Spelling Bee

Aside from days one and two of the NCAA Tournament, the Spelling Bee is our biggest in-office event. There's an office-wide pool going to pick the winner. I can't bring myself to root against any of these kids! It's tough to watch sometimes. To make matters worse, ABC/ESPN keeps showing "The Fainter" in its tv promos.

The Last Vacation

We just returned from Disney World and had a great time as always. This was probably our last big vacation before the baby arrives. We had been averaging at least one Disney trip per year for the past five years so we're definitely going to miss it! Pat says the earliest we can go back with the baby is at age 3. But I'll do my best to convince "dad" to let us go around age 1.5.

People ask me why we always choose Disney as a vacation destination. I have three reasons. One: it's different each time. There's just too much to see and do and by the time you see most of it, they change it all. And if you go during the winter versus the summer, it's all done up differently for the seasons. Each hotel's theme makes it a new experience with every visit. Dining choices are endless. I don't know how they do it and I'm beyond impressed each time at the effort that must go into creating the Disney experience.

The second reason it's our favorite: it's the same each time. The parts that stay the same are the parts that are so convenient. We know we just have to pick a hotel and go. No other planning needed. When staying at a Disney resort, transportation to and from the airport, and between the parks is a piece of cake. The service level is top notch and that never changes. The park policies and rules and little things you have to figure out at new vacation destinations is eliminated when visiting the same place. You just show up at the parks and they keep you busy all day.

And the last reason, of course, is discounts. Disney Cast Member discounts are fantastic and anyone who works for the company and doesn't use these to the full potential is missing out!

Don't forget us Mickey, we'll be back soon.

Captioning on NBC.com

Pat started bouncing around on the couch the other day and when I inquired about what was going on, he showed me his discovery of a "closed captioning" button on some of NBC.com's full-length online tv shows! Here's an example with 30 Rock. This is the first example I've seen of a major network making a sincere effort to caption their online programming. I've been trying for years to get this on the priority list for ESPN.com's video content but no dice so far. Go NBC!

Under Contract!

We are under contract for a new condo in West Hartford! It's a four level townhouse and it's really quite beautiful. Amenities include a big pool, kiddie pool, jungle gym area, and a fancy community room that can be reserved for parties and events. The complex is next door to a public park. We're really excited about it! The only downside is that our unit doesn't actually exist yet and will be ready pretty much exactly when the baby is due. Yup, we're nuts. We have 15 days to chicken out of the contract but hopefully we'll stay brave and forge ahead.

RH Baby & Child

One of my favorite home stores, Restoration Hardware, is launching a Baby & Child line this summer. New and not-so-new mommies: start saving your pennies!

"This is a severely under-served category in the top shopping centers," said Gary Friedman, president and CEO. Noting that the top 100 centers "have only one offering – Pottery Barn Kids," he said. Restoration Hardware Baby & Child will be positioned slightly higher in pricing strategy.

Say What?

Looks like we'll be walking home from the hospital because this makes no sense.

"...Plug the latch plate into the buckle, then, using your weight, tighten the belt. Make sure all the slack is taken out of both the lap and the shoulder. Typically, using a locking clip will give you a more secure installation. A locking clip is an H-shaped piece of metal that comes with all new car seats or can be ordered from the manufacturer. To use one, plug the seatbelt in, make it as tight as possible, then unplug it again while holding the belt very tightly. Wind the locking clip around the belt as close as possible to the latch plate, then plug it back in. You may have to bounce down on the seat a few times to get it closed..." from Edmunds.com, Installing a Car Seat

Emmy Comes To Visit

As an associate producer, I had a teeny tiny miniscule microscopic part in the Ray Of Hope E-ticket project. This feature recently won an Emmy. I got to bring Ms. Emmy home to hang out for a night. Here are some pictures. Check out Ray Of Hope, it's a very moving piece.

Wimp

Well that's pretty wimpy. Even for a Yankee.

Alex Rodriguez passed out during the birth of his first daughter. "The one nurse had a cold cloth on his head. The other nurse had the blood pressure on his arm. And my mother was like rubbing his back. And he is passed out on a couch. And I am there, in the middle of labor," Cynthia Rodriguez, wife of the New York Yankees star, said.

First Baby Picture

There couldn’t be a more appropriate first blog post than this ultrasound picture from yesterday. Isn’t that the cutest baby you’ve ever seen? This ultrasound was a detailed anatomy scan where the technician and doctor checked and measured all kinds of baby features. Many of them she pointed out, such as the bladder, just looked like little blobs to Pat and me. But seeing the head, face, arms, legs, spine and heart was beyond amazing.

Today begins week 19 which is pretty much the halfway mark!