November 2, 2001

Lots has happened since the last update. I'll try to remember it all to fill you in.
Pictures
I still have a bunch of stuff to scan. Someday--and I don't imagine it'll be anytime soon--I'll get in "scanning mode" and publish all the stuff I haven't already. Don't hold your breath. For now, you'll have to be satisfied with the stuff that was already in electronic form.
September 11
It's hard to know what to say, or how to say it. Our friends and acquaintances who were in or near NYC and D.C. that day are safe, and we're glad for that.
Schedule
Our schedule's still pretty firm to go into the hospital Tuesday, November 13 for the c-section. We plan to check out sometime Friday afternoon. Unless I go into labor naturally before then (Sonya's encouraging a good horseback-riding adventure), count on that. Darlene and Wellington are going to be watching Katie and Scout, and my mom will be down over the weekend to help us get adjusted to being at home. No false pretenses of pride this go-round--we know we'll need help!
And one of the best things (for me) is that Vic will be home for 12 weeks! Gotta love the hospital's extended leave policy!
Sorry
I want to apologize in advance to those of you we won't call from the hospital. It's not that I plan on not calling some of you, but I'm sure we're not going to get through our entire list, and that doesn't mean we don't like you. We just remember how hard it was to spread the news when Katie was born.
Name options
Still haven't finalized our name choice, but are leaning toward Luke Danger Manullang. A lot of thought went into this, really! Vic can put on his best Darth Vader voice and say, "Luke, I am your father!" and we want little Luke to someday be able to say (ala Austin Powers), "Danger is my MIDDLE name!"
Of course, Hopalong is still a good choice. We're trying to figure out how to fit that in somehow, because doesn't Hopalong Manullang sound poetic and lovely?
Baby's room
The new nursery is virtually complete. I do plan to publish pictures here, but right now there are piles of clothes all over the floor and I prefer to plan my photo shoots for tidier moments than Laundry Day. So in case you missed them in the last update, here are a few shots of the bedding. We pretty much did the rest of the room in coordinating colors, so just use your imagination.
There is still room on the walls for more dog pictures! Send us a high-resolution digital copy or a 4x6 print of your critter (hear that, Sherrice???)! Currently appearing: Scout, Bailey, Finn, Gus, Hunter, Molly, Patty, Cody, Kona, and Scout as a puppy with her big-boobied mom Lizzie.
Halloween
Katie had a great time on her second Halloween. Proof can be seen here. We're thinking next year will be the one she really understands. That's when we have to start being mean parents and putting limits on the daily consumption of candy.
We didn't have nearly as many trick-or-treaters this year. It was sad, knowing that the reason is probably a lot of parents' safety concerns right now. On the upside, we put all the good candy at the bottom of the bowl, and that's what we have left to gorge ourselves on for a while.
Visitors
We had a houseful last weekend: Chris, Sonya, Julianne, Jacob, Darlene, Wellington, Daryl, Sally, and Bailey joined us for a short but fun visit. Katie was thrilled to see her cousins and another "Scout," and was absolutely worn out by the time they left. Sonya and family hope to come back for a longer stay sometime this summer. We're glad they could make time for a trip to see us though!
Debi was here the weekend before. We spent a lot of the time working on rubber stamp projects. Katie even got to color with Auntie Debi's pencils! It was not one of her typical visits, where we shop shop shop, but we actually got to relax a little and hang out at home. It was really a lot of fun. She'll be back in mid-December to meet our new little guy. We hope to get some last-minute Christmas shopping in then.
Lonnie, Sherrice, and Gracie were in Portland a few weekends ago and joined us for Sunday brunch, along with Scott, Jenny, and River. The kids had lots of fun running around together, and we had fun getting reacquainted with Grace--it had been a long time since we'd seen her!
My mom and Grandma visited in September. They watched Katie one evening while Vic and I went out for my birthday dinner at our new favorite steak restaurant, Morton's. Mmmmmm... It was great having them here for the simple reason that we don't see each other often enough, but also because they entertained Katie while we tackled some big projects like cleaning out the garage, straightening the kids' closets, etc. It was a good weekend all around!
More x-rays
If you've been paying attention, then you know I broke my foot in May, right before our trip to Europe. Well, in September I broke my OTHER foot. Yes, it's true... pregnancy has not been very good to me. My poor little feet are not holding up all my extra weight very well these days. My OB has made me promise this will be my last pregnancy... not a problem!
Jealousy
Deanna and Dave are preparing for the trip to England next week. Hate 'em.
Kathy and Lori are headed to San Francisco for their second annual find-cool-Christmas-gifts-for-Jen trek. That is why you're going without me, isn't it, girls?
Ed is going all sorts of cool places in the next few months. He doesn't seem to think he needs a traveling secretary, but I'm sure I could be invaluable to him in that department. 'Course, he'd probably have me filtering his orange juice and ironing his socks...
Another new baby
Kevin and Lisa Krueger have a new baby girl! Larissa Kae Krueger was born September 27. Check out a sweet photo on their page!
Emma
A couple pictures of Emma, though nothing recent, have been added to her page.
Theo
I've added more to the Lassen Crime Family page.
Kathy
She's looking great these days! The Voss Family page has a new picture, courtesy of Martin and all the time he has on his hands. I'll add more pictures to the page when I get in that scanning mode I referred to above.
Patty & Cody
Ed's dogs are so photogenic, they really needed to have some web space, since he's hardly dedicated ANY of his site to them! (I swear, everyone leaves everything up to ME!)
Summary
I probably won't be updating again in the next couple weeks, although we'll try to get pictures of baby Manullang posted soon after we get home. Please sign our guest book or write in our message board to let us know you're out there!