A friend at work jokingly suggested that I look into opening a U.S. franchise when the time comes. Ick.

Mike's Mom quite correctly points out that this is exactly the kind of father my husband is going to be:

Mike points out that because he has a wireless network, he can bring his computer into the nursery to perform such research.

It scares me when, next to my husband, I am the most vocal watcher of a football game in a room of about 20 people. When the wonderful women next to me are more intent on discussing non-football topics and I just want to shush them to hear the replay. When did I become this person?

Of course, after a rocky start (what Bucs fan didn't groan at that first interception??) the Bucs clearly outpowered the Raiders. Big time. Interceptions? We'll show you what an interception REALLY looks like! Oh wait, you didn't get it? Let us show you one more time. 48-21. Wow.

Two years in a row now, I've been more interested in the game than the commercials (which to me, were particularly eh? this year). Still, I am glad football season is over and we can start focusing on more productive uses of our weekends for the next few months!

I love hearing stories about my five-year-old nephew, Sean. He is growing up to be quite the clever young man. For his fifth birthday, Mike and I sent him a Leap Pad. Well, most of us call it a Leap Pad. Sean very seriously calls it his "Leap Pad Learning System," because that's what the sucker calls itself every time he turns it on. Apparently, he really cracked up fellow travelers on the Amtrak to Kansas for Christmas, because he told anyone that would listen about his Leap Pad Learning System. You can just see the little TM dripping off of his words. What a hoot!

Surreal moment #1: Trying to put on a suit to wear to the Supreme Court and realizing that the pants that used to hang off of you and require a tight hidden belt now can barely button, and that you will have to buy a maternity suit very soon.

Surreal moment #2: Listening to a story on NPR about the Supreme Court case being argued that day, as you are in a cab on the way to the Supreme Court to hear that very case argued because, hey, you helped write an amicus brief for it.

Surreal moment #3: Sitting in the front row of the galley at the Supreme Court explaining to the kind tourist couple next to you things like which Justice is which, what the cases are about, what the lights on the podium mean, etc. And realizing how amazing it is that you know all of this.

Surreal moment #4: Leaving the Supreme Court to see the steps cordoned off with portable gates and ringed with uniformed officers because it is the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision and they are expecting tons of anti-abortion protesters. Walking past people shouting at you that "abortion is murder" and "no more dead babies" and other such slogans with your hand on your belly protectively covering your own unborn child.

Surreal moment #5: Realizing that all of this is just all in a day's work.

We had our big sonogram this past Tuesday, and could really see the little bean swimming away in there. The very best picture is here.

Not sure if this is a craving/pregnancy thing, or just a winter thing, but I am just all about soup lately. In the past three weeks, I have made large batches of homemade split pea soup, homemade beef with barley soup, and two big batches of chili. I have the fixins for white bean and kale soup in the fridge, and plans for more split pea this weekend. Oh, and I've eaten split pea and navy bean soups from the deli in my building for lunch on the days I've forgotten to bring my own leftovers. Yummy!

This morning I came out of the bedroom and was greeted by the sight of Michael kicked back in the recliner, surfing the web with Tucker splayed out across his lap. It was such a cute vision, I wish I had the camera handy. Then Mike goes and adds the kicker: "Imagine this same scene with BABY in my lap!" says he. Guaranteed to turn on the waterworks!

Our living room may well soon actually look like a living room. After almost a year of being a dumping ground/big empty space, and almost two months after we placed the order, this past Saturday our recliner arrived. And it is just as beautiful and comfy as we had hoped. I can already see Mike and I fighting over who gets to sit in it (although I am guessing that at least for the next, oh, four-and-a-half-months, I have the ultimate trump card). This weekend, the ottoman/coffee table arrives. The lamps are in, although I've avoided picking them up until there is more furniture in place (why start paying for them in the meantime? They get charged to the credit card on pick up!). Once the sofa and loveseat arrive, we might finally be able to entertain in there!

Mike was much more eloquent than I have the energy to be at the moment, but I am just as excited and terrified as he is at the prospect of becoming a parent. Except unlike Michael, I have daily physical reminders (in the first trimester, constant nausea and vomiting; now, the little flutters of baby movement in my belly and alternating jags of inhuman nesting energy and utter exhaustion; soon, a basketball where my belly was!) of the life we are going to bring into this world. And even when it's kind of icky, I love every moment of it.

In the past two weeks, I have been asked by two separate people to write letters of recommendation -- one for a scholarship to Medical School, one for admission to Law School. I was also interviewed by the feds as they investigated one of my best friends so she could get an "I'd tell you but I'd have to kill you" security clearance. I am honored and flattered to do it, and just hope that what I have to say can matter for these people. I've done a few other recommendations in the past (heck, got my favorite copy vendor a $200 bonus based upon a letter I wrote to his boss!!!).

But there is a small part of me that is just absolutely incredulous that little old me is even in a position to be able to help these people. When did I get to be one-and-a-half years our from my TEN YEAR college reunion? A few months out from my five year law school reunion? A professional with an office and a neat-o business card and a secretary and people below me who count on my advice and (alleged) learned counsel? I don't know. I like being in this place, but am also awed by the responsibility.

When Michael and I first met, I was a mere babe of 23 (about to turn 24) and he was 26. The summer we met, we were both total party animals -- hanging out at the Irish Times or some other Capitol Hill watering hole 2, 3, even 4 nights a week. Drinking and flirting and hanging out with friends. We really had a blast.

We've been together almost seven years now, married for almost three, and to say we've slowed down a bit would be an understatement. Last night we got home from work, did some errands, grabbed dinner, and got home at around 9 pm. After a few more household chores (mail call and dishes for me, doggie duty and changing out the water bottles for Mike) we collapsed into bed at 9:30 pm. I never thought I would ever hear the words "Thank God we are in bed at 9:30!" eminate from the lips of Michael Alex Wasylik. But they did, and I had to agree 100%. It made life a lot more palatable when the alarm went off at 6:30 this morning (I also never thought I would see the day when Michael Alex Wasylik got out of bed at 6:30 am willingly, but that's another story....)

2003 is already shaping up to be a helluva year. Happy New Year, everyone! (I say "everyone" as if anyone other than mine and Mike's parents and siblings actually ever read this page, but hey, that's OK.)