Green thumbin' it

Linds and I were lucky enough to get gardening extraordinaire, Elizabeth Neils (a school friend of mine), for an afternoon this weekend to help revive our neglected "landscaping". A couple hours weeding, a couple hours planning and shopping, a couple hours planting and a couple months of waiting supposedly will yield a much needed flowery facelift around 4709 come springtime. Burning bush, dogwoods, coneflowers, bellflowers, bee balms abound! Now Linds is looking forward to the snow melting even before the first flurry. It's going to be a long winter!

On the prego front, Linds is still struggling with every symptom in the book and is battling a cold this week. Not fun at all. On the positive side, Linds promises a belly pic next week... and guarantees a bump!

Happy birthday dear Griff-in...

Griffin turned 2 on Saturday and we just had to celebrate it with a Backer family birthday tradition... breakfast in bed. Ridiculous? Yeah, we know.

Not a ton to report this week on the prego front. Linds still hasn't turned the corner with the nausea or headaches, but did actually make it past 9:30pm twice this week (so maybe the fatigue factor is finally waning!).

12 down, 28 to go

I'm reminded that the main reason for starting this blog was to track Lindsay's pregnancy - so, back by popular demand... here's the the belly watch entry and a few words from the future mom.

So, how have you been feeling? I’ll go with OK.
Care to expand? Nausea – Often. Fatigue – Constant. Crabbiness – Frequent. [Hey, her words, not mine!]
We had a big appointment earlier this week, did we not? Yes we did. The little buddy in my belly has a full-fledged heartbeat [I’ve got to say that was a pretty amazing moment!] and is the size of a plum. At the close of trimester #1 I’ve gained a pound or two and still feel like I look pretty normal.
Anything else you’d like say? May I be excused to go take a nap?

Well, there you go. Stay tuned.

How 'bout a (5K) beer run?

I mean how can you not do this run? It's sponsored by James Page, its just over 3 miles, nobody's keeping time, the water stops are replaced by beer stops (yes, you heard me correctly), costumes are encouraged and there are free burgers and more free beer after the race (instead of the standard energy bars and Gatorade). Linds & I skipped the costumes but brought the pups as our "flare".

Another rainy race for the Backer family, but a great time nonetheless! If you'll be in the neighborhood next year you gotta sign-up (www.pagebrewing.com/blubber_run/blubberrun.php).

Tour de St. Paul

Not much to say here that the pictures don't. Dad was up for his 2nd St. Paul Bike Classic with Lindsay (a 30-miler in and around St. Paul, MN). The difference this year... I joined the team as did several inches or rain. Good times though, really.

The Last Supper

A few days after Mom arrived, my brother Joe and his girlfriend Tisha made the trek up from Chicago as well. I guess the popular belief in my family is that I'm not a ton of fun to be around once school is in session, so everyone decided to make one last "fun" trip to Minneapolis on Labor Day weekend. The other popular belief in my family is that when they do come visit, I've got a weekend's worth of jobs lined up for everyone (painting, landscaping, etc.)... and nobody really enjoys this (who knew?). So, this particular weekend I tore up the "to do" list - we saw the sights (Stone Arch, Harriet Bandshell, Mill City, etc.) and hit up some of the local dining classics (Psyco Suzi's, Pepitos, Tuggs, etc.). You guys happy now?

(Editor's note: This entry was written after school was in session)

Puttin' for Payton

At the end of August, Linds & I (and Mom, in from Denver, CO) headed to Sartell, MN to play in the inaugural "Puttin' for Payton" golf classic. The event was a fundraiser for perinatal hospice as well as a celebration of Payton Blomstrom's very short life. It was great to see Jeff & Susan (Payton's parents) and all their supporters that day.

We learned two things that afternoon... (1) hospice can be a lifesaver and (2) don't talk in Lindsay's backswing!