Fantasy time!

It's that time of year again! Football season! I know that back before I became a mom, I used to be way more interesting. I've given up a lot of things, but football ain't one of them! Big Man and I are in our 5th year of competing together in a fantasy football league. It's on, Big Man.

Our draft was Sunday. My team looks pretty decent. My QBs aren't going to light the world on fire, but it's otherwise okay:
Quarterbacks: Jay Cutler (CHI) and Kyle Orton (DEN). Hopefully Cutler won't lead the league in interceptions this year. I've got a soft spot for former Chicago Bear, Orton.
Running Backs: Cedric Benson (CIN), Tim Hightower (ARI), Frank Gore (SF) and Felix Jones (DAL). Another former Bear, Benson was kind of a failure in Chicago, but seems to have found his way in Cincy.
Wide Receivers: Orginially I had Larry Fitzgerald (ARI), Santonio Holmes (NYJ) and Chris Chambers (KC). Holmes is suspended for a bunch of games so I dropped him and picked up Earl Bennett (CHI) because he's Cutler's favorite receiver.
Tight Ends: Jason Witten (DAL) and John Carlson (SEA). I hate, hate, hate the Seahawks, but there's only busters left, so I'm stuck with Carlson.
Kicker: Originally I had Stephen Gostkowski (NE). He was my kicker last year, and I got bored watching him only score extra points. I dropped him for Robbie Gould of the Bears. Big Man's going to be bummed--I am sure he would have picked up Gould but I beat him to the punch!
Defense/Special Teams--Pittsburgh Steelers.

It could be better, or worse, but there is only one objective in Fantasy Football--to beat Big Man.

I bought Dani the cutest Bears cheerleader outfit from Ebay. Stay tuned for some adorable opening day pics!

Ho, Ho, Ho!

I put up our Christmas lights today. They aren't plugged in yet, but I'm really tempted. Big Man thinks I'm crazy. I'm just excited about Christmas this year. I put some lights indoors, and Dani just gets so excited looking at them. She's going to be a lot of fun. Last year, we had Dani on December 9th, so the tree never actually got decorated; Big Man put lights on it before I went to the hospital, but the only ornaments went up were the two "Baby's First Christmas" ornaments that people sent to us!

Looking for some Christmas card inspiration....ideas anyone?

Grandma got home to Chicago safe and sound.

Big Man has one more night off, and then, after three weeks of working days, he goes back to nights. It was nice having him home for such a long stretch, but the cats look forward to sleeping on the bed again! Dani likes to open and close the doors to her playroom, which was once in our cooler, social, childless days, our formal dining room.

Dani has become SO FUN! She's trying so hard to walk. Big Man and I sit about 4 feet from each other and hold on to her, and she laughs while lunging/walking back and forth between us. And everything makes her laugh--big, huge belly laughs which are the best!

I'm stinking up the joint in my fantasy football league last week and this week. I'm still in second place, but barely...meh. Stupid Bears. Stupid Jay Cutler.

Back to normal.

All is well in the B home. Dani's back to normal! No more baby puking! Woo hoo!

It's been a hectic week. I got thrashed in the football pool this week (3-9). Big Man's mom is still here, spending the day with Dani! Actually brought work home tonight, so will hope to post updates and pics over the weekend.

Leavin' on a jet plane.

(mmmm, tasty pumpkin)

Tomorrow Dani and I are headed to NC. Yes, I will be the lady with the squirmy baby who is probably crying next to you. But, if you feed her or play peekaboo, maybe she won't fuss. She's never been on a plane before. And, I've never been on a plane with a baby before. Well, I've been on a plane with other people's babies and have really not enjoyed myself what with all the screaming and crying and all. But I've never been on a plane with my baby before, so you better not f&*k with me, because believe me, I will be more stressed than you.

AND. I'm. not. taking. my. laptop. (deep breaths) And I'm only bringing a little bit of work, so that means it may actually feel like a vacation...wow. Full disclosure: I wanted to bring my laptop, but with only one carryon, the diapers, toys, spare clothes and baby crap won out. Does that make me a grownup?

That also means, unless I use my Dad's along with his camera, you peeps will just have to wait until Sunday for pics of our trip. I have a feeling that somehow I figure I will find a way to post.

Big Man newsflash: Dani took two steps for him today. She was leaning on one part of the sectional and took steps to him...I predict that with 4 days of Grandma and Grandpa's expert coaching, she will be walking. Do they make those gerbil spinny balls for babies? That's about the only thing that is going to keep her from banging every part of her body on the incredibly kid-friendly wood floors, stairs, etc., that we have everywhere.

And, little Pumpkin did not make the Halloween costume cut. So, Dani won't be wearing this one either--although it is damn cute!

In a fantasy football update--I'm ranked number one in my officefootballpool.com online league with about 50 people in it. I think they are mostly lawyers. I keep bouncing back and forth between first and second, and my arch enemy and rival TINTIN is constantly threatening to take my lead away. I'm coming for you TINTIN.

Pancakes and politicians.

I took Dani to the Town of Florida dems' pancake breakfast this morning. She had a great time, and we got to spend a little time with our Congressman Paul Tonko!

I have known Paul for over half my life and worked for him for years when he was in the Assembly. It's great that he's serving in Congress during the Obama administration.

Big Man has tonight off, so we are getting ready for the Bears game. I'm going to try to stay up for the whole thing!

I got hosed in my office football pool league--too many upsets and wins that didn't beat the spread. This is my first year picking with a spread and it's hard! Sucks when you pick the winner, but lose anyway because you didn't beat the spread. Good news is that in my league of about 55 people, I'm in 1st place for the season--it may fluctuate to 2nd depending on the outcome tonight and tomorrow, but I'm kicking butt!

Almost all packed for our big trip Wednesday! Dani's first flight!

Football Sunday!

Finally, it's football season again! I must confess we didn't watch as much of each game as we would have pre-Dani, because we were constantly chasing her around and stopping her from climbing up on furniture. We did get her to sit still for a second or two:

Dani was looking awesome in her Bears cheerleader outfit! She was so much fun today.

My fantasy football team is kicking ass! Big Man is home tonight, and we are ready to watch the Bears kick some butt tonight!

I had to share this one--looks like Dani is in baby jail!

Pregnancy update: I finally understand morning sickness; never was sick the first two times, but I feel queasy about 70% of the day. Meh.

Fantasy football.

My fantasy football team rocks this year. Even better than Big Man's. I plan to crush him this year. And, he is excited about heading to Michigan for the live draft.

Here's my team (my team name: Dani's Mom--chosen by Big Man):

T Brady QB
B Jacobs RB
B Westbrook RB
D Driver WR
D Hester WR
H WardWR
O DanielsTE
S GostkowskiK
Giants DST
M Hasselbeck QB
B Wells RB
R Williams RB
L Moore WR
D Lee TE

I am trying to trade Hasselbeck for Cutler...haven't heard back yet.

Big Man's team name: Father of the Rat. His nickname for Dani: Little Rat. (and less frequently, Little Mess, and when she's fussy, Bethany Junior).

OK, now for the real reason you're here (dad). Super baby cuteness:

Little ham, mugging for the camera!

Big news on the Big Man front coming soon.

Finally, a non-baby post!

Time to show you I'm capable of doing more than fawning over my newborn today.

We got HD-ified today. Wow. I've always been indifferent to TV, but it is so COOL! You can see every detail from the faces in the crowds to the wrinkles and bloodshot eyes of the anchors on sports center. Can't wait to watch Monday Night Football in HD tonight--all we need to go with it would be some smell-o-vision (hot dogs, beer) and we could have the true stadium experience! And apparently it records what we watch so I can pause the tv and grab a snack and then just restart--cool! It will be especially helpful for when Ms. Fussy needs something.

Also, stumbled across this cookbook, and thought it might be a good gift for the hard-to-shop for. You just can't make this shit up. Or maybe you can, someone check snopes, but definitely check this link, and read the comments, they are freakin' hilarious! (Title of the book: Natural Harvest: A Collection of Semen Based Recipes) Just click the link and read the comments.
http://www.lulu.com/content/4956212

Went to the babydoc today--baby healthy, and amazingly average in every size and shape (head, weight, length, etc.)

Big Man's going to grill some steaks tonight (compliments of Gail) and we are going to chill out and watch the football game. Westbrook's got to get me 20 points tonight or I lose to the Big Man in our fantasy football playoffs.

B = Fantasy Football Mastermind.

This week fantasy football final score:
B 89
Big Man 88
Whether it's one point or 100 points, I still WON!!!

This makes me the household champion, and league-leader.

As a concession, I will be purchasing a PS3 with Madden 09 for the Big Man on my way home from work tonight. He really wants one, but keeps finding reasons not to spend the money. (sorry baby, no diapers for you!) So, I will surprise him with it, and maybe it will help ease the pain of his crushing defeat.

Clash of the Titans

This week in fantasy football:
Baby Momma, Esq. (league leader with a 6-1 record)
vs.
Mjolnir (record 5-1)
aka
Me v. Big Man (he picked my league name and his is the real name of Thor or something nerdy like that)
Anyway, the battle for household fantasy football supremacy stands like this, but I have a running back tonight:

MJOLNIR 88
BabyMom 76

The pride's on the line, and I need LenDale White to get me 13 to win tonight.
(If I had only started Westbrook, I'd have trounced already...woe is me.)

Stay tuned to see if B reigns supreme!

The joys of football season.

Big Man is having his live fantasy football draft tonight. Every year, he rejoins the league that he was in with his police partners in Michigan. It's a big to-do of phone call and rankings and pre-draft preparation. I know he misses his best friend/former detective partner a ton, and he looks forward to this every year.

The draft is live via computer, and everyone but him is at one house in Michigan, having a draft party and posting their choices live on the computer, which Big Man can watch and then make his picks when it's his turn. Somebody remind me that next year it would be a cool surprise to fly him out for the draft. A blog I love (airing of grievances) has a guy that flies from Arizona to Florida every year for a fantasy football draft, and NY to Michigan is like half the distance!

Anyway, Big Man gets this look. On rare occasions. When he's really jazzed. Like a kid in a candy store, only cuter. He has popped downstairs a few times to grab a pop or a snack since the draft began, and fills me in on his picks, Bears defense because he reconsidered and thinks there's no reason that they shouldn't be great this year...and he just has this light in his eyes because he's happy and excited, and it just makes me melt.

Somebody remind me next summer to conspire with his buddy and plan a surprise trip for him!

Insanity recap.

Ah, the end of another week.

Watched the Raiders game last night and they looked pretty good. They are due for a decent season. And, my fantasy team RB LenDale White was tearing it up, and should be a decent point-getter for me in the regular season! So, other than Bulger and my mediocre defenses, my fantasy team is looking pretty decent.

House is on the market and there's an open house on Sunday. I've convinced the big man that we should hang at my office during the open house so I can get some work done, and he can watch cable. Free and productive. Hoping for some decent interest in it this weekend...

Just two days shy of 23 weeks now. I've decided that 23 weeks is the perfect gestation period; I'm not too miserable yet, but I've been pregnant long enough to really wish it were over. So, it would be really nice if I could just have that baby now. Really, I'd also like to drink about a bottle of wine as well. That would be nice. Oh well, 3 more months! Interestingly, as this pregnancy progresses, and unlike the experiences most of my friends have had, I am getting LESS nervous about the whole thing. While I still have never changed a diaper, or ever held a newborn, crack mothers and teenagers manage. I am just surprisingly calm. My friends are planning a shower for me, and I'm even pretty laid back about the baby items, it's like, it has 4 stars on target.com, good enough for me. I'm hoping this lasts and abject panic does not set in.

F&#k the automated draft!

I hate the automatic draft. This is my 3rd season of fantasy, and I ALWAYS get shitty quarterbacks. My team:
Bulger, Marc QB STL
Westbrook, Brian RB PHI
White, LenDale RB TEN
Coles, Laveranues WR NYJ
Owens, Terrell WR DAL
Williams, Roy WR DET
Gates, Antonio TE SD
Crosby, Mason K GB
Jaguars, DST DST JAC
Garrard, David QB JAC
James, Edgerrin RB ARI
Bruce, Isaac WR SF
Olsen, Greg TE CHI
Cardinals, DST DST ARI

Bulger? What a disaster. Big man says when he's healthy he's a good quarterback. Too bad he's (a) never healthy and (b) not that good. I had him like 2 years ago, and he sucked for me then too.
I just submitted an add/drop to pick up Robbie Gould and drop whoever the hell Mason Crosby is. Bad news is I'm 10th on the waiver list so I probably won't get him.
Pretty happy with the WRs, especially since Favre will be throwing to Coles. Defenses could be better, but Wesbrook and Gates should be solid for me. As long as I beat the Big Man. Every year the Big Man picks a league, and picks my team name, which I am sure is the subject of mockery by the other league members. This year my team is "Baby Momma ESQ". Last year it was "Stork Stalkin' Doll ESQ" and once I was pregnant was changed to "Bun Oven Doll ESQ", and the year before it was "Honorable Doll ESQ". It's cute, really, because he names them. But enough with the girly gushing, I'm going to crush him.

Big Man's (inferior) team:
Palmer, Carson QB CIN
Maroney, Laurence RB NE
Portis, Clinton RB WAS
Curtis, Kevin WR PHI
Holmes, Santonio WR PIT
Houshmandzadeh, T.J. WR CIN
Witten, Jason TE DAL
Brown, Josh K STL
Chargers, DST DST SD
Leinart, Matt QB ARI
Mendenhall, Rashard RB PIT
Hardy, James WR BUF
Boss, Kevin TE NYG
Redskins, DST DST WAS

I think my team's better, but he pays more attention and has better strategy.