First Brush with Greatness

Baby McDowell (and Baby Holmes) meets Coach Greenberg

More on the tailgate

Nursery before and after

Before....









After painting.....









Almost ready....

Mommie at 35 weeks

Washington Baby Shower

Debbie's mom and her friend Maria threw a Baby Shower while we were visiting in Washington. I wasn't there, but I bet everyone had a good time. Here are a few pictures, including the first online photos of the belly.

First Childbirth Class

Well, no new posts for awhile, but there has been some activity on the baby front. We bought some furniture for the nursery on craigslist a few weeks ago, I'll post pictures after we get the nursery painted and the furniture moved in. Tonight we started our childbirth classes at Rex Hospital (week one of five). Nothing we hadn't read already in our books, but it was good to hear it from the teacher. Next week we get a tour.

Sonogram 18 weeks

It's a girl!

Heartbeat

We heard the heartbeat on Friday. It sounded to me a bit like the monster on Lost, but the doctor said it was entirely normal.
As a Dad, it doesn't seem very real so far. One of my friends at work, a man in his 50's with 2 grown kids talked to me this week about how special parenthood is. He said "You love your nieces and nephews, don't you? This won't even compare." I didn't get to meet Anna right away, and Debbie's nephews weren't mine when they were born, but I did get to hold Charlie when he came home from the hospital 14 years ago. I knew that moment exactly who he was, and loved him right away. I guess that memory puts what Carlton said in perspective and helps me look forward to October.