Introducing.... Round 2!!

What would you say if I wrote on here that there will soon be an addition to the Perkins household? And I'm not talking about an extra room.

Yes, that's right! Alison is pregnant! She went in for a checkup a few weeks ago that confirmed things for us. Round 2, as we have affectionately taken to calling him/her, is due in early January.

We don't know if Round 2 is boy or a girl yet, and won't know for some time. However, we have started reading books about pregnancy, and after a while, will start reading all the books on parenting. ALL of them. We have started talking to all of Round 2's surrogate aunts and uncles who will be family away from family. Many people are really excited.

Now, you may be wondering why we are calling him/her "Round 2". There are a whole host of women in the church who have had their first child within the last year and a half or so (round 1). Now, most of those women are pregnant again! Naturally, Alison was feeling a little left out - she wanted to get in on round 2 with them! But we were looking at starting our family a little later, and she knew she'd be able to sneak in on round 3.

However, as many of you know, we don't wait around. We like to get the ball rolling, and now we are sliding in on the tail end of round 2. Thus the code name until our little buddy joins us in the post-womb world is "Round 2". He/she will join us in mid-January.

This brings up an important point: what will Round 2's name REALLY be? That's an excellent question, and Alison and I have started throwing around some ideas. In keeping with Middle Eastern tradition, I have come up with some names that reflect famous people that influenced me (not personally - through their writing, acting, etc). Not sure where the name comes from? Click on the link to find out (Careful! Repeated names do not always come from the same source).

1. Clive Wilson
2. Woodrow Staples
3. Carlton Damon
4. Jack Sawyer
5. Adam Mankiw
6. Peter Paul (or, Paul)
7. Calvin Dwight
8. Wesley Calvin
9. Piper Clive
10. Methuselah Nimrod

You'll notice the unfortunate lack of women's names. For now, I'm leaving that one to Alison, and when we've compiled a list, I'll get back to you. Though if you want some ideas with names she will come up with, you can probably go read some Jane Austin books.

An Appreciation of Opposable Thumbs

I think I was thinking the other day, "Whats the big deal about opposable thumbs? I mean... it can't be THAT big of a help can it?"

I'm not really sure why I thought that. I think I had my thumb holding one thing and then I was using the other four fingers for something else (I realize the almost irony that my having this thought was really the result of using my opposable thumb). Anyway, I was using my other four fingers for something else and I felt like I was doing just fine.

Well, this morning, I went to peel some carrots for lunch, like I do many mornings. The peeler was still dirty, and I didn't feel like washing everything. So I was rinsing it under the sink, with one hand (my other hand had the carrots, peanut butter and bread), holding it and rubbing it with my thumb. Of course, I cut my thumb. Blood everywhere. Very gruesome.

After stopping (most) of the bleeding, putting a band-aid on it and having my wife kiss my wound, I had to now maneuver through my morning without a thumb. Oh the irony. Here are some things you should try to do with out even ONE opposable thumb:

• making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich
• buttoning up your shirt
• putting on a belt
• writing comments on 11th graders' essays

Yeah... good times. Now the wound ha mostly healed and I took off the band-aid. So I should be fine now. I've learned my lesson. Two thumbs up for opposable thumbs.

I am James Bond

There's no big news to share at the moment, just the hum-drum of normal life. I guess here are a few highlights of the last few weeks:

1) Entertainment: Lost - If you watch it, you know its awesome. If you don't... its like trying to explain a 3 dimensional world to a two dimensional creature. You just have not context for it. On a semi-related note: Star Trek was phenomenal. Everyone should go see it.

2) School: the seniors finish classes this week, and then have exams next week. This is nice for both alison and I as our class load shrinks a little bit. However, we only have 3 more weeks until the rest of the students are done. I, for one, am scrambling a little bit, trying to squeeze every last drop of life and joy out of my students by making them suffer in my class. Or, at least that's the story they would tell you.

Alison and I also chaperoned a school dance last night. I was really impressed with the organization by the 11th graders. I also got to wear a black suit and bow tie. Very James Bond-ish. I will post a picture when I get one.

3) Good Times: We went out with some friends on their boat a few weeks ago. We were up and at 'em by 7:30 and on the water by 9am. Awesome. We went to an island about 10km off the shore of Bahrain, which is actually just a sandbar until the tide goes out. It then turns into a 10 foot wide, 2km long island on which you can make sand castles and fish from.

4) Snorkel Gear: I am on a mission to use the snorkel gear my parents bought for Alison and I last summer. I've used it in Lake Michigan (too cold/cloudy), Malyasia (no marine life), UAE (too much toxic algae) and now in Bahrain. I am proud to say that yes, it does work. I found some white fish about a foot long, some seaweed and some clams that may or may not have had pearls in them.

I'm sure more exciting things will happen in the future, but you will just have to be patient.