Temptation all around

I've been feeling fat lately-uh, let me start over. This is Adam, and I've been feeling fat lately. I've even started working out. Well, I've tried to create the habit of running a few times a week. Some weeks I'm more successful than others.
Today I got back on the running horse. I run a 3 mile loop around the neighborhood. Not much, but I feel better afterward.

Today I felt fat. Laura saw me looking at my gut and mentioned that I haven't run for a few days. She then went on to remind me that the last time she encouraged me to go out I bit her head off, so she wasn't telling me anything, just observing. I told her she needs to encourage me even if I bite her head off. She told me to go run. I yelled at her that "I just got home and I'm tired." She backed off. She's not very good at encouraging sometimes.

Actually, she's been downright bad today. I eventually went out for a run. And I felt better when I returned. But I came home to chocolate cake dips and the ingredients for Monkey Bread: cinnamon roll dough dipped in butter rolled in cinnamon sugar. And I'm supposed to stay in shape in this house? Yeah, right.

Swagbucks

So Laura and I are digging into the farthest recesses of the internet to get any kind of financial benefit. One of the most recent findings is Swagbucks. It is simple: you search, you earn points, you redeem those points for stuff. For us, the goal is a gift card to Amazon.

Guess what? You can Swag, too! All you have to do is click here:

I think if you do, we also get a Swagbuck kick back. So now instead of Googling something you can Swag-it. (I love how these terms have become verbs.)

Mommy to be

Mommy to be
Originally uploaded by ilovefremont2001

Hey everybody,

Just wanted to give a quick update. Yesterday we were at the hospital for our first birthing class. It actually wasn't as bad as my nightmares. Yes, I had nightmares about it! I dreamed that everyone in the class chastised me when I said that the video of a birth was gross.

In reality, we did watch a video of a birth. And it was gross. But I didn't say anything out loud. However, Laura says that the grimace across my face said enough.

The only other item of note was the placenta sock puppet. Our instructor enjoyed swimming it around the room like it was a jellyfish. She also enjoyed placing it between her legs so as to show what the umbilical cord would look like...uh...well, you should get the picture. And if you don't then you are better off for it.

Devil in the White City

Adam and I both recently finished reading the same book: The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson. The cover describes it as "murder, magic, and madness at the fair that changed America". It chronicles the World's Fair that took place in Chicago in 1893. Well, half of the book chronicles the planning and building of the fair from an architectural perspective. The other half of the book follows a psychopathic serial killer.

Riveting. To say we loved it is an understatement. I think that it speaks to the power of Larson's writing, when I realized that I cared as much if not more about the architects as I did the victims of the psychopath. And I am not an architecture-lover by nature.

The tale of the World's Fair reads like a marvelously composed memoir. And the rest of the book reads like a gripping mystery. Oh, and did I mention this is a NONFICTION. That's right folks, it is true. And yet, you feel as if you are reading a novel from start to finish.

Adam and I both loved learning all that America produced for the first time at the fair. Shredded Wheat, the National Anthem, and a number of other fun surprises we can't bear to ruin. And the list of those that contributed to the fair or attended the fair, reads like a Who's Who of America in the early 20th century. So fascinating.

The Devil in the White City recieves two enthusiatic thumbs up from the DeClercqs.

Grocery stores

Maybe it is because I really only frequest grocery stores.

Maybe it is because workers in grocery stores are paid to be friendly.

Maybe it is because people stand in line mindlessly and therefore do things they wouldn't do in another venue.

Who knows?

All I know is that I was the recipient of three comments in the last 2 days that I just had to share.

1. Costco

Adam and I were standing in line with one thing, commenting on the woman who was in the line next to us with an entire cart full of chocolate chip cookies. I considered offering to bake the same number of cookies for her for half the price, but then I would have to get out of line to buy more chocolate chips and it didn't really seem worth it. I digress.

We were standing in line and a woman walked up to us and said "excuse me". I assumed she wanted to squeeze between us and the man in front of us. I was wrong. She handed me a business card and said "I never do this, but I am a photographer and you two are cute are obviously pregnant, so I wanted to see if you would be interested in a belly session or baby pictures?" I didn't have the heart to break her spirit and tell her that the male portion of this cute, obviously pregnant couple is also a photograper. So, I smiled, said thank you and put her card in my pocket.

See proof of photography below.

2. Albertson's

Minding my own prego business in the chip aisle. Don't ask what I bought, ok, chips are my weakness. An Albertson's employee is sweeping down the aisle. I assume that with my wide load, I am probably in the way. I try to hug the chips to get out of his way. He gives me a thumbs up, a big smile and proclaims "Pretty mommy!" as he sweeps past me.

3. Same Albertson's as #2

The cashier pointed at my belly and asked "when?" That's it, just one word. I assumed that he wanted to know when the baby in my big baby belly was due, not when is my next doctor's appointment, when was the last time I slept comfortably through the night, when did the maternity shirts stop covering the elastic waistband of my maternity jeans, or when this child was conceived... so I smiled and said March 22nd.

I try not to be THAT pregnant woman, but seriously.