ISS Sighting

From Pete Darragh

July 17th, 10:33 PM

15 second exposure from our backyard. See the Big Dipper on the left? The ISS path ends just above Polaris.

Thanks Dad for alerting me!

Our Forester Comes Home

After a few repairs at the dealership, we have our new vehicle. Very nice.

From Pete Darragh

Becoming part of the Subie Family

Stephanie and I have been making due with our Accord since the girls were born. We knew we would need a larger vehicle soon. Their stroller takes up the entire trunk! On a recent trip to Costco we forgot to take the stroller out and it was like a jigsaw puzzle fitting all the stuff in. Not fun. We wanted a vehicle that is a bit higher, has more cargo room, has leather seats, is dependable, looks cool, and fits into our price range. We found an 04 Forester XS at Auburn Volkswagon and went to go look at it yesterday. After a test drive and price negotiations we signed the papers! As part of the deal the dealership is going to replace the rear differential, so we didn't bring it home. Hopefully we will have it early next week. We're happy with our purchase and are excited to go on some drives before school starts up again!

99% Monozygotic

When Elise and Charlotte were born, we did not know if they were identical or fraternal twins. It was tough to tell at first because they differed in their size, and they just look like cute babies! We wanted to find out - for curiosity, and some practical reasons. We ordered a DNA test kit from a company and sent in cheek swabs from both of them. About 10 days later we got the news! 99% probability that they are monozygotic (identical) twins! Here are some facts about identical twins:

• They share the same nuclear DNA, but may differ in their mitochondrial DNA.
• Identical twins do not "run in the family". This makes sense for us because ours are the first twins!
• Fraternal twins are twice as common as identical twins.
• The odds of identical twins is about 3/1000.
• Their fingerprints are different because fingerprints are a function of phenotype, not genotype.
• Since they are a genetic match, they can give blood or organs to each other, should the need arise.
• My twin girls, Elise and Charlotte, are the most beautiful identical twins in the world.

Happy Independence Day!

From 2009_07_04

Leisure Time

Although Stephanie are kept quite busy by the girls (and we love it), I have found some time for some lazy summer activities in between feeding, diaper blow-outs, bottle washings, and general household chores. The time is in 20-60 minutes increments, and can be interrupted at any point. So far I have:

- Beat the new Ghost Busters video game for wii. Talk about a good implementation of the wii-mote and game play! It was really entertaining blasting ghosts with the proton beam and reliving the humor of Dan Ackroyd and Bill Murray.

- Read The Graveyard Book, by Neil Gaiman. It won deservingly won the Newbury award last year. Nobody Owens is the main character who is the sole survivor of his family, all of whom are murdered in the first chapter. Nobody toddles into a graveyard and is adopted by the ghosts. The story is a great variation of Kipling's Jungle Books.

- Read Life as We Knew It. In this story an asteroid knocks the Moon into a closer orbit. Tides are disrupted, weather patterns screwed up, coastal areas are swept away by Tsunamies, and volcanos cause climatic upheaval. It is the story of a high school girl and her family's struggle for survival after all infrastructure is destroyed. A good but scary read. It makes me want to make sure we have supplies in case of an earthquake, especially with the girls.

- Maintained the flower bed I put in right before Elise and Charlotte were born. I buried a "soaker hose" to keep the plants irrigated and it has worked very well.

From New Flower Bed

- Tiger Woods Golf 10 for Wii with the motion-plus controller. This game is tough! The motion + controller makes it very sensitive to your swing motion. One fun aspect is that it has a disc-golf game built in. It is amazing how well the game reflects your real hand motions. It is very fun.

From Pete Darragh

There are several house projects I need to do before summer is over. I would like to re-read Love and Logic for the classroom (I need to refresh my classroom management skills), and I need to journal for Charlotte and Elise. I started a journal to give to them on their birth day, but haven't picked it back up. There is so much to write and I am overwhelmed by it for some reason. The weather is so gorgeous outside I wish I could take more advantage of it, but nothing is as great as the time I am privileged to have at home with my daughters.

Family Visit

On Sunday my Uncle Rick, Aunt Jodi, and my grandma (the girls' great-grandma!) came over to visit. It was their first visit with Charlotte and Elise, and they loved every minute. Rick recently returned from a fishing trip to Alaska, and brought salmon and halibut to grill. It was delicious. It was a beautiful day and everyone had a great time catching up and passing the babies around!

Two months old today!

Elise and Charlotte are two months old today! It seems like an eternity ago that I wrote the last post. Life has changed in so many wonderful ways in the last 8 weeks. I love my girls - being a dad is the best! I'll be writing more now that school is out and I have more time.

From Charlotte & Elise 5/9 - 5/18

Allow Delivery in 6-8 Weeks

Whenever I subscribe to a magazine, they say it will begin to arrive in 6-8 weeks. This always feels like an eternity, but when it finally comes, it doesn't actually seem like it was very long.

Well, we're expecting our girls in 6-8 weeks! I know it is not very long at all.

I am starting to feel a little nervous, well, I guess just plain nervous. We have all the "stuff", like crib and car seats. Now, I just feel completely unprepared personally. It's not like I can go into training for sleep deprivation and diapers!

I am reading a book called "The Happiest Baby on the Block". It is all about soothing a crying baby. Lots of tips and how-to info. In the first part though, the author writes that the primary and most important job of any parent is to love their child (I knew that anyway!). I can certainly do that. In 6-8 weeks I'll begin to figure out the rest.

Madelyn

My brother Nick and his wife had their second baby last Tuesday - Madelyn. She was born a bit early, but is doing really well. We were finally able to go see them on Saturday evening. Madelyn is beautiful and perfect.

Some new stuff

In the spirit of getting ready for 2 babies, it was time to buy some stuff. Call it the "Darragh Economic Stimulus Package".

First, a stroller. I am one for quality, and refuse to buy garbage. Garbage is a waste of money, and eventually I buy the good one anyone. So, after much research, hands-on-testing, and deliberation, we settled on a stroller:

From new stuff

The seats are highly configurable. Both forward, back, or facing each other. They recline and the foot rests adjust. It is pretty maneuverable, and even has cup holders. This should last 2+ years.

The next purchase, new windows for the drafty house. Our house is over 50 years old and has terrible insulation. The old windows has a negative R factor I think. New windows, from Port Orchard Glass, really make a difference. Hopefully, the heating bill will show this too.

From new stuff

From new stuff

Life must be documented, right? We had a little point-and-shoot digital camera. Even before kids I was frustrated with it. So, a new camera was in the works. A Canon SX10 is. Not quite SLR, but not far off. It has great reviews, and I've enjoyed using it so far. Image stabilization, 20x optical zoom, and a complete set of manual settings, plus a great auto setting made this an easy choice.



Finally, the crib. Stephanie's dad, Rick, does amazing work. He made our bedroom set, dining room table, a cedar chest... just beautiful We now have an equally beautiful crib awaiting our precious daughters. Mom and grandma are so proud! Putting this in the room really brought it home. Tomorrow, Steph will be 24 weeks. In 3 months or less our little crib will have some long awaited occupants! I'll take their picture, we'll go for a walk, and enjoy the draft-free, cozy bedroom. I can't wait.

From new stuff

From new stuff

Creating Special Times

When I was a kid, one of my favorite things was spending time with just one of my parents - just me time. One particular memory is from 4th grade when my dad took me to breakfast at Denny's and gave me a Cub Scout pocket knife. These little, special memories are very important to me. Recently, watching Jon & Kate plus 8, we noticed they do a special day for each one of their kids. So, before I forget, here are some things I am looking forward to doing with my two girls.

- Dinner with dad at McDonalds (Happy Meal on me)
- Looking under rocks during low tide (maybe too yucky?).
- Something special, based on their interest - zoo, boat ride... we'll just have to see!
- Pancake breakfast, before mom gets up on a Saturday.
- Friday night movie night.
- "Camping" in the backyard
- "Camping" in the house
- Cooking together

Anyway, just a start. I guess after all the diapers and sleepless days/nights, eventually this stuff will start happening. I want to make sure I don't forget some of the things I've been thinking about.

Baby Stuff

Stephanie and I spent several hours at the oh-most-magnificent-and-venerable Babies 'R' Us in Tacoma today. It is time to start making that amazing baby registry list. We spent several hours there, and I actually learned quite a bit. I pinched my finger in a stroller pretty good trying to close the darn thing, but I eventually got it. Bottles, bibs, car seats, high chairs, play-pens (cages?), there is a lot. I looked at Steph at one point and said, "It is like we're climbing Mt. Everest in a couple of months, and we have to get a list of supplies, without really knowing what we need." Yeah, something like that. Anyway, we made a pretty comprehensive list by the time we left. When we got home, I ordered a great double stroller online, and expect it soon.

In the past week I have been able to feel the babies move on the outside. Mom has been able to feel them move for quite sometime, and it is really special for me to finally feel the two girls do flips and flops. Sometimes it is like a little dance party in there! Tonight, Stephanie actually saw someone move - their hand or elbow went right across her tummy! Wow! It is just amazing how quickly things are moving along.

Doublemint gum anyone?

Today we went in for a very thorough ultrasound at the UW Medical Center. It was for some follow up, just to make sure everything is progressing well with the babies. I am starting to understand to worry of being a parent - it just never seems to go totally away. The ultrasound went great and everyone is doing really well. The biggest piece of news is that we are expecting two girls, who will most likely be identical twins! I never, ever thought I would be a dad of twins. It really never crossed my mind, and now identical! The odds are about 1/285.

It is interesting to think about the future. Some twins develop their own language... that would be cool, to a point. I wonder how their relationship will be different than sisters who aren't twins? No one has twins in either family, so many questions will be answered in due time.

The ultrasound pictures are amazing this time. They look more and more like little people every time.

A True Blessing

In a few months my life will change forever, and I couldn't be more excited. I haven't written much, but feel that I need to start documenting our experience.

In early September, Stephanie surprised me with a small card. I had just come home from work and suspected something was up. She was busy in the office printing and cutting... making something crafty. A few minutes later she emerged with a goofy smile and handed me the small card. I had a hunch, and asked, "Are you pregnant?" "Open the card!" She says! I sat down, opened the card, and sure enough - it was wonderful news!

That whole evening was quite a roller coaster of emotions for me. Can I be a dad? Am I really prepared and responsible enough? Will I have enough patience? How will this affect our marriage.... On and on, my mind was reeling with questions and doubts... But at the foundation of it all is the faith Stephanie and I share, and our strong marriage. By the time I went to bed I was on cloud 9.

It wasn't long before we had our first ultrasound in Silverdale. This was in preparation for the first of many OB appointments. It took a little while, but soon the little bean appeared on the monitor. The tech pointed our little baby out, then got real quiet. I thought I saw something more on there, and just that moment he labeled the first bean "A", and then moved the cursor and labeled another little bean "B"! I asked, "Is there more than one?" He replied, "Congratulations, you're expecting twins!"

There was also a student in the room from the local college. I think this was the first time he'd seen this happen. I was standing up, and everyone asked me to sit down, I think I looked a little white!

That moment was probably the most surprising, shocking, and best moment of my life. Steph and I walked out, hand in hand to the parking lot. We just looked at each other with tears of happiness in our eyes. I said, "We can do this." From that moment on, I've known that it is going to be great. We can do it, it will be wonderful!

I called my mom, asked her to sit down, and told her the news. She didn't believe me at first! It took a few times repeating the news for it to sink in. She was thrilled. My dad was in Portland, and when I told him he was very excited! He is very proud will be a great grandpa for our babies.

Babies A and B have been growing steadily and mom is doing great. We are expecting them this spring, and I know time will pass very quickly. More to come!

What?!

When I got home from work, there was snow/slush on the deck (and on other stuff too). What?!

From New Album 10/9/08 7:10 PM

End of Summer, Start of School

I have taken a break from blogging for the last few months. Steph and I had a great end to the summer. I had some wonderful nights out back with the telescope, and have definitely caught "aperture fever". I've found most of the things I can with my telescope, and want something bigger, but it will have to wait... We went camping with my parents and reluctantly started the school year. Class is going well, and I think that my 7th year of teaching 6th grade is shaping up nicely. I have a very large class at 31, but the students are getting the hang of things. I am very busy at school. My old principal talked me into leading the safety patrol this year. It isn't too much work, but there seems to be a little thing every day. I was also talked into being the technology liaison for my school. basically, it is plugging in cords and helping people do things like check email. It comes with a very small stipend, but will be the first thing I drop when life gets busy. Steph and I recently got motivated to make sure we are healthy. We were able to get a wii this summer for cheap on craigslist, and picked up a wii fit last weekend. I've done it a few times, and it seems pretty cool. I will probably be blogging more often...

Golf, For real

Yesterday I went golfing with a buddy. We hit the links at Madrona Links, in Gig Harbor after 5:00 for the reduced price of only $15.00. This was my first time on a full size, 18 hole course. I had some really, really, terrible shots and lost 3 or 4 golf balls. Then I redeemed myself with 4 incredible drives in a row, all over 200 yards and on the fairway! You would think that those kind of shots would set me up for a good score on the hole... No... I blew it on the approach and short game. Golf has to be one of the toughest, most frustrating sports invented, but I enjoyed every minute of it!

Summer Stars...Finally

It is after 3 AM, and I have just wrapped up my first long evening out back under the stars. It has been awhile since I've been out, and I had to spend some time reacquainting myself with the summer night sky. I waited until Jupiter cleared some trees, then spent a fair amount of time watching. Every once in a while, there were crystal clear moments. I was able to make out the two main cloud bands, and also some of the lighter colored tan ones. The four largest moons were clear, and I watch Io orbit around and disappear behind the largest planet in the solar system. At the end of the evening I returned to Jupiter and caught a glimpse of the Great Red Spot! I also checked in with the two globular clusters in Hercules, M13 and M92. The Ring Nebula and Epilson Lyra, and Lyra were also on my list. I checked of the "coathanger cluster" (yes, it looks like a coathanger) and nearby M71. Then I was surprised when I went for the Wild Duck CLuster, and ran into the Eagle Nebula. I had never seen that before. This is the nebula that the famous photograph of the "Pillars of Creation" was taken by the Hubble Telescope. All in all, and great evening to get back into the astronomy. I'm looking forward to some more!

More Michigan

The training has continued through the week. It is an introductory math training for our curriculum, but the other teacher, Hilaree, and I are getting a few good tidbits here and there. Yesterday and Monday were very nice, with temps in the upper 70's-mid 80's. Today, we had showers, but it was still very warm out, and the rain was warm. It was a strange feeling. Yesterday I spotted a black squirrel, and took a picture. I thought it was very unique. Today walking across campus, I saw four more. Either that black squirrel is very fast, or they are not as unique as I thought. Maybe they are some grad student's project on genetics. After the conference today, we spotted one of the authors, Glenda Lappan. I had previously met her two years ago in Everett at another math conference. She actually remembered me from then! We had our picture taken with her to show our students in the Fall. Kind of corny, but also kind of cool. There are some beautiful botanical gardens on campus. The plants are all arranged taxonomically, and also are very beautiful.