It took us six years to decide about having a youngster, and even then we weren't sure we knew what we were getting into. But nine months is a long time to adjust to an idea, and we're getting excited. We bought the fateful shoes, as well as a rack of tot-sized clothes destined to be outgrown faster than they are soiled. Most of the larger items we picked up cheap, so we decided to splurge a bit on the stroller, and got a deal on a used Bugaboo.

Living with a gravida hasn't been nearly as bad as the guys at the office made it sound. And I wouldn't have guessed how fascinating it is to get a nightly performance like this.