Ike's Adventure in Cincinnati

Not Mike's adventure, but Ike's! We are one of the fortunate 15% or so of power customers in the area that still have electric service, probably because the power lines in our area are underground. We were getting 70+ mph wind gusts. We've lost a few shingles and will need some repairs. We've also lost a few large branches from our tree in the back yard.

We've been watching the news and seeing that we're among the luckier people in the area. There are billboards blown over, large trees uprooted... There are currently three confirmed fatalities here.

Pop goes the Bekka

Last week we went out to dinner with some friends. PF Changs. Yum. I was so happy. We got home that night and I noticed that the chinese food made me look fatter. No big deal, sodium, right? Well, the next day my tummy did not shrink. And it didn't shrink the next day either. So, I think I just "popped out" this week. Of course the day after I came to this conclusion I read in one of my weekly pregnancy emails that 14 weeks is when most women start to show. So, I guess that means I'm normal. Ha ha ha.

13 Weeks

Today we went in for an Ultrascreen. They test for the possibility of Downs or other things like that. They did an ultrasound and drew blood. The ultrasound was so fun! The heart beat sounds like galloping horses, and we saw the fingers and the spine and it's little nose. He/she was moving around and it was just the neatest thing!! The nurse said he is like the swimmers and gymnists at the Olympics. I wonder if that means I've watched too much tv ... Anyway, here are the pics!

Denver vacation

Bekka and I had a great trip to Denver. Since Bekka had lived there before, we got to meet up with several people she knew there. It was fun to catch up with everybody. There were a lot of stories to exchange. I really enjoyed the friendship and the things I was able to learn.

I was in Denver to attend the annual Joint Statistical Meetings, which is the gathering of statisticians. I learned some of the current guiding principles for making graphics from data, some of the concerns in polling people's opinions and in improving healthcare while reducing the related costs. Bekka and I had the opportunity to catch up with several of my classmates from Virginia Tech who had also gone to the conference.

We met up with my parents as well, and we went to a Colorado Rockies game. Actually, we went twice because we got rained out the first time we tried to go! The Rockies lost. Oddly enough, it seems like the Nationals win whenever we show up at a game they are playing at. We enjoyed Coors Field. It was a little confusing at first figuring out how to get to the top deck though.

We found an awesome pizzeria near Coors Field. The place is called Marco's Coal-Fired Pizzeria. It's on Larimer Street between 21st and 22nd, phone 303-296-7000. The pizza came quickly and was very tasty. The atmosphere is very pleasant; it is very nicely decorated but still a casual place. And, perhaps most amazing, Bekka decided that their cannolis are the best she has ever had — even better than what she found in Boston's North End.

Pregnancy Comic

Baby Baby

We're pregnant! Well, officially I'm pregnant, and Mike has to put up with me being pregnant for the next 7 months. I'm at 9 weeks, and we already had an ultrasound and heard the baby's heart beating. Wow! That was amazing. Morning sickness has not been fun. I seem to lose most of my food. But, I just got a prescription to help, and it makes me sleep all the time. So, I'm pretty much good for nothing at the moment!

Pictures of the House

We realized that we haven't put any pictures of the house on our blog! So here is a picture of the front of our house and one of our nice big backyard!