2.08.2010

Anatomy of a bean.

Presenting ... Baby Bean!

Profile shot. She's a model already.


Saying hello to the world. Long delicate fingers, just like her sister.

Look at those big feet! Five toes on each one! Perfection.


"She's got legs, she knows how to use them".
She'll be thanking me for them in the future.

18 weeks, 5 days today. The bean is about 5 & 1/2 inches big. Mama has gained 7 whole pounds so far, but trust me it feels like much much more.

I still can't get over how far technology has come. How did women ever go through a pregnancy without getting to see what was growing inside? It's just so amazing, isn't it? Especially nowadays with the 3-D images, we can actually make out a face. Albeit a small, squishy face, but a face non the less.

If only she had a name.

2.07.2010

Believe dat.

Jed Jacobsohn / Getty Images / LATimes

Congratulations to the New Orleans Saints and to the city of New Orleans. 44 days after Christmas, 44 years after the Saints became a franchise, the Saints are the champs of the 44th Super Bowl during the term of the 44th President. Don't even try to tell me that's not destiny right there. Nobody deserves it more, nobody worked harder to get here. This was your season and I'm so proud to have been there for the entire ride. That was the most emotional football game I've ever watched. Even the bean was jumping around with excitement in the end. I can't wait to tell Sammy in the morning that OUR team won! She'll be so happy.

WHO DAT SAY DEY GONNA BEAT DEM SAINTS?
AINT NOBODY GONNA BEAT DEM SAINTS!!

Super Bowl XLIV Champions!!

Who dat.

Game day.


THE BIG GAME is finally here. I still can't believe it. Every time I stop to think about seeing the New Orleans Saints on the field for their first ever Super Bowl, I start to tear up. I called it about 17 games ago, the Saint and the Colts will be going to the Super Bowl. I took a lot of crap from people all season long who thought I was crazy and now all I can say is "WHO DAT". And just to clarify, I am not a bandwagon fan. I have been a fan and will continue to be a fan no matter what today's outcome is (just like I am of the Detroit Lions, but that's a whole 'nother story). This game today is about so much more than just football and just the title, and not just to me but to a whole city of people and then some. Today is about giving the city of New Orleans something to be proud of, something to feel positive about. It hasn't even been five years yet, since Katrina ripped through New Orleans, leaving the Super Dome dirty, wet and packed with refugees - alive and dead. They were going to demolish it, but realized the people would need a place to get together and think about something else other than the devastation to help them get through the next couple years. It cost almost $200 million to repair the Super Dome. Thank God they did.
I've been asked 100 times this week, what do I think the outcome of the game is going to be? Honestly, I can't even think that far ahead. I'm just enjoying every second leading up to the game today. I have no doubt that the Saints are capable of winning today. But if I stop to think about it, the odds, the technical aspect, the what ifs,my head starts spinning and I just exhaust myself from the anxiety. So instead I'm just basking in the fact that the Saints have come this far. The New Orleans Saints are the NFC Champions. They have finally lost I'm going to just sit and enjoy the game tonight, it is going to be a good one. I've watched the Super Bowl, but not for the football, only for the commercials and half time. This year, I could not be less interested in either, just give me the game.

Win or lose, the city of New Orleans will be having a parade on Tuesday to celebrate, because win or lose there is already so much to celebrate.

Around here we are doing our best to show our support in anyway how. All week Sammy has been practicing her WHO DAT and yesterday it was the first thing she said when she got up.

A SUPER BOWL prayer for the New Orleans Saints.

All I can do as a fan to support the black and gold is watch and pray, so I thought this was worthy of reposting.... maybe it's what did the trick last time, you never know.



Good and gracious God, just as the nation of Israel stood on the banks of the river Jordan, we the Who Dat Nation now stand on the banks of the Mississippi, filled with joyful anticipation. We stand on these banks looking back from whence we came. Although we do not share a history of slavery in Egypt, we do share a common history of pain and heartache.

We remember the National Football League Season of 1980 and our downtrodden days of 1-and-15. We repent for our shameful past of wearing bags on our heads, forgetting that you were on our side. We recall the days when instead of looking forward to the playoffs, we could only look at each other and tearfully say, "Wait 'til next year."

Indeed, we have been through a long journey through the desert of athletic despair. But as we stand on these banks today, we know that our days in the desert are over.

Just like the Hebrew children, our 40 years of wandering in the desert have come to an end. With eyes of faith, we can see the promised land! We can taste the Super Bowl! And, yes Lord, we believe.

Lord, it is our time to claim the blessings that you promised our ancestors. In the name of Hap Glaudi, Jim Finks and Buddy Diliberto we now claim our rightful place among the elite teams in the NFL.

Through the prayers and guidance of our elders Tom and Gayle Benson, and the leadership of Rita Benson LeBlanc, we have become the strong nation that you, our God, have always intended us to be.

We, the Who Dat Nation, are ready to do what was often considered impossible. We are ready to march around the city of New Orleans, as Joshua marched around Jericho. We are ready to band together in a spirited dance, as David did in Jerusalem. We are ready to walk together united, as the Israelites walked across the dry bed of the river Jordan. But, we need you to hold back the waters of doubt, just as you held back the waters of the Jordan.

Endowed with Your amazing grace, we formally begin our march to the Super Bowl!

With the faith of our ancestors, we call down the power of God to strengthen our players and coaches.

With the courage of our elders, we call down the protection of the angels to guard them from major injuries.

With four decades of hope, we call down the presence of the heavenly saints to lead the New Orleans Saints onto the battlefield of the gridiron.

We thank you for giving us a taste of what is to come. But, now we are ready for the banquet. We have proven ourselves worthy of your grace.Now, through your providence, may we, the Who Dat Nation, finally reach the Promised Land.

Amen!

The Rev. R. Tony Ricard

Pastor, Our Lady Star of the Sea Parish


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LET'S GEAUX SAINTS!!

WHO DAT! WHO DAT!
WHO DAT SAY GONNA BEAT DEM SAINTS??