An Ineffective Attempt at Heroric Allusions -

Pasted in below is the first draft of the Ninth Week Posting. It is in it's crude, unwashed form - just what you want from your DVD deleted scenes. This tapestry of words was woven at nearly 3 o'clock in the AM - which presents an excuse for it's verbosity. Upon final review, we thought it was too long and took too much away from the pacing of our pregnant story. So here it is, in it's story-board-esque form - The Wondrous Ninth Week:

This upcoming week marks the entrance into Week 9 of the pregnancy. I know that it is hard to believe or understand, but Amber and I are still pretty excited. In fact, today Amber turned to me and mumbled (she is pretty tired these days) “Hey, you know, it’s been a month since we found out that we were going to be parents.” To which I responded, “Is it real to you yet?”

Some days it’s hard to think of anything else besides my future doubles tennis partner growing and maturing within my wife’s belly. Other days I find that the simple tedium and routine of read, eat, study, eat, outline, eat, go to class, eat, take a test, eat, sleep (I think I figured out why I have put on 20 pounds since law school started) allows the paradigm shifting development of a child to slip from my ever-present thoughts back to the dark alleys of my mind, the same place I keep my thoughts about credit card bills and thank you cards. Some mornings I wake up and I still feel like I am 18, senior in high school with only a dance and gas money to worry about.

But it’s real. It really is. Our little creation is no longer considered by science as an embryo. I now have a fetus – or foetus if you prefer the latin. It means “young one”. My little goblin has lost the webbing between his fingers and his toes. This happens due to a preprogrammed cell death in the cells that made up the webbing last week. It is pretty amazing to see how God has crafted such a symphony of cell birth, growth and death in such a complicated and sophisticated way as to bring us from a single cell to a complex elaborate biological machine.

The other thing that our Hector – our Hercules developed this week was something I felt and used pretty well on Tuesday night. You see, Tuesday we had an earth shake here in the Bay Area. It happened in East San Jose, but at the time I was in Santa Clara, just a mere mile from the epicenter. It was a 5.6 on the Richter Scale and it lasted for about 15 seconds. It was pretty fun. I got a little nervous because I was standing in a parking garage at the time. Anyway, the thing I used was my heart. I know, I know, our Achaean Hero has already developed a heart, but that was simply a two chambered heart. This week our boy has joined the ranks of the mammals by developing his four chambered heart. (Well, I guess he still needs hair and live young…but what are those to a tiny little nub of life?)

Amber was in Los Angeles early this week. She was working hard for Zazzle on promoting their recent big announcement. Zazzle and Myspace struck some sort of deal that is supposed to be “super cool” and “uber fantastic” (Amber’s words…not mine. J ) She put on an event complete with live bands (that band that did that song with that music video on youtube with the treadmills (gee…that was a GREAT sentence…)) velvet ropes and doormen that tell people that they’re “not on the list.” Amber works pretty hard for Zazzle. She has really put her blood, sweat and tears into that company. (Watch how I make this transition!) Talking about blood, our young one is now creating his OWN blood. (See how I did that? Literary GENIUS!) See up to this point he has been living off of a yolk sac. Now, however, he has a liver that is developed enough to produce blood. Normally the marrow in bones takes care of this task however in his case, his bones are currently made of cartilage. You know, the same stuff that your ears and…well, sharks are made of. That’s right, my boy? He is made of the same stuff as SHARKS!

Finally, I suppose it is important to let you all know that our micro-machines man has developed his neck to the point that he can now move his head. MOVEMENT!!!! No, Amber hasn’t felt any yet – even if she did, I am sure she would just be confusing it for the 4^th Meal I just picked up from Taco Bell, but just the same, Micro-Sam is capable of moving his head. With de-webbed fingers and elbows, this now lets him practice the move he will need to know very well while he is growing up—putting his fingers over his eyes and shaking his head in dismay. Honestly, can you imagine me being the father-in-the-cardigan taking pictures of my son and his prom date? That scene is ripe with opportunities for dismay.

The other movement our child can now do with a articulate neck? Sucking his thumb. I am not saying he IS doing it, I am just saying that he might be.

Thanks for reading, thanks for following along. Amber and I are on a great adventure and it is wonderful to have you all along for the ride.

Until Next Week!