The first of many embarassments I will inflict upon James

I'm not sure who the audience for this post will be, but we took a video of James' first bath at our home Saturday. I've uploaded the file for your viewing if you're interested. It's about 10 minutes long.

This will not be on the test, so feel free to pass this up, but for those of you who have an eager interest in our new son, it's a great video of him (of course, I'm paternally partial, if that's a real adjective).

Click here then scroll to the bottom of the page for a link to the video.

And to James: I'm sorry, but I had to do it. You'll understand some day, or you won't and I'm just wrong to do this.

James Stephen Gravley

Well, we made it! Literally, I suppose. I want to tell the story of our birth, but that will have to wait. I wanted to take this extra moment I had to put up some pictures we took of the birth. There's also a picture Betsy in front of our tree and at the hospital during labor.

The quick of the story is that James is 7 pounds 11 oz and the labor went well. We're home now. Everyone is healthy. Here are the pictures. Enjoy!

(Sorry I didn't thumbnail them, maybe I'll get to that later on)

Click Me!

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Click Me!

Splintered ramblings of an anxious father-to-be

I'm sitting here munching on 4 surprisingly excellent chilitos from Zantigos (if you haven't been, make an effort, you'll never go to Taco Bell or John's again).

I have much to tell and none of it is related.

The lists
Many of you have asked for gift ideas for Betsy and I for Christmas or for Bets' birthday. Betsy told me she would like the following. I added a few things to round out the list.
- Gift Certificate to Target for shoes and nursing equipment. I'd go into more detail about the nursing equipment, but I'm fairly certain you'd rather I didn't.
- GC to a book store for baby books and porn (ok, no porn). Barnes & Noble, or even better, Half Price Books so we get more loot.
- GC to Michaels or JoAnn fabrics, as she likes to go there for her kids and other stuff. These stores are to her what Best Buy or Audio King (yes, Audio King) are to me.
- Restaurant gift certificates for a smashing night out with her elegant gentleman.
- GC to PetSmart. But be warned that this will likely be used to buy fish, which will die shortly thereafter due to our bad luck with fish.
- Bath stuff

For me(Steve)[hi]:
- Subscription to Cook's Illustrated or any other good cooking magazines.
- Good tupperware.
- Animal Crossing: Wild World for the Nintendo DS.
- Kitchen themed bookends.
- An electric knife.
- A nice thermos to bring my coffee to work in.
- Single malt scotch or wine (red only).
- Baked goods.
- Some nice candles.
- Gift Certificates to Kowalski's, Best Buy, Half Priced Books, any restaurants, Target, Penze's Spices (I love that place), or Electronics Boutique.
- Any book you've read lately that you'd love to share with me.
- Anything related to cooking, babies, handyman work, music, or portuguese.

The Baby
Betsy is going in for her last (read: hopefully) appointment with her doctor. We're both just waiting around for the blessed event. Sometimes I wish she'd be like a package of Mentos with one candy left in it. That way, at my liking, I could just squeeze her from the top and give birth to our little Mento. You all know I'll call you if we've set that up, otherwise, expect pictures of the gipper here shortly after birth.

update: We're inducing on Sunday at 7:30am if she hasn't delivered by then. Woohoo!

Electronics
As most of you know, I fiddle with technology for a living. I've been putting together two l337 (elite or good) computers for my parents. While my exaggerated vision of this pro hardware compares to the awesome power of Maxell Audio tapes (put on your shades), I'm just hoping they won't suck. Do you want me to bore you with specifications? I didn't think so.

Holidays
We have family coming for the holidays, and as such have bought a genuine 100% needle littering pine smelling full sized cat attracting Christmas tree. The first of its kind in any of our households as a couple. Isn't that just lovely? Hot cocao anyone?

I'll see you all soon, I hope.

Message to Pat
Why can't I comment on your site? I had whipper snapper of a zinger against Dick Van Dyke that will have to sit on the shelf now.