O.C.P.

Naive Art

Here are some canvases I painted for the nursery. We decided to go with an Eric Carle theme (famous children's books author). These are based on the book covers of "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" and "The Grouchy Ladybug" (we gave ours a smile though).

what's in a name

Janelle and I have finally decided on a first name for the Pate princess.

Alaina (A-lane-a)

It meets all the qualifications:
>It can be shortened: Alaina is 3 syllables and as most people know I am lazy when it comes to names….and wasting time saying 3 whole syllables is exhausting and inefficient. So we (atleast I) will probably just call her “Lainy” more than “Alaina”
>It is flexible: at points in a child’s life (terrible twos, and pretty much the whole span of the teenage years) a parent has to say their child’s name more than they would like. So we try to pick one that gives us options to alleviate the repetitiveness. This one gives us: Alaina, Lainy, and Ally.

The middle name is still up for grabs though. Caden’s awesome middle name (which I heavily lobbied for) Crusoe sets a high bar. For us, it’s important for the middle name to have substance. Crusoe came from one of my favorite books Robinson Crusoe.

Any suggestions for Alaina _____ Pate are welcome.

thank God he is a firefigther

Jason (one of my old college roommates), Angie and Maddy came down for Janelle’s first baby shower. The first night we broke out the new fire-pit. Although now I am wondering if it is a good idea to have a fire-pit on a wooden deck….so close to the house. But then again, J is a part-time firefighter so I guess we were safer than usual that night.
I’m quite jealous of Jason being a fire-fighter. It just sounds cool. It’s my intention to volunteer at our local fire station once I finish my MBA.
Partly because it reclaims that sense of adventure that we tend to lose in the daily grind of life.
Partly because I assume it would be a catalyst for adrenaline rushes….I can’t remember the last time I had one of those…..can you? Sometime when I go to J’s house, we stop by the station and he lets me get in the truck and practice with “Rescue Randy” but that is as close as I have gotten so far.

Talk back: What do you do for “adventure” and adrenaline rushes?

Things Not to Say to Your Wife in the Last Weeks of Pregnancy

• Honey, come in here and see this horse giving birth on TV. Oh, man that looks like that’s gotta hurt.
• I challenge you in a touch your toes contest.
• Honey, I was just straightening up the bedroom…can you tell me if this is a fitted sheet or a pair of your underwear?
• No, I couldn’t eat another bite honey. I ate so much I feel…like you.
• Why don’t you go take a nice, relaxing, hot bath? But don’t put much water in the tub because it’ll overflow when you get in.

excerpted from familyman ministries

Carolina in my mind

A big welcome to Brian. Brian (one of my old college roommates and blogger buddy) moved into town last week from Florida.
Brian is originally from South Carolina (or as we call it....the dirty south), hence a new fire has been kindled on our long outstanding debate over which state can properly be labeled just "carolina" (apparently we you say it down there it means South Cackalacky). Since he is now a resident of the better half, I think it is only fair that he finally submit to the North's superiority. Afterall, SC looks up to us....just look on a map.

Although I have to admit they do have a much cooler flag.

Help: Does anyone know which Carolina James Taylor is referring to in his famous song?

book review: Velvet Elvis

I thoroughly enjoyed this book by Rob Bell. Rob Bell has become one of the most influential voices of the church, called heretic by some, and revolutionary by others. Notably he is the founding pastor of Mars Hill Church and creator of Nooma (take a look….its worth it). One of the things I found most valuable was Bell’s understanding of Jewish culture (especially in the time of Jesus). It made me realize how much is in the gospel that I have just glanced over without truly grasping the cultural and historical significance that’s critical to its meaning and intent. Another example that we only truly begin to understand something when we define and study its context. Its completely changed how I look at parts of the Biblical story. I highly recommend.

Best of 07

In case you missed them, here is the best of PPO3 in 07
> The (snow) Ski Trip
> I thought I killed my whole family with lead poisoning
> I participated in Lent for the first time.......oh yeah which induced probably my most embrassing moment in years when my mom gave me an enema
> Janelle and I went to the Orange Conference
> Janelle and I turned 30
> Chrandy moved back to Carolina
> We are having another baby and its a girl
> my cousin Kait lived with us for the first part of the year
> Wilmington weekend with the Sutphins
> Caden started walking
> I got an IPod and a TiVo.....and we will never be the same.
> We bought our first home

Here are my favorite posts of 2007
> Caden's many faces
> a visual exhibit of the Pate athletic prowess
> Caden and Maddy
> Maybe my funniest caption all year (the middle one)
> the Adventures of Bob
> Caden and Janelle's resemblance
> My favorite pics of Caden this year
> the caption that turned a cute picture into a disturbing image
> another episode of "spoon wrestling"