Football is running my life!

Football is running my life. Our dog, sadly named after a losing team in the NFL, was the first sign. Then came an endless obsession with football pools for my husband - one that even I found contagious enough to partake in one year (and, might I add, I not only won a week, but placed better than Greg). Countless hours are spent online researching the latest football news each week, and TSN seems to be the channel of choice at this house. Ever since I can remember, Sundays have been completely devoted to football, from the pre-game discussions through the 3 different time slots for games. And we watch them all. Well, not so much me anymore. I slowly came to realize the power football had over my husband when he nearly came right out and said I'd better not go into labour on a Sunday with my last pregnancy! And with the second one due within the season, you'd better believe that should I happen to be delivering a baby on game day, he'll be requesting a t.v. in the labour/delivery room! Especially if the Raiders play. Anyhow, most recently came the trek to watch an NFL game live (though a fantastic experience, clearly an indication of the football craze living on). And why I write about this at all is because, just this past week, we found inspiration in football yet again for the name of our second son. And so I leave you in suspense...

A New Thanksgiving Tradition?

So Turkey day has truly fallen by the wayside in my family, though I plan to remedy that in the future... with some time to improve my cooking skills, namely, but also when Isaiah and Baby Rebelo 2 are old enough to build memories of it. Instead, we shuffled off to Buffalo to watch the Monday night football game against Dallas. It was nice to take a break from a life that has of late been one in which I am completely immersed in school!

Stacey & Ermal had purchased the tickets for Greg's birthday, so we decided to make a semi-weekend of it and went down to Niagara Falls (though didn't actually go to see the falls) on Sunday before crossing the border Monday for the game. We enjoyed five tours 'round the Skywheel, much to Greg's delight, and a haunted house attraction on the main strip... and of course some shopping at the outlets. The boys enjoyed a night at the casino while we girls had a pedicure at the spa in our hotel... since we're both preggo, we couldn't exactly live it up!

The game on Monday turned out to be a great one, rated one of the best actually. We had some pretty good seats and despite much of the crowd being completely drunk before the game even began, the Buffalo fans weren't as crazy as I'd heard them to be. Thanks for the game, Stacey and Ermal!

So, apparently we're embarking on new Thanksgiving traditions, though I must admit I really do miss the family get together of the typical feast. One day...

Milestones

Isaiah and daddy have a new game of catch - yes, Isaiah has mastered the fine art of throwing toys and, to his delight, daddy picks them up so he can toss them again. And again. And again. It's sort of like when he learned that if he dropped something it was bound to be picked up for him, although this has an added bonus because he can sense it's a game. To be honest, I can't wait for him to learn how to play catch with a ball in the back yard.

I know, I don't want him to grow up too quickly, but we humans are funny creatures. It takes us a significant amount of time to learn how to do things. 10 months old and though stable on his feet, Isaiah rarely trusts himself to stand for lengthy periods without holding on to an object... unless he doesn't realize he's standing alone. He scoots along furniture and pulls up to stand on and against anything and everything. His most recent discovery has been the realization that cupboard doors actually open, and there are things inside to get into! That'll be a fun one; our house isn't truly baby-proofed in that sense. So development is happening, but compared to other animals we're relatively slow at the whole process.



I suppose it is so we sit and enjoy each moment, each milestone. We move so quickly through life, that perhaps this is just another reminder to slow the pace down and appreciate the little things!

The Verdict Is In: It's A...

Boy! Yep, another boy! I know you were waiting in deep anticipation, exhausting your patience as was I and all, so I won't hestitate in providing the details we received along with the fact that it is a baby brother for Isaiah (whose heartrate was 160 today, so again - like Isaiah - quite high, which typically indicates girl).

It looks to be another large baby, particularly as I've gained significant belly within the past two weeks (seriously, it just blossomed of its own accord and has been growing rapidly).

Ultrasound due date says Jan. 28, 3 days past the initial one, so the baby may be born on his god-mother-to-be's birthday, which would be special.

Name is not yet set in stone by any means, but we've been tossing around Miguel, which would fit into the 6 letter pattern we've somehow established if we choose to keep that going! Greg gets to choose the first name this time, so Miguel is the best one he's come up with (if you know him, you know the alternatives and are crossing your fingers to keep him from following his true name desires...). I've got to start considering middle names, but probably not until we settle on the first - Miguel I actually like, even if it will be a very fair-skinned, possibly blue-eyed Miguel.

Anyhow, so be sure to suggest a guess in our online baby pool at www.expectnet.com (game name: BabyRebelo2). You can access it via the link provided here or to the side as well. Can't wait to see who will win this round!

And last but not least, congrats to the new moms-to-be, whom I'd identify but I don't know if they've okayed that, so hopefully they know who I mean! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that at least one of you has a girl, because I'm desperate to buy dresses and such (if the third isn't a girl for us, it is at least going to wear pink!). And that's all for this evening...

Patience is a Virtue

As many of you know, I am anything but patient. And in circumstances like having an ultrasound when you are anxious to know the gender of your future child and not being able to know immediately from the technician is a test of my patience. I have to wait until next Wednesday, when next I visit my family doctor, to hear the news. But I can share these images anyway (and to anyone who can decipher the coding, please feel free to tell me male or female before next Wednesday - I honestly don't think I can wait that long).

Anyhow, what is important is that baby #2 (what a name... see, and that's just another reason why I'd like to know, so I can refer to "it" as "him" or "her") is healthy... ten fingers, ten toes! The technician was even able to zoom in on a high five! So cute... That hand is, however, likely getting ready to make a fist and punch through to my stomach; I've definitely been more attune to the moving and shaking of this fetus more so and much earlier than with Isaiah. But, knock on wood, this trimester is passing with little negative effect. Here's hoping it continues!

So, back to school work (which, by the way, is already piling up - I haven't quite figured out a routine whereby I spend quality time with Isaiah when I come home and get some productive work done too). Just wanted to share our excitement of the day!