Baby Girl!

Well I was in for a surprise today! We found out we are having a baby girl in March. Super excited but I did think I was having a boy the whole time. I know Michael thinks the whole "woman's intuition" is false, but I really did think it was a boy. He even laughed at me in the sonogram room because I was wrong! Oh well...c'est la vie! I am super excited about this little girl. I hope she comes out cute! HAHA! We looked at the sonogram pictures and they just don't do babies justice on how cute they will be. We haven't decided on room decorations. I don't really want to do pink. It's all too sweet for me. I am not a super pink (everything pink) type of a person. I am actually leaning towards a more neutral type room. I'll have to look and see what's out there. We also decided that we aren't into the HUGE bows that are larger than the head. I don't mind the little bows or bows that fit the size of the head. Those are cute and we will use them. I also know I can't actually stop people from going completely pink - as my grandmother aptly put it, "what if she likes pink?" If our little girl likes girly things, she can decide that on her own, but I don't have to go completely pink if I don't want to. I think I actually said, until she's old enough to pick things out, I have to look at the room and I want to like what I look at! Ha, my arrogance!

We are so excited about our baby girl! I can't wait to meet her! Only 20 more weeks!!!

Preparing for THE Baby

I am deciding if I should start a book. It could actually be popular. Actually, I haven't looked at a bookstore to see if they have anything like this but I think it would be a great idea. I may just do that in all my spare time! It would be a book on how to plan and prepare for pregnancy. After going through the whole preparing for your wedding, step by step, there should be a list on what to do each month/week of preparing for a baby. Since finding out we were pregnant, people have asked if I've thought about this or done that or am I going to do this and frankly, the whole thing is overwhelming! Just figuring out your life as your know is changing and very rapidly, now you have to make all these decisions. So my book would be based a checklist. I work well with checklists and I can get things done if I check them off. They had it for me when I was getting married, by 6-9 months before the wedding I should have my venue and photographer booked. I could easily check off those things and I felt like I had accomplished something. So I think there should be a similar book about pregnancy.

That whole rambling has led me to the latest thing I have been contemplating. As we are nearing the halfway mark, it feels like I should at least know or be saving to buy the things we will need in the next few months. I can't believe I am 18 weeks and already thinking that 22 weeks will be here in a flash...and it will be...that's how the school year is going right now. Currently, I am thinking about cloth diapers. I'm not one of those SUPER eco-friendly people. I'm all about helping the planet since God gave it to us to use and to care for and I don't think throwing stuff away and filling up landfills is the best way to use what was uniquely created for us. However, I am for economic friendly and practical. After talking to a lot of people and reading forums and doing some research, I have discovered that cloth diapers are a major money saver. You can save almost $2,000 by using cloth diapers and they are now able to be used on the next child. There are some really neat ideas out there and they seam really durable. I have these unfriendly memories of the cloth diapers my mom used on my sister. Folding. Safety pins. Laundry. Bleaching in the sun. And the all around inconvenience of the baggy butt baby. I have looked a few websites and there are even some friends here that do use them and I will make my way of to their house to investigate before making any final decisions. Michael is for whatever is practical. Basically, anything to "plug a hole" and yes, the idea of cotton balls and gobstoppers was used to help in those areas. Quite humorous I am sure but those ideas are FAR from practical. I am not opposed to using both cloth and disposable but I do know we have a budget and need to stay in it. Below I have listed my pros and cons to the idea of cloth diapers. Let me know what you think.

PRO:
1. Save $2000
2. May be used with the next child
3. Easier to potty train a child
4. Easy to use diapers and adjustable to the baby (one diaper fits all)

CON:
1. Inconvenient
2. Daycares will not always take a baby that has them
3. Laundry several times a week

These are the two brands I'm looking into as well.
www.fuzzibunz.com
www.bumgenius.com

Perspective: Get Some, Tech Fans

Perspective noun ~ the faculty of seeing all the relevant data in a meaningful relationship.

Perspective noun ~ the totality of facts that keeps you from asking out the hot girl in the corner because she’s your cousin (I’m lookin’ at you Aggies).

The game on Saturday was horrible, atrocious, and just plain embarrassing; however, the end is not near. Gridiron Armageddon is not rapidly approaching. The weeping and gnashing of teeth of Tech fans can be put on hold.

Many are lamenting the end of Texas Tech football . . . forever. It is as if this year is the only year they have been a Tech fan. Emotions seem to be running wild. People are angry, disappointed, saddened. Given this past week’s debacle, they have a right to be so, but let’s not get our jock straps in a bunch. We need some perspective.

The loss to Iowa State was embarrassing, but not uncharacteristic of Texas Tech football. For some reason some people seem to think Tommy Tuberville has destroyed Tech football and that Leach would have won the last two games by a combined 40 points. In an effort to show why this is wrong, I am going to subtract something a lot of fans seem to be using, and add something few seem to have; emotion and perspective, respectively.

First, Tech fans, like all good fans, are emotionally invested in their team. That is a good thing . . . most of the time. Emotional investment is bad when it comes to evaluating the team (or anything really). Those emotions take over and cause a lack of objectivity which, in turn, creates a lack of understanding regarding the subject at hand. There are tons of examples of this type of behavior in politics. For example, look at gun control. Some argue that we need gun control because “innocent people/children are killed with guns.” While this may be true, it is an emotional plea and completely avoids other reasons for guns (2^nd Amendment, protection from government/criminals, hunting, etc.). Another example would be social security. Many would say, “We have to have social security so that my grandma can pay her rent.” Again, this is an emotional argument. It tells us nothing about the policy except your grandma needs to pay rent. From the right, a good example would be, “We have to keep fighting in Iraq because of those who died in 9/11.” Again, this is not a policy, it’s an emotional response. Emotionally-based evaluations are bad in just about every realm of life because they create horribly skewed solutions to factually deprived—and possibly nonexistent—problems.

Tech fans seem to be attached to these emotional responses. No one cares about perspective. While the outcome of ISU game makes me want to puke, that emotional response should not govern the objective reality of the situation. I have heard and read lots of whining about how Tech football has been dismantled by Tuberville, and how Leach would have this team at 5-0 after only 4 games. Let’s look at this a little more in-depth.

First, the Tech offense has scored 139 points this year. At this point last year, the Tech offense had scored 145 points. That is an average of 1.5 points less this year than last (with a horrible O-line might I add). So, for all of you who are emotionally tied to the Air Raid offense and are crying in you beer arguing that Tubs has killed it, look at the numbers. The points are still there. No, there might not be as many screens and 5 five sets, but point-wise, Tech is still scoring.

Second, what has changed is we have given up 8.5 more points a game this year than last. That is unfortunate, but hopefully this can be related to the fact that we changed our defensive scheme over the offseason. There is no way to predict the future, but we don’t need to throw away the new D after four games. We have never been known as a great defensive team. Let’s look at some Leach-era losses for comparison so that all you Leachers out there can get a dose of reality.

2009

29-28 loss @ Houston. Everyone remembers the QB sneak that didn’t work. Everyone also remembers the fact that everyone in the state of Texas knew it was coming despite the fact that it hadn’t worked up to that point.

52-30 loss to A&M AT TECH! This was a painful loss; maybe one of the most painful in recent memory.

2008

65-21 loss @ OU. And that game wasn’t even that close! Oh, and we were ranked #2 at the time.

47-34 loss to Ole Miss @ the Cotton Bowl.

2007

49-45 loss @ OSU. Remember when Tech had a chance to win in the last seconds and a pass in the end zone when off of some guy’s shoulder pads on 4^th down? I think his name was Crabtree.

We also lost @ Mizzou against CU @home and @ UT this year. Only one of those games was within less than 16 points.

Now, this is only going back three years—probably 3 of the better years of the Leach era. Only twice in the Leach era did Tech lose LESS THAN 3 conference games. EIGHT times in TEN years under Leach, Tech lost AT LEAST 3 conference games and FIVE of those years, Tech lost AT LEAST 4 conference games.

In other words, let’s put this season into perspective. It hasn’t been great, or even as good as expected. What is has been is Tech football. We had one outstanding year (and didn’t even get to the conference championship, might I add), so let’s stop acting like Tech football has suddenly fallen from grace. Tuberville has not taken your precious child and kicked it to the curb. He is not trying to kill a good thing. He is trying to take a historically slightly-better-than-average team and make it better. Let’s remove the emotional nonsense and look at the fact that we are what we always have been. We’re good enough to beat anyone, but inconsistent enough to lose to anyone. (Let’s also realize that as a whole, the Big 12 sucks this year. OU is the best team in the South and they could easily be 1-3.)

Hopefully, with Tuberville and time, we will be a more rounded team capable of beating anyone, but not losing unexpectedly. Of course, that would require patience on the part of the fan base to give him the time needed to recruit and build a program (not just an offense).

Hmmm

Well I don't really have any earth-shattering news for this blog, but I thought I'd write and let everyone know what is going on in ours lives.

The High School Retreat was a great time for our students. I got to take my mini nap every day which was nice. We had 5-6 students accept Christ or re-dedicate their lives. It was such a great time to get to know the kids. Sadly, I came home, slept the whole weekend and still ended up having to go to the doctor because I got sick from the trip. Oh well, my immune system isn't what it used to be. That took up about 3 weeks of my life and evenings since I barely made it through the school day and then came home and crashed. But I'm better now. I am even starting to get that energy that is supposed to come in the second trimester. I still like to nap but I feel like doing more and don't feel like I've been hit by a bus all the time!

An update on Michael. I am sure he doesn't like me sharing about his dissertation, but hey, people keep asking me so I'll update on what I know. He has a topic, I don't understand it, he doesn't like to talk about it, we don't really discuss it. I really feel sorry for him. He works hard all day on researching and reading and trying to figure out how to get this whole thing done in a timely manner and yet feels like it isn't getting anywhere. Prayers are still needed in that area. I feel like the conversations in our house are similar to Pinky and the Brain. I am obviously Pinky because life is just fun and well I am clueless as to what goes on. He is the Brain...need I say more? For a while I would ask him "What are you going to do today?" His response, "School or the same thing as every day." If you imagine you the voices of the characters it might be a little funny in your head...it is in mine. :)

Baby news: We don't have a sex yet. I haven't done much of the "old wives tales" as to what I am having but we will find out the truth at the end of October. I did get to hear the heart today. That is always fun. And to update on the weight, I have only gained 3 1/2 lbs since my last weigh in. I think that is good! I am proud of myself. 

16 weeks!

Well that's about all for us this time! 

Team Leach, it's Time to Cut the Cord

As my first blog post I have to address the silliness that is going on in Lubbock and among the Texas Tech faithful. This post will likely tick some people off, but hey, losing ticks me off, so deal with it or stop reading now.

First, let me ask this question: How many of you who swore you would never watch ESPN or follow Tech football because of the Mike Leach debacle have failed to follow through with your promise?

Ok, now that all of you have proven to be unfaithful to your word, let’s move on.

They say that generals fight that last war. I would argue that a lot of Tech fans are attempting to play the last season (or two). This is especially true regarding one group of Tech fans, the Team Leach followers. They are called so because they are heartbroken that Mike Leach is no longer the head pirate at Texas Tech. They whine, cry, whine some more, and have a generally negative disposition when it comes to Tech football simply because Mike Leach is gone and has been replaced with Tommy Tuberville.

The Team Leachers are easily identifiable. They are usually recognized by providing unprovable accusations such as “Leach would have won.” or “Leach would have put up 55 on Texas.” These are just a couple examples of the silliness I have seen since last night’s loss. Let’s dissect this just a bit more.

Mike Leach’s first year at Tech, he went 7-5, including a loss to East Carolina in the not-so-prestigious GalleryFurniture.com Bowl. In Tuberville’s first year at Auburn, they went 5-6; however, the second year, they tied for the SEC western division title.

Leach finished his career at Tech as the winningest coach in the school’s history at 84-43. That’s a .6614 winning percentage. Tuberville was at Auburn from 1999-2008, which is almost the exact same time period that Leach led Tech. Over that time period Tuberville had an 85-40 record. That’s a .68 winning percentage. Sure, that doesn’t sound like a big difference, but you have to consider that the SEC is, has, and probably always will be the premier college football conference. This is proven by the fact that 6 of the 12 BCS national champions have come from 4 different teams within the SEC. The other 6 champions are dispersed between 5 different conferences.

Leach’s best year was in 2008, when Tech finished 11-2 including a Cotton Bowl loss to Ole Miss. Despite Tech’s stellar season, they were destroyed at Oklahoma 65-21 and didn’t even make it to the conference championship game. Prior to that year Tech hadn’t even had a 10-win season under the Holy Mike Leach. However, while at Auburn, Tuberville tied for 1^st in the Western division 4 times, won the division outright twice, and won the conference once. He also won the Sugar Bowl in 2004, thus capping off an undefeated season. Note: The only reason Tuberville didn’t get to play for a national championship is because two other teams were also undefeated this year (USC & OU). USC won the championship, but had two wins later vacated due to NCAA rules violations (Cheaters!).

The point is, it’s time to move on. You Leachers sound like the chunky kid in elementary school who just realized someone ate your Klondike Bar. Actually, I think you sound more like an adolescent girl whose boyfriend just broke up with her. You’re emotional and irrational. The only difference is, this break up occurred almost 10 months ago and you’re still sitting in your bedroom crying.

Even worse is the fact that you’re sitting there whining about the loss of your boyfriend Leach, while another, better person is eyeing you. That person has a better history of success and all you want to do is talk about your ex. Sure, Tuberville doesn’t have the flair of Mike Leach, but you know what? Leach never was going to take you to the dance. Even in his best year, he couldn’t get to the conference championship game. Tuberville, however, has been there and done that. He may not be as flashy, but that’s ok. He’s the one you want to take home to mom.

A lot of Leachers seem to be worried about Tech’s “identity.” Whatever that is? I wonder how many other teams’ fans are sitting at home complaining that their team has lost its identity. Whine all you want to about the white helmets, the Raider Walk, and the loss of the Air Raid, but until a stat column is created for “wins due to identity”, just keep it to yourself.

There is an old adage that you win with running and defense. Tech has notoriously had neither. Coincidentally, we’ve never even won the Big 12 South much less the conference. Tuberville knows how to run the ball and play defense, but by all means, let’s sit around and cry in our Leach Brand Kool-Aid because we don’t throw the ball 60 times a game. Good coaches win games. Great coaches win championships. Mike Leach won games and that’s it. Tommy Tuberville has won championships and consistently contended for them.

Team Leach, last season is over, and so is 2008. Move on. Take your Mike Leach posters off your ceiling. Cut up all your old Leach pictures. Burn all his letters. It’s time to end the mourning process. Sure, you can disagree with Tuberville’s play calling and personnel decisions (though booing your own players during a game is idiotic and harmful to the cause of winning), but let go of Leach. He’s gone, and he aint coming back. The relationship is over and he doesn’t love you anymore, Sweetheart.

The empirical evidence is in, and Tuberville is clearly the better football coach. Mike Leach was an offensive coordinator in a head coach’s job. Tommy Tuberville is a head coach. Will there be growing pangs? Likely, but remember, your crush, Leach, had a first year record of 7-6 followed by a 7-5 season. Why y’all are trying to get rid of Tuberville after 3 games is beyond me.

Anyways, go ahead and reply to this blog with emotional rants like “Team Leach!” or “Leach woulda won!” and prove my point that you are letting the facts get in the way of the truth. Tommy Tuberville is better than Mike Leach, and the evidence supports that, so let go. Move on. There are bigger fish in the sea, and Tech finally caught one.

If you continue with this silly little Leach love-fest, you will continue to look like morons and sound like UT fans who cry about everything. Get behind your team and your coach!

Wreck ‘em Tech!

Michael

12 Weeks

Well we had our first dr's appointment today. It went so well! We got a lot of the questions I didn't know I had answered. In fact, yesterday I went to the store to buy a baby book since I didn't know what questions I needed to ask her. Well I asked and things seem to be ok! And I am NOT gaining too much weight!!! She laughed and said people don't need to say things like that! And my back is ok and I should exercise as much as possible for a healthy delivery. But I'm supposed to keep my HR below 140 and I should NOT run a marathon and I should probably walk regularly or swim (might be a problem since I don't have a swim suit or a swimming pool) and eat healthy - Fruit Loops are OK - and enjoy feeling good.

I go back in a month to have another check up. I got a bag of reading material that I have no idea where to start!  We find out the sex in another 8 weeks. We still aren't sure what we are going to do about that. I don't want to find out and Michael does. If we do, we might not tell the name. Basically I want one big secret on the birthday!This is starting to get exciting though. Our baby does look like a creepy alien but I do love it!

Here is our little buddy just chillin' with its legs crossed :)

Here the little dude is stretching its legs...our baby likes to relax!

This is going to be fun!!!

Week 1...Done!

So I survived the first full week of school, Michael started teaching his Poli Sci class and we are both still alive! This week was long though. I am not used to being up on my feet all day. I got spoiled the second half of summer with all the resting I was doing. I think part of it is getting back in the swing of things and the sleepiness is due to the baby. Either way, I'm glad we got off to a great start. According to a friend at another school, only 35 weeks left. When put that way, it seems manageable.

We had a back to school fifties pep rally, I borrowed a friend's maternity clothes to get started with my wardrobe, we had our first parenting meeting night and Lecrae came to our school on Friday. All in all, it was a busy week but it did go by fast. Next week is the High School Retreat and that will be fun as well.

Besides the normal school stuff we have some other exciting stuff coming up that we would encourage prayers on our behalf.
1. We have our first Dr's appointment on Tuesday. Pray that everything goes well and we get a good report on all the preliminary tests and all that fun jazz. I'm not exactly sure what will all take place.
2. Michael got approval for his first defense of his dissertation! STEP 1 to getting this whole PhD finished. I think it is actually step 2 but this was a major step. He will be defending his topic choice on Wednesday at 1pm. Please say a prayer that this gets approved and he get get started on the rest of the process.
3. High School Retreat is next week. I am excited and yet a little tired already thinking about it. Pray that I have the energy to do what I need to do for the week and will stay healthy. Pray that the students will develop a deeper relationship with Christ and that some will have a break-through with God. Pray that the relationships of the school grow stronger.


Updates on the prayer requests will come soon!

Better Days ???

So yesterday was a better day. Today's lunch could have gone better. I appreciate all my friends who are willing to give advice when I ask and are awesome about it. And they even ask if they are saying too much so as not to offend! It was so nice. However, the others are still talking about all this stuff I don't care about yet! Oh well.

Today was a good day in a way. I got some "new" clothes. My friend Jodee had just boxed up all her maternity clothes and I borrowed some! So excited to have clothes that I can breath when I put it on. So that was super helpful!

And we got our first baby present today! So excited. We got a "baby's first baseball" It is so cute and it fits us! I'm so ready to start looking for baby stuff but I want to do it when I want to and not when the whole world says I should! LOL

Two more days this week...then I can sleep on Saturday! Love it!

Unwanted Advice

OK, So I hope this doesn't offend anyone and it's not meant to. But I had a not so fun day from colleagues giving unwanted advice about my pregnancy. Here I was, all happy, talking about how Michael and are happy, my family is happy and I feel great. I thought that it was all good. People ask if we have names - no. They ask when we'll find out the sex - don't know. I am still just taking it all in and trying to be positive and just flat out enjoy my first pregnancy.

Well that is until I went to lunch today. I was told I have gained too much weight and I'll be huge if I don't get a grip on the whole eating all the time. This isn't healthy for me to have gained 6 pounds in 11 1/2 weeks! I did the math and even if I gained 1 pound a week for the rest of my pregnancy, I'll still be normal. But that then put me in "fat" mode. All I can think about is how I'm going to be huge and everyone will make fun of me because I'll be so large! And yes, I know I have hormones and yes I know they aren't the making me think super rationally. But seriously, telling a new pregnant woman you'll be fat if you aren't careful! Well, those words didn't exactly get said but it felt like it was implied. And I know, girls hear things that aren't said but still, it was traumatic! And this all gets added to the fact that a week ago my mom said I should take up walking so I would stay healthy through the pregnancy! Ha! So I went to the gym today and got on the elliptical and worked out for 25 minutes. It was a light workout and I hardly broke a sweat but I did feel better in my hips and back. So I guess it is a good thing.

My next set of unwanted advice came from the same colleagues which was on the lines of asking me how I was feeling. I said great! I haven't been that sick. I am just hungry all the time. I am tired and can fall asleep easily. And my back hurts some. OH this got them nearly jumping over the table and told me I HAD to call my doctor. I HAD to let them know so I could maybe wear a band for my back to make myself not hurt. Well that is all great and I replied with how I had a high pain tolerance and I was going to be ok. That was not ok and so now I am paranoid about my back and my weight. And not to mention the fact that I stand on a concrete floor covered in carpet all day! Uhh, my back hurt when I wasn't pregnant from standing and teaching!

All this followed with how Michael won't be needed or wanted by the kid until it is 3. "That's really when dad's have a role in their life." ARE YOU KIDDING ME? Michael is going to be a part of this baby's life. AAHHHH!

I just told people at school today! Now I have 28 1/2 weeks to hear all the wise wisdom of all the others! BABY COME SOON! Or, if you want to give advice, let me ask. I just want to know how to buy maternity clothes and what to register for. I can ask my doctor if I'm gaining too much weight or if my back will be a problem.  Sorry if this isn't what some wanted this blog to be but I just want to be happy and enjoy this and now..well...hopefully tomorrow will be better.

Baby on Board

Well it's official. We are expecting to expand Hull nation in about 207 days. For those who don't like math (like myself) that means I'm due on March 17th. We are having a St. Patrick's day baby.I hope it doesn't look like a leprechaun. We have been able to keep it a secret for a while. It was harder for me than it was for Michael but we succeeded for almost the whole first trimester. I have been very blessed with the pregnancy. I haven't been too sick. I have been REALLY tired. I could sleep at the drop of a hat. I eat all the time. Good thing I like food...sadly I think I'm gaining too much weight too fast. Oh well. I'm starting to show already. I have a little bump. I don't have pictures yet. I'll get to it sometime. Right now I just feel fluffy and I can't suck my stomach in. Oh well. Michael still thinks I look pretty and that is really the only person that matters for my looks. And this means I get to go shopping!!! New clothes and shoes - haha!!!

I'll keep you posted on the upcoming news and events of the bump. I'll post pictures too...eventually.

Work in Progress

Just like my life, this blog is becoming a work in progress. I have no idea what I am doing but I thought I'd try. Hopefully it will get better and I will learn a few things about being a blogger. Maybe, maybe not. I might even learn a few things about myself as I go through this...maybe...hopefully.

We have some exciting stuff going on here in the LBK. Michael is finishing his last year of college. Yes, that's right, college. I think he said he's been there for 12 years maybe more, this is the LAST one. YEAH!!! We are hoping he can get a good job and start doing something he enjoys instead of reading boring stuff about politics and STATA ( I don't know what that is). More to come of the exciting stuff!

I just started my 8th year of teaching at Trinity. I can't believe it! I am teaching my 12th new subject since being there. I am not sure if they have great confidence in me or they really don't like me that much. I may be leaning towards not liking me since I got stuck in a closet for one class this year. I'm starting to feel like Adam James. They keep him around Tech so maybe they'll keep me around too. I haven't decided who the Mike Leach is around here though. The crazy pirate leader. I like working for Trinity, I just don't like my closet. Fortunately,  it's for only 1 class every other day. I can handle that! I think I'm going to like this group of kids I have this year. It might be a little crazy at first but we'll work out all the idiosyncrasies as the year progresses. That's about all I got for now.