry basket of clothes at the television after I couldn't take it any more, breaking down in tears over the play of a QB who shall remain nameless. Needless to say my Dad wasn't happy about the flat screen and my mom wasn't happy about the folded laundry.

Here are my notables for the last few weeks:

• Tim Tebow - although there was a come from behind victory in Week 7, there were 55 minutes of terrible play before that, which showed itself again this Sunday. We're getting exactly what we thought we would get with Tebow - to no fault of his own. He's not an NFL quarterback - at least not now. 
• Kyle Boller / Carson Palmer / Terrelle Prior / Oakland Raiders - who even knows... Here's to hoping Carson Palmer can make up for time lost. 
• "Matt the King of our Cassle" (as my mother in law says) - have to give it to the Kansas City Chiefs who have somehow figured out a way to come back to be a 4-3 team tied for the Division. 
• Joe Flacco - as wildly inconsistent as the flight pattern of a Raven. 
• Peyton Manning - is it possible that Peyton Manning could win MVP and not even take a snap this year? When Tom Brady went down, the Patriots still figured out a way to go 11-5. The Colts have yet to win a game.

It's also this time of year that teams go off to find themselves like kids in high school, and it's usually at this time that I have a tough time staying committed. Now that I am a casual fan (kind of), I get to turn it off when I want to and pick it back up in December when it gets interesting.

In the meantime, Halloween has come to a close. The costumes come off, November play starts, and the real teams and players emerge.

Baby Update: It's a.....

BOY!!! We found out today we are in fact expecting a little Biff. Cue the trumpets and confetti for my father!

We had a wonderful appointment and received a great health report. Biff is developing wonderfully - and ahead of schedule in size. The Dr. explained she may not be able to get a clear picture depending on the way the baby was laying, but she asked the proverbial question, "Do you want to know if I can tell?" And yes we did... She started the sonogram, and let the chuckles begin. She said "Oh my gosh, this is a boy!" We asked if she was sure, and she said she was 110% sure. (Taylor sat there very proud).

He performed for us the rest of the morning showing us his profile, his feet, his hands, his spine, his face, his beautiful, beating heart - he was quite busy dancing around! Still just the size that would fit in our palms, but you can already see so much.

My parents were able to join us and what a special moment. Now, we can start the shopping :)

This picture will certainly embarrass him later in life, but as our little friend Naz would say, he showed it to us :)

His handsome nose, chin, neck, chest, spine... Amazing!

Week #6: Rest in Peace... Old School Football

As I sit here and watch the end of the Sunday games wrap up for the week, I keep thinking about Pat Modell.

Pat and Art Modell together - as they always were

Patricia Breslin Modell, wife of Art Modell (former owner of the Baltimore Ravens), passed away this last week and oh what a void she leaves. I still remember meeting Mrs. Modell for the first time and I can still recall the smell of her perfume and her beautiful presence when we'd meet her after the games in the suite. Although we knew her as an owner's wife, Pat was so much more than this. A tough cookie in her own right by what she withstood in her time in the NFL, Pat was a great actress. Until Lucille Ball came along, one of her good friends, Pat had more TV appearances than any other woman of her time. I will miss her husky and candid voice. I will miss all that she was - and I thank her for all that she gave to my family.

The NFL lost another icon last Saturday in Al Davis of the Oakland Raiders. Despite the good and the bad that came with Davis, and some would argue the Modells (although it is blasphemous that Art has yet to be inducted in to the NFL Hall of Fame), they represented the old school days of football. The owners of today are "new money" businessman, all of whom can be credited with helping adapt the league for survival, but a group who has also had to learn that perhaps the generation before them really knew best. Often, we're the victims of our own progress; and, I wonder... will we ever know football one day for the way it used to be?

Life lesson: Look to your own heritage and history before evolving into something we don't recognize.

Football in a simpler time

With some advances...

And as we know it today.

Week #5: Show Me the Money!

Let me preface this post by saying this is ridden with personal opinion and I'm hormonal, thus it's long...

I'll post a list of Week 5 breakdowns at some point this week as there was a myriad of fun stories (Cam Newtown, Jermichael Finely, the Packers defense, Tim Tebow...), but right now I want to write about agents... well Drew Rosenhaus actually, as most in his industry don't always like to acknowledge he shares their profession.

If you didn't get a chance to see the 60 Minutes special on Rosenhaus, it's an interesting one to watch (http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7384066n). Here's the (biased) recap:

• My father was and is called many things, one of which is always arrogant, so I tend to empathize with someone who is always labeled as such. But, there is a difference between the "arrogance" my Dad carried around and the arrogance Rosenhaus does. My father's was common sense. Rosenhaus' is a compensation technique. 
• People feel sorry for Rosenhaus that he doesn't have a family, a girlfriend, as a consequence of his work ethic. As far as I know, Drew doesn't outwork any coach or player, and last I looked, my parents had been married for over 27 years when my dad left coaching. It's not your work (ethic) that leaves you alone, it's how you handle it. (Note that I said "doesn't outwork" - I don't deny that Drew Rosenhaus potentially works as hard.... potentially.)
• Rosenhaus claims to have 170 active NFL clients - Google those clients... there's a reason he represents who he represents. They don't all carry the same persona, but there's a resounding theme among them. You know what they say (they being me): big shoes, big [fill in the blank]. Big agent, little [fill in the blank].
• He has a phone for texting and calling, another for emails. Get an iPhone.
• DR has nearly 50 grievances filed against him for "stealing" people's clients. Wouldn't you rather the first one to sleep with the prom queen? 
• And here's the good one .... Rosenhaus claims the NFL could not carry on without him - comments which he quickly took to Twitter to clarify as meaning the NFL could not carry on with out agents. This only after he realized the impression his comments left. Let's blame it on editing like every Real Housewife from here to Orange County does.

The real story is this: Owners and Coaches talk to agents because they have to. It's the only way they are left to communicate with players on certain topics. I guarantee you if you put an owner / coach and a rookie in one room to negotiate a deal and Rosenhaus and owner / coach in the other, the former's deal would get done first. This is where the cynics would say it's only because the owner / coach was able to take advantage of the player. As Ozzie Newsome with the Baltimore Ravens will tell you, both sides have to win. What does either side stand to gain by screwing the other?

So, attention future players to come - use your head. Hire a good lawyer and save the 3% (the highest commission percentage currently allowed in the NFL). The value of the used car Rosenhaus sells you for a great deal can me made up by taking a lesser deal, saving the commission you'd pay, and running less chance of pissing off your future coach / owner that you hired Rosenhaus as your agent. However if you do opt for an agent, find one that doesn't feel the need to use arrogance to justify his professional worth. Find the one that doesn't have to go on television to talk about how good he is. Find the one that doesn't center his business strategy around his Tae Kwon Do training or put his fist through a flame of bricks to prove he's resilient enough to go to "battle" for you.

If Drew Rosenhaus saw this, he'd tell me to go play with my barbies because you just don't get little girl. My response - I'm not the one wearing around a batman t-shirt at the age of 45. I think the problem here is that you don't get it, Drew. The only reason you still exist is because someone out there will always be foolish enough to pay you and you know how to sell that.

Perhaps the next time I answer the Table Topics dinner card of questions of who I would most like to eat dinner with, I'd say Rosenhaus. There's got to be more there... and you can't bullshit a bullshitter when you sit with me (sorry for the language, Mom - but I did say it was coming).

Life's lesson: Nothing revolves around one man.

(Post Script: Rosenhaus' redeeming qualities: He went to Duke University law school and he was bullied as a child - the former an excellent accomplishment, the latter nothing anyone should ever have to put up with.)

Love #2: Claridge + King

Pregnancy bump or not, I love the His Is Hers classic oversized oxfords from Claridge + King. The easy fit still seems to be tailored right for your body. I wear them with leggings and boots in the fall - and definitely appreciate the extra space now with a bit of a different sized belly than I had this time last year. Come summer, I wear them to the beach and the pool as a great cover up.

For my locals, Lady Bird typically carries this line downtown.

For those ordering online - I found that I sized down 1 size. My favorites: ice pink and light blue...

claridgeandking.com

Week #4: What's with all the pink?

This week's post is a little bit late as sometimes life just gets in the way... and ironic given the nature of this post.

As I'm sure you noticed if you watched any of the games or highlights from this weekend, you saw many of the teams sporting pink shoes, towels, wrist bands, gloves, etc...

October is Breast Cancer awareness month and the NFL appropriately acknowledged this important cause. It started with DeAngelo Williams with the Carolina Panthers a few years ago when he petitioned the NFL to wear pink in order to honor his mother who was battling the disease (who went on to fight it and beat it).

Football was more than just a game for our family. It was our livelihood; and, as a result we lived and died with every play. With the way fans react today taunting players and coaches you think they do just the same.

This game is just a game - something we'd often have to remind ourselves. It provides a distraction when life gets in the way. It shows you examples of what you can do when you fight back, in more ways than one.

Which is exactly what my sister-in-law did when she was diagnosed with Stage 2b breast cancer... while 3 months pregnant with our little niece. She put her game face on, went to work, and beat it. Our niece was born early, but healthy, and continues to remind us about the importance of supporting the fight against all cancers every day.

Get involved where you can so we can have more moments like this:

Emma Rose (at 1 month here) appropriately dressed in her (Breast Cancer) Fighter outfit. 

Week #3: You're getting a little bit pushy....

I'm not the only one who's feeling like it's getting a little bit pushy in here. Biff (Baby Jones for those just now picking up the blog) is starting to push all the "stuff" that was already in me out of the way to make room to grow, just as a lot of teams are starting to push their way through to emerge as both the expected and shocking teams in the league (like the analogy or lame?). Push away, little one, push away...

Here's what I take away from Week 3, aside from starting to feel pregnant:

• If you would have told me that the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions would be 3-0 after Week 3 (to join the Packers, no surprise), I would have laughed like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman (minus the whole prostitute part). Good for you Detroit Lions... finally! After the last few seasons, Eminem was getting ready to rhyme again about setting is own house on fire. 
• The Washington Redskins could join the 3-0 ranks tonight if the resurrection of Sexy Rexy (QB Rex Grossman) is in fact true. I do not call him sexy for any other reason than that's all I had when I was criticizing him for his powder-puff like play with the Chicago Bears. Let's not hold our breaths, but hope for the best.
• Again, with the Ravens... this is getting ridiculous. I'd like to give credit to Torrey Smith, a rookie for the Ravens from none other than the University of Maryland, whose first 3 catches in the league, were all for TDs! As Chris Berman would say on ESPN... "all he does is catch touchdowns"!
• The Raiders beat the Jets. Not sure what to say here... The Raiders are dangerous, and not just because they are from Oakland. 
• I have to get a bit of college ball in here and point out the botched call during the Syracuse v. Toledo game on Saturday. For all of you who have watched a game with me and witnessed me lace together a string of profanity like those dry noodle necklaces you used to make in grade school... here is why. You tell me if it went through: http://youtu.be/Bl4BksdE6-s

For those who aren't football fans, I'll post something life or baby related this week, but for the rest of you, let me know what you'd like to hear about on this blog! It can either be a topic about growing up a coach's daughter, or a current NFL topic you'd like me to explore or keep an eye out for. I'd be anxious to find out what you find interesting...

Week #2: What to Watch for...

Going into Week 2 some teams already have something to prove, but a few interesting story lines to watch for this week:

• Cam Newton versus the Pack: Can he have another 400+ yd performance as he did last week? Absolutely not. But, if he does, we better start watching.
• Romo, Romo wherefore art thou Romo? Tony Romo needs to have a redeeming performance today to hush his critics after last week's collapse. He takes heat for folding in high pressure situations, but I didn't see him on the punt coverage team that day when the Jet's punt block for a TD was truly what did the Cowboys in. Romo's interception in the last few seconds of the game is where people naturally turn their attention, but it's a team game... on most days.
• Michael Vick returns to the Falcons. The Atlanta Falcons are family so I'm biased as to what I hope the outcome is here, but either way, we hope for a good story. (Fantasy tip: Michael Turner should have a big day in the Atlanta backfield.)
• Two teams with must wins: New York Giants and Kansas City Chiefs - the Giants because they have a chance to turn this around and the Chiefs because they are just plain terrible (apologies to our friends and family in KC). 
• Jason Hill: I find it interesting when a 3rd string WR who plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who coincidentally is listed as doubtful this week, chooses to call out the NY Jets Darrelle Revis for being overrated. Mike & Mike (on ESPN radio - a must listen to every morning on your way to work for a quality education) have a saying... "Just shut up!"

I figured this would be a good time to talk about being on this side of the pen these days. I write about these teams and players as people used to write about my father's teams and he himself. It makes you realize, anyone can have an opinion. And it's just that. My grandfather used to have a saying, "When kicked by a jack ass, consider the source." More on being on the receiving end of the pen later in the blog...

Baby Update: Thump, Thump...

Yesterday we had our 14 week checkup. While we've been able to see a pretty little heart blinking on each of our sonograms, yesterday we got to hear Biff's heartbeat for the first time. As the nurse was calibrating the machine, she explained it might be hard to find as the baby is still only 3 1/2", and as she was explaining and put the advanced stethoscope on my belly, there it was... thump, thump... thump, thump. Quite faster than my fingers can type and found quite faster than we could have hoped! The heart rate was 160 (normal is 120 to 180). The old saying goes, the higher the heart beat, the more likely it is a girl :) If that's true, we'll have to figure out how to break that one to my Dad. We'll go back next month for a thorough sonogram and find out whether it's a Biff or Biffette, and then the fun begins, or continues, as we count down the days to St. Patrick's Day!

Our last ultrasound in August. We've been lucky to have 3 so far, more than usual - but a welcome treat! We've watched Biff grow from a poppy seed to a lemon.

Love #1: I Heart Lonny Mag

For those of you familiar with Domino magazine, you probably shared in my anguish when this amazing publication went out of print. As we continue to see print magazines fold as quickly as they come out with new iPads, we wonder, what will be left? Well... look no further than Lonny Magazine. Editor in Chief Michelle Adams and her team have put together a brilliant on-line magazine that stands to prove the test of time both for the content and the format! With it's user friendly features like clickable links on images where you are wondering, "where can I get that?", it does just that allowing you to find, save and choose your faves! Easy on you, tough on your checkbook. As you can see from the below, everything Michelle Adams and team touches appears to turn to taste. I anxiously await each issue knowing as soon as I get the note that it's "gone live" I have to find the perfect few hours to curl up in bed or on my couch with a cup of espresso (decaf of course), uninterrupted. A must read - over and over... We'll look to Lonny and Michelle Adams for some inspirational nursery ideas! www.lonnymag.com

Lonny Mag's September / October 2011 Issue

A divine Seattle apartment, done by Michelle Adam's herself in the July / August 2011 

And all the fixings....

The on-line pub also features articles about great finds from around the world and for the world, not limited to just interiors but including an aspirational list of places to see, stores to shop, fashion to have and restaurants must trys.
(July / August 2011)

Here they feature Heidelberg Suites in Heidelberg, Germany with a great story (July / August 2011)

Interior images - Heidelberg Suites (July / August 2011)

Week #1: Let's Get it Started

It's only appropriate that my blog begins with Week 1 of the NFL Season. Here are my takeaways:

• So much for the new kickoff rule. There were at least 3 returns for TDs made this week, which gives us hope that the league, owners and player's union really do know how to balance executable rules with maintaining the excitement of the game ensuring that Madden doesn't become more rough & tough than the actual game. 
• Cam Newton: Love him or hate him, his rookie performance at 400+ yds is undeniably noteworthy. Didn't quite beat the Arizona Cardinals, but enough to keep me quiet until next week. 
• The Redskins looked solid. I was once driving down the freeway in Maryland with my family when we noticed the truck next to us had the mold of a male genitalia hanging from it's tow package and a Redskins bumper sticker on it's tail gate. I said yes, "being a Redskins fan is a bit like dragging your b*lls down the freeway at 75mph." (Here is the off-color in me coming out). Kudos for the win. 
• The Ravens were impressive with their most convincing win over the Pittsburgh Steelers in this historic, bitter rivalry (I'm taking the high road here and giving them the nod). 
• Ouch! St. Louis Rams: The Rams need to wear their PJs inside out tonight or do a special offering dance to the injury gods to hope that the MRIs of Week 1's victims come back negative: Sam Bradford (nerve damage), Danny Amendola (dislocated left elbow), Steven Jackson (quadriceps), Ron Bartell (stinger), and Jason Smith (ankle sprain). To my family in St. Louis - my thoughts are with you. 
• It was pretty special to hear my Dad announce on Fox that he was going to be a grandfather; and, to declare that I'm genetically predisposed to have a boy (whom he's affectionately named Biff for now, here fore referred to). 
• Above all of this, may we never forget the strengthening memories of 9.11.01 and all of those beautiful lives that will forever be memorialized; and, may humanity prevail and we never have to face a day as dark as that again.

Why Write...

As I only joined Facebook recently, I decided to be a bit faster to blog before it becomes passe (probably sooner rather than later thanks to the Mark Zuckerberg's of the world). My husband always wonders what's going through my head as I usually jump from topic to topic with no logical segway. Well... here's hoping this provides some logic. I've been described by some as wildly off-color and inappropriate (this I get from being a football coach's daughter), but also poised and articulate (I only add these compliments to give credit to my amazing mother who did what she could to counteract the effect of the former descriptions).

As we've experienced the excitement the last few months of welcoming Baby Jones into our lives due to the world in March 2012 - you're never quite prepared for that double line, positive sign, digital pregnancy reading... yes I took 6 tests across 3 different brands - we look forward to oversharing the details of the experience!

Beyond this, I hope to shed some meanderings on my upbringing in the world of football, which taught me more than my valued education at both Garrison Forest School and Northwestern University. Ladies - I hope this gives you some talking points about the game and makes you look forward to the Sunday afternoons and Monday nights (and Thursday's towards the end of the season) that have become hallowed tradition in our house. Gentleman - perhaps you stand to learn something to take to the water coolers at work, as well.

Beyond this, I'll post those ramblings my husband has come to love and loathe... sharing all things I love, hate and have to share!

(Disclaimer: I do not claim to have perfect grammar nor perfect writing skills. As my legal studies professors will tell you from my papers in college, I should have stuck to the algorithms of my mathematics degree. It could have been my thesis on anti-trust laws as they apply to the NFL while my aspirational classmates explored the standardization of legal practices across global judicial systems that made them realize my style was a bit "different".)

With that, here we go....