I apologize

to anyone who was organized enough to have checked out Bitty's Christmas Wish List and already purchased the Cars DVD.

When we walked into Costco today, my Executive Membership card wasn't even back in my wallet when Bitty exclaimed, "MOM! MATER'S ON TV!'

Costco, in all their merchandising genius, had a 52 inch plasma screen with Bose surround sound set up at the entrance showing Cars. We joined the masses of Moms and preschoolers and enjoyed the tractor-tipping scene.

As I tried to move on to the medicine aisle for Gummy Vites, Bitty turned to me and with those big blue eyes near tears with excitement said, "Mom, we HAVE to bring Mater to our house! He's my bestest friend!"

Very seldom do I give in to pleas for anything other than the occasional Matchbox car from K-mart or an Elmo Cookie at the mall. (Not only to keep Bitty from materialistic overload but quite honestly due to a lack of disposable income.) But Bitty is a great kid and sometimes the budget has to be adjusted for life's little pleasures.

Daddy will be out of town this weekend performing at a jazz festival. So the three of us will be spending Friday night curled up on the couch with a bowl of popcorn enjoying Cars in widescreen - Bitty, Mater and Me.

Halloween 2006

(Not to be confused with Halloween 2005 when Bitty wore the same costume. He insisted, it fit, so who was I to argue?)

Bitty made out like a cat burglar in his buddy Kai's neighborhood. (Our townhome community, made up of a large number of retirees, was a complete bust.) This is the loot Bitty was allowed to keep. Mom 'bought' anything that might pull out his super-silver-tooth (crown) for a dime a piece.

Happy Halloween!

Photo Blogging... By Bitty

Since I haven't had time to post, I decided to hand the camera to Bitty and let him do the blogging:

What A Difference Two Weeks Makes

This morning's 12-week ultrasound:




My 10-week ultrasound was done at my OB's office on a machine that resembled the Apple II. Children were not allowed in the room so Daddy stayed at home with Bitty.

Today I was referred to a Maternal Fetal Medicine practice (due to my 'Advanced Maternal Age') where the ultrasound machine had to have cost more than my townhome. Both Daddy and Bitty were present and thrilled to see 'Itty' live on a 42 inch plasma screen. Itty, sensing an audience, danced and squirmed up a storm. The doctor pronounced Itty 'perfect' and upped my due-date by 3 days based on Itty's measurements.

The next ultrasound is in 6 weeks. Hopefully Itty will cooperate so we can find out if it's an Ittyboy or Ittygirl!

Where Did My Baby Go?

I realize I'm hormonal, but when Bitty walked down the stairs yesterday morning after getting dressed for Sunday School, my eyes welled up at the sight of my Baby Boy... who is so obviously not a baby anymore.

Photo Blogging

Forgive me for light blogging, but Blogger has been giving me fits with lost posts and not being able to upload photos. And at almost 11 weeks pregnant, I have no patience for webpage errors! (Unsatiable cravings for Minute Maid Light Raspberry Passion fruit juice and Chinese food yes, technology that doesn't work, no.)


Itty's 10-week ultrasound. He/She is facing the camera, head on the left, with both hands and feet visible. Unlike Bitty, who was a little jumping bean at his first photo-op, Itty slept through most of the ultrasound. But the heartbeat was strong and everything looked normal.


I love this picture from Bitty's first soccer practice. (Yes, I'm officially now a minivan-driving 'Soccer Mom'.) I was so impressed with how well eight 3-year-olds followed directions and completed all the drills. Bitty's favorite part is wearing his new soccer cleats and shin guards:


Last weekend we attended a classic car show. Bitty's favorite car was not a car at all but an Army National Guard truck:


I'm going to publish this post while the Patron Saint of Blogging (St. Jerome, via The Curt Jester) is still watching over my computer!

Blog Title Change

Bittyman's sidekick, "Itty", will arrive via scheduled repeat c-section in mid-April, 2007.

Although we did not find out Bitty's sex before he was born, we are going to find out Itty's sex for space planning reasons. For the record, both Mama and Daddy feel that Itty is a girl. Bitty thinks Itty is a boy. We will let everyone know what the sex is -- hopefully at the end of November.

Hell Is...

turning on the TV to watch NFL Opening Kickoff Sunday, and discovering the picture tube on your 9 year old television has blown.

Daddy was all but out the door, Costco AMEX in hand, ready to buy a new flat-screen replacement.

Mama, in her fiscal conservativeness, quickly came up with a better solution. We could watch the games on the beautiful new HDTV located at Grandma and Grandpa's vacation home down the street -- which they won't be needing since they returned to Virginia yesterday -- once we relocate the TV to our living room!

Frozen Pizza: FREE
Case of Coors Light: FREE
32 Inch HDTV: FREE

Raiding Grandma and Grandpa's house once they leave town: PRICELESS!

Happy Anniversary!

Mama and Daddy share their wedding anniversary with Grandma and Grandpa I. To celebrate 10 and 43 years respectively, Grandma and Grandpa treated us all to a wonderful Italian DINNER at a swank local restaurant.


Afterwards we enjoyed an outdoor concert on the lake. When Bitty wasn't dancing he was trying to become a roadie for the band.

Are You Ready for Some Football?

In honor of the first Packers pre-season football game, Daddy initiated a new tradition: At the kick-off, both he and Bitty would yell, 'GO, PACK, GO!' then chomp down on some cheese.

But Bitty, in his enthusiasm, chomped down on too big a bite. He promptly spit out his cheese...

which, sadly, became a metaphor for tonight's game. The Pack were chewed up and spit out by the Chargers, 17-3.

Weekend Update

If playing No Limit Texas Hold'em with a three-year-old is bad parenting, then spread the blame to Grandpa and Grandma I. and Great Aunt Sharon as well!

Bitty Idol

Deep Thoughts by Bittyman

He's a Journalist with Gravitas

The Colbert Report

I don't know why I hadn't watched this show sooner. (Probably because our Tivo is maxed out at 40 hours of 'Blues Clues', 'Wonder Pets' and various animated movies... ok and in the interest of fair and balanced reporting, an embarrassing number of reality tv shows.) Not only is Stephen Colbert brilliant satirist, he's Catholic. And a very funny one at that:

Happy Feast Day, Bitty!

Christopher - Still a Saint

Postcard from Mammoth Lakes, CA

Wish you had been here!

Weekend Update in Pictures

Daddy and Bittyman during a break at Daddy's gig last weekend.

Grandpa I., Bitty and Uncle Tony.

Bitty and Grandma I.

Welcome To Home Depot... How May I Help You?

Happy Birthday, America!