Spraggle Log (Tales from beyond the Placenta): Final Weeks in Captivity

As the day of my release approaches I contemplate my own conformity to this imprisonment. For, what are my crimes? What have I done to deserve such cruel treatment? I was unaware that being a more then adequate swimmer was such a crime. Perhaps the event coordinators should have posted signs at the beginning of the race with a notation like “Beware the award for winning this race is three quarters of a year in solitary confinement.” Although a bit wordy for a notice, I believe it would have at least given me, as well as the other competitors, some sense of caution.

Regarding my conformity to this penal structure, I have decided that I have one of two choices. I can either remain in my cell until instructed by the parole officer of my freedom or I can defy their organization and break free of these confines on my own terms. Neither of these options are to be considered light-heartedly, for, they could very well set to tone for my entire independence.

On the one hand the meetings between Mom and my parole officer have increased in frequency. Although, I am starting to suspect that the parole office is delaying my release. I’m not entirely sure if he is actively trying to keep me contained or if this delay is due to some form of clerical error. In either case my freedom is being deferred and I simply can not abide by such ineptitude.

On the other hand I can continue to force my way out of my cell. I seem to have found the weakest point in the structure of my confines and I am considering pushing against it until it deteriorates and then finally ruptures. There by releasing me from my fleshy prison. The issue is my actions have not gone unnoticed. I few spectators have made remarks regarding the movement of my prison walls. And although no action has been taken to fortify my structure I am not entirely sure that once free the security will let me go or attempt to cast me back in this penitentiary.

Ah, I had another revelation this past week and in fact it has to do with the security personnel of this prison. I had mentioned in a previous entry of this journal that I was being tormented by a hairy four-legged beast. It was not until recently that I realized that this aggressor was in fact a member of the security staff employed by Mom. At first I was unaware of it’s agenda perhaps folly to it’s clever disguise however as of late I have seen a direct correlation between my efforts to escape and it’s distance from my prison. It’s as if it intends to be on guard for my release. It has even taken to stationing herself outside of my cell while I slumber. I do not trust this beast. She is cunning!

Many preparations are being made for my release, including the establishment of a residence. It would appear that I am to dwell in a sort of experimental dormitory. As I will be the first tenant other then the landlords, it would appear that I am to test the abode’s potential and limitations. Mom and Dad have taken me to said domicile. And although I am unable to visually inspect it, due to my imprisonment, Mom and Dad have shown more then just subtle excitement at the facilities. I am told it is well furnished and that a master artisan has been employed to paint a mural in my honor. I hope said artist is capable of accepting constructive criticism for I will certainly be adding my own embellishments to the décor over time.

One final topic of discussion before I return to my performance of “99 Bottles of Milk on the Wall”; As I prepare for my release whether subdued by “the man” or on my own accord, there have been remarks of almost a comedic nature regarding the date of my release. Some have even heralded me as a form of soothsayer, claiming that I am knowingly sabotaging my own discharge because of the temperature of the environment outside of these walls. Some claim that I do not wish to be released because of the frigid atmosphere. While others claim that I am biding my time until my release coincidence with weather circumstances that will be least favorable to the parole board.

I say to you again as I have said before Climate control warfare is an ugly business and I for one will not be partaking of such an abomination. However should I be released into a less then adequate temperature, someone “pweese bwing me a blankie”. *Ahem* That is all.

"A Cave of One's Own" (Season 2 Episode 20)

As we get ever so much closer to Spraggle being born, we have found ourselves with too much to do in too little time. Although I have to keep reminding Michelle that MANY other people have had and raised babies with far less then we already have, she constantly seems determined to go out and buy “one more thing” or take care of “one more thing” in the house.

We finally began work on the nursery and although there is still a great deal to do we have to remind ourselves that Spraggle will not be staying in that room for at least a few months after she is born. True it would be nice to have it completed (which it should be) but the Due Date is a very flexible deadline for multiple reasons.

Another little hiccup (LOL I’ll get back to that) in planning for the next few weeks is the holidays. Not knowing when Spraggle will be born has forced us to consider our holiday plans and gift purchasing much earlier then we normally would. For all we know Spraggle could have intentions of being a Christmas baby and that would REALLY throw a kink into the works.

One thing that we are VERY happy to have checked off our list is our photoshoot with Mike. As a shower gift to my wife I scheduled a pregnancy photoshoot with our good friend Mike Ermilio. (http://www.michaeltakespictures.com) Although the shoot had to be pushed back a week, we had A LOT of fun posing for pictures and we CAN’t WAIT to see the finished product.

Anything else?…Oh yeah the hiccups. Spraggle has had the hiccups earlier and if you thought watching a person with those tiny gasps of air was funny try listening to a pregnant woman’s stomach while her child has the hiccups. IT’S HILARIOUS!!! Although the strange movements and creeping bumps of Michelle’s stomach have looked like something out of a deep space horror movie, I’ve actually been have A LOT of fun chasing Spraggle all around Mommy’s internals. (HEHEHE!) Michelle starts going to the doctor’s office once a week now so it’s almost time for Spraggle to burst out like jelly covered bread from a toaster. Ok bad analogy however it’s a humorous mental image.

More updates as we get them.

A Very Special Thank You

So we are now 7 weeks and counting before we meet our little girl. The anxiety is starting to get to me. The anticipation of seeing her and getting her in my arms is starting to consume me. I get the reminders from her that she is growing and getting ready to come out. With every little kick and movement I know that we created this little bundle of joy that soon will meet the world.



This Sunday our family and friends got together to get her ready to enter the world. My shower was Sunday and it was magnificent. It was more that I ever could have imagined. I have to say a very special thank you to Spraggle’s aunts and grandmothers for getting everything together. The food was delicious, the decorations were amazing and the people there made me feel so special. Aunt Stacie did a beautiful job on the center pieces and the wishing well, Aunt Tracy made the scrap book pages look great, Aunt BB (Aunt Jenny) kept the pictures going and making that goofy bow hat, Aunt Ashley and Aunt Jenae did a fabulous job on the diaper cake and bank and then Nonna had the cake and Tandy Kakes and decorations which lit up the place and Grammom cooked all kinds of yummy food that Spraggle loved, including a very cute fruit salad baby carriage.



All of our friends and family really outdid themselves with the gifts they so graciously had given us to help get started with Spraggle. From the bedding set, to clothes, the rocking chair and diapers, to the Anit-Monkey butt creams and fluffy monkey rug. Her room will be decked out with all the monkey stuff she got. We are on a good start to get her here. We now have to work on her room so we can get everything in place. I have been in her room every night this week moving things around, looking at the adorable outfits and blankets and trying to figure out where I am putting everything.



I want to say “Thank You!!!” to everyone who attended my shower and made this day
very special for me. I can not wait to get everything set up and have Spraggle home to play with everything. I could not have imagined a more perfect day than what everyone did for me on Sunday. Pictures will be posted once she’s here in her new room and all her new outfits.

"All Work and All Play" (Season 2 Episode 8)

Well it’s been a very busy and exciting time around the Sprague Crew lately. Most of which has not been baby related although Michelle and Tony have been basking in the glow and relief of knowing they are having a baby girl.

That is not to say they were hoping for a girl as opposed to a boy. They were just getting VERY anxious (and impatient) to find out Spraggle’s gender. We can all finally stop using ambiguous pronouns or switching ‘he’ and ‘she’ between sentences.

We went and visited with our normal hospital yesterday. They had received the ultrasound from the specialists and wanted to look them over with us. Everything looks and sounds Great. Spraggle is growing nicely and we got to hear the heartbeat again which sounds Really Strong.

Although we were back at DCMH we sat with a new doctor this time, Dr. Troy. Our first impressions of Dr. Troy was…well…He’s more of a smartass then Tony! Suffice to say that if he is the doctor handling the delivery we may want to set up a recording device because it’s going to be too funny too miss. When he starts off with, “So how are the twins doing?” and Michelle’s eyes damn near pop out of her head you know it’s going to be good. He even made a crack about setting up bleachers in the delivery room so the family could watch. OH and he didn’t want to waste the trees it would take to Michelle a doctor’s note allowing her on her parent’s boat. (LONG STORY!)

On a rather Exciting note, Michelle has started to feel Spraggle move. The first few times she wasn’t entirely sure but the last few days she has definitely felt movement. We even got to hear some while listening to the heartbeat yesterday. Soon Michelle will be getting kicked from the inside and not think it’s *cute* anymore.

One quick story before we wrap up today’s post. Nathan and Adam came over to visit last night. While getting ready to leave Nathan said he wanted to say Bye to Spraggle. The only problem was he couldn’t find her. Michelle tried explaining that Spraggle was in her tummy but she would be coming out soon. Nathan lifted up Michelle’s shirt and stared at her stomach. He patted her tummy a few times then said “But I want to see her!” Michelle tried again to explain that Spraggle was in her tummy. Nathan looked up like he was thinking REALLY HARD then he stuck his eye up to Michelle’s belly button and squinted as if he was trying to look down a dark hallway. LOL! We laughed so hard! Guess you had to be there.

Talk to you all soon!

"Dream a Dream and See"

Since more and more people have noticed that Michelle is starting to show the signs of being pregnant more and more people have been voicing their opinion on what sex they believe Spraggle will be. Now I have never been one to believe that you can tell the gender of the baby based on some old wives tales, needle and thread, the shape of the pregnant woman’s stomach, the phases of the moon, or flavor of her favorite gummy bear. I did however sort of believe a dream I had around week 6.

In my dream I was sitting on my couch watching a Phillies game when I saw a small toddler walk around my coffee table. I wrote it off as being my godson, Nathan. But when the toddler tried climbing up on the couch and I noticed it was wearing a dress I knew it wasn’t Nathan. (btw it was a little white dress with Phillies emblems on it) Anyway, this little person sat down beside me and looked up with bright blue eyes and red hair. And I knew that this was my daughter. Spraggle will be a girl.

At least that is what I thought up until last week when Michelle said she had a dream of her own. In her dream she went to the hospital to pick up Spraggle. Not like she had actually given birth to the baby but more like she was picking up something she had put on layaway. She took note while at the hospital that the baby was 7lbs 1oz. She laughs about this because each night before bed she’s been telling Spraggle that it can’t be more then 7lbs when born. At just one ounce more then what mommy requested is this Spraggle’s first act of defiance? Anyway, she thought the baby she had picked up was a girl. However when she got home and went to change the baby, “Spraggle” urinated on her using a body part characterized in the male gender.

Now I should mention that we are not hoping for one gender over another. Boy? Girl? It makes no difference to us as long as the baby is healthy. (Oh and if it is a girl, Michelle wants her to have red hair.) But we laugh about how neither of us has ANY clue what gender Spraggle shall be. That is at least for the next three weeks. Yes, on July 27th we will be going to the doctor to do the second round of ultrasounds. And pending Spraggle isn’t modest (Ha! Look at his/her parents) we should be able to see…that which determines our genders. With that in mind, get your votes in now for which sex you think Spraggle will be. We’d like to know what you all think. The poll is just over to the right. ------------>

As I am writing this the most people seem to think we are having a girl, with the votes 19 to 13 in favor of the fairer sex. An amusing result because the last time two girls were born into the Sprague family in the same year was 27 years ago. And little Riley Mae took the title as the first Sprague female born in the past 23 years.

"Tedium & drudgery are good for the soul" ~Boober Fraggle

This past Sunday the Soon-to-be parents set out on a recon mission to evaluate all of the stuff needed to raise a new born. After sleeping in a bit to make sure we were properly rested. (or because we were really friggin tired) we ran a few quick errands we decided to start at the farthest point and work our way back. Which means Target was our first stop. Since we had done a quick glance through Target’s Baby Section, when we first found out Michelle is pregnant, we sort of knew where most things were. We looked at all types of things from nursery furniture, to high chairs, to car seats, to strollers. Even found a few things we liked even though we are still working out the layout of the nursery and the monitoring system.

We spent well over an hour in Target comparing products, checking out new and strange gizmos and in some cases reading over the instruction manuals to figure out how the heck some things work…



After spending nearly 2 hours in Target’s quaint baby department we were both intimidated and concerned as we entered Babies R Us’ sales floor. Luckily we were greeted with a sample registry and we found ourselves an understudy baby…




Our understudy helped us pic out furniture…



Blanket sets…



Even check the sizing of a few other infant household needs…



All in all we were able to check out most of the major items we’ll need for Spraggle. We also had a lot of fun. Tony bought a diaper bag which he will claim he only bought because it was on Clearance Sale however we all know he bought it because it is Really Cool! Other then that Michelle bought a new Maternity shirt and SOMEHOW our Understudy Baby found it’s way into our car and eventually back to our house. Good thing he’s Insanely Soft!

"Believe It or Not" (Season 3 Episode 8)

As the end of the first trimester approached we realized it we time to spread the word about the pregnancy. We had held in our excitement for 8 weeks and were able to skate by with only telling a few people

The first trimester can be very difficult. There are any number of things that can go wrong to hinder the pregnancy and a high likelihood of a miscarriage. But as the first few months drew to a close we were bursting at the seams to tell EVERYONE the good news.

As fate would have it we were given the perfect opportunity to tell most of the Sprague family all at one time. While in Wildwood for Mummer’s Weekend we took part in a pub crawl. Sadly a few key people were not there with us but we had to proceed as planned. We waited for the perfect bar, ordered a round of shots (which some people needed to be persuaded to drink), and enlisted the help of our friend Jim. Once Michelle and Stacie returned from the bathroom, the toast went something like this:

Jim: “SHOTS IN THE AIR! SHOTS IN THE AIR! SHOTS IN THE AIR!”

Tony: “To Spraggle! The Newest addition to the family”

There were more then a few confused looks until Michelle stood on the bench and lifted her shirt like this:



After a few more seconds of silence the building ERUPTED! People cheered, exchanged hugs, some fell down in shock, Israel declared peace, BP plugged the oil leak, and there were even a few tears.

We made our rounds showing everyone the shirt and allowing a few to touch the belly and take pictures.







Apparently we were nominated for an Emmy award for the way we hid the pregnancy and Michelle still acted like she was drinking.

Over the next week we tried to visit other members of the Sprague Family and a few members of the Frick family. Father's day along with our niece's birthday afforded us the opportunity to tell many Fricks at the same time.

This time we went much more subtle approach; with Michelle just simply wearing the Razy Baby shirt to the party. As each person arrived at the party we left it to them to realize what was on the shirt and internally question what it all meant. In most cases it was met with remarks like "Is that for real?" or "Does that mean what I think it means?" It was quite humorous and a very enjoyable way to spread the word to the whole group yet each person individually.

All in all it’s good to not have to hide it anymore and even Better to be able to finally talk about it openly. Thank you all for being a part of our lives. You helped shape us into who we are today and we hope you will help us do the same with Spraggle,