ChattaBaby

Now that our temperatures are in the 60s

These cold days are a thing of the past (for now). I know, I can never forget the Blizzard of '93 that struck on spring break in March of that year. Anything can happen. But we have temperatures in the 60s, daffodils blooming in the backyard and today I think a bird was starting to build a nest on my windowsill. I heard all this banging coming from the window in the living room, and when I went to investigate the bird got miffed and flew to a nearby branch where she could sit there and bark at me. I closed the shades to give her some privacy because I'm really hoping she'll stick around. We had a nest on our windowsill at our old house that was the coolest thing ever. We got to see babies hatch out of eggs! And then get really loud. Those birds could put up a racket.

Mirror, mirror

In the den, we have mirrored closet doors, and Sarah will walk over there to watch herself eat her snack or practice crying. In the car, Barry resurrected the mirror we used when she was in the rear-facing seat to make sure her pacifier was intact or that sunny was not blinding her baby eyes. Now, with herself to look at in the car, who needs a DVD player? She's enthralled just making faces at herself. Sarah has also become fond of dress-ups, so here's our little bride admiring herself, posing with her fist on her chin!

I wouldn't know where to begin...

to answer the questions this toy would raise.  Sorry, Sarah.  No Caesarian Barbie this year?

moving on, part two

So, I am going to work for my parents.  A little bio about my new bosses:

My father enlisted in Vietnam right out of high school.  His mechanical inclination landed him a gig as an appliance repairman, stateside.  6 states and almost 30 years later he was redefining service in the appliance industry as a director of strategies for the same company that had hired him so many years ago...and with no college diploma.

My mother left her home in Germany to be with an American soldier in his boyhood hometown, a suburb of St. Louis.  Dad was a self-admitted workaholic often leaving Mom to raise two crazy babies and hold down a full time waitressing job on her own.  She faced unbearable scrutiny as an outsider, all the while putting herself through seminary, owning a handful of successful businesses, mastering a second language with nary an accent and ultimately conceptualizing a business model that will undoubtedly lead to financial security for future generations to come.

Mom and Dad have taken their "retirement project" and turned it into something pretty special.  It has taken some creativity but they have found a way for me to devote all of my energy and time to help this project continue to grow at the rapid pace in which it already has.  I am humbled by their confidence in me and am anxious to begin.

Baby tackle

Another shot from Brenna's party shows how when babies need comfort, they flock to Mary. She was in danger of toppling over, but instead I took pictures. I love how forlorn all of them look. It's a BIRTHDAY PARTY! At PLAYMOBILE WORLD! It's like when one kid pukes ...

christmas morning

Here's Sarah seeing what santa brought