moinab

All I can say is

Nothing exciting - just the 5 of us. We bought all the food this morning. We'll probably cook this weekend, rather than staring at the turkey in the refrigerator all week. Most of my family is in New England, and we all hate travelling during the holidays. It's been 7 years since I spent a holiday with family.

I'm a longtime reader, infrequent poster! Thanks, Eric. Charlotte was my grandmother's name, and my husband's great aunt's (his mother's favorite.) Jean was my mother-in-law's middle name. -Maureen

Ah, yes - I'm an idiot! I fixed it. Thanks, Elissa! LOVE the photo of KT and her siblings! Hard to remember that KT was that small. I have to check out the new FL updates, to see the latest pictures of her. I'm trying to absorb every moment I can, right now, because I know how fast this newborn time slips away. We might be able to go to Orlando for January 5-6, but the rest of the time is during the blackout for our seasonal passes. Maybe we can work something out for that weekend.

Charlotte Jean was born at 11:52 AM, Monday, November 5, 2007. 7 pounds, 8 ounces. She's a nursing machine and is incredibly sweet and snuggly (a nice change of pace from my older daughter, who was nicknamed the "screamapillar" from birth!) A HUGE thank you to Elissa and Robb for all the baby clothes! By the way, her first trip to WDW is planned for December 15th!

We're in, with you! I gained 35 pounds with this pregnancy, and I think my husband gained about the same (he's going to weigh in, tomorrow.) I lost 15 pounds with delivery, but I was 15 pounds overweight to start, so that leaves me with the full 35 pounds to take off. After 9 months of pregnancy, I'm highly motivated to get in shape, again. My current goal is to lose 15 pounds over the next 5 weeks, before I go back to work, and then the final 20 more slowly, over the next 3 months or so. Good luck!

Unless I get bumped from the schedule, I'll be leaving for the hospital at 5AM, to be induced. I was diagnosed with diabetes, so they don't want the baby to get too big. I've been through this before - you wouldn't think I'd be so nervous, but I don't think I'll be getting much sleep tonight. Can't wait to take her on her first trip to WDW!

Beautiful photos! Makes me homesick for the northeast. Sucks, about the blisters, though. Ouch.

Wow! That was super random! That penguin thing is a bit disturbing. I drive right past the Sally Corp. on my way to work. I've always thought about doing a tour. http://sallycorp.com/company/tours.htm

Waaaaah! I sooooo wanted to be in Orlando, last weekend! My overwhelming fear of going into labor and having to deliver somewhere on the 3 hour drive kept me home, though. Now, here I sit, a week later, still annoyingly pregnant and having missed out on all the fun. *pout*

Holy crap! I've been so out of touch, with being short-handed and putting in extra shifts at work, no computer at home, and end-of-pregnancy type stuff, I had no idea what was going on in SoCal! Hoping those winds die down, SOON!

I didn't even notice that Kristen is in that photo, until I read your post!

Great report, as always! LOVE that last lemur photo, and the anteater made me lol!

KidTums = KT = KayTee = Katie? Just a guess. Love the pics of her first credit! Too stinkin' adorable! And could that sweet, adorable baby possibly look any more like Robb?

Winner!!!!

Another great report, Erik! We were just there for Labor Day weekend - not my ideal choice of timing, but it was my son's birthday. Hoping to get in one more trip before the baby is born.

Very impressive jump, Tom! Those go-karts look awesome!

I was thinking the same thing, Shari! I guess we're the TPR moms! On a similar note - Great job, Elissa, on losing the baby weight! Looking good! You're an inspiration - I still have 9 weeks or so to go before I deliver, but I'm soooooo looking forward to working my way back to normal clothes. *sigh* Thoroughly enjoying these updates - you all are really selling me on going to Japan, someday.

Violent Femmes and B-52s at the MN State Fair - 1992ish.

So many great captions... I think my favorite is the fascist Santa wave! Random thoughts: I really want to go to Dollywood. I lived in MN for 10 years, and FL for 6 years (so far,) and have never been to White Castle or Krystal! Mmmmmm...pickles... I'll be sad when this TR is complete.

Absolutely loving your photos! A little advice to help with post-hot-wing afterburn, from someone who tends to sore asses professionally - pre-emptive protective Vaseline coating.

Dude, you can't steal that baby Jesus. It's all part of one large piece of concrete. You'd have to steal Mary along with baby Jesus, and I don't think you've been working out quite that much. I don't think stealing them was what he had in mind.

Shari- I am so sorry for your loss. Your tribute is beautiful, and I'm certain that your eulogy was even better. My father instilled my love of theme parks. He's 76 now, and his health is declining. I'm hoping to get him back down to FL (he lives in MA) to visit WDW again with my kids, before it's too late. You just gave me a needed kick in the butt.

Thanks for making my point for me! I know there are plenty of irresponsible parents out there, but please don't assume that someone whose child has darted off or is in a harness is a bad parent. All kids do irrational things, at some point, and they can do them very, very quickly. We are very cautious with our children, but both of our kids have, on multiple occasions, managed to free themselves from the tightest death grips my husband and I can manage. A child in a full blown tantrum is capable of amazing feats. And yes, even the best kids have tantrums now and then. Special needs kids are even more prone to these episodes, and it doesn't reflect on the parenting at all. While I don't necessarily agree with the OP's rant, I think a lot of the responses have been a bit overly judgmental. This is a sticky subject for me, though, as the parent of an Asperger's syndrome child. I know there have been plenty of times where I've been judged in public because my kid was acting out. I don't tolerate and excuse bad behavior by him, but he does have a neurological condition and isn't always in control of what he does.

I would have SOOOOOO been there with you guys! Damn, now I'm stuck at work, and I'm dying to listen to Chorus.