Happy Thanksgiving... from across the pond!

Yep, that's right... Emily and I are in London for Thanksgiving this year.  While we won't be stuffing ourselves on turkey (I would get the dark meat), mash potatoes, and the rest of the good stuff... we may just be enjoying a fish-n-chips Turkey day.  

Here are a couple pics of us on the plane...

While it was a little tiring, the flight was good overall.  We grabbed a quick nap at the hotel and now we're ready to hit the town with some friends.

We'll be keeping you updated!  All our love to you and hope you're all having a great thanksgiving!

Jon & Emily

Week 30

Here is the week 30 picture. Wow - very surreal to think that we are at the 10 week countdown.

Jon and I had a wonderful early Thanksgiving with some friends this weekend - which was awesome. Why the early meal you ask? (No...it's not because I just want Turkey twice - even though that is true.) It's because we're going on a little trip on Wednesday to someplace where they don't celebrate Thanksgiving!

Stay tuned...we'll be posting pictures of our adventures.

News from the Front: Assassination Attempt!

I write to you today with a thankful heart for some fast thinking by our security forces.  Apparently upset with my on-the-ground and incisive field reporting, the BE Brigade special forces sent an assassin to silence me.

As you can see from the fuzzy picture below, this image was captured either shortly before or after my coffee cup was poisoned.  

 

While I normally plunged head-long into my vital morning cup of joe, our friendly and vigilant security forces were able to prevent the plot from being successful.  

While it is difficult to fully describe the situation, you can see a similar reenactment in the video below.

The Office - Fax to the Future | Movies & TV | SPIKE.com

Grateful to still be reporting to you here on the front.  

HPV Field Reporter JP

Week 29... and growing...

We are at the end of week 29 and now in the home stretch... just 10 weeks to go!  Let's see how he's doing...

Your baby now weighs about 2 1/2 pounds (like a butternut squash) and is a tad over 15 inches long from head to heel. His muscles and lungs are continuing to mature, and his head is growing bigger to make room for his developing brain. To meet his increasing nutritional demands, you'll need plenty of protein, vitamins C, folic acid, and iron. And because his bones are soaking up lots of calcium, be sure to drink your milk (or find another good source of calcium, such as cheese, yogurt, or enriched orange juice). This trimester, about 250 milligrams of calcium are deposited in your baby's hardening skeleton each day.

Well, that's the truth.  Even I'm feeling him on a daily basis now as he kicks and moves around... especially in the morning.  He doesn't appear to have much patience when it comes to getting fed.  

Hmmm, I wonder where he gets that from.

Sorry, no familiar weight equivalent for you guys today... it's either cuz I'm lazing or can't find anything - I can't tell.

have a great weekend!  - JP

Week 29

There was a slight delay posting this picture (taken on Sunday believe-it-or-not!) because I have been neck deep in studying for the GREs.  But...the great news is that I took the test tonight and did well enough to be happy.  It's over!  Whn was really happy when it was over too...I got REALLY hungry during the last part of the test and I think it made him mad.  :)

Look how low that little puppy is stitting in there.  We had a great doctor's visit last Friday and she mentioned that he is carrying low.  Can you believe we're almost 7 months??

News from the Front: Infiltration

The past week has seen significant successes in the FSDB campaign.  With the Office crew pushed to their limits in manpower and logistics, the 'upper management' was able to call in a key third party to provide air superiority support.  Code-named "MR. ORKIN", this well-known mercenary came in under cover of dark to surprise the BE Brigade with an attack that resulted in ghastly damages.

However, it appears they may be regrouping.  Latest iPhone intel imagery has spotted reconnaissance elements surveying our most precious instruments.

They were identified attempting to tap into our communications...

Potential saboteur activity was seen attempting to cut our power lines...

They've become so bold as to enter into our command post (unfortunately for this fellow, he was not able to transmit his gathered intel before meeting an untimely demise).

The biggest question remaining to our commanders is whether these infiltrators are just the sole survivors of the MR. ORKIN assault or the indicators of a much larger, reinforced BE Bridge offensive.

HPV field reporter JP will be here to bring you the latest updates as they happen.

Week 28... and growing...

Our little guy is growing more and more.  You can see from Em's pictures that she's begun showing much more over the past few weeks.  

By this week, your baby weighs two and a quarter pounds (like a Chinese cabbage) and measures 14.8 inches from the top of his head to his heels. He can blink his eyes, which now sport lashes. With his eyesight developing, he may be able to see the light that filters in through your womb. He's also developing billions of neurons in his brain and adding more body fat in preparation for life in the outside world. (pregnancy.com)

Again, not so sure what a Chinese cabbage is, or how it is significantly different from any other cabbage.  But let's try to view this in 'man' terms...

At 2 1/4 lbs, he weighs about as much as a baseball bat...

Pretty surprising to me too, and pretty cool. - JP

Enjoy the moment

Sometimes you need to take time out to feel the baby stttrrettcching.

How often do you get to do that, huh?

Why it's good to be a cat

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Weekend Update

This weekend Jon and I visited the PA side of the family and got hit with a double whammy of parties. On Sunday my mom, sister, and sister-in-law took me to Cafe Chocolate in Lititz. We had taken Trish there for her baby shower last year. It's awesome.

All four of us got the house salad (with oranges, artichoke hearts, and walnuts with a dark chocolate raspberry viniagrette) so that we'd have room for this...

Yeah...that's only a dark chocolate fondu. See how the white bowl of chocolate seems to glow with all the chocolatey goodness?

Trish and I shared a pot of organic chocolate-mint tea. It was nice and minty with a hint of chocolate smell - really nice.

Afterwards we went back to my sister's house where the guys were supposed to be babysitting. It was a surprise baby shower!!!!!!!!

What do you get when you add.....

With this....

And this... (notice the hockey player...baby's first collectable Flyers figure)

One wonderful, overwhemling family baby shower. It was quite a day.

Week 28

Week 28 and the belly is glowing...er...growing.  Well - in this picture - both.

Check back tomorrow for some shots of the VERY eventful weekend.  Think birthday party mixed with baby shower mixed with lots of fun family time.  

News from the Front

FlySwatDemBugs Patriots...

HPV field reporter JP reporting in.  The past 24 hours have yielded some promising gains for the FSDB warriors.  Though we've been under intense siege, our newly employed "LightsOut" operation has seen some reversals to yesterdays advances made by the Bravo-Echo brigade.  

A warning to the weak stomach, the latest imagery below is graphic.  War is ugly, my friends. 

Viewer discretion is advised. 

Sgt. R (names are protected to maintain our intel officer's identities) claims this is one of the B-E brigades field generals.  If this proves to be true, it could be a significant blow to their cause. 

Our ground troops have been fortified from central command with more advanced weaponry...

While all this is promising, latest intel imagery suggest we should not be over-jubilant in our outlook...

Yes, that is correct... they have brought in the dreaded mercenary Stink Bug.  Doubly dangerous due to its reinforced armor and its well-known toxic bio-chemical warfare gas that is released upon death.  This development could turn the tide in the B-E brigades favor.

However, our generals are planning their own counter-attack... view our secret weapon!

That's right, the namaqua chameleon!!  Victory is ours!!!

That is all... for now.

NEWS FLASH!: Mass Fly-Swatting Proves Ineffectual

This just in... recently declassified iPhone imagery shows that the office campaign, code-named "FlySwatDemBugs!", has apparently proven ineffectual.  As we can see from the imagery below, the Bravo-Echo (Box Elder) brigade invaders have infiltrated the defensive perimeter and are now moving in to take more territory. 

As you can see from the imagery that is dated with today's date, we have engaged the invaders in close-quarters combat.  I have already had to repel three separate attackers who appeared intent on seizing my keyboard.  In fact, as I write this very article, I am ducking and dodging 'bombing raids" on my current position.  

In a stroke of fortune, our intelligence corps may have found their ultimate target.  They are attracted to the heat of our desk lamps.

With this invaluable intel, we can surely mount a decisive (albeit much darker) counter-attack in short order.

This reporter wishes you all god-speed and, if you do not hear from me again for any reason, know that I have sacrificed committed to the good fight.

Onward "FlySwatDemBugs!" patriots!!!

- HPV (Highpointview) Field reporter, JP

Bye Bye Belly Button

You are slowly disappearing, everyday you get a little shallower. But you know what?

I'm not sad about losing you. Because I get a baby in return.

(Plus...I know you'll be back. And then I will have two belly buttons for the price of one. )

Not a bad deal.

Box Elder Invasion!

Recently at work, box elder bugs have invaded my work space.  They seem to come in through the walls and ceiling in droves.  Whether to escape the cold or just because they like the heat of my monitor, it's rather unnerving to have these little critters crawling all over the place.

Every once in a while, one will peak over my monitor and just stare at me for a few moments.  It's a little creepy.

They've gotten so bad that one of my co-workers bought a fly-swatter to deal with them.

This is the sad little 'graveyard'...

Just a moment of silence for our little invaders... JP

Week 27

The week 27 picture. Ok, so you can't really see my legs. But my legs, however nice they may be, are not what's important here. Check out the AWESOME fall colors.

Lots of kicking and rolling this week. Although, when considered relatively, he is a rather calm and quiet child (I've heard some stories). Yay for you Whn. Keep up the good work.

Voting Day

Zoe's outlook on November 4th, 2008.

The cat is in.

Ah, in need of a little voting advice? You've come to the right place.

Let me just whisper it in your ear...

Happy Election Day everyone...don't forget to go vote!

P.S. Happy Anniversary to Dan and Trish!

All the little green lights are blinking

Things to be thankful for on November 3rd, 2008.

First: the weather is beautiful, the leaves are stunning, and the air is so crisp you could bite it.

Second: the time change went off without a hitch. Thanks to Anna for reminding me to change my clock. Thanks again to Anna for calling me at 4:30 am to tell me that the clocks go back an hour, not forward an hour like she had said the night before.

Third: Jon is home. After the men's Quarry seminar in Dallas he came back a new, stronger, more complex man that I can't wait to find out more about. AND - he fixed the internet in about 30 seconds after I fought with it all weekend and never got it to work. Now the modem is up and running - the green blinky lights are on and I am back in blogging business! (I love having him home.)

Forth: Jon in general. If you need a refresher go here. Let me just add though that he COMPLETELY surprised me (Jon's family will know that's somewhat of a feat) this weekend by planning and scheduling a spa day for me. I've never done that before and left feeling super relaxed and like a queen. (I know you all probably think this blog is a mushy love-fest but he is just too incredible NOT to be thankful for.)

Fifth: the little guy is growing like a weed. We'll post the 27 week pic soon - but trust me, he's big. And I think he loves the Bradley method classes I started yesterday - LOTS of kicking involved.

Sixth: a weekend of cleaning, classes, friends, family, love, laughs, relaxing, being busy, cooking, and just being that got me ready for another week.