First off, thanks to you all for the wonderful well wishes about our impending addition to the family. It is a warm feeling, indeed - and so good to finally share with you all. The other day when I said that “the cat was out of the bag,” I neglected to say the reason why we’d waited and why we are finally saying something now: I finally told everyone in person who I wanted to tell, including work people, because I didn’t want them finding out online. So, I told them (to much cheering and congratulating) on Tuesday, and then came straight home and posted.

We arrived in California yesterday morning around 11:40AM local time, and ended up meeting straight away with Josh’s parents at Zachary’s Pizza in Berkeley. This is particularly notable because Josh’s parents, on sabbatical this upcoming semester, drove out from Tallahassee starting on Saturday, and just as we were leaving the airport, were arriving at Josh’s grandmother’s house, where the festivities for Christmas were transpiring. So they turned around and we all met at Zachary’s for some Chicago-style pizza.

I should also cackle gleefully that as soon as we got to Midway yesterday morning, we both took our winter jackets off and stuffed them deep inside our checked bags, where they have remained since then. The second we stepped out of the baggage claim area, Josh wearing a t-shirt with a light long-sleeved shirt over it, and me wearing a tank top with a light wool sweater over it, and felt 60º weather? I believe I may have squealed a bit. Awesome.

So, we’re in California now, and have seen the entire family, as everyone came over for dinner last night. Josh and I are headed into Oakland today for some dim sum and some last minute holiday shopping. Happy Thursday!