BRAINS: A Zombie Memoir

Gabe here. A book I edited--Brains: A Zombie Memoir by Robin Becker--goes on sale today. I'm really excited about it. As the title suggests, this is a zombie memoir, i.e., a memoir as told by someone who was turned by the zombie virus but who also retained his sentience (a unique twist on zombie mythology--this normally doesn't happen). It's not just for zombie lovers, though. Robin is a really great writer--very smart and very witty. I think of this as a literary novel with zombies. Check out the Amazon page here. Or pick it up in a bookstore. These zombies would destroy Robert Pattinson...and that other moron from Twilight who always has his shirt off.

It's a GIRL!!

We couldn't be more excited! Her name is Finnegan Marie (middle name may change) and she is moving around like crazy these days. We called lots of our family and friends right away to tell them so that they could celebrate with us...BUT we were headed to NC two days afterwards so decided to keep it a secret from my folks, sisters and Gabe's folks so that we could tell them in person.

I wanted to wear shirts that said IT'S A GIRL but Gabe vetoed that so we had to come up with another plan. We decided to order a cookie cake from the Charlotte Airport and have them write the news on it and put a little pink border around it- once we landed we had to run to pick it up, wrap it like a gift, and meet the families for brunch where we would give them the gift. They didn't even know that we were finding out the gender before the trip so we thought it would be a fun day!

Here are pictures of us getting ready in the airport:




And then after we ordered our food, we gave the moms the gift and told them it was a thank you for all they had done when they were here in March. For about 15 seconds they thought that we had just bought them a cookie cake...then Sue READ what the cookie cake said~


My mom just started yelling- It's a Girl? It's a girl? And everyone was really excited (especially my sisters who have already purchased her girly clothes.)


**A note on name telling before the baby comes** It is a very personal thing to come up with a name and then share it with others...I have many friends and family members who wait to have the baby to share with others. I was told by a few people that it's bc people share their opinions on whether they like the name or not beforehand but generally won't do it after the baby comes. Gabe and I weren't too concerned about what other people thought and were excited to tell (again just a personal decision) but it is VERY funny what people say. A few responses:
1. Blank Stare or nothing
2. Why?
3. You still have time to change your mind
4. Many folks love it and let us know that too:)
I just kind of laugh and let folks know that Gabe and I knew years ago that if we had a girl she would be Finnegan, hope the name grows on everyone else!

Here I am at five months Preggo with Finn:

Spring Time

As things start to look up a bit in the Robinson household Gabe and I have gotten out a little more. We have started grilling out back and just enjoying all that Spring has to offer!

We are starting to work on little projects around the house- last weekend was hanging curtains. We have been in this apartment for over 2 years but have failed to put up our curtains. So Sunday we put up our white curtains in the bedroom. 15 minutes later the radiators all started to leak...and drip...through the ceiling...into our apartment...onto our nicely hung curtains. That is what we get for hanging those darn things! A few ceiling tiles (think 3rd grade classroom drop ceiling) all have a really nice yellow/orange stain on them. Add that to the to do list!

Other things on the list are: hang pictures that have been sitting in a corner for two years, get rid of old computer, get rid of old printer that we were to lazy to plug in, clear some space on our bookshelves, etc. All pretty basic but we say one or two things a weekend- I mean come on, it took us 2 years to get this far!

Work has been keeping us both very busy but next week we are taking a much needed vacation. I wanted to go to Puerto Rico but the NC mountains won out- don't ask!We have a wedding in Chapel Hill on Saturday and then head to Blowing Rock. We can't wait to have some down time just the two of us.
We are a little worried about this one:


But a friend will be spending the week at our place and we just hope Dakota is on her best behavior. Gabe flies back to NY on Thursday and I will be staying in NC for my best friends bridal shower!! So looking forward to our getaway.

Here are a few Spring photos on our block~ I was trying to get artistic!

The Bump Grows

Here is a picture of the growing bump. Although so far I really hate pregnancy (just bc it's kicked my butt) I do love the growing bump. I have always thought pregnant women were just amazing...and so I feel pretty blessed to have a belly filled with baby goodness.
3 1/2 months


4 months


Things are going well. We saw the heart beat this past week (stubborn kid wouldn't let us hear it so we had to get a sonogram to see it)but the midwife wasn't worried at all. Then Friday night we had some amazing homemade soup that a girlfriend from church gave us (such a TREAT!!)and watched The Hangover. The movie was funny but nothing amazing. The thing that was so great is that I was feeling good and Gabe and I were able to really just enjoy a night together without a bathroom visit (or threat of one). The music in the movie was old school dance music so we also got to bust a few moves- back to the good ole' Robinson ways.

Saturday I went out to breakfast with some girlfriends and then went shopping. I wasn't feeling 100% the whole day but the sun was shining, I was with my girls, and treated myself to a Mister Softee cone on the way home. That night we had a birthday party to go to so we kept pretty busy. Gabe has had to work all weekend so that stunk but he has read his manuscripts at the cemetery and park. Here is hoping to a vomit free week!

The Robinson clan grows....

Meggers is Preggers!

Gabe and I are expecting our first bambino in September. We couldn't be happier, we feel very blessed with this little miracle and can't wait to meet him or her.

The last two months (seeing that the first month you don't even know you are preggo) have been the hardest two months I have ever gone through. Unfortunately, I am not one of those lovely glowing pregnant women, but more like a disgusting (acne) very sick pregnant momma. It has been HARD not only on me but the Gabester too. He has passed his first fathering test with flying colors. He not only comforts me the 3 times a day I get sick (meaning he is in the bathroom with me rubbing my back) but has done 100% around the house (cooking, cleaning, grocery shopping, dog walking). I am so thankful for him and couldn't have gotten through the first trimester without him.

Things are starting to look up as I enter my 15th week. I still feel pretty sick but I am able to keep more food down. Our mothers plus my sister came this past weekend to take care of us and totally spoiled us. Made us meals, cleaned, organized the babies room (or closet- whatever!). I was pretty proud of them- they made it to Ikea and back with tons of large Tupperware containers and then proceeded to sort our junk!

This baby already has lots of people who are loving on it and praying for it! We thank God for this gift of life, as I start to feel better it hits me more each day. Jesus has been carrying me through this pregnancy and has definitely been my stronghold! I really think Gabe would do a better job carrying the babe but feel honored that I was chosen to carry and be this baby's mother.

Some of the sweetest time Gabe and I have together is right before I go to bed....I tend to feel the worst this time of day and so Gabe will actually stick with me from brushing my teeth to laying down and falling asleep (I am beyond pitiful- we aren't used to high maintenance around here but for the time being I am guilty). I also will have minor panic attacks when laying down- probably due to many things but also very bad experiences with food coming right up as I lay down- but Gabe is beside me the whole time. He will read a kids book and then sing me a song...and I really do feel calmer! What an amazing husband.

I'll be the obnoxious woman who posts belly shots- don't worry. We will find out the gender and will share, we will probably have a name picked out and will share that too. I'll probably share gross stories that only some people will appreciate...so hope this pregnancy doesn't scare you away!!

6 Year Anni!

Yesterday was our 6th wedding anniversary! Time has flown by, and continues to do so...I can't believe 6 years ago Gabe and I said our vows in the rustic little church in Tanglewood Park. I knew that life would never be the same after that day, and it hasn't! Marriage has been such a sweet gift, and although not always easy, Gabe and I kind of fit together like puzzle pieces.

I wasn't feeling that well yesterday so we took it VERY easy...but we did get out to enjoy some of the sunshine here in Brooklyn. We took a nice leisurely walk to Beirkraft and bought ourselves some ice-cream sandwiches. We found a bench outside and talked about the last 6 years as I has ice cream running down my wrists (don't think Gabe did bc he is the clean one in the fam).

Can't wait to see what the next 6 have in store...Thankful to have Gabriel at my side through this journey!

You may think....

That we have been extremely busy or that we are under the weather and that is why we have not updated the blog (and you would actually be 100% correct) but to be perfectly honest....Who wants to post over a title that says MY WIFE BE THE BEST?

I mean come on! Who doesn't like a little praise from the hubster every now and then?

BUT we actually have been super busy. Birthday parties- my own and friends. Gabe and I went to MILK and COOKIES with two of our couple friends. I also went to see NEXT TO NORMAL (a Broadway show) with another girlfriend...it was amazing but so depressing- yes I cried. I also had to yell at the grandma sitting behind us bc she was sucking on a lollipop so loudly that everyone was turing around. After 15 minutes (this sucker might have lasted the whole 2nd act) I kindly turned around and said- THAT IS REALLY LOUD- in my softest whisper of course.

Our church had an event to raise money for LOVE146, a great organization that raises money and awareness on child sex slavery. It was an auction -silent and live- and they had a band and some stand up comedians perform. It was such a great night...we walked out without any goods bc our lovely friends all out-bid us:)

There have been a few other things in there as well but don't want to start boring you to much! I do have a few pictures to share but those will have to wait for the next post. It's snowing in NY and it's beautiful. Many offices closed- mine (and Gabes) did not....kinda stinks!