I'm in Love with a Girl (Big Star)

I guess you figured out that the LOML and I had our little bundle of joy last week. Today actually marks the week anniversary (oh gosh, am I going to turn into one of those people that keeps track of week, month, etc. anniversaries??) since we welcomed our sweet little angel into the world.

Lately, I’ve really debated on what direction I want to take That Much Further ‘Ham. Do you want family/parenting stories?? Do you want cooking/food-related posts?? Do you want my thoughts on the current socio-political environment?? (Hint: no one, including myself, does) Well, to answer my rhetorical question question/dilemma, I’ll just say I want to keep posting even though this little munchkin is occupying most of our thoughts, emotions and attention:

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, the Mrs. and I are so abundantly blessed in all aspects of our lives, and one area that we won’t have to worry about for these next few months is MEALS!! Our wonderful community group at church has scheduled to bring us dinner three nights a week, BUT that means YOU the reader won’t be able to “enjoy” as many cooking/food related posts (since we won’t be cooking ourselves dinner as often). Busy Season started this week anyway, so it’s not like I could dedicate that much free time to cooking in the first place, but I just wanted to put that out there.

Baby Got Back

Sorry we haven't talked since Sunday . . . been trying to catch up on our sleep.

Bambino Watch

I think we’re in the final week!! Last night the LOML and I went with some of our friends to Lovoy’s Italian restaurant. Supposedly, if a (pregnant) woman orders the lasagna (near her due date), it will induce labor shortly thereafter. We actually went a few weeks ago (on the 29th or 30th?), but our waitress said it wouldn’t work that early (and she said it’s worked on every woman who’s worked there).

24(ish) hours later, and still no baby, so I’m not sure how much I believe it. Last night, our waitress did say the LOML needed to finish the entire meal for it to work, but since she took some of it home (garlic bread is so filling), I guess she’s disqualified.

Blogging by the Book

This is what you came for. Pregnant belly shots of the Mrs. This was taken yesterday @ 30 weeks (plus 2 days). She really does look great for being 7 months pregnant.


The LOML and I had a pretty jam-packed parent (to-be) focused weekend. Saturday we had an all day parenting class at the hospital (they basically crammed four parenting classes into one day). I was telling fellow father-to-be Scooter, that it covered a lot of information that seems would be common sense, but you (I) don’t already know it. I mean, it wasn’t mind blowing information, but definitely good stuff to know. For instance, I learned how a baby literally gets from the safe and warm comforts of the LOML’s womb to the cold, harsh reality of an Obama administration (I guess that path could change with future healthcare legislation . . . Sorry. Glenn Beck just hijacked my computer. I promise I won’t get political up in here). We also learned about c-sections, swaddling, nursing, and a number of other baby related topics.

Then on Sunday, we had the extreme pleasure of hearing John Rosemond* speak at St. Peter’s. John is a nationally syndicated family psychologist and “expert” on parenting/child rearing. He is very OLD SCHOOL about his thoughts/methods regarding parenting (he also doesn’t claim them to be his thoughts/methods . . . they’re common sense, and been around forever. Or at least until the 1960’s when things got all psycho-babble cattywompus). Even though John is a board certified psychologist, he says “he no longer even ‘believes’ in psychology, calling it a ‘largely disingenuous secular religion that has fostered more discord and disharmony in the American family than any other single contemporary force except, perhaps, television.’" The LOML was already a fan of his work from her education classes at AU, and has been RAVING about his latest, “Parenting by the Book” the last few weeks. I’m planning on reading it this week, but would highly recommend you check out his work. He spoke for about 80 minutes, but if you missed it, his message should be available as a free download on St. Peter’s website sooner, than later (no link right now).

And speaking of downloads . . . THE HOOD INTERNET MIXTAPE VOL. FOUR dropped TODAY!!!!!!!!!!1!


* I don’t know what it is, but John Rosemond reminds me of an old English actor. Like the guy who played Dumbledore in HP 1 & 2 . . .

Thanks a lot, Stupid Chase Commercial

The other night I was playing on the computer in our office, and the LOML was sitting in our nursery, reading, and she asked me to play some music on iTunes (run-on sentence alert). So I started playing some songs I thought she’d like, and then put on (rolling eyes at myself) that Five for Fighting song “100 Years” (remember that Chase credit card commercial *, where the young couple starts dating, then has kids, then grows old together?). Well, I thought I’d go into the nursery to sing for her my best falsetto version of that song (one of my biggest daily goals, is to make my dear wife laugh).


A few weeks ago, someone gave us this really sweet little outfit (yes, I know DBT says not to refer to anything as an “outfit”), and so I started to pretend our little baby girl was here. So I put the little dress in the crib, and pretend to lift her out. And I’m singing that stupid “I’m 23, for a moment” in my high voice. And then I pretend like the dress is a little 3 or 4 year old, scampering in to the nursery to see us. And then I hold the dress up a little higher, and pretend she’s a teenager, or home from college, and the song is still playing in the background, and the LOML and I are having a good ole laugh. But then, just when I’m wrapping up my dramatic interpretation of that commercial, I actually start to get a little sentimental, and have to fight off crocodile tears at how sad its gonna be for my (UNBORN) child to grow up and leave us. ARE YOU SERIOUS?!?!? I haven’t even met our precious little girl, and I’m already cheesing myself out!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyways, I end up leaving the room, before the Mrs. can see I’ve gotten a little teary, but I admitted to her last night, how I’m a big fat cheese. I'm sure it's only gonna get worse, come January . . .

* While I was looking for that “100 Years” Chase commercial on youtube, I saw this one . . . GAHLEE, CAN WE PLEASE STOP PULLING MY FATHERLY HEART STRINGS?!?!?! Seriously, somebody get me a copy of “Butterfly Kisses” or something!!!!!!!!!!

Don’t call what you’re wearing an Outfit

I was folding laundry the other day and realized something . . . I can’t wear that anymore.


This realization wasn’t easy. I guess I’ve been fighting this (losing) battle since I graduated college. I’m sure everyone goes through this stage, where they think they’re still as young and rockin’ as they were in their (early) twenties.

But I’m (almost) 28 years old. I’m a CPA. I enjoy college football. I’m expecting my first child in January. I’ve come to realize recently that a lot of the things I used to wear are not socially acceptable in my current state of affairs.

No one wants to see a (slightly) over-weight aging-hipster (?) wearing an Against Me! t-shirt to the grocery store. Those whipper-snapper kids don’t think I’m cool. I know I’m out of step with the style. I know I don’t know where the actions happening. I know the downtown club scene ain't nothing like it used to be.

I guess this shirt has always been a stretch for me (no pun intended. Yes, I know it’s snug). I’m a social conservative. I don’t have mutual distaste for everything else. I got this at an AM! show in early 2004 (Cave 9). I felt pretty old at that concert, and I know those kids would think I’m a NARC today.

So now, I’ve basically got a bunch of t-shirts that I can only get away with (?) wearing if I’m working out (taking the dog for a walk) or working in the yard.

Maybe I’ll turn this into a recurring feature of TMF’H? I had grandiose dreams of writing a book based on this discovery (Daniel, where are you??), while browsing the humour section of Barnes & Noble a few weeks back.

PS - the LOML and I got our BABY FURTNITURE in this weekend!!!!!!!1! I’m not afraid to say, we have one good looking crib (last shred of street cred falls to the floor) . . .