There are 13 days left in our 25 day countdown to Lana's first birthday! One of the great consistent outings of the summer was getting to take Lana to Sean's softball games. The team color is prison jumpsuit orange, which is a surprisingly unpopular color for baby clothing, but we managed. Here she is tuckered out post-game.

• 09:39 Shuttle will be landing 15 mi north of here in 6 minutes, gathering outside to see it zoom by and hear the sonic booms #sts129 #
• 09:43 BOOM BOOM!!!! We heard it, didn't manage to spot it. Still pretty cool. #sts129 #
• 13:52 Meagan and I have pretty feet now. yfrog.com/aurr0j #

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It's 14 days until Lana turns 1 year old, and I'm celebrating by nostalgically going through her photos thus far. I thought this little outfit was really cute, though we didn't have much occasion to have Lana wear it. I propped her up on a pillow to get a shot. She was just over four months old, and it was a dreary rainy day we were going to drag h...

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Read more at Escapism. Please leave any comments there.

• 11:52 Bacon and egg breakfast, got the wireless here working, now there might dominoes with my cousins. Love this holiday. #
• 17:15 My cousin Meagan shows off her new dressy-dress, complete w/ Hanna Montana Crocs. yfrog.com/4ixvswj #
• 18:34 A very special #tweetoast from me & my pop, Satellite Beach, FL #
• 18:47 And this time, I'll include the pic w/ my #tweetoast yfrog.com/4emadwj #
• 20:07 Sitting poolside, cool Florida breeze, brandy, port, cigars and stories that start "remember when.." #

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Hmmm. I seem to be 15 lbs. lighter than I was this time last year. Curious, especially since I stopped going to Weight Watchers before this happened, and I haven't been to the gym in two months. Must be the living on Cliff bars, Pepsi Max, and vitamins two out of three meals! I need new jeans, and to punch an extra hole in my belts.

However, we have a lot of food in the pipeline at the moment:

3 loaves of bread (two honey, one herb)
1 turkey (currently brining, oven time begins in 50 minutes)
stuffing
cheesy grits
mashed potatoes
2 kinds of gravy
green bean casserole w/the crunchy onions
that cranberry spooge (from a can-shudder-)
pumpkin pie cheesecake
pumpkin pie (traditional, if it gets here)
sweet potato casserole (ditto)
beer, wine, and spirits

So the extra hole punching may be a bit premature!

It's only 15 days until Lana turns 1 year old! Here's a shot I took of her tuckered out after trying on the dress I wanted her to wear for Easter. Sure, Easter was weeks away, but we had to try it on now! And then she fell asleep in it.

• 12:59 Break disk mirror to start liveupgrade process, boot disk fails, FML - I'm supposed to be leaving for the airport in 90 minutes. #
• 19:18 Despite all efforts to ruin thanksgiving, we've landed in FL. Just need to pick up a car and will be at Pop's in 2 hours. #
• 20:18 Sweet rental has XM listening to the Caps! #

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Photos of the week

We're so delighted with the immense talent of our growing, global lj_photophile community that we've decided to introduce a poll. Each week, we'll choose a half-dozen photos (based on user comments and staff feedback) and ask you to select a photo of the week. The winning photo will be announced in the next newsletter. If possible, please limit photo size to 350x350 to ensure that images display properly on friends pages. We want to thank you again (and again!) for sharing your passion.

Check out this week's photo poll and more fantastic user content after the jump!

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Curtains

Thanks for joining us. To our American friends, have a fantastic Thanksgiving. To all of our international neighbors, we'll eat a little extra for you!

Big girl panties: On
Bootstraps: Pulled
Own Ass: Kicked

lets get it on, y'all.

Friday – Sunday, November 27-29 – Gingerbread House Contest and Show – Local bakers and creative children create palaces out of Gingerbread in this 10th annual contest. Location: Darnall’s Chance House Museum, 14800 Governor Oden Bowie Dr. Upper Marlboro,MD. Information: (301) 952-8010 Cost: $1


Saturday, November 28, 8:00 pm – A Chanticleer Christmas – Medieval and Renaissance music mingles with American spirituals, 13th century motets and favorite Christmas carols. Location: Center for the Arts – George Mason University, Route 123 and Braddock Rd. Fairfax, VA. Information: (888) 945-2468 Cost: $24-$48


awww. gingerbead and christmas carols. sweeeet.

Ooh, we're at 16 days until Lana turns 1, and I haven't reached the 4 month mark on her pictures yet! Ah well, how can I help it when she gives the camera such cutie looks? Or is she working on her Monty Burns "Excellent" here? I can never be sure.

Our last childbearing class was last night and went well - I was sad to say goodbye to the lady who taught it, she was an excellent doula and teacher. Kinda makes me wonder if we can finangle our finances into affording her services for the birth? I asked her to give me some tips on feeling the belly to determine the babys position, so I can keep on top of my mission to stay posterior. She puts her hands on my belly and looks surprised "Are you having a contraction???" she asks, all startled. I said no, that's how it always feels, and she tells me I have a surprisingly firm belly, which means I have excellent muscle tone, and should help with an easier delivery. Yay! I think you could bounce a quarter off the belly right now. My linea nigrea (sp?) goes all the way up now, which is kinda cool. I do have abdominable seperation though, which is just strange.

The big news of the day is that I had several contractions very early this morning (like 2:30am). Startled me out of sleep! I wouldn't call it painful, just oddly uncomfortable. But only a few and then nothing, so definitly not the real thing yet! It woke me up so well though, that I couldn't get back to sleep. Which means a grand total of 3 hours of sleep last night. I'm a bit grumpy today.

Just a bit.

so... part of the way Seasonal Affective Disorder manifests itself in me (and in a good number of people who have it), is a craving for carbs during the darker months.

I'm just curious if any of you know why that might be? what is our body trying to do or accomplish by eating more carbs, specifically? Is there some physiological reason for this craving?

"Have you ever been loved? I bet you have been loved so much and so deeply that you have become jaded about the enormity of the grace it confers. So let me remind you: To be loved is a privilege and prize equivalent to being born. If you're smart, you pause regularly to bask in the astonishing knowledge that there are many people out there who care for you and want you to thrive and hold you in their thoughts with fondness."

Thank you to every single one of you.

It's five and I'm getting ready to make dinner. It's a challenge to figure out what to make the 2 days before Thanksgiving, but now there's a plan. Tonight is chicken parmesan and bow tie pasta and tomorrow is polska kielbasa. As for Turkey day, I think I've acquired all the necessary bits so I don't have to go back to the store. Tomorrow will be brining of the turkey, which proved to be a fantastic idea last year.

The old washer has now been replaced with a brand new one. Home Depot had a decent sale and when I got there they actually had one in stock. So, saved the money and hassle of having one delivered and just took it with me. Got the old washer unhooked and completely out of the house by myself. Learned an important lesson with that one too ... Don't take the drain hose off the back until you're outside. There's apparently a reserve of water underneath and dude, it smells manky. Ah well, I was cleaning the floor anyway.

Triathlon training is going well. I am pleased. And I may have inspired someone close to me to join me. Just the thought they might want to is awesome.

I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving. There will be an a post of gratitude forthcoming.

Off to cook.

Take that, universe.
On a day I realize I've put on weight, it seems hardly fair that all I can think about is
...making cookies
...buying cookies
and most importantly...

....EAATTINGGG COOOOOKKKIIIEEEZZZZZZ!!!!!!

20 days to go

Dear Baby:

Please don't get any bigger. I feel like I've been kicked in the crotch. I now know *exactly* where my round ligaments are, and I don't like it.

Love,

mama

It's 17 days until Lana turns 1! I remember when we first got the Boppy swing. I was impressed with how quiet it was. And I loved the look on Lana's face where it looked like she was thinking "Hey yeah, I guess I do kinda like this thing!"

• 23:28 Hate going to bed w/ wet hair, but after a day of yard work & stacking fire wood the alternative was gross. Night all. #
• 19:44 You know those annoying people that leave really long messages on voice mail? Yeah, that's me. Sorry @vdotw #
• 19:49 Walking my mother through signing up for Skype. My nephews better really appreciate video calls from Grandma. #
• 21:57 We have accomplished Skype with Grandma - now she can get the detailed over view of my nephew's Bionicles - including jet-pack feet. #
• 22:23 We just decided that Chris Neil (#OTT 25) looks exactly like we'd dress up for Halloween, if dressing up as the stereotypical hockey player #

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So close....and yet so far! 20 days to go, give or take 14.

I'm still very comfortable, with very few complaints. Some Braxton-Hicks when I exercise, some round ligament pain from tossing and turning in bed, the heart burn du jour. Otherwise, healthy and ready to face the labor beast head-on!!

Our last childbearing class is tomorrow night. I'm going to make my favorite oatmeal raisin cookies to celebrate with the other mom's that we're that much closer! It's been interesting, although not especially useful. Mostly the same stuff I've gotten from my extensive reading, but with some hands-on practicing that Shane and I have found helpful. Shane's a nag to keep me doing my squats, pelvic tilts, and kegels. Helpful, but annoying.

Where's the day going? I've got to get back to work!