Roger and Rose

Here are two links to youtube videos of Roger with his new anemone, since it seems I cannot upload them here :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P4pR8ZUQN0U

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzQSzXkt-7U

He is rather lackadaisical in these videos because he is comfortable and all settled in his new home, as opposed to the spaz he was when he first got it :P

As the Tumbleweed Blows

So not too much has been going on with us. We had a lovely baby shower thrown last Sunday by friends and Sean's co-workers. That was a lot of fun! And we got a good load of baby shtuff :)

Last Saturday we went to our local fish store. They were having their annual anniversary event where everything is marked down incredibly low in price. Last year, we were able to buy Sean a 72 gallon bowfront tank and stand at store cost. But this year we were even more excited to go. Why you may ask? Because this year, we were able to take advantage of their 30% off all saltwater fish, since we now have a saltwater tank! *insert sinister laugh here*

Now, before you start placing bets to see how much we spent, keep this in mind - I am my mother's daughter. By that, I mean I am in the mindset of, "We can take advantage of this sale and get a FEW things we need/want, but we DO have a baby on the way, and that is the primary financial focus right now." So we didn't spend a lot of money, and we didn't go crazy buying a bunch of fish and corals and whatnot. We actually only bought two things: a maxima clam and a rose bubble-tip anemone (RBTA) for our clownfish Roger.

There are several reasons why this RBTA is so awesome. Reason number one: the store mis-labeled it. Normally, an RBTA is about $100.00 at most fish stores. Regular bubble-tip anemones are anywhere from $25-50. Our fish store was selling regular BTA's for $40.00, and the kid that sold us the RBTA labeled it at $40.00, mistaking it for a regular BTA (this is what happens when you hire kids for your sale weekend who don't know a darn thing about fish. When we asked the kid what kind of anemone it is he responded, "Uhhhhh...that pink thing you mean?"). After the 30% off markdown, we ended up paying $28.00 for this anemone that should have cost us around $70.00 after the sale. I'd call that a win!

Reason number 2: It has feet and moves! I knew BTA's were mobile after researching them, and reading several people's experience with going to bed and waking up the next morning to have their BTA on the other side of the tank. I had no idea I'd be able to witness it in action, though, which was pretty fun to watch. After two hours of watching it move from its original post on top of one of our dark brown rocks to under another tonga rock, it finally ended up in between our large tonga rock and a smaller piece of liverock. It has resided there since.

Reason number 3: Roger has never been happier ^_^ So here is a little marine lesson on clownfish for you all. Clownfish (all types) do better when paired together with other clownfish or when paired with an anemone (or best of all, both). The problem is, though, when you have a clownfish that has been by itself for a while, it's harder than hell to pair them with another clownfish. Why? Because it becomes a territory issue. The longer a clownfish has been solo, the more aggressive they are towards new clownfish introduced to the tank. It can be done, but it's a difficult process in which you may lose a few clownfish along the way until your original inhabitant decides one of them is a suitable mate. We decided that instead of getting another clownfish for Roger (who has been the only clownfish in the tank since the beginning), we would get him an anemone. We had heard that if we REALLY love our clownfish, we'd get them an RBTA. So when we saw one on sale - especially at the "incorrect" price we were quoted - we jumped at the opportunity and I'm so glad we did. I have never seen a clownfish so happy in my life! He took to the anemone right away and began "hosting" it, meaning he rubbed against the tentacles and cleaned some of them with his mouth. The only downside to his new home is that he is now very protective and territorial. He will attack the other fish in the tank if it swims too close, and he has even come close to nipping Sean's hand if he feels it is too close. It's all fine and dandy, though, because the other fish is fine and has learned to back off, Sean is fine, and Roger is super happy :) I will soon post a video of him in his anemone - it is one of the most adorable things in my life!

Speaking of adorable, we have less than three weeks to go until Ethan is due! It's all very exciting, and I can honestly say I am ready to be done being pregnant. It has been a wonderful experience, and I don't regret a single kick, punch, or pound gained. But I am ready to be back in control of my body. I want to be able to eat the foods I enjoy again, like caesar salad and sushi and fruits and vegetables - all the foods this baby hates. All he's let me eat without gagging has been carb-and-sugar loaded, which my poor body does not appreciate. It will be nice to be in control of my diet again. I will probably be taking a good long vacation away from sugar and sweets for a while - I'm actually getting burnt out.

Whenever he does come, we are so excited for it! I am ready to see his little face and hold his little hand with my finger, and nom on those little toes that are so fond of getting stuck between my ribs :P He deserves every tickle he gets! And Sean is ready to be an official daddy. Every day he gets more and more excited about meeting his son :) It will be a day we both will remember forever!

Other than that, days are spent with him at work and me incubating a baby. Thrilling, I know! But soon enough, we will have a baby to blog about! How exciting!!!