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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5165450453057285644Fri, 26 Jun 2026 08:14:26 +0000Match-Up of The NightThe NotebookAt Center Court with...Countdown to 2010George HillGregg PopovichManu GinobiliOther PeopleSpurs CultureTim DuncanTony ParkerThe RosterCelticsBlog PreviewsRoger Mason Jr.Ian MahinmiLakersMalik HairstonRumorsToros WatchAustin TorosBlake AhearnBlogger MVP and ROY RankingsBruce BowenDerrick RoseDikembe MutomboMatt BonnerO.J. MayoRoger MasonSpursState of the SeasonThe ClipboardThe GrizzliesThe HornetsThe SpursTrade SpeculationVideoWatching the Rotationthe Lakers2008/9 Season2009 DraftAllen IversonAnthony TolliverCody AdamsD-LeagueDavid RobinsonDefenseDirk NowitzkiDwight HowardFrank MaddenGreenHustleJunkieJoe JohnsonJoe SmithJose CalderonKenyon MartinKobe BryantMarburyMarc GasolMark CubanMilwaukee BucksMoviesNewsNotesFromAcrossTheAssociationP.J. CarlesimoR.C. BufordReflections on a RivalRobert HorryRussell WestbrookSacramento KingsStephen JacksonStuff I wrote for other peopleSunsT-WolvesThe 76ersThe Austin TorosThe BullsThe ClippersThe HawksThe KingsThere can only be oneTiago SplitterTom ZillerTorosdraft48 Minutes of HellErratic NBA commentary from a guy with no handles, bad court vision, and a laughable jump shotnoreply@blogger.com (Graydon)Blogger284125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5165450453057285644.post-4993480451705790902Tue, 20 Jan 2009 15:01:00 +00002009-01-20T08:49:57.729-08:00NewsBrand New Day<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href=" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 175px; height: 241px;" src="; alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293418298046158194" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href=" Readers, Today is an exciting day for several reasons. Aside from the transition of power which has captured not only the attention of the nation but also the world, there is a much smaller transition which has captured the attention of a small corner of the interwebs: 48 Minutes of Hell is moving to <a href=" new location</a>. From this day forward we will no longer be operating at blogspot and will only be publishing material at 48minutesofhell.com. The second and equally if not far more exciting development is that 48 Minutes of Hell is proud to announce <a href=" we are a member of a new network being launched by ESPN.</a> Entitled the TrueHoop Network, it was pioneered by the minds of Henry Abbott and Kevin Arnovitz and will include several of the best NBA blogs available. Check them out. In the meantime, set a bookmark to www.48minutesofhell.com. -Graydon Gordian and Timothy Varner2009/01/blogfather.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Timothy Varner)30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5165450453057285644.post-7560700445979444223Mon, 19 Jan 2009 10:00:00 +00002009-01-19T03:54:05.215-08:00Spurs CultureMLK Day Musing on "Spurs Culture"Back in November Gregg Popovich was busy inculcating roster newbies into Spurs culture. Roger Mason Jr. <a href=" it up this way</a>: <blockquote>"Honestly, it's beyond expectations,'' Mason said. "The most impressive thing that I've seen Pop do is, before the election, he had us watch a video on the civil rights movement. For me, you know he has the X's and O's and that he's a great coach, but stuff like that, you don't see that.'' On Monday, with San Antonio off to an uncharacteristic 0-2 start, with back-to-back games against the Mavericks and Timberwolves looming, Popovich devoted about 45 minutes before practice -- on the eve of a historic presidential election -- to a topic that had nothing to do with his players' place and moment in time, and everything to do with it. "It was Dr. King. It was a bunch of current events on the struggles that a lot of African-Americans went through in the civil rights movement,'' Mason said. "It completely threw me off. But when I went home and reflected on it, I was like, Man, he's a special guy.''</blockquote>I'm a cynic on these days--holidays when earnest reflection is typically exceeded by token sentimentalism. I know these days are important. I'm happy we take time to mark our calendars with the most significant events of our history. But still, I'm a cynic. Hallmark Cards, the tiresome prattle of pundits, and the counterfeit care of the news anchor tear all strike a deeply disingenuous tone to me. I prefer gifts out of season to a carefully scheduled parade of gift-wrap. I'm a cynic, but I'm not completely callous. I can be touched. But the honest atheist who will not celebrate Christmas (as Christmas) earns more respect from me than the man who fakes his fa la la way through. Whether a father realizes it or not, the sincerity of his actions creates a culture for his children to live within. If he is unnecessarily absent, the sincerity of his absence creates a culture of longing and loneliness in which the children grow. If he only pays lip service I Love Yous, children will acquaint themselves with a culture of shallow, feigned affection. This kind of thing is inescapable, and adapts to scale. It's true for parents. It's true for teachers. It's true for presidents. It's true for coaches. "Spurs culture" is something of a nebulous expression. But whatever it is, it aims to be sincere, and it seeks sincerity from its contributors. Gregg Popovich was able to connect with Roger Mason through 45 minutes of sincere, unscripted reflection on the triumphs of the civil rights era. I'm convinced these sort of moments have played major contributing roles during the Spurs' decade of dominance. One can not quantify the power of a culturally defining moment, and, drastically scaling down in terms of significance, neither can one quantify the relationship between a certain type of culture and winning.2009/01/mlk-day-musing-on-spurs-culture.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Timothy Varner)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5165450453057285644.post-5774139017308986442Mon, 19 Jan 2009 09:01:00 +00002009-01-19T08:23:10.337-08:00At Center Court with...At Center Court with Brett Hainline<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href=" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 180px; height: 140px;" src="; alt="" border="0" /></a>Brett Hainline is the man over at <a href=" City Hoops</a>, the best place on the net for Bobcats analysis. In addition to keeping close tabs on the Cats, Brett also manages a <a href=" ass stats page</a>--it includes Spurs stats, o ye faithful. Clamor on over. Brett and I discuss Popovich, Brown, and some other stuff below. TV: Your recent piece entitled <a style="font-family: georgia;" href="; target="_blank">Defending a Bobcats Defense</a> was tremendous. The Bobcats are on the come up since the Richardson trade, and, based on your numbers, Diaw's defense is a contributing factor. I'm guessing Larry Brown (who I assume pushed for the trade) did not run your fancy pants numbers before saying, "yeah, get me Bell and Diaw." To what extent do you believe veteran coaches and GMs can intuit the sort of stuff your data shows? <blockquote>BH: I think coaches and GMs see enough basketball to tell who forces their man into tough shots, who gambles too much on defense, and who does a good job defending the pick and roll. But coaches have put Kobe on the All-Defensive teams 8 times, despite his sometimes flagging interest at the end of the court (before the Royal Order of Kobe Supporters tear me a new one – Kobe is a very good defender…when he tries – is that good enough to be among the league’s best for 8 seasons?) and that tells me that they can also buy into the hype and might be making some of their decisions on reputation. They saw his greatness – and then stopped looking hard at him (and others – he is not the only one to make it on his name). Like my post showed – stats can be used to paint a very detailed picture of a player’s influence on a game, far beyond just how someone scored against him. I think there is a limit to how much a person could intuitively track all the varied fields that paint a more complete picture of a defender’s abilities. </blockquote>TV: Half a season in, what's your take on Larry Brown as the Bobcats coach? <blockquote>BH: With the Bobcats seemingly headed towards merely matching last season’s win total…I am actually generally very pleased. Larry Brown has the team playing actual basketball and their defense is world’s better than last season – they currently stand 12th in the league in defensive efficiency (and even better since the Diaw trade), after finishing last year at 21st. The Bobcats are actually approaching being good at something. The offense is still a work in progress, but after a lot of early season struggling with more plays and complexity than they were accustomed, the Cats are making offensive progress. Overall, I can not complain (except about playing Juwan Howard over Ryan Hollins and Alexis Ajinca--the Cats are very unlikely to make the playoffs so why not give the kids a chance?).</blockquote>TV: For some reason, the Popovich-Brown friendship fascinates me. How would you compare the two coaches, in light of one another? <blockquote>BH: Stylistically, they seem very similar – their teams play old-school basketball (well, sort-of, depending on the era, old school was actually pretty up-tempo, but the style they play seems old-school), with a focus on defense and a slow pace. But…Pop – 13 seasons, 1 team. Larry Brown – 29 years (including ABA), 10 teams. In real world terms, one is the monogamous, long-married husband, the other a confirmed bachelor, moving from passing fancy to passing fancy. Do they secretly envy each other? What do they have in common to form their friendship around? I can only assume that, just like in real life, the answer is probably basketball.</blockquote>TV: Do you think the Cats are stuck with Adam Morrison? <blockquote>BH: Like an unwanted leg. Except I kind of want Adam around, just in case he winds up proving everyone wrong. I’d hate to see him moved elsewhere only to become a solid contributor (anything more seems like ridiculous fantasy at this point). Aside from being used in a trade to make salaries match, I do not see the Bobcats being able to trade him. After a decent start to the season, he has struggled mightily and probably forced the Bobcats into holding onto him for next year (which they already picked up, for the low, low sum of only $5 million – yay! Sigh.). </blockquote>Brett and I exchanged questions this time around, so visit <a href=" City Hoops</a> for my answers to a set of Spurs questions. And <a href=" game previews are not too shabby</a>, either. 2009/01/at-center-court-with-brett-hainline.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Timothy Varner)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5165450453057285644.post-9194818189782974215Mon, 19 Jan 2009 08:59:00 +00002009-01-19T02:18:14.740-08:00Trade SpeculationThe Trade Season Tilt-A-Whirl: Twirl No. 1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href=" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 499px; height: 257px;" src="; alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292927195654544354" border="0" /></a> <a href=" Daily Dime</a> has Spurs Nation talking about San Antonio's alleged interest in <a href=" Collison</a>. Nick Collison? Really? Positives <ul><li>excellent rebound rate</li><li>good defender</li><li>high FG%</li></ul>Negatives <ul><li>at what price?</li><li>compromises <a href="2008/12/over-last-several-weeks-handful-of-our.html">the 2010 Cap Strategy</a></li></ul>One member of a <a href=" message board </a>fired up <a href=" Trade Machine</a> and discovered that a salary dump of Vaughn, Oberto, and Udoka for Collison satisfies the CBA. Even if the Spurs included a 2009 second round draft pick(s) into the equation, one wonders if Presti would give up Collison for so little talent in return? The big variable here is how much of Fabricio Oberto's 2009/10 contract is guaranteed. The usual sites disagree, but <a href=" indicate</a> that next season's contract is only partially guaranteed. If that is the case, Presti could clear 18 million or more (depending on Oberto's contract) from his future cap--he would head into next summer with a payroll somewhere in the low to mid-30s. Right now, it looks as if only Memphis is likely to be in the same cap space neighborhood as OKC. But how much money is Michael Heisley willing to spend in a bad economy? In other words, would Sam Presti want cash to spend in a buyer's market? And in a year when the competition for talent is scarce? More specifically, does Presti want to add a Carlos Boozer or David Lee--with money enough left for, say, Zaza Pachulia--to his core of Durant, Green and Westbrook? This might be the perfect storm of opportunity for the ambitious young GM. Turning Nick Collison into Carlos Boozer would be a neat party trick. On the court Collison is an ideal fit for San Antonio, but is he worth jeopardizing their 2010 cap space? I'm not sure. Perhaps, there is a different way to ask the question. Are the Spurs playing for championships now or later? Collison is not a bit player. His presence would immediately shore up the frontline.2009/01/trade-season-tilt-whirl-twirl-no-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Timothy Varner)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5165450453057285644.post-153267302118516993Mon, 19 Jan 2009 06:50:00 +00002009-01-19T00:53:08.141-08:002008/9 SeasonDefenseIt's the Personnel, Pop<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href=" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 170px;" src="; alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292920743249480738" border="0" /></a>Jeff McDonald has turned in <a href=" should-read article</a> replete with quotes from Coach Popovich about the Spurs lackluster defense. This is typical Popovich banter, always pre-packaged and ready for arrival in mid-January. But somehow, this season, Pop's analysis strikes me as more than a motivational ploy. We've recently <a href="2008/12/notebook-bucks-spurs-12-30-08.html">written that the Spurs are not as good as their record</a>. Popovich <a href=" to agree</a>: “The only thing that's saving us is that everybody else is beating everybody else up, so our record looks basically as good as anybody else's,” Popovich said. “It's fool's gold, as far as I'm concerned.” According to McDonald, the first game stat Pop looks at is field goal percentage defense. <a href=" class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Basketbawful wrote</a> about this area of concern a couple weeks back, saying: <blockquote>This kind of shocked me, but the Spurs are only 21st in the league in field goal percentage defense (45.7), which is barely better than the Heat (45.8) and Warriors (also 45.8). The fact that they're one of the best teams in PPG allowed but one of the worst teams in FGP allowed tells you pretty much all you need to know about the pace of their games. </blockquote>It's hard to argue with the evidence, especially if you've watched any games of late. The 76ers might the toughest match up in the league for San Antonio. Their athletic 3s and 4s recently obliterated the Spurs defense, and notably Bruce Bowen. Young and Iguodala cruised to 27 and 21 points, respectively. Meanwhile, the laterally-challenged Bowen and Finley registered plus/minuses of -13 and -26. Philly scored at will. The painful truth is that the Spurs have hard-to-overcome personnel issues--not insurmountable, but terribly problematic. The Spurs will struggle to defend athletic wings. Bowen's decline causes one to wonder how effectively the Spurs will successfully limit the offense of playoff go to scorers, such as Kobe Bryant and Carmelo Anthony. In their recent game against the Lakers, Pop only gave Bowen 6 minutes of playing time (although, truth be told, I suspect Bowen was given the short hook because of offensive, not defensive, limitations). <a href="2009/01/typical-spurs-lakers-stuff-random.html">As I noted</a> after the game: <blockquote>The Spurs played last night's game with basically one swing player: Michael Finley. Ime Udoka didn't make it off the bench and Bruce Bowen logged a mere 6 minutes. The Spurs used a trio of Hill, Mason, Ginobili at one point. In the '08 Western Conference Finals, Kobe Bryant averaged 29.2 points on 53% shooting. Nothing had changed last night. It looks as if Popovich has decided that Bowen can't slow Bryant, so he might as well put his team in a better position to trade baskets.</blockquote>Coincidentally, might this offer a partial account for Pop's frequent <a href="2009/01/small-ball-spurs.html">forays into small ball?</a> When the Spurs play Kurt Thomas and Tim Duncan together, they have a front court whose foot speed is closer to slow and plodding than quick and nimble. This creates difficulties against 4s <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href=" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 195px; height: 262px;" src="; alt="" border="0" /></a>and 5s that can score by facing the basket and putting the ball on the floor. This is obviously qualified by the fact that Thomas and Duncan are on most short-lists of good defensive big men. It's no surprise then that they are an effective tandem against certain, if not most, line ups. This criticism is only relative to quick, athletic frontcourters. Thomas and Duncan can't stick with the long speedsters. Pop doesn't have a body on his bench to play alongside Duncan that is particularly suited to defend athletic, turn and face bigs. <a href="2009/01/every-team-needs-two-matt-bonners.html">Austin Croshere is not the solution to this problem</a>, no matter how much he potentially helps elsewhere. Another issue along the frontline, one that certainly contributes to an opponent's field goal percentage, is the Spurs' lack of a second shot blocker. Kurt Thomas, again, is a good defender, but he's not exactly the Sultan of Swat. Duncan hasn't played alongside a great shot-altering center since David Robinson, with Rasho Nesterovic checking in as the closest qualifier. The Spurs defense, as most readers of this site know, attempts to force perimeter players baseline and funnel them into the clutches of its shot blockers. Although it's not an absolute necessity, the Spurs D is better outfitted with twin towers who can spike the set of opposing penetration. This brings us back to <a href=" sobering piece</a>: <blockquote>“We suck on ‘D,'” Popovich said, with the “D” standing for defense. That was the entire text of Popovich's State of the Team address, as succinct as it was devastating. All follow-up questions fishing for a silver lining were quickly rebuffed. Do you mean all game long, or just in fourth quarters? “No, pretty much throughout,” Popovich said. “Both individually and team-wise, we suck. We're pretty consistent that way.” Surely there is a way to fix this problem, some sliver of hope on the horizon? “I don't know if I have an answer to that,” Popovich said. “If I did, we wouldn't suck quite so bad.”</blockquote>The Spurs can always seek to address their personnel issues through trades or free agent acquisitions, except that they are extremely short-handed on assets and teams are not looking to give away the sort of player(s) the Spurs need in return. Even if the Spurs were able to land a player who has the physical wherewithal to stand in the gap, there is no certainty he could learn the system quickly enough to boost the Spurs back into the realm of the elite. These defensive issues pose the most critical challenge to the 2008/9 championship run. Color me anxious.2009/01/its-personnel-pop.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Timothy Varner)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5165450453057285644.post-6994219303781056151Sat, 17 Jan 2009 19:42:00 +00002009-01-17T12:04:24.823-08:00Derrick RoseGeorge HillMatch-Up of The NightMatch-Up of the Night: The Curse of Graydon vs. Poor Scheduling<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href=" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 200px;" src="; border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5292355717996234530" /></a>Although I have only lived in Chicago for a little over a year, I am almost legendary amongst Chicago sports fans. For you see I have attended 8 Chicago sporting events and never once has the home town team won. Cubs, Bears, Bulls, doesn't matter. If I am present they lose. For the most part this is frustrating because I like Chicago sports teams and wish them the best. But one day a year this is a sure fire way to ensure I fall asleep with a smile on my face: The day the Spurs come town. Alas, I am not in Chicago. I am in Washington D.C. So I am not only missing the game (which is frustrating enough in its own right), but there is now the slightest chance we might lose when originally there was no shot whatsoever at a Bulls victory. Poor scheduling on my part (really, poor scheduling on whoever thought the inauguration should be in January. It's the east coast people. Can't we do this in May?). Anyways, in their first meeting this season an under-staffed Spurs squad (Parker was still out) managed to top the Bulls 98-88. I characterized that contest as a chance to compare Hill and Rose and despite whatever media hype may surround the first round pick, Hill had the better game. But Rose has continued to improve over the season while Hill's momentum has slowed a bit. The Bulls are also coming off of a particularly impressive performance against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who I happen to believe are the best team in the NBA. The Spurs, on the other hand, let their post-Laker momentum slip a bit as they got thoroughly handled by a surging Sixers squad. The game starts at 8:30 Eastern/7:30 Central.2009/01/match-up-of-night-curse-of-graydon-vs.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Graydon)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5165450453057285644.post-6698088441242941611Fri, 16 Jan 2009 20:20:00 +00002009-01-16T13:09:40.959-08:00Match-Up of The NightThe 76ersMatch-Up of the Night: Consistent Perimeter Shooting vs. Hot Perimeter ShootingI've never understood why the Spurs are labeled as a boring team. Ok, scratch that. I understand that people find our slow pace of play and defensive-minded style to be boring. But the spurs let it fly from the perimeter at an alarming rate and however worrying it may be from the perspective of offensive efficiency, I happen to find barrages of three pointers to be exciting. Which is why I am excited for this evening's contest with the 76ers. Traditionally Philly doesn't take a lot of outside shots (for the majority of the season they have had the fewest 3-point attempts of any team). But under new coach Tony DiLeo the Sixers have started <a href=" heat up from from beyond the arc:</a> <blockquote>The Sixers are near the bottom of the NBA in 3-point shooting (32.2 percent), but they've connected on 34 of 70 attempts (48.6) during their [5 game] winning streak. </blockquote>The Spurs, on the other hand, have lived and died by the long ball for a good season or two now. A look up and down the roster will reveal a whole bevy of players who love nothing more than making it rain from 24 feet away from the basket. But, unlike the Sixers, we do so at an impressively consistent rate. Bonner and Mason are amongst the top three in the league in 3-point percentage (1st and 3rd, respectively). And Ginobili, Bowen, Finley, and even Udoka can hit outside shots at a decent rate. Although the average fan may not think of Spurs-Sixers as an exciting match-up, there's a good reason to believe these two squads may provide us with a bit of fireworks this evening.2009/01/match-up-of-night-consistent-perimeter.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Graydon)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5165450453057285644.post-1556148132506932179Fri, 16 Jan 2009 17:36:00 +00002009-01-16T10:01:05.341-08:00Every Team Needs Two Matt Bonners<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href=" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 226px; height: 233px;" src="; alt="" border="0" /></a>The Spurs <a href=" signed Austin Croshere to a 10-Day contract</a>. Since it's only a 10-Day at this point, I'll simply offer a brief, off the cuff assessment. Just before learning of the signing, I posted about <a href="2009/01/small-ball-spurs.html">the Spurs fascination with small ball. </a>I encourage you to read that post, and insert "Croshere" where necessary. Austin Croshere brings 3 point offense and spacing to the table, and <a href="2008/12/rise-of-red-rocket.html">could be helpful against the Lakers</a>. Croshere has a wealth of experience. He's played in a number of playoff games, including one trip to the NBA Finals. That counts for more than a consolation prize to me. Croshere is also better than Matt Bonner at putting the ball on the floor after a ball fake. That doesn't say much, I know. But it is something. I think the two bigs could play together for short stints, as odd as that would seem. Austin Croshere is better than Anthony Tolliver, so in that limited sense the Spurs have improved themselves. The downside of this is that Spurs are now tapped-out in terms of roster space, with lingering needs for rebounding/interior defense and wing scoring. If Croshere works out, I have to imagine the Spurs plan to address at least one of those issues through a trade. It's also possible they buy out Jacque Vaughn to create a roster space, though doubtful. We'll know more in 20 days (Croshere will likely receive two 10-Days from San Antonio before they make a decision on him). For now, it's a smart look and see 10 Day for a veteran who could, theoretically, fit the system at a thin position.2009/01/every-team-needs-two-matt-bonners.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Timothy Varner)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5165450453057285644.post-6281772234935678013Fri, 16 Jan 2009 14:00:00 +00002009-01-16T09:27:01.451-08:00Gregg PopovichThe Small Ball SpursTimes have changed. If pressed, Tim Duncan will now admit to being the San Antonio Spurs starting center. Gregg Popovich's team is shape-shifting, with few observers taking notice. Tim Duncan as center is part of a broader, albeit subtle, change. The Spurs frequently moonlight as a small ball team. Gregg Popovich has always been willing to mix in small ball line ups if the action on the floor called for it. But this season, his willingness to play small has morphed into a underlying commitment; small ball is part of a larger strategy, which I'll turn to in a moment. The superficial evidence of the Spurs playing small is easy enough to spot. Michael Finley, who is really a shooting guard, plays small forward. When Ime Udoka plays, he's often used as a small ball 4. The Spurs <a href=" effective 5-man units</a> this season are small ballish. Parker, Mason, Finley, Bonner, and Duncan are the most frequent combination, boasting a win% of 68.7. Hill, Mason, Finley, Bonner, and Duncan have a gaudy win% of 80. Both of these line ups feature 4 out and 1 in---in other words, 4 perimeter players and a big. The Spurs' trot out 4 guard floor combinations like Parker, Mason, Ginobili, Finley and Duncan most games for at least a short spurt. Michael Finley does not strike me as a small ball 4, but that hasn't stopped Pop. Jeff McDonald <a href=" reported</a> these words in relation to the Warriors-Spurs early December contest: <blockquote>Ninety minutes before his team ran headfirst into a silver and black buzz saw Saturday night, Golden State coach Don Nelson stood on the AT&T Court and accused his good friend and former assistant Gregg Popovich of thievery. Nelson had just finished watching film of Popovich's Spurs team, running offensive schemes that looked more than vaguely familiar. “A lot of it he stole from me,” Nelson said with a wink......Apprised of the Xs and Os robbery charges Nelson had levied against him pregame, Popovich pled no contest. “I would imagine he's probably right,” Popovich said. “It's all either his play, or a variation.” Using Nelson's own medicine against him, the Spurs (11-8) set a season scoring high for a regulation game, surpassed only by a 129-125 double-overtime victory at Minnesota.</blockquote>Even when the Spurs play 4 out, 1 in with Duncan, there is no guarantee he'll function on the low block. As I wrote a couple weeks back, <a href="2009/01/tim-duncans-new-habits.html">Tim Duncan is more of a jump shooter this season than ever before. </a>The evidence is indisputable. The amount of time he spends stroking his mid-range game will decline some in the playoffs, where he's sure to spend lots of time on the low block. Nevertheless, Duncan is something of a face and shoot 5 this season. The Spurs also seem committed to having at least two perimeter bigs on their roster. In past seasons, this meant Horry and Bonner. This year, for a time at least, it meant Bonner and Tolliver. Now <a href=" suggest</a> that a player like Austin Croshere could be brought in to replace Anthony Tolliver. In other words, more shooting. The other small ball indicator is the Spurs love affair with the 3 pointer. They rank 5th in 3 point attempts and they shoot the league's best percentage. Some of this is circumstantial, but I'm convinced Popovich committed himself to more small ball over the offseason. If you recall, the Spurs drafted Hill, signed Mason, and flirted with free agents Jannero Pargo and Salim Stoudamire. 3 out of 4 of those players are 3 point aces, and they're all perimeter players. Am I suggesting the Spurs are the new Golden State Warriors. Not at all. But it's obvious that one of Pop's strategies this season is to open up the offense and score a little more. As you might expect, team scoring and pace are slightly higher than last season. As mentioned above, the team brought in multiple scoring options for their bench. Put differently, Hill replaced Vaughn, Mason replaced Barry, Finley replaced Bowen, and Bonner replaced Oberto/Horry. In every case, the Spurs get more scoring. The Spurs will always be a half-court team. When it matters the offense will run through Duncan. They play inside, out. All of that remains true. My point is simply to say that Popovich has committed to a distinct small ball wrinkle in this year's offense. And as Graydon lucidly described in <a href="2009/01/notebook-breathing-easy.html">yesterday's Notebook</a>, there is a telos to all this. But what? I'll call our readers back to a post I wrote earlier this season, <a href="2008/12/rise-of-red-rocket.html">The Rise of the Red Rocket</a>. Quoting myself quoting Kurt from Forum Blue and Gold quoting Jones on the NBA (got that?): <blockquote>The Kings are a bad match up for the Lakers because their centers play a perimeter game that draws Bynum and Gasol out to the three point line and opens up the lane for drives and causes the Lakers defense to break down leading to easy lay ups or open three pointers. Same thing happened against the Pacers and their perimeter oriented bigs and Detroit and Rasheed’s three point shooting from the center position. Teams with quick penetrating guards and perimeter oriented bigs will continue to be a problem for the Lakers as Farmar and Fisher will never be ball stopping guards, so if Bynum and/or Pau are out on the perimeter those guards are going to have a field day and just chop up the Lakers on defense. Against teams like the Pacers and Kings the Lakers are usually able to make up for this match up issue by outscoring them. But when the Lakers shots aren’t falling, you’re going to have issues like this. </blockquote>And quoting myself, once again: <blockquote>The Spurs are quick to respect all their opponents, but I suspect that their respect for the current Lakers squad runs a little higher. A great indicator of this respect might be found in the presence of not one but two perimeter centers on tap. It sounds pompous, but in San Antonio everything is geared toward May and June. </blockquote>Why more small ball? Yes, I think it has everything to do with the Lakers. That, and Popovich is keeping a bower back until the games start to count. Right now, he's priming the engine of his 3 and 4 guards machine. The low post machine is resting in the garage. Update: Minutes after posting this, the good bots at Google Alerts informed me that Austin Croshere has signed a 10 Day contract with San Antonio....2009/01/small-ball-spurs.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Timothy Varner)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5165450453057285644.post-8623039943191930931Fri, 16 Jan 2009 03:04:00 +00002009-01-16T07:46:55.932-08:00At Center Court with...At Center Court with Jordan Sams<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href=" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 205px; height: 220px;" src="; alt="" border="0" /></a>Tonight's game against the 76ers scares me a little---the 76ers are one of the most athletic teams in the league, which, of course, gives the greyheaded Spurs fits. Nevertheless, I press on. Jordan Sams (JSams) of <a href=" Ballers</a> holds my hand through a few Philly questions. TV: Andre Iguodala is a difficult cover. According to 82games, <a href="; target="_blank">his adjusted plus/minus</a> is one of the best in the league. Still I see him as a borderline All-Star talent. What are the most salient weaknesses of his game? What must he do to take it to the next level? <div> </div> <div></div><blockquote><div>JS: His biggest weaknesses are his jumpshot, the inability to perform in the clutch and the desire to make SportsCenter's Top 10 every time he touches the ball. The jumpshot has been falling as of late, but it's still too inconsistent to be considered good, or even average. He always comes up lame in the clutch, whether it be a missed shot or a stupid turnover, but in my opinion that's not his fault, because he's not the player who should have the ball in clutch situations. That's the coaches fault. And the whole "Top 10" comment was because he often attempts spectacular passes, shots or dunks when a simple one would get the job done, and as you can imagine, I wouldn't be mentioning this if he didn't miss or turn it over every time he tries something spectacular.</div> <div> </div> <div>To take it to the next level he needs to improve his jumpshot. That's the only true basketball skill he needs a lot of work on.</div> <div> </div> <div>If he ever plays with someone like Kobe, LeBron or legitimate superstar, he can flourish as the second banana. Think a Scottie Pippen-type player if he ever reaches his full potential.</div></blockquote><div><div>TV: How does the back half of the season set up for Philly? Can they make a push? </div></div> <div><blockquote>JS: Without even looking at the schedule, I will personally guarantee they make the playoffs in the East. They can be anywhere from the 4-8 seed, but they'll make the playoffs. I don't know what they'll do when they get there; we'll have to wait and see what they look like when Brand returns.</blockquote><div class="Ih2E3d">TV: Looking at your current roster, I don't see a top tier superstar. Do you think Brand will recover form and become that player? If not, Philly is in a difficult position of having ideal "B" and "C" players without a lead dog. Should they package some of their talent for that kind of player?</div></div> <div></div><blockquote><div>JS: No, I don't think Brand can be that player. I didn't see anything from him before he got hurt to lead me to believe he'd be a superstar for us. Given, he was playing under the horrible coaching of Maurice Cheeks, that might change when he returns, but I doubt it.</div> <div> </div> <div>Thad's our best chance of having a superstar. He's going to take at least a couple years to develop though. </div> <div> </div> <div>And no, they shouldn't trade any of their core players. They'll be a force if Brand returns and DiLeo is able to integrate him into the offense. The roster move they must make is to add shooters. Moving Green and/or Dalembert for shooters is the best case scenario.</div></blockquote><div>TV: Related to the third question, as the trade deadline approaches, do you expect the 76ers to deal Andre Miller? </div> <div><blockquote>JS: I don't see it happening unless they're completely out of it in the east, which I don't see happening either. The question is will he be extended, or will they let him walk in the summer?</blockquote>Check in at <a href=" Ballers for a proper game preview</a>. It seems like they are recovering well from <a href="2009/01/parkers-game-winner-against-76ers.html">the last 76ers-Spurs contest</a>. </div>2009/01/at-center-court-with-jordan-sams.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Timothy Varner)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5165450453057285644.post-4157837029733941405Thu, 15 Jan 2009 22:13:00 +00002009-01-16T10:49:05.605-08:00Kobe BryantManu GinobiliRoger Mason Jr.the LakersThe NotebookThe Notebook: Breathing EasyAs a Spurs fan, it is somewhat heretical to act as if anything other than the postseason has any substantive value. The regular season exists so that the postseason may, and the postseason exists so that a champion may be crowned. Of all franchises, few are as unwaveringly teleological as San Antonio. And then a game like last night’s contest against the Los Angeles Lakers comes along. In May the game will be a footnote, a 5 second slice on an introductory highlight reel. Jagged images of Kobe’s dagger and elephantiasis, quickly juxtaposed alongside Mason’s improbable three-point play and outstretched tongue. For the average NBA fan, the game will be remembered for its final 12 seconds if remembered at all. But that isn’t how I will remember it. I’m going to remember last night’s game as the culmination of a slow and steady cathartic process that began in the waning days of the 2007-08 postseason. There was a point during last season’s playoff run that I grew tired. I felt stressed and angry. Here, on the pages of 48 Minutes of Hell, I repeatedly exploded about missed foul calls and media bias. It was only when the Spurs finally lost that I found myself able to breathe easy; able to sit back and just enjoy the game of basketball. Since the conclusion of the 2008 Western Conference Finals I have been searching for how to make that feeling permanent. I have been searching for temperance. I have been trying to grab hold of a fanhood that has no telos. For some this is not a difficult journey, but for a Spurs fan it is nothing less than a rejection of the principles upon which our belief system is founded. My experience of last night’s game was the fruit of my labor. A sign that the regular season is just as powerful a vehicle of drama and joy as any postseason struggle. It is a rivalry game, maybe even the rivalry game, but at this point is any Lakers-Spurs match-up really about bragging rights?  I won’t remember this game because we defeated a hated rival. I won’t remember this game because in front of a skeptical nation we made a statement. I won’t remember this game because I, for the first time all season, believe a fifth ring is possible. I’ll remember this game because I learned to forget all that and just let the game speak. ___ In the closing moments of the 3rd quarter Trevor Ariza nailed a three-pointer in the corner, muting the air of control the Spurs had cast over the game. The ball was quickly inbounded to Manu Ginobili, who raced up the floor with 4.5 seconds left. Dodging in and out of purples bodies, his pinball momentum made the court seem as if it was on a slight incline. With the seconds ticking away ever more quickly, he dribbled behind his back and hoisted a 40 foot shot into the air. As the buzzer sounded sharply, the backboard glowed softly and the net nervously flexed as it welcomed an unexpected visitor, the crowd uproariously reclaimed the air of control. ___ In my head it was crystal clear. I didn’t even need to watch to know the outcome. I saw him receive the pass and crouch into the triple threat position. Mason played him just a tad far off, betraying a concern for the drive that, although not unfounded, would prove near fatal. The camera angle showed the back of his head but I imagined his eyes. When many people look into the eyes of Kobe they see hardened focus but I see something very different. Or at least I pretend I see something different. I pretend I see thousands of little equations scrolling by, an inescapable web of calculus. And

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tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105164027709243736Sat, 05 Oct 2024 03:02:21 +0000Baby WhispererBooksrulessleep14 weeks3 month old babyFirst postNapmaternity clothesmaternity shoppingnapspregnancy clothes5 weeks earlynoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Blogger92125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105164027709243736.post-8184276546179869603Mon, 13 Aug 2012 13:56:00 +00002012-08-13T06:56:19.610-07:00Same Fish, New Pond<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="226" src="; width="320" /></a></div> I have exciting news! First, I want to say thank you for your readership and support of this blog. This will be the last post here, and most of the archives have moved as well. I've launched a new blog at <a href="; to share all the excitement of our growing family. It will also offer advice and tips on topics relevant to young families. So follow me on <a href=";, or at the new blog. With two under two it's sure to be an interesting story! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <img border="0" height="240" src="; width="320" /></div> 2012/08/same-fish-new-pond.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105164027709243736.post-8295457152911973839Sat, 04 Aug 2012 02:18:00 +00002012-08-03T19:18:03.119-07:00"Should we get some formula?" he asked.This week is World Breastfeeding Week and a quick stomp around the internet will show you news about "Latch On NYC," a myriad of Mother's tales of breastfeeding woes, 100 ways breastfeeding is great, and (of course) nursing bra sales. I've shied away from blogging about the topic because my husband and I don't see eye-to-eye on the importance. As quick as he was to support cloth diapering because that's how he was raised, he's also holding onto his lingering support of formula because he "turned out fine." It's not my intention to share this to bad-mouth my husband, but rather to let other mothers who may encounter the same resistance know that they are not alone. If you'd rather read about David Beckham literally supporting VB while breastfeeding, I would encourage you to do that <a href=";. The story (and image) got me through many wee hours. I imagine that my DH loves breasts just as much as the average man, but he cannot wrap his head around the value of their intended purpose. Unfortunately for my cause, the nurses at the hospital chose to immediately offer my daughter a bottle due to her early delivery. It's questionable whether this was necessary, and it is absolutely the route cause of many of my early difficulties with nursing and post-partum recovery. However, my husband relished the opportunity to feed our daughter her bottles in the early days since I was often hooked up to a breast pump. Who was I to take that bonding experience away from them? When we got home, my days were ruled by the cycle of nursing, pumping, feeding Hannah a bottle of formula, feeding Hannah expressed milk, and then the general newborn care. It was insanity and I can understand now why my husband pleaded with me to just give her the bottle time and again. Throughout the months I nursed, I spewed off La Leche League facts by the dozens and reminded him how quickly I lost the baby weight, but he countered all of them with support of the powdered alternative. The same man who glared at me each time I asked for a glass of water while stationed in my nursing chair, handwashed bottle after bottle so that I'd never be able to complain that I didn't have a clean set. It took over a month to begin exclusively breastfeeding Hannah, and then several more months to find "our groove." Almost as quickly as I joined a support group and began to really enjoy nursing Hannah and feeling its benefits, I got pregnant again and everything changed. The physical demands of both babies resulted in me being constantly tired and hungry. It didn't help that Hannah wasn't sleeping through the night either. When I began to notice weight loss towards the end of my first trimester I started to wean her. Let me tell you, that pro-bottle husband of mine was the first person to run to the grocery store to buy formula, but the last person to hold our squirming, howling daughter as she fought the transition to a new meal. In general, weaning was awful. Although I did get my energy back, my breasts hurt to the point that I could barely lift Hannah for the first week after her last meal. On top of that, I felt guilty about weaning and I was no longer getting the reassuring oxytocin high from my body that I apparently really needed. Plus, Hannah didn't sleep through the night any easier in the long run. I finally understood PPD and learned that many Moms experience similar symptoms when they wean even if it didn't affect them post partum. Shortly after all this, the breastfeeding cover on the Times rocked the world and I immediately sided with the AP parents. Had I known earlier what I know now, I would have tried everything imaginable to continue nursing Hannah through this pregnancy and into the next years. If you're lucky enough to have a husband that pampers you while nursing, offers continuous support through the nighttime feedings, and rubs your back to ease the pain in the early days, I salute you. But if you don't, you can still find success in nursing. Seek out a nursing mothers group or hang out at the Mother's Room in Toys R Us or Nordstrom until another woman arrives with her baby so you can talk to someone else. Just being in the presence of others who share their bodies with their babies can be a true comfort. Most importantly, as Mothers, we should never judge others for the way they choose to nourish their children. The people who breastfeed for 3 days deserve just as much respect as those who breastfeed for 3 years and everything in between. By supporting one another, we'll make a more welcoming environment for nursing.2012/08/should-we-get-some-formula-he-asked.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105164027709243736.post-6243773658739316366Fri, 03 Aug 2012 02:13:00 +00002012-08-02T19:13:12.961-07:00Who's Elmo?By today's standards I'm guessing nearly any other kid would consider me a mean Mommy. I don't let my daughter watch TV. But, at 13 months, she hasn't asked and we've been really busy. Don't get me wrong- I love kid's TV shows more than the average adult, but I planned for a TV free year before she was born and we're going to keep it up for her little sister that's on the way. Avoiding the tube works for us because Hannah is a spirited baby with loads of opinions. We keep a pretty tight schedule each day because she blows the whistle to ensure I stay on track. I'm pretty sure that if she got in the habit of watching a half hour of Disney Jr. in the morning, a trip to the grocery store would be out of the question until the show's over. Being 9 1/2 months pregnant and cutting back to one nap a day has made turning on the TV very enticing. Luckily I cancelled Netflix and our cable isn't due to arrive until the baby's due date, so I haven't given in to the "Babysitter." When I do need a break, I sit down in Hannah's room while she entertains herself with her toys. Unfortunately, if I lay on the floor I become a jungle gym, so I'm really glad we asked for the splurge glider since I spend HOURS in it. Now that Hannah is listening and learning, it's really fun to help her explore her toys in new ways. She's got a neat set of boxes with color coordinated toys inside. As she opens them, I narrate her actions and ask her questions. She is best at answering "Ba(ll)"! The other day, we sang a song about Bears, so I let her stuffed Bear raid all the boxes in search of food. She laughed and laughed as he turned his nose up at the balls and crayons and then "devoured" the foods. When she finished playing, I sang the clean up song, picked up her toys, and commended her for making an attempt to put something away. We had a great time! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="(24).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="(24).JPG" width="320" /></a></div> 2012/08/whos-elmo.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105164027709243736.post-1334050616223931085Tue, 17 Jul 2012 17:21:00 +00002012-07-17T10:21:19.599-07:0013 Months OldThe past few months have literally flown by. It seems like every day Hannah learned something new. She's still waiting to take her first unassisted steps, but that doesn't keep her from getting into anything and everything. She can crawl or cruise on the furniture and climb stairs. The first time she found a set to conquer she pulled herself right to the top and said, "up!" As we play, she frequently climbs up my arms to give me a hug and babbles "yay yo yu," to repeat my, "I love you." Her Dad has taught her the funniest hissing and chortling noises, which she makes whenever he's nearby or approaching. Now she's starting to add kisses into her repertoire of raspberries and gurgles.  Does this little girl love to laugh and smile? Yes, she is a regular comedian! Nearly any repetitive action will enthrall her and she easily remembers the special ways each person she sees makes her happy. A few days ago she did a great job singing and signing through Twinkle Twinkle Little Star with me and I'd love to get it on video, but she's way too interested in the camera to pay attention to the song.2012/07/13-months-old.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105164027709243736.post-4051885804647015575Thu, 28 Jun 2012 02:21:00 +00002012-06-27T19:21:54.178-07:00The End of the MadnessThings have been crazy around here to put it mildly. I'm naively hopeful that this is the end of an era of madness, but something tells me that I will look back at this time nostalgically as the beginning of an era of chaos. Over the last few months my husband and I found and bought a foreclosed home with a VA loan and financed through Wells Fargo. We quickly discovered that this is the Bermuda Triangle of home purchases, which is why my little blog has taken the back burner for the time being. I know you've all missed the Hannah updates- and it has been absolutely delightful watching her grow and reach age one, but if you're interested in hearing the back story behind our wonderfully terrible decisions it's about to begin. We scoured the market for a deal and finally found our <strike>diamond in the rough</strike> "rough in the diamonds." With aspirations as high as the ceilings at Lowes we planned our renovation budget and made our offers. At that point Audrey's due date was a solid four months out and it seemed completely reasonable that we could refresh our beautiful home-to-be and get settled before her arrival. We spent the next months dodging bullets of every size attempting to secure our loan and finally purchase our house. If you're not familiar with the VA Loan program, it's a fantastic benefit for Veterans to be able to purchase a home with many special caveats. Most notably, you can put no money down without paying for PMI, so you end up saving about $100 each month. There are lots of other great aspects the VA covers in your purchase, but you have to do your research, secure your own documentation, and stay on top of the bank. For example, veterans that receive monthly disability compensation do not have to pay a mortgage funding fee and there is a new energy efficiency loan that can be added into your mortgage to help cover the cost of an updated HVAC or similar item. The best resource for any of this information is the VA itself. There are regional offices that you can contact in order to get details on your options. That being said, the VA does have restrictions on the property condition and it is nearly impossible to purchase a foreclosed home because of this. However, if you're willing to fight with every person involved in your loan, you may be able to set up an escrow account to cover the cost of repairs so that you can do them after you take possession of the property. Our experience with Wells Fargo has been severely negative. I'm going to forgo the bad-mouthing on this blog and simply say that I don't recommend them for anything banking related. Unfortunately the "convenience" of online banking has made it so that swapping banks would be an utter fiasco if I even tried, so we're stuck. However, in the end (only three weeks past our intended settlement date), we did end up with the paperwork for a mortgage! You don't even get keys at a closing when you buy a foreclosure so it ends up being a very anticlimactic finale to a long, stressful run. Now we have been homeowners for two weeks and my husband has battled numerous house wars with the help of family and friends. The light at the end of the tunnel is that we have a brand new beauty of a kitchen and I haven't gone into labor yet. Audrey is itching to get out while I desperately try to keep her nestled in the womb for several more weeks. So we're attempting to balance bed rest with care for a one-year-old and all the delights of moving. Never a dull moment in our house, but it still feels good to call it our own.2012/06/end-of-madness.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105164027709243736.post-1220581539813113953Sun, 22 Apr 2012 23:37:00 +00002012-04-22T16:37:06.161-07:0010 Months OldHannah's 10 Month Day came and went on the 12th. I realized at that point I was 6 months behind in filling out her baby book (eek!) So I took the time I would normally dedicate to blogging and filled that in instead. Whew, glad I had the blog to reference. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="(22).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="(22).JPG" width="320" /></a></div> 2012/04/10-months-old.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105164027709243736.post-6375838003719255776Tue, 13 Mar 2012 01:21:00 +00002012-03-12T18:21:26.519-07:009 Months Old!It's amazing how much Hannah has grown in the last month. She's on the verge of crawling and is getting so mobile. Now that she rolls with ease and transfers from sitting to laying down she can get to anything. She shows her excitement by clapping, smiling, giggling, and even talking. Her favorite word is "Heyyy!" She can also say, "up" and "mama." It's clear that she understands a lot of the words I use regularly, too. Since she hears "all gone" at the end of each meal, she beams with pride and sometimes even claps. Hannah was a little trooper for the longest drive we've taken yet. We traveled 17 hours down the coast with many stops over the course of a few days. Now that we're enjoying some fun in the sun and nice weather we can spend more time outside. The place where I notice how much she's growing is always the playground. Each time we go she develops an interest in a new activity. First she liked to swing, now she's interacting with other kids and balancing while I hold her on the climbing toys. It's only a matter of time before she swings along the monkey bars! For now, there is so much for her to discover and explore, but it's all happening so quickly. It seems like every day she rolls a little further or pulls herself up a little higher. I can't wait to share in her excitement and enthusiasm for learning about the world around her as she continues to grow into a sweet little girl. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="(21).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="(21).JPG" width="239" /></a></div> 2012/03/9-months-old.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105164027709243736.post-311319082134979315Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:45:00 +00002012-02-09T10:45:39.081-08:00Maternity Shopping Tip RecapA few months ago I wrote a post on my <a href="2011/10/maternity-shopping-tips.html">maternity shopping suggestions</a> as I was stashing away the last of my maternity clothes. I'm in week 14 of this pregnancy and I'm expanding quickly! To be honest, I got out all my maternity clothes a few weeks ago. It's common knowledge that second pregnancies show much quicker because your abs have lost the original elasticity that held them in the first time around. Sad to say, even 5 weeks of Lindsay Brin's postnatal bootcamp were not enough to tighten and tone my abs and prevent this. However, I am happy that I tracked my belly growth with a Mommy Measure the first time around! This little tool is an adorable keepsake for your baby book and a reassuring device. No, I'm not actually as big as I was in the third trimester yet even though I feel that way. I recommend that you read the full post on Maternity Shopping for the best details, but the keys to success are planning and organization! Since it's hard to guess exactly what size you will be at a certain time, stick with basics or items with elasticity. Most maternity stores design clothes to fit through several trimesters, so don't be tricked into buying a size up. If it doesn't fit now- there's a chance it won't fit later either depending on how you grow. You'll want to organize your closet with only items that you can actually wear and frequently pull out those that you outgrow. If you don't have space to stash those clothes, at least separate all the items to one side so that you can easily find something to wear. Don't forget that you'll need maternity clothes post-partem as well. Happy shopping :) Did you take advantage of any post-Holiday sales?2012/02/maternity-shopping-tip-recap.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105164027709243736.post-8763948886846483366Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:23:00 +00002012-01-31T08:23:12.291-08:00Hannah's Birth Story: Part 3Hannah arrived in <a href="2011/10/hannahs-birth-story-part-2.html">Part 2</a> of this series, so we're done- right? Not even close! A disappointing misconception within the general population is that the birth process ends when the baby arrives. Both neonatal care and maternal care would benefit from a huge overhaul within the hospital system. The main reason I've already decided that any future births for this family will take place with a midwife was the poor care we received directly after the birth and the non-existent follow-up care after leaving the hospital. Granted, this is not a decision I could have been confident about for my first birth because of nerves and a family history of c-sections. However, it's one I will gladly make in the future. It's because I'm selfish and I would like to have attentive, personalized care for both me and my baby. Call me crazy. (Editor's Note: Jeannette has the utmost respect for individuals in the health care profession. Many of the people she encountered during her stay were wonderful and professional. Her criticism is of the system that prevents personal attention. In general, I try to keep the messages on this blog light and positive. Unfortunately, this post will not have the same tone. I encourage you to read anyway because the more people are aware of this issue, the better chance there will be for change. After all, Maternal and Infant patients make up 38% of the healthcare industry's yearly visitors. Don't we deserve better?) To be honest, it only hit me about 4 months ago that my maternity care was below par. I suppose I was living in "maternal bliss" and thinking about how wonderful it was to HAVE a baby! Who cared if I got off to a rough start with breast feeding? Did it matter that my recovery seemed to drag on longer than it should have? Would it really have helped to have a follow-up in-home visit to make sure I wasn't at risk for some of the most painful nursing problems one can experience? Not in my mind! As long as I had a healthy baby, that was all that mattered. Looking back, I can't help but feel mistreated and I found out I'm not alone. The CDC is pressing for improvements within the system. There's even a group to establish the <a href=" Health Accountability Act of 2011</a>. Everyone comes into this world the same way, so this affects us all. It is more important than any other political act- but we have yet to hear about it in the presidential debates. I'm not going to claim to be an expert on this subject, or submit a 932 page proposal to congress for a complete overhaul of the system. It just seems that in a country that touts superiority in the world, we should be much higher on the patient satisfaction scale for this type of care and we're not. Why am I dissatisfied? My visits from the nurses were few and far between. They were rushed, forgetful, and disorganized (presumably because there were too few nurses for the number of patients.) It was more difficult to get regular Tylenol because it wasn't on a list of standard drugs that new mothers could receive. I didn't receive any topical treatments for my "bottom" until the second day, because it wasn't clear that this was something I could ask for. When the only positive things I can say regarding the maternity ward are about the hospital food, you have to wonder if this was really a decent situation. Enough about me, let's talk about Hannah's care. We were at a "rooming-in" hospital that promotes closeness of the mother and baby by encouraging you to have your baby in the room as much as possible. I can't imagine what it's like at other hospitals, because I barely got to spend more than 2 hours at a time with Hannah. It was really difficult because I had to attempt to nurse her for 20 minutes, then pump for 15 minutes, then feed her a bottle for about 20 minutes. By the time we changed a diaper and got her re-swaddled (another 20 minutes #newparenthood), it was practically time to get her back to the nursery and then start all over. Not only was the feeding process difficult and time consuming, but the assistance came in quick bursts of an overwhelming amount of information. In my county, there are 5 hospitals. Only 2 still offer Lactation Consultant services (one is part time.) During my stay, I didn't see a consultant until nearly 12 hours after Hannah's birth. I also saw three different consultants, each with different suggestions. I was given hurried details about using a pump to stimulate production and a shield to better fit my nipple to Hannah's mouth. It's no wonder we weren't able to get a proper latch without those items- they only spent 1/2 hour with me at a given time. There is also no follow up care available to nursing mothers through the hospital. If you need support (which we did), you must see a lactation consultant at the rate of $150 for one hour. Starting next year, this service will be mandatory for health care to cover. It's good to know that issues like this are being addressed and improved for the future. Thankfully I had the support of my husband through it all. He fed Hannah many times and immediately developed a wonderful bond with her. He is totally onboard for taking a more natural approach to our next birth. In fact, because of his general loss of confidence in the political system and his love of the outdoors he's hopeful that Armegeddon is around the corner, and I think he would happily deliver our baby on his own. I have to hope that better care is out there. If you had a great experience and you shared it on a blog, please post a link in the comments. I'm not discouraged from having another baby, and I still regard this as one of the best experiences of my life, but I think that Mothers should be treated less like surgery patients and given the option to blissfully bring new life into this world with positive care practices.2012/01/hannahs-birth-story-part-3.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105164027709243736.post-1739800317399866548Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:14:00 +00002012-01-31T08:24:25.318-08:00What Healthcare Reform Means to MeI loved having an unmedicated birth for Hannah and I plan to do it again. It took about a month for me to realize that I was dissatisfied with the care I received in the hospital because they're really not equipped or experienced with that type of labor. (<a href="2012/01/hannahs-birth-story-part-3.html">Read Birth Story Part #3.</a>) I decided to look into a Midwife practice since they are the experts in helping healthy women through a healthy labor. In my first meeting with the midwife, I came prepared with a million questions. I was pleasantly surprised to learn about midwifery. It's not an antiquated practice. She monitors your health through routine prenatal visits similar to those with an OB. She is able to order blood tests, ultrasounds, administer rhogam injections for those with O- blood type, and has the training to recognize risk factors that might lead a woman to deliver in the hospital instead. After the baby is born, she will offer the same general infant care that a hospital and pediatrician would perform for the first few days of life. She even provides the routine injections that babies receive at the parent's discretion. On top of all this, she'll teach me how to have a natural birth and offer coaching throughout labor. Hopefully this will result in a less-smashed nose on Baby #2 upon exit! Knowing all this, it should have been an easy decision. However, I got sticker shock. All in, the cost nears $4000 and insurance companies rarely cover any of this. I knew that the services were worth this price, but it's a daunting number to swallow with a second baby on the way in a one-income household. We brainstormed ways to make it work, but ultimately it seemed like the easiest way to move forward would be with the same practice and same hospital I used for Hannah. Enter Obamacare. I booked my first prenatal visit and entered a counseling session for billing details. Thanks to a change in my husband's insurance, we were looking at a grand total of $5000+ to deliver in the hospital. Even last year, with the best insurance Cigna offered, we still paid more than $2000 for the birth. The billing rep let me know that these changes have only come about in the last 2 years. In the past, births routinely cost insured families $200 to $500 total. Although Cigna appears to be the worst, nearly every insurance company has changed the plans offered to non-government employees to defray the majority of the costs back to the families, to the tune of 10 times the cost. A light at the end of the tunnel. After digesting the scary numbers, we've decided to move forward with a home birth under the supervision of a midwife. I'm happy that we are going this route because I truly believe that this is the best birth plan for our family. When I spoke with the billing rep from my OB's practice to let her know I was switching providers she told me that she expects to see this happening more and more frequently. That's the main reason I'm sharing this information. From personal experience, I can say that I believe a non-medicated birth is the best way for a healthy mother to deliver a healthy baby. I recommend that all parents-to-be take the time to learn about natural birth. Even if you don't choose this route, you are sure to learn ways to improve your health and your labor. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="; width="320" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> My motivation for a birth without medical intervention.</div> 2012/01/what-healthcare-reform-means-to-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105164027709243736.post-5245232592489181499Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:26:00 +00002012-01-31T07:26:43.679-08:0033 Weeks Old!I've spent a lot of time the past month sleeping and/or in a sleep-deprived, zombie state. Thankfully, Hannah continues to nap regularly through the day (knock on wood!) so I am able to catch up on some extra sleep that way as Baby #2 drains my energy. I am eagerly looking forward to the second trimester! Hannah has been a wonderful sport and it's so inspiring to see her grow. She's learning quickly now. One of the exciting new developments is her emerging personality. She's finding more and more humor in the games we play and stories we read. Plus, she can now show that she is proud of herself with a beaming smile! I noticed early in the week that she was enjoying tickles more than ever. Then she laughed and laughed as I stretched and bent her little limbs. She's been such a good little eater that I've been able to regularly say, "All gone" at the end of her meals. She figured out what that meant quickly and now she responds with a proud smile! Hannah is mostly only mobile by rolling and stretching, but she can get around that way. I was surprised to watch her grasp and pull at toys that seemed out of her reach.2012/01/33-weeks-old.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105164027709243736.post-2621912972955620839Tue, 24 Jan 2012 19:05:00 +00002012-01-24T11:05:53.740-08:0032 Weeks Old!Last week we battled the sniffles and several sleepless nights. Just before that, we were making some real progress on the sleeping-through-the-night front, so it was a shame to have the setback. I don't like to talk about Hannah's good sleeps because I'm positive it's a jinx, so I'll just say her nose is starting to clear up and things are looking up in general. In my "walking zombie" state I managed to completely forget that we had a dehumidifier set up for her. Consider this a PSA for new Moms to turn them on! We also got Hannah an Exersaucer-type activity gym. She really likes it, but I'm finding that it overstimulates her. Even though it seems like a great toy, it's sometimes easier to set her in the high chair with one toy if I need two hands because it keeps her happier after playtime. Her favorite thing about standing in the toy is that she can see her puppy! Last week I started reading a book about raising kids the Montessori way. I was inspired to look into this by my friend at <a href=" May I</a>. Jessica's blog and shop showcase some of the fantastic ways she is fostering a love for learning in her little girls. I'm hopeful that we will be able to incorporate some of what I've learned into Hannah's day-to-day routine. It's a good thing I looked into this early because there are so many recommended tools and toys for kids! I can start collecting jars and safe household treasures now so that Hannah (and ultimately Baby #2) will have plenty to explore and discover. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="; width="320" /></a></div> 2012/01/32-weeks-old.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105164027709243736.post-7438873581384149383Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:52:00 +00002012-01-21T06:52:38.956-08:00A Different Kind of Pregnancy. A Different Kind of Baby?I'm only 11 weeks into this pregnancy, but I can say definitively that this one is different. My entire lifestyle has changed since last year, so there are a myriad of factors that could be affecting the way I feel. Plus, I learned enough through trial and error the first time around to avoid some of my sickness-inducing habits. I'm happy for some of the changes, namely that I do not have to praise the porcelain Gods every day. On the other hand, I'm noticing that my motherly instincts towards this baby have changed. All these differences have me wondering... is this baby a boy? Maybe it's not that easy to tell, but it would be funny if that works out to be the case. My husband noticed it the other night, too. I fumbled through offering him an explanation for my feelings, but I couldn't find the right words. Obviously I'm excited and I love that our family is growing. I may have just been naive the first time around and fallen in love at the sight of two pink lines. It's easy to do that when you're longing for a baby to fill your arms and your heart. Sometimes it's strange enough to make me think that I'm not even pregnant. After all, I only feel tired- and can't that be attributed to the little one waking up a few times through the night? I think my motherly instinct hasn't fully set in with this one yet because it's working overtime on Hannah. I'm sure that as soon as I start to feel the kicks and flutters of this baby, I'll snap into it. Until then, I may just meander through these early days stunned that it's all happening again so quickly.2012/01/different-kind-of-pregnancy-different.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105164027709243736.post-4688847582028703097Mon, 16 Jan 2012 17:57:00 +00002012-01-16T09:57:29.453-08:0031 Weeks Old!This week is my birthday and I've asked Hannah for a very special gift. I'm hoping that she says "Mama!" It has to be coming soon because she already wails, "Ahhmmmomomomom" while she cries. She's showing recognition of sounds and she loves reading books with me. Most of the time she puts the books right into her mouth, but that's common for babies at this age. Luckily the rhymes are easy to memorize so I can generally continue reading even if she takes a break to gnaw. Sometimes I'll offer her a toy or other book to hold so that I can get through the story. I'm finding that she even enjoys laying on a blanket with her toys while I read to her. It's exciting to watch her begin to learn and understand about reading! She's also exploring more and more with her hands and it seems like she realized this week that we both have hands. She looked at both sides of her hand, then felt her hand with the other, and then examined mine along with the pair. It's also getting easier for her to sit and play with her toys. She has a new stack of rings that she plays with from every different direction. <iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="; width="420"></iframe> I am certainly thankful for her naps during the day now that I'm 11 weeks pregnant. I remember wondering during my first trimester with Hannah how anyone could possibly cope with pregnancy and another child. Well, my nightmare has come true and it's hard but manageable. I literally sleep whenever she sleeps. Luckily, I'm not dealing with morning sickness anywhere near the level I had with Hannah. Women often wonder which is worse- nausea or actual vomitting. I can tell you with 100% authority that it is worse to heave. So, we'll continue on this trend of napping as often as possible and hopefully sometime soon Hannah will sleep through the night. She's getting so close I almost feel rested some mornings when I wake up! I can't wait to get to the glorious second trimester so that I can go back to being a non zombiemom. I'm also going to need to start working on getting back some brownie points as a good wife before the third trimester. Whew! I'm already imagining what a challenge it will be to pick up a baby with a baby belly. Any Moms of back-to-back babies have advice to offer?2012/01/31-weeks-old.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105164027709243736.post-9041564982247977166Fri, 06 Jan 2012 17:24:00 +00002012-01-09T16:39:07.832-08:0030 Weeks OldIt's been a happy and noisy house ever since the holidays. Hannah babbles all the time and blows noisy bubbles, too. She's been gurgling for quite a while, but has recently become a total chatterbox. Most frequently, she "oohs" "ahhs" and squeals. There are a few prominent consonants in there every once in a while, and she has said, "Hello" to greet me twice this week. I'm so excited that she's taking the first steps toward singing and talking! Now that Hannah is nearly 7 months old, she is learning to recognize familiar faces and she is developing her opinions. Object permanence is really coming into play. If she drops a toy, she'll look for it and quickly let me know she'd like it back. She also likes to have a toy available while I prepare breakfast and she'll ask about it if it's not there. Hannah adores our puppy and loves to watch him. She'll sit on the floor with me while we teach him to fetch or look for him from her high chair. I can tell he likes her, too since he always rests outside her door when he has the chance. It's sweet to see a happy relationship forming between the two kids.2012/01/30-weeks-old.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105164027709243736.post-5511799493549747298Sat, 31 Dec 2011 21:23:00 +00002012-01-03T16:39:28.552-08:00New Year's ResolutionsThis year, I'm setting the bar high! These are my resolutions for a satisfying and healthy new year: 1. Gain 25 pounds. 2. Limit the intensity of exercising. 3. Sleep as often as possible. 4. Become more irritable. 5. Clean less. I'm confident that I can be sure to fulfill all these goals because WE ARE HAVING ANOTHER BABY! I'm thrilled to announce that Baby Dos is due in August. On the one hand, it seems crazy to have our second baby so quickly after Hannah, but on the other I couldn't be happier. I'm looking forward to sharing the excitement (and trials) of this pregnancy with you while continuing to update you about Hannah.2011/12/new-years-resolutions.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105164027709243736.post-1393642223984953404Sat, 31 Dec 2011 17:13:00 +00002011-12-31T09:13:46.366-08:00Happy New Year!Ever since 2003, I haven't spent nearly as much time thinking about the future. I suppose that spending nearly a decade looking forward to the year I would graduate high school formed an attachment to that year. It's not that I don't prepare for the future, it's that I don't yearn for it any more. I'm also not very nostalgic. As much as I enjoy thinking about how much Hannah has grown and how great this year has been, I'm truly happiest living in the present. My wish for the new year is to continue this feeling of satisfaction and wholeness, and to hopefully spread the joy and peace by sharing about my family. 2011/12/happy-new-year.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105164027709243736.post-652549585169240474Tue, 27 Dec 2011 21:34:00 +00002011-12-27T13:34:25.430-08:0028 Weeks Old!I have been in a post-Christmas coma for two days and all I can says is, "Whew!" Selecting the perfect gifts, eating delicious food, visiting friends and family, and taking lots of photos have all taken their toll on me. Sweet little Hannah had a wonderful day! I'm delighted that we have lots of new books on the shelf to enjoy in the coming months. Although memorizing the books makes it easier to continue the story while she eats the pages, a little variety is welcome. A few weeks ago, the pediatrician gave me false hope (again) that upping the amount of food Hannah eats during the day would help her sleep through the night. This little girl rarely leaves a drop of food behind and she still wakes up a few times for milk. It is taking a toll on me finally. I used to be able to make it on just one quick morning nap a few times a week, but now I nap whenever she does. Unfortunately this is cutting down my blogging time! Fingers crossed that the little one will make it through one of these nights in the (very) near future. Until then, I am fully becoming a zombiemom. Speaking of things that keep me up at night, our new puppy is actually pretty good. He tends to wake up when Hannah does, so at least there aren't any additional night rousings in the house. All in all, he's a nice little pup and we're happy to have him home. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="; width="320" /></a></div> 2011/12/28-weeks-old.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105164027709243736.post-8762055500671954336Sat, 24 Dec 2011 00:33:00 +00002011-12-23T16:33:56.701-08:00Motherhood the MusicalMotherhood the Musical is playing at the Society Hill Playhouse in Philadelphia through the rest of this month, then traveling to several other cities. It was a fantastic show with talented actresses! The candid perspectives of three experienced Mamas against the ambitiously naive mom-to-be produced a hilarious recap of Motherhood. Even with only 6 months under my belt, I understand a lot more about what these Moms are singing than ever before in my life. I especially relate to Amy, the Mother-to-be, with her high aspirations for Motherhood. Although the worn out Mamas inspired side-splitting laughs, I'm worried that they are dampening her high hopes of being the best Mother. They laugh away her suggestion of cloth diapers, encourage her to choose a bottle over breastfeeding, and devote an entire song to taking "Good Drugs" during labor. I'm thankful that no one shot down these motives for me prior to Hannah's birth because I have had great experiences in the minority. Very few new Moms feel confident with their care choices in the midst of midnight wakings or hysterical newborn crying, so if you make the choice to follow what you consider the best option for baby- that's a great thing and no one should say otherwise! Moms everywhere will enjoy this show, but moms-to-be should not be discouraged! You will be a great Mother to your baby no matter how you choose to feed, diaper, or deliver your child. Educate yourself and make your own decision about what will be best for your family.2011/12/motherhood-musical_23.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105164027709243736.post-3296985484814839357Fri, 23 Dec 2011 00:42:00 +00002011-12-22T16:42:54.968-08:00Breastfeeding Support GroupAlthough a nursing bra is an important component to successful breastfeeding, it is not the only support a nursing mother needs. Since nursing can be real challenge, it is helpful to find a network of moms who meet on a regular basis. Our local library hosts a fantastic group for moms every two weeks. It's a very casual setting, that's moderated by a knowledgeable nurse. Mainly we just get an opportunity to talk, ask questions, and offer support to others going through the same things. I wish I had found this group sooner because I didn't feel that the La Leche League was the right fit for Hannah and me. Plus, the evening meetings would have been a challenge with her bedtime. However, I'm happy to go to a new group now to "share the light" that comes after a few months of successful nursing. A very small number of moms experience no issues with breastfeeding and kudos to them! The truth is, nearly every woman (including myself) hits a wall with nursing for any number of issues that can creep up in the early stages. Working with a lactation consultant, calling experienced family members, and talking to other moms currently nursing are all great ways to find the information and strength needed to keep up with nursing. Luckily, beginning in 2012, insurance companies will be required to cover nursing-related medical expenses. I would encourage all moms to use this benefit and book a lactation consultation for the week after baby's birth.  Once nursing is established, Moms can look forward to experiencing a wonderful "high" during nursing. Chemically speaking, the body is producing oxytocin and slowing down the mother to take a moment to enjoy the experience. In "lay-mom's" terms, this means you'll look at your baby and think, "Oh my goodness, she is the sweetest baby in the world. I love her so much." Of course, all Mom's feel this way, but it's nice to have your body reinforce the sentiment 6-8 times per day (especially during those wakeful nights.) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="; width="320" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> Look at this beautiful nursing mother! </div> 2011/12/breastfeeding-support-group.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105164027709243736.post-3825453943637527469Wed, 21 Dec 2011 00:28:00 +00002011-12-20T16:28:43.436-08:0027 Weeks OldLittle Hannah has come a long way in the last 1/2 year. She's grown by leaps and bounds, developed mentally, and strengthened the use of her baby body. She shows her awareness of herself and the world by putting everything into her mouth as all babies do. Her curious eyes take in the surroundings everywhere we go and she listens inquisitively as I talk and read to her. With all these big changes, it's exciting to think that the next steps in Hannah's growth will be even bigger. She hit her six month growth spurt this week, which meant NO sleep for Mama! It's funny that prior to her birth everyone thought Zac would handle the late nights, but that night owl has changed his tune. My friend couldn't help but notice that the part I laughed at loudest in Motherhood the Musical was the Mom's operatic lament that Daddy always sleeps on the couch and she knows he's pretending! So, after two sleepless nights I spent the next day feeding Hannah nearly every hour and a half. Last night offered a little better sleep, and I'm hopeful we'll get back on track. During growth spurts I tend to revert back to some "attachment parenting" techniques. I "wear" her in a sling as often as she lets me. We'll take a nice long nap together and I'll feed her at the beginning, middle, and end. After all, the more she eats during the day, the less she'll ask for at night. But, I can certainly lament with other Moms who feel like a human pacifier during these growth spurts! With only a week left before Christmas we are ready! We've almost got everything we need for our puppy. I just have to pick up dog food and then I can spend the rest of the week mentally preparing for a dog in the house! Luckily, I got to sit for a very sweet Bernese Mountain dog last weekend who reminded me how nice it is to have a furry friend around! Blast from the (recent) past: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="; imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="; width="320" /></a></div> Hannah pictured at 5 weeks and 27 weeks. We had these pj's in two sizes. Her Dad called them "Hippy" pjs the first time she wore them.2011/12/27-weeks-old.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Unknown)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3105164027709243736.post-3726927107542043357Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:23:00 +00002011-12-16T12:23:10.039-08:00First ChristmasNot only is this Hannah's first Christmas, but it's also my first Christmas being a conscious and green consumer. If you read <a href="2011/11/i-sympathize-with-grinch.html">my post about being a grinch</a>, you know that I had a lot to make up for this year! In orde

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