Continued Showers in the Forecast

The Second Storm in this year's shower season arrived at our house last weekend.
Due to the living arrangements of Joan's gal friends, our house became the host location of the Co-Ed Friends Shower.

Thanks to everyone who came, and special thanks to Lesley, Heather (and Trey), and Virginia (and Mitch) for getting it all together. Even though it was at our house, they made sure we didn't lift a finger.

It was a mad house for a little while. There were 5 kids here between the age of 5 months and 14 months. Jimmy did quite well, even when being chased around by the bipedal tots.

Our guests were able to enjoy Central Grocery Muffulettas courtesy of Lesley, Heather's Hot Crawfish Dip, and a variety of finger sandwiches from Virginia's secret source (really, she protects this person's identity like a drug dealer)

Special thanks also to Ms. Rachel Lato (Heather's Mom) for making a pretty cool cake.




Yes, it's not your traditional cake, but it is modeled after the invitation to the shower.



Holding the distinction of being my oldest friend, and Joan's second oldest friend (behind me, of course) Lesley knew immediately that there would be no invitation in the world more fitting of us than that one.

Also, I must present the "Courage In Gift Giving Award" to my co-worker Ms. Kathleen Will. Despite being afflicted with near debilitating LSU Fan Disease (forgivable because she was in Tiger Band), Kathleen had the strength and good taste to venture into the Vermilion and White baby clothes section and get our boy some pretty cool little Cajuns gear. Good job Kathleen, there's still hope for you.

Now going to T&L's shower, a shower for Liz here, and a family shower for Joan next weekend and shower season will be done. (fortunately I'm only welcome at one of those)

And before we depart, let me grace you with my deep thought for the day. Just a small piece of wisdom I've gained in my many years on Earth:

Marriage is .........






.......always having someone to check your teeth before a photo.

Deep, huh?

Caroline Sophia

Tuesday, February 26, 2008, Caroline Sophia was born to Paul (Joan's brother) and Liz.

Those two are now the parents of a glowing baby girl.



OK, she doesnt actually glow. Thats one of the anti -jaundice, tanning bed blankets, but it makes for an awesome picture.

With no major complications for mother or child (or dad), they were able to head home a few days later.





The young 'un definitely has a gripping instinct, and within 24 hours was already taking a firm hold of her Dad's beard.



Congrats to Paul and Liz, and my only selfish request is that if Caroline has good looking , smart female friends, she be a good cousin and introduce 'em to our boy.

April Showers Bring May Flowers......

......... and February showers bring April babies.



That's right, Joan is in her 3rd trimester, more commonly known in the non-medical fields as "Shower Season."

Shower Season is when all of the females in Mom-to-Be's life gather and sit in a circle, wearing their cutest outfits, usually with blue or pink accents. (depending on the baby's junk)

On one end of the circle is Mommy, flanked by assistants, who is handed a seemingly endless stream of decorative gift bags, often costing half as much as their contents.

Mommy then has the duty, and pleasure, of searching through whole forests worth of tissue paper for such goodies as high-tech temperature sensing rubber duckies, Boudreaux's Butt Paste, and newborn onesies not big enough to blow your nose with.
(for those who don't know about Boudreaux's Butt Paste, I didn't make it up, Google it)

Mommy then takes home plates full of cake and miniaturized food so that Mommy and Daddy both have to exercise more (or at all).

Joan's first shower was hosted by the wonderful ladies of Rabalais, Hanna, and Hebert at the home of all around wonder-employee/independent contractor, Connie. From what I hear, Connie has many duties at RHH headquarters, but the most important, to me, is answering the phone. Connie is wise enough to know that when someone calls and asks for something crazy like "The Belly" or "The Prego Princess," it isn't a prank call, it's just me calling for my wife.

One shower down, two to go.

Thanks Y'all.

and to finish things off, here's a pic of Joan with our moms, her maternal g-ma, and my paternal g-ma. Take note that, at 5' 2", Joan is the tallest .



Sorry that the pic is blurry. But you know what else is blurry?
"I think Bigfoot is blurry. That's the problem. It's not the photographer's fault: Bigfoot is blurry. And that's extra-scary to me, because there's a large, out-of-focus monster roaming the countryside."*

just had to throw that in.

*mitch hedberg (1968-2005)

First Cousins

There are two cousins in this picture.


No, Joan and Liz aren't related (that would be weird for Paul), but the babies so radically distorting their midsections are cousins.
Paul (Joan's brother) and Liz are due pretty much any day now with a little girl.

The Darbys (Lynn and Larry)are going to go from 0 to 2 grandkids in a matter of 2 months. They need to pick their grandparent names soon.

We're pretty excited that our kid will get to have a cousin close to his age, like we both had growing up. We never really expected our kids to have many cousins due to the fact that our parents took the more modern approach with kids instead of, like their parents, breeding to staff small plantations.

Liz will stay in Lafayette for a while after the birth, instead of heading back home to the state crapital. Hopefully Joan will have a chance to go do some observation and practice some of the basics of baby care that I won't be doing. That's what moms are for ;)