Check it out people, you only have 3 more days to do it:

Mindy & I spent the 4th of July weekend out there both visiting the city and my friend Dita down in South Bay over as a final rest before our final push on pre-baby business. Enjoy the Flickr set here.

-D.

You know, as funny as it would probably be, I really don’t want to see any packages fresh from the YFZ Ranch.

Seriously, no.

America, what in the hell exactly is wrong with you? These people aren’t Amish, trust me. That said, I’ll bet they do have a UFO in the barn.

Final Kitchen pics are up. Check ‘em out at the Kitchen Flickr Set.

-D.

For all you hungry sonogram consumers out there.

-D,

Apologies to my various Republican friends, but this is just too good. You know I’m good for the argument, anyhow.

We have gotten a few inquiries about the name we have chosen for our kiddo, and after some thought (I needed some convincing) we have decided to go ahead and post our choice.

Aurora Evelyn Papas

Aurora will be shortened to “Ro” for everyday use. We came up with this name a long time ago, before we knew the sex of the baby, and I am pretty happy we get to use it. (the boy names were particularly difficult to decide on). Enjoy!

So, two things of note. As I don’t get to *personally* experience the pregnancy, I get to relate to some degree though the new things that are asked of me. In this case, baby shower registry. Now let me tell you, my previous policy dealing with baby goods was to ignore them. Not only because I didn’t need them, but also because I find the marketing for them completely repugnant. In case you hadn’t noticed, most baby good are marketed either overtly or covertly with a “you’re a bad parent if you don’t have this” message. So, my defense mechanism has typically been to filter baby good information to the point of ignoring it.

You might see the internal conflict developing here.

Am I nervous about being a dad? Not really. I can’t do any worse than the freaks who haul their toddler into (Wal-Mart, Meijer’s, take your pick) in the wee hours and then smack them up if they dare to cry. I’m mildly nervous about budgeting and such, dropping the kid on her head,sure. But I’m downright perturbed at the idea of having to willingly absorb baby marketing.

Now, that said, Mindy & I went out last weekend, and it really wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. Mindy softened the blow quite a bit. I had fun taking pictures and making the store staff nervous. Now, I am ready to be barfed/shit/snot/god-knows-what-else on. The speech about “humans are a virus” from Agent Smith in the first Matrix comes to mind.

More pics on the Flickr control too.

Here’s Mindy at roughly 5 months. Enjoy.

-D.

Obligatory pregancy shot

Originally uploaded by dpapas665

We are on our one week full press to complete as much kitchen as we can before the 4th annual “It Aint Hot Out Yet / Mindy’s B-Day Cookout Extravaganza”.  I’m taking the week off as is Mindy and slugging it out.  Keep checking in, I’ll update the Flickr set as often as I can.

-D.