Tasty tasty

Mmmm chocolate cupcakes stuffed with nutella cream and a ganache glaze for Christie's neighborhood party...

Lazy Luna....

Luna in her spot, the laziest dog ever...

More shoes...

This girl collects clearance shoes almost as fast as her mother and she's not even born yet....

Its a Boy!?!?!?

And he's furry! Trying out the new hand me down stroller car seat system...

Another night...

So Marie seems to finally be getting some sleep, unfortunately its on the couch, so we'll see how long that lasts. She'll probably wake up in a bit and be unable to sleep all night. The little one seems to like to kick her at inconvenient times, and I really imagine that a kick to the bladder is no fun.

I signed up to take the patent bar, and my check went through, so I guess that means my application was accepted and I have about 3 months to take the exam. Should be a fun time. I am also taking the MPRE this Friday, though that should be considerably easier. For those of you not familiar with legal exams, the MPRE is a portion of the bar about professional responsibility, and can be taken any time during law school. I took the class last semester, so I may as well take the exam now. For your entertainment here is a sample question:

1. Attorney Alpha currently represents Builder, a building contractor and the plaintiff in a suit to recover for breach of a contract to build a house. Builder also has pending before the zoning commission a petition to rezone property Builder owns. Builder is represented by Attorney Beta in the zoning matter. Neighbor, who owns property adjoining that of Builder, has asked Alpha to represent Neighbor in opposing Builder’s petition for rezoning. Neighbor knows that Alpha represents Builder in the contract action. Is it proper for Alpha to represent Neighbor in the zoning matter?

A. Yes, if there is no common issue of law or fact between the two matters.

B. Yes, because one matter is a judicial proceeding and the other is an administrative proceeding.

C. No, because Alpha is currently representing Builder in the contract action.

D. No, if there is a possibility that both matters will be appealed to the same court.

The answer is of course C, but I'm sure you knew that. Basically a lawyer can't represent two people who are suing eachother, even if the matters he represents them on are different. So this is pretty fun stuff. :)

I have a meeting with a recruiter tomorrow, hopefully it will go well. I also spoke to an attorney at another large law firm in the city. He gave me some hope that my direction is a good one.

Well, hopefully with some sleep Marie will feel a bit better, I worry about her being stressed out too much.

Bladder kicks...ugh

3.5 hours sleep last night due to incessant kicks/punches to the bladder-funny Ian seemed to have no trouble sleeping at all! Majority of the day today spent either on the couch or watching tv in bed. Not a good day!

My irritability is contagious, the dogs have been fighting worse than normal - had to break up a fight between Sadie and Ginger (very strange).

Sad how this blog is becoming my only social outlet!
Marie

Too much politics...

So Marie recently discovered that I have a penchant for bugging our elected officials. She convinced me that Obama needed a message regarding the crazy "Birther" movement. Below is the actual email sent to whitehouse.gov:

Mr. President,
I offer a solution to the current questioning regarding your citizenship: please consider displaying an official copy of your birth certificate in a secure public venue such as the Smithsonian American History Museum or other such suitable open setting. This would enable those who question your citizenship to satisfy their misgivings in a setting that is open to all without bias or discrimination.
Frankly, my wife and I find this to be a disgraceful, disgusting, partisan driven controversy (with potential racial overtones), and we're tired of it being given any credence in the media. I fear this
distraction may detract from legitimate issues facing our country; it's time to put it behind us.
Respectfully yours,
Ian M.

First shoes

Found these today at Target on clearance, some really cute shoes for the little one. The next thing we want to get is the crib bedding... Marie is itching for it.

Week 25

The baby is kicking up a storm...pretty constant and sometimes downright distracting and borderline uncomfortable. Having trouble sleeping at night most of the time, which is making me irritable particularly in the mornings (ha ha, like right now!). I started to put away the baby's clothes, but I made sure to leave the tags on just in case this turns out to be a boy (which would only happen to me!) We cleared a bit of room in the spare bedroom, but doing so only made me realize we are out of space....too much stuff! There is no room for a changing table in the "nursery" so we are going to have to make do by changing diapers on my desk in that room. On the bright side, it will work, and it will save us money. There is just enough room for the rocking chair that my Mom is planning to get us - though I am not sure that we should get it due to the expense - we will see.
I think we have a good supply of newborn onesies...so I have to hold off on buying more of that stuff though they are very cute. Gotta work on the 3-6 month clothes now...and maybe some kids books.

Staying at home is really wearing me down. I can safely say that I hate it! I feel trapped inside this house, and the current heat wave is not cooperating at all. I can barely stand anything above the low 80s, so there are days when I don't even leave the house at all. Not a good thing for me physically or mentally....also probably why I haven't been feeling well lately. Thankfully we have taken a few day trips to the shore - the only excitement in my life these days. I need to figure out how to deal with this situation; I cannot continue on just doing chores and housework (never-ending and making me quite resentful of Ian's messy habits) day after day. I need something to look forward to each day - a reason to get out of bed!

There are many projects around the house that must be completed before the baby comes, but it is a real struggle to motivate Ian to do them. I have little momentum to get myself started, let alone try to encourage him. I fear that we will not get it done, and he will start working again and school and there then will be no time. Most of it I cannot do by myself - it is too physically demanding (installing flooring and trim and scraping paint off ceilings and walls) right now. Ian does not seem to enjoy the housework or projects, and seems to prefer watching tv or playing wii, which doesn't help matters at all...I am starting to feel a little alone in all of this and a bit of a nag. This is still a vacation of sorts to him I guess, until school and/or work starts again. For me, it is a bit of torture, with no end in sight!

Such a downer I am...don't like this at all!
Marie

I felt her kick!

Its pretty amazing and now that I've felt it I leap trying to feel it again. Though for some reason my hand seems to have a calming effect on the little one and she stops kicking. Perhaps I will be thankful for this effect later.
Its been interesting being home from work for the past week. Even now we're just starting to get into the nursery room!
We've got a lot to do to get ready!