PastaNoodle: 39 Weeks - The Baby Room

No, not the Baby Boom! Everything is still normal. Maybe 2 contractions today. Our 39-Week appointment is Friday morning. I fully expect Dr. Tran to order an ultrasound, which will find a big baby, and then schedule induced labor. But, who am I to know?

The rocker-glider arrived today. It was a Target bargain. Barb practices with a misc. penguin.








Floating shelves on the south wall.








Ikea lights with lights off.








The crib on the north wall.








A full east wall shot.








Changing table

PastaNoodle 38.7 Weeks

Ok, 38.7 weeks down, ? to go. But, who is counting? Barbara has had a few sporadic contractions, but nothing major. We have walked 11 miles in the past 3 days - she may actually lose weight this week (just kidding Dr. Tran!) We made the finishing touches on the baby room today, unpacking and placing the baby monitor and Diaper Champ. I installed a replacement piece of trim above the closet door. Easy, but once that was painted I ended up painting the trim and both sides of the door for the baby room. All our bags are packed, we're ready to go...

Click HERE to see New Years pictures

We spent New Years at Nick and Heather's. Elissa made it amazingly close to midnight and was playing hard the whole time. Dinner was good, Heather's chocolate/caramel creme brulle was awesome! (and I am not a dessert eater.)

Snack time!








Their new 42" HDTV, won as a door prize at Heather's company Christmas party.







Elissa succumbs








Barbara will pull through!








New Year's day Nick and Heather hosted friends to watch the bowl games. The food spread was great, as always.

Greg and Elissa wrestle








Yes, she is pregnant (both of them!) Yet another friend is now with child! (Anida, Tiffany, Michelle, Jennifer (not Womeldurf) and now Carol!) Congratulations!

PastaNoodle 38 Weeks

All is well. Estimated size as of today is 7.5-8 lbs. 1 cm dilation. Dr. Tran says 7 days minimum.

Christmas 2006

Christmas photos - not labeled yet:


Christmas began for us on Friday night when Barb's parents arrived. On Saturday night Nick, Heather and Elissa came over for dinner. On Christmas Eve Barb, Ted, Kathleen and I went over to Dan and Marge's for dinner with them, Joe and Joanne. Family Family Everywhere! Here is a photo of 37.5 week pregnant Barbara in front of the Pastalaniec's (senior) Christmas Tree. We had Galumpki and a new idea for Perogi - smothered in spinach Madeline.





Christmas morning we headed back to the Pasta Senior household to start Christmas and eat lots of Christmas cookies and leftover Galumpki. Christmas afternoon was spent on replacing Dave's Chiminea - Joanne gave him a new one. Tadd and Dave stole a sledgehammer from the Johnson's, only to have the old chiminea break up in their bare hands!



Nick, Heather and Elissa came over to open Boyce Family Gifts (plus this Xmassaurus from the Wheatley's that terrorized the cat and Elissa!)






Elissa's new wagon!








Dinner for 12 after Marge, Joanne, Dan and Kerry join us.

Pastanoodle at Full Term!

So, in theory, Pastanoodle is full term and ready to be born today. The next 3 weeks are just bonus. We had our 37 week check-up on Monday. Dr. Tran says that we are textbook on stats right now and to expect a 2007 baby. Those of us actually paying taxes for this branch of the Pastalaniec family may think otherwise! For those single male readers - yes, Dr. Tran is married with children.

Common theory now is the the birth date will be 12/28/06, to coincide with the A&M bowl game, or 1/8/07 to coincide with watching Florida with the Johnson's in the BCS championship game.

In other words, everything is fine. Preparations are 95% complete, we are now fully trained in baby care, and we are ready to go!

Christmas in Texas

Only in Texas: While hanging Christmas lights a week before Christmas I was mosquito bitten, sun burnt and nearly dehydrated. Pictures soon!

PastaNoodle: Week 36

OK! We are now at 36 weeks. 1 more week until "term" and 4 more weeks until the due date.

Although some thought Barbara might have dropped, Dr. Tran says not yet. PastaNoodle's heartbeat was real hard to find this week, when Roxanne finally found it, PastaNoodle appeared to have just woken up and had a rapid heartbeat. Everything is normal at this point - no signs of coming labor.



Our doctor, Dr. Nicole Tran (yes, an Aggie)












Dr. Tran's nurse, Roxanne - a die hard LSU Tiger fan.

Holy House of Loreto

Today is the holy day celebrating the "Translation" of the birthplace of the Virgin Mary from Palestine to Loreto Italy in 1294. This site, which we had never heard of, is one of the most visited Catholic pilgrimage sites in Europe. Discussed by our Celebrant at Sacred Heart today.

Sacred-Destinations
Catholicism.org

The 6th Annual Christmas Ale Tasting was a blast, as always. This year the field of ales was limited to 12. The winners, Clinton and Eric, guessed 5 right in the blind tasting - giving them the honor of going first (and last) in the white elephant gift exchange.

Elissa settles in for the ale tasting







Astute guests study their ale samples







Tiffany and Joanne (as well as Barbara) serve up the ale samples







The co-winners battle for the right to the first gift in the time-honored contest of rock-paper-scissors- best two out of three. Eric was victorious..




To the victor, the prize... Dave as Borat (old bad mustache from the late 1990s when I was also called Sabotage, after some bad Beastie Boys song.)





Rhonda picked juggling balls - Elissa wants!











Greg wins the Dave as Borat shirt on the final trade of the 3 trade limit for this valuable item. Created by Jennifer.









Elissa, the Molson Golden Girl, goes for a ride around the house courtesy of Eric

Thanksgiving Update

Happy Thanksgiving to all! Barbara and I had a great Thanksgiving. On Thanksgiving day we spent most of the day at David's parents. Joe was there and Liz joined us for several hours before they headed back to Austin for Black Friday at Book People.

Friday we watched the A&M v. UT game at BW-3 in Midtown. As always, one of the teams Barbara and I root for won. Trips to Spec's (for Dave) and IKEA (for PastaNoodle) followed.

Saturday was filled with work on PastaNoodle's room, followed by a visit by the Houston Boyce's (e.g. Elissa) and Kerry.

Sunday, more work on painting inside and out. We went to the 5:30pm mass at Sacred Heart Co-Cathedral , which we soon plan to join. The Mass was celebrated by Archbishop DiNardo and was very interesting. He presided with his mitre and sang much of the Mass.

The Co-Cathedral is 1 of 2 official cathedrals for the Diocese of Galveston-Houston - the other is St. Mary's in Galveston. A new Sacred Heart Cathedral is under construction.

Misc. Pictures from November (and Maybe October):
Barley explores PastaNoodle's new Pack-N-Play (courtesy of Tad.)






Barley tests out sleeping in the Pack-N-Play








Elissa's First B-Day Cake!









Barley helping Barbara grow PastaNoodle.

Inexcusable Delay in Baby Shower Posts

Things have been busy in preparation for Pastanoodle.

On 11/4/06 the Carter's and Johnson's threw Pastanoodle's first baby shower. It was wonderful, and included a onesie (sp?) decorating contest and daddy's beer garden.

On 11/11/06 the Aggie Girls threw a Aggie Girls only baby shower, which was a scavenger hunt through College Station.

On 11/17/06 Joanne and Heather threw a girl's luncheon shower - the last but not the least!

Below are some teaser pics (as well as a pic of Jewels, Gillian and Abie - just because they are cute!)



Tiffany and Keri held a onesie decorating contest









Tiffany's mother stitched burp clothes to prepare the new sports fan












The Aggie girls made a bonfire out of rolled diapers, including the tea house on top






Yes, if Pastanoodle is a studious as his/her mother he/she will graduate from college in 2029. If he/she follows dad's course it will be 2031. Man, it is getting old not knowing the sex!









The Aggie girls were painstakingly fair when it came to UT/ATM paraphernalia. A good time to send out a reminder that we love all the ATM/UT stuff, but please no items making fun of one school or the other.





On election day the Pasta's, Johnson's and Carter's gathered to watch the early returns. The onesie below may indicate which side we leaned towards. It will be a long two years!

Ghosts of Halloween Past

For recent pics see posting below

Mackenzie







2003 - Mackenzie and freshly minted Abagail








The Gang circa 2004

Willowbend Halloween 2006

The Moms as the moms
Todd Johnson as Todd
David Pastalaniec as Retired Luke Skywalker
Madeline Carter as a Gypsy
Mackenzie Johnson as Kim Possible (yes, I had to look it up!)
Braden Carter as Superman
Abagail Johnson as Cinderella
Gillian as herself (but with illness)

On Halloween we trick or treated with the Carter's and Johnson's. (Dave's 5th year in a row, he thinks) (v. 10 years in a row to Beer Fest, hmmm.) Little Gillian was under the weather, but everyone else was in high spirits. Lots of fun, and candy, had by all. Afterwards the Johnson's served up some fine Italian Sausage and Peppers. And, yes, a light saber can double as a traffic control device.



Superman, Kim Possible, Gypsy and Cinderella
















Superman, Gillian and Gypsy












The moms (and mom to be!)

















Cinderella




















Clown and Cinderella













Gillian













Kim Possible and Cinderella


















Retired Luke Skywalker