The Little Sucker

According to the websites, at week 20, the baby is now the size of an average sweet potato. Tell that to Jennifer when it starts squirming around.




The latest sonogram shows that the baby is a cutie that sucks it's thumb. We also saw it waving at us.

Week 19

According to the BabyCenter, the baby is now about 8 1/2 ounces, about six inches long and the size of a small zucchini.



We went looking at cribs and strollers this weekend. Mike and Ellen Murgolo, in the city celebrating their 15th Wedding anniversary, helped point out the important and unnecessary items. Jennifer thought she felt some kicking, but it she thinks they were likely phantom kicks at this point. The weekend's big controversy was craddle vs crib. We have have compromised on a Pack 'n Play for the first couple of months, but a Moses Basket or other bassinet like contrivence might make a surprise showing.

Exciting news

For those of you who don't know...appologies for not telling you in person. But back on July 16th, Jennifer got positive results from three pregnancy tests.



This news has apparently shocked a number of close friends, who had not idea that Jen and Tom were interested in having children. Rest assured, Jen and Tom are very excited about the prospect of a new born and have been contemplating it for quite some time.

Here are some answers to typical questions:

- late March
- no, we do not want to know the sex
- currently, we plan to stay in the city

Rainy days

OK, so this is a little embarassing. But if you have ever tried to catch a cab...in the rain...on a Friday...the day of a subway bomb scare...you will understand that I was very frustrated after wandering around for 20 minutes and seven blocks. When the pedicab pulled up, I thought about it and was about to say "no thanks" when the downpour began. So here is my view from inside.



It helps my ego a bit to point our that I saw no available cabs on my trip across town...to pick up the Jeep.

There's a new burger in town

Jen and Tom count themselves amongst the city's hambuger aficionados and were very excited to read in New York Magazine that a new burger joint opened up just down the block. Well, it might just turn out to be too convenient. As you can see from this picture from A Hamburger Today, the burger is thick, juicy and just good to eat.



Good thing the place is called GoodBurger. (2nd Ave and 43rd)

NOLA: Mass of Mary, Help of Christians

Dear Family and Friends,
What a great day for St. Rosalie Parish and School. The number of people attending morning Mass continues to increase and with school opening today there were several parents and students in attendance as well. After Mass Fr. Jim and I shared Morning Prayer then I quickly went to the parking lot to greet the students, especially our new students to the campus. There was Morning Prayer for the school over the public address system. As I walked the halls there were smiles and lots of tears as well-smiles from many of the kids who shared stories with their friends and cries from the little ones in pre-k and kindergarten who were homesick and did not want to leave their mom's dress or their dad's pants.

Oktoberfest in the Plaza

Jen and Tom helped to organize and Oktoberfest and Children's Fall Festival at Dag Hammaskjold Plaza. The weather cooperated and all of the planning payed off. The plaza was filled with children painting pumpkins...and amazed parents in wonderment about the free event.



Jen and Tom worked to get a strolling magician, a face painter they met in Central Park, a chocolate dipping experience from "Chocolat Bla Bla Bla", an inflatable bouncing castle, midway games along with beer and brats for the adults. German music filled the air...powered by Tom's tiny MP3 player and live music from Ken, the accordian player in lederhosen.

The only scary part was when Tom lost his wedding ring while spreading out the hay for the pumpkin patch. After a proveribial search, the ring was found and all was good with the world.