Munch!

Teaching Computer Skills to your Toddler

2010-12-12T11:18:00.000-08:00

Do you have any idea how many carelessly thrown-together, shoddy games for toddlers are made by advertastic sites in the hopes of making more money for offering something slightly "educational"? It's bite-sized spam and yes, mostly written by non-native English speakers. I wonder how many hours were put into this programming masterpiece:

I don't know what's going on here and frankly, I'm a bit frightened myself.

So Halle, at two and a half, is an alphabet whiz. She knows her colors, her opposites, and her numbers. She doesn't need any educational aids for those - but I would like to encourage her to learn how to navigate a computer. Pressing keys (one at a time, not a blitzkrieg), using a mouse, clicking and dragging, operating the wheel, and so on. It's difficult to find quality games these days. Sigh.

El Buho Boo is the only thing I've found thus far, but Halle adores it! She constantly asks me to start the "ink game!", in which you press any ONE key to animate fish, shellfish, and other sea creatures such as a squid who inks. If you're two years old, it's hilaaaarious.

Since Christmas is on it's way, does anyone have a recommendation for games or software? She's always been fascinated with my laptop but as I've never allowed her to touch it, she'd pretty much given up. Now she's hesitant to use it and I never meant for that to happen. I'm sure it's just a matter of time, and a couple more ink games!

Oh, and since we're talking computer lessons, I couldn't help but let her try out Microsoft Paint. The classic, minimalistic application that the dinosaurs used to make graphics with. Here is her first MS Paint drawing ever, world!

Summer & Autumn 2010 Photos

2010-11-21T14:04:00.000-08:00

Although I don't get to see Halle every day anymore, I've been more motivated than ever to make every moment with her count. So we've been exploring the neighborhood...

... and Greensboro's Center City Park, which Halle calls "The Water Park"...

...and enjoying lots of porch time... and treats!

... spending time with family... (and eating the bread for the ducks!)

...making lots of silly faces...

...and getting so tired that we she falls asleep in the strangest places.

(with her bakah over her head.)

(Was going to post a video here but I can't convert the file and Blogspot is taking foreeever! I do make too many empty promises of video.... yikes...)

But it's all so worth it. She's the most well-mannered and obedient kid you'll ever met. She's affectionate, smart, and has a surprisingly good sense of humor, for a toddler. She'll never be a fiend like this hilarious girl was... Allie Brosh, hilarious blogger and owner of an amazingly "simple" dog. You won't be able to help laughing out loud, I promise.

HALLE-ween 2010

2010-11-04T14:23:00.000-07:00

You know it's been too long when your grandmother tells you to update your blog. And well it has!
I've got video to post soon as well, so in the mean time, here's my favorite kitty cat there ever was.
Her eyes almost look green in these pictures... maybe it's just the green blanket behind her.

Also, Halle likes to say "dingbell" instead of doorbell. Love.

Cousins Sharing a Secret

2010-09-29T15:38:00.000-07:00

My dear, sweet, adorable, impossible-not-to-love niece Nayeli is a big fan of her cousin. She loves to watch the videos I post and likewise, one of Halle's favorite things online is Nayeli's "Sleeping Bunnies" video. Please watch it if you haven't - it's just too cute to miss!

We both got to spend some time with Nayeli and her mom this past weekend and had a BLAST! My dad, the ever ready Papa-razzi - or Puppyrazzi - took a handful of precious photos. It looks like they're sharing some serious toddler secret or posing for a painting of cherubs! Everyone says their kid is a little angel, but these girls seriously look like angels!

Pals. Totally going to be BFFs.

Munch - Now a Universal Term of Endearment.

2010-09-25T20:24:00.000-07:00

Halle carried her baby doll around as we sleepily played in her bedroom this morning at the god-forsaken hour of 10AM. As she held it, rocked it and swayed with it, she cooed, "It's okay. Come on, Munch."

My wonderful, 5-month pregnant sister-in-law Rethsey surprised and floored my Mother by flying in from Boston for a visit with my nearly 2 year old niece in tow. It's amazing how much you love your own kids, feeling your heart muscles easily shatter any previous notions your capacity for love; in the same regard, your nieces (and nephews, I'm sure) summon up another new ballfield of tenderness. My little darling niece, Nayeli, who calls me Hae, had me at her"Si". Her pronunciation of the word should be declared a national treasure.

Sometimes Halle has a hard time falling asleep in her new room. Plus, it's been a little over a month that we turned her crib into a big girl bed, so she's got a lot on her plate right now. Just tonight, I laid down next to her on the floor where she was cuddling with her big puppy plush dog and her tiny red wagon and I started singing a couple of Oldies songs to her. She's really into being petted on the head right now, and I love that she lets me fawn over and dote on her.

Most nights, when Brad or I say "I love you!", she'll say, "Uh-huh." or "MrrHrrr" with a pacifier. But at the times of the day she feels closest to you, she'll offer up her most honest, organic declarations of love. This is what I live for. People without children, they just can't possibly understand how a sighing, sleepy toddler unexpectedly saying "I love you" as they move in and out of dreams can make you suddenly realize that you've lived your whole life to be in this one, single moment. My life being put in perspective in a room full of talking Elmos and not resenting a second of it. And it's so much more than I could've wanted it to be.

PS. I know. Pictures. Soon.

Scooty Spiders and Comfort Food

2010-09-24T23:16:00.000-07:00

What an incredibly thoughtful and nurturing spirit Halle has! She's been known to say, "Good job, Mommy!" or "That's a GREAT idea!" in an encouraging fashion but tonight she caught me offguard.

There were two spiders on my ceiling. The quick ones that don't seem to prefer to use their web.. output... function.. whatever. So they eluded me, going behind my couch/BED and into the cracks in the wall where the ceiling fan meets. I didn't have a panic attack but I did sigh fairly heavily, saying things sort of like "Oh MAN!", "Crimony!", and "Where the BERMUDA SHORTS are you buuuuudddddy?". Having a kid makes you improvise cursing, and I'm kind of hoping that Halle will end up the creative benefactor of my arachnophobia vocab. Cursing, if anything, should be colorful, right?

Sidenote: I warned my neighbors in advance about the tendency for tourets-esque, shouty conversation during the evenings. I figured I might as well get it out of the way.

Halle could tell I was a bit flustered but gave little nonchalant eye contact, breaking her rapt focus on The Burbs and her happy tiny bowl of a small handful of post-dinner wavy chips. When I sat down, she asked me, "Did you get'im Mommy?"

"No baby, those guys were really fast. Siiiiiiigh. They got away from me."

"This for you, Mommy," she said, handing me a potato chip and then patting her tummy. "It make you feel better."

She kept insisting on giving me the last of the chips after that. If there's one lesson she's learned about spiders so thoroughly at her young age, it's that Mommy is scared CHIPLESS of spiders.

First Day of Preschool

2010-09-07T13:47:00.000-07:00

So it's almost been two months since my last post. It's been a very hectic couple of months to say the least and I'm not going to blog about it. I will, however, show you this ADORABLE photo of my big girl on her first day of Preschool! Or Dayschool! Or whatever you want to call it.

My Big Girl!

Brad took the photo on his cell phone but I know there are more to come. I heard she was the only one that cried - I'm guessing that Daddy may have shed a tear or two, though. :)

This Week In Cute

2010-07-18T20:55:00.000-07:00

Yeah, about that video I promised... here it is!! A couple of explanations first. One, Halle has been into playing dress-up (somewhat, she's extremely picky!) this week, especially her tutu and her butterfly wings. We've been talking a lot about Halloween because of that, naturally. Dora the Explorer has convinced her to be a kitty-cat for Halloween.

Anything but the Dora the Explorer costume! Is this not the most BORING costume you've ever seen in your whole freakin life?

I love that she's into Dora the Explorer. I don't remember watching as many cultural shows as a kid and I'm really proud that Halle shows interest in learning where Dora and Kai Lan (another show on Nickelodeon) live on our globe. I'm hoping if she doesn't at least learn a few words, she'll at least understand that Spanish is a foreign language, and not to moo when she hears Telemundo. 'Cause that's racist, ma'am!

Two, she's a bit vain... it's almost impossible to photograph or videotape the girl without hearing her request, "see it? See it? Again? See it?" So that's what that's all about.

Oh, and one last thing! I've never used music in the background but this time I thought I would try it out. You all get to be my guinea pigs! Yay! It's from one of my all-time *favorite* movies ever, Amelie. It translates really well with those cute/silent moments of childhood. You'll see. And if you hate it the music, well, I ask you: what did an accordion ever do to you?

Picasa Fun Time

2010-07-18T01:14:00.000-07:00

The Animals of Our Lives

2010-07-18T00:53:00.000-07:00

Cole / "Coles Mine"

Our Coles Mine is one of two kittens Brad adopted from my friend Buffy. If ever there was a runt, it wasn't Cole. She's your typical dominant huntress: after eating a moth, she misses it and searches the walls for new prey. Occasionally (and with hesitation) she'll accept affection. This is why we were so surprised when Cole opened up to Halle, allowing her to not only squawk around her but pet her, pull her tail, and rock her in the rocking chair to "Rockabye Baby". She may seem unsocial, but that's only because she's "on the clock" at all times, keeping the house in check with her constant wakeful surveillance.

Calla / "Calla Leetz"

If ever there were a "toy cat" to rival a "toy poodle", it would be named Calla. And she would eat ice cream. Yes, blogosphere, ahem, we have a bowl licker. When Halle toddles nearby, her terrified eyes grow exponentially larger, anime-style. She'll run like the dickens from Halle but after bedtime, when Brad indulges in a big bowl of Neapolitan or Black Cherry ice cream, Calla patinetly watches from the corner until she gets the chance to polish off the rest of it. Oh, and she meows like a twelve year old boy whose voice cracks. She's always walking the line between pathetic and adorable with me.

Olive

What can I say, she's a dog that belongs to a breed that has been overestimated. Olive, whose theme song is Led Zeppelin's "All of My Love" or "Olive My Love" depending on your ear, is a boxer mix who is submissive to her feline housemates. It's kind of humiliating to watch, actually. She gets them back, though. Sometimes she wanders into Brad's study and eats their food. Brad definitely gets angry when this happens, but deep down I cheer for her, just a little bit, in getting the last word with those mean ol' cats.

Since I'm a little bit biased about the animals here, and because Olive is so much more submissive to Halle, here's some cuddly Olive-as-a-pillow photos!

Last but certainly not least is Ah-Ah, the Bear. Halle named him herself and they're best friends. When I showed her this picture and asked her who it was, she exclaimed, "Oh! It's Ah-Ah!"

Videos coming tomorrow!!!

Little Moments

2010-07-07T11:16:00.000-07:00

#1 Anatomical Concepts

Before diving into yard-work, I decided to put on a bikini. That way, I could join Halle in the pool if I felt like I was going to keel over. I get the top on and turn around to Halle, who is sitting on the bed. She asks, "Boobs on?"
"Yes, Halle, I've got my boobs on now."

#2 Streaming Subconscious

Last night, as she laid in her crib waiting for the sandman, Brad and I could hear her sing song-y chatter from the living room OVER the television. We hit mute and took a seat in the dark hallway outside her door. This is what we overheard:

"Red ah stop an' green mean GOOOOOOO!"

"Wait, Daddy, wait!"

"Rockabye Halle over teetops HALLE
When the wind blows, cradle will HALLE
When bow breaks, cradle 'll HALLE..."

Listening to her dreamy rantings are like watching Telemundo and knowing only light conversational Spanish. Not only does she have a toddler lisp, there's a pacifier in her mouth and she's singing/howling the words that are only occasionally audible. I really wish my camcorder could pick up the sound!

On the verge of cracking up.

2010-06-30T23:39:00.000-07:00

I don't know why she restrains herself from laughing, but it's apparent she does. Her sense of humor resembles Brad's in that they both like being silly, absurd, and a bit sneaky or sly. Just check out these expressions.

This might be one of my favorite photos of her! It's so Halle. Shes' got a bit of food on her chin, a clever little grin, a hint of curls in the back, and it's tied up nicely with the bokeh effects in the background. Nice shot, Dad!

Here are some other cute photos that I thought about turning into LOLHalles.

She's either an imp or she's trying to sell Aunt Robin some of her magic beans. Or, y'know, both.

No way!

Is she performing the skull scene from Hamlet or singing a fugue?

There's my sweeeeetie!

Fireflies and Mosquitos

2010-06-29T12:52:00.000-07:00

Rain, sleet, snow, soup-like humidity, bitter cold, it makes no difference to our Leetles. She's an outdoor girl and recently caught her first firefly - by herself! We try to enjoy the daylight while it lasts... that is, if we're not being hunted and snacked on by mosquitoes too badly. We don't just have mosquitoes. We are the unwilling hosts to a biblical plague of them. I spend all my time focusing on slapping them away and before I know it, it's dark outside. Our outdoor lighting is minimal so things had to change.

So I bought a couple of these at Walmart (or as Halle says, "Wow-Mowt") - citronella candles to ward those evil spirits off. Except without the touch of what I call patriotisn't - tacky July 4th decorations. Sidenote: Yes, July 4th is awesome and there are tasteful Independence Day themed decorations.

I also bought one of these and I'm glad I did. It's all I need. Because in place of bug bites, the last thing I need to worry about is setting myself on fire. I'm not exactly a swan, folks. Seriously, these clip-ons kick some serious mosquito butt. I can't tell you how much I enjoy the thought of annoying the mosquitos in equal and opposite revenge.

In light of the lighting situation, however, it's come to my attention that solar lights don't cost as much as I previously thought! I'm browsing through CSNlighting to find one that looks the best in our yard. They don't have the one I initially liked in stock, unfortunately, so I might get one of these classy, normal ones instead:

Decisions, decisions...

It's really too bad that they're out of these. Isn't it cute?

It's like a friendly little snail, kindly lighting my way...

This post brought to you by the lovely folks at CSNstores.com!

Holden Beach 2010

2010-06-28T14:46:00.000-07:00

This Week In CUTE.

2010-06-19T22:05:00.000-07:00

I've been a bad blogger. It's been a rough month, to say the absolute least. But alas... a new video has emerged! From out of the stress and fog emerges CUTENESS!

The first scene was taken moments before washing and eating blackberries we picked from our backyard. The berries were a complete surprise and since they showed up, we'd anticipated the sweet day they'd ripen. YUM! It makes me want to grow vegetables! There's something triumphant about eating a zucchini you'd watched blossom and grow, and a triumphant zucchini is much tastier than a purchased zucchini.

A quick scene shows the cats at the door... and their number one fan.

Are you ready for a new level of cute? New decibels of laughter? Get ready and don't say I didn't warn you! She gets really wound up right before bedtime. She gets hyper and in a good mood, so Brad can't help himself. Amazing what parents will do millions of times just to hear their kid laugh. (But it's so worth it!)

Aha!

2010-05-28T23:39:00.000-07:00

That last picture is my favorite because it's so unlike her. It's a worried, oh my goodness gracious face, but it actually comes from her impersonation of Boober from Fraggle Rock. In the Fraggle Rock theme song, Boober sort of mutters the last line to himself, then says hmph! That's her favorite part!

Hmph!

Also, it's worth mentioning to you other failed cooks out there: DON'T BUY CHEF-BOYARDEE PIZZA KITS! It will only make you feel worse about your seemingly innate failure to blossom in your kitchen. You'll get a sad pizza no matter how much you roll and pinch at the dough, strain to evenly layer the sauce, and don't even get me started on the "cheese" which is usually a priority when it comes to pizza, but with Chef Boyardee it's even worse than sprinkling parmesan cheese because it burnt so easily.

Here's what you'll get! Halle and I took a couple of bites and dumped it. The whole thing. Into the garbage. The crust wasn't crunchy-gummy, it broke a pizza slicer. Don't buy the Chef Boyardee Pizza Kit!

Tried To Upload Some Photos But...

2010-05-28T20:23:00.000-07:00

my laptop is rejecting my memory card.

Halle had me cracking UP today! She's got a great sense of humor and sometimes I don't get the joke as quickly as I should...

For lunch, Halle was eating a hot dog with some olives on the side. At one point, Halle said, "too much hot dog, Mommy."

So I asked her, "do you want another olive now?"

To which she replied, "Yeah. Doggies."

I was confused for a minute... "Doggies?" I said. Then it hit me. Our dog named Olive. She wants an olive.

I said, "Ohhh, you want a doggy named Olive!"

And then guess what she did? She slapped her knee. With a mouth full of olive.

You've got to keep on your toes with this girl!

She Does Take After Me After All!

2010-05-20T20:41:00.000-07:00

She wouldn't be a child of mine if she didn't have an irrational phobia here or there. Who knew Carousels would reduce her to morbid wonder? Last weekend, my parents and I went to Burlington's City Park, which is a sudden, small town, mini-amusement park bursting with laughing screams and rolling wurlitzer tunes. All of her favorite things were there: airplanes, trains, boats, and carousel figurines such as horses, cats, rabbits, even pigs... none of these things can carry her interest whenever it's too loud. She wanted to make the Carousel stop and yet she wanted to understand why other kids loved it, much less tolerated it. We wandered from the train (also too scary) for some strawberry ice cream.

This is pre-ice cream Halle:

....somebody pick me UUUUPPPP!

But post-ice cream Halle was much more lackadaisical!

Silly Boys.

2010-05-17T15:06:00.000-07:00

Halle got to play with my adorable cousins, Max and Luke, on Saturday. They get such a kick out of entertaining her, and they're always so careful.

Hamming it up between tricks.

2010-05-14T14:50:00.000-07:00

What can I say, the child is brilliant. She also knows... and this may come as a shock... how to be downright SILLY. Toddlers. They're eager little sponges when they're not eager to make you laugh. And she's eager alright.

As a side-note, I'd like to mention that sillyness IS something I encourage. She knows a lot more letters than that. Just sayin'.

Rain, Rain, Go Away

2010-05-12T07:13:00.000-07:00

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-08T21:00:00.000-07:00

(Bottom, from Left: Me, Robin, and Richie. Top, from left: Robbie, Mom, and Dad)

I wasn't exactly cherubic.

During my childhood, my Mother was a neverending well of encouragement, grace, and patience. Every poem, painting, or puff-paint t-shirt I made was received as a four-star masterpiece. She always knew the right thing to say, whether to put me at ease or put me in my place. I struggle to manage myself with her aplomb and be as calm and composed as consistently as she was.

During my teenage years, I gave her a run for her money. I wouldn't be surprised if there were days she didn't recognize me. I would lie, complain, skip homework, break curfew and defiantly light candles in my room. I even left them burning one day! I was a heart attack. She loved me anyway; she engaged me in conversation, listened when I spoke, wasn't afraid to roll her eyes and say "Oh, Goll..." but never discouraged me from being myself.

As a 25 year old mother now myself, she is still emotionally educating me. My mother is still the person I call in the middle of a kitchen catastrophe or when I suspect my daughter has contracted the Mad-Avian-Swine Flu. She's a Mommypedia but even when she doesn't have all the answers, she offers invaluable reassurance. Sometimes she laughs at me. Sometimes all three at once. The point is, I would be uninspired, wild, and skittish without my Mom. I would be a feral cat.

I love you, Mom. Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Almost Mothers' Day!

2010-05-07T10:55:00.000-07:00

It's a little early, but in the spirit of Mothers' Day, I decided to post a few links to get everyone into the Mothers' Day spirit! And to remind those of you ingrates who may have forgotten to buy or make a card that your time is running OUT. Your Mama raised you better than that.

No Matter How Busy You Are But Show Some Love to Your Parents

This first link is to an outright Shel Silverstein rip-off, and even though that should bother me, it's just so cute and quirky!

Somebody's Mother

I found this poem on one of my favorite poetry sites, The Writer's Almanac. It has less to do with mothers and more to do with the elderly, but it's still a sweet story.

Instead of posting this last link, I'll go ahead and post it here. It's so true.

For All Moms

(Past, Present and Possibly Future)

We are sitting at lunch when my daughter casually
mentions that she and her husband are thinking of
"starting a family."

"We're taking a survey," she says, half-joking. "Do
you think I should have a baby?"

"It will change your life," I say, carefully keeping
my tone neutral. "I know," she says, "no more
sleeping in on weekends, no more spontaneous
vacations...."

But that is not what I meant at all. I look at my
daughter, trying to decide what to tell her. I want
her to know what she will never learn in childbirth
classes. I want to tell her that the physical wounds
of child bearing will heal, but that becoming a
mother will leave her with an emotional wound so raw
that she will forever be vulnerable.

I consider warning her that she will never again
read a newspaper without asking "What if that had
been MY child?" That every plane crash, every house
fire will haunt her. That when she sees pictures of
starving children, she will wonder if anything could
be worse than watching your child die.

I look at her carefully manicured nails and stylish
suit and think that no matter how sophisticated she
is, becoming a mother will reduce her to the
primitive level of a bear protecting her cub.

That an urgent call of "Mom!" will cause her to drop
a souffle or her best crystal without a moment's
hesitation.

I feel I should warn her that no matter how many
years she has invested in her career, she will be
professionally derailed by motherhood.

She might arrange for childcare, but one day she
will be going into an important business meeting and
she will think of her baby's sweet smell. She will
have to use every ounce of her discipline to keep
from running home, just to make sure her baby is all
right.

I want my daughter to know that everyday decisions
will no longer be routine. That a five year old
boy's desire to go to the men's room rather than the
women's at McDonald's will become a major dilemma.
That right there, in the midst of clattering trays
and screaming children, issues of independence and
gender identity will be weighed against the prospect
that a child molester may be lurking in that
restroom.

However decisive she may be at the office, she will
second-guess herself constantly as a mother.

Looking at my attractive daughter, I want to assure
her that eventually she will shed the pounds of
pregnancy, but she will never feel the same about
herself. That her life, now so important, will be of
less value to her once she has a child. That she
would give it up in a moment to save her offspring,
but will also begin to hope for more years -- not to
accomplish her own dreams, but to watch her child
accomplish theirs.

I want her to know that a cesarean scar or shiny
stretch marks will become badges of honor. My
daughter's relationship with her husband will
change, but not in the way she thinks. I wish she
could understand how much more you can love a man
who is careful to powder the baby or who never
hesitates to play with his child. I think she should
know that she will fall in love with him again for
reasons she would now find very unromantic.

I wish my daughter could sense the bond she will
feel with women throughout history who have tried to
stop war, prejudice and drunk driving.

I want to describe to my daughter the exhilaration
of seeing your child learn to ride a bike. I want to
capture for her the belly laugh of a baby who is
touching the soft fur of a dog or a cat for the
first time. I want her to taste the joy that is so
real, it actually hurts.

My daughter's quizzical look makes me realize that
tears have formed in my eyes. "You'll never regret
it," I finally say. Then I reach across the table,
squeeze my daughter's hand and offer a silent prayer
for her, and for me, and for all of the mere mortal
women who stumble their way into this most wonderful
of callings. This blessed gift . . . that
of being a Mother.

via RobinsWeb.com

Do You Know Why I Pulled You Over Today, Ma'am?

2010-04-29T16:27:00.000-07:00

Also, Halle can now write the letter H... should she be able to do that? Am I raising a Stewie Griffin? Do I need to watch my back?

Babies Making Faces

2010-04-24T16:22:00.000-07:00

I've just discovered this adorable blog, brought to us by the prolific Cheezburger bloggers that gave us FAIL Blog, Engrish, and Lolcats. It's called Babies Making Faces! It's adorable, but something is missing... hmm, I wonder what it is?

Oh, I know what they need! Halle.

Here are my submissions to Babies Making Faces. Perhaps Halle's cute little mug will be on the front page of a Cheezburger network blog soon...

This was another random funny photo from our house that I found:

Hypnokitties!

I don't even remember taking this one (with my laptop). I would guess Halle was 8 to 10 months old?

P.S.

2010-04-23T15:02:00.000-07:00

Halle peed in the potty for the first time yesterday.

I would've told you by shouting it on the rooftops, but that kind of thing is frowned upon even on Twitter.

Well Overdue.

2010-04-23T15:00:00.000-07:00

Yes, I do realize it's been, ehm, several weeks since Easter. Better late than never!

Somehow, I managed to screw up Easter Eggs. Can you tell what I did wrong?

Brown eggs. Yup.

So cozy!

Okay, that's all for now!

Sweet Everythings

2010-04-19T15:55:00.000-07:00

As I started to order pizza online just a couple of minutes ago, Halle said, "Daddy?"

As she usually does, to which I respond, "Daddy's working right now."

She usually accepts this and repeats, "Daddy a working."

Except that this time she said, "I loooooove Daddy!"

Talk about the warm fuzzies.

So I said, "I love him, too, Halle."

Spring 2010 Part 2

2010-04-18T20:05:00.000-07:00

Somehow over the last couple of weeks, I've managed to record around 30 minutes of cute Halle footage. This video is condensed to 10 minutes and it's the best I could do! Sorry!

The first couple of minutes are Halle with Aunt Deedee at Mia & Gaddy's house.

Then you get to Halle's "Ethan" moment! Ethan's video and his laughter are the stuff that kept me somewhat sane when I was pregnant. I'm loving every minute of that breathless, defeating laughter now!

Toward the end is Halle with Aunt Robin, Uncle Baden, and Papa & Nana at Gabby & Puppy's house.

Is she a born entertainer or what?

The Shy Smile Sequence

2010-04-15T09:42:00.000-07:00

Before I get to the good stuff, let me tell you about something cute Halle's doing now. She's saying "idea! idea! follow me! idea!" as she runs in a direction I probably was trying to avoid by saying "hey, here's an idea..."

She's getting ideas!

My dad sent photos from a recent trip my parents made with Halle to a local park. This is undeniably the best part. She starts to realize that Puppy, my dad, is taking her picture. Like a real GIRL, she smiles modestly and quickly runs away.

Spring 2010 Part 1

2010-04-08T15:38:00.000-07:00

Almost four minutes long, but worth every second!

The first few scenes are of Halle and Cole, being sweet to each other. I didn't get it on video, but at one point when Cole was in the rocking chair (one of her favorite spots) Halle sang "Rock-a-bye Baby" to her. It was adorable, despite the looks of panic that Cole shot at me.

After that are scenes from Brad's Aunt Claudia's visit. As always, Halle was shy at first but Claudia made a big impression! After we came back home, she kept saying, "Claudie!"

You might not like the bit of Halle in the car, being blown down by the wind... But I think it's pretty funny anyhow. Sorry, Halle.

Toward the end, we're on my parents' porch blowing bubbles with an awesome bubble wand! I couldn't resist including the deep pink Carolina sunset. The scene was perfect for it, especially the gurgly frogs singing in the background.

P.S. Yes, that was the first time Halle had ever said "tennis"!

Part 2 to come soon: Aunt Deedee's visit, hanging out with Aunt Robin & Uncle Baden, and a lot more random Halle cutesy-quirkiness to come! That's what you're here for, right?

Excuse Me, I Must Collapse Somewhere Near...

2010-04-07T23:13:00.000-07:00

So here's the deal. I'm exhausted right now and I'm up at snore o'clock working. I've got so many sweet things to post here, very soon. Mostly videos. I'm the type of Mom that can't hit the "stop" button on the video camera, you know how I am. Anyhow, since I don't currently have the time to edit & condense this massive chunk of the last two weeks in Halle footage, here are some adorable things that will make any parents heart swell.

First of all:

Alison, by Jack Radcliffe. Don't even think about missing this series of photos. It'll only take 2 minutes of your day, but you won't soon forget it. It makes me wonder about all of the cumulative footage I'll have of Halle by the time she's married and settled down.

And now, onto the laughs:

First, if you're a fan of cute kids, and if you're here I assume you ARE, you simply must watch this. Like now. (Unless we're Facebook friends, in which you've probably already seen it) It's an incarnation of Amelie, talking about suicidal hippos that are allergic to magic.

And, in the world of other cute kids that aren't mine:

My 2 Year Old Can Play the Harmonica.

2010-04-04T22:02:00.000-07:00

Just sayin'.

It took a while for Halle to understand that breath, not her voice, would create the unique sound of a harmonica. I tapped into her uneasiness regarding bugs and "hairbunnies" (they're of the same genus in our house). I've taught her that you can blow on a bug like a spider, and if it's a smart one, it knows it needs to move its butt, whereas a hairbunny is inanimate. "Bug" and "hairbunny" both connote a need to "blow".

So I told her to think about bugs. And hairbunnies. Now BLOW!

And she made music! That unmistakable, down-by-the-river, lazily melodic and light-as-taffy harmonica note. If you think that's too poetic for ,a single note played by a toddler on a plastic instrument, watch this video for her expression. It's pure poetry.

This Is Not the Post I Intended to Write

2010-03-31T22:46:00.000-07:00

Given Halle's sheer delight in balloons and her tolerance of the movie Cars (Pixar), Brad and I decided to watch this year's Best Animated Film Up. It seemed like a winning choice. The one with all the balloons? Yeah, Up was a shoo-in.

Ahem. The short story is this: Up is a moving, fantastic movie that may have scarred my baby for all time.

If I can relate it to my own experience for a minute, we got as far into Up as I did with The Ring. A horror movie. A horror movie so... horrifying after 15 minutes that I not only slept with the lights on, I moved my television and my upstairs home phone to the bottom of the stairs of my parents house. I made our elderly family dog, Cory (aww, good ole Cory!) sleep ON the bed with me. And I played The Jackson 5 softly on repeat, just to keep things lively.

Halle is sleeping in the other room right now, I hope. She became hysterical after Brad and I enthusiastically pointed out the BALLOONS! Look, they're making him FLY! At first, she got a little tense. Then she whined. Then she looked back at us with a look that can only mean AND YOU'RE OKAY WITH THIS?!

We paused it. I tried to console her and figure out what exactly struck her with fear. Was it too many balloons? She hesitated.... Is it scary because the balloons made his house fly away? "YEAH...." The idea that something she loves so, so dearly had caused something (she interpreted as) horribly wrong was a deep thought for us to observe in her. Those colorful balloons have been nothing but helium friends, lining the grocery store and brightening her day like carats at Tiffany to a trophy wife.

Will balloons join the ranks of suburban passive-aggressive presences with the dust-buster, blender, and can-opener? Probably for a little while. But let me tell you! We've seen a lot of Elmo balloons in our day and a glance at Google Images for "elmo balloons" will confirm: balloons can be freakin' scary.

Is that Elmo or is that an angry tornado of vienna sausages?

Toddlers are so innocent... 'cause all I see in this picture is:

Om nom nom!

And the winner is...

2010-03-26T14:16:00.000-07:00

Rather than pay for a service like Random.org, I chose to use the good ole' paper-slips-in-a-hat method. See how many potential winners are in Brad's hat? Yay-uh. My blog is like, so popular. Impressed?

Congratulations, Fisher! You are the proud owner of a $50 shopping spree to ToysAndGamesOnline.com! Thanks to everyone who entered - hopefully there will be plenty more giveaways in the future.

Win a $50 Shopping Spree!

2010-03-23T15:35:00.000-07:00

Yay!

It's ~~funny~~ how quickly Halle grows out of her toys. How does time speed up the second one becomes a parent? Geez, Father Time, you just take, take, take.

It's only a matter of time until we turn in the crib and invest in a toddler bed. What a bittersweet day it will be when we trade in her crib bumpers and baby quilts for kids bedding with pillows and top sheets. Before that, perhaps, we'll have had to trade out the changing table for her potty and a tiny stepping stool in the bathroom. Her room could transform by this time next year! It feels like alchemy, folks. There's just something so wrong about growing up.

Yet so right. Halle's personality is blossoming like the popcorn trees outside and she's quickly becoming a truly unique person. A funny person. A cheerful person. An agreeable person. She's growing too fast for my own shutter speed, but that's life for you. In celebration of Springtime and the chirpy baby birds outside and the cruel magic of it all, I'm hosting a giveaway!

The winner will receive a $50 shopping spree to Toys and Games Online.com!
To enter, fill in the form below. Visit their site before you do, and find a toy or two that makes you wish you were a kid again (no purchase necessary, just mention it in the entry form). You must fill in the form below and your information will not be shared.
For an extra entry, leave a comment on this post. Your comment or comments count as ONE extra entry.
For another entry yet, write a blog post about this giveaway with a link to this post. (Make sure to email me or comment with the address of your blog and the post respectively.)

Time is a-ticking! You have until 12:01AM EST Friday March 26th to enter for your chance to score, so hurry hurry! The winner will be announced at naptime o'clock on Friday.

**Note: Open to US & Canadian residents only.**

<p>&amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;Loading...&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;&amp;amp;amp;lt;/p&amp;amp;amp;gt;</p>

Babies: The Movie Trailer

2010-03-22T12:20:00.001-07:00

Can't wait to see it!

We Be Jammin'

2010-03-20T20:35:00.000-07:00

That cheap plastic xylophone was a good investment! Halle was doomed to be a creative type - DOOMED I TELL YOU! What with Brad's musical chops (here I go again!) and my writing inclination, how could she help it? She thoroughly enjoys music, especially rap and hip hop (imagine that!), dancing and ballerinas; drawing, whether with crayons, markers, chalk, or aqua pens; we're in constant awe and can't wait to see how her creativity manifests itself next.

There was one day this last week when Halle was jamming out on her xylophone, singing Twinkle Twinkle and her ABCs. By the time I got the camera out, she was ready to move on... but I tried! You will never, ever, see me become a stage mom (like this crazy b*****) and I avoid pressuring her to perform, but this was just so darn cute... The second part of the video is Halle at Gabby's house, drawing on a miniature magnadoodle. She threw herself into her art and dude, it was intense. All of her muscles were tense, her jaw clenched, and she shook as she dotted and scribbled. The lighting does her no justice, but take a close look at her and you'll understand why I'm torn about allowing her to use paint.

Flip-Flopper

2010-03-17T15:28:00.000-07:00

It all started with the word "flip-flop". Who knew? Her first encounter with a flip-flop, dug from underneath my bed, she belly-laughed for a half hour. It's a funny word, I agree! Instead of "night night!" she says "flip flop!".

She's rather like me in the sense that she digs certain words. It's only a matter of time before she learns the phonetically disgusting ones - the words that make you die a little every time you hear them. Like cutaneous. Or caress. Or moist. Or lugubrious. *shudder*

More recently, she's cackled about the word, "awful", which obligated me to chant the phrase from Salute Your Shorts, a show I grew up on: Awful Waffle! Awful Waffle!

Last night, when I was changing her, I told her, "We've got to put your pants on before you play! You can't just be pantsless!"

Pantsless. It's the greatest word. Right now.

Oh, and since I've got wolves at the door, here is a photo of a refrigerator masterpiece titled "Duppa Dup Dup". Ask her. (I have my own theories and let me tell you, if I'm right? This girl knows her memes! I don't care if it has to do with Penguin Pirates' waddling onomatopoeia - I'm a very proud Mama indeed. I may have to block my beloved, wicked 4chan soon!)

Happy 2nd Birthday, Munch!

2010-03-13T22:49:00.000-08:00

Tuesday marked the second anniversary of our little girl's survival of herself. Guess what, kiddo? Your energy and enthusiasm and fearlessness haven't proved fatal thus far! With every new day, you bring us new smiles, new wonderment, a renewal in the fundamental goodness of human beings, and a new miracle involving hopping, chair ledges, and gravity that could have gone horribly wrong.

Just a year ago, you weren't capable of walking, much less running. You knew your name, but you didn't know how to spell it, much less say it. You knew how to get attention, but you didn't know how to be convincing, much less argue logic and fairness. You knew that vienna sausage consumption would victoriously lead to fruit, but you didn't know that tuna salad, garbanzo beans, bleu cheese dressing, and corned beef brisket would become their own reward.

See how far you've come, my dear hiccup?

In utero, scheming her great escape.

A bit prior to turning two, our clever little thing showing off how she charms snakes with those eyes.

I have my own humble theory as to why the "twos" are perhaps so "terrible". The reason? Grandparents. Two year olds are easy to spoil - hearing them laugh and seeing them smile (at the cutest age in life, hands down) are the most rewarding experiences... and if a half-dozen new toys afford many other such opportunities, then for heaven's sake, show me the way to Toys R Us.

Because T-Rexes get mad dirty, yo.

Enjoying a birthday cupcake with Gabby, Puppy, and Elmo (before she ate him!)

Pure Munch right here: an opportunist for sillyness and laughter. Wonder who she gets that from?

The lovely people at Brixx Pizza placed a couple of candles on a slice of chocolate cake. Mia & Gaddy and Brad and I sang before she blew out her candles... all by herself!

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Tardy Slip

2010-03-11T10:49:00.000-08:00

Why am I posting so infrequently? Halle's SECOND BIRTHDAY was Tuesday, March 9th, but we've been celebrating all week. After this weekend, when Halle has Birthday-Fun-Time with Gabby & Puppy, I'll post videos and photos of the whole affair. It's been a blast so far!

We're having our first official play date with a friend tonight! Halle's jaw dropped when I told her she'd get to play with a little boy at our house and show off her toys. Total disbelief. I can't wait to see how that goes! He's a bit younger, but Halle is extremely giving and patient for an only child - and a toddler at that. I wonder how this will transition in her own house with her own toys...

This morning, Halle went to the Doctor's office for her 2 year check-up. As soon as they put us in a room, she wanted OUT. Bad things happen there! Needles! Poking! Prodding! Nakedness! The horror! Before getting her only shot, for H1N1, there were stickers and books about the moon to distract her, but she studied the doctor's every move from the corner of the eye.

She's 23.4 lbs (5th percentile) and is 34 inches tall (50th percentile). Our very silly & fun pediatrician told us, "the problem is, she's too tall." Years ago, my sister Robin told my Uncle Jeff, "you've grown too tall for your hair!"

Aha! So that's why Halle's hair is so short!

In her favor, though, a delicate, full-circle CURL debuted in the back of her hair today. She's becoming exactly the little girl I pictured when I was pregnant with her. Exactly. Maybe I've got a sixth sense after all? She was doomed for curls. Not just because of Brad, but also because of her Aunt Robin, whose toddler hair was an adorably floppy mop that resembled a mire of curly ribbons on a present. The answer to the question, Can Halle get any cuter? is yes. Just picture her with Robin hair.

Holi, Festival of Colors

2010-03-05T08:01:00.000-08:00

Alternate title: "How I'd Rather Have Spent Last Monday"

Every year I tell myself, "you are GOING to get a flu shot next year!" and then I put it off until guess what? I get the flu. Well, I got the flu. For the second time this year. Halle got her flu shot months ago and luckily got away with just a cold.

But you know what? It's been a rough couple of weeks for a lot of us, I think. Brad's grandmother suffered an injury last week and is in need of your prayers. What with the earthquakes in Haiti, Argentina and Chile, talk of tsunamis, the global economy unraveling like a sweater in a Weezer song... we're all in need of a little peace and sunshine.

Allow me to hippie out here in this post. Sometimes I just can't help it.*

From Boston.com: Last Monday (March 1st), people in India and other countries with large Hindu populations celebrated Holi, the Festival of Colors. A welcoming of Spring, Holi is celebrated as the triumph of good over evil. Hindu devotees and others enthusiastically drop their inhibitions, and chase each other in temples and through the streets, playfully splashing colorful paint, powder and water on each other. People also attend bonfires to commemorate the story of Prahlada, a Hindu figure and devout follower of Lord Vishnu who prevailed over his father and the demoness Holika with the power of his devotion.

And I thought Woodstock looked like fun!

A fantastic slideshow from a previous Holi.

A short bit from BBC News about how Holi brings families and communities together.

Be still my heart!

2010-02-25T09:40:00.000-08:00

I got my first compliment from Halle today. This morning before work, Halle stood looking at my skirt.

She petted it and said, "pretty!"

****

She gives me new reasons to adore her everyday!

That is all.

Weekend Weather Oasis

2010-02-23T16:51:00.000-08:00

So it wasn't necessarily a tropical weekend in North Carolina but hey, any temp above sixty is a reason to celebrate! Our little Munch gave us a spring fashion preview at the playground and got to play with Aunt Deedee & Adam, Gaddy, Gabbie, and Puppy!

And because Puppy brought his camera (it's his job, he's happy to do it, really) I've got a plethora of fantastic photos of Halle, some in sequence enough to warrant a GIF file! Yay! The first GIF is more of a slideshow and the rest are, well, pretty cool. Thanks, Dad!

Om Nom Nom

2010-02-19T20:11:00.000-08:00

Truth be told, we've been snacking on Halle's tiny cheeks and neck since she was the size of a flip flop. She expects our passive aggressive affections. It makes her feel alive!

But QUICK! Before you play this video, no matter what setting your speakers are on, turn them DOWN. And then a little lower than that. Her laughs get bigger and sillier every day.

Birthday Suit Barbie

2010-02-17T14:04:00.000-08:00

What was I thinking?!

One time when Halle and I were changing Barbie's clothes, I made a little joke to her in Barbie's voice, "Oh, nooooo, I'm NAKED! I am so embarrassed!" Can you guess what the new fascination is?

For one thing, naked Barbies. Going to the park, naturally.

Also, the idea of NAKED is hilarious to her. Whenever I change her diaper, she'll say, "naked!" because she wants to take all of her clothes off. One day she was looking for my belly button and lifted up my shirt. If it's just my belly-button, fine. But she said, "Naked!"

Needless to say, she doesn't have a clue what the words "inappropriate" and "privacy" means. I guess it's just natural for potty-training aged kids to like being naked. I like the idea that I have an uninhibited daughter who doesn't have any concept of self-image yet, but those two words need to be driven home (inappropriate & privacy, not self image).

Want to hear another What-was-I-thinking moment? Well, here it is... when Barbie's clothes come off and Halle looks at poor Emporer's Clothes Barbie, she'll point, grin and say, "boobs."

Also: of all the Barbie paraphernalia out there, why are there no Barbie potties?

Valentine's Day 2010

2010-02-14T23:28:00.000-08:00

We had a pretty good Valentine's Day this year! Even though I wasn't feeling too great for one reason or another, Brad was able to convince me to get out of the house; he'll take every single chance to go out to eat he gets. We went to Positano's, a quiet and dim sort of spot without many tables and chatter. They have by far the best ever-important spaghetti sauce. And the spaghetti is served as a side! Pshaw! You have got to try this spaghetti sauce.

Halle made a valentine for Brad with crayons and brads (hehe) and in the early afternoon (otherwise called "morning" on the weekends) she sang her entire ABCs from start to finish. Out of the blue. It blew me away! My jaw dropped and I squealed to her, "WONDERFUL JOB, BABY!" which meant that she will be singing it all week long. It's not the first time, either. When Brad took her into Target today, they saw Barney & Friends DVDs, and when she spotted them she said, "Oh my goodness! It's Barney!" Not the first time for "Oh my goodness," either. Sigh, she's growing up so fast! Too fast!

Have a look for yourself. Against the house rules, she's continued to grow and age. She'll even be two years old in about three weeks. I don't know if I should put her in time out or buy her a cake. :)

One Darling Parade

2010-02-10T20:50:00.001-08:00

Here it is! I consolidated about ten to twelve minutes of family videos to bring you the cutest shots from this last week, when I was being a bad blogger. Hope this makes up for it - it's just under two minutes long and the end is the best part!

Psych!

2010-02-10T14:06:00.000-08:00

So Halle was being an adorable little bug last night and I realized that I need to merge it with the other video that I promised you yesterday. So that will be tonight's edit! In the mean while, here is one of the most heartwarming videos I've seen so far this year!

To learn more about these lovable singers (and watch more videos!) from New York's PS22, whose fans include Randy Jackson, Suzanne Vega, and "The Hoff", go to their website here. Love it!

Adorable Video Comin' Atcha Tonight!

2010-02-09T08:50:00.000-08:00

Wow, has it been over a week since I've posted? The last week has been busy - but fun! Halle's starting to say "Watch!" when she's about to show off her running skills. Literally running laps. It's funny how raising an active, growing kid gets easier and easier but more and more challenging by the week.

She's really into Yah-Yah and YoYo, or Charlie and Lola in English. It's the most adorable show I've ever seen. Two British children do the voices of two playful and encouraging siblings. The episodes are targeted for kids a bit older than Halle with episodes about "wobbly teeth" and the toothfairy, getting haircuts, playing pretend and having sleepovers. Halle asks for it CONSTANTLY, going to get the DVD and handing it to us or pressing the buttons on the player hoping to make it happen all by herself.

She'll definitely be getting more Charlie and Lola for her birthday! Which brings me to another topic. Within two or three months, Spring will be here and we can't wait to get Halle immersed in the outdoors. I can't wait to plant tomatoes and flowers with her. For her birthday, I'm trying to think of gifts that give her a different experience than sitting on the couch - and things that don't require batteries. Can anyone think of some good outdoor or indoor toys that we can use as a family?

It's easy to be slothful in the Winter, with snow on the ground, gray skies, and shorter days. With the Spring, we want to put a lot of her energy into bonding as a family, rather than running laps. She's chomping at the bit for our attention and her enthusiasm for family interaction is something we're incredibly grateful for. It's really sad that she watches so much tv. I don't have much energy in general but she deserves every ounce of energy I've got! Is this post making any sense?

Aside from birthday gifts, any ideas about fun family activities are welcome! I'm such a newb to this parenting stuff, eh?

After we watch Lost tonight (sigh, another television show?) I'm going to edit an ADORABLE video of Halle running her laps, barking orders at Halle, and other toddler randomness. So look out, it's comin' atcha!

Halle's Favorite Videos

2010-02-05T11:23:00.000-08:00

Sesame Street
1-2-3-4 with Feist
ABC Song
Elmo's Song
Joey Tickles Kermit
Ladybug Picnic
Outdoors with Jason Mraz
Sesame Street
Vintage - Little Dollhouse
Vintage Kermit ABCs
Yo Gabba Gabba!
♫ Telephone Rock ♫

Charlie and Lola
I Spy With My Little Eye
This is Actually My Party
I Am Extremely Magic
I Just Love My Red Shiny Shoes
I Completely Know About Guinea Pigs
My Best Best Bestest Friend
Will You Please Stop Messing About

For Later:

Musicals
Annie - It's a Hard Knock Life
Annie - You're Never Fully Dressed Without a Smile
Oliver! - Who Will Buy
Oliver! - Consider Yourself
Oliver - I'd Do Anything
Mary Poppins - Let's Go Fly a Kite
Mary Poppins - I Love to Laugh
Mary Poppins - A Spoonful of Sugar

Let It Snow!

2010-01-30T20:48:00.000-08:00

Getting bundled up to sled for the very first time!

Looking like a ridiculously cute, red puff of warmth.

Getting pulled on the way to the hill.

If you can't go to the park - which is the best place in the whole entire world - you can turn the road into a giant slide!

Don't forget to check out our Snow Blob!

*Thanks go to Mia for the photos!*

Appealing to a Toddler

2010-01-29T14:36:00.000-08:00

It's not trickery. It's not even bribery. It's tone. Whether we're trying to change Halle's diaper or trying to get her to bed at a decent hour, we've learned that tone and creativity are key. One night this week, Brad was asking Halle his usual questions:

1. Are you tired? Are you feeling sleepy?
2. Do you want to go brush your teeth?

On a normal night, Halle's typical response is a grin and a "yeah?", followed by resting her little head on Daddy's shoulder. She's becoming more and more resistant to parting with playtime lately, saying, "no" whenever he asks his questions. Describing her cozy crib, a warm and special place where her beloved bakah (blanket), paci, and small menagerie of stuffed animals can be found, has been effective so far...

Hey, if I'm not writing poems or short stories, I can at least make Halle's bedtime as poetic as possible, right? Two birds with one stone! Yeah!

Here's one such instance that demonstrates just how much sway that the right tone can have:

When Life Gives Her a Lemon

2010-01-25T15:46:00.000-08:00

... she eats it, gladly! Peel and all. In fact, she didn't eat much else at our favorite Mexican restaurant last Saturday night.

That's not her "sour-face", by the way, just her posing for the camera.

Also she ate gobs of spicy salsa off of her chip, like a spoon. The salsa at El Carreton is just a bit too spicy for me to eat but this little munchkin? Not a problem.

"Bring it on," she says to the universe. Hand me your lemons and pack your heat.

Halle's First Story

2010-01-23T16:05:00.000-08:00

as told to Mommy.

Once upon a time there was a Papa, a Nana and a baby.
The baby was a girl named Ffff-ffff.
She could say, "goo goo ga ga."
She likes to eat toast and get haircuts.
Her favorite song goes a little something like this:

Ba ba con yah song!
Ba ba con yah song!
Ba ba con yah song!

Longest Sentence Yet!

2010-01-21T15:44:00.000-08:00

Just a quick note today to tell you all that Halle has said her longest sentence yet. Actually, two sentences in a row! With a total of SIX words, she said:

"Whoa, cool! I see big car!"

Who Does Halle Love?

2010-01-20T12:52:00.000-08:00

A Warm January Weekend

2010-01-17T20:39:00.000-08:00

Ahem. Halle and I would like to sing a couple of songs for you. So why don't you sit back and relax as Halle and I croon two timeless classics for your enjoyment. It's sure not to disappoint! ;)

*CHECK OUT that CURL in the back of her hair! It's been coming in straight for a while but lately her ends have been developing the slightest most delicate waves. Just like an older lady at the grocery store said to Brad, she looks more and more like a little "clone". Not that I'm complaining! Just look at this handsome devil!

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day! To celebrate, here are a couple of my favorite quotes from an American hero who knew the true identity of freedom.

"Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."

"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

I am proud that Greensboro, the city in which four brave men once had the gall to sit at a lunch counter, is hosting the soon-to-be-opened International Civil Rights Museum. I'm very much looking forward to its grand opening - this is part of the "promised land" that Dr. King mentioned in his classic speech, "I Have a Dream". The grand opening is scheduled for February 1, 2010, the fiftieth anniversary of the Greensboro sit-ins.

A Week in the Life

2010-01-15T16:58:00.000-08:00

Want to get the royal tour of Halle's tent? She got it from Santa and seriously wants me to let her take a nap in there. I considered it for one split second before I realized what a terrible idea it was! She would either talk herself to sleep - very light abbreviated sleep - or I would open the door to a floor carpeted with books, diapers, clothing, and items that take a small miracle for her little arms to reach.

Eventually, sure, take a nap in your tent. It looks so cozy I'd take a nap in it myself.

The second half is of Halle playing with Daddy. Aren't they cute together?

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmwah!

Yes Ma'am!

2010-01-12T19:31:00.000-08:00

Halle's speaking skills are getting better and better every single day. Yes, even when she's giving me some attitude I can't help but feel a little bit proud that she's putting words into almost complete sentences.

Just tonight I was sitting on the couch, feeling a bit worn out when Halle goes to the baby gate and points. "Deese?" ("This?") I sigh and wonder if she just wants her Bakah (blankie) or if she wants to trek back to the tent in her bedroom. I ask, "Yes, but what do you want to get back there?"

She gets more terse and says with feeling, "Deese. Deese!" pointing vigilantly past the baby gate.

"But you've got so many toys in here to play with, Hal," I whine. See? I can do it too. :)

She's looking hard into my eyes as if she's confused as to why I don't understand her, as if she doesn't know how to make it more clear to me, as if I should get my butt off the couch and get a move on.

She beckons me to come along with her hands and exclaimed, "Mommy, come ON!"

I laughed so hard I thought the neighbors might call an ambulance. For the rest of the night, Halle said it over and over and over and over... this is how monsters are created. Even the cute ones.

Abbey's Ninth Birthday Party

2010-01-10T20:06:00.000-08:00

My little cousin Abbey just turned nine! Time flies! I wish I had gotten more of the Birthday Girl herself on camera. Halle had a big time watching my cousins (which would be her... first cousins once removed or second cousins?) run around like miniature wrestlers on speed. Heh heh, oooohhhh the JOY of having a girl!

Back to Abbey's party, though. There may be an excess of two minutes or more in which Halle is watching Jacob, Max and Luke basically try to kill each other. It may bore you, sorry, it's just that the editor has a bit of a bias. Little Sarah gives the cutest play-by-play observations, pointing to Halle and saying "Owlie!". Sarah's a little champ! She can run right in and squeal and play with the rest of 'em. Emma got in some quality bonding time with Halle and seriously does not want us to forget for one second that she is AVAILABLE to babysit.

Brad was tired but couldn't help pulling out his bag of tricks and silly faces and sound effects for Jacob, who asked him over and over, "whats yew name again? Bwad?" and for Abbey, who isn't "too old" to laugh with the boys and still has that cute, uninhibited high-pitched cackle made of 100% silliness.

At one point, Max tells Halle a joke - it's a pretty good joke for a kid! I didn't know what was going to come out of his mouth when he said "Has she heard that joke that's like, what's that in your pocket?" The punchline was, "Hmm, must be your waist!" :)

Could you tell how much Halle wanted to jump right in and play? Any time now she'll be trying to kill them, too.

Just a Little Stolen Moment

2010-01-10T19:43:00.000-08:00

After a long day of playing hard, getting a second wind, going totally crazy with the rest of her energy and finally letting that sleepy warmth take over, Halle cuddles up and looks at Daddy with complete & utter adoration. She'll have enough for a ponytail anyday now, eh? Haha, yeah, so I think that hair clip is hanging on for dear life.

Rachel, You Are No Longer Raising a Pacifist

2010-01-06T22:28:00.000-08:00

Richie, I hope you weren't planning to run for public office ;)

I can't decide which part is my favorite... hearing the irresistably contagious laughter of my siblings, watching my brother Richie villain-it-up, or seeing Halle laugh so hard she looks like she might implode.

Greensboro Childrens Museum

2010-01-05T21:17:00.000-08:00

Halle & Nayeli had a ball last Saturday, playing and running around at the childrens museum. Watching them may have been even more fun, though. They are now both on their feet, they're both energetic, and we let them loose! Kind of. There's so much fun to be had if you're under yea height - it makes a girl want to be a kid again. Sigh.

Using my shiny, spanking-new, handy-dandy camcorder (1950's elevator muzak here) I caught some of the highlights, precious expressions and priceless bonding moments, on film. Enjoy!

Pirates No More!

2010-01-05T11:07:00.000-08:00

This afternoon we got a wireless connection at our house at long last! It's so great to not have to rely on someone else's nearby wifi signal - it's been fun, unsecured "Apple Network", whoever you are. Many thanks to Karl for sending Brad a wireless router for his birthday. Maybe now Brad will write a guest post or two - no more excuses, right? Hehe. We're ordering a Roku player which connects directly to our wireless connection and streams the television shows and movies on our Netflix queue. I didn't end up getting one for him for his birthday because well, I plan on using the heck out of it too. This is why I still haven't bought him Super Mario World for his old school Nintendo. Yet.

I'll be able to upload about 3 more videos tonight. And it won't take an hour! 'Cause we're no longer wifi pirates! Yay!

On Saturday, Halle joined her cousin Nayeli at the Greensboro Childrens Museum and they had a BLAST. Tonight we'll be going to my mother's (Gabby) house for dinner to see Nayeli, Uncle Richie, and Aunt Boo one more time before they head back to Boston. It's been SO good to see them and I'm thankful for all the time they were able to spend in town. Gosh, it sure would be nice if they lived here! :)

Our Own Merry Little Christmas

2009-12-29T10:03:00.000-08:00

I got Halle out of bed at around 9:50 and she was reluctant to do so. It wasn't the idea of seeing presents from Santa under the tree that woke her up! Oh no! It was the promise of seeing Gabby & Papi and Mia & Gaddy. She was *oh so* sleepy and we had to unwrap most of her presents for her. We should have covered up her slide! She had virtually no interest in playing with anything else, except for a Barbie doll and her potty.

She's very fond of her potty. She didn't exactly sit down right away. We couldn't figure out what she was doing at first. Then it hit us: she was standing up. To pee.

The Alton Family Christmas

2009-12-29T09:42:00.000-08:00

You have no idea how much we Fox/Altons cherish the Christmas morning brunch, specifically the sausage and egg casserole. Good lord. If there were ever a Christmas casserole shortage, I don't think we're above fighting for it. Before having Halle, it really bothered me that I had to be there so EARLY but every year I went. Some things are worth waking up early for, eh?

I'm kidding! I love spending Christmas morning with my family and seeing my Uncle Tom and Aunt Rae, my cousins Carrie and Laura, and my grandparents. Gabby and her Grandma-glue were at it again, and I think Halle was still sleepy and a little overwhelmed. She pointed to Papa a couple of times and waved and said "Nana-PApa-Nana-PA-pa" in that chanting way like she does.

Watching Halle and Nayeli interact fascinates me. Halle is used to being the baby around older kids at the park, so she gets this humored look around Nayeli, like it tickles her to be the older one. At one point in the video, Halle gets territorial and "claims" her Gabby.

Poor Rethsey! I mean, poor Aunt Boo! She jumps out and says Boo! at her, (she LOVES it!) and Halle points at her when she walks away and says "Uh.. Boo! Boo?" I think Aunt Boo might be in the lead, though.... *snicker*

As for the rest of my far-flung siblings, well, you just might have to come to town more often. ;)

The Dickerson Family Christmas

2009-12-29T09:26:00.001-08:00

Halle, sitting on Claudia's lap, playing with Auntie Elizabeth (Aunt DeeDee for now). Brad's Uncle Karl and Aunt Claudia came in from Greenville and his sister, Elizabeth, came in from Charlotte. We had an absolute blast playing Wii games and an impossible trivia game. Impossible, and yet Karl kept winning! It's too bad that Karl & Claudia don't live in Greensboro. They're so much fun - especially when things start getting competitive! And by "things" I mean Karl & Karen.

Halle warmed up to Elizabeth after a little while and they had tea parties with Elmo on the stairs. Adorable! There's a second video of Halle playing football with Elizabeth (it's hilarious) that unfortunately is hard to see. For some reason, YouTube uploads my videos from my digital camera too darkly. Still, you can make some of it out or I can show you in person. The other video is about five minutes long.

Brad, the Kid's Comedy Machine

2009-12-29T09:11:00.000-08:00

The Alton family Christmas party is something I always look forward to, despite the caffiene-free beverages. Watching the kids play and go crazy, catching up with my relatives over a feast of homemade dishes, and trading funny stories - what's not to like? It always makes me a little sad in a way, just because I realize that I don't get to see my extended family on a regular basis. One day I'll have a house big enough to hold family parties - and there will be wine! :)

I think my favorite part of the party this year was seeing Brad interact with my little cousins. Last year he bonded with my cousin Jacob (who has the most adorable lisp evaw) and explained to me that they're both (Jacob and himself) "sound effects men". This year, the song "Lady Madonna" by the Beatles came to mind, and the children were at his feet, cracking up. He kills with those kids! Here's a highlight:

Other photos from the party:

Merry (Belated) Christmas!

2009-12-28T09:15:00.000-08:00

This Christmas season has kept us exceptionally busier this year, so I apologize for the lack of posts lately. However, "busier" isn't a bad thing - we've had an exceptionally happy Christmas this year! I have boatloads of photos, videos, and funny tidbits to post here. Tomorrow. I'm sorry to put it off like this but I swear not to disappoint - I have something like four or five new videos to put up alone!

In the mean time, I am looking ever so forward to the following events in my day today: lunch from The Mellow Mushroom, uploading & editing videos to my laptop at home, and bedtime. Oh, and spending time with my daughter! Last week was full of excitement for my little family and our gastrointestinal tracts and it's always a little bit difficult to be flung back into the day-to-day after the surreal holidays... but they're not over yet!

Brad's birthday is on it's way; my adorable, scrunch-smiled, cherub-cheeked niece Nayeli is in town, as well as my brother Richie and his wife, whom Halle now knows as "Aunt Boo" are too; my newlywed sister Robin and my brother-in-law, the new family chef, are all in town for a while longer. It's a full house but I think my parents are over the moon!

I want to thank my & Brad's families for making Christmas so special for all three of us this year. With any luck, Halle will be spoiled rotten in no time! Aside from the very generous gifts, we are so thankful to have spent so much time with you. We love you all!

Merry Christmas!

Baby It's Cold Outside

2009-12-19T20:24:00.001-08:00

Snow? In Greensboro? It's not unheard of but hasn't happened in a while! Halle has been blown away by the whole experience. Every time we open the front door and look out at the blanket of ice & snow, Halle simply says, "Wow!!" She got a big kick out of watching Daddy & Gaddy throw snowballs today. New video at the bottom!
I love how the snow photos turned out. The delicate snowflakes positively glow!

Even though Halle was bewildered by the snow, she still kisses a snowball before Daddy aimed it. Aww!

New Family Photo

2009-12-17T11:06:00.001-08:00

Brad, Rae & Halle at Rae's work Christmas party. What an incredibly FUN night!! I guess it's true that you can never get everybody looking in the right direction. Still a pretty good photo of all of us!

BAH-BEESE!

2009-12-13T19:07:00.000-08:00

BAH-BEESE is how Halle pronounces Barbies, one of her sudden favorite toys. Who knew? Dolls have sort of bored her in the past and there I was, getting my hopes up for a spirited tomboy! We've had a tiny suitcase full of Barbies and Barbie clothes in her bedroom toybox for a long time and she's never really given them the time of day until.... until she played Barbies with Gabbie! So here she is, despite her little nose-cold, blissing out with her Barbies.

Halle watching Daddy play with Barbies. OOH! New Dada-ism = It's strange to hold these tiny attractive girl-dolls like this. Like I shouldn't be touching them.

Even Calla couldn't help herself!

New Photos, New Videos, and more!

2009-12-13T14:56:00.000-08:00

Babies with Pets

2009-12-11T11:32:00.001-08:00

Christmas Photos!

2009-12-06T21:13:00.000-08:00

I couldn't choose a favorite, so you'll have to excuse me for shamelessly posting far more photos than necessary. If you're a mom, you already know that they're all my favorites. Especially this one:

Royal Mutts

2009-11-30T13:03:00.000-08:00

The more and more I researched my family's genealogical heritage, the more interested I became in tracing Halle's. I started with a one-page list of names that Brad's mom graciously provided and I've been able to trace it back to the 1200's! One of Halle's ancestors was first hand on the Mayflower; another was a master swordmaker who made swords for Jefferson Davis and Leonidas Polk.

There are so many stories that are hundreds and thousands of years old that Halle needs to know. I started a blog last week called "Royal Mutts" to focus on my own genealogical records, and I have only one post written so far, but I intend to add stories from Brad's side tonight and just as frequently as I add mine. Don't worry, I'll make distinctions along the way.

It's so tough to choose one story at a time! One thing is for certain: Genealogy is a feverish race where the generations and ages fly by, and hitting a dead end always feels like a tiny little tragedy. We'll find you someday, fiftieth-generation grandfather of mine. We'll find your story.

And now, on to Royal Mutts! Starting with an ancestor to many English royals, Rollo, who makes me feel a lot less like a black sheep! Rape, pillage, and human sacrifice are some of the earliest historically significant pillars of our origin - if that doesn't alleviate some karmic baggage, I don't know what could.

A Tribute to Mark Shumate

2009-11-27T21:06:00.000-08:00

"Smile real loud!"

On Tuesday morning, our very close and dear friend Mark Shumate passed away, painlessly, receiving expert hospice care in the comfort of his home. Brad and I attended his memorial service tonight, where he and Jeff (Mark's best friend since toddlerhood) played "Two of Us" by the Beatles, a song that Mark and Jeff used to play together.

It was such a fitting song, too, and the whole idea moved me. I am so proud of Brad for being able to hold himself together to honor Mark this way. His memorial service was a very difficult moment for both of us but Brad and Jeff did an amazing job. They actually smiled to each other and made it a joyful tribute. Mark would have loved the idea.

If you're not sure which song it is, here is a video:

To honor Mark in my own way (one that doesn't require coherent public speaking: he would understand), here is a short list of some of the things I am thankful for this holiday season:

I'm thankful that Mark saw me as kindred and let me get to know the real Mark.

I'm thankful that Mark drove real slow, often took the long way home to my house and allowed me to have more time with him as he regaled me with hilarious stories. He paid scrutinous attention to detail and put the listener into that moment. He couldn't tell a punchline without cracking up for a while first.

I'm thankful that Mark was a principled person and knew me well enough to hold me accountable to my own principles. A real friend won't always have your back, but should be expected to be honest and genuine and have your best interest at heart.

I'm thankful for the rides he insisted on giving me home. I'm thankful that his concern delivered me safely to my own doorstep night after night.

I'm thankful for the positivity and sunshine Mark showed me whenever he could tell I was stressed out or frustrated. I'm thankful for all the countless times he listened to me and offered his sympathy and hugs when I was down.

I'm thankful for Mark introducing Brad, and with him, my future, to me.

I'm thankful that Mark called the hospital looking for me, when I gave birth to Halle, to congratulate us and to see if there was anything we needed.

I'm thankful that Mark's battle with cancer was short and that his passing was so peaceful. There really isn't a better way to go.

I'm thankful that I was able to be at his memorial service in the company of the people he spoke frequently about with so much tenderness and love. I'm thankful that it was the kind of service that one of his best friends could wear a KISS t-shirt in his honor.

One year you wrote in my birthday card, "it's just another trip around the sun, Raezin". The journey you're on now, though, is taking you far from us and we will miss you so. But as the song goes, "you're coming home."

Run away home, Mark.

Yesterday at the Park

2009-11-26T12:58:00.000-08:00

Halle's Christmas List

2009-11-23T21:58:00.000-08:00

We sat down together and compiled the things she would like for Santa to bring her this year. Here is the result:

1. Apple
2. Moon
3. Elmo
4. Apple
5. Elmo
6. Elmo
7. Apple
8. Boom!

Very frightening, indeed. I don't know what kind of villainous comic book evil she is planning, but it doesn't sound pretty.

The Family Tree

2009-11-23T13:04:00.000-08:00

Four of my ancestors (the Nevilles) have effigies at Staindrop Church, County Durham, UK.

Big thanks to my Dad for giving me access to all of his collected genealogical data on FamilySearch.org! I've always been fascinated with family history and I hope to do some work (detective work, that is) on Brad's side of the family for Halle. I don't know if I'll be able to get nearly as far as my Dad did for a branch of our family.

How far? 1520 BC far. No kidding. Those British nobles were sticklers for breeding!Countess Jane
Jane Neville, Countess of Westmorland

The most recent ancestor of mine to have an audience with the British court was Jane Neville, Countess of Westmorland. From Wikipedia: She was first to urge the rebels to rise up against Elizabeth I of England and yet she expected Elizabeth to pardon her when they failed. She hoped to arrange the marriage of her brother, Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, to Mary I of Scotland and put them both on England's throne. He was executed for treason in 1572 and she lived under house arrest for the rest of her life. Ouch!Ralph Neville & His Enormous Offspring

Her grandfather, Ralph Neville the 4th Earl of Westmorland, was a member of Henry VII's privy council and was one of the peers who tried Anne Boleyn. Tisk tisk! One website claims he had 18 children, another 23. His guardian as a teenager was future father-in-law, Edward Stafford, the Duke of Buckingham, who supposedly plotted to overthrow Henry VIII and was executed. His residence was Thornbury Castle, which is now a luxury hotel with 26 rooms and a restaurant. Interestingly enough, an ancestor of the Duke of Buckingham was one of the family badasses, William the Conqueror, who seized the land on which the castle sits from the first husband of his wife, Matilda.Duke of Buckingham

Robert I

Then we have Robert I, who was called both "The Magnificent" and "Robert the Devil" and fathered William the Conqueror. It is suspected that Robert was poisoned. Robert I's Castle in Falaise
This masterpiece of medieval workmanship is a rare example of a castle that was not just designed to be a defensive position but was also designed to be a place to be lived in by a family.

Go back further and we have Conan I, Duke of Bretagne, Queen Gerberge von Saxony, King Heinrich I of the Germans, Queen Bertha de Toulouse of Italy, Charlemagne, CHARLEMAGNE, and even Alexander the Great. And before that? Royalty of extinct kingdoms, such as Acadia, Austrasia, Troy, Iceni, and Teucri to name a few.King Priam visits Achilles

I also found a website that listed some of our earliest ancestors, King Priam, and traced it up to Laban, the father of Rachel and Leah. I'm not nearly as likely to believe any old website, but it would be good to know! The Red Tent has been my favorite book for years.

Links of Interest:

Thornbury Castle
Rooting for Ancestors

UPDATE:
Sir Henry Neville, one of our ancestors, is suspected by a few scholars to be the actual author of Shakespeare's work. I personally think it's bunk, but while researching the debate I saw that Sir Henry Neville was a distant relative of William Shakespeare!

ALSO! I was able to find TWO connections to the Tudors; one through the House of Wessex and one through the Beauchamp line, through Anne Boleyn's sister Mary Boleyn, sister-in-law and mistress of Henry VIII.

Music!

2009-11-19T10:52:00.000-08:00

This is what happens when you start singing a song that Halle is vehemently opposed to hearing! Youtube cut the video off by a couple of seconds, but I love at the end how she puts her hands up to her head like, "Sheesh."

To a dear, dear friend of ours.

2009-11-17T16:07:00.000-08:00

To tell you the story of how I met Brad is to tell you about Mark Shumate, a projectionist, musician, and wonderful human being. Brad worked with Mark as a projectionist at the Janus and became really close friends with him, as well as Mark's best friend, fellow projectionist, Jeff. Their names are kinda synonymous. MarkandJeff. Years after his Janus years, Brad visits them in the projection booth. They'll jam out on guitar sometimes, and often chat in the parking lot into the wee hours of the morning.

I worked at the theater for years but I didn't get to know Mark until I became a manager. I started working nights and before I knew it, I had found a friend in him. He's so easy to talk to approachable. He soon made sure I had a ride home at the end of the night, sometimes as late as 2am on the weekends. It's tough to have a short conversation with Mark but I didn't mind that our trips home could take hours. We'd talk about politics, the theater, our families, shoot the crap, or sit and listen to Coast to Coast. There was never a dull moment and we got to know each other really well. He was the one that gave me my nickname, Raezin! He even called Mei Ling, my dog, Meizin.

One such night that Brad came a-calling, I needed a ride home from Mark. I remember Brad coming downstairs, into the backroom, and feeling incredibly anti-social all of the sudden. I thought he was a really attractive guy, but I remember thinking, "don't hit on me please! i smell like popcorn right now!"

Well, you know the rest. We've brought little Munch up to see MarkandJeff several times and they just fuss over her. It wasn't that long ago, maybe four or five months ago, when we all went up there together. Nobody knew that something was wrong then.

Mark has undergone treatment for colon cancer including chemo this month. We've been worried sick and are scared to even consider it but it's there: we might lose a really close friend of ours. Soon. We don't know how soon, or even if we'll lose him. We just know he's in really bad shape and he needs a miracle right now. It would mean a lot to us if you would pray for Mark.

We've got so much love for you, Mark Shumate. Be positive and try to hang in there if you can. You're constantly in our thoughts and we're sending you prayers and good vibes 24/7, buddy.

11.15.09 Podcast

2009-11-15T14:08:00.001-08:00

This is it, our very first podcast! I'd like to do this regularly but... we have a toddler, y'know? This podcast is all about our week in the sickhouse. Halle is only in the first half but makes a comeback from the sidelines with a pretty cool new addition to her vocab.

Vintage Dadaism

2009-11-07T23:14:00.001-08:00

"I haven't said the word nipple this many times since middle school."

-Brad, when Halle was a newborn.

What Tired Looks Like Part III

2009-11-05T16:24:00.000-08:00

Halloween Pt. Two

2009-11-05T15:28:00.000-08:00

All photos courtesy of Fresh From Heaven, i.e. Grandpa.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

2009-10-31T17:57:00.000-07:00

All By Herself?!

2009-10-28T21:15:00.000-07:00

Guess who can put her shoes on all by herself?

Baby Steps...

2009-10-28T21:05:00.000-07:00

*Cue the "Jaws" theme...

Dear Darling Cannibal Child of Mine,

2009-10-28T14:13:00.000-07:00

I never thought I'd be having this talk, so you'll have to excuse me if I don't seem to have a firm grip on the words I'm about to say to you. You aren't in trouble. Yet.

You see, there are some things that aren't meant to be taken literally. You couldn't possibly know this yet, but when you hear phrases such as "those pudgy baby cheeks look like a tasty snack!" or the classic line from Where the Wild Things Are, "I'll eat you up I love you so," aren't meant to imply that humans are part of a complete breakfast.

This is just the first of many social lessons we'll teach you. Trust me, I don't mean to cramp your style or repress your personality. By all means, be yourself!... but keep in mind that we're not living in Germany where cannibalism is specifically not illegal.

Also keep in mind that this isn't just a social lesson. In years past, regular old boring diseases were worry enough to reasonably justify the practices of hand-washing and covering ones mouth when one coughs. Unfortunately for you, being born into an amazingly modern generation, you will see insane technological advancement that your Grandma would call "Harry Potter magic" but it will be tempered with the evolution of disease. H1N1 is scary now, but who knows what kind of black-magic plagues might be widespread when you yourself have a 19-month old daughter. Taking a cautionary approach is never a bad idea. Lunging into people's faces to lick them isn't one such approach.

I hate to break it to ya, kiddo.

If not to spare yourself from the social awkwardness of being a 50-year woman who is notorious for her kinder-essen diet (baby gobbling), please restrain yourself if for the germs alone.

It might be a difficult adjustment at first; you'll have times when the desire to slobber all over Daddy's scratchy cheek or bite Mommy's knee will overwhelm you. We sympathize and will work with you to make your normal dinner more appetizing now that your strong preferences have been made clear. We're just thankful not to have breastfed you.

We love you. We also love our elbows. We'd prefer not to choose between the two, is all.

Love,
Mommy & Daddy

Mei Ling

2009-10-22T13:59:00.000-07:00

At the end of the month, guess who's coming back home? Mei Ling! My black lab! My partner in crime! One of my best friends! I would say "YAY" if it were a joyful occasion. But it isn't. Mei Ling moved out because she got too rough with Halle and keeping her seperated (i.e. confined to the only other room Brad allows her to go) was getting to be too much. Compound that with her seperation anxiety, frequent barking and her reckless enthusiasm... it was a blessing that she's been able to stay with someone who cherishes her thoroughly.

Now that she's coming back, I'm mulling over all of my options. She's seven years old. And a lab. That's not great with kids. She has a snowball's chance in hell to get adopted. Take a look at Craigslist's pet section for a single day HERE. There are exactly 60 listings for lab mixes that need homes, just from the last 30 days. And a lot of those are puppies.

I considered no-kill shelters, but I didn't get any positive responses from them. One didn't even bother to reply to my email.

I considered muzzles, shock collars, and spray collars. A muzzle can only stay on a dog for up to two hours for safety reasons; if the dog is under stress (which is kinda why you might need a muzzle in the first place...) the time is even shorter. And the training collars - they're effective on young dogs and again, can only be worn for short periods of time during constant supervision. I don't even like the idea of a shock collar. I also think that she barks because of seperation anxiety, and getting a training collar would only solve the symptoms of an underlying problem that might just manifest in some other way. Mei Ling and I have irrational phobia in common and I don't want her to be scared.

I'm considering making an investment in a dog whisperer, or a dog-owner whisperer. I've gotten in touch with two already, but to be honest with you I can't decipher half of what they say on their messages! They're both foreign and I'm phone-deaf as it is. If I'm going to pay for a miracle to happen, I want to be able to absorb all of it.

This is a highly emotional issue that Brad and I can't seem to agree on. We both agree that Halle comes first; that's not even part of the debate. This is my dog. The puppy I adopted in Chapel Hill. The puppy that got free from the backyard and sat on the front porch for hours, patiently waiting for me to come home. The puppy that didn't used to need a leash, that grew into a dog so afraid of thunderstorms she tried to climb on top of a dryer. My nuzzling, loving, hairy, jealous mess. One of my best friends.

If *anyone* has any ideas for me, leads on a trainer, or is willing to foster her for a time, please get in touch. This is tearing me apart.

"I think dogs are the most amazing creatures; they give unconditional love. For me they are the role model for being alive." - Gilda Radner

"My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am." - Author Unknown

The Toddlerhood of a Brazen Tempest.

2009-10-21T16:05:00.000-07:00

Isn't toddlerhood lovely? This picture perfectly summarizes Halle. She's a blood-thirsty ballerina and make no mistake, you'll hear her roar and you will like it!

Cheeky Halle breaking the no-standing-on-the-couch rule, wondering what will happen if she incautiously disobeys... Cause casually standing on the couch is fun and like, totally normal.

You wild, brazen thing have the audacity to smile at me as you refuse to sit? WELL!

Okay, no, haha, different incident. Halle got her bell rung when she fell playing on the sidewalk. The bump on her forehead is so big that I'm really impressed she didn't even cry. That's just her. It's as if it doesn't occur to her to pity herself.

SUPER silly. SUPER short.

2009-10-20T21:03:00.000-07:00

Just recorded this video of Halle several hours ago. She thought she was posing for a picture, but little did she know she was being video taped!

It's only 9 seconds long. The quality is really poor because I recorded it with my cell phone. *

*Wanna hear some crap? If I had notified Sony of my handicam woes just TWO DAYS earlier it would've been covered by warranty. It's positively despicable that manufacturers have such poor faith in their products that they can only guarantee it will function for one year. Most light bulbs are guaranteed to last longer than my freakin' camcorder and that is a SHAME. So yeah, I'm putting off the $120+ bill to have Sony take a *look* at my camcorder and then maybe fix it for goodness knows how much more.

Halle-ween

2009-10-20T11:16:00.000-07:00

I'm starting to get excited about Halloween the same as when I was a kid. You know how they say that being a parent gives you a second childhood? It's SO true! I've missed these simple things like costumes, swings at the playground, spinning around and getting dizzy, singing "Popcorn Popping" with all the signs... having a kid really forces you to appreciate mundane things like an airplane whooshing loudly by, or hugs, or even the swirly background effects of Windows Media Player. Despite her inability to express herself with words, she does a pretty amazing job at expressing her THRILL with all things new or familiar.

With a simple exclamation of "OH!"

I agree, kiddo, the moon is fantastic!

Am I ADD-ing here? Sorry. Halloween. Right.

Let me give you some of the excitement of our Halloween. I found this hilarious idea today:

"I grew up in a college town, and one Halloween our doorbell rang and we opened the door expecting to see trickortreater—but what was in front of our open door—was another door! Like, a full-on wooden door, that had a sign that said “Please knock.” So we did, and the door swung open to reveal a bunch of college dudes dressed as really old grandmothers, curlers in their hair, etc, who proceeded to coo over our “costumes” and tell us we were “such cute trick or treaters!” One even pinched my cheek. Then THEY gave US candy, closed their door, picked it up and walked to the next house."

Tomorrow: More pictures & some pumpkin carving ideas! Yay!

Boho Baby

2009-10-18T21:07:00.000-07:00

My boss gave Halle some hand-me-downs, including these cripplingly cute tights. She's going to be wearing these a LOT this winter.

Hari Krishna... Hari Hari Krishna? No, they aren't Nepalese prayer beads, they're Carolina blue footballs.

Sick and sicker.

2009-10-12T11:15:00.000-07:00

This is all Brad's fault. Last week he was a zombie with a sore throat and a runny nose. This weekend, as he started feeling like himself again, Halle got a fever and a runny nose. I've been feeling all achy since Saturday night and this morning I woke up with a sore throat.

It's incredibly damning when your child is sick. I pretty much ceded to the idea of getting sick when Halle obviously was. I mean, I'm not going to NOT be affectionate to my pitifully sick baby. She was drooling like a bloodhound in the Outback Steakhouse kitchen and I have this thing about spoiling her when she's sick...

... I even brought one of her Christmas presents out of hiding...

I would write more but I can't hardly think straight today. Seriously, I forgot how to use my key at work today. This was supposed to be a post about the H1N1 vaccination, but that will have to wait.

Cute Attack!

2009-10-09T14:33:00.000-07:00

It warms the heart!

The lion and the lamb (the lion looks EXACTLY like Olive! Wow!)

More adorableness at this website and this website.

Halloween Sneak Peak

2009-10-08T15:27:00.000-07:00

BONUS!

2009-10-06T13:35:00.000-07:00

Aren't you so glad you checked the blog today?

P.S. These were taken, shakily, by my photo camera which can't zoom. There was an incident... with a tomato... involving my poor, beloved Sony Handycam Camcorder. It's not too bad off and I'm confident that it can be fixed. Does anyone have a recommendation for a camcorder repair service? I'll call Ritz camera tonight, but of course if you know a better place please send it along.