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To travel, find new adventures, and make lasting memories together |
Matt went to Paris for work at the beginning of August and had a lovely time wandering around, taking pictures for his family, and eating yummy foods! You can see all of his pictures on his Facebook page and he may some day share those more widely but here is one picture of The Louvre:
View from above
Dear Baby Bean,
While you were growing in Mommy’s belly the world was busy turning and people were making history. Here are just some of the happenings during the first 5 1/2 months:
Republicans Back a Legal Brief Supporting Same-Sex Marriage (Feb. 27): In a policy shift for party members, several Republicans back a legal brief asking the Supreme Court to rule that same-sex marriage is a constitutional right. More than 100 Republicans are listed on the brief, including former New Hampshire Congressman Charles Bass and Beth Myers, a key adviser to Mitt Romney during his 2012 presidential campaign. The brief is filed as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to consider overturning Proposition 8, the California initiative banning same-sex marriage, as well as overturning the Defense of Marriage Act, a federal law passed during Bill Clinton‘s presidency, which defines marriage as between a man and a woman. Read more: February 2013 Current Events: U.S. News | Infoplease.com
Meteorite Over Russia Feb. 15, 2013 – The large fireball (technically, called a “superbolide”) observed on the morning of Feb. 15, 2013, in the skies near Chelyabinsk, Russia, was caused by a relatively small asteroid approximately 17 to 20 meters in size (about 18.6 to 21.9 yards) that entered Earth’s atmosphere at high speed and at a shallow angle. In doing so, it released a tremendous amount of energy, fragmented at high altitude, and produced a shower of pieces of various sizes that fell to the ground as meteorites. NASA News
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez Dies (Mar. 5): After 14 years at the helm of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez succumbs to cancer. Elections must be held within 30 days. Maduro will serve as interim president and will run in the election, likely against Henrique Capriles Radonski, who lost to Chavez in October’s election. Read more: March 2013 Current Events: World News | Infoplease.com
U.S. Fourth Graders Fight to Bring Home Deported Classmate Thursday, March 28, 2013: BERKELEY, California, Mar 28 (IPS) – Rodrigo Javier Diaz Guzman was a fairly typical Berkeley, California kid. He loved playing baseball and video games, enjoyed school and got good grades, watched Ninjago on TV, and ate take-out burritos and Chinese food whenever he could.
France Becomes 14th Nation to Approve Same-Sex Marriage (Apr. 23): The lower house in France’s National Assembly votes 331 to 225 in favor of same-sex marriage. The legislation is expected to be approved by the Constitutional Council and signed into law by President François Hollande. The vote makes France the 14th nation in the world to pass legislation for same-sex marriage. Uruguay and New Zealand have also both recently passed same-sex marriage legislation. Read more: April 2013 Current Events: World News | Infoplease.com
Multiple Bombs Explode during the Boston Marathon (Apr. 15): Multiple bombs explode near the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Two bombs go off around 2:50 in the afternoon as runners finish the race…. Later in the day, President Obama says from the White House briefing room, “We still do not know who did this or why, and people shouldn’t jump to conclusions before we have all the facts, but make no mistake: We will get to the bottom of this. Any responsible individuals, any responsible groups will feel the full weight of justice.” (Apr. 18): President Obama speaks at the Cathedral of the Holy Cross in Boston’s South End. After the service, both the president and First lady Michelle Obama visit those injured in the explosions who are still recovering in the various hospitals throughout Boston…. Read more: April 2013 Current Events: U.S. News | Infoplease.com
Anti-Government Protests Spread Throughout Turkey (May 31): A sit-in protesting government plans to raze Istanbul’s Gezi Park in Taksim Square to build a shopping mall grow into enormous anti-government demonstrations after police begin spraying protesters with tear gas and water cannons. The demonstrations spread to dozens of cities throughout Turkey. Read more: May 2013 Current Events: World News | Infoplease.com
Rhode Island, Delaware and Minnesota Legalize Same-Sex Marriage (May 2): After same-sex marriage legislation passes in both houses of Rhode Island‘s legislature, Governor Lincoln Chafee signs it into law. The new law, legalizing same-sex marriage, goes into effect on August 1, 2013. (May 7): Governor Jack Markell signs the Civil Marriage Equality and Religious Freedom act, legalizing same-sex marriage for the state of Delaware. The new law goes into effect on July 1, 2013. (May 13): In Minnesota, the State Senate votes 37 to 30 in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage. The vote comes a week after it passes in the House. Governor Mark Dayton, a supporter of same-sex marriage, says he will sign the bill the following afternoon. Gay couples will be able to marry in Minnesota in August 2013. Read more: May 2013 Current Events: U.S. News | Infoplease.com
Mile-Wide Category 4 Tornado Hits Oklahoma (May 20): An enormous category 4 tornado hits Oklahoma City, Moore, and Newcastle. Moore is hardest hit. The city’s Plaza Towers Elementary School is flattened. At least 24 people are killed in the storm. The tornado, stretching about a mile wide, is on the ground for 40 minutes. Read more: May 2013 Current Events: Disasters & Science News | Infoplease.com
Centrist Wins Presidential Election in Iran (June 15): Hassan Rowhani, a moderate cleric and Iran‘s former negotiator on nuclear issues, wins June 2013’s presidential election, taking just under 51% of the vote. Reformists throw their support behind Rowhani after their preferred candidate, Mohammad Reza Aref, drops out of the race. Thousands of Iranians take to the streets to celebrate Rowhani’s victory. While he has the backing of reformists, Rowhani has long been a member of the country’s conservative establishment, having served in parliament for more than 20 years and playing a strategic role in the execution of the Iran-Iraq war. He has campaigned on a promise to reach out to the west and improve relations with the United States. After his victory is announced, Rowhani promises to “follow the path of moderation and justice, not extremism.” Read more: June 2013 Current Events: World News | Infoplease.com
The ‘Standing Man’ Of Turkey: Act Of Quiet Protest Goes Viral As protests against the Turkish government enter their third week, activists are taking increasingly creative measures to maintain their momentum. Over the weekend, police removed their tent city and re-opened Istanbul’s Taksim Square to traffic, while maintaining a strong presence in the area. This might have seemed like the end of it for many protesters, until a lone man decided to take a stand, literally, against the government. For more than six hours Monday night, Erdem Gunduz stood motionless in Taksim Square, passively ignoring any prodding or harassment from police and people passing by….http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/18/193183899/the-standing-man-of-turkey-act-of-quiet-protest-goes-viral
U.S. Government under Heavy Scrutiny after NSA leaks (June 6): The Guardian receives information that reveals that the National Security Agency (NSA) is using PRISM to spy on the web activities, including email, of U.S. citizens…. (June 7): The Wall Street Journal reports that the NSA also monitors the credit card transactions and customer records of three major phone service providers…. (June 8): …Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg and Google’s Larry Page both deny any knowledge of PRISM. President Obama confirms PRISM’s existence and its use to spy on the online activity of U.S. citizens…. (June 9): Edward Snowden, a former CIA employee, comes forward and admits that he is the source of the recent NSA leaks. Snowden, fearing prosecution, defects to Hong Kong and is currently on the run, wanted for questioning. Read more: June 2013 Current Events: U.S. News | Infoplease.com
Court Overturns DOMA, Sidesteps Broad Gay Marriage Ruling by Eyder Peralta The Supreme Court issued rulings on two highly-anticipated cases on gay marriage today. By 5-4, it ruled the federal Defense of Marriage Act, which defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman, is unconstitutional. But in a separate ruling, it declined to take on the broader issue of gay marriage. The court decided supporters of Prop 8, a 2008 ballot measure that outlawed same-sex marriages in the state, did not have standing to bring the case to the court. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2013/06/26/195857796/supreme-court-strikes-down-defense-of-marriage-act
© Pete Marovich/ZUMA Press/Corbis
Today was our Anatomy Ultrasound where they measure all the many growing parts of our baby and also, when we found out what sexual anatomy our baby is developing! We have to wait until our doctor views the ultrasound pics before we find out how our baby is growing.
We wanted to take a moment and share with y’all our thoughts about the sex of the baby versus the gender of the baby. In about 19 weeks we’ll get to see the physical sex of our baby but that doesn’t mean we’ll know what the gender is. We will support our baby in loving, nurturing ways (as we know our village of family & friends will too) and if our baby grows into a kid, teenager, adult and feels best represented by the gender opposite their genitals or somewhere in-between, then groovy!
Erin could spend lots of time talking about this topic – loves to, as a matter of fact – so if you want to know more, email or call! 😀
Ok, we won’t keep you in suspense any longer! We are growing a baby boy!
No, we haven’t picked out a name, yet, but we are currently calling the fetus, Conrad the Conqueror. Conrad the Conqueror is very active and within the last week and a half we’ve been able to feel kicking and bouncing about in Erin’s growing belly!
Bursting with love and smiles,
Erin, Matt, Stella & CONRAD THE CONQUEROR
P.S. If you are feeling a strong urge to start buying or making boy related baby things, we encourage shopping/creating as if you didn’t know if it is a boy or girl – think gender neutral. If it helps the bedding for the crib has elephants and is blue, brown and cream.