Last Week's Crappy Weather...

Waiting to go on a walk with the same wonderful neightbors who took them to the Zoo the week before - today is supposed to finally bring the end of the cold weather...let'shope so...

Easter Baskets

Sadly, my Easter pictures did not turn out - I've got some great photos of my sister Mary's thumb - why we didn't check the camera - you know - it IS digital...

But here are the few from our house...

Finn has changed so much over the last month - he's communicating so much more clearly - and he's got such a funny sense of humor. He also seems to be gaining on his gentleness and empathy- we've got a book about a monkey who is sad because he wants a hug- at every picture of the money looking sad, Finn makes a fake weeping noise and then lays his face on the page and smiles. Maybe he won't be so tough on D3 - who knows...

Sarah hosted a lovely blessing for me and D3 on Monday and it was so wonderful to take an evening to be reminded of how wonderful it is to have life long friends. We are feeling very blessed and happily excited for the newest addition - the general vote on Monday night was overwhelmingly girl...Only time will tell - specifically we hope 8-9 more days. I go back to the doctor this afternoon for another of the "yep, you're going to have a baby pretty soon" appointments...

My Godkid is cooler than your Godkid.

Seriously - my Godkid rules. Connor was baptised this weekend and I, unfortunately, was unable to attend. However, he seemed to conduct himself nicely and successfully navigated the baptism process. It must have been my coaching from afar.

For additional godkid pictures and other family pics (including my Godfather/Connor Godfather stand-in not wearing a tie) please visit our affiliated site - http://doughertyfamilysc.blogspot.com/

Take special note of his respectful demeanor and perfectly shaped head.

35 Votes? - move over Google - here comes the DoughertyClan

Since I was under the impression that we had approximately 3-5 active viewers, 35 votes on D3 gender was tremendous. I guess we're the most popular blog out there. As the new Google - I'll expect my check and buyout offers to come rolling in the door shortly.

We're 10 days from the due date. While the due date is a meaningless date derived by a rather simplistic calculation, we will nonetheless be emotionally crushed if D3 decides to wait even one day past the due date.

If you're looking for baby news - this is the place to come. While we're going to have a dear friend send out an email, my state of disorganization means that it will be near impossible to capture you all. Within 24 hours, we expect to be able to publish some vital stats on name, weight, and gender. Hope that 24 hours will be reasonable turnaround for your ondemand lifestyles.

Stay tuned and keep Anne in your thoughts for a pleasant and joyous birthing experience.

NOTE: If you've voted twice in the gender poll, own up now in the comments to avoid future prosecution.

UPDATE: At 38 votes in (most precincts reporting) - it's 61% Girl; 39% Boy

Uncle Peter & Some Thoughts on Priorities

My dad's younger brother, Peter passed away on Tuesday in Pennsylvania. He had suffered from some complicated health problems and hadn't been himself for a long time. Since we lived so far a part, I didn't get to spend much time with Peter (or his lovely daughters), but I always admired him for being a fiction writer and teacher. When I was in college and thinking about grad school, he spent lots of time reading stories and giving advice.

We had a few opportunities to spend quality time together in St. Paul a few years ago and needless to say we sat up most of the night and I didn't make it into work the next day. He loved to talk about memory and writing and so you can imagine I was totally enthralled.

I'm glad that he's not suffering, but I'm so sad that I didn't get to know and understand more about him.

From Penn State:
Peter Schneeman, associate professor emeritus of English, retired in January after thirty-two years at Penn State. Joining the department in 1971, Peter was promoted to associate professor in 1982. He wrote many short stories and specialized in the teaching of fiction. Known as an excellent teacher with rigorous standards and a real concern for helping his students become better writers, Peter won the College’s Outstanding Teaching Award in 1995.

My parents are heading out east to the funeral on Monday. They learned of Peter's death on their way to my mom's nephew, Tim Kelly's funeral. Tim had cancer and was another relative - a first cousin - who I should have known better.

The moral of the story for us these days is that people matter, family matters, faith matters - everything else is just background noise. The last few weeks have made me think about what I really spend my time listening to - and what are the sounds that I want my children to hear.

This is the prayer that I read at Tom's memorial:

We seem to give them back to you, Oh God, who gave them to us. Yet as you did not lose them in giving, so we do not lose them by their return.

For life is eternal and love is immortal, and death is only a horizon, and a horizon is nothing save the limit of our sight.

Lift us up, O strong Son of God, that we may see further; cleanse our eyes that we may see more clearly; draw us closer to Yourself that we may be nearer to our loved ones who are with you.

And while You prepare a place for us, prepare us also for that happy place, that where You are we may be also forevermore. Amen

Fr. Bede Jarrett, O.P.

It's sunny today but very cold - I'm anxious for the apple blossoms and the new baby. Blessing on all of you and your loved ones today.

Crazy.

James and I are feeling a little overwhelmed. We had a good weekend, but the combination of grief, anticipation for the new baby and spring fever are all taking hold. Neither of us is function at our highest levels. I have some big "to dos" to finish before the baby is born - none even a little related to the baby or our own house preparation. James is about ready to kill me for nonchalantly agreeing to more things all the time. I realize I have a problem. No need for intervention.

Today needed to be a "head cracking" get everything done sort of day. It hasn't been quite that way...

So after a fun morning play date, I was getting ready to send the boys upstairs for naps. In a matter of a very few short minutes, what I thought was happy playing in the sun room turned into a brawl of "popcorn" wrestling and throwing. These pictures do not clearly show what a true mess the boys created. The friction from the wrestling and the boys intentional crushing and breaking up of the "popcorn" pieces made it look like it was snowing in the dining room. When you sweep up the mess - about 1/3 floats into the air and sticks to your clothes, the walls or whatever it connects with. ARRRRGGGGG.

If I hadn't been through everything that we've been through lately, I'm pretty sure I would have had to call a neighbor or children protective services. Instead, I avoided tears and screaming and took some deep breaths and a few pictures. They were having so much fun. I know that childhood playtime and exuberance are fleeting, but I am SURE the popcorn remnants will live on until the end of time.