Power.

I think all Kanye West videos would be made better simply by removing Kanye. I know they say, "Don't hate the player, hate the game," but with him it's flipped. I love his music - his public persona, not so much.
On the other hand, I am loving the Mavs' lineup. This is truly a good group of guys, on and off the court, and I hope they go far this year.

First Mavs game and the Diaper Derby.

We took Owen to his first Mavs game. We got great seats and everyone came along with us - Nana & Grandpa, Gigi & Poppa, even Lauren & Michael. Big O was on the Fan Cam a couple times. Not only that, Owen was in the Diaper Derby on the court! He went head to head with Jason Kidd's son (dressed as Winnie the Pooh). Owen was intimidating as the dragon, but he hasn't quite mastered crawling yet. It didn't dampen his spirits though. Go Mavs!

Scooter.

Owen is becoming a little more mobile everyday. He started on his play-mat and ended up halfway under the couch. 100% boy, and maybe an extra 5% dust bunny.

Tears of joy.

Just like the Bruins last week, the Sooners delivered another loss to the Longhorns.

This was Owen's first OU/TX game, it was a good one. So far, Owen's OU record is 4-0, a great start. We met our friends Mike and Jenn Kimbrel at a watch party to watch the Red River Rivalry kick off.

The Sooners jumped out to an early lead and on their first touchdown, the cheers went up, startling little O to tears. After explaining it to him, and quickly followed by another Sooner TD, all was well.

Good game, Sooners.

Big smile!

At the beach.

Destin, Florida this past September

What is this and can I eat it?

Reach for the stars, O.

Boomer Sooner, baby.

First gameday of his young life, and his instincts are solid. With no coaching whatsoever, he puts up the #1. Sooner born and Sooner bred.

Adorable indeed.

Awesome hat, O!

Best mashup ever.

This one's for the geeks.

Baby Owen laughing at Ellie the Dog

2 Months Old!

It is hard to believe that 2 months ago today we (and by we, I mean me--I have the stretch marks to prove it) had Owen. It has been both the best and hardest 2 months of our lives and I now know that no one can describe the emotion, the work and the changes a baby brings--you really do have to go through it to know.

I don't know what Jason and I talked about before we had him, I'm sure one day we will talk about something else, but for now I am quite content discussing bowel movements, feeding schedules, hair loss, smiles, coos, etc.

Owen had his 2 month appointment today which meant 3 shots. He took them like a champ and I think they hurt me more than him. Contrary to the picture hanging on the wall in the above photo, we did not take him to a veterinarian (although the picture did start a lively discussion about what breed of dog we would get if we had to choose). Our little guy weighed in at 12 lbs 9 oz and 23 1/2 inches long.

So little Owen, if the world wide web is around long enough for you to read this blog post one day, please know we love you more than we thought possible and will do our best to raise you right. Your daddy and I are so blessed to have you and look forward to many more happy memories and maybe even a brother or sister one day.

Bobble your head.

Currently my iPhone wallpaper. Attaboy!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

We have ourselves a series.

The Mavs first round playoff series versus the Spurs is tied up, 1-1. Game 3 is tonight in San Antonio. Here's an awesome video we put together with Green Grass Studios for the Western Conference Playoffs. It's inspired by the Nissan / Heisman Trophy commercials (Part One, Part Two) from a few years ago, where the physical embodiments of college team mascots are battling it out, chasing the trophy - my favorites being the depiction of the Sun Devil and the giant Buckeye bounding down the street like the boulder in Raiders of the Lost Ark.

The challenge we had is that many NBA team names don't easily lend themselves to physical representation. For example, how does one represent "Heat" in mascot form? Who gets to be the Dunkin' Gandalf between the Wizards and the Magic?

The Western Conference side of the Playoffs consists of the Mavericks (represented in our logo by stallion - not a literal representation but laid claim to since the 2001-02 season), Spurs, Blazers, Suns, Jazz, Nuggets, Thunder, and Lakers. Not a single fearsome mascot in the bunch. But I really love how Green Grass got creative with the video (the Jazz portion especially, because really what else could you do, because wicked flute solos aside, how scary can jazz really be?).

So check it out, and let's go Mavs!

So serious.

Where does that furrowed brow come from? That would be me.

Adorable? Yes.

To be fair, I think he was in the middle of some serious digestive business. The fact that he's still adorable while conducting his big business is a testament to his Mama's good genes. What would your shirt say?

The Grands.

Meet the Grand-Parents:

Poppa

Gigi

Nana

Grandpa

Owen wondering why he has more hair than Grandpa.

Owen.

Let the waiting begin....

40 weeks!

We are getting so close to our due date, but so far, nothing to report. The Braxton-Hicks contractions are pretty frequent but haven't turned painful. I definitely have slowed down quite a bit and am anxious to see how all of this turns out. We are packed and ready to go to the hospital but hopefully will stay at home for as long as possible for the early labor part. I promise we will do our best to keep everyone updated.

Showered!

This past weekend we had our first baby shower! I opted not to do the girly thing so we had a couples shower and I was very impressed by the male turn out (it probably helped that there was a pool table and the football game was on). Needless to say, we were overwhelmed by everyone's generosity and love for our impending arrival. I have NO pictures with my sweet hostesses but a huge thank you to Linde, Kay, Sandy, Christy and Anne. It was just perfect and we are so grateful. I am now realizing I have no pictures of the guests--if anyone has some, please send them my way, I am so bad at taking pictures and really need to work on this before Jason Jr. comes.

Owl and snail onesies from Jeff and Linde. Love them!

Forcing Jason in on the gift opening action.

I stole this picture from Kay's blog--Megan, Me, Kay and Sarah. Yes, I have gained 48 lbs. already but my dr. hasn't lectured me, so I'm not too worried.

What I listened to most in '09.

I realize it's a little late, but I've had this list made on my iTunes for over a month and am just now getting around to putting it down for posterity. If I were feeling really ambitious I might also consider putting together a list of my top albums of the decade; alas, if I were feeling ambitious.

Like last year, my criteria was not only play-count, but what records this year I've actually told people about. Unlike last year, I didn't feel there were as many obvious choices for the list this go 'round. Nevertheless - my favorite word - in no particular order:

Samamidon - All Is Well
This is actually from last year, but I didn't hear of it until the first of January in '09 (from a best of '08 list, coincidentally) and it is one I have recommended to several people. Samamidon is Sam Amidon and this album of re-arranged traditional folk songs (mostly Appalachian) is haunting and beautiful. The arrangements are simultaneously sparse and lush, and deceptively simple. Sam's voice is unique in the weirdest way, I've read it described as "not un-pretty" which I can't help but agree with because it is by no means conventional. Your first instinct upon hearing him is to think, "this guy can't sing" but given a listen, the album is nostalgic, moving and surprisingly modern.
Standout track(s): "Wild Bill Jones" and "All Is Well"

Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
A breakthrough for the French electronic-indie band. You've likely heard several of their songs in commercials, but this is hands-down one of the best feel-good albums of the past year. Not a bad track on the album.
Standout track: "Lisztomania"

Mumford and Sons - Sigh No More
I love this album. A late find in 2009, an English band who sound like they came down from the hills of Kentucky, much like Old Crow Medicine Show. There's a darkness to the music that puts a Southern Gothic touch on the album but its tempered with a spirituality that's the silver lining on the storm clouds. Look at me waxing poetic.
Standout track: "The Cave"

Pete Yorn - Back & Fourth and Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson - Break Up
Pete Yorn was busy last year, putting out his fourth solo album, Back & Fourth, and teaming with Scarlett Johansson for Break Up. It's a return to form for Pete who's first album, musicforthemorningafter has been on my all-time fave list since it came out in 2001. A lot of standout tracks on the album but topping the play count list is "Last Summer." A non-stop driving pop/rock song. The collaboration with Scarlett was inspired (by Serge Gainsbourg's 1967 and 1968 albums with Brigitte Bardot) and inspiring. The pairing of the two makes for some remarkable duets and is much better showcase for her than her '08 solo effort of Tom Waits covers, especially notable on the track "Clean."
Standout track(s): Back & Fourth "Last Summer"; Break Up "Search Your Heart"

Pearl Jam - Backspacer
This album has the song that I will always associate the year. "The Fixer" shows the positive side of Pearl Jam, long known for being the brooding pioneers of grunge. Start to finish though, this album ranks up in the top three of PJ's career. It has all the elements of a great Pearl Jam record - heartbreak stories, rock & roll poetry, thoughts on mortality, the spectrum of music from punk to acoustic ballad, and the prerequisite surfer song. Interestingly enough, the other Pearl Jam track that I'll always associate with 2009 is their self-titled album's "Unemployable."
Standout track: "The Fixer"

The Joy Formidable - A Balloon Called Moaning
This band is one I was lucky to stumble across because outside of the U.K. and Northern Wales where they are from, they are grossly overlooked and under-appreciated. I'm not entirely sure how to describe them either, which may be part of the problem. But I've read their music described as, "epic, melodic, hand-shandy pop from a band who understand the true joys of life." Summing it up best is Ritzy Bryan, who called the band she fronts, "sometimes-pretty-with-twirling-melody/sometimes-corruscating-with-crashing-chords guitar and elegant but energised vocals." Sounds about right.
Standout track: "The Greatest Light Is The Greatest Shade"

Horse Feathers - House With No Home
This record actually came out September 2008, but didn't come to my attention until January of last year. Coupled with their 2006 release Words Are Dead, which I quickly tracked down after falling in love with the Horse Feathers sound - a trio consisting of a guitar, cello and violin with a vocal style reminiscent of Iron & Wine. Most of the numerous plays these albums got came while reading the Michael Chabon novel, The Yiddish Policemen's Union. Set in Alaska, the music of the Portland band worked well providing both a tone and atmosphere for the book. Subsequently, the book and the band are inextricably linked both to each other and 2009. There you go, a book recommendation to boot.
Standout track(s): Words Are Dead "In Our Blood"; House With No Home "Curs In The Weeds"

Dead Man's Bones - Dead Man's Bones
See my review of DMB (not Dave Matthews Band - though he released a decent album in '09 as well) in my post in October.
Standout track: "Pa Pa Power"

Matt & Kim - Grand
Joyous piano and drums music. A no-frills production (down to the band name) that are known for their raucous live shows and infectious energy. Also has one of the best lines due to its spiritual implications, when the bespectacled Matt sings, "I know that one day I'll see without these frames." Putting my own meaning on it - and since I wear glasses, I feel I'm entitled to - he's speaking of the day we enter the Kingdom of God. Amen to that, Four Eyes.
Standout track: "Daylight"

Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
She easily has one of the best voices in music today. I first heard her in the unfortunately named ensemble The New Pornographers where she stole nearly every track she sang on. Here she owns the whole show and has been christened the Queen of Indie Folk/Rock Music.
Standout track: "People Got A Lotta Nerve"

Honorable Mentions: U2 - No Line On The Horizon, Various Artists - Dark Was The Night, Original Motion Soundtrack - Away We Go, Grizzly Bear - Veckatimist

You ought to respond with your own list, I love hearing what folks are listening to.

Eduardo Najera is back with the Mavs.

Najera is a former OU basketball star and one of my all-time favorite players. He helped OU to four consecutive NCAA tournament appearances during his college career, as well as finishing in the school's all-time top ten in nine statistical categories. Before being drafted into the NBA in 2000 by the Mavs, Najera received rave reviews from scouts, who boasted on Najera's quick first step and extraordinary rebounding ability. He is only the second Mexican-born player to join the NBA. He was the first Mexican player to be drafted into the NBA. His first four years were with the Mavs where he became a fan favorite for his energy, rebounding and his tenacity on defense. The Mavs lost him in the trade to Golden State that brought Dampier to Dallas, and since then, he's been to Denver and most recently the dismal New Jersey Nets. But now...he's back in Big D!
Click on the article link below.


Najera can't stop smiling after trade back to Mavericks | Dallas Mavericks News | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News

It's a little sad to see Kris Humphries go, but at least he will get more playing time on the Nets as they do their best to not end this season as the NBA team with the worst record of all time.

Posted using ShareThis