Thumbs Up/Thumbs Down - #2

Up:

• It has been a full month since Jackson started sleeping in the "big boy" queen size bed! So far it has been very successful. He only fell off the bed once (oops), but I think I remedied that with the addition of a body pillow at the end of the bed. He has continued to nap in the crib though. I thought that would work best since we have company coming in a couple of weeks and again when Kennedy is born and he'll have to sleep in the crib during those nights. Hopefully that doesn't completely confuse him. 
• The base provides this fabulous service called Give Parents a Break for deployed spouses. They provide free childcare one Saturday a month while your spouse is deployed. We've only gotten to take advantage of it in July and Aug. because we were gone or with family the other months. Jackson loves getting to play with other kids his age and it is a great way for me to get a lot done at once. He did get brutally attacked yesterday though (another kid bit him on the nose - poor guy), but it didn't seem to taint his experience.

Down:

• Stomach bug - yuck! Twice during this pregnancy, and of course since Mike's been gone, I've had the stomach bug. Luckily this week it was a much milder form than I had back in April and Jackson didn't get it, but it's still no fun.
• I'm sure you all heard the news this week that Texas A&M is leaving the Big XII and heading to the SEC. This is so sad for me because of the history and rivalries of this team. My Dad and sister both went to A&M so it has always been fun to give them hell during football season when Tech is playing them. That will be no more. Too bad UT has to ruin everything for everyone by trying to dominate. You can read my husbands thoughts about all of this below! He's pretty opinionated :)

Here are a few pics from this week...

Jackson with his blankie, affectionately known as "Ma"!

Jackson loves being outside. It's amazing how a little $8 pool can keep a kid happy/busy for hours!

Love Jackson's facial expression in this one!

Mike's Thoughts:

A) I think A&M will have a much more difficult time in the SEC.  I envision them having a tough time breaking .500 every year.  I don't know where A&M is pumping all of this sunshine thinking they belong in the SEC.  They had a decent season last year, but look at their recent history (9-4, 6-7, 4-8, 7-6, 9-4, 5-6, 7-5, 4-8, 6-6).  That's 57-54 over the last 10 years for those of you keeping score at home.  I think they're ready for Alabama, Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Arkansas every year though...not to mention the SEC East.

B) At least they're getting away from UT.  I hate UT.  And, A&M would be going to a conference with equal revenue sharing.  I think that's the only way to go these days based on the SEC, Big 10 and Pac 12 approach.  They're going to a greener pasture(farming pun not intended yet well played), but I think it will hurt not having any of their historic rivalries go along with them with the exception of Arkansas.

What do I think Tech should do?  It's funny you should ask.

And I answer: We've all seen The Titanic.  We know what happened to Leo after he "never let go."  The ship is sinking.  Get the F out!  The conference isn't going to last like this.  I have little to no confidence in the Big XII-2 or 3, and everyone who remains will be at the mercy of UT. 

I wish Tech would band together with OU, Ok St., and Boise to make a case for the Pac 16 superconference.  It makes sense, it's possible, and it would be an awesome conference.  The icing on top of the cake will be UT stuck without a conference and licking their wounds visible to all Americans who purchase the super deluxe premium overdrive sports channel package from their cable provider and accidentally find themselves tuned into to channel 666.  If the NFL network isn't on most cable provider's standard packages, I doubt they'll be interested in an all burnt orange all the time network.  I do think that midnight jams with old buttertooth has a place on some network somewhere though.  That, or maybe they can have a thirty minute segment where he reads stories to children.  Move over Kunta.  There's a new reading rainbow, and it's burnt orange with a hint of buttery yellow. 

Missouri can join the Big 10.  Baylor can follow TCU into the Big East.  Iowa State, KU and K State can do whatever it is that they do.  I don't care.

Let UT shower in their money, arrogance and loneliness.

Another option would be UT taking the place of Boise in the Pac 16.  It could happen, but I'd rather them just go independent so I don't have to look at them.