Germs and 500WC

The month of germs.

Right after my last post, the Muffin came down with a bacterial sinus infection that spread to his eyes. In a word: gross. Quoting his pediatrician: 'Wow. That's a lot of snot. Gross.'

So, a round of antibiotics finally cleared up that. Then he started teething, one of the fat ones in the back. He's a terrible teether, rash, fever, the whole shebang. Then he developed a staph infection which spread from his face to his whole body.

More antibiotics which were done a week ago and so far nothing else has reared up to complicate things.

I am cautiously optimistic that we may be done with infections for a little while.

Yikes. And poor Muffin. Oh, and a kid bit him at daycare. He hardly cried at all, they said. My brave little man!

But enough gushing about the baby.

This chapter took me a long time to write. Obviously Colton is physically attracted to Renee, but I felt it was more an emotional aftershock of the trauma of the explosion. Now, however, it is time he started getting his feeling sorted out.

Which is why I think I will shift the narrative to Renee. It seems like a good place to alter things. They're leaving the country. You'll see the Colton has started wondering what Renee's real feelings about all this are.

And maybe a change will provide some impetuous.

Here you go!

Word Count: 596

Now that Colton had imagined all the graphic scenarios that were possible, just walking out to the car made his heart race. The palm that steered Renee into the backseat was clammy and shaking. With quick looks up and down the street outside his gate, he slid in next to his wife.

Police cars blocked the lower end of the street, a mass of journalists beyond.

Renee looked amused. “All the mystery is only encouraging them.”

“Best I could come up with.” He clipped, as the car moved toward the gate. The heavy steel moved smoothly inward, achingly slow to Colton’s nerves.

“I should have worn those huge movie star sunglasses.” She continued. “And taken a separate car. Then you should let it leak you’ve fired Alice. The headlines!”

Colton turned to snap at her flippancy. The sharp words died in his mouth. Her smile was bright, but forced. Her brown eyes also darted across the road, her hands gripped together in her lap.

He placed his hand over them, trying to comfort her. Her smile faltered a bit, but she only gave a little laugh and subsided.

Moreno strode up to the lead police car. His grimace was obvious and Colton promised himself he would donate generously to the Policeman’s Fund this year. A legacy, if they could just get to the airport unmolested.

A wave, a fresh blast of sirens and they were off.

As they pulled into the street, Colton saw his overwrought imagination had failed him. There were no flashes of light from the media beyond the barricade. A sea of mobiles held aloft reflected in the rearview. It removed some of the drama and romance from the situation.

Colton had to control his breathing as they followed Moreno along the street so he wouldn’t hyper ventilate. An unexpected laugh bubbled up before he could stop it. He pointed out the tinted window, directing Renee’s gaze to the fashionable house they were passing. An old woman peered out from behind designer shades, a smart phone pressed to her ear as her lips moved rapidly.

“That house listed last year at two million Euros. Three million dollars.” He said, still grinning. Renee understood.

“I’d bet she’s going to tell her back fence neighbor all the details once we’re gone.” She agreed. “People are people, no matter the money, I suppose.”

“You’ve certainly upset the neighborhood. The old guard must be horrified.”

Renee’s smile was fake again. “’American trash,’ is what I’m called today. Another tabloid speculates I’m either some con-artist or a Russian operative. How they came up with both those theories from the same evidence…”

Colton had to bite back another bark of command. Perhaps his hypersensitivity to the possible dangers extended to his wife as well. She was trying to make light of it for his sake, showing a brave façade to cover her own hurt and fear.

Colton had thought of her actions that day ceaselessly since he woke aching the following morning. He empathized with what she had felt, why she had acted. But after? What was she feeling now? Her perpetual cheeriness tended to grate on him. Was that all an act as well, covering up how terrified she was? How terrified she was of him?

“We’re at the main road, sir.”

“Good. Get us out of here.” Colton ordered. Renee stiffened as he slid an arm behind her shoulders. He pressed a kiss to her head, smelling his shampoo in her hair once more.

“Don’t worry, Renee.” He said quietly. “I promise I will keep you safe.”

 

500 WC

Er...I'm getting to the end of stuff I already have written.  I'll have to get my butt in gear and start working on this again.  But I do have an excuse!  The muffin has learned to roll over.  So know I go around putting him on his back on purpose just to watch him flop over on his tummy and grin with elation at his new trick.  :)




Alice was dead silent for a good thirty seconds.

“Alice?” Colton chanced timidly.

“I don’t know whether to give you a medal or shoot you, Colton.”

“I had to!” he protested, trying to keep his voice down. “They were going to arrest her and Git-mo her no matter what the video showed.”

“And so you married her?”

“It seemed a good idea at the time.”

“And she’s pretending.”

“Yes.”

“And she’ll keep pretending until you two can divorce in like two years or something.”

“Yes.”

Alice laughed again. “Who knows, maybe she is gay?”

“Alice!”

"Colton Savage, you are a moron.”

Colton agreed whole-heartedly. “What do I do?”

“You’re asking me?”

“Please, Alice!”

She snorted. “Enjoy it while it lasts, I suppose.”

“Alice!”

“What?”

“I am not sleeping with Renee!”

“Why not?”

“Alice!”

“You’ve boinked every other girlfriend you’ve had.”

“That’s not true. And Renee isn’t my girlfriend.”

“No. She’s your wife.”

“Please, Alice-”

“Is that why that Felicia woman was so pissed?”

“I didn’t tell her the truth.”

“Even worse. You dumped a swimsuit model for some chubby holiday fling.”

“Renee is not chubby!”

“Oh? What is she, Colton?” Alice purred at him. “Do tell.”

He bit his tongue, hissing at her in his fury. “I’m hanging up.”

“Do what I said, Colton. It will make it easier on you both. Maybe.”

“Alice!”

“I thought you were hanging up.”

“I can’t just go around kissing her!”

“Why not?”

“It wouldn’t be fair.”

“To whom?”

“To Renee!”

“But you wouldn’t mind?”

Colton swore and jabbed at his phone. He was going to fire Alice the second he got the courage to call her back.

Renee was curled up on her bed again.

Colton sighed heavily, knocking lightly on the door.

“Hey,” he said.

She grunted at him, clearly not pleased with him at the moment. He wasn’t either.

“I called Alice.”

“So?”

“I think she thinks its funny.”

“Ha ha ha.” Renee bit out. “So, so funny.”

“And I told her the truth. About us.”

Renee sat up and glared at him. “Why?”

“She deserves to know. I trust her with everything.”

Renee’s frown only deepened, her eyes narrowed. “And what did she say?”

Colton couldn’t help his blush. “Just what you would expect, I guess.”

Renne flopped back down. “My parents saw it.”

He winced. “And?”

“And they’re pissed, of course. Dad’s ready to hunt the guy down and chop him to bits. That jerk’s lucky we’re not back in Idaho. They’d never find his body.”

Colton was in complete agreement with Jake White. “I’d help,” he growled. Renee lifted her head to peer at him. She smiled suddenly.

“I’ll be okay.” She said. “Its more the shock, I think. I’d never have imagined I’d be on the news like this. That I’d stop a terrorist.”

That I would have married you.

Colton heard the words. She did, too. She blushed and looked away.

“Let’s stay in for a few days,” she said softly.

Colton jerked a nod and left her alone.

500 Word Challenge

Here's some more!  The muffin is growing and growing!  My train of thought usually goes like this:  I should post something...squee! look how cute he is...baby snuggles...  So yeah, blogging will eternally be trumped by baby snuggles.  But he's sleeping now, so I have a moment of sanity to do something useful. :)


500 WC

He convinced himself to stay home another day.

Alice was mildly reproving, telling him how much work she had waiting for him on his return.

Colton hung up feeling guilty and frustrated. And angry that he didn’t know why.

He went down to the kitchen and methodically ate the steaming breakfast Rosa put before him. He was dreading getting on the computer, of a search of Renee’s name bringing up some unknown picture and tag line.

He should have gone into work.

“What the-?!” Renee shouted from the living room. He flinched, setting his fork down. He went to see what had dragged so much profanity from her lips.

“What is it?” he asked wearily.

She pointed at the screen, her mouth wide and horrified. Colton made himself look.

The picture was of her and Alice, arm in arm, as they had been in front of the restaurant. Colton read the scrolling captions, getting the gist of the problem from them and the photo of him standing alone that flashed across the screen next.

“Call Alice and warn her.” Renee said in a hard voice.

“I will.”

“Is she a lesbian?”

“No.” Colton said firmly, absolutely sure of his secretary’s romantic preferences. “Its just slander. Don’t worry about it.”

The glare she leveled at him told him what she thought of his stupid suggestion. He winced. “I mean, try not to worry about it.”

She snorted and jabbed the remote. The screen went blank, reflecting Renee’s face in the bright sunlight.

Colton sighed and crossed to her.

“Its just talk.” He said gently, his hand on her shoulder. “It will die down in a few days. Besides, I know your not gay-”

“I don’t care about that!” Renee snapped, wiping her cheeks. “I care that they would dare even say anything! How dare that man take my picture and post it all over, making up lies about me?”

Colton didn’t have an answer, so just patted her shoulder lamely instead. “Sorry, Renee.”

She smacked his hand away and stalked out, her fists clenched.

Colton dialed Alice again.

“Yes?”

“Do a search of Renee in Google or something.” He could here the chatter of her keyboard, then a long minute of silence.

Alice was even more inventive than Renee.

“Sorry, Alice.” Colton said. “Really, I am.”

She started laughing all of sudden. “My mother is going to have a fit when she sees this!”

“Really, Alice-”

“Oh, I know. Don’t worry about it.” She sighed, though. “How is Renee taking it?”

Colton winced as something heavy slammed upstairs. It sounded like her dresser hitting the floor. “Not very well.”

“Poor girl. Easy to fix though.”

“How?” Colton demanded.

Alice laughed again. “Just get caught making out somewhere public. They’ll be so distracted by that that they’ll forget about our supposed love triangle.”

“Absolutely not!” Colton snapped.

“Why not?”

Colton caught himself. Alice didn’t know. Alice deserved to know, now that she was sucked into it.

“Look, Alice, its like this.”

“Uh-oh.”

500 Word Challenge

So when I said I was back, I really meant that I would think about posting and then forget a minute later.  Sorry!

But, as of this instant: the baby is asleep, all my houseworky things are done and I have no business stuff to do.  It took me a moment to realize - I have hobbies!  I can knit or read or...write something!  Now, I'm sure the second I get into something, he'll wake up, but!  I can try.

Here is the next bit of my 500 word challenge.  If you have forgotten where we are (as I have) I'll understand. :)  Enjoy!

(it took me a few minutes to find the right file, that's how long I hadn't worked on it.  Sigh...but babies are worth it!)



He wished she would stop wearing dresses that made her look like a fourties’s pin-up girl.

Colton helped Renee out of the car, gratefully giving her hand up to her father to turn back and help her mother out.

Alice was waiting, in her usual fashion forward clothing explosion.

“Here’s the phone,” she said tartly, hading it over. “I expect a very nice bottle of champagne for working this evening, Mr. Savage.”

He grinned at her. “Of course.”

She sniffed and went to link arms with Renee. Colton watched them whisper to each other, scowling. He didn’t need Alice keeping secrets form him.

The bright flash of a camera nearly blinded him.

Renee blinked dazedly, holding her hand in front of her eyes.

“Do you mind?” she snapped. The man standing before her started jabbering at her, asking her questions.

Colton stepped up, talking over his rambling Spanish.

“Excuse us,” he said firmly, steering Renee around him. The windows of the restaurants flashed whitely a few more times until they were safely inside.

“What was that?” Renee hissed at him.

Colton only scowled, watching the man talk on a cell from inside the front doors. “I think he recognized you.”

“From where?”

“You’ve been all over the news,” he told her.

She rolled her eyes. “I know. Somehow they got a hold of my driver’s license photo.”

Colton put aside his uneasiness and followed the matre de to their table. Her parents were scowling, too, clearly as little pleased with the paparazzi as he was.

The food was excellent. Renee’s parents had endless stories about their students blowing things up in science classes. Alice and Renee giggled like old friends the entire time.

Colton couldn’t wait to get home. Get inside his house and away from whoever had taken Renee’s picture and was doing who knows what with it.

Renee kicked off her expensive heels the instant they were back at the house.

“Super cute to look at, not so cute to wear,” she complained, rubbing her feet.

Colton didn’t have an opinion he cared to express, so just grunted.

“Thanks for dinner,” she said.

“No problem.”

She yawned. “I’m going to bed. Night!”

He watched as she scooped up her shoes and went up the stairs.

With an increasing familiar feeling of dread, he went to his office and woke up the computer. He pecked at the keyboard, inputting a search into Google.

Renee White

Her picture popped up immediately, followed by headlines dated from today all the way back to the attack. He followed a link from the morning, a press release stating she had been questioned and released, no longer a person of interest in the terrorist attack. Already it had several thousand comments below the main article, ranging from disbelieving to weirdly vehement support to ED ads.

Colton closed the browser. He’d have to check where that picture surfaced tomorrow. He really hoped it wasn’t in some crazy, paranoid tabloid. But knowing his luck, it would.

 

 

Thanks for reading! - The Muffin

 



Back at last!

Whew!  the past three months have been CRAZY!!  But now that the muffin is behaving less like a gremlin and more like a human being, I have some time to write some stuff, here and in an actual novel.  I really don't remember where we were in the short story thing...I'm having a hard time remembering the character's names, to be honest.  Being a mom takes just about all my extra brain cells.

BUT!  I will go looking and post here in the next day or so.  Just wanted to warm up the old typing fingers...and see if the muffin will let me sit at the computer for five minutes without wailing.

To tide you over, here's a peek at how adorable he is:

 

Look at those cheeks!  I have to pinch them all the time!  They are so CHUBBY!!!

A Weird Thing

So, as I'm sure I've said a least a hundred times before, my husband is awesome.

And, no, that's not the weird thing.

It goes something like this:

Husband read my book for the second time and made all sorts of helpful notes and things in the margins, crossing out unnecessary words and scribbling little question marks where he was confused.  We sort of worked in tandem, me editing a chapter or two, then him reading some more.  It took awhile, but you know that whole day job and housework thingy...

Then all at once, he got way ahead of me, finishing it in one fell swoop.  He presented me with the manuscript binder with his usual and always heartwarming: 'It's good!"

Then it sat for several months.  Admittedly, some of those months I felt like curling into a ball and sleeping through my every-second-morning-sickness.  (Oh, wait, that's pretty much exactly what I did.)  Now, though, I have had several months where I feel great, even if there is a small life form doing jumping jacks in my lower abdomen all the time.  But I still didn't work on my edits.

I honestly, truly felt...scared of editing.  I really can't explain it.  I had a huge amount of trepidation about editing this manuscript again.  I didn't want to read it, or think about it or look at Husband's ideas.

I was convinced it was all terrible and trite and stupid and that I would hate it if I had to face it again.  Which is silly, because it is good, tooting my own horn notwithstanding.

It was weird.

Today I finally worked up enough courage to plow through the end of the book.  And contrary to my fears (duh) he only had some minor things he thought I should adjust.  Like one bit where I smooshed two different parts together and it was night in one and day in the other.  Easy fix.  Also, there were a few times I forgot a period.

Honestly?  Honestly?  I was all worked up about missing punctuation?  But I can't explain it.  I still have a vague and restless sense of disease when I look at the green binder, like I want to stuff it in my 'old scribbled-on manuscript' box I keep shoved under the couch (we have a tiny apartment and a futon with a foot of space underneath = storage!).

I am the first to admit when I write something that stinks.  Sometimes it stinks because it hasn't been thought out quite right, or the story is weak or whatever.

This is the first time I have irrationally wanted to just shred something and give up.

It is unsettling.  I don't like it.  I'm trying to blame baby-hormones, since yesterday I totally melted down despairing over my inability to make pie dough that rolls out smoothly while Husband gave me hugs and tried not to laugh.  Serious stuff, I know
So, I'm not exactly sure what to do.  Other than give birth to a baby.  However, as that is still some time away, I need some different ideas.  I like the 'suck it up' mentality, but that only gets things done and actually doesn't dispel my suddenly wavering confidence.

As I obviously don't have an answer right now, I'm simply going to congratulate myself on my bravery for editing at all and let the green binder sit once more.  I have one more chapter to work on, but it needs some tinkering and I don't think I can face that right now.

BOY!!!! And other stuff...

Husband and I are having a boy!  The Muffin is scheduled to be here mid-June, so expect me to be out of action right around then. (Like I've been super posty recently...eye roll).

And there is no doubt about Muffin being...ahem... male.  He was wiggling like crazy all during the ultrasound exam.  (He's wiggling around right now, btw.  He never seems to stop.  Joy).  Right at the end, he flipped around and we got a beautiful picture of his butt cheeks and his...you know.  Definitely a boy.  I'll save it to embarrass him with one day.

Excited!

In other news, I'm still in a writing dearth.  But I do have a very silly, fluffy story that I started a while ago.  I set myself a couple of challenges on it.

First, each section was only to be 500 words.  I know, right?  How could I, Madame Verbose-a-lot, keep each scene to 500 words?  It was hard, but I did okay, though some 'scenes' cheat a bit.

Second, I wanted it to be in the 'summer read slightly incredible romance' category.  Nothing too serious or realistic.

It's very silly.  It doesn't have a name, so I'll just tag it 500-word or something.  I'll put up the first 'chapter' tomorrow.

Enjoy you're weekend!

E.T.



Becca's Story Chapter Eighteen and other news

Now that the Christmas crazies are over and the Muffin is allowing me to feel like a human being once more (as opposed to a blob of constantly nauseous goo) here's some awesome news!

Becca's Story Chapter Sixteen

Hi!  Hope everbody's holiday is going good!  I managed to stay awake all day yesterday...I know, pretty cool.  And the Muffin says hello:

:)

        Alva woke me the next morning. Her expression told me Malcolm had told her what we had spoken of. I washed quickly in the bathroom and went down to breakfast. I didn’t want to, but I also didn’t want to be thought a sulk. And I didn’t like leaving Kevin in Elsie’s power.

Scowling as my face heated, I paused a moment outside the kitchen to gather my thoughts. Will power, Malcolm had said. Well, I’d show them what will power could do.

Kevin eyed me warily as I entered and sat across from him. He was eating a bowl of oatmeal.

“Morning,” he said cautiously.

“Good morning,” I returned pleasantly. He winced.

Alva plunked a bowl in front of me and dumped a mound of steaming cereal in it. All the usual accoutrements for oatmeal were laid out on the table. Grabbing the milk and the brown sugar, I prepared my breakfast.

Alva went out. Kevin’s hand closed around my wrist.

“What did Malcolm say to you?” he hissed, his fingers tight. He gave me a shake before I could dissemble. “You’re angry. Why?”

I couldn’t look at him. “It’s nothing.”

He swore and jerked back. He slammed his spoon to the table and stood.

“He won’t tell you,” I said as Kevin made for the door.

“Like hell he won’t,” Kevin growled.

Of course Elsie was the next person to enter. I shot her back a glare of loathing as she fetched a bowl from the cupboard.

“Where’s Kevin?” she asked me, also eying me warily.

I shrugged. “He left.”

She made half a grunt and tucked into her food. Raised voices down the hall betrayed his location.

Alva poked her head into the kitchen. “Who’s yelling at Malcolm?”

“Kevin,” I said. Torn between laughter and sheer fury, I smiled.

Alva rolled her eyes. “Not even twenty-four hours. Those two…” she shook her head. I wondered if her act was all for Elsie or if she meant to try to fool me as well. But I caught her sharp looks as she bustled around the kitchen.

“Why don’t you use magic?” I asked as she measured things into a bowl.

“Hhmm?”

“To cook. It would be easier.”

She nodded. “Yes. But I like to cook. And when the children are gone, I only have to cook for a few.”

Kevin came back. He didn’t look angry at all. He grinned boyishly at Alva. “Any more oatmeal?”

She sighed and ladled him out another glob. Elsie immediately launched into conversation. I listened absently.

“Becca.” I blinked, broken from my preoccupied stare at the wall.

“Yes?”

“I want to talk to you about your Quest.” Kevin stood, gesturing for me to follow. I followed, keeping my face in a mildly interested expression. Kevin glanced back to look at me and grimaced, but said nothing. We went into Malcolm’s office again, but the man wasn’t there. At least, I hoped he wasn’t there. Maybe he could turn invisible or something.

“Can you turn invisible?” I asked Kevin.

“Can I what?”

“Be invisible.”

He frowned. “I don’t know. I’ve never tried.”

“Why not?” It seemed like the first thing I would learn, if I was magic. Which I wasn’t, I thought fiercely.

He shrugged. “Never had a reason to, I suppose.”

We sat in silence for a few minutes. I left it up to him to break it. He did, by shifting in his chair and clearing his throat. “Look, Becca.”

“Yes?”

“About…about Elsie.”

I frowned in a confused fashion. “What about her?”

Kevin’s eyes moved over my face. “We’re friends.”

I nodded. “Yes, I know.”

“Just friends.”

I looked at him blankly. “So?”

He frowned then, too. “So…I just wanted to tell you.”

I laughed a little. “Obvious isn’t it? She hasn’t stopped talking to you or about you since she got here.” I sent him a sly look. “Maybe she’s got a crush on you.”

He was perplexed now and angry about it. “Becca!”

I shrugged. “She did kiss you yesterday. Is that a magic thing? Because I’m punching anyone who tries to kiss me.” I kept my smile in place, reveling in his frustration with my obtuseness.

He took a slow, self-control inducing breath and changed the subject. “Though I know you sent us after Strenton for a reason, I don’t know what it is.”

I nodded. “Me, neither.”

“And,” he continued. “Until we do know, I think we should focus on finding a way to stop this curse. I know…” his voice broke a little and I had a pang of guilt for taunting him a moment ago. “I know that you think you’re going to have to die to stop it.”

I nodded again, slower. “I do.”

“The problem with that,” he said, not meeting my eyes. “Is that you can’t be killed. I can’t hurt you. I…” he hesitated again. “I don’t think I could.”

I understood. “I wouldn’t ask it of you. You’re my friend.”

Something flashed across his face, darkening his eyes. “You’d have to kill yourself.”

“I know.” The weight I was already feeling on my shoulders intensified.

Kevin leaned forward, staring at his hands resting palm up on his knees. “Here’s the problem, Becca. I will not help you find a way to kill yourself.”

I stared at the crown of his head. “You mean, you’re not going to help me anymore?”

He swore. “No!” he snapped. “I mean, yes, I’ll help. But there has to be a way to lift your curse, to stop it. Someway other than you dying.”

I smiled sadly, forgetting our quarrel as I reached for his hand. He closed his fingers around mine, squeezing them tightly.

“Kevin,” I began gently.

“No,” he repeated stubbornly. “We have time. Give me time. We’ll find a way. There has to be a way.”

“And if there isn’t?”

“Give me time,” he said fiercely, jerking his head up to glare at me. “We have time. I will find a way to stop it.”

I sighed. “Yes, Kevin.”

Some of the tension left his face, his shoulders relaxing. We sat and simply looked at each other for a moment, his glowing eyes on mine.

The door opened.

“Oh!” Elsie exclaimed, coming to a halt. “Sorry,” she said, ginning at us.

“What is it?” Kevin asked smoothly, letting my hand go. We both sat back.

“Malcolm would like to do some testing on Becca,” she told him, ignoring me as I expected.

“Sounds like a good idea,” I said, standing. “Where is he?”

“Outside,” she waved in the direction of the front lawn. I went out without looking back.

It's Alive! Plus: Becca's Story Chapter Fifteen

Okay!  We're back in business.  I got a new power cord for my laptop and it's working again!  My anti-virus software about had a heart attack when I turned it on for the first time in a week.  But now we're all sorted and ready to go.

The things dreams are made of

So, part of my being preggars is that I am freaking exhausted all the time.  If I sit down on anything moderately comfortable, I start to fall asleep.  This poses problems for activities like driving.  Good thing its winter and I can blast cold air in my face.

Anyway, one side effect of this ridiculous amount of sleep I am getting (somewhat involuntarily) is I have been dreaming A LOT more.  And not just vague picking out socks at the store dreams.  I am having full on rollicking adventure dreams, which are not conducive to a restful repose.

I am trying to sleep less all the time and more at night, but even then my sweet slumbers are invaded by aliens and robots, a cross between Indiana Jones and James Bond, and I am always in a hurry, running from something, chasing something, etc.

I just woke up from one of these episodes about a monster/demon in a trash can chasing me through a high rise apartment building.  I jumped and somehow faked my own death, but was rescued by my husband, who apparently wasn't my husband yet, because then we got married.

Seriously, how can I get good rest for the Muffin with that going on in my head all the time?

Sheesh...

And Then There Were Four

Well, more like three and a half.

For the past few years our family has looked like this:

Me:

That's a statute of Aphrodite.  I cropped out the racy bits.

Husband:

Add a carriage-mounted machine gun to the top and he could die happy.

Puppy:

This is what she thinks she looks like anyway.

She is actually more like this:

Squirrels beware.

And introducing!

The Muffin!

Er, I don't have a better name to call it yet.  Husabnd voited for 'bun,' as in: I've a bun in my oven...

We have to wait until we find out if it's a girl or a boy.

And by the way:

I AM SO EXCITED!!!!!!!!!