30, 29,...

29 days and counting...

We just wanted to say thanks to everyone over at the Toronto Western, Toronto General, UNH, and the The Social Committee for all the baby stuff, and I'm talking LOTS of stuff - from baby blankets to pampers to books to bottles. Tresa and I were really surprised and touched by it all. This kid is already spoiled. And from today's response it was kicking and moving around like crazy. I guess the baby was as delighted as we were and thanks you all too.


Happy Pre-Birthday to me...

As well, a special thanks all my buddies at my work and some of my former co-op students for all the baby stuff. It was all an unexpected surprise! Just to put into perspective, most of the people at my work are guys, so they did their best and it was great! They went out of the box and really surprised me - it was their version of a baby shower, except with beer.

34 weeks 4 days

We’re now less than 1-1/2 months to go. The deadline for the ‘Pink or Blue’ game is coming up.

Here is what Tresa looks like presently. And to answer all your questions
No, she's not sleeping. Otherwise I'd have put sound to that picture and it would shake DA HOUSE!
And no that's not a globe, I wasn't trying to simulate the earth even though the dark part looks like it is in the shadow of the sun. That's the upper part of Tresa's pants.
and NO I wasn't trying to do an imitation of Whistler's mother portrait.



I just got a new tripod and I’m able to take photos in low light conditions better. So can people tell what it is?

Remember the info you need to provide.

Sex: Pink or Blue
Date of projected birth
Approximate time of birth

Closest person to the actual date and time and the correct sex of the baby will take the pot.

Click here for the latest spreadsheet:
Pink or Blue

Only 5 days to go before all bets are in.

Here today, gone Toronto

Well Martin and Andrea made the trek to Toronto Tuesday and he brought the cold temperatures with him. I think this guy is the son of Father Winter, or Santa Claus.
So what do I do to Mr. Freeze? I make sure that it’s warm enough in the house. I had set the thermostat to be 22 deg Celsius. And because the spare bedroom is directly above the furnace, the full blast of warm air neutralizes Mr. Freeze. And since the vent covers are still a work in progress, let’s just say that Mr. Freeze was a goner, so was his accomplice.

Sorry about that Andrea. I had forgotten to put the thermostat computer back to ‘run schedule’. It was warm that night. The thermostat computer must NOT be a Bosch product.


Continental breakfast

Well Tresa had made it a point for me to feed them in the morning. And we made sure that there was BREAD on the table for Martin. There were 3 types there for him to choose from. There was freshly brewed coffee, freshly cut mangos and pineapples, and cereal. Mike you missed out.

See how sad he looks?

And then I took them downtown and got them started in the underground city. I checked in from time to time with Martin and Andrea. Even though it was minus 12, they braved the cold, but then again they brought it, and they made it to Queen St., and then afterwards they went to St. Lawrence market. A little bit of old fashioned European market here in Toronto.

Afterwards they headed for the posh part of town. Yorkville, where all the celebrities hang out. Mike, you and your pink shirt would have fit right in here!

Mike in Yorkville


Andrea I think you missed out on the Distillery District (see above), where we took Mike and Martin last year. It's nice and old, very nice, you would've liked it but it was very cold that day so you'll have to come back to see it next time. But you did get to see Detroit's Distillery District below. Not so old, but very German.

Detroit's Distillery District

I think Martin’s not used to walking around so much, because as we headed for Oshawa, the city that motivates Ontario, to have dinner at Tresa’s parents, he was fast alseep.

As always the food was great. Conversation was good. Martin indicated that his lifelong dream was to be the next president of Slovenia.

who's the next El Presidente?

Afterwards I was tired. Going home was like reliving Martin’s Friday night after party drive home in Farmington – “Martin the light’s RED!”

But this time Martin was wide awake probably because I couldn’t see too well out of my windshield and he was worried for his safety. But as always I made it home okay.

They were only here for 2 nights, and they headed back to Detroit today with a care package of sausages and strudel.

Any food to declare?


Martin where did you hide the sausages?

30 weeks 5 days

This was taken back on Feb 11/05. Which I think was 30 weeks and 5 days. I've been getting kind of lazy posting these things.

Tresa says you can see the face clearly. Not sure if it's because I'm just the father, but it's not that clear to me. The picture shows the face. So you can kind of make out the nose and lips and eyes.

The kid is kicking a lot. Especially in the ribs. Guess I would be too if I was confined to a bag in a belly. The kid is oriented almost upside down. I didn't realize that for the last little while, I was talking to the butt end and not the head.

So the baby is about 7 o'clock position. No wonder the kid has everything backwards. Sleeping hours are reversed, position is reversed. I'd be getting a serious head rush. I guess that's why they cry when they get out. They have a huge headache. Someone give me some tylenol or something! Plus all the bright light. How would you feel if you'd been in the dark for 9 months then BOOM...floodlights are on you. Turn OFF the lights!

We're in the last 7 weeks of the pregnancy and we've got the kid's closet done. I've been stockpiling on baby wipes (someone told me you go through tons of these). Tresa's got her diaper bag. We're trying to organize everything so that we don't have to dig deep inside the closets for stuff. Or buy whatever we're looking for again. Tresa's getting lots of heart burn lately. Not sure if it's from the kid or from her eating habits.