This girl has opinions!

Halle's expressions are so fresh and original! She's observed so much already, but I'm convinced her reactions are natural and all her own. Aside from the social laughing, as seen above, where she's taken to covering her mouth as she chuckles.
Can anyone think of a good caption for this photo? For some reason, I'm so entertained by all the various things she could be talking about - who knows!

She ain't singin' hymns, that's for sure.

This face says "What do you have to say for yourself?"

Babytalk

Halle's babble resembles real words a lot of the time, especially when she's trying to mimic us. On Saturday night I played Peekaboo with her. She tried to say it but it came out packabee. Sooo cute!

She must have been giddy that night after spending time with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Robin and soon-to-be Uncle Baden. She was so full of energy! But when she got tired, she got cuddly. At one point, she grabbed my cheeks in her hands and slobbered a kiss on my lips.

What a sweetheart! I melt at least seventy times a day.

I Heart the Park!

PEEKABOO!

Halle sliding down the slide - get this - by herself!

The Map of Heaven

Click HERE to see a Map of Heaven. I think my favorite part will be the Dinosaur Petting Zoo. Did you read that correctly? Dinosaur. Petting. Zoo. DINOSA--

Pictures of Halle and my sandbox coming tomorrow.

I'm the only one who cares about this but...

My mother could tell you of days when I had papered my walls with pictures of Hanson back in 1997. Twelve years later, we all have families of our own. Weeeeird!!!!!! What an adorable little BIG family Taylor has now!

Woe is Brad.

Sometimes I really pity Brad for living with five other female creatures under one roof. I know I'm going against my own policy here by stereotyping, so forgive me for saying this: girls can be moody. When one of us is moody, all of us girls get moody. I woke up in a bad mood and Halle woke up on the wrong side of the crib.

And it's a BEAUTIFUL day outside. We girls just don't make any sense sometimes. The only thing Halle smiled about was the Pecola theme song. Ohh great! She's jiving to a song about being square.

We all knew this day would come.

Photo Parade

It *warms my heart* to see them enjoy each other so much.

Still. Getting. Bathed. In. The. Sink. I don't complain, generally, cause it's Father-Daughter time. And it's just plain adorable.

Olly Olly Oxen Free

Blowing bubbles with Grandma

I don't remember anything scary about "Follow That Bird" but Halle seems to look worried...

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

Hella

is an anagram for "Halle". So is "All Eh". I'm a bigger, dorkier fan of Lost than I really care to admit, but I will divulge that I was looking up anagrams for some of the characters yesterday. *groan* I know! I love "easter eggs", or fun little gems hidden inside various types of media (have you found any inside this blog yet?); the creators of Lost are also very fond of easter eggs, and so it is exhausting to watch at times. My search was inconclusive, mostly because I got sidetracked looking up my own name as well as Halle's and Brad's. Here are some of the coolest ones I found.
Halle (first and last name anagrams):
Racked Hellions
Croaked In Shell
Haloed Crinkles
Cholera Kindles

Brad:
Abscond Kid Err
Cornbreads Kid
Rabid Sock Nerd
Band Rocked Sir

Me:
Altar One
Alone Art
A Tar Noel
my full name:
Clean Harlot
Lacteal Horn
Hellcat Nora

Get on the float

...the banana float! Which is four feet long and advertised as a "banana canoe".

It's been almost thirteen years since my family moved to NC from FL, where we had a pool. The newest thing to hit pools those last years were "noodles", the styrofoamy floating.. well, noodles. In thirteen years, the pool float has evolved! It's become very clear (though it worries me slightly) that people want to get drunk in their pool.
This thing is HUGE! Wouldn't it be fun to have like, fifteen of these and play "bumper swans" in the reflection pool in DC? Not that that sort of thing is generally tolerated...

It would be fun to pair this pretzel float with the banana floats.

This floating light and water show is only fifty bucks on eBay. Batteries and hallucinogens are not included.

This is actually a toy for frat boys inspired by the find-a-treat dog balls.

Just don't roll it too fast! I hear that getting sick in a pool is worse than peeing in one.

Point by Point Public Speaking Tips

Halle proves that the right expression will keep your audience in the palm of your hands. Another captivating oration by one of the greatest minds of Halle's generation: her own!

Readying her reports and making light banter with her audience.

Stating the simple truths of the matter before launching into the theory of...

RELATIVITY!

It was the bees knees.

French Baby

This is a time lapse video of a baby playing with his toys over the course of four hours. I haven't tried this feature with my video camera yet, but I think I should after seeing this!

Oh, the Simple Things.

I never knew such fun could be had with a drinking straw! Hours... and hours... and hours!

A Lesson in Computer Slang

I didn't know that WIN was the opposite of the very popular internet term "FAIL". Makes sense. I learn something new everyday at this job. Here is a WIN (and a sigh of relief):That little kid almost got 'owned'.

Two Peas

Do you see the white in Olive's eyes?

"Holy crap, here she comes!"

Olive tries not to surrender - in her wussy, gentle, pawing way.

No camera tricks here! Yes, that is half of Halle's finger inside Olive's eye socket. Can't you just feel Brad's eyes rolling right now?

Kicking back with a grin in a cozy spot with her doggy!

Worst. Idea. Ever.

What is the opposite of fun?

I found this while looking for pool floats & water toys for infants in light of our beach trip (YAY! We can't wait!)

Note the rubber ducky laying uselessly to the side of the neck.. erm, brace? I mean, really, who thought this was a good idea? This thing is a recall waiting to happen.

'scuse my clumsiness but...

Watch out for the blurriness - your face might get stuck like that.

Remind you of anything? Hmm? Perhaps of a famous cartoon character?