godparents

(Dennis and I have been waiting a bit to announce this post - until we asked the appropriate parties. It was difficult for the two of us to catch a moment with the couple who we decided to ask to be our child's godparents with Dennis' crazy Lion King schedule for the last month.)

We are honored that Stacey and Greg Bergmann, good friends and fellow musicians at St. Christopher, have accepted our invitation to be part of our lives forever as little hodges' godparents. We met them through our involvement with music ministry - they sing in the 11:30 Mass choir with me, sang in last year's Christmas Eve choir with both of us and lead the children's choir. Dennis and I both had the pleasure of being entertained by Greg throughout RCIA (rite of christian initiation for adults) beginning about this time last year, and Greg and I were both confirmed (and I was baptized) at Easter Vigil 2008.

Greg and Stacey have two amazing children, Elizabeth and Andrew - bright, articulate, polite, funny and quite entertaining. They are definitely a couple to whom we'll turn for advice while we work to raise our own children (just one for now!).

We're so blessed to have them in our lives, and we look forward to many years of friendship and fellowship!

our environment

does not appreciate 3-ply toilet paper. That's 50% more waste, and you can bet it's not going to make people use fewer sheets.

Sure, it might feel like you're using a nice fluffy cloth to wipe your rear...here's a better idea. If you need to feel like you're using a nice fluffy cloth, use a nice fluffy cloth - then wash it and reuse it.

VOILA!

beautiful autumn

It's fall! Far and away my favorite season.

I was lucky enough to spend the weekend enjoying the lovely weather in Michigan. Mom and I traveled up Friday night and stayed with Ellorie and Jason. Saturday was the Larson family baby shower. It was a blast. We played a name game - Uncle Pete was just putting sounds together I think. Clamota...Macabun? Those aren't names...

It was great to see most of the extended family. I miss the family get-togethers of old. Now that we're down in Columbus and Dennis teaches on the weekends, it's harder and harder to get up for the big parties. I'm sure it's not going to be any less challenging starting in 7.5 weeks either...

I met Owen, my cousin's January baby, for the first time and met Jack, his 2-year old brother, for the second time. They're dolls. The family let me know that my baby will be rejected from the family if it's not equally adorable. I'm betting that it will at least have blue eyes and light hair like Jack and Owen.

Looking forward to seeing everyone again...

powering down...

I think it's time for me to admit that my energy level is dropping pretty substantially. I don't think it's lack of sleep, because I've been doing good in that area save for a random night here and there. The wind storm and associated power outage helped get back on track in that area...

Ike hit us from 3-8 on Sunday with wind, at times at tornado speeds. No damage to our property or that of anyone else on our block, thankfully. Well, other than poor Melinda and Rick's car. A limb fell and smashed the back window, leaving a sizable dent on the roof and trunk. They're our alley neighbor, living on the next street over and one house down. Their little guy, Kindred, was born just a week after we moved in in April. He's such a happy baby - and HUGE!

Another interesting pregnancy development. To add to my new banana allergy, I'm also now allergic to sterling silver jewelry. My stand-in wedding ring (since my real one is a little too snug for comfort now) gave me some blisters. Jason, bro-in-law extraordinaire, is suggesting trying titanium for the next metal. That will hopefully last me until mid-November...and then until my fingers go back down .5 size.

I think that's it for now. I'm really looking forward to seeing the Larson clan this Saturday! I'll update everyone on the party and the shower (and the trip to Ikea!) sometime next week.

Peace!

more house

More house photos.

Here's one of the living room showcasing the Clavinova and our big art

Baby's room with two new additions: 

curtains custom made by Nana, Flor carpet tiles completing the rug

The reading and rocking corner

a new post!

Everything is going well. The baby, although it's just over 3 pounds, is certainly present. I look like I could be having twins (I'm not). But so far it seems as if that's all for the best. I'm having no problems breathing or with any organs getting squished. I'm still able to sing in choir and walk almost the speed of a normal me. My energy level seems to be dropping a little, but I'm not as hungry as I was just a few weeks ago.

We're in the home stretch! 9.5 weeks/68 days.