Look-a-likes

Which little cutie is Lucy and which is Jane?

Update: My readers are geniuses! Everyone guessed correctly: Lucy is #1; Jane is #2.

Just for Aunt Roo

In response to Aunt Roo's desperate plea for more pics in the previous combox, here you go. (Not that I'm feeling much sympathy for Aunt Roo, who is missing the kids because she is in Hawaii!)

The fun begins. Jane comes home.

Here's Jane!

Jane Frances Bremberg

Born 1.23.2008

9 pounds, 14 ounces & 22 inches

Last Call

I had my final OB visit today. If the baby doesn't decide to make an exit on its own by Wednesday morning, we're going to give the kiddo a little encouragement. We set an induction for 7 am on Wednesday, which just happens to be St. Jane de Chantal's birthday. And Thursday is St. Francis de Sales feast day, so even if the baby would be really slow coming, we are still guaranteed a fabulous saint's day for the baby's birthday.

(For those readers who may not know, St. Francis de Sales and St. Jane de Chantal are very popular in the Cordonnier clan. Plus before I decided to marry my wonderful husband, Andrew, I almost joined the Order of the Visitation, which was founded by these two awesome saints.)

Anyway, I think we need to do an "exit" poll. What do you think? Boy or Girl? Feel free to hazard "educated" guesses as to baby weight or height as well.

A little too much...

Once of Paul's favorite sayings recently is "a little too much." If he chokes on his drink, it was "a little too much" water. If he wipes out running around the house, it was "a little too much" running. If he laughs too hard, gets scared, finds himself in trouble for almost anything...it was "a little too much."

Well, I think Daddy has had "a little too much" of primary politics lately. About 2 a.m. last night, Paul woke up crying. During the last trimester of this pregnancy, Andrew has pretty much taken over nighttime issues for me - what a wonderful husband! - though I usually have to alert him to the problem. Only being a man, he lacks that "mommy radar" which causes all mothers to awake the moment their child clears their throat - despite closed doors and running fans.

As the crying intensifies, I wake Andrew up and ask him to check on Paul. After a few moments, Andrew sits up and asks, "Is it McCain?"

"No, Paul is crying. Can you check on him, please?"

Andrew gets up and walks to the door. He stops in the doorway, "McCain is crying?"

"No, honey. Paul, not John McCain. Your son, Paul, is crying."

"It's McCain?"

Now I'm trying hard not to laugh. "Andrew, you are not fully awake. John McCain is not crying. Paul is crying. Go to his room and see if there is a problem."

Finally, Andrew joins the land of the living, chuckles at himself, and goes checks on McCain.

Michigan Primary Today

For some interesting talk on today's Michigan primary by actual Michiganders, check out my friend Alexis' blog.

I'll probably regret this.

I've received a few requests for pics of my pregnant belly. Naturally, I'm very reluctant to post any pictures of myself that have me weighing as much as my husband...pregnant or otherwise. But since I truly do love for my readers...

Looking at this picture - besides making me want to start a crash-diet yesterday - does fill me with wonder at the awesomeness of new life. It is amazing to think that my body has the capacity and ability to nurture this new little person within it. Even though I am constantly, and I mean, constantly, aware of this life within me, it still rationally boggles my mind that another human being has been created inside my body.

Now it is time for this new life to come OUT. Soon. Please.

Hence the pineapple. Some folks in the house, who shall remain nameless, think I need to try harder at helping the baby out. So I ate a whole pineapple, which is supposedly meant to kick-start labor. Not much in the way of labor so far. However, my mouth feels like it has been burnt with battery acid. It feels about as painful as looking at this picture.

Q & A with Paul and Lucy

Since the videos are such a hit - both with the viewers and the participants (Paul is obsessed with making videos now) - here is a little q&a with Paul and Lucy on the arrival of the new baby. Paul does most, okay, all the talking, but Lucy looks great.

And here is the song Paul has been practicing to sing to the new baby...

Watch Out Martha Stewart!

The too-cute hoodie and sweats are from Grammy Bremberg - and immediately makes me think of a New Jersey housewife. Is Grammy sending subliminal messages to Lucy?

No Clear Winner

In a startling similiarity to last night election results, no clear frontrunner emerged from Ordinary Time's online poll. However, the powers-at-be have decided to reward your participation with this little clip.

(FYI: The last name was Fred Thompson.)

Laugh of the Day

From Mark Steyn at the Corner:

Looking at the winners and losers on the Republican side, I don't see a lot of the former coming out of New Hampshire:

Romney lost, because he came second, which is starting to look like a pattern;

McCain lost, because his margin over Romney is, as noted below, underwhelming enough to get his comeback written off as little more than a local phenomenon;

Huckabee lost, because a distant third with no evidence of an Iowa bounce makes his caucus victory seem ancient history;

Giuliani lost, because he barely beat Ron Paul;

Paul lost, because he couldn't even beat Giuliani;

Thompson lost, because he's a big-time Hollywood guy with a hot primetime TV show and, even if he were totally incompetent, that ought to be worth more than one per cent.

Oh, well. On to Michigan, which is sure to have its own novel ways of damaging the "front"runners.

Maybe it's time to get behind Alan Keyes.

It was such fun the first time...

that I wanted to do a second poll for the New Hampshire primary. Plus, I had the distinct feeling some of you would like a second chance at a personalized Paul* video! I got a bit of a late start today, though. Still, take the opportunity to post your winners and losers for tonight's primary.

Democrats

Obama
Hillary
Edwards

Republicans

McCain
Romney
Paul (Okay, maybe not, but I think Andrew's enthusiasm is starting to wear me down.)

*That is a personalized Paul Bremberg video, not a Ron Paul video. Andrew's connections aren't that good, despite little Paul's belief to the contrary.

I've Been Tagged.

My brother Josh at The Shady Characters tagged me with this book meme. Now usually I'm sadly negligent at responding to tags of this nature. However, I came across this particular meme some months ago, was intrigued by it, actually filled it out, and planned to post it.

Obviously, that never happened. It just sat patiently in my "Draft Posts" box. So let's dust it off and see what we have.

1. ONE BOOK THAT CHANGED YOUR LIFE
The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis – My dad read this book to me aloud when I was very young. It was my gateway into literature and in many ways shaped my spirituality as well.

2. ONE BOOK THAT YOU'VE READ MORE THAN ONCE
The Man Who Was Thursday by G.K. Chesterton – Okay, this could be ALL the books on my bookcase. I tend to read the same books over and over...and over. When I'm stressed or upset or lonely, I generally find comfort in "going home" by entering into a book that seems like family. A couple of other favorites: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn by Betty Smith, LOTR by Tolkien, Anne of Green Gables and other books by L.M. Montgomery.

3. ONE BOOK YOU'D WANT ON A DESERT ISLAND
Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Defoe – It might give me some good survival tips!

4. ONE BOOK THAT MADE YOU LAUGH
Homes and Other Black Holes by Dave Barry - I think Dave Barry is one of the most hysterical men alive.

5. ONE BOOK THAT MADE YOU CRY
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott – I cry like a baby when Beth dies every time I read it.

6. ONE BOOK THAT YOU WISH HAD BEEN WRITTEN
Mary’s Autobiography – It would be wonderful to see the entire life of Christ, especially his younger years, from Mary.

7. ONE BOOK THAT YOU WISH HAD NEVER BEEN WRITTEN
Principles of Philosophy by Rene Descartes – His dualism has seemed to do irreparable damage to the philosophical underpinnings of Western Civilization.

8. ONE BOOK YOU'RE CURRENTLY READING
Compass by James Stenson – This is an excellent parenting book.

9. ONE BOOK YOU'VE BEEN MEANING TO READ
Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky– I haven’t read much Russian literature and feel I’m missing out on something important.

A Bit of a Teaser

At some point over the weekend, if I get some time and am not giving birth...the small details of life...I hope to maybe formulate a post out of my jumbled reaction to Huckabee's win last night. For now, I just had to share this quote from his victory speech last night. Despite my concerns about Huckabee, it's pretty awesome that he is quoting the main man around here:

G.K. Chesterton once said that a true soldier fights not because he hates those who are in front of him, but because he loves those who are behind him. Ladies and gentlemen, I recognize that running for office, it's not hating those who are in front of us. It's loving those who are behind us.

Bonus!

Since we saw such enthusiastic participation in yesterday's poll here at Ordinary Time, I'm posting a bonus video - plus Lucy really wanted to get in on the action once she saw Paul was becoming a star. Here's a little look a Lucy's favorite mode of transportation - the Lucy boot scoot.

Clare's Video

Disclaimer: Paul isn't very talkative, being too enamored with looking at himself on the computer monitor - like most men. We did get a congratulations out at least.

And the winner is...

Christine from Good Company! Christine impressively predicted every placing correctly, except the third place Republican finish. But she was even close there - predicting McCain getting third, which he very nearly did. The promised video for Clare to follow very soon...as soon as I can tear Paul away from his morning cartoon and figure out how to run my webcam.

Calling All Pundits: Updated

Come make your predictions for tonight's Iowa Caucus. Post the top three placings in each party. Winner will receive a personalized video congratulations from Paul.

Maria's Picks

Democrat

1. Obama
2. Edwards
3. Clinton

Republican

1. Romney
2. Huckabee
3. McCain

Update: Latest Zogby poll has Ron Paul (who else) in a virtual tie with McCain and Thompson in Iowa. Maybe I was too quick to judge my husband's predictions in the combox. Well, I rather hope I'm wrong in my prediction and Dr. Paul pulls third place. And that is saying a lot coming from someone with the Cordonnier competitive spirit.

Also, I'm still laughing over Aunt Ruthless' predition of the Republican winner - "I heart spray-on tan Romney"!